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Ann Arbor Downtown Lunch Guide

This is based on personal experiences. You'll have to look up the locations yourself. Generally, the food is good, but to an outsider, can seem expensive. If you live in Ann Arbor, spending $10 on lunch seems no big deal. There's a lot of choice.

It's biased towards Main St. and the surrounding area.

Chinese

Dynersty (E. Liberty) is cheap (for Ann Arbor).
Kai Garden (S. Main) offers a pleasant environment for a reasonable price.
Eastern Accents (S. 4th) has a limited lunch choice, including some Chinese lunches, a good be bim bop, and an extensive tea selection.
Middle Kingdom (S. Main) is relatively upscale, with large portions

European

Amadeus (E. Washington) has an upscale atmosphere.
Parthenon (S. Main) serves a good gyro sandwich and salad.

Indian

Raja Rani (S. Division) and Shalimar (E. Washington) have very good buffet lunches. Go to the closest one, it can be hard going walking back after sampling everything. The Madras Masala lunch buffet (Maynard, almost underneath the parking structure), is also excellent.

Italian

Argiero's (Detroit, Kerrytown) is OK. Save money by drinking water.

Japanese

Mikis is very good, but expensive.
There's another good place in Kerrytown, but I can't remember what it's called.

Korean

Kosmos (Kerrytown) serves a good be bim bob at the counter. Eastern Accents (S. 4th) also does be bim bob.

Mexican

Sabor Latino (N. Main) is excellent and cheap.
Tios (E. Huron) is also OK.
Prickly Pear (S. Main) might be to your taste if your not into spicy food.
Banditos (S. 4th) has big portions.

Middle Eastern

Jerusalem Garden (S. 5th) is excellent and cheap. Surroundings are not upscale, but you can sit at a counter and watch the falafels being fried.
Kebab Palace (E. William) is good value. The lunch specials are particularly recommended.

Sandwiches

Arbor Brewing (E. Washington) and Grizzly Peak (W. Washington) are both popular. Burgers list at around $6, but add fries and a drink and you might spend over $10.
Cafe Zola (W. Washington) is really liked by a colleague, so I've been there many times for the Turkish Brunch.
Red Hawk Grill (S. State) allows good customization of sandwiches, for example with peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
Soup De Jour (W. Washington) is a friendly place.
Sottinis (S. 4th) does reasonably priced subs.
Zingermans (Kerrytown) is famous, but not cheap.

Thai

Siam Cuisine (Braun Ct. in Kerrytown) has an excellent spicy lunch. Recommended if you have a cold, or even if you don't.

Vegetarian

Seva (E. Liberty) does a large and good bean burrito, even for a non-vegetarian.


Favorites

Personal favorites are Sabor Latino, Jerusalem Garden, Kabob Palace, and Cafe Zola (mainly through familiarity - a colleague always wants to eat there).

Lunch Outside Downtown

Favorites include Saica (Japanese, on Plymouth Rd), Dalat (Vietnamese, in downtown Ypsilanti), La Fiesta Mexicana (Mexican - surprise) on Cross St. near EMU in Ypsilanti, and the Lighthouse (diner) in Dexter. My current favorite restaurant is La Shish (Carpenter Rd).


Last updated May 2006.

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