The first round is complete and we're now down to the final 16 competitors! We're doing the first half of the bracket today as host Phil Friend is joined by Krystal Nurse and Kara Berg to pick the two winners in the International Region, and then by Mark Johnson and Craig Lyons to determine the final two foods in the Mexican Region. 

The matchups: 

International:
(8) Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine - Spicy Drumsticks vs. (5) La Cocina Cubana - Ropa Vieja Sandwich
(3) Zaytoon Mediterranean - Chicken Shawarma Plate vs. (2) Naing Myanmar - Pad Ke Mos

Mexican:
(1) El Oasis - Big Burrito (subbed in for Breakfast Burrito) vs. (4) Pancho's Taqueria - Birria Tacos
(6) Maria's Cuisine - Birria Tacos vs. (2) Pablo's Old Town - La Torta

Krystal's story from March on the birria tacos boom: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/food/restaurants/2021/03/30/where-to-get-birria-tacos-lansing-recipe/7003875002/

The first round is complete and we're now down to the final 16 competitors! We're doing the first half of the bracket today as host Phil Friend is joined by Krystal Nurse and Kara Berg to pick the two winners in the International Region, and then by Mark Johnson and Craig Lyons to determine the final two foods in the Mexican Region.&nbsp;
The matchups:&nbsp;
International:
<ul>
<li>(8) Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine - Spicy Drumsticks vs. (5) La Cocina Cubana - Ropa Vieja Sandwich</li>
<li>(3) Zaytoon Mediterranean - Chicken Shawarma Plate vs. (2) Naing Myanmar - Pad Ke Mos</li>
</ul>
Mexican:
<ul>
<li>(1) El Oasis - Big Burrito (subbed in for Breakfast Burrito) vs. (4) Pancho's Taqueria - Birria Tacos</li>
<li>(6) Maria's Cuisine - Birria Tacos vs. (2) Pablo's Old Town - La Torta</li>
</ul>
Krystal's story from March on the birria tacos boom: <a href="https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/food/restaurants/2021/03/30/where-to-get-birria-tacos-lansing-recipe/7003875002">https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/food/restaurants/2021/03/30/where-to-get-birria-tacos-lansing-recipe/7003875002</a>/

The Greater Lansing Food Championship, hosted by Lansing State Journal sportswriter Phil Friend, will be an annual food tournament determining the best of what Greater Lansing has to offer when it comes to food. In 2020, we did the best restaurant, won by Soup Spoon. In 2021, we’ll pick the best menu item to be found in Lansing’s restaurants via a 32-item knockout tournament. Phil will be joined by different State Journal staffers in each podcast to pick which food advances to the next round until there can only be one. The podcast is just part of the entire package, as we’ll have articles and videos, too, which can be found at lsj.com.

The Greater Lansing Food Championship, hosted by Lansing State Journal sportswriter Phil Friend, will be an annual food tournament determining the best of what Greater Lansing has to offer when it comes to food. In 2020, we did the best restaurant, won by Soup Spoon. In 2021, we&rsquo;ll pick the best menu item to be found in Lansing&rsquo;s restaurants via a 32-item knockout tournament. Phil will be joined by different State Journal staffers in each podcast to pick which food advances to the next round until there can only be one. The podcast is just part of the entire package, as we&rsquo;ll have articles and videos, too, which can be found at lsj.com.

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