10 Michigan Food Sayings That Outsiders Have No Idea What They Mean

Michigan has its own secret food language, one that leaves visitors scratching their heads in diners, drive-ins, and party stores across the state.

From mysterious pastries to oddly named drinks, Michiganders throw around terms that sound completely bewildering to anyone who didn’t grow up in the Great Lakes State.

But don’t worry, once you crack the code, you’ll never listen to a lunch order the same way again. Grab a seat, loosen your belt, and get ready to learn what Michiganders really mean when they talk about food!

1. Paczki Day

Fat Tuesday takes on a whole new meaning in Michigan, where bakeries sell out of these Polish jelly donuts faster than you can say “Hamtramck.” Pronounced “poonch-key,” these pillowy treats are stuffed with fruit fillings and dusted with enough powdered sugar to create a sweet snowstorm.

People line up before dawn at bakeries across the state, especially in Polish communities. The tradition came from Polish immigrants who needed to use up all their lard and sugar before Lent began. Now everyone fights over the last raspberry-filled one, regardless of their heritage.

Outsiders hear “Paczki Day” and think it’s some weird Michigan holiday they missed in school.

2. Boston Cooler

Nothing about this fizzy treat has anything to do with Boston, Massachusetts. While often associated with Detroit’s Boston Boulevard, the exact origin of the name isn’t definitively proven. This beloved beverage combines Vernors ginger ale with vanilla ice cream to create pure Michigan magic.

The secret is using Vernors specifically—that barrel-aged, super-spicy ginger soda that’s been made in Detroit since 1866. Regular ginger ale simply won’t cut it for true Michiganders. The combination creates a creamy, fizzy explosion that tastes like childhood summers.

Ask for a Boston Cooler outside Michigan and you’ll probably get a confused look and maybe some iced tea. Here, it’s serious business and the perfect remedy for hot summer days.

3. Conies

Coney Island is in New York, but conies belong to Michigan—specifically Detroit. These aren’t your average hot dogs; they’re an art form topped with meaty chili sauce, yellow mustard, and finely chopped white onions.

Two rival restaurants, Lafayette and American Coney Island, sit next door to each other downtown and have been feuding over the best recipe since 1917. Families have split over which side they’re on. The chili is the star—it’s not thick and bean-filled like Texas chili, but a savory, spiced meat sauce.

Visitors expect a fancy boardwalk treat but get a delicious Detroit tradition that requires plenty of napkins and zero shame.

4. Detroit-Style Square

Round pizza is so overrated when you can have corners of crispy, caramelized cheese perfection. Detroit-style pizza is baked in square pans that were originally used for auto parts, giving it those distinctive crispy edges and thick, airy crust.

The cheese goes all the way to the edges and gets gloriously crispy against the hot pan. Toppings go on first, then cheese, and the sauce gets painted on top in racing stripes after baking. It’s basically the opposite of how most pizzas are made.

People from other states hear “square pizza” and think of sad cafeteria slices. Michiganders know it’s actually superior geometry in action.

5. Pasties

Yoopers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula practically run on these hefty meat pies that Cornish miners brought over in the 1800s. A pasty (rhymes with “nasty,” not “tasty”) is a half-moon shaped pastry stuffed with beef, potatoes, rutabaga, and onions.

The thick crimped crust edge served as a handle for miners with dirty hands—they’d eat the filling and toss the grimy crust. Some people eat them with ketchup, which causes heated debates at UP potlucks. Others prefer gravy or just enjoy them plain.

Pronounce it wrong or call it a “hand pie” and you’ll immediately out yourself as a tourist in the northwoods.

6. Wet Burrito

Grand Rapids claims to have invented this saucy masterpiece that’s basically a burrito drowning in enchilada sauce and melted cheese. It’s messy, massive, and requires both a fork and knife—no hand-held eating here.

The burrito gets stuffed with meat, beans, rice, and all the fixings, then absolutely smothered in sauce until it resembles a cheesy, saucy volcano. Some places add sour cream and lettuce on top for good measure. It’s the kind of meal that requires strategic planning and possibly a bib.

Outsiders wonder why anyone would ruin a perfectly good handheld burrito. Michiganders know that wetter is definitely better when it comes to this comfort food classic.

7. Superman

This superhero-colored ice cream features electric blue, bright red, and sunny yellow swirls that look like they came straight from a comic book. The flavor is surprisingly hard to describe—kind of fruity, kind of vanilla-ish, definitely artificial, and completely addictive.

Every Michigan kid has sported a blue tongue after demolishing a cone of Superman on a summer day. Some say it tastes like blue moon, cherry, and lemon; others swear it’s just sugar and food coloring working together in delicious harmony. Nobody really knows for sure.

Request Superman ice cream outside Michigan and ice cream shops will look at you like you’ve lost your mind and your taste buds.

8. Olive Burger

Burgers and olives might sound like an odd couple, but Michigan knows this combination is pure genius. The olive burger features a beef patty topped with a creamy, mayo-based sauce mixed with chopped green olives.

Weston’s Kewpee Burger in Lansing is famous for popularizing this delicacy. The tangy, briny olives cut through the richness of the beef and mayo perfectly. Some versions include whole olive slices on top for extra olive power.

People from out of state wrinkle their noses at the idea until they take that first bite. Then they understand why Michiganders have been keeping this secret weapon quiet for nearly a century.

9. Bumpy Cake

Sanders, the Detroit chocolate company, created this iconic cake that looks like a chocolate mountain range. Devil’s food cake gets topped with rows of buttercream frosting bumps, then the whole thing gets covered in rich chocolate fudge.

The bumps are the whole point—they create different textures in every bite. Some people eat around the bumps first, while others dive straight down the middle. It’s been a Michigan birthday party staple since 1913.

The texture combination of soft cake, creamy buttercream bumps, and chocolate fudge is absolutely perfect. Outsiders hear “bumpy cake” and picture something that went wrong in the oven, not a deliberate delicious design.

10. Party Store

Michiganders casually say they’re running to the party store, and visitors expect balloons and streamers. Instead, they find a regular convenience store selling pop, chips, and lottery tickets.

These neighborhood corner stores got the name because they sell party supplies like drinks and mixers, not because they’re particularly festive. They’re basically the Michigan version of a bodega or corner market. Every neighborhood has one where locals grab their essentials.

The confusion is real when someone from out of state hears, “I’m going to the party store for milk.” They wonder what kind of wild parties Michiganders are throwing that require dairy products from specialty shops.