The Grand Rapids Restaurant Guide

An editorial guide to the 308 restaurants worth your time in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reviewed and ranked across 37 neighborhoods and 19 cuisines. The newsletter goes out the first Tuesday of each month.

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Top Picks

Best restaurants right now

Ranked by review quality, popularity, and how actively diners are talking about them.

Pizza

Quarantino's

★ 4.9(695)· $$

The Crab Rangoon pizza, a Detroit-style rectangle with creamy crab filling and sweet chili heat, is the kind of thing that gets people talking. Quarantino's runs a tight menu of bold, inventive pies on a properly blistered, thick-edged crust that holds its shape when you pick it up. The pickle sticks and sourdough bread with hot honey are worth ordering alongside.

American

Black Napkin

★ 4.8(1,057)· $$

The College Dropout smash burger, stacked with Grand Cru cheese, smashed vidalia onions, and peppercorn tomato jam, is the reason there's a line out the door most days. Counter-order, takeout-preferred, four small tables inside. The Rust Fries (sweet paprika, coriander, garlic, mustard seasoning, $5) are not an afterthought.

Chinese

Chopstick House

★ 4.8(1,042)· $

The Kung Pao chicken and crab rangoon keep regulars driving 25 minutes out of their way to this Wyoming strip-mall staple. Lunch specials come in under $10, portions run generous, and the fried rice earns repeat mentions across basically every order. Staff reportedly remember your usual.

Mediterranean

Chicago Style Gyro

★ 4.8(873)· $

The Chicago gyro comes up in nearly every review, and for good reason: the gyro meat, fresh seasoning, and house sauce make it the anchor of the menu. The Quarter Pound Burger at $7 (add cheese for $0.75) is a legitimate deal. Counter-service spot on Leonard with one or two people running the whole show, and it moves fast.

Seafood

Wing Kingz

★ 4.8(840)· $$

The 25-piece lemon pepper dry rub wings are what people drive to Diamond Ave for, and the fish (perch fingers, whole fried) draws regulars who swear it never tastes fishy. Kool-Aid is on the drink menu, which is either nostalgic or exactly right depending on who you ask. Pickup orders run prompt and the owner sends you off right.

American

One Stop Coney

★ 4.8(789)· $

The bacon-wrapped dog with mac-n-cheese and the Korean corndog in a panko crust are the kind of menu swings that set One Stop Coney apart. The fries come up in nearly every review, and the prices stay low. There's an N64 in the back with GoldenEye loaded up.

Sandwiches

Go Vegan GR

★ 4.9(246)

The Libra Tip the Scales Philly shows up in multiple reviews for a reason: well-seasoned, fast out of the kitchen, and convincing enough that non-vegans keep coming back. Orders are typically ready in 10-15 minutes. Get the cajun fries on the side.

American

Papa Chops Eatery

★ 4.8(647)· $$

Papa Chops is a fully dedicated gluten-free kitchen on 28th St, which means coeliacs and gluten-allergic diners get the whole menu. The mozzarella sticks come up in multiple reviews, described as huge, and the Nashville chicken sandwich and olive burger both earn repeat mentions. Portions run large and the room is clean and spacious.

The Dispatch