Hold onto your taste buds, folks!

We’re about to embark on a mouthwatering journey through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where the humble pasty reigns supreme.

This isn’t just any food tour – it’s a pilgrimage to the holy grails of flaky, savory goodness.

1. Dobber’s Pasties (Escanaba)

Nestled in Escanaba, Dobber’s Pasties is the kind of place that makes you wonder if you’ve stumbled into pasty paradise.

The unassuming exterior belies the treasure trove of deliciousness within.

As you approach, the aroma of freshly baked pastries wafts through the air, acting like a siren call to hungry travelers.

Inside, it’s all business – pasty business, that is.

The menu is straightforward, because when you’re this good at one thing, why complicate matters?

The classic beef pasty is a work of art, with a perfectly flaky crust that somehow manages to contain a generous filling without falling apart.

It’s like edible engineering, if engineers were more concerned with deliciousness than bridges.

But don’t let the no-frills atmosphere fool you.

The folks at Dobber’s are as warm as their ovens, always ready with a friendly smile and a hot pasty.

It’s the kind of place where you might come in as a stranger, but you’ll leave feeling like you’ve just had dinner at your long-lost UP cousin’s house.

2. Lehto’s Pasties (St. Ignace)

Crossing the Mackinac Bridge, you’ll find Lehto’s Pasties standing proud in St. Ignace, like a beacon of hope for the pasty-deprived.

This family-owned gem has been satisfying hungry travelers since 1947, and they’ve got it down to a science.

The building itself looks like it could be on a postcard – quaint, charming, and quintessentially UP.

But let’s be honest, you’re not here for the architecture.

You’re here for what’s coming out of those ovens.

Lehto’s pasties are the stuff of legend.

They’re hefty enough to make you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth, but not so large that you’ll need to be rolled out of the place.

The crust is a perfect golden brown, and when you bite into it, you’ll understand why people make pilgrimages here.

What sets Lehto’s apart is their commitment to tradition.

They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here – they’re just making really, really good wheels.

Or pasties.

You know what I mean.

3. Roy’s Pasties & Bakery (Houghton)

Heading further north, we find ourselves in Houghton at Roy’s Pasties & Bakery.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Another pasty shop?”

But trust me, each one is like a snowflake.

A delicious, savory snowflake.

Roy’s is the overachiever of the pasty world.

Not content with just nailing the traditional pasty, they’ve expanded their repertoire to include breakfast pasties, pizza pasties, and even dessert pasties.

It’s like they looked at the pasty and said, “You know what? You can be anything you want to be.”

The shop itself is modern and inviting, with a view of the Portage Canal that’ll make you want to linger.

But let’s be real – the view you’re really here for is the one of your pasty being handed over the counter.

Their classic pasty is a thing of beauty, but don’t be afraid to branch out.

The breakfast pasty is like having a full English breakfast wrapped up in a convenient, handheld package.

It’s perfect for those mornings when you need sustenance but can’t be bothered with utensils.

4. Lawry’s Pasty Shop (Marquette)

Rolling into Marquette, you’ll find Lawry’s Pasty Shop – a place that takes the phrase “family recipe” to a whole new level.

This joint has been around since 1946, and they’ve been using the same recipe for their pasties the entire time.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

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The shop has a no-nonsense vibe that says, “We’re here to serve pasties, not to impress you with our decor.”

And you know what?

That’s exactly what you want in a pasty shop.

The focus is where it should be – on the food.

Lawry’s pasties are the Goldilocks of the pasty world – not too big, not too small, just right.

The crust is flaky without being fragile, and the filling is a perfect balance of meat and vegetables.

It’s the kind of pasty that makes you understand why miners used to take these things down into the pits with them.

If I had to choose between a pasty and a canary, I know which one I’d pick.

5. Toni’s Country Kitchen (Crystal Falls)

As we venture into Crystal Falls, we stumble upon Toni’s Country Kitchen – a place that feels less like a restaurant and more like your grandma’s house, if your grandma was obsessed with making the perfect pasty.

Toni’s is the kind of place where the decor hasn’t changed since the 70s, and neither has the quality of the food.

The pasties here are like time machines – one bite and you’re transported back to a simpler time when calories didn’t exist and everything was made with love (and probably a lot of butter).

What sets Toni’s apart is their commitment to that homemade feel.

Each pasty looks like it’s been lovingly crafted by hand – because it has.

There’s no assembly line here, just good old-fashioned elbow grease and generations of pasty-making knowledge.

The result is a pasty that’s as comforting as a warm hug.

It’s the kind of meal that makes you want to take a nap afterwards, but in the best possible way.

6. Suomi Restaurant (Houghton)

Back in Houghton, we find Suomi Restaurant – a place that proves Finland’s influence on the UP extends far beyond just funny accents and saunas.

This place is like a little slice of Scandinavia, right in the heart of Michigan.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “I thought this was a pasty tour?”

Well, my friend, Suomi is here to remind us that variety is the spice of life.

Yes, they serve pasties, and they’re delicious.

But they also offer a range of Finnish specialties that’ll make you wonder why you’ve been limiting yourself to just pasties all this time.

The restaurant itself is cozy and unpretentious, with a charm that’s pure UP.

But the real star here is the food.

Their pasties are excellent, of course, but don’t miss out on the pannukakku (Finnish pancake) or the nisu (cardamom bread).

It’s like a culinary trip to Finland, without the jetlag or the need to learn how to pronounce “Suomi” correctly.

7. The Pasty Oven (Quinnesec)

As we roll into Quinnesec, we come across The Pasty Oven – a place that takes its name very seriously.

This isn’t just a shop that happens to sell pasties; it’s a temple dedicated to the art of pasty-making.

The Pasty Oven is the kind of place that makes you do a double-take.

With its quaint exterior and cheerful signage, it looks more like a storybook cottage than a pasty shop.

But don’t let the cute facade fool you – they mean serious business when it comes to pasties.

Their pasties are the Goldilocks of the pasty world – not too big, not too small, just right.

The crust is flaky and golden, the filling is perfectly seasoned, and the whole thing comes together in a harmonious symphony of flavors that’ll make your taste buds sing.

But what really sets The Pasty Oven apart is their commitment to variety.

Sure, they’ve got your classic beef pasty, but they also offer chicken, veggie, and even breakfast pasties.

It’s like they looked at the pasty and said, “You know what? You can be anything you want to be.”

8. Muldoon’s Pasties (Munising)

As we cruise into Munising, we encounter Muldoon’s Pasties – a place that proves sometimes the best things come in unexpected packages.

From the outside, it looks like a quaint country home, complete with a porch and rocking chairs.

But inside?

It’s pasty paradise.

Muldoon’s is the kind of place where the decor is… let’s say eclectic.

There’s a Bigfoot statue outside, because why not?

It’s as if someone said, “You know what goes great with pasties? Cryptozoology!”

And you know what? They weren’t wrong.

But let’s talk about the pasties.

These beauties are hefty enough to make you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth, but not so large that you’ll need to be rolled out of the place.

The crust is flaky, the filling is generous, and the whole thing comes together in a way that’ll make you forget all about that Bigfoot statue outside.

What really sets Muldoon’s apart is their commitment to using local ingredients.

It’s like they’ve taken the best of the UP and wrapped it up in a convenient, delicious package.

It’s farm-to-table meets UP tradition, and the result is nothing short of magical.

9. Joe’s Pasty Shop (Ironwood)

Our final stop brings us to Ironwood and Joe’s Pasty Shop – a place that’s been serving up pasty perfection since 1946.

Walking into Joe’s is like stepping back in time, in the best possible way.

Joe’s is the no-frills, all-thrills kind of place.

The decor is simple, the menu is straightforward, and the focus is entirely on the pasties.

And boy, do they deliver.

These pasties are the heavyweight champions of the pasty world.

They’re substantial enough to fuel a miner for a full shift, yet delicate enough to make you forget you’re essentially eating a hand pie.

The crust is flaky, the filling is perfectly seasoned, and the whole thing comes together in a way that’ll make you wonder why you ever ate anything else.

But what really makes Joe’s special is the sense of history.

This place has been around for over 70 years, and you can taste the decades of experience in every bite.

It’s like each pasty comes with a side of UP heritage, free of charge.

As we wrap up our pasty pilgrimage, one thing is clear: the UP isn’t just a place, it’s a state of mind.

A delicious, pasty-filled state of mind.

The table is set for adventure!

Let this map guide you to your next incredible dining destination.

So grab a napkin, loosen your belt, and dig in – the UP is waiting, and it’s hungry for company.