Since coming to UMich, Iâve been on an unofficial hunt for the perfect milkshake on campus. Milkshakes are a classic staple of unhealthy eating and comfort food and itâs important to know your options for flavor, convenience and price.
For me milkshakes are the holy grail of practical desserts. Not only do they stand gorgeously alone, theyâre a perfect compliment to a burger and fries. Why is it that such unhealthy foods go so beautifully together?
Letâs be real: Ann Arbor is a foodie sanctuary, and when it comes to a timeless desert like this one, thereâs bound to be infinite delicious options. Go forth and use this article as an excuse to let yourself (and your stress) go into the creamy deliciousness that Ann Arborâs milkshakes have to offer.
BurgerFi
Located on the corner of South U and Observatory, Burgerfi is the perfect post game day or darty stop. We all know the burgers are amazing with that signature charcoal stamp, but their malts and shakes arenât half bad either.
Burgerfi offers 8 flavors of malts and shakes, coming in at around $5 each. Flavors include vanilla, chocolate and strawberryâŠand red velvet, black and white, peanut butter and coffee mocha. Warning: all of their malts and shakes are made with custard instead of ice cream, making them even thicker (beware, your straw will be rendered utterly useless).
Burgerfi is also open late on weekendsâ3 AMâ and if youâre a milkshake and French fry dipper, theyâve got you covered with several different options for fry seasonings. Bonus: they might not have many flavors for milkshakes, but they have frozen concretes and TONS of toppings and mix-ins for all of their custard-y treats.
Burgerfi has, without a doubt, the most âgramable milkshake, but since itâs more expensive and youâll generally have to wait a bit, I would look elsewhere for a more authentic milkshake experience.
Pizza House
Not only is their cheesy bread to die for, but if you order it (or any of their other late night specials)Â after midnight, the drink is complimentary. Plus, itâs open until 4 AM everyday of the week.
They have 18 options around $6 each. And if youâre not feeling the whole 16 ounces, you can get a mini shake option for much cheaper. If you do decide to do the sit-down dinner thing, their milkshakes are gorgeous in houseâthey come in an old fashioned glass with heaps of whipped cream, so come for the pizza and stay for the milkshakes.
Rayâs Red Hots
Rayâs is that place you walk past on your way to East Quad thatâs constantly bumping music outside. It has a grand total of 33 different milkshake optionsâbasically anything youâre craving, theyâll have. Rayâs doesnât have much indoor seating, but it definitely has old-time indoor hot dog stand charm.
I sampled a Butterscotch milkshake here, and not only was it delicious, but they brought it out literally 30 seconds after ordering. Rayâs is pretty accessible from all of campus (itâs right behind Pizza House), but if youâre too lazy to walk, you can get a milkshake delivered through the Eat Street app or website.
Rayâs earns the #3 spot for itâs fun diner atmosphere and the most options for any milkshake on this list.
Tied for first: Quickie Burger and Pizza Bobâs
Quickie Burger and Pizza Bobâs are tied because of their authentic and delicious milkshake experience. These are probably the places your parents that went to U of M talk about all the timeâtheyâre old, but still around so obviously theyâre doing something right (I can attest to that). Both places have that old-time diner-y vibe with Michigan memorabilia all over the walls.
The milkshakes were both outstanding and the service was fast. Pizza Bobâs has 19 flavor options, second only to Rayâs, including hot fudge, almond, chocolate chip and caramel. I would *highly* recommend the hot fudge.
Both are also (conveniently) the cheapest options on this list, which is always a (necessary) bonus for us poor college students.
In addition to being delicious as well as classic, the two seriously could not be in a more perfect game day location whether youâre headed to Crisler, Yost or the Big House.
Quickie and Pizza Bobâs might feel further from campus because theyâre so close to the Big House, but theyâre actually only a couple blocks from the Union. If thatâs too much for you, let yourself be motivated by the cheaper price (definitely worth it), sheer deliciousness and calories youâll probably burn trekking there.