2022 Best Restaurants in Kalamazoo: Top-Voted Food in SWMI

Bakery

Best Bakery

Boonzaaijer Bakery

From scratch baking is no small feat. In order to have their shelves stocked when they open their doors with bread, pastries and cakes, bakers often start their days while the rest of us are still sleeping.

And for Southwest Michigan customers, local bakers do not make our purchase decisions easy: with their cases piled high with mouth-watering treats, it’s hard not to bring home one (or two) of everything.

In our best restaurants of Kalamazoo voting, bakeries were one of our tightest races: proof that all of these are mega talented and delicious.

Breakfast

Best Breakfast

Crow’s Nest Restaurant

Breakfast is big in Kalamazoo. With cereal giant Kellogg in nearby Battle Creek, local residents recognize the value of the most important meal of the day.

When locals are ready to level up their corn flakes, SWMI restaurants serve up some pretty decadent choices: crepes, waffle flights, stuffed French toast and omelets are just a few of their offerings. Read on for the best breakfast restaurants in Kalamazoo:

Boba Tea

While relatively new in the United States, bubble tea or “Boba” tea dates back to the 1980s in Taiwan. In its most common form, this cold tea is served with ice and chewy tapioca balls but can include other flavors or toppings.

Boba’s popularity has been steadily growing in SWMI. See the top five favorite spots for this fun beverage:

Brewery

Best Brewery

One Well Brewing

Stated simply, a brewery makes beer. And while Southwest Michigan’s breweries make some fantastic, hoppy beverages, they offer much more.

These top five Kalamazoo area breweries provide full dining experiences with yummy food, mug clubs, game nights, family friendly spaces and fun, outdoor spaces for patio season.

Burger

Known for its popularity among fast food restaurants, the burger takes a major upgrade in Kalamazoo restaurants with high quality beef cooked to perfection and often locally sourced buns and vegetables.

Order your next burger from one of the five locations below:

Cheesecake

Best Cheesecake

Four Roses Cafe

As decadent desserts go, cheesecake is one of the best. The creamy, cream cheese-based treat can be served plain with a graham cracker curst, or made even more indulgent with fruit, ganache or peanut butter.

Whether you’re a traditional New York style fan or looking for something more extravagant, Kalamazoo bakers have you covered.

Try these five spots for the best in town:

Chicken Sandwich

Best Chicken Sandwich

Nonla Burger

While a fried chicken sandwich sounds like a pretty easy entree, don’t underestimate the skill to craft one.

These restaurants in Kalamazoo have nailed the perfect blend of a crispy exterior paired with a tender and juicy center:

Coffee Shop

Best Coffee Shop

Great Grounds Coffee Cafe

Coffee shops provide more than just a caffeinated start to your day: some diners cherish an extended stay with a good book and a cup of joe.

For others, coffee shops may simply be a convenient stop for a favorite beverage on the way to work.

Whether you sit down or drive through, these coffee shops were voted the best in Southwest Michigan:

Date Night Restaurant

Best Date Night Restaurant

Four Roses Cafe

Although date nights are not a common occurrence for local parents, they are a cherished one. When moms and dads have the opportunity to go out for dinner, they often request somewhere special with unique food and outstanding service.

All of the top voted date night restaurants fit the bill; make reservations at one of these spots for your next date night in Kalamazoo.

Ice Cream/Yogurt Shop

Best Ice Cream Shop

Plainwell Ice Cream Co.

While very popular in the warmer months, ice cream can be enjoyed year-round in Kalamazoo. Whether scooped or soft serve, yogurt, custard or ice cream, there are plenty of frosty options in Southwest Michigan.

Our readers picked these five shops as their favorite spots to enjoy frozen treats:

Best Kids Menu

Main Street Pub

Let’s face it: many restaurants do not offer great options for feeding kids. When you find one that has multiple choices that your child actually enjoys, it feels a bit like winning the restaurant lottery.

Next time you head out to eat with the family, consider these suggestions from our readers (and maybe stop for some scratch off tickets on the way home).

Nachos

Best Nachos

Shakespeares’s Pub

Once considered a snack or side dish, nachos have found their time to shine in recent years, elevating its status to main course.

These restaurants in Kalamazoo are the best of the best when it comes to full plates of entree-sized nachos:

New Restaurant

Best New Restaurant

Skinny Kenny’s BBQ

Opening a new restaurant is BIG leap of faith. And yet, local owners have stepped up to the plate (in a pandemic nonetheless), to open their doors in Kalamazoo.

Our readers cast their votes for their favorite new spots in town; to qualify as “new” for our ballot, a restaurant either opened in 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.

Here are the top five new restaurants to share their amazing food and atmosphere with SWMI diners:

Pizza

If you ask ten people for the best pizza toppings, you’ll likely receive ten different answers. Add in crusts (thin, hand-tossed, deep dish, gluten free, New York Style, and Detroit style, to name a few), and your pizza options grow exponentially.

While it’s unlikely you will find anyone to agree upon the best toppings and crust combination, you will find many who love the same pizza restaurants. These spots were voted the best restaurants in Kalamazoo for pizza:

Sandwich Shop

Best Sandwich Shop

Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders

There’s a difference between restaurants that simply serve sandwiches and true sandwich shops. All of these spots bake their own bread and offer high quality meats and fresh toppings, often with sauces made from scratch.

The next time you need a Reuben, BLT or traditional ham and cheese, try these top five spots for a sandwich crafted by the experts:

Sushi

With its origins in Japan, sushi has become an increasingly popular dish in the United States. While the ingredients vary, traditional sushi includes vinegared rice and raw fish wrapped in seaweed.

For local sushi fans, these restaurants offer the best in Kalamazoo:

Taco

It doesn’t have to be Tuesday to enjoy a taco in Kalamazoo. Whether crunchy or soft, chicken, beef or vegetarian, authentic or American style, there are tacos for all tastebuds in Southwest Michigan.

Readers voted these spots as the best restaurants in Kalamazoo to grab a taco: