We did it, everybody! It was a long and arduous road, but we've reached the Final Four and title matchups for the Greater Lansing Food Championship podcast as we sought to find the city's best restaurant menu item.

We started with 32 foods in eight regions and to quote the movie "Highlander," there can only be one. Host Phil Friend is joined by fellow State Journal reports Nate Atkins, Kara Berg and Craig Lyons as we settle everything once and for all.

The matchups: 

• (1) The Cosmos/Zoobie's - Trust Us ... vs. (4) Pancho's Taqueria - Birria Tacos
• (4) Good Truckin' Diner - Music City Hangover vs. (5) La Cocina Cubana - Ropa Vieja Sandwich

The 2021 Greater Lansing Food Championship podcast started with 32 entrants. When you're finished listening to this newest episode, we'll be down to the Final Four. 

The matchups:

• (1) The Cosmos/Zoobie's - Trust Us.... vs. (2) Deluca's - House Special
• (4) Pancho's Taqueria - Birria Tacos vs. (6) Maria's Cuisine - Birria Tacos
• (4) Good Truckin' Diner - Music City Hangover vs. (5) Soup Spoon - Lunch Voodoo Pasta
• (5) La Cocina Cubana - Ropa Vieja Sandwich vs. (2) Naing Myanmar - Pad Ke Mos

So which food items are heading to the semifinals? Well, you'll have to listen to the podcast at the top of the page or subscribe and download on your podcast app of choice.

Host Phil Friend is joined by five (!) of his fellow State Journal staffers - Nate Atkins, Craig Lyons, Kara Berg, Krystal Nurse and Mark Johnson - as we decide who marches on. 

Both the American and Pizza regions were thrown into complete disarray! So what happened? Well, you'll have to listen to get the full answer as we pick the Sweet 16 winners in the final two regionals. Host Phil Friend is joined by sportswriters Graham Couch and Nate Atkins, and photographer Nick King, as we finalize the Elite Eight.

The matchups:

American:

• (1) Meat BBQ - Meat Mountain vs. (4) Good Truckin' Diner - Music City Hangover
• (3) The Creole - Jambalaya vs. (2) Soup Spoon Cafe - Lunch Voodoo Pasta

Pizza:

• (1) The Cosmos/Zoobie's - Trust Us ... vs. (5) Detroit Frankie's - Meat Lovers Pizza
• (6) Corey's Lounge - The Special vs. (2) DeLuca's - House Special 

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/

We're on to the final four matchups in the first round of our 2021 Greater Lansing Food Championship tournament as we stretch our boundaries into international food. It's a four-person pod as host Phil Friend is joined by reporters Rachel Greco, Mark Johnson and Nate Atkins as we determine the first-round victors in the following matchups: 

(1) Choupli - Chicken Shawarma vs. (8) Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine - Spicy Drumsticks

(4) Nola Bistro - Pho Nola/Pho Dac Biet vs. (5) La Cocina Cubana - Ropa Vieja

(3) Zaytoon Mediterranean - Chicken Shawarma vs. (6) Jose's Cuban Sandwich - El Caribbean

(2) Naing Myanmar - Pad Ke Mos vs. (8) Sushi Moto - Yum Yum Roll

We'll be back sometime next week with the second round. 

We're halfway through the first round in the 2021 Greater Lansing Food Championship tournament and today's first-round matchups consist of everyone's favorite food - pizza!

It's a full sportsball podcast as Phil Friend is joined by sportswriters Graham Couch and Brian Calloway as we pick the first-round winners in the following matchups: 

(1) The Cosmos/Zoobie's - Trust Us ... vs. (8) Falsetta's Casa Nova - The Casa Nova Special

(4) Sleepwalker Spirits & Ale - Jagged Little Dill vs. (5) Detroit Frankie's - Meat Lover's Pizza

(3) EagleMonk Pub & Brewery - Neighborhood Special vs. (6) Corey's Lounge - The Special

(2) DeLuca's - House Special vs. (7) Harry's Place - Greek Pizza

We'll be back Thursday with the first round in the International region. 

The Greater Lansing Food Championship tournament for 2021 moves on to its second batch of first-round matchups with the American food region. State Journal reporters Phil Friend, Craig Lyons and Kara Berg determine the first-round victors in the following matchups: 

(1) Meat BBQ - Meat Mountain vs. (8) Midtown Brewing Co. - Pulled Pork Sandwich

(4) Good Truckin' Diner - Music City Hangover vs. (5) Saddleback BBQ - Baby Back Ribs

(3) The Creole - Jambalaya vs. (6) - Capital City BBQ - Awesome Mess

(2) Soup Spoon - Lunch Voodoo Pasta vs. (7) Weston's Kewpee Sandwich Shop

We'll be back Tuesday with the first round in the Pizza region. 

Let it begin! The Greater Lansing Food Championship tournament for 2021 begins with the first round in the Mexican food region. State Journal reporters Phil Friend, Nate Atkins and Krystal Nurse determine the first-round victors in the following matchups: 

(1) El Oasis - Breakfast Burrito vs. (8) El Azteco - Blue Corn Enchilada

(4) Pancho's Taqueria  - Birria Tacos vs. (5) Acapulco Mexican Grill - Fajitas Acapulco

(3) Taqueria El Chaparrito - Birria Tacos vs. (6) Maria's Cuisine - Birria Tacos

(2) Pablo's Old Town - El Torta vs. (8) Famous Taco - Famous Taco

We'll be back Thursday with the first round in the American food region. 

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 package, as we’ll have articles and videos, too, which can be found at lsj.com.