A Townie’s Guide to Food at the Ann Arbor Art Fair

If you’re from here, you already know the Ann Arbor Art Fair isn’t just about the art. It’s a tradition, a reunion, and honestly, a walking buffet. Whether you’re sneaking out during your lunch break or you’ve committed to a full day of soaking up the sun (and the sidewalk heat), here’s how to eat your way through Art Fair like a local. Let’s talk food from quick bites, gourmet trucks, sweet snacks, to underrated booths that most out-of-towners will walk right past. Let’s go.

🔥 GRAB + GO Favorites (For Locals Who Know)

Need a fast bite without the sit-down wait? These Art Fair locations let you grab something solid and keep it moving:

New York Pizza Depot – WI601-607 | A campus classic. Foldable slices, fast service.

Amer’s Deli – ST322-326 | Great for wraps, hummus plates, and a solid iced coffee.

Knight’s Steakhouse – MA303-309 | Yes, Knight’s is here! Try a steak sandwich or burger.

Ashley’s – ST366-372 | Beer lovers, this one's for you—plus solid pub grub.

Iggy’s Eggies – LI621 | Breakfast all day? Say less. The egg sandwich never misses.

Pitaway – William St. | If you’re craving Mediterranean, this is the move.

Slurping Turtle – LI616-618 | Ramen might not scream “street food,” but this booth makes it work.

UniTea – William St. | Boba, teas, and smoothies. It’s a vibe and a lifesaver on hot days.

Bodega Bros – NU721 | Street-style Mexican with real Ann Arbor flavor.

Buffalo Wild Wings – ST201-203 | Wings on the go? It’s chaos, but it works.

🚚 Gourmet Food Trucks on E. Washington & N. University

Looking for something that feels a little more curated? This is where the real flavor hits:

Impasto – handmade pasta that’s fast, fresh, and photogenic

Vegano Italiano – plant-based Italian that's packed with Italian flavor

Good Eats – comfort food and sandwiches that will hold you down

Donuts NV – hot, sugary, melt-in-your-mouth mini donuts

The Nut Chamber – roasted nuts and fair favorites

Little Drink Co – iced lattes, lemonades, slushies, you name it

Cultured Kombucha Co – for when your gut needs a break from fried food

A’s Sweets & Treats – cupcakes, cake jars, cookies—say yes

Red Barn Café – rustic flavors with a gourmet twist

Bonus: There's shaded seating with umbrellas, so you can enjoy your food and still escape the sun for a minute.

🍫 Street Food Vendors You Might Miss (But Shouldn’t)

Scattered along the Fair are some seriously underrated street food vendors—great for snacks between booths:

Ohio Farm Direct – TH324 | Local cheese and farm-fresh vibes

Motor City Macarons & Bakeshop – TH302 | Grab a box and thank me later

Jose Madrid Salsa – ST349 | Stock up—samples are spicy and so is the merch

Freakin’ Pickles – ST363-365 | A pickle for every personality

Harvest Kettle Corn – ST351 | Grab the biggest bag, trust me

Top That Chocolate – ST323 | Chocolate bark magic

JT’s Freeze Dried Candy – ST320 | If you like crunchy, airy versions of your favorite sweets, this is the stop

Paul’s Gourmet Jerky – ST355 | Great snack to throw in your bag and walk with

Maison Wurst – LI318 | Big German energy—brats, sauerkraut, mustard

Dole Whipilicious – LI306 | Iconic soft-serve, super refreshing

Sugarcane Galore – ST339 | Real-deal cane juice

Z-Toga Chocolate Moonshine – LI319 | Chocolates with a kick—grown folks only

🍩 Don’t Skip the Zingerman’s Experience (Seriously)

Seven Zingerman’s businesses, all under one tent on Ingalls Mall. You’ll walk by and smell it first. Here’s what’s inside:

Zingerman’s Roadhouse

Miss Kim

Zingerman’s Creamery

Zingerman’s Cornman Farms

Zingerman’s Bakehouse

Zingerman’s Coffee Co

Zingerman’s Candy Company

It’s basically a tasting tour of everything Zingerman’s does best, without having to drive all over Washtenaw County. If you're only stopping once, hit the Bakehouse for a brownie and the Creamery for gelato.

My Ideal Local Food Crawl (Copy This If You’re Clueless)

Morning: Iced coffee from the Zingermans Tent + egg sandwich from Iggy’s

Midday Snack: Pickle from Freakin’ Pickles + something fried from Good Eats

Lunch: a wrap from Pitaway or Zingerman’s Roadhouse pulled pork

Afternoon Sweet: Donuts NV or Dole Soft serve

Dinner: Sit on Bellflower’s patio or hit Impasto’s pasta truck

Last Stop: Chocolate from Z-Toga and maybe a kombucha to “balance it out”

Real Talk from a Townie

Doesn't matter if this is your first Fair or your fifteenth; don’t sleep on the food. Sure, the art is amazing. But the real magic? It’s in finding that one spot you didn’t plan on loving, and eating it sitting on a curb next to a Street performance, a painter from out of state, and someone’s grandma who's been coming every year since '72.

Tag @AnnArborHub if you find something fire—we’re always down to repost the real townie picks.