Forget the GPS, folks!
Your taste buds are about to navigate you through a mouthwatering adventure across the Great Lakes State.
We’re embarking on a pasty pilgrimage that’ll make your stomach rumble and your heart sing.
1. Dobber’s Pasties (Escanaba)
Let’s kick off our pasty party at Dobber’s in Escanaba, where the exterior might be as unassuming as a poker player’s face, but inside, it’s a full house of flavor.
This no-frills joint looks like it was plucked straight out of a 1950s postcard, complete with a sign that practically screams, “Hey you! Yeah, you with the rumbling tummy! Get in here!”
The pasties at Dobber’s are the culinary equivalent of a warm hug from your favorite aunt – comforting, familiar, and always leaving you wanting more.
They’ve perfected the art of the flaky crust, which crumbles just enough to make you feel like you’re indulging in something naughty, but not so much that you end up wearing half your meal.
2. Lehto’s Pasties (St. Ignace)
Next stop: Lehto’s Pasties in St. Ignace, where they’ve been stuffing pastry pockets since 1947.
This place is like the overachiever of the pasty world – it’s got more filling than your grandma’s photo albums and more flavor than a soap opera marathon.
The building itself looks like it could be the setting for a Wes Anderson film, with its quaint yellow siding and red trim.
It’s the kind of place where you half expect to see Bill Murray walk out, pasty in hand, ready to deliver a deadpan monologue about the meaning of life… as told through root vegetables and ground beef.
3. Roy’s Pasties & Bakery (Houghton)
Cruising into Houghton, we find Roy’s Pasties & Bakery, perched like a crimson beacon of hope for hungry travelers.
With a view that could make a postcard blush, Roy’s isn’t just serving pasties; they’re dishing out slices of the Upper Peninsula dream, complete with a side of Lake Superior scenery.
Inside, it’s like the pasty gods decided to throw a party and everyone’s invited.
The aroma is so enticing, you might catch yourself trying to eat the air.
Pro tip: breathing is not a substitute for actual pasty consumption.
Trust me, I’ve tried.
4. Lawry’s Pasty Shop (Marquette)
Rolling into Marquette, Lawry’s Pasty Shop stands proud, looking like it could be the clubhouse for a secret society of pasty enthusiasts.
(If that’s not a thing, can we make it one? I volunteer as tribute!)
Lawry’s pasties are the stuff of legend – so good, they might just make you consider trading in your car for a bicycle built for two, just so you can justify eating them more often.
The crust is so perfectly golden, it makes you wonder if King Midas himself had a hand in the baking process.
5. Toni’s Country Kitchen (Crystal Falls)
Nestled in Crystal Falls, Toni’s Country Kitchen is the pasty world’s answer to that one friend who always knows how to make you feel at home.
Related: This Small-Town Pasty Shop has been an Icon in Michigan Since 1946
Related: Dine in Divine Style at this One-of-a-Kind Church-Turned-Restaurant in Michigan
Related: Dine Like a Rockstar at this Beatles-Themed Restaurant in Michigan
It’s got all the charm of a Norman Rockwell painting, with the added bonus of not being trapped behind a frame.
The pasties here are like edible time machines, transporting you back to a simpler time when calories didn’t exist and the biggest decision of your day was whether to have gravy or ketchup with your pasty.
(The correct answer, by the way, is both. Live a little!)
6. Suomi Restaurant (Houghton)
Back in Houghton, Suomi Restaurant is serving up pasties with a side of Finnish flair.
It’s like someone took a cozy corner of Helsinki and plonked it right in the middle of the UP.
The red exterior is so inviting, it’s practically yelling “Tervetuloa!” (That’s “Welcome!” in Finnish, for those of us who didn’t pay attention in imaginary Finnish class.)
Inside, it’s a pasty paradise that would make even the most stoic Finn crack a smile.
The pasties here are so authentic, you half expect them to come with their own passport.
7. The Pasty Oven (Quinnesec)
Cruising into Quinnesec, The Pasty Oven stands like a beacon of hope for the pastry-deprived.
This place is so dedicated to pasties, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a secret pasty bat-signal to alert the town when a fresh batch is ready.
With a sign featuring a chef who looks suspiciously like he might moonlight as a superhero, The Pasty Oven isn’t just baking pasties; they’re crafting edible works of art.
Each bite is like a flavor explosion that makes your taste buds want to stand up and do a happy dance.
8. Muldoon’s Pasties (Munising)
Muldoon’s in Munising is the kind of place that makes you wonder if leprechauns secretly moonlight as pasty chefs.
The cheerful yellow exterior is like a ray of sunshine, even on the grayest Michigan day.
And let’s talk about that Bigfoot statue – because nothing says “authentic UP experience” quite like a sasquatch guarding your pasties.
Inside, it’s a pasty wonderland that would make even the most jaded food critic weak at the knees.
The pasties here are so good, you might find yourself trying to stuff one in your pocket for later.
(Pro tip: This rarely ends well. Just buy extra instead.)
9. Joe’s Pasty Shop (Ironwood)
Our final stop brings us to Joe’s Pasty Shop in Ironwood, where they’ve been slinging pasties since 1946.
This place is the Yoda of the pasty world – small, unassuming, but packing a powerful punch that’ll knock your socks off faster than you can say “hand-held meat pie.”
With its no-nonsense exterior, Joe’s is like that friend who doesn’t need flashy clothes to stand out – their personality (or in this case, their pasties) does all the talking.
Step inside, and you’re transported to a world where pasties reign supreme and all other foods bow down in respect.
There you have it, folks – a pasty pilgrimage that’ll make your taste buds sing and your belt buckle beg for mercy.
The table is set for adventure!
Let this map guide you to your next incredible dining destination.
Time to hit the road and get stuffed!