Mijo's Delight — Mijo's Diner

When I read the description for Mijo’s Delight, I knew I had to try it. This burger features two beef patties on a brioche bun, with a piece of crustless white bread wedged in between the beef patties. The whole thing is topped with fresh onion, tomato, lettuce, American cheese — and Thousand Island dressing.

I don’t know what compelled Mijo to put Thousand Island dressing on this burger, but it works. The dressing adds just enough zip to balance out the heaviness of the beef and bread.

Both the sandwich and the north Lansing diner are named after the late Mijo Kovac, a Croatian immigrant who came to Lansing in the 1970s in hopes of landing a job at GM. Instead, he ended up owning and operating his own diner for over 40 years. He died in 2011; the diner is still family owned.

Mijo’s Diner has a folksy, small-town vibe. (“Parks and Recreation” fans, just imagine JJ’s Diner plopped into a strip mall across from the airport. And yes, there are waffles.) Portions are large and breakfast meats are plentiful. Bread for French toast is made in-house. It’s the kind of place where servicemen have their bills anonymously paid for. (This happened on our last visit. Good on you, fellow diners.)

Mijo’s Diner

6 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 5131 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing (517) 940-7815

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