Best Burgers near Green Bay, Ranked
Green Bay’s burger scene extends far beyond the restaurants surrounding Lambeau Field. The region is home to country-tavern burgers simmered with onions and beef broth, patties charred over open flames, old-fashioned diner burgers and contemporary creations topped with brisket, specialty cheese and house-made sauces.
To assemble this ranking, we considered burger-specific customer feedback, overall review strength, local history, distinctive cooking styles and recommendations submitted by North Shore Family Adventures readers. We gave more weight to restaurants that received recurring independent endorsements than to places supported by a single enthusiastic comment.
This is not simply a ranking by Google rating. Overall restaurant scores can reflect service, atmosphere, drinks and dozens of other menu items. We instead focused on the quality and reputation of each restaurant’s burgers while also recognizing the establishments that have helped define Green Bay’s butter-burger tradition.
Because the list includes several different styles, the ranking is not entirely apples to apples. Someone seeking a thin, pleasantly greasy Wisconsin butter burger may order the list differently than someone who wants an enormous contemporary pub burger.
The countdown begins at No. 20 and ends with our choice for the best burger in the greater Green Bay area.
Planning a family trip? Start with our complete guide to Green Bay. You can also pair your burger with a stop from our guide to the best cheese curds in Wisconsin.
Green Bay Burger Map
Explore all 20 restaurants in our ranked guide. Tap a numbered marker—or a restaurant below—to see what makes it worth a stop.
Ranked restaurants
Tap any restaurant to locate it on the map20. Kroll’s East
1658 Main Street, Green Bay
Kroll’s East and Kroll’s West are separate businesses with different owners, but both remain important parts of Green Bay’s burger history.
The original Kroll’s opened in 1935, and the Schauer family has operated the east-side restaurant since 1945. Its Black Angus butter burgers are cooked over charcoal, topped with butter and served on toasted semmel-style buns.
Kroll’s East may not receive the same attention from visitors as the restaurant across from Lambeau Field, but it remains a genuine neighborhood institution. It is also the more timely Green Bay dining story: the owners listed the restaurant and property for sale in early 2026 as they prepare to retire, although they have said the restaurant will continue operating while they seek a buyer.
Plan your visit: Kroll’s East has traditionally been closed early in the week. Confirm its current schedule before visiting.
Kroll’s East menu and information | Read the 2026 ownership update | Directions and reviews
19. Zesty’s Frozen Custard & Grill
Multiple Green Bay-area locations
Zesty’s is one of the area’s best locally owned alternatives to the larger regional burger chains.
Its fresh-beef patties are flame-grilled, creating a smoky flavor that distinguishes them from Green Bay’s flat-top and broth-cooked burgers. The patties are finished with butter and served on a semmel-style bun, so Zesty’s still belongs to the region’s broader butter-burger tradition.
Ratings vary somewhat by location, but Zesty’s retains a loyal local following. Its counter-service format, children’s options and frozen custard also make it one of the easiest choices on this list for families.
Choose Zesty’s when you want a straightforward flame-grilled burger, fries and dessert without committing to a full-service tavern meal.
Zesty’s locations and menu | Find the nearest location and read reviews
18. White Dog
201 S. Broadway, Green Bay
White Dog offers a colorful, contemporary alternative to Green Bay’s traditional taverns and diner counters.
The Broadway District restaurant received a specific reader recommendation for its garlic burger, and its strong overall customer feedback suggests it deserves more than a passing honorable mention. The menu and energetic dining room also make it a useful option for groups that want burgers alongside salads, sandwiches, cocktails and other choices.
White Dog is not primarily a burger restaurant, which keeps it below the specialists in this ranking. However, its combination of a well-regarded burger, substantial review history and distinctive atmosphere earns it a place in the top 20.
Plan your visit: White Dog is generally closed on Mondays. Check the restaurant’s current schedule before heading downtown.
White Dog menu and information | Directions and reviews
17. The Booyah Shed
1800 S. Ashland Avenue, Green Bay
As its name suggests, The Booyah Shed specializes in the thick, slow-cooked chicken soup closely associated with northeastern Wisconsin. Its burgers, however, have developed a following of their own.
The menu includes an unusually broad collection of specialty burgers, giving diners far more choices than the restaurant’s name might suggest. Multiple North Shore Family Adventures readers also recommended it specifically for burgers.
This is an approachable comfort-food restaurant rather than a dedicated burger destination. That makes it particularly useful for visitors who want to try traditional booyah while giving other family members familiar alternatives.
Plan your visit: The Booyah Shed is generally closed on Sundays. Verify current hours before visiting.
The Booyah Shed on Facebook | Directions and reviews
16. High Kaliber Craft Kitchen
126 S. Broadway, Green Bay
High Kaliber began as a food truck before expanding into a downtown Green Bay restaurant. Its Texas-inspired barbecue gives its burgers a style unlike Green Bay’s traditional butter-burger establishments.
The burger to try is the brisket cheeseburger, which combines a beef patty with smoked brisket. It is a thick, smoky and indulgent creation rather than a minimalist tavern burger.
High Kaliber has received strong early customer feedback, but its brick-and-mortar restaurant has a shorter track record than institutions such as Al’s, Kroll’s and Drift Inn. It could rise considerably as it accumulates more burger-specific reviews.
Plan your visit: High Kaliber has operated on a limited weekly schedule, typically opening Wednesday through Saturday. Check Facebook for the latest hours and menu availability.
High Kaliber Craft Kitchen on Facebook | Directions and reviews
15. The Rite Place
1580 Bellevue Street, Green Bay
The Rite Place has served Green Bay’s Bellevue neighborhood since 1977. Although it may be better known for broasted chicken, booyah and Friday fish fry, its burgers deserve consideration.
The restaurant says its patties are pressed fresh in-house. Customer reviews frequently highlight the generous portions and approachable prices, while North Shore Family Adventures readers specifically praised the freshness of its burgers.
The full-service dining room, children’s choices and extensive menu make The Rite Place one of the ranking’s most practical options for families and larger groups.
The Rite Place menu | Directions and reviews
14. Nicky’s Lionhead Restaurant
331 Main Avenue, De Pere
Nicky’s Lionhead has served downtown De Pere for more than three decades. Its signature That Good Ol’ Green Bay Burger combines two important northeastern Wisconsin burger traditions.
The charbroiled patty develops a smoky exterior before being topped with cheese, ketchup, pickles, raw onion and a pat of Wisconsin butter. As the butter melts over the burger, it adds the richness associated with the area’s most famous burger style without eliminating the flavor from the grill.
Nicky’s old-world tavern atmosphere and extensive menu make it a practical choice for mixed groups. It is also one of the better places to experience a traditional Green Bay-style burger without leaving downtown De Pere.
Plan your visit: Nicky’s is usually closed on Sundays except for certain Packers game days. Confirm the current schedule before visiting.
Nicky’s Lionhead menu and information | Directions and reviews
13. Heights Pub & Parlor
217 N. Washington Street, Green Bay
Heights Pub & Parlor is one of the newest restaurants in this ranking, but its early reception makes it difficult to leave outside the top 20.
Located next door to Player 2 in downtown Green Bay, Heights serves smash burgers and specialty creations in a restored historic building. Its burgers have quickly accumulated enthusiastic feedback, and the restaurant’s strong early ratings suggest it is more than a temporary novelty.
Heights does not yet have the decades of history associated with Al’s, Kroll’s or Drift Inn. However, “new” should not automatically mean “unproven” when the burger-specific response is this encouraging.
Plan your visit: Heights is open Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. Its historic, multilevel building does not have an elevator.
Heights Pub & Parlor menu and information | Directions and reviews
12. Hinterland Brewery
1001 Lombardi Access Road, Ashwaubenon
Located in the Titletown District across from Lambeau Field, Hinterland serves one of the area’s most polished contemporary burgers.
The Big Hinty features two Rock & Hill Farms Wagyu patties with American cheese, pickles, greens, onions and Hinterland sauce on a brioche bun. The restaurant has also served a Double Butter Burger.
Prices are substantially higher than at Al’s, Drift Inn or Hill Top Cafe, but Hinterland provides an elevated setting, house-brewed beer and one of the strongest complete dining experiences near Lambeau Field. Its larger dining room and broad menu also make it easier to accommodate groups than many of the small taverns near the top of the ranking.
Hinterland uses a Green Bay mailing address and is widely treated as a Green Bay destination, but it is geographically located in the Village of Ashwaubenon.
Hinterland menu and hours | Directions and reviews
11. Player 2
219 N. Washington Street, Green Bay
Player 2’s burgers are considerably better than the food typically associated with an arcade bar.
The menu favors creative and occasionally outrageous combinations rather than traditional Wisconsin simplicity. Depending on the current selections, diners may encounter toppings such as bacon jam, fried onions, hash browns, eggs, peanut butter or spicy sauces.
The classic arcade games and pinball machines make Player 2 an entertaining family stop, but timing matters. Children are welcome with a parent or guardian until 8 p.m.; after that, the bar becomes limited to guests 21 and older.
Plan your visit: Player 2 generally does not open until 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 2 p.m. Friday. It opens earlier on weekends, making Saturday or Sunday the best time for a daytime family visit. Check its official FAQ for current age and kitchen policies.
Player 2 Green Bay menu | Directions and reviews
10. Copper State Brewing Co.
313 Dousman Street, Green Bay
Copper State Brewing Co. earns a higher position in this revised ranking because its burgers receive recurring praise supported by an extensive record of positive customer feedback.
The Dousman Street Burger and Bacon Blue Burger are among the selections specifically mentioned in recent reviews. These are substantial contemporary brewpub burgers rather than compact diner or tavern burgers.
Copper State is particularly useful for groups. Diners can pair their burgers with locally brewed beer, while the broader menu provides alternatives for anyone who wants something different. Its attractive downtown setting also makes it an easy addition to a day spent exploring the CityDeck and surrounding district.
Plan your visit: Copper State’s restaurant is generally closed on Sundays. Check the current schedule before making weekend plans.
Copper State menu | Directions and reviews
9. Shoot’s Bar & Grill
3375 Side Street, Suamico
Shoot’s was one of the clearest reader-driven additions to this ranking. Multiple people independently recommended it, and customer reviews repeatedly praise its large, juicy burgers.
This is a substantial neighborhood-bar burger rather than a thin smash burger or compact butter burger. Shoot’s attracts a loyal Suamico following and provides a relaxed setting away from Green Bay’s primary visitor districts.
It does not have the statewide reputation of Kroll’s or Joe Rouer’s, but the consistency of its local endorsements pushes it comfortably into the top 10.
Shoot’s Bar & Grill website | Directions and reviews
8. Kroll’s West
1990 S. Ridge Road, Ashwaubenon
Kroll’s West is arguably the Green Bay area’s most famous burger restaurant. Located directly across from Lambeau Field, it helped establish the charcoal-grilled butter burger as one of northeastern Wisconsin’s signature foods.
The Original Butter Burger is cooked over an open charcoal flame, topped with real butter and served on a toasted semmel-style bun. The combination produces a smoky, rich flavor quite different from the broth-cooked burgers at Joe Rouer’s or the flat-top burgers at Al’s.
Kroll’s overall customer ratings are more mixed than those of the restaurants at the top of this list. Reviews criticize game-day waits, prices and service, but some also question the size and consistency of the burger itself. Its ranking therefore reflects both sides of the evidence: Kroll’s remains culturally essential, but fame alone does not make it the region’s best current burger.
The cheese curds are popular, but the butter burger is the dish that built Kroll’s reputation. For the quintessential experience, order a cheeseburger with everything and add chili, onion rings or curds.
Kroll’s West uses a Green Bay address but is geographically located in Ashwaubenon.
Kroll’s West menu and history | Directions and reviews
7. Cheesesteak Rebellion
1301 S. Broadway, Green Bay
Despite the name, Cheesesteak Rebellion belongs in any serious discussion of Green Bay’s best burgers.
The restaurant serves quarter-pound butter burgers alongside its authentic-style cheesesteaks, homemade soups and rosemary fries. Customers can keep the burger simple or add more elaborate toppings while retaining the soft bun and rich, griddled character associated with a Wisconsin butter burger.
Cheesesteak Rebellion combines an unusually strong overall review profile with substantial review volume and recurring burger-specific praise. Discover Green Bay also included its butter burgers in a roundup drawn from local recommendations, confirming that they are not merely a secondary menu item.
Its playful Star Wars-inspired atmosphere and pinball machines provide additional appeal, but the quality of the burger—not the theme—is what earns it a top-10 position.
Cheesesteak Rebellion website | Discover Green Bay’s local burger recommendations | Directions and reviews
6. Brickhouse Craft Burgers & Brews
500 Grant Street, De Pere
Brickhouse is the area’s strongest destination for large, contemporary craft burgers.
The menu extends well beyond beef and American cheese. Brickhouse has featured specialty beef burgers along with alternative proteins, creative sauces, substantial toppings and locally inspired combinations.
The Black and Blue burger received multiple enthusiastic recommendations in our reader discussion. Customer reviews also repeatedly praise the variety, meat quality and extensive beer selection, although service feedback can become more variable during especially busy periods.
Brickhouse is a particularly good choice for diners who want a memorable specialty burger rather than a thin, traditional Wisconsin tavern burger.
Brickhouse menu | Directions and reviews
5. Al’s Hamburger Shop
131 S. Washington Street, Green Bay
Al’s has served downtown Green Bay since 1934, making it one of the city’s essential dining experiences.
The burgers are small, straightforward and cooked on a well-seasoned flat-top. A Sheboygan-style hard roll gives the burger more structure than the soft buns used at many country taverns. Order a double if you have a substantial appetite.
Al’s does not serve the most extravagant burger in the ranking. Its strengths are consistency, history and simplicity. Multiple readers named it their favorite, describing it as a classic burger prepared properly.
The counter seating, shakes and vintage atmosphere make Al’s especially appealing to visitors seeking something distinctly Green Bay rather than another modern sports bar.
Al’s Hamburger Shop website | Directions and reviews
4. Basil’s II
5595 County Road P, Denmark
Basil’s II is located about 20 minutes southeast of Green Bay, but its traditional Wisconsin butter burger justifies the drive.
The burger is juicy, rich and gloriously messy, with a toasted bun providing just enough structure to contain the meat and melted cheese. Portions are generous, and customer feedback consistently praises the combination of flavor, value and country-tavern atmosphere.
Basil’s II was repeatedly mentioned in our reader discussion, and Discover Green Bay also included it among the area’s locally recommended burger destinations.
The ordering process may be unfamiliar to first-time visitors: pick up a menu, order at the bar and then find a table. If you arrive hungry, consider the double bacon cheeseburger with chili and fries.
Plan your visit: Basil’s II is a small tavern with a schedule that may differ from conventional restaurant hours. Verify that it is open before making the drive.
Basil’s II on Facebook | Directions and reviews
3. Hill Top Cafe
2278 Bay Settlement Road, Green Bay
One of Green Bay’s best burgers is served inside a BP gas station near the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
Hill Top Cafe’s charcoal-grilled burgers consistently receive enthusiastic feedback for their fresh patties, soft buns, generous portions and comparatively low prices. The charcoal produces a flavor that separates Hill Top from the region’s broth-cooked and flat-top specialists.
The double cheeseburger and olive burger are popular choices. Add sour cream-and-onion fries or Cajun fries to complete the meal.
The setting is unassuming, seating is limited and the restaurant can be easy to miss. That hidden-gem character is part of its appeal. Hill Top combines strong customer feedback, substantial review volume and an experience that feels uniquely local.
Hill Top Cafe on Facebook | Directions and reviews
2. Drift Inn
1535 S. Ashland Avenue, De Pere
Drift Inn has one of the strongest combinations of customer feedback, review volume and sustained local enthusiasm of any burger restaurant in the region.
It was also the most frequently recommended restaurant in our reader discussion, with numerous people independently naming it as a favorite.
The specialty is a classic Wisconsin-style butter burger: thin, juicy, pleasantly greasy and free from unnecessary decoration. Drift Inn is also known for its chili, which can be ordered alongside the burger or served over spaghetti.
Drift Inn lacks the polished atmosphere and elaborate menu of Hinterland or Brickhouse, but that is not what it is trying to provide. It delivers an affordable neighborhood burger with remarkable consistency.
For anyone who wants to remain within Green Bay or De Pere rather than driving into the countryside, Drift Inn is our top recommendation.
Plan your visit: Drift Inn is currently open Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. Its official website lists weekday hours of 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but verify the schedule before visiting.
Drift Inn menu and current hours | Directions and reviews
1. Joe Rouer’s Bar
E1098 County Road X, Luxemburg
Joe Rouer’s remains our choice for the best burger in the greater Green Bay area.
Located in the small community of Duvall, approximately 20 miles east of Green Bay, this wonderfully unpolished country tavern has served burgers since the 1950s.
Its cooking method is the most unusual in the ranking. The patties are cooked with chopped onions and beef broth, allowing the meat to simmer or braise in the deeply flavored liquid rather than developing the seared crust associated with a griddle or charcoal grill.
The finished product is remarkably simple: beef, cheese and onions on a soft bun. Joe Rouer’s does not rely on unusual toppings, aioli or towering presentation. Its reputation rests on the flavor of the meat and its distinctive broth-cooked preparation.
Joe Rouer’s received more emphatic reader endorsements than any restaurant besides Drift Inn. That enthusiasm is supported by decades of recognition and attention from nationally known burger authority George Motz. Motz’s published Chester-Rouer recipe specifically describes the Rouer burger as being cooked in beef broth and onions.
Order a double cheeseburger with fried onions—and take more napkins than you think you will need.
Plan your visit: Joe Rouer’s operates on a limited schedule and has generally been open Thursday through Sunday. Confirm its current hours before driving from Green Bay.
Joe Rouer’s on Facebook | George Motz’s Chester-Rouer recipe | Directions and reviews
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Other Green Bay-Area Burgers Worth Trying
Several additional restaurants received recommendations or have strong public ratings but did not have quite enough recurring burger-specific evidence to enter the top 20.
River Street Pier serves charcoal-grilled Black Angus butter burgers at 1984 Velp Avenue. Despite its name, the restaurant is no longer located on River Street. Its traditional cooking style makes it one of the strongest candidates to enter the ranking in a future update.
Napalese Lounge offers substantial one-third-pound burgers, including less conventional creations such as a cheese-filled pizza burger. It also appeared in Discover Green Bay’s collection of local burger recommendations.
Mackinaws Grill & Spirits has an extensive review history and remains a family-friendly choice for burgers, comfort food and a rustic Northwoods atmosphere. Its burgers receive positive feedback, although the restaurant is not as specifically associated with them as the specialists in the ranking.
Gallagher’s Pizza is known primarily for pizza, but its generously sized burgers come with fries and a range of customizable toppings. Multiple Green Bay-area locations and a broad menu make it a convenient choice for families.
Sidekicks Bar & Grill in De Pere received a reader endorsement for its mushroom-and-Swiss burger and has a loyal neighborhood following.
Philly’s & York operates with Egg Yolk Cafe at 1719 Main Street. Its menu includes specialty-blend burgers such as the Cowboy Burger with bacon, onion rings and house-made barbecue sauce.
The Bar, Outskirts Bar & Grill, 2 of a Kind and District Pour Haus also received individual endorsements. Each may be a personal favorite, but we found less sustained burger-specific evidence than we did for the ranked restaurants.
What About Mihm’s and the Appleton Burger Restaurants?
Mihm’s Charcoal Grill in Menasha received multiple enthusiastic reader recommendations and would be a serious contender in a Fox Valley burger ranking. Mill City Public House and Mad Apple Burger & Billiard Co. are also notable Appleton-area destinations.
However, those restaurants are generally 35 to 45 minutes from Green Bay. We kept this ranking focused on Green Bay, De Pere, Ashwaubenon, Suamico and nearby Brown County communities, with Joe Rouer’s and Basil’s II included as destination-worthy exceptions.
Beachside Frozen Custard & Grill in Oconto Falls also received a reader nomination, but it sits beyond the practical boundaries of a Green Bay-area ranking.
The Green Bay Burger Shortlist
If you only have time for three stops:
Choose Joe Rouer’s for the area’s most distinctive country-tavern burger.
Choose Drift Inn for the strongest combination of convenience, value and consistent local enthusiasm.
Choose Hill Top Cafe for Green Bay’s best hidden-gem burger experience.
For a classic downtown institution, order a double at Al’s. For a large craft burger, visit Brickhouse. For a modern butter burger with a devoted following, try Cheesesteak Rebellion.
Kroll’s West remains the essential stop for anyone interested in Green Bay’s charcoal-grilled butter-burger history, while Hinterland provides the most upscale option near Lambeau Field.
Restaurant hours and menus can change, particularly at small taverns with limited schedules. Follow the official links and confirm current hours before making a special trip.
Discover the best burgers in Green Bay, De Pere, Ashwaubenon and surrounding communities, from Wisconsin butter burgers and charcoal-grilled classics to modern craft creations.