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This Tasty Road Trip Will Take You To 10 Humble Michigan Restaurants With Plates As Big As Your Dreams


Ready for a road trip full of delicious eats?

These 10 Michigan restaurants dish out portions so big, they’ll exceed all your foodie dreams!

1. Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen (Clarkston)

Pilgrimage-worthy plates await. Park your chariot and prepare for a feast fit for the faithful and famished alike.Pilgrimage-worthy plates await. Park your chariot and prepare for a feast fit for the faithful and famished alike.
Pilgrimage-worthy plates await. Park your chariot and prepare for a feast fit for the faithful and famished alike. Photo Credit: Sarah Scott

Holy mac and cheese, Batman!

This converted church in Clarkston is serving up some divine intervention in the form of comfort food.

The Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen, with its towering steeple and stained glass windows, is a testament to the power of good eats.

Detour to delicious! This roadside chapel of cheese will have you singing hymns to the highway gods.Detour to delicious! This roadside chapel of cheese will have you singing hymns to the highway gods.
Detour to delicious! This roadside chapel of cheese will have you singing hymns to the highway gods. Photo Credit: Keith Becker – Becker Home Advisors

As you step inside, you’re greeted by the warm glow of Edison bulbs and the heavenly aroma of their famous mac and cheese.

It’s like stepping into a foodie’s version of heaven, complete with high ceilings and a congregation of hungry patrons.

But don’t let the church-like atmosphere fool you – this place knows how to have fun.

The bar, which looks like it could have been plucked straight from an old-timey saloon, serves up craft beers and cocktails that’ll make you want to sing hallelujah.

2. The Bomber Restaurant (Ypsilanti)

Pit stop perfection! Refuel your road trip with The Bomber's massive meals – just don't expect to take off right away.Pit stop perfection! Refuel your road trip with The Bomber's massive meals – just don't expect to take off right away.
Pit stop perfection! Refuel your road trip with The Bomber’s massive meals – just don’t expect to take off right away. Photo Credit: S Root

Prepare for takeoff!

The Bomber Restaurant in Ypsilanti is about to send your taste buds soaring.

This no-frills diner might look unassuming from the outside, but inside, it’s a veritable aircraft carrier of deliciousness.

Named after the B-24 bombers built in Ypsilanti during World War II, this joint serves up portions that could feed an entire squadron.

Navigate your way to nostalgia. This retro diner's portions are your passport to the land of "I can't believe I ate the whole thing."Navigate your way to nostalgia. This retro diner's portions are your passport to the land of "I can't believe I ate the whole thing."
Navigate your way to nostalgia. This retro diner’s portions are your passport to the land of “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” Photo Credit: Mike G.

The walls are adorned with aviation memorabilia, making you feel like you’ve stepped into a time capsule of American history – with better food.

Keep an eye out for their famous “Bomber Breakfast” – it’s a plate so massive, it might need its own runway.

Just remember, if you clean your plate here, you’re not just eating – you’re participating in a time-honored tradition of culinary shock and awe.

3. Krzysiak’s House Restaurant (Bay City)

Cruise control to comfort food. This Polish pit stop serves up Old World flavors with New World portion sizes.Cruise control to comfort food. This Polish pit stop serves up Old World flavors with New World portion sizes.
Cruise control to comfort food. This Polish pit stop serves up Old World flavors with New World portion sizes. Photo credit: Taylor Sharrow

Buckle up, pierogi lovers!

We’re heading to Krzysiak’s House Restaurant in Bay City, where the Polish comfort food flows like the Vistula River.

This family-owned gem has been stuffing Bay City residents with delicious Eastern European fare since 1979.

The moment you walk in, you’re hit with the smell of sauerkraut and the sound of polka music.

It’s like being transported to your Polish grandmother’s house – assuming your Polish grandmother could cook for an entire village.

Forget the GPS, follow your nose. Krzysiak's is where road-weary travelers find solace in sauerkraut and satisfaction.Forget the GPS, follow your nose. Krzysiak's is where road-weary travelers find solace in sauerkraut and satisfaction.
Forget the GPS, follow your nose. Krzysiak’s is where road-weary travelers find solace in sauerkraut and satisfaction. Photo credit: Kevin Keller

Their menu is a tongue-twisting adventure of dishes you probably can’t pronounce, but boy, can you enjoy them.

From golabki to czarnina, each plate is a delicious lesson in Polish culinary tradition.

Just be prepared – after a meal here, you might find yourself spontaneously doing the polka on your way out.

4. Beltline Bar (Grand Rapids)

Roadside attraction or burrito behemoth? Pull over and prepare for a Tex-Mex twist on your travel plans.Roadside attraction or burrito behemoth? Pull over and prepare for a Tex-Mex twist on your travel plans.
Roadside attraction or burrito behemoth? Pull over and prepare for a Tex-Mex twist on your travel plans. Photo credit: Ed Rode

Attention, burrito aficionados!

The Beltline Bar in Grand Rapids is about to redefine your understanding of “hand-held” food.

This Tex-Mex institution has been wrapping up happiness in tortillas since 1953, and they show no signs of slowing down.

The star of the show?

Their famous “wet burrito” – a behemoth that’s so saucy, you’ll need a snorkel just to find the bottom of your plate.

Navigate to nirvana, burrito-style. These tortilla titans are your ticket to a food coma worth the detour.Navigate to nirvana, burrito-style. These tortilla titans are your ticket to a food coma worth the detour.
Navigate to nirvana, burrito-style. These tortilla titans are your ticket to a food coma worth the detour. Photo credit: Matt Stehouwer

It’s less of a meal and more of a delicious, cheesy expedition.

The decor is a delightful mishmash of Southwestern kitsch and Michigan charm.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself contemplating how to fit that giant cactus statue in your car – trust me, it wouldn’t be the first time someone tried.

5. Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub (Marshall)

History buffs, meet buffet lovers. This roadside classic serves up a taste of Michigan's past with a side of excess.History buffs, meet buffet lovers. This roadside classic serves up a taste of Michigan's past with a side of excess.
History buffs, meet buffet lovers. This roadside classic serves up a taste of Michigan’s past with a side of excess. Photo credit: Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub

Next stop: Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub in Marshall, where they’ve been serving up slices of Americana (and really good prime rib) since 1909.

This place is so steeped in history you half expect Teddy Roosevelt to walk in and order a steak.

The dining room, with its dark wood paneling and vintage photos, feels like a time machine to a more elegant era.

Fuel up on nostalgia and pot roast. Schuler's is where road trips meet comfort food in monumental proportions.Fuel up on nostalgia and pot roast. Schuler's is where road trips meet comfort food in monumental proportions.
Fuel up on nostalgia and pot roast. Schuler’s is where road trips meet comfort food in monumental proportions. Photo credit: Chris Holmes

But don’t let the fancy digs fool you – the portions here are decidedly modern-day American, aka gigantic.

Their prime rib is legendary, cut so thick you might mistake it for a small country.

And don’t even get me started on their dessert cart – it rolls by with the majesty of a Rose Parade float, each cake and pie its own sugary float of deliciousness.

6. Tony’s I-75 Restaurant (Birch Run)

Buckle up for bacon! This roadside gem turns Buckle up for bacon! This roadside gem turns
Buckle up for bacon! This roadside gem turns “rest stop” into “best stop” with its porcine portions. Photo credit: daniel lefevre

Bacon lovers, rejoice!

Tony’s I-75 Restaurant in Birch Run is about to make all your porcine dreams come true.

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This roadside attraction is famous for its BLT sandwich, which isn’t so much a sandwich as it is a skyscraper of bacon with some token lettuce and tomato.

The decor is a classic diner with a twist – imagine if your favorite greasy spoon got bitten by a radioactive pig and developed bacon-based superpowers.

Highway to ham heaven. Tony's is where road-weary travelers find salvation in sandwiches stacked sky-high.Highway to ham heaven. Tony's is where road-weary travelers find salvation in sandwiches stacked sky-high.
Highway to ham heaven. Tony’s is where road-weary travelers find salvation in sandwiches stacked sky-high. Photo credit: Chris Oldglory

The walls are adorned with pig-themed memorabilia, a testament to their dedication to all things bacon.

But it’s not just about the bacon here (though it could be).

Their portions are the stuff of legend.

Bring your appetite, and maybe a wheelbarrow for leftovers.

7. Polish Village Cafe (Hamtramck)

Detour to delicious! This underground eatery is your passport to Poland, no plane ticket required.Detour to delicious! This underground eatery is your passport to Poland, no plane ticket required.
Detour to delicious! This underground eatery is your passport to Poland, no plane ticket required. Photo credit: Sylvia Heggen

Our next stop takes us to the Polish Village Cafe in Hamtramck, where pierogies are a food group and stuffed cabbage is considered a light snack.

This basement eatery feels like you’ve stumbled into a secret Polish grandmother convention.

The decor is a charming mishmash of old-world charm and grandma’s living room.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself getting oddly nostalgic for a childhood in Warsaw you never actually had.

Navigate to nirvana, pierogi-style. Park your wagon and prepare for a feast that'll fuel you for miles.Navigate to nirvana, pierogi-style. Park your wagon and prepare for a feast that'll fuel you for miles.
Navigate to nirvana, pierogi-style. Park your wagon and prepare for a feast that’ll fuel you for miles. Photo credit: Roberta Peek

Their menu is a delicious tongue-twister of Polish specialties.

From kielbasa to bigos, each dish is a warm, comforting hug for your taste buds.

Just be prepared – after a meal here, you might find yourself inexplicably drawn to polka music and ornate doilies.

8. Zingerman’s Delicatessen (Ann Arbor)

Roadtrippers, meet your match. Zingerman's sandwiches are piled higher than your luggage – and twice as satisfying.Roadtrippers, meet your match. Zingerman's sandwiches are piled higher than your luggage – and twice as satisfying.
Roadtrippers, meet your match. Zingerman’s sandwiches are piled higher than your luggage – and twice as satisfying. Photo credit: Caroline Santander

Hold onto your taste buds, folks!

We’re heading to Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, where sandwiches aren’t just food – they’re an art form.

This place is to sandwich lovers what the Louvre is to art enthusiasts, only with more corned beef and less security guards telling you not to touch.

Deli detour delights! Pull over for sandwiches so big, they deserve their own rest area.Deli detour delights! Pull over for sandwiches so big, they deserve their own rest area.
Deli detour delights! Pull over for sandwiches so big, they deserve their own rest area. Photo credit: Naz N

The moment you walk in, you’re hit with the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread and the excited chatter of patrons debating the merits of various mustards.

It’s like Willy Wonka’s factory, but for grown-ups who prefer pastrami to chocolate.

Their menu is longer than some novels, with each sandwich lovingly described in mouthwatering detail.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself reading it aloud like poetry – “The Binny’s Brooklyn Reuben” does have a certain iambic pentameter to it, doesn’t it?

9. Joe’s Gizzard City (Potterville)

Roadside attraction meets culinary dare. Joe's turns the humble gizzard into a bucket-list worthy pit stop.Roadside attraction meets culinary dare. Joe's turns the humble gizzard into a bucket-list worthy pit stop.
Roadside attraction meets culinary dare. Joe’s turns the humble gizzard into a bucket-list worthy pit stop. Photo credit: Doug Ellsworth

Brace yourselves, adventurous eaters!

We’re venturing into Joe’s Gizzard City in Potterville, where the humble chicken gizzard is elevated to culinary stardom.

This place is to gizzards what Nashville is to country music – the undisputed capital.

The decor is a delightful hodgepodge of rural Americana and poultry-themed whimsy.

It’s as if a chicken coop decided to open a restaurant and hired a roadside attraction designer to do the interiors.

Navigate to the heart of chicken country. This gizzard mecca is where road trips get deliciously weird.Navigate to the heart of chicken country. This gizzard mecca is where road trips get deliciously weird.
Navigate to the heart of chicken country. This gizzard mecca is where road trips get deliciously weird. Photo credit: Luis Francisco González

Their menu is a gizzard lover’s dream and a cardiologist’s nightmare.

From deep-fried gizzards to gizzard pizza (yes, you read that right), they’ve found more ways to prepare this oft-overlooked organ than you ever thought possible.

Come with an open mind and an empty stomach – you’re in for a wild ride.

10. The Fly Trap (Ferndale)

Breakfast pit stop perfection! Fuel up for the long haul with The Fly Trap's monumental morning feasts.Breakfast pit stop perfection! Fuel up for the long haul with The Fly Trap's monumental morning feasts.
Breakfast pit stop perfection! Fuel up for the long haul with The Fly Trap’s monumental morning feasts. Photo credit: The Fly Trap a Finer Diner

For our final stop, we’re buzzing over to The Fly Trap in Ferndale, where the name might be off-putting, but the food is anything but.

This quirky diner proves that sometimes the best meals come from the most unexpected places.

The decor is a funky mix of retro diner and mad scientist’s lab, with a dash of your eccentric aunt’s living room thrown in for good measure.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself contemplating how to recreate their light fixtures made from old kitchen utensils in your own home.

Dawn patrol delight! This quirky cafe turns Dawn patrol delight! This quirky cafe turns
Dawn patrol delight! This quirky cafe turns “rise and shine” into “rise and dine” with its colossal creations. Photo credit: Dave Scott

Their menu is a whimsical journey through comfort food with a twist.

From “Green Eggs & Ham” to the “Vampire Slayer” omelette, each dish is a playful nod to pop culture served with a side of deliciousness.

It’s the kind of place where you come for the clever menu names but stay for the surprisingly amazing food.

There you have it, food adventurers!

Ten Michigan eateries that prove big flavors come in all kinds of packages.

Let the feast begin!

This map is your guide to every flavor, dish, and unforgettable bite ahead.

tasty-humble-michigan-restaurants maptasty-humble-michigan-restaurants map

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go shopping for some roomier pants.





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