14 Iconic Michigan Pasty Shops Preserving 1800s Baking Traditions
Pasties arrived in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with Cornish miners in the 1800s, becoming a beloved regional staple that combines flaky pastry with savory fillings.
These hand-held meat pies served as practical, portable meals for workers descending deep into copper and iron mines.
Today, several family-owned shops across Michigan continue making pasties using century-old recipes and techniques, keeping this delicious tradition alive for generations to come.
1. Syl’s Cafe
Right in Ontonagon since 1947, Syl’s serves pasties so authentic they’ve earned legendary status among locals and tourists alike.
A secret family recipe passed down through generations gives these handheld meals their distinctive flavor profile. The perfectly crimped edges and golden-brown crusts make each bite a journey back to mining-era Michigan.
2. Roy’s Pasties & Bakery
Marquette residents flock to Roy’s for pasties crafted with precision and care that would make any Cornish grandmother proud.
Watching the bakers hand-crimp each pasty through the open kitchen window adds to the authentic experience. Roy’s offers both traditional beef and vegetarian options, all encased in buttery pastry that shatters perfectly with each bite.
3. Joe’s Pasty Shop
Founded by a former miner, Joe’s in Ironwood maintains the authentic pasty-making methods that sustained generations of hardworking copper miners.
Visitors marvel at the hefty size of these meal-in-one creations. Each pasty contains the perfect ratio of rutabaga, potato, onion, and beef, all wrapped in a crust that manages to be both sturdy and delicate.
4. Au Train Grocery & Motel
Surprising pasty-seekers since the 1930s, this unassuming combination grocery store and motel serves some of the UP’s most coveted hand pies.
Road-trippers often plan detours just to grab these pasties for lakeside picnics. What makes them special? A particularly flaky crust and generous filling that maintains the perfect moisture balance without becoming soggy.
5. Toni’s Country Kitchen
Morning crowds gather at Toni’s in Laurium where pasties emerge from ovens by 8 AM, often selling out before noon.
Local miners’ descendants swear these taste exactly like their great-grandmothers’ recipes. The distinguishing feature at Toni’s is their slightly peppery filling and a crust that achieves the perfect balance between substantial and tender.
6. Barb’s Pasties & Pizza
Operating from a century-old family recipe, Barb’s in Clawson brings Upper Peninsula pasty traditions to metro Detroit.
Meat-lovers appreciate the generous protein-to-vegetable ratio in their classic pasties. Unlike many competitors, Barb’s uses a particular folding technique that creates a thicker edge, perfect for holding without breakage.
7. The Hut Inn
Miners’ descendants run this Calumet institution where pasties remain virtually unchanged since copper boom days.
Cold-weather travelers appreciate the hearty portions that warm both body and soul. Particularly noteworthy is their slightly sweet crust that contrasts beautifully with the savory filling, creating a flavor complexity rarely found elsewhere.
8. Pasty Corner
Located at a literal corner in St. Ignace, this family-operated shop welcomes Mackinac Bridge crossers to the UP with freshly baked delights.
Vacationers often buy extras to freeze for later, extending their UP experience. What sets these pasties apart is a particularly thin, yet never soggy bottom crust and a generous amount of rutabaga that adds distinctive sweetness.
9. Suomi Home Bakery & Restaurant
Finnish influence shines through at Suomi’s in Houghton, where pasties reflect the cultural melding that shaped Copper Country cuisine.
College students from Michigan Tech make this their introduction to authentic UP food culture. Suomi’s distinctive touch includes caraway seeds in the filling and a particularly light, almost ethereal crust despite its structural integrity.
10. Muldoon’s Pasties & Gifts
Munising travelers discover Muldoon’s pasties wrapped in brown paper bags, perfect for adventures in nearby Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Hikers appreciate the structural integrity that prevents mid-trail crumbling. Muldoon’s signature move involves a touch of vinegar in the dough, creating a distinctive tanginess that complements the savory filling beautifully.
11. Mohawk Superette
Small-town charm defines Mohawk Superette, where pasties emerge from a tiny kitchen inside what looks like an ordinary convenience store.
Locals know to arrive early before daily batches sell out completely. The distinguishing feature here is an unusually high ratio of onions in the filling, caramelized during baking to add a remarkable sweetness.
12. Lehto’s Pasties
Summer pilgrims to Mackinac Island often detour to Lehto’s roadside stand in St. Ignace, operating since 1947 with a take-out only model.
Road-trippers appreciate the special wrapping that keeps pasties warm for hours. Lehto’s distinction comes from their uniquely seasoned ground beef and a higher ratio of rutabaga than most competitors, creating a sweeter profile.
13. Lawry’s Pasty Shop
Marquette’s pasty lovers debate fiercely about Lawry’s versus competitors, but all agree on the exceptional quality maintained since 1946.
Cross-country skiers fuel winter adventures with these portable meals. Lawry’s unique approach includes a touch of carrots in their filling and a particularly generous amount of black pepper that creates a distinctive warming effect.
14. Yooper Pasty Company
Modern interpretations meet traditional techniques at Yooper Pasty in Ironwood, where classic recipes share menu space with creative variations.
Curious food enthusiasts appreciate options like chicken pot pie and breakfast pasties alongside traditional beef. Despite their innovations, Yooper maintains authentic crimping techniques and proper pastry-to-filling ratios that honor UP heritage.
