Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger is one of maybe five reasons why I can never leave Ann Arbor. The food should in no way be confused with something healthy. If you are a health nut or are planning on visiting Blimpy with a health nut in tow, don't bother. The joy of Blimpy is knowing that you are eating something for the simple joy of eating it.
During the school year, especially during the warmer months, it is not unusual to find a line of hungry, excited people snaking its way through the limited seating area and out the front door. Be ready to wait a while during the lunch hour. If you can't stand for 20 to 30 minutes while waiting to place your order, you may want to visit during off-hours.
In order for people to be served in an efficient manner, it is necessary for the patrons to be paying attention and decisive when ordering. First-timers need to watch the people ahead of them in line, listen to the questions they are being asked by the people behind the counter, and be ready to answer those questions when the time comes.
The number of ordering options at Blimpy will make your head explode. Want 10 burger patties, just ask. If you want a fried egg on your burger, go for it. If you want grilled onions, mushrooms, bacon, go ahead and ask, they have it. Pepper rings, blue cheese, green olives, no problem. I tend to avoid the overwhelming number of options and order one of two no-brainer burgers on the menu: The Pepper Steak Bullet or The Chili Size.
Pepper Steak Bullet: triple with Swiss cheese, grilled onions and banana peppers, with chopped scallions, bacon, and ranch dressing, on an onion bun (I'll normally get an order of onion rings to go with it). Chili Size: triple with American cheese, covered in chili, and topped with chopped onion, tomato, and banana peppers on a kaiser roll. You won't be able to pick it up so they are kind enough to provide a fork (I normally order a side of chili fries with this).
The quirkiness and character of the joint and the people who work there makes it a fun time. It's an experience. If you want a plain old vanilla, personality-free dining experience go to Big Boy or McDonald's. If you want to go to place that will give you a story to tell, go to Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger.
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Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger has been an Ann Arbor institution since 1953, and has a winning motto: cheaper than food. That may not be quite as much the case as it was in the beginning, but you can still get a great lunch for around $5, and the quality of the ingredients are part of what makes Blimpy Burger so special. The meat is fresh and hand-ground, and the golf ball sized patties are pounded into submission on a grill with a lovely, well-seasoned surface. That grill has seen a lot of burgers, but also onions, mushrooms, bacon, eggs, and crispy cheese bits that ooze off the sides of the patties.
Blimpy Burger meets several of the qualifications for a Roadfood establishment. Blimpy’s has been in business for a long time, doing one thing particularly well, and has maintained a loyal customer base despite (or because of) the cantankerous and quirky service. The small building's interior resembles a diner, with walls covered with "Best of" awards and photographs of the manager’s amazing snow sculptures of burger-loving polar bears that grace the storefront every winter. Another important characteristic of a Roadfood place is the predominance of a SYSTEM. Blimpy Burger's is posted on signs that make more sense after you've gone there a few times. You must approach the line in an orderly fashion, take a tray whether you're ordering a meal of your own or not, turn off your cell phone, and answer only the questions put to you.
First, do you want anything from the fryer? We heartily recommend that you say yes. The fries are of the steak variety, just moments out of the oil and generously heaped into a paper container. Lots of people love the breaded and fried vegetables, which include mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini and onions. Depending on your onion ring loyalties, you may find these among the best ever. They are just how I like mine: thin and crispy with a lacy coating that bears no resemblance to the thick, one-bite-and-the-onion-falls-out variety.
Next, do you want a double, triple, quad or quint (I’ve heard that each burger ball weighs about a tenth of a pound)? Regular bun, onion, or kaiser (we like the regular, which doesn't overwhelm the beef)? Accompanied by onions, mushrooms, fried egg or bacon? Salami?? We like to get doubles with cheddar and onions (I once heard a guy order a quad with bacon, but I was not so bold). The beauty of Blimpy is that the burger appears well-balanced at both the low- and high-octane versions. After the grill cook slings your patties around for a while, you are asked about cheese; Swiss and cheddar appear to be popular choices, but we also saw someone receive a healthy pile of feta on theirs.
If all goes well, you can manage to avoid the scorn of the proprietor and the line cooks--but don't count on it. The system is venerated more than communicated, and you are bound to mess it up. But trust us, the derision you risk if you ask for things out of order (condiments, by the way, are dead last) is nothing compared to the joys of the meal that awaits you. The patties are flavorful, with crisp edges that contrast pleasantly with the juicy, greasy, beefiness. The condiments, which are assembled at your request, are fresh and skillfully arranged. The fried items are so hot that you risk injury unless you restrain yourself. We recommend that you enjoy your tray of food on the small but leafy outdoor deck, which is often crowded with a mix of University of Michigan undergraduates, local workmen, and be-suited professionals in search of a meal that is friendly to the stomach (if daunting to the heart).
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Krazy Jim's Blimpyburger is the best hamburger stand in southeast Michigan. The Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce recognizes this establishment and the oldest fast food in town and it has been there for over 50 years. They claim combinations of burgers and toppings in the hundreds of thousands.
The staff are a little odd and would remind you of a certain Seinfeld character. Make sure you grab your tray at the right location and pay attention to the ordering scheme. It is very specific.
I recommend a triple or quad depending on your appetite, because they use small -- golf ball sized -- patties and smash them on the grill as they are cooking. When you get your change, take note. They still use $2 bills and 50 cent pieces to make change.
All of the effort is worth it though after you bite into one of the world's best burgers.
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