Best Burgers in Waukesha, Ranked
Where does Sobelmans rank on your list?
From downtown taverns and family-friendly diners to a nostalgic root beer stand and a modern craft brewery, Waukesha has a surprisingly deep burger scene.
We ranked the restaurants based on the burgers themselves, local character, menu variety and the overall dining experience.
If you want to continue the search beyond Waukesha, explore our guides to the best smash burgers across greater Milwaukee, best burgers in Ozaukee County and best burgers in Lake Geneva.
Here are the best burgers in Waukesha, ranked from No. 12 to No. 1.
12. Club 400 Bar and Grill
Club 400 is the kind of historic neighborhood tavern where burgers, wings and cold beer still take precedence over culinary theatrics.
Located on Williams Street near Carroll University, Club 400 has operated under its current name since 1948. The building’s tavern history stretches back even further, giving the restaurant the comfortable, lived-in atmosphere that newer sports bars try hard to recreate.
The pub burgers are straightforward and satisfying, served with fries or tots and available with familiar Wisconsin toppings such as bacon, mushrooms and plenty of cheese. Club 400 is especially well known locally for its wings, but the burgers hold their own when you want an affordable tavern meal downtown.
Weekly bingo, karaoke, open-mic nights and live music give the restaurant an active neighborhood calendar. One important consideration: kitchen hours are shorter than bar hours on certain days, so check the restaurant’s current schedule before making a late-night visit.
Address: 322 Williams Street, Waukesha
11. Tally’s Tap & Eatery
A third-generation family-owned restaurant, Tally’s Tap & Eatery has served Waukesha since 2013 with a menu centered on scratch cooking, daily specials and Wisconsin bar favorites.
The burger menu is not as extensive as Point Burger Bar or Mainstream, but Tally’s earns its place through consistency. Its griddle burgers pair well with fries, tots or one of the restaurant’s oversized stuffed pretzels. The Northwoods-inspired dining room also makes it an easy place to settle in for a casual meal.
Tally’s regularly rotates food and drink promotions, along with karaoke, meat raffles and game-day events. Because individual burger specials can change, check the restaurant’s current menu or social channels before planning your visit around a particular promotion.
Address: S31W24661 W. Sunset Drive, Waukesha
10. Point Burger Bar
If everyone at the table wants something different, Point Burger Bar is one of the safest choices in the area.
Although it is branded as the Pewaukee location, the restaurant’s official address is in Waukesha near the Waukesha-Pewaukee border. Its central concept is customization: start with your preferred protein and build a burger from a long selection of cheeses, sauces and toppings.
Point Burger Bar also offers signature creations, craft beer and alcoholic shakes. A kids’ menu and game room make it particularly useful for families trying to combine dinner with an indoor activity. It is less intimate than Waukesha’s historic taverns, but it delivers variety, convenient parking and plenty of room for groups.
Point Burger Bar also appears in our guide to the best kid-friendly restaurants across greater Milwaukee.
Address: W229 N1400 Westwood Drive, Waukesha
9. Joey’s Diner
Joey’s Diner brings a cheerful 1950s theme to downtown Waukesha, complete with bright colors, old-school music and the kind of casual menu that works for nearly every age.
The bacon cheeseburger is the natural starting point: a classic diner-style burger served with fries, onion rings or cheese curds. Follow it with a root beer float and you have the full retro-diner experience.
Joey’s is especially appealing for families. It serves breakfast in addition to burgers, sandwiches and baskets, making it more flexible than the taverns on this list. The setting is nostalgic without feeling like a museum, and the downtown location makes it easy to combine lunch with shopping or a walk along the Fox River.
For diners who prioritize a relaxed atmosphere and approachable food over elaborate toppings, Joey’s is an easy recommendation.
Address: 290 W. Main Street, Waukesha
8. Point On Main
Point On Main is an old-school downtown bar that has built a loyal following around affordable drinks, friendly service and griddle burgers that are much better than their no-frills presentation might suggest.
This is not a towering gourmet-burger restaurant. Instead, Point On Main delivers the classic tavern formula: a well-seared patty, melted cheese, a soft bun and a pile of fries. The prices are generally friendly, and the atmosphere is more corner bar than polished gastropub.
Pool, televisions and a relaxed late-night energy make it a favorite among locals who want something casual after work or after an event downtown. The restaurant has modernized its payment system and food offerings over time, but it has retained the personality of a traditional Wisconsin tavern.
Point On Main may be the sleeper pick of the ranking. It does not generate the regional attention of Sobelman’s, but locals regularly bring it up when the conversation turns to underrated Waukesha burgers.
Address: 214 E. Main Street, Waukesha
7. Mayor’s Restaurant
One of the newest entries in the ranking, Mayor’s Restaurant opened in downtown Waukesha in October 2025.
The family-owned restaurant has quickly drawn attention for large portions, approachable prices and a menu built to please a wide range of diners. Burgers are among the highlights, including substantial specialty builds that lean into Wisconsin flavors such as beer cheese.
Mayor’s is more family restaurant than late-night bar. It also offers breakfast on weekends, outdoor seating, online ordering and a broad selection of American comfort food. That makes it a useful option when part of the group wants burgers while someone else is looking for breakfast, a sandwich or a full entrée.
Because Mayor’s is still relatively new, it does not yet have the decades of history behind Lou’s, John’s or Club 400. Still, its early burger program is strong enough to make it one of Waukesha’s most promising additions.
Address: 229 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha
6. Mainstream Bar & Grill
Mainstream Bar & Grill has long been one of downtown Waukesha’s most dependable burger destinations.
Its half-pound burgers are filling, customizable and cooked with the confidence of a kitchen that knows what its regulars expect. The Mushroom and Swiss remains a natural choice, while rotating burger creations give repeat customers something different to try. Homemade potato chips are a worthy alternative to standard fries.
Mainstream’s atmosphere falls squarely into the Wisconsin sports-bar tradition: televisions, tap beer, wings, trivia, karaoke and live music. Its Main Street location makes it easy to include in a downtown dining crawl, and the restaurant’s outdoor space adds another option during warm weather.
This is the place for diners who value a large, substantial pub burger over a thin smash patty. Come hungry—the half-pound format and generous sides do not leave much room for another stop afterward.
Address: 404 W. Main Street, Waukesha
5. The Neighbors Bar and Grille
The Neighbors Bar and Grille takes its burgers more seriously than its casual sports-bar setting initially suggests.
Every burger is made from fresh, never-frozen Angus beef and served with homemade potato chips. The specialty combinations are where the restaurant separates itself from the pack.
The Brew Crew Burger combines a beef patty and a brat patty with cheese, grilled onions and peppers on a pretzel bun. It is unapologetically Wisconsin. Other burgers incorporate ingredients such as guacamole, queso, bacon, curds and creative sauces.
The Neighbors also offers a large Friday fish fry, numerous televisions and outdoor seating. Its patio is dog-friendly, making it an appealing warm-weather destination for families who want to bring a four-legged companion.
If your ideal burger is large, creative and loaded with toppings, The Neighbors belongs near the top of your list.
Address: S16W22255 Arcadian Avenue, Waukesha
4. People’s Park
A burger at People’s Park feels like a complete downtown outing.
The restaurant occupies a Civil War-era building at the corner of Clinton and Main streets. Three distinctive levels lead to a rooftop patio overlooking historic downtown Waukesha, giving People’s Park one of the most memorable dining settings in the city.
Burgers are part of a broad gastropub menu that also includes appetizers, salads, flatbreads, seafood, steaks and a popular Friday fish fry. The kitchen serves food later than many neighboring restaurants, while weekend brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Families can request a children’s menu, but the energetic evening atmosphere and extensive cocktail list make People’s Park equally appealing for a date night or gathering with friends.
The burger alone is strong. Add the rooftop, downtown views and colorful interior, and it becomes one of Waukesha’s best overall restaurant experiences.
Address: 337 W. Main Street, Waukesha
3. Raised Grain Brewing Co.
The most important addition to this updated ranking is Raised Grain Brewing Co..
This Waukesha brewery operates a scratch kitchen with a focused smash-burger program. The Brewers’ Burger tops a smash patty with American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, house-made pickles and Thousand Island dressing on a brioche bun.
The Bottoms Up Burger takes a richer approach with grilled mushrooms, Swiss cheese and Raised Grain’s N3S beeroli. A build-your-own option lets diners choose their own combination, while mini smash-burger sliders make the experience more accessible for kids.
Raised Grain’s burgers deliver the crispy edges and concentrated beef flavor that have made smash burgers so popular. They are also designed to pair naturally with the brewery’s rotating beer selection.
The spacious taproom, family-friendly food options and seasonal outdoor terrace make Raised Grain more than a stop for serious beer drinkers. It is one of Waukesha’s strongest casual dining destinations—and now one of its best burger destinations, too.
Address: 1725 Dolphin Drive, Waukesha
2. Sobelman’s Pub & Grill Waukesha
Sobelman’s Pub & Grill is one of southeastern Wisconsin’s most recognizable burger names, and its Waukesha franchise carries that reputation well.
The restaurant uses fresh Black Angus beef and offers everything from a straightforward cheeseburger to heavily topped specialty creations. The Widmer Melt is a standout, combining the comfort of a patty melt with Wisconsin cheese and grilled rye.
Sobelman’s is also famous for oversized Bloody Marys garnished with enough food to resemble a second meal. Add frickle fries, cheese curds or another Wisconsin-style appetizer and the table can quickly become a feast.
Despite the fame and bar setting, the Waukesha location is comfortable for families during typical dining hours. Seven-day service and a location near downtown also make it easy to include in a larger Waukesha outing.
Sobelman’s delivers the recognizable name, extensive menu and reliably indulgent experience. Only one deeply local favorite keeps it from the top spot.
Address: 332 Williams Street, Waukesha
1. Lou’s Lucky Penny
The best burger experience in Waukesha belongs to Lou’s Lucky Penny.
Owners Cindy Becher and Andy Marquardt purchased and extensively remodeled the former Blue Ribbon tavern, giving the St. Paul Avenue building a clean, welcoming interior and a little Northwoods personality. The result still feels like a neighborhood tavern—but one whose owners have invested heavily in making it a destination.
The burgers are built on fresh beef and offered at honest neighborhood prices. Straightforward cheeseburgers share the menu with changing specials and loaded creations, while jumbo wings, cheese curds, corn nuggets and pickle fries complete the pub-food lineup.
Lou’s also serves breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with Bloody Marys and mimosas for the adults. Its large outdoor patio has become another significant draw during warm weather.
What ultimately puts Lou’s at No. 1 is its sense of place. Sobelman’s may be the famous regional brand, and Raised Grain may offer the most polished smash burger, but Lou’s feels uniquely connected to Waukesha. The owners are frequently present, regulars treat it like a second home and the food remains accessible enough to encourage repeat visits.
For a burger that combines quality, value and genuine neighborhood character, Lou’s Lucky Penny takes the crown.
Address: 739 W. St. Paul Avenue, Waukesha
Honorable mention
Fuzzy’s Southside Pub & Grill
The original downtown Fuzzy’s has closed, but Fuzzy’s Southside remains open on South West Avenue.
The neighborhood pub serves breakfast, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and Friday fish fry. It is less of a destination restaurant than the top-ranked contenders, but its affordable griddle burgers and loyal local following earn it an honorable mention.
Address: 1726 S. West Avenue, Waukesha
Plan a Waukesha burger crawl
Downtown Waukesha offers the easiest route for trying several restaurants in one visit. People’s Park, Mainstream, Joey’s Diner, Mayor’s and Point On Main are all concentrated near Main Street and the Fox River.
For a family outing, start with Joey’s or Point Burger Bar. For craft beer and smash burgers, head directly to Raised Grain. If you want the classic Wisconsin tavern experience, build your day around Lou’s, Sobelman’s or The Neighbors.
Once you have completed the burger tour, explore our guides to the best local pizzerias in Waukesha County and Waukesha County’s Italian restaurants.
Now it is your turn: Which Waukesha restaurant serves the city’s real No. 1 burger?
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Port Washington’s burger scene runs deep. You can get a barbecue-loaded smash burger inside a revived neighborhood tavern, a half-pound classic overlooking the harbor or an old-school bar burger alongside a game of bowling.