Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger

• 304 S. Ashley Street
• Ann Arbor, MI 48104
• (734) 663-4590
• Website
• Menu

I don’t get to Ann Arbor nearly enough. There are so many great options for food there but I really don’t have much of a reason to go there.

I found a reason early last week. I was heading to Detroit for work and while a pitstop in Ann Arbor was a little out of my way, I really wanted a burger from a place I haven’t been to in years.

Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger is legendary in Ann Arbor. The first time I visited Blimpy Burger was back in 2008 when they were in their original building on Division Street. They were kicked out of that building in 2013 when the owner of the building, and widow of Blimpy Burger’s founder, sold the property to the University of Michigan.

About a year after the burger joint had to close, they found a new location downtown.

The second iteration of Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger is on Ashley Street near Liberty Street on the west side of downtown Ann Arbor. The building is part of a row of buildings and used to be Eastern Flame. The next door neighbor is another well known Ann Arbor staple, Fleetwood Diner.

The restaurant is divided in to two distinct spaces. The order area is kind of up a ramp to the back of the space. There’s a pretty specific way to order Blimpy Burger as outlined on their website. There’s a long counter that runs parallel to the deep fryers and the flat top. The cook asks you questions, in a specific order, about what you want.

I was taking mine to go so I didn’t grab a tray. The cook started in with his questions food from the fryer (I got fries) then moves on to number of patties (4), bun (plain white), grilled items (bacon and a fried egg), followed by dressings (I chose none because I was going to eat in the car.) The whole process took a little over ten minutes and cost me a little over $13 for the burger and fries.

I still had to get to Detroit so my meal was bagged up but there is a pretty good size dining room in the front of the space for those looking to dine-in.

I started with the fries because they were the easiest to eat in the car. They’re simple frozen french fries…more of a steak fry than traditional restaurant fries. They have some salt on them but not a lot. They’re the kind of fry that could use a little something to dip them in (which was offered..but again, driving).

I remember the burgers from Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger being fantastic. It was always one of those places I wish weren’t so far away.

My order was the Quint….four burger patties…with cheddar cheese, bacon, and a fried egg. The burgers are so simple but so dang delicious. The meat totals up to about a half a pound in thinly pounded patties with a small slice of cheese between each layer. The fresh beef makes all the difference in bugers and Blimpy Burger gets it right. The meat is fresh, juicy, and falls apart with each bite.

I wrote in 2008, “Blimpy Burger is NOT all hype.  They really do have good food.” That’s still true. Cheap, greasy burgers something every college town needs. Krazy Jim Blimpy’s Burger has been around for decades and it was a sad day in Ann Arbor when they closed the original location. Location doesn’t matter for anything other than nostalgia. The food is still fantastic and that’s all the really matters.