Top 3 Burger Joints in Ann Arbor, Michigan

A juicy burger made your way is often considered to be one of life's pleasures, and Ann Arbor has some great places to get one. Whether you prefer a traditional beef hamburger or one made from turkey or veggies, you're sure to enjoy your meal at any one of the top three burger joints in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Bagger Dave's
859 W. Eisenhower Parkway
734-994-3283 (734-DAVE)

Bagger Dave's is one of Ann Arbor's most popular burger joints. If you build your own, you'll have your choice of five patties, three buns, six cheeses, six sauces, and much more. Premium toppings include fries and a fried egg. Of course, there are plenty of free toppings as well. Bagger Dave's also serves turkey black bean chili, salads, and grilled sandwiches such as peanut butter, honey, and banana. Don't forget the hand-cut fries or sweet potato chips! Top off your order with a hand-dipped milkshake or get something from the bar. At Bagger Dave's, everything is fresh; only the ice cream is frozen.

Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger
551 S. Division Street
734-663-4590

Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger is an Ann Arbor institution that's been around since 1953, and it was even featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. A visit to Blimpy Burger isn't just about the food; it's about the total experience. If you've never been to Blimpy Burger, it's important to know the rules before you arrive. Don't even try to save a table, because it's not allowed; everyone who will be dining there has to get a tray and stand in line, with no exceptions. You also need to know how to order. If you don't, you'll be bawled out and ridiculed, but of course, that's part of the experience.

Before getting in line, turn off your cell phone and put it away. Pay attention, and when it's your turn to order, do it right. The first thing you'll need to order is anything that goes in the deep fryer. Next, you'll need to know the size of your burger; singles are just for kids, but other than that, you can get as many patties as you want, from a double up to a quint. If the 1/2-pound quint still isn't big enough, you can always ask for more patties. After you order the patties, you'll choose the roll, grilled items, and cheese. Wet condiments are next, but don't tell them to "hold" the mustard or anything else; just say what you do want. Because of the large number of ways to order your burger, Blimpy Burger has calculated that there are 2,147,483,648 possible combinations. That's a lot of possibilities!

Blimpy Burger also serves soups and salads. Brownies and cookies are available for dessert, and there's a large selection of soft drinks. Make sure you have cash, because that's the only form of payment Blimpy accepts.

Great Plains Burger Company
1771 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor
734-769-6900

Located next to the University of Michigan's North Campus, Great Plains Burger Company offers a simple menu. Burgers, fries, shakes, and soft drinks are the staples; beef hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches are also available. To comply with health code regulations, they pre-cook the 1/3-pound beef patties to medium well and well done.

One of the best things about Great Plains Burger Company is its commitment to using local products as much as possible. Cedar River Farms supplies the beef, and Guernsey Farms supplies the milk and ice cream. The turkey for the turkey burgers comes from various farmers, and the buns are from Zingerman's. Great Plains does, however, use Idaho potatoes for the fresh-cut fries.

Ann Arbor has some great places to grab a burger, with Bagger Dave's, Blimpy Burger, and Great Plains leading the pack. If you're in the area, be sure to check out at least one of the top three burger joints in town.

Sources:

Bagger Dave's
Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger
Great Plains Burger Company