Great Local Sandwiches: The Olive Burger, a Michigan Specialty

I’m a fan of local sandwiches and other local dishes, the ones that are closely identified with a particular city. Think of the cheesesteak and Philadelphia, Beef on Weck and Buffalo, and the muffuletta and New Orleans. Some sandwiches spread far and wide, across the country, as has the ubiquitous cheesesteak. The quality of the sandwiches diminishes, however, as the distance from the source increases. This inverse relationship is set out in Newton’s Law of Universal Gravity and Sandwiches.

I’m especially interested in the sandwiches that never seem to spread, but remain beloved at home. Think of the Crownburger of Salt Lake, one of my favorites, and the Guberburger of Sedalia, Missouri. I’m thinking right now of the Olive Burger of southern Michigan, thanks to the invaluable Dining with Frankie and their review of the Choo Choo Grill in Grand Rapids. Read the report and you’ll learn more about the olive burger and also an intriguing peanut butter milkshake — and a charming old school restaurant as well.

As you can imagine, Michigan cites have been jostling each other for years to claim to be the Home of the Olive Burger. Lansing points to Weston’s Kewpie Sandwich Shoppe, which claims to have been serving olive burgers for over a century. Flint makes a like claim for the Halo Burger, but Lansing stole a march and held the First Annual Olive Burger Festival on June 24, 2023.

The exact composition of the olive burger is a matter of predictable contention. Chopped or sliced? Pimientos? Just olives or a spread? There also are efforts to corrupt the purity of the olive burger by adding extraneous toppings such as ham and hot peppers. Is nothing sacred?

I kick myself that we didn’t know about the olive burger when Nancy and I were in Lansing doing our 10k state capital walk. We passed very close to it. We ate at Meat BBQ, which was fine, but not really special, and I wonder if I’ll ever get back to southern Michigan. My friends at Dining with Frankie have identified other attractive restaurants in Grand Rapids, and it seems like a lovely riverside city. I’ll make my own olive burger now, of course, and I’ll report on it. I hope that in the meantime some of you at least will check out the olive burger nearest you. And, as always, consult Dining with Frankie and this blog before you travel.

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