Anna’s House’s chilaquiles are ideal for the indecisive

By COURTNEY BOWERMAN

My family loves Anna’s House for its relaxed, retro vibe and its variety of vegan options for both breakfast and lunch. It’s a treat whenever we stop by the Okemos area, and since there are 11 locations throughout the state, we can always find one to eat at when we go on day trips to Grand Rapids, Grand Haven or South Haven. So, naturally, when we heard that we were finally going to get one closer to where we live on the west side of Lansing, we were thrilled.

After nearly a year of waiting, the Delta Township location opened toward the end of October. We waited a week or two before trying it out for ourselves, since whenever we drove by, the parking lot was packed. If you’ve been to an Anna’s House, you know that they’re notoriously busy, particularly on weekends. However, even though we were foolish enough to visit on a state holiday, we still didn’t have to wait too long.

Like its predecessors, the new location has a casual atmosphere, with an interior design that hearkens back to the mid-20th century. The walls are decorated with collectibles like an old-fashioned TV by the front desk, murals, framed pictures from the sitcom “Alice” and other pop-culture memorabilia. The dining area is relatively small, which is another reason why it fills up so quickly on weekends. Despite that, the staff provided relatively fast and friendly service.

My typical order at Anna’s House varies between the breakfast burritos, the breakfast sandwiches and whatever item on the current seasonal menu looks good. This time, I decided to be adventurous and try Anna’s Baked Chilaquiles, a take on the traditional Mexican breakfast dish. Baked corn tortillas were topped with enchilada sauce, two sunny-side-up eggs, Monterey Jack and cotija cheeses, crema, poblano hollandaise, cilantro and avocado pieces. As you can imagine, it was a bit messy to consume, but it was nevertheless delicious. The tortilla pieces were nice and soft, and the sauces provided a kick without being too spicy. If you can’t make up your mind about whether to order breakfast or lunch, chilaquiles are the best of both worlds. The eggs give the feel of a hearty breakfast, while the tortillas and cheese will fill you up for the rest of the day.

Anna’s House is a welcome brunch option in the Delta Township area, especially for customers seeking vegetarian or vegan options. Although the food is well worth braving the crowds, it would be wise to plan ahead and join the Yelp waiting list.