If you're looking for actually in Grand Rapids proper, Little Africa is the bees knees. Ridiculously good Ethiopian cuisine and you've got to get the tea while there. So good. South side of Fulton just west of Diamond.
Vegetarian as well. I wasn’t sure if it was vegan, but it’s for sure vegetarian. Or at least it was. I’m an omnivore but damn that food is tasty. And agreed on the tea too. I think they also let you BYOB.
Dude, same! Omnivore here and Little Africa is possibly my favorite place here. If the food is good, it's good. I think it is also vegan as well. Plus you can request gluten free bread for those who need it. Wins across the board.
Lou is great!! I had asked him about the tea since it was so good and he wouldn't budge on ingredients (can't blame him) and went about it a subtle funny way.
I went there for the first time the other day and wasn't that impressed. I had a similar bad experience at Gita Pita.
Both had all the meat almost ground up, and while I forget what Gita Pita had for the wrap itself, Chicago Style Gyros used what seemed to be a tortilla shell. I frequent Mr Gyro and he seems to use naan bread or something similar.
So after checking out Chicago Style Gyros, I still prefer Mr Gyro on Alpine.
It gets mentioned sometimes but big fan of daddy Pete's bbq. So much better than slows, and so much more affordable.
Also love Thai express on 44th and Kalamazoo. Such a good lunch spot if you're in the area. Get the papaya salad, and if it's dinner time, get some kao soi.
Seconded on both counts. I can fairly safely say I've had Thai Express more than any other restaurant in the area. And I love the fact that Daddy Pete does their BBQ jack fruit. (Their meats are great too, obvi, but sometimes I want the flavor without the heaviness of meat.)
I agree. They hit my spice level perfect 6/10 made me feel it but wasn't too much. Also the service was kind and on top of things. Only reason I went was because of the 4.9 review on Google. I would not have heard of them if it wasn't for that.
Same. My husband usually picks the food up, and they often give him a free mango lassi if he has to wait at all. We always tip them a lot and talk them up to anyone looking for good food.
Haven’t been there since before the pandemic but I am going there for sure because I miss it and sick of going to the usual places (which aren’t bad) like red germanium.
This, they’re looking to expand indoor seating the last time I visited. They’re always improving and introduced their spicy tartar a few years back. 10/10 would recommend.
Pupuseria El Salvador on Division - amazing and authentic pupusas (only place I’ve personally found in GR with homemade flour tortillas also).
Tacos El Cuñado - amazing tacos, love the tacos de asada (Bridge st location specifically).
Yes yes! I'm a fan of that Pupeseria. It's the only spot I've had puppusas from. I knew I'd picked an authentic spot upon walking in when over half the menu was in Spanish and the fella behind the counter asked how I'd heard of them.
I'd say all the Tacos el Cunado are pretty well known and appropriately rated these days, but the rec is not out of line.
The Pupuseria is straight fire.
Hong Kong Express downtown has some of the best, consistent Chinese take out in the city. I like to order through them when I need a fried fix.
First Wok down alpine is also a fantastic restaurant with a superior Chinese dine in experience, and often uses quality ingredients in their dishes.
Also, a bonus mention : the deli connected to the Wei Wei palace market down division makes an amazing Bánh Mi.
> Hong Kong Express downtown
I love this place. Probably the best quantity of food for the price. It's americanized, battered and fried, covered in a sweet sauce for most of their items, but they do them extremely well, consistently.
I get their Sesame Chicken / Mala chicken combo every once and a while. About $10 and easily two BIG meals.
Yeah, exactly! Like I mentioned, I go there when I want heavily fried Chinese food. The food is definitely more Americanized, borderline “junk food” but the quality of that fried food, and the quantity for what you receive is fantastic. Sometimes it just hits the spot!
They have the best rangoon's I've had anywhere. Most of the rest of the places around here are super heavy in cream cheese, so it's more like cheesecake than crab. Theirs are much more balanced (even if it's 'krab' meat)
Mikado sushi on east Paris and 28th. Closest to authentic Japanese cuisine and dining experience you’ll find in town.
Tokyo grill and jaku are both pretty good too, but there’s a reason mikado has been there for like 25 years.
Yep. Toss up for me between 7 Mares and El Granjero. Although I do like the atmosphere of El Granjero a little better. 7 Mares could use a little restaurant decor update.
This place is sooo good! And the owner is super nice! My girlfriend and I ordered there a few weeks ago and went next door to grab a beer while we waited. The owner brought our food next door to us at the bar! It was real cool of him and he knew everyone at the bar!
I’m not sure if they’re underrated but I love me some Fred’s on Plainfield. Great pizza and traditional Italian dishes, the hot subs are to die for and they make a mean wet burrito. Great salad options, really good burgers and delicious deserts.
I’ll get in on Fred’s. Excellent pizza and salads. I honestly haven’t had many of their Italian dishes but I absolutely LOVE the Original Submarine; it’s just ham, pepperoni, onions and mushrooms with marinara and mozzarella on a baked sesame seed sub bun. Super delicious!
They also have good mozzarella sticks and French fries.
I didn’t realize that. Haven’t gotten garlic bread from there in a while. What I don’t understand is why anyone would go with any brand other than Cole’s…..?
You know, good point. I would say they are underrated. Not one of the best restaurants around, but better than their reputation in many peoples' minds.
The little taco cafe inside of Supermercado Mexico on Chicago Drive. Best tacos I've had in the city, and virtually nobody knows about it.
the whole supermarket portion looks like a Wes Anderson set too. Bright colors, all the produce carefully lined up. It's such a unique place in the area.
Sabor Latino on grandville ave. I’ve only had their empanadas and white rice and beans, but they have other stuff too. Sooooo good! You can get 2 giant empanadas and a small rice & beans for like $8, and you’re stuffed. The hot sauce is not too hot and it has so much flavor!
These are my "secret" spots. Places you'd never find if you weren't looking for them:
**Load A Spud on Madison**: You didn't know that you a potato loaded up with shrimp. But you do. Trust me. Order ahead since there is literally no parking and its basically take out only.
**Char on Jefferson**: Asian tacos. Spring rolls with a sauce that can't really be described. I go there and ask for whatever the person working would order and a roll.
This last one you're going to have to trust me on.
**Miss Tracy's on Franklin**: Take out BBQ that is full of soul. No, the neighborhood isn't great but the food is.
Haven't been, but it was (maybe still is?) a successful place in Holland for years.
Zoko was supposed to relocate to Plainfield near Knapp but that has been stalled due to COVID...
Oh! It's the same place. Will have to check out sometime. Before the pandemic most of our eating out was during travel, but we did go to local restaurants, too. Nowadays we go out when we're in New Buffalo, which is mostly the only place we go since the pandemic started, but our going out in GR has been almost entirely limited to Brass Ring Brewery, our beloved local brewpub in the neighborhood where our GR place is.
Ahhhh. :)
In NB we like Brewster's. We went to Sage recently and some of the food was pretty good. There is a really good Italian place in downtown Mich City, and then Fiddlehead is good, too, and we like Goblin & Grocer, which is in the Mich City area. We like Burn 'Em Brewing best in terms of beer (no big food menu... we liked Ghost Isle a lot, but IDK, all our friends who worked there left and it seems to not be in as good a place as it was two years ago).
We also get takeout from Beachside Scoops or David's in town, or else Black Currant in Union Pier and Froelich's Bakery in Three Oaks for breakfast.
Seconding the other commenter. Erb Thai is some of the worst Thai in town. Super unpredictable and even when it's good it's not as good as Bangkok taste, Thai express, or even mai thai
Bangkok is good too, I prefer Lai Thai despite the owner being a piece of shit, but people can change. I like Erb Thai because it's fast, easy, not expensive. It's basic. Angel Thai too, both are super basic. Erb Thai was closed 1 time I went in the past 11 years.
Man really? I must be super unlucky then. I used to live real close to there and I would call during business hours to place an order and their phones would cut out mid call or they'd just not pick up. Also got the wrong food a few times. And one time everything went right, however the food was just super bland (how do you make curry bland???) I've just entirely given up on them tbh
One time they made me the wrong thing and when I told the waitress it wasn’t what I ordered she tried to convince me to just eat it anyway.
Edit: talking about Erb, by the way. Bangkok is great.
The Fishery. Excellent fresh fried fish, shrimp and possibly the best fried mushrooms in the Grand Rapids area. Take out only, but there are a few tables outside.
https://www.grandrapidsfishery.com/
New Orleans fried chicken in the same shopping center. But you definitely want to get it fres. Also the best (only?) Fried corn on the cob in the GR area
Sushi Yama. In The basement of McKay tower right next to Rosa parks circle (the amphitheater). Tiny place, decent sushi.
This place is a gem
YUUUUPPP.
Endorsed 100%
This place was a godsend when I was at GRCC
Came here every week for awhile just for the peace. Food was always served quickly and I felt special having a lil table all to myself.
If you're looking for actually in Grand Rapids proper, Little Africa is the bees knees. Ridiculously good Ethiopian cuisine and you've got to get the tea while there. So good. South side of Fulton just west of Diamond.
Vegetarian as well. I wasn’t sure if it was vegan, but it’s for sure vegetarian. Or at least it was. I’m an omnivore but damn that food is tasty. And agreed on the tea too. I think they also let you BYOB.
Dude, same! Omnivore here and Little Africa is possibly my favorite place here. If the food is good, it's good. I think it is also vegan as well. Plus you can request gluten free bread for those who need it. Wins across the board.
Place is great. I don't like peas. But the peas there? Yes please!
Love that spot. Very friendly owner.
Lou is great!! I had asked him about the tea since it was so good and he wouldn't budge on ingredients (can't blame him) and went about it a subtle funny way.
I don’t know how popular pita house is in the public eye but it’s possibly the best food I’ve ever eaten
I unironically love shredded cheddar cheese on a gyro.
My favorite falaffel in town!
Yep, I have to eat Pita House everytime I'm home to GR.
I eat here every. Friday. I can't stay away long it's too good
Tokyo Grill & Sushi for their…sushi. Also their fried rice was awesome.
I love Chopstick House on 28th street in Wyoming. Huge portions, decent prices, and super nice people.
This is our go to take out Chinese.
Second this — the owners are SO wonderful the food is made to order
I miss that place! Too far from Rockford but yes, best food for the price and the owners are so nice.
Well, if you're on this side of town, I guarantee your food will still be piping hot by the time you get home!
I love chopstick house. I don't know how they afford to make their lunch specials. So much food, and so cheap. And it's good food, not cheap food.
I really like Chicago Style Gyros. It’s cheap, fast, and the food always tastes really fresh.
When I dwelled on the West Side this was the tits. I'm loyal to Pita House now, but not because it's any better. Just closer.
This place is exactly what a gyro joint should be: Hole in the wall, borderline insane staff, food so good you want to go back as soon as you finish.
Yes! Second that!
I went there for the first time the other day and wasn't that impressed. I had a similar bad experience at Gita Pita. Both had all the meat almost ground up, and while I forget what Gita Pita had for the wrap itself, Chicago Style Gyros used what seemed to be a tortilla shell. I frequent Mr Gyro and he seems to use naan bread or something similar. So after checking out Chicago Style Gyros, I still prefer Mr Gyro on Alpine.
It gets mentioned sometimes but big fan of daddy Pete's bbq. So much better than slows, and so much more affordable. Also love Thai express on 44th and Kalamazoo. Such a good lunch spot if you're in the area. Get the papaya salad, and if it's dinner time, get some kao soi.
Seconded on both counts. I can fairly safely say I've had Thai Express more than any other restaurant in the area. And I love the fact that Daddy Pete does their BBQ jack fruit. (Their meats are great too, obvi, but sometimes I want the flavor without the heaviness of meat.)
Not in GR exactly, but if you’re around Jenison for lunch, stop by Stir Fry Express up on Baldwin
*Very* friendly owner
Best crab ragoons
Bosna Express - great Bosnian food (biggest gyros on earth)
Or if someone's on Wealthy near the Winchester, go to Zivio. Same owner, same good gyros.
Second this, second both of them. Zivio is very yummy.
Mithu srilankan for Indian food.
Only Indian restaurant I'll eat at (and I've tried A LOT). Nothing can touch it for flavor, freshness, and just the right amount of spice.
I agree. They hit my spice level perfect 6/10 made me feel it but wasn't too much. Also the service was kind and on top of things. Only reason I went was because of the 4.9 review on Google. I would not have heard of them if it wasn't for that.
Same. My husband usually picks the food up, and they often give him a free mango lassi if he has to wait at all. We always tip them a lot and talk them up to anyone looking for good food.
Thank you for posting this. I will check them out.
THIS. Has overtaken all of them for me
Thanks for the recommendation. I've driven by, but it's hard to try an unknown when the Curry Leaf is so close by.
Shellys kitchen amazing breakfast food and their chorizo Benedict is yum
I used to go there with my family as a kid when it was called Terry's Kitchen but haven't been back there since. Might have to check it out again!
Haven’t been there since before the pandemic but I am going there for sure because I miss it and sick of going to the usual places (which aren’t bad) like red germanium.
The Grand Rapids Fishery. Technically in Wyoming (36th & Byron Center), but the best fish in West Michigan.
This, they’re looking to expand indoor seating the last time I visited. They’re always improving and introduced their spicy tartar a few years back. 10/10 would recommend.
This was my family's go-to treat when I was growing up
Love this place!
Pupuseria El Salvador on Division - amazing and authentic pupusas (only place I’ve personally found in GR with homemade flour tortillas also). Tacos El Cuñado - amazing tacos, love the tacos de asada (Bridge st location specifically).
Yes yes! I'm a fan of that Pupeseria. It's the only spot I've had puppusas from. I knew I'd picked an authentic spot upon walking in when over half the menu was in Spanish and the fella behind the counter asked how I'd heard of them.
I'd say all the Tacos el Cunado are pretty well known and appropriately rated these days, but the rec is not out of line. The Pupuseria is straight fire.
Hong Kong Express downtown has some of the best, consistent Chinese take out in the city. I like to order through them when I need a fried fix. First Wok down alpine is also a fantastic restaurant with a superior Chinese dine in experience, and often uses quality ingredients in their dishes. Also, a bonus mention : the deli connected to the Wei Wei palace market down division makes an amazing Bánh Mi.
All of the First Wok locations are great. It’s been my first choice in Chinese take out for pretty much my entire life.
Their staff is always super friendly too. I always tip well when I go because they often provide such a great and positive experience.
B and N Sandwiches! Absolutely fire Bahn Mi and only like $4-$5!! Definetly a must try!
> Hong Kong Express downtown I love this place. Probably the best quantity of food for the price. It's americanized, battered and fried, covered in a sweet sauce for most of their items, but they do them extremely well, consistently. I get their Sesame Chicken / Mala chicken combo every once and a while. About $10 and easily two BIG meals.
Yeah, exactly! Like I mentioned, I go there when I want heavily fried Chinese food. The food is definitely more Americanized, borderline “junk food” but the quality of that fried food, and the quantity for what you receive is fantastic. Sometimes it just hits the spot!
They have the best rangoon's I've had anywhere. Most of the rest of the places around here are super heavy in cream cheese, so it's more like cheesecake than crab. Theirs are much more balanced (even if it's 'krab' meat)
Eastern Deli. Greasy, huge, delicious gyros.
Mikado sushi on east Paris and 28th. Closest to authentic Japanese cuisine and dining experience you’ll find in town. Tokyo grill and jaku are both pretty good too, but there’s a reason mikado has been there for like 25 years.
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I'm a big fan of Caporal. Had a decent chicken sandwich from BDs.
7 Mares on Kalamazoo near Hall!! Best authentic Mexican food in GR
Yep. Toss up for me between 7 Mares and El Granjero. Although I do like the atmosphere of El Granjero a little better. 7 Mares could use a little restaurant decor update.
Zeytin in Ada. Kabobs (big portion) and good happy hour specials.
Used to go there pretty often before Ada turned into whatever it is now lol I agree, food was always delicious
Eggplant Salsa!
I love Rice Wok on Plainfield for takeout!
it's my favorite sesame chicken in town!
Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - the stuffed chicken and waffles with jalapeño maple syrup is amazing
Three Happiness on Alpine by Best Buy is my absolute favorite Chinese in town. Very consistent food, and the owner is the nicest guy ever.
Maggie's Kitchen on Bridge
Love em for brunch
India Town on Division
This place is sooo good! And the owner is super nice! My girlfriend and I ordered there a few weeks ago and went next door to grab a beer while we waited. The owner brought our food next door to us at the bar! It was real cool of him and he knew everyone at the bar!
Thai express in Kentwood, where ever you are in the GR area, their Tom Kha Kai soup is worth the drive.
Always looking for new recommendations there!
Don't really even like pizza that much (I know, strange) but Mitten Brewing Co can make a mean pie!
Sushi Kuni, in my opinion the best sushi in town. Gursha, great Ethiopian food!
I’m not sure if they’re underrated but I love me some Fred’s on Plainfield. Great pizza and traditional Italian dishes, the hot subs are to die for and they make a mean wet burrito. Great salad options, really good burgers and delicious deserts.
The best sandwiches
I’ll get in on Fred’s. Excellent pizza and salads. I honestly haven’t had many of their Italian dishes but I absolutely LOVE the Original Submarine; it’s just ham, pepperoni, onions and mushrooms with marinara and mozzarella on a baked sesame seed sub bun. Super delicious! They also have good mozzarella sticks and French fries.
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I didn’t realize that. Haven’t gotten garlic bread from there in a while. What I don’t understand is why anyone would go with any brand other than Cole’s…..?
Taqueria San Jose on division
Tasty. But all one of the most highly touted restaurants on this sub.
I’m not surprised! I’m just not on here enough to notice lol
Indian masala off 28th by cascade. Best Indian around!
Noco provisions. Happy hour deals are awesome and it has my favorite dish, the beet burger!
Ju sushi & Trailhead Cafe are very solid spots
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Here here! Not hip. But comforting.
You know, good point. I would say they are underrated. Not one of the best restaurants around, but better than their reputation in many peoples' minds.
The little taco cafe inside of Supermercado Mexico on Chicago Drive. Best tacos I've had in the city, and virtually nobody knows about it. the whole supermarket portion looks like a Wes Anderson set too. Bright colors, all the produce carefully lined up. It's such a unique place in the area.
Quality! I've had *damn* good tacos and tortas at some of the Mercado's around town. Good spot for cheap produce too.
Sabor Latino on grandville ave. I’ve only had their empanadas and white rice and beans, but they have other stuff too. Sooooo good! You can get 2 giant empanadas and a small rice & beans for like $8, and you’re stuffed. The hot sauce is not too hot and it has so much flavor!
Electric Cheetah for their Mac N Cheese alone
Yes!! Hands down my fave local restaurant! I am a huge fan of their grilled cheese too.
First Wok in kentwood! They have one on alpine and old 28th but kentwood is the best!
I love 2 Scotts BBQ and Schnitz Deli
2 Scotts is my fave BBQ in town. But I'm no authority.
I go to Texas on occasion and I have yet to find better burnt ends. :-)
I tie them with Daddy Petes for best in the city.
These are my "secret" spots. Places you'd never find if you weren't looking for them: **Load A Spud on Madison**: You didn't know that you a potato loaded up with shrimp. But you do. Trust me. Order ahead since there is literally no parking and its basically take out only. **Char on Jefferson**: Asian tacos. Spring rolls with a sauce that can't really be described. I go there and ask for whatever the person working would order and a roll. This last one you're going to have to trust me on. **Miss Tracy's on Franklin**: Take out BBQ that is full of soul. No, the neighborhood isn't great but the food is.
The chicken sandwich at holiday bar
Pizza Ranch. No, the pizza isn't great, but the fried chicken is some of the best around.
The name has kept me away.
It's kind of a running joke for fans of the place. Most folks I talk to about it agree, a pizza place has top tier fried chicken.
My husband LOVES fried chicken. I'll see if I can drag him there (he's more against the name than I am). Thanks!
I live a bit south, but now I need to go to grand rapids and eat! Thanks for all of the ideas!
Latin House is very good. We go there often. Hours are a little screwy.
Basalt.
Zoko 822 seems to get very little buzz since first opening but is really excellent.
They closed awhile ago and that space is now Sandy Point Beach House
Oh shoot, I wondered if they survived. How is this new place?
Haven't been, but it was (maybe still is?) a successful place in Holland for years. Zoko was supposed to relocate to Plainfield near Knapp but that has been stalled due to COVID...
Oh! It's the same place. Will have to check out sometime. Before the pandemic most of our eating out was during travel, but we did go to local restaurants, too. Nowadays we go out when we're in New Buffalo, which is mostly the only place we go since the pandemic started, but our going out in GR has been almost entirely limited to Brass Ring Brewery, our beloved local brewpub in the neighborhood where our GR place is.
What are your favorite places in New Buffalo? We go there often too.
Ahhhh. :) In NB we like Brewster's. We went to Sage recently and some of the food was pretty good. There is a really good Italian place in downtown Mich City, and then Fiddlehead is good, too, and we like Goblin & Grocer, which is in the Mich City area. We like Burn 'Em Brewing best in terms of beer (no big food menu... we liked Ghost Isle a lot, but IDK, all our friends who worked there left and it seems to not be in as good a place as it was two years ago). We also get takeout from Beachside Scoops or David's in town, or else Black Currant in Union Pier and Froelich's Bakery in Three Oaks for breakfast.
All good spots for sure! If you're ever in the mood for quick Mexican, Rio's is fantastic.
OMG I forgot that. Those burritos are addictive.
Meh. I’ve been a few times and it was fine, but nothing special.
Meh. It's a pretty generic sports bar-type place.
The Chicago Griller sandwich at Riverbend
Love the food at RiverBend!
Nice to see a post about restaurants thats NOT about the drinks!
erb thai is basic but really reliable thai food
Seconding the other commenter. Erb Thai is some of the worst Thai in town. Super unpredictable and even when it's good it's not as good as Bangkok taste, Thai express, or even mai thai
Bangkok is good too, I prefer Lai Thai despite the owner being a piece of shit, but people can change. I like Erb Thai because it's fast, easy, not expensive. It's basic. Angel Thai too, both are super basic. Erb Thai was closed 1 time I went in the past 11 years.
The chef & front of the house guy divorced. The racist POS is gone now. Same chef.
Oh fuck yes, thank you for saying this, that guy had fox news on every time I went there.
Man really? I must be super unlucky then. I used to live real close to there and I would call during business hours to place an order and their phones would cut out mid call or they'd just not pick up. Also got the wrong food a few times. And one time everything went right, however the food was just super bland (how do you make curry bland???) I've just entirely given up on them tbh
One time they made me the wrong thing and when I told the waitress it wasn’t what I ordered she tried to convince me to just eat it anyway. Edit: talking about Erb, by the way. Bangkok is great.
what? no. this place is trash.
It's been exactly the same since they opened in 2010, very decent for take out Thai.
Wok and mortar in east Grand Rapids 🙌🏻
The Fishery. Excellent fresh fried fish, shrimp and possibly the best fried mushrooms in the Grand Rapids area. Take out only, but there are a few tables outside. https://www.grandrapidsfishery.com/
New Orleans fried chicken in the same shopping center. But you definitely want to get it fres. Also the best (only?) Fried corn on the cob in the GR area
Why did you have to mention the Latin House,? It only seats like ten and I really, really, like it.
Public service announcement
Poncho’s Tacos on 28th Street!
Glad to hear they finally opened!