Best Burgers in Cedarburg, Ranked
Where does a huge Hefner burger land on your list?
Cedarburg may be known for its historic downtown, covered bridge, wineries, and festivals, but this charming Ozaukee County town about twenty miles north of Milwaukee also turns out some seriously good burgers. Whether you're exploring Washington Avenue after a day of shopping, heading out after a youth sports tournament, or just looking for a family-friendly dinner, the burgers here will satisfy.
We worked through the lineup and ranked 10 standouts, saving the best for last. Since Cedarburg sits squarely in Ozaukee County, this pairs perfectly with our ranked guide to the best burgers in Ozaukee County and our complete Cedarburg dining guide.
10. Culver's
Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason. Wisconsin's own Culver's, with a location a short drive from downtown, builds its ButterBurgers on fresh, never-frozen beef and a butter-toasted bun, and it's hard to argue with the consistency. It may not be the most adventurous burger on this list, but the combination of a hot, reliable burger and a scoop of fresh frozen custard for dessert is tough to beat on a busy night. Kids' meals, a quick drive-thru, and an easy, all-ages atmosphere make it the dependable family fallback that earns its place. Order a single ButterBurger with cheese, add curds, and finish with the flavor of the day. No, it won't win any local-gem awards, but it's the comfortable opener before the real Cedarburg character shows up further down the list.
9. Jim's Grille
A beloved Washington Avenue diner, Jim's Grille serves hearty comfort food at prices that make it one of the best values in town. The kitchen is best known for its broasted chicken and handmade pizzas, but burger fans should order the Super King James, a big, satisfying burger that fits right into the no-frills, generous spirit of the place. Breakfast is served all day, which is a lifesaver for families with picky eaters who'd rather have pancakes at dinner, and the staff has the kind of regulars-by-name warmth that chains can't fake. It's open for breakfast and lunch most days with limited dinner hours midweek, so check before a late visit. For an honest, affordable burger with zero pretense, Jim's delivers.
8. Dorsey's Café and Market
The Elote Burger, a daily special at Dorsey Cafe
Set in a 130-year-old historic building in downtown Cedarburg, Dorsey’s Café and Market is part café, part bakery, part deli, and part market. The spot has roots in the former Settlers Inn, which the Dorsey family operated for decades before it became Dorsey’s Café and Market. Chef Bryan leads a menu of locally minded soups, salads, wraps, toasted sandwiches, burgers, bakery items, and freezer entrees, including their well-known pot pies. The Friday fish fry includes pan-fried Lake Perch, with sides that change weekly, and the coffee and espresso bar, gluten-free options, kids’ menu, and award-winning pies and desserts make it especially family-friendly. Open Tuesday through Saturday, this Cedarburg stop is a cozy, local-minded place to settle in for a satisfying burger.
7. Wayne's Drive-In
A mandatory inclusion on any Cedarburg burger list, Wayne's Drive-In is a retro 1950s-style drive-in on Covered Bridge Road near the Five Corners intersection, instantly recognizable by its distinctive twelve-sided building. The menu centers on award-winning Black Angus charbroiled burgers, headlined by the signature Big Wayne, with hot dogs, BBQ pulled pork, a Friday fish fry, crispy fries, and Cedar Crest shakes and malts filling out a classic carhop spread. Classic car cruise nights on Wednesday and Thursday evenings during summer turn a simple dinner into a whole event, and the outdoor picnic tables make it pure family fun. One thing to plan around: Wayne's is seasonal, open roughly early April through mid-November, Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays. When the window's open, it's one of the best values and best times in town.
6. Hefner's Frozen Custard and Jumbo Burgers
The name says it all. A Cedarburg institution since 1995 on Columbia Road, Hefner's pairs thick, juicy jumbo burgers with fourteen rotating flavors of creamy frozen custard, which means dinner and dessert happen in one happy stop. The menu stretches well beyond the burger too, with fish sandwiches, chicken tenders, gyros, Philly cheesesteaks, onion rings, and a Friday fish fry, but the jumbo burger and a custard cone is the move. Sitting just outside the downtown core, Hefner's has its own parking lot and a devoted neighborhood following, making it an easy, low-stress family destination away from the festival-weekend crowds. Order at the counter, grab a seat, and don't overthink dessert. For a generous, no-nonsense burger with a Wisconsin custard chaser, Hefner's is a reliably great call.
5. Maxwell's
Cedarburg's go-to neighborhood tavern since 1983, Maxwell's on Washington Avenue keeps things refreshingly simple: good bar food, daily drink specials, and a reliably fun atmosphere. The juicy burgers are the kind locals order without thinking twice, and the rest of the week brings its own rhythms, from Wednesday's dollar-and-a-quarter soft tacos and karaoke to the classic Wisconsin fish fry on Friday. Multiple TVs make it a comfortable spot to catch the Packers with the family, and the prices stay friendly all around. There's nothing fussy here, and that's exactly why it's lasted four decades. Casual, affordable, and unpretentious, Maxwell's is the dependable local hang that every good small town needs, and the burger more than earns its keep alongside the cold beer.
4. The Elbow Room Twelve21
The newest major addition to Cedarburg's dining scene, The Elbow Room Twelve21 opened in December 2025 in the space that was home to the beloved Galioto's Twelve21 for thirty-seven years. The new concept, from the team behind Cedarburg's Sierzant Wine Bar and Brookfield's original Elbow Room, expanded the footprint roughly fivefold and built the menu around premium smashburgers created in partnership with Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas. Crispy-edged and seriously craveable, those smashburgers anchor a lineup that also includes pizza, wings, steaks, and a deep beer and cocktail program. Five outdoor sand volleyball courts, a heated pergola patio, and a big event space make it a true destination for families and groups, with a casual, sports-centric energy and plenty of TVs. It's the buzziest burger in town right now, and it backs up the hype.
3. C. Wiesler's Saloon and Eatery
Pure Cedarburg charm lives at C. Wiesler's, where the building dates to 1885 and the gorgeous antique bar inside was discovered in Mineral Point and dates to 1892. Wooden booths, exposed brick, tin ceilings, and Cedarburg's original umbrella-dotted outdoor deck set a wonderfully historic scene, and owner Mike Jackson has run the place for more than twenty-five years. The burgers are the star: the Cedarburger stacks a juicy third-pound Angus patty with crispy bacon, smoked Gouda, and bistro sauce on a toasted pretzel bun, while the Bourbon Street Burger piles on a bourbon glaze, battered onion strings, and a blue cheese scallion mayo. Locals also swear the Reuben is the best in Ozaukee County, and the Friday fish fry is a tradition. Open Wednesday through Saturday with kids' menus available, it's a historic bargain and one of the most satisfying burgers downtown.
2. Anvil Pub and Grille
For the most spectacular setting of any burger in town, head to the Anvil Pub and Grille in the Cedar Creek Settlement. Built inside a beautifully restored nineteenth-century blacksmith's shop, the Anvil keeps original details from its forge days and pairs them with a creekside patio overlooking Cedar Creek and its waterfall, complete with personal heated igloos for winter dining. The kitchen does American pub favorites genuinely well, and the Cedar Burger leads the way alongside the short rib mushroom melt, stone-hearth Forge sandwiches, baby back ribs, and BBQ duck tacos. It's family-friendly, and unusually for downtown Cedarburg it takes reservations through Tock, so book a ninety-minute seating and arrive a few minutes early. Between the history, the waterfall view, and a burger that holds its own against the scenery, the Anvil is a Cedarburg experience as much as a meal.
1. Stilt House Gastro Bar
The Truffle Burger: Truffle Brie, Provolone,Bacon, Shaved Brussel Sprouts, and Maple Bacon Aioli
When locals argue about the best burger in town, Stilt House keeps coming out on top. Cedarburg's flagship gastropub since 2013 sits in a historic building that its original owner literally raised onto stilts to sneak in a ground floor after the city denied a second story, and the kitchen is every bit as creative as that backstory. The menu rotates constantly around locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, and the Stilt Burger headlines a roster of crave-worthy options built with real attention to detail and excellent cheese work. More than thirty craft beers on tap, a strong wine list with half-price bottles on Mondays, and handcrafted cocktails round out the experience, and the patio overlooking Cedar Creek is one of the most enchanting seats in town. Classy but casual enough for a Tuesday night with the kids, Stilt House delivers the refined, consistently excellent burger that makes it Cedarburg's clear number one.
Plan your Cedarburg burger crawl
Downtown makes the easiest base, since Stilt House, C. Wiesler's, Maxwell's, Dorsey's, and Jim's all sit on or near Washington Avenue with free street and lot parking, while the Anvil anchors the scenic Cedar Creek Settlement. Save Wayne's Drive-In for an April-through-November visit, remember that C. Wiesler's and Dorsey's run Wednesday-through-Saturday hours, and bring cash for Jim's.
If pizza is calling instead of a burger, Tomaso's is the legendary local pick, even if its burger is just a simple sandwich. For more ideas, dig into our full Cedarburg dining guide, our greater Milwaukee guide to 55+ unique burgers, and, if you've caught the ranked-burger bug, our Lake Geneva burger guide. However you rank them, Cedarburg's burger scene is every bit as charming as the town itself.
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