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    Ypbor Yan

    3.5 (142 reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:40 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Ypbor Yan Photos

    Business Info

    YPBOR YAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Very nice and clean interior.
    Ron W.

    Anyone who has grown up in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area over the past few decades and loves Chinese food like I do, is sure to know all the local restaurants that specialize in delicious cuisine from the Far East. There was a time when Washtenaw County had only one Chinese restaurant, located on West Liberty Street in Ann Arbor, which was known as "Leo Ping's." This place was really into Asian fusion food long before it came thing. In those bygone days, as far as Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti was concerned, spicy Chinese food from Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces didn't exist. You could order Americanized Cantonese Chinese food, duck, steak, and turkey dinners. So if your Christmas feast was a bust just like in the 1983 motion picture "A Christmas Story," Leo had you covered, but I digress. Starting in the late 1960s the area around the intersection of Golfside and Washtenaw Ave. (M-17) became the new home to what would become Ypbor Ann's predecessor the "Forbidden City." For many years this place was ideal for lunch, dinner, and group parties in the basement. Then it was renamed to the "Forbidden City East," and finally the "Emerald City" before becoming the Ypbor Ann. As good fortune would have it, this area became a hotspot for other Asian restaurants to pop-up in the coming decades. Today, Ypbor Ann is located in the building where the old Big Boy restaurant was located at on Washtenaw Ave (M-17) east of Golfside Road. It's owned and operated by Frank Zhong, who owns other similar themed Chinese restaurants in the state of Michigan. They have a really nice small museum inside the entrance that examines Chinese history, and has some very nice artifacts to go with it, which is well worth viewing. With that being said, I really liked the food they serve at this restaurant. Ypbor Ann, serves gourmet Sichuan style food, and they can prepare your dish anyway you want it. They can serve it mild, or extra spicy if you so desire. The best part is they also have a separate Chinese menu that is packed with some very delicious entrées, which I highly recommend. However, I decided to play it safe and order something more Americanized like Kung Pao Chicken for a quick lunch. So if you love Asian food and history, this is the best place to visit that won't break your bank account in the area.

    P12. Kung Pao Chicken
    Kevin Z.

    This is the most authentic, best tasting Chinese restaurant in AA area. From the decor, I knew instantly that it was going to be good. There is the American Chinese menu and Chinese menu, so be sure to note the difference. I got the squirrel fish, colds noodles, and kun pao chicken, and they were all so good. The squirrel fish could have been crispier but it tasted super good still. They were out of a few cold dishes because they've been super busy. Anytime I'm craving Chinese food I'll be coming back here for sure and only here.

    Beige nothing (garlic chicken) my mother was served.
    Matthew H.

    About a decade ago we were Ypbor Yan regulars, but prior to the pandemic, there was a steep decline in their quality. Since they had moved,, we decided to give them another chance. Ordered Kung Pao Chicken and was given a plate of absolutely flavorless food-- when Ypbor was at its peak, it would be spicy, rich with garlic and flavor. Now? No heat, no seasoning, no peanuts, swimming in an anemic orange sauce. "Everyone loves our dishes." We didn't. Possibly the worst NY-Style Chinese food I've ever had in my life. Staff borderline nonverbal (weak English) and argued in Chinese in front of us. In their defense, they did their best to make things right, even through the obvious language barrier. I give the waitress credit. Replacement dish was better, but still not up to the standards of any other hole-in-the-wall, or even the buffet across the street. Atmosphere is fine. It breaks my heart to tell folks to avoid Ypbor Yan (now Ypbor Foods Museum). You're better off getting Chinese anywhere else, and god knows the area has a saturated market.

    Joyce L.

    Place: This place is pretty authentic and has the best the Sichuan food near where I live. You don't have to do any reservations I mainly just walk in and they have tables. The space is pretty big. Service: The service is good and the portions are big. They are helpful and will tell you what is good if it is your first time. Food $$: The food is amazing and my favorite is mayo tofu, Sichuan hot and sour soup, sichuan style poached fish, and MY FAVORITE PEA TIPS haha. Audience: Great to go by yourself or do a big gathering. A lot of people come here during their lunch breaks. Solo Trip [X] 21+ [ ] Family Friendly [X] Friends [X] Date Spot [X] Recommendations/tips: The portions are so big you will have left overs and it is perfect to eat the next day.

    Hunan Chicken

    Walked in, and there was absolutely nobody but instantly greeted, the large TVs playing and Chinese decor. Definitely authentic food, but they also offer American Chinese dishes. There might be a language/patience barrier for non-speakers. The numbing/spice is toned down in most dishes, but they all leave you feeling warm and tingly. The salt and pepper eggplant was delicious--crispy with the perfect amount of salt and sweetness. (Basically salt and pepper shrimp, but vegetarian.) The Hunan chicken was fried like Kung Pao chicken, but the seasoning was soy sauce, dry hot, with a hint of Sichuan peppers and cumin, not numbing. The spicy cumin lamb wasn't spicy but was tender and flavorful. The mixed pot included radishes, fish balls, tofu skin and tofu, pork blood/intestines, and spam. The flavors were warm and numbing, with a variety of different ingredients but not overly numbing.

    This restaurant is my home taste, the food is gorgeous, definitely would like to visit again.

    Sichuan style poached fish slices (水煮鱼片) ($14.99) - pretty good. Kind of sticky texture though.
    Lena J.

    Authentic Sichuan restaurant, with ample seating inside and old style decor. I recommend ordering from the authentic Chinese menu, rather than the Americanized one. However, I personally prefer the food at Chia Shiang in Ann Arbor or the newly-opened YP Sichuan near downtown Ypsi. They are allergy friendly by the way - someone in my party had a peanut allergy and they were very accommodating. Recommended: -Yibin-style spicy noodles ($7.99) - good. Cold noodles with a variety of seasonings and ground pork. The portion size was also good. -Sichuan style poached fish slices ($14.99) - pretty good. However the texture was sticky, and the dish didn't seem super fresh. It was one of the better items I've tried here, but I prefer the renditions at Chia Shiang and YP Sichuan. Wouldn't get again: -Zigong salt merchants' chicken ($13.99) - was looking forward to trying this after reading other reviews but I just found it ok. It kind of fast-food-tasting and too salty. -Mapo tofu ($11.99) - not great. The tofu texture was nice but there wasn't much flavor, maybe in part since it's vegetarian.

    Tea Smoked Duck
    Stephanie S.

    My friend and I just visited this place at its new location. We were expecting Crazy Crab but were told that it no longer exists. Either way, the food here is amazing. We loved every dish that we got. The service was excellent as well. I had my toddler with me and the staff was super friendly with her.

    Scallions Pancakes, Eggplant w/ FIsh-Fragrant Sauce, Green Beans w/ Vegetarian Pork, Mapo Tofu, braised Pork Belly
    Hannah F.

    There are many Asian fusion places in Ann Arbor, but not many truly authentic Chinese restaurants. Ypbor Yan is the real deal. Although they serve American favorites such as orange chicken and general Tso's chicken, they also have a large selection of authentic Chinese dishes. We got the green scallion pancakes, the braised pork belly, mapo tofu, green beans with vegetarian pork, and eggplant in fragrant fish sauce. Although it was a bit pricey compared to Yee Siang next door, everything was freshly made and tasted great. Next time, I would skip the green beans and the mapo tofu, as the vegetarian pork was super odd and the mapo tofu lacked flavor. The dishes were also a bit oily, but that's to be expected at most Chinese restaurants. For those who are feeling adventurous or who want a real Chinese cuisine experience, try Ypbor Yan!

    Yibin Burning Noodles (宜宾燃面, after mixing)

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    The foods and services are pretty good. All these vegetables are very fresh and meats are delicious!

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    Real Seafood Company Ann Arbor - Bread

    Real Seafood Company Ann Arbor

    3.5(505 reviews)
    5.2 miDowntown Ann Arbor
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    1-13-2026 Met our son here for my husband's 66th bday and…read morewhile we appreciated the free entree we found the food about average, esp the steak which my husband said was a bit tough and overcooked. I tried the paella and it was tasty but also a bit too overcooked (rice and chicken). Our server was kind and attentive and the interior was pleasant.

    I was extremely impressed with the care of the employees and how delicious my food was…read more I'm in a season where I have to omit certain major allergens from my diet for safety reasons (allergens that are not easy to substitute or to eat out in general), and real seafood was able to go above and beyond to accommodate these allergies. We were able to call a few days prior so that they can make special side dishes that were Allergen friendly. We were celebrating our 13th anniversary and though I couldn't eat a lot of the special food When celebrating, everything still felt very special and the things that I could eat were absolutely phenomenal. I was very impressed. I would say this is a high 4, with one star down because even after talking to the manager and reminding the weight staff, the kitchen still brought me out two types of dairy with my appetizer, which led me to be a little paranoid the rest of the meal. After looking through the ingredient list which were provided promptly and graciously my trust was restored, but I always get a little bit nervous when it comes to allergies when I see that the staff in Kitchen and front staff are not communicating well. It was still a lovely meal, and I appreciate them going above and beyond to accommodate my allergens. I got the crabcake, surf and turf, a special request drink from the bar that was nonalcoholic, and a sorbet with fruit. I'm still dreaming about the crabcake and surf and turf. It was so good and cooked perfectly. I can't wait to try to re-create the crabcake at home. I was astounded at how delicious it was. I really enjoyed the fresh mango and strawberry in the salad that came out with a crabcake. Even though the crabcake sauce and the salad dressing both had dairy and were served with my appetizer, it was yummy without those sauces. It would've been nice if someone offered me an alternate sauce or had thought to tell me that they contain my allergy and I thought we were on the same page. I got a cherry limeade drink from the bar and it was very delicious. I don't normally get drinks but it was kind of fun to get something fruity and fun for a celebration. The bread was delicious and didn't contain the allergens so I was able to enjoy it without butter. I am not normally a sorbet girl and I probably wouldn't have normally ordered dessert here but since we were a celebrating, I wanted to try some thing sweet. I couldn't believe how good the sorbet was. It was a little rich, but it was so tasty. I think it would've been really excellent paired with a very light not overly sweet vanilla bean cake. It was so fruity and rich that it needed something to balance it out. I'm not complaining. It was excellent in a very nice end to the meal. Overall, 4.5 stars all of the stuff was lovely and it was nicely decorated for Christmas. Thank you so much for the lovely anniversary dinner!

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    JJ’s Crab House Hibachi & Seafood - Cajun Fried Chicken (4), Corn, Snow Crab & Shrimp

    JJ’s Crab House Hibachi & Seafood

    4.1(57 reviews)
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    I've been going to JJ's Crab Shack for years and it never misses. Every visit is just as good as…read morethe last. My favorite is the snow crab, shrimp, and mussels seafood boil with a mix of Cajun and garlic butter. SO GOOD! The service is always fantastic. There's a woman who works there, wish I knew her name, who is always so friendly and welcoming. She's very helpful and really makes the place feel so inviting. This place better always be around!!! It's a must-hit whenever I'm in the Ann Arbor area. Highly recommend.

    JJ's was the new spot for us to try on a recent weekend, and we are glad that we gave it a shot…read more Located on the busy Carpenter Rd stretch between Packard and Washtenaw, JJ's offers a few tables for dining in and looks to run a brisk carry out business. We ordered to-go, and the food could have been ready in as few as 10 minutes. The employee taking my order asked if I wanted it that soon, or later, and I appreciated her accommodating my request for a bit later. Once the food was picked up and back home we dug into the bag. Flaky crab and plump shrimp were surrounded by pork sausage and baby potatoes. Our hands were dripping in the butter sauce by the time we finished, but we didn't mind. Even with the "no spice" seasoning level, we enjoyed the mild heat from the food. JJ's is a great spot for trying something new and one that I hope you'll check out soon too!

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    JJ’s Crab House Hibachi & Seafood - This is after arriving home and going for seconds! (I did add in some noodles from next door!)

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    Bellflower - Olive Oil Cake ($12) - very good! Vanilla-rhubarb compote with Guernsey whipped cream.

    Bellflower

    4.6(216 reviews)
    2.1 miDowntown Ypsilanti
    $$

    Been here a few times and am always delighted…read more In this case we were there for Valentine's Day. Service was great and the menu had lots of tempting options. Loved the cheese plate. Tasty cheese selections and a generous amount of bread and crackers. Their cocktails are ON POINT. The Pep in Your Step blended the mezcal flavor wonderfully. The Nightshade Martini was one of the most unique cocktails I've ever had. I enjoyed my pasta, though I had wanted to order a seafood dish and they were out of mussels. Definitely a bit of a bummer. I remember the beans in the smoked duck dish being especially good. My one complaint about this place is the menu seems to feel similar each time I'm there (months to years between visits). Like there's always a similar fish dish and a curry. I guess I just wish there were different options because the menu is relatively small. Excited to return for another visit in the future and would like to try their lunch offering as well!

    Fantastic meals and outstanding service! The ambience was very welcoming. We were two couples and…read moreshared the starters - plenty for four people. The salad was fresh and well dressed - simple but good. The second starter was sardine tin. Very very good. Not overly fishy and the garnishes served with it were perfect. For mains which are enough to share, one was the trout! Absolutely well seasoned and crispy. It is served whole and butterflied. We changed the side to the house vegetable. OMG these sautéed garden veggies were the best! The other main was a Japanese curry dish. Here is why the five starting dropped to a four. It was just ok. We would not order again. For dessert we had the bread pudding- another star for the night! To the owner, terrific staff. Everyone we engaged in, were positive and knowledgeable. They are a great team! Looking forward to a second visit!

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    Bar and seating

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    Crawdaddy’s Creole - Vegan beignets

    Crawdaddy’s Creole

    4.6(26 reviews)
    2.2 miDowntown Ypsilanti

    This is a super late review that has been sitting in my drafts for some unknown reason…read more.. But my girlfriend (who is from Louisiana) stopped in to eat here a couple months back. They had vinyl jazz playing, which i noticed but was second nature to her... We were greeted, told to order from the table, and he would bring it out. We got a whole bunch of stuff to try out... She got catfish and curly fries, which she loved. I got a larger sea food boil with every seasoning, it was great -- a bit small for what i thought the price was but for the taste i'm not complaining. We ordered hush puppies as an appetizer, and i had to hear from her that they were "good" but it's not how she would make them, blah blah blah.... Southern people and their soul food, everyone has a hot take. With that said, she ate most of them. We also had a fried basket appetizer which was catfish nuggets, shrimp, and clams i think -- also very good. Lastly, no picture on this one, but we got a blackened alfredo to go --- and it was also very tasty. We have been back twice since our initial visit. Amazing food, and come to find out the employee that was helping us, was the only one who works there... it was overall impressive, tasty, and we'll be back more.

    I'll start by saying Crawdaddy's is run by one person, so be patient or order ahead online…read more That being said, it's so fun to have something other than a burger or pizza in the downtown area. The jambalaya is vegan until you add meat to it, they have vegan beignets (though they sell out fast, so make sure to place your order early). They collards, potatoes and I believe the corn are also vegan. I would absolutely love if they had a vegan sausage, but just happy for the options. It's a very cute space with reasonable prices and hope it stays put!

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    Ypbor Yan - chinese - Updated May 2026

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