If you want a food-centric city that has international culinary flair and attracts the best new chefs as well as restaurant concepts, Ann Arbor is the ideal Midwestern spot for any food fanatic. Ann Arbor features some of the best diners, fine-dining restaurants and everything in between.
So, whether you’re visiting the University of Michigan or checking out its world-class shops, Ann Arbor can provide a great meal at any time of day. You can find quick bites, top-notch sandwiches, and some of the most exciting five-star dinners in the state here. Ready to eat? Here are some of the best restaurants in Ann Arbor for you to try.
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This guide is by Michigan-based writer Karen Dybis. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
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Chef Ji Hye Kim is a knockout chef, and the James Beard Foundation agrees—Kim has received two James Beard semifinalist nominations. Look for Miss Kim’s menu to center on locally grown foods, highlighting all of Michigan’s great agriculture. Must-try items include bibimbap and tteokbokki, both of which will knock your taste buds into overdrive.
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Ann Arbor's best vegetarian-vegan spot can be found in an unassuming shopping center. Looking for the veggie equivalent of your favorite dish? Seva is the spot for everything from pad thai and pesto pizza to breakfast scrambles at any time of day. While there is an extensive list of wines, you probably don't want to leave without grabbing one of their trademark smoothies.
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People are talking up its Vietnamese-influenced cuisine and award-winning cocktails for good reason. It serves a variety of small plates to sample, including fan favorites such as clams and mussels. Customers recommend ordering a large variety to sample everything Peridot has to offer.
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Picture that popular street cart that emanates the kind of smell that distracts you when you’re walking around town, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what Frita Batidos is all about. Definitely try the frita, a traditional Cuban burger, which can be made with chorizo, chicken, black bean, beef, or fish and includes a sunny-side-up egg, avocado spread, and bacon.
If you like toast, and who doesn’t, you’ll love this new gourmet toast restaurant. Toastique opened its first Ann Arbor location this summer. It is known for its classic offerings, like the Avocado Smash Toast made with avocado and watermelon radish. But you have to branch out and try its sweeter varieties, including the PB Crunch Toast, made with honey-roasted peanut butter, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, berry jam, granola, peanuts, honey drizzle, and mint on walnut-raisin toast.
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Knight’s Steakhouse has been an Ann Arbor mainstay since 1952, and for good reason; the drinks are strong, the portions are sizable, and the steaks are phenomenal. If you must, you might want to start with a shrimp cocktail and oysters Rockefeller or a French onion soup and Caesar salad. But, really, have a steak.
Ask the average person who has lived or worked in Ann Arbor about the city’s top dining options, and Aventura will likely be at the top of their list. The Spanish tapas menu is filled with fresh, tangy, fragrant, and flavorful main dishes and accompaniments—all made much more inviting with Spanish bread on the side. Order the bacon-wrapped dates (just do it), or veggie-loving palates can opt for the coles de bruselas dish instead. That would be Brussels sprouts with pistachios, apples, olive oil, and honey.
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The seventh property in the Zingerman roster of Ann Arbor eateries, Zingerman’s Roadhouse focuses "solely on the amazing array of really good American food that we've got right here at home." The menu is expansive, with an entire section dedicated to fried chicken. And we know a few University of Michigan alum who still regularly dream of the sky-high sandwiches, creamy mac-and-cheese, and delectable desserts on offer here.
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This hip spot prides itself on placing the utmost care in food prep and, as they say, "treating each bottle of wine to be a treasure." The rotating, limited menu of top-notch options at Spencer also offers the kind of pairings you could only find at an establishment that is a wine shop first and foremost (which it is). Seating is extremely limited, so get your reservation on the books early.
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With a cute cartoon turtle as their logo and an enjoyable ethos of slurping, you can guarantee a good meal out at this ramen joint. Leave your Western manners at the door—in the west, slurping is seen as rude, but in the East, it's taken as a huge compliment to the chef—and prepare for a hearty bowl of noodle soup. The classic is the Tokyo shoyu, with pork belly, egg, and bok choy. But the adventurous might prefer the spicy miso tonkatsu. Sashimi and Makki are on offer, too.
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Think of this as an amalgamation of the very best aspects of Vietnamese, French, and American cuisines. The Taste Kitchen menu, heavy on local produce and meat, changes pretty often, so you’ll get to eat something different every time you visit. Some regular items, like the tuna poke, shrimp spring rolls, eggplant cannelloni, shaking beef, and Berkshire pork, take a permanent spot on the menu.
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Known since 1977 for its fantastic bar scene and award-winning French and Italian cuisine, The Earle looks like a place where Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra could swing by at any minute. The impressive wine list, which boasts over 1,400 selections, is ready to accompany succulent lamb chops, beef tenderloin, duck breast, sea scallops, and more. Head here Tuesday through Saturday to hear live jazz in the dining room.
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Generosity is the norm at The Ravens Club, where the farm-to-fork menu and well-poured drinks take center stage. Heavily focused on local vendors, the menu here changes often. Standout (and standard) favorites include the deviled eggs, pork belly buns, and steak carpaccio bruschetta alongside main course offerings like the lobster mac with big chunks of seafood, pad Thai and cilantro lime chicken.
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Forget the kebab when it comes to late-night hunger pangs, beeline for Tio's tacos instead. This sizable spot on East Liberty Street is a favorite with night owls and early birds alike since it's usually open 11am to 2am, Monday to Saturday. So whether you're popping in for brunch, lunch, or a snack in the wee hours, Tio's got your back. Tacos, burritos, and huevos rancheros are the big hitters, with a load of sauces available and lip-smacking guac.
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If you’re looking for white tablecloths, exquisite waitstaff, and an overall memorable dining experience, Gandy Dancer is your destination. Located inside a restored 1886 Michigan Central Depot, the popular eatery has hosted a whole lot of weddings, graduation dinners, and family get-togethers throughout the years. The menu is well-rounded with a sizable selection of the day’s seafood catches, lamb, steaks, and prime rib options.
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Boasting high ceilings, exposed brickwork, and communal tables, Café Zola has earned its spot as a trendy yet comfortable dinner meeting spot. The menu features a delightful array of tastes—we promise you’ll find something for everyone on the menu—showcased in dishes like the Moroccan chickpeas, parmesan, and rosemary pommes frites, Hawaiian ahi tuna, and the classic kobe burger.
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This fuss-free Korean eatery is especially popular with the students (probably because you can easily eat for under ten bucks here). The hot stone bowls—known as bibimbap—are a classic Korean dish and something that Kang's does very well. But if you want to be a little more adventurous, have a go at the bu dae jigae, a firey beef broth with various pork cuts and kimchee.
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Vinology, which describes itself as a curated food-and-wine experience, offers a well-rounded meal at wine bar prices. While the wine here does take center stage (you can expect over 150 varieties of vino on-premise), the food is just as good, from the duck confit pot pie to braised short rib. If you are just looking to munch on something while reveling in the wines, order the shareable charcuterie board or Michigan-baked brie.
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When you first walk into Mani Osteria & Bar (“mani” means hands in Italian), what hits you is that pleasant, smoky aroma that accompanies a wood-burning oven. Next, you’ll pick up the faint scents of oregano, basil, and other traditional Italian spices used to make pizza, pasta, and everything else that pleases the stomach. Mani Osteria has been doing it well since 2011 with small plates, local ingredients, and homemade flavors that make this a must-visit. Be prepared for generous portions of cheese, olive oil, and spices in everything from the pappardelle to the butternut squash soup and the “pasta messy” for the kids.
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Hidden in the back of a suburban shopping center, you might miss Ayse’s Turkish Café if you’re not looking for it. You can call it a hidden gem, but to us, this is just a great local destination. And we can happily overlook the whole “let’s see if we can find it” aspect of dining here. Ayses Turkish Café calls itself the real deal, and it really is. Try the pepper lamb dolma and chicken with chickpeas, and grab some dessert before leaving.
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