In the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, celebrated chef Eve Aronoff turned a lifelong dream into one of Michigan’s most iconic dining experiences in 2010. 🍔
Frita Batidos is built around two legendary Cuban concepts: the frita, a spiced Cuban-style burger topped with crispy shoestring fries on a soft egg bun, and the batido, a refreshing tropical milkshake blended with fresh fruit and crushed ice.
What began as Aronoff’s eight-year culinary vision has since grown into a women-owned Ann Arbor burger institution that accommodates every diner—from carnivores to vegans—with bold, Cuban-inspired Michigan burger flavors that no one else in the state is replicating.
How Frita Batidos won Ann Arbor’s hearts
Frita Batidos captured Ann Arbor’s heart through uncompromising authenticity, creative passion, and a chef-driven commitment to elevating humble Cuban street food into something unforgettable. 💛
Eve Aronoff, a celebrated Top Chef contestant and founder of the acclaimed fine-dining restaurant Eve, had two restaurant dreams her entire career—one formal, one deeply casual—and Frita Batidos was the one she couldn’t stop thinking about for eight straight years.
This hidden gem’s success stems from its housemade chorizo made with humanely raised pork from Eastern Market’s Fairway Packing, blended with chipotle purée, a proprietary chili blend, garlic, and red wine—a recipe serious enough to win the Eastern Market Burger Battle two out of three years. 🏆
What truly won hearts is how intentionally inclusive the menu is—with dedicated vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, fish, and chicken fritas alongside the classic beef and chorizo—proving that Aronoff’s vision was always to bring everyone to the table. 🌱
The restaurant’s best happy hour in Ann Arbor and outstanding craft cocktail program—featuring tropical batidos spiked with rum—add a festive, vibrant energy that keeps guests lingering long after the last fry disappears.
This combination of award-winning chorizo, chef-driven creativity, inclusive options, and an electric downtown Ann Arbor atmosphere has cemented Frita Batidos as Michigan’s most beloved Cuban burger destination, where every visit feels like a mini trip to Havana.
Food Highlights
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Chorizo Frita: The award-winning signature featuring housemade chorizo crafted with humanely raised pork, chipotle purée, garlic, and red wine, served on a soft egg bun topped with crispy shoestring fries. 🏆
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Fish Frita: A standout pescatarian creation described as reminiscent of a crab cake—crispy on the outside with the freshness of the sea in every bite.
- Chicken Frita: A frequently praised fan favorite featuring a ground chicken patty seasoned to perfection with a signature lemon mayo. 🍋
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Black Bean Frita: A beloved vegan option that refuses to compromise on flavor, delivering a hearty black bean patty with all the classic Cuban frita toppings. 🌿
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Beef Frita: A must-try purist’s choice delivering a juicy, well-seasoned beef patty on a pillowy egg bun with shoestring fries and sweet chili mayo, with optional gourmet toppings like Muenster cheese, fried egg, and thick-cut bacon.
- Inspired Cuban (Frita Cubana): A customer-favorite celebration of classic Cuban street food featuring seasoned beef topped with a generous helping of shoestring fries on a soft egg bun.
Atmosphere
The restaurant occupies a long, narrow 1,500-square-foot space with white floors, white-painted brick walls, and white tables that give it a clean, modernist picnic-chic aesthetic that feels bright and energetic. ☀️
Both indoor and outdoor seating are available at the downtown Ann Arbor location, with a lively atmosphere that buzzes during University of Michigan home game weekends and happy hour alike.
The overall atmosphere perfectly captures Eve Aronoff’s original vision: a joyful, colorful escape where Cuban street food tradition meets Ann Arbor’s creative spirit, inviting every type of diner to pull up a seat and stay awhile.
Bottom Line
Visit for award-winning housemade chorizo fritas that won the Eastern Market Burger Battle, inclusive menu options spanning vegan to carnivore, the legendary garlic-cilantro papas fritas worth ordering by the basket, refreshing tropical batidos that perfectly complement every bite, and a vibrant downtown Ann Arbor atmosphere that makes even a quick lunch feel like a celebration. ✨
Address:
117 W Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
📞 (734) 761-2882
🕔 Open Mon–Thu 11 AM–10 PM, Fri–Sat 11 AM–11 PM, Sun 11 AM–9 PM