The Best Waffles in Greater Milwaukee: A Complete Guide

Milwaukee’s brunch scene has quietly become a waffle lover’s playground. You can find loaded bubble waffles in Bay View and Brookfield, chicken and waffles in West Milwaukee and Waukesha, banana bread waffles in Bay View, Belgian-style waffles in Wauwatosa and Mequon, and Liège waffles at farmers markets and small-town cafes.

This guide rounds up standout waffle spots across the city and surrounding counties, organized by area so you can find something close to home or worth the drive. If you’re building out a full brunch itinerary, our guides to the best brunch in greater Milwaukee, best breakfast in greater Milwaukee, best pancakes in Milwaukee, and Milwaukee’s most creative pancakes pair nicely with this one for families who can’t agree on breakfast.

Third Ward and Downtown Milwaukee

The Historic Third Ward and downtown Milwaukee are two of the easiest places to build a waffle-friendly brunch stop.

Café Benelux at 346 N. Broadway serves brunch in one of Milwaukee’s most popular Third Ward settings, with a current menu that includes a Blueberry Buttermilk Waffle with blueberry sauce, sweet ricotta and toasted almond streusel, plus a Nashville Chicken & Waffle with fried chicken, spicy honey brown sugar glaze, green chile crema and syrup. It is also a good pick if part of your group wants beignets, Bloody Marys or a rooftop brunch setting.

A few blocks away, Sweet Diner at 239 E. Chicago St. offers a Classic Belgian Waffle, a Waffle and Berries, and a Chicken & Waffles dish built on a homemade cornbread waffle with Memphis-style fried chicken tenders. Gluten-free or vegan waffle options are available on request, which makes it one of the more flexible waffle stops in the Third Ward.

Downtown, Brunch It Up at 714 N. Milwaukee St. is another strong option for families looking for a more playful brunch menu. The restaurant lists Chicken & Waffles and a waffle-based breakfast sandwich among its brunch options, and it also has locations in Cedarburg and Delafield.

For authentic Belgian Liège waffles, Press. Waffles is worth tracking down. The South Shore Farmers Market’s 2026 vendor list includes Press. Waffles among its vendors, and the business also sells frozen waffles locally. Because farmers market schedules can shift, check the South Shore Farmers Market vendor list or Press’s own updates before making a special trip.

Bay View, Walker’s Point and West Milwaukee

Bay View has its own waffle identity, especially if you like creative, dessert-style waffles.

Honeypie Cafe at 2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. serves weekend brunch with a house-made Banana Bread Waffle topped with candied walnuts, sliced bananas and Wisconsin maple syrup. It is a nice pick for families who want waffles but also want the option of Honeypie’s pies, biscuits, sandwiches and comfort-food brunch plates.

Just up the street, Gordo’s Bubble Waffles at 2301 S. Howell Ave. specializes in Hong Kong-style bubble waffles loaded with ice cream and toppings. The menu includes flavors like Strawberry Cheesecake, Biscoff, S’mores, Fruity Pebbles, Dubai Chocolate and Banana Pudding. Gordo’s also has Milwaukee locations at 1633 W. Wells St. near Marquette and 17395 W. Bluemound Rd. in Brookfield.

In West Milwaukee, Mad Rooster Cafe at 4401 W. Greenfield Ave. is one of the area’s most reliable chicken-and-waffles stops. Its waffle menu includes a plain waffle, Banana Pecan Waffle, Spicy Chicken Waffle, and Chicken & Waffles with Southern-style fried chicken and chicken chorizo gravy.

Wauwatosa

Wauwatosa’s breakfast reputation runs deep, but for waffles specifically, Café Hollander is the most reliable stop in the Village. The Belgian-inspired brunch menu includes a Belgian-style waffle with whipped butter, along with the restaurant’s broader lineup of Dutch- and Belgian-inspired brunch dishes.

Blue’s Egg remains one of greater Milwaukee’s best-known breakfast restaurants and is worth considering for a full brunch outing, but check the current menu before going specifically for waffles. Waffle dishes there appear to be more seasonal or special-driven than guaranteed.

For more nearby breakfast ideas, see our Milwaukee North Shore brunch guide and guide to the best breakfast in Milwaukee’s North Shore.

North Shore and Northern Suburbs

Families on the North Shore do not have to go far for a classic waffle breakfast. Maxfield’s Pancake House at 333 W. Brown Deer Rd. in Bayside serves Chicken and Waffles, Banana Pecan Waffles, Banana Split Waffles and a classic Belgian waffle. It is also one of the better North Shore picks for pecan waffle fans.

In Mequon, Café Hollander offers the same Belgian-inspired brunch experience as its Wauwatosa and Brookfield siblings, including a Belgian-style waffle and a kids’ waffle option on the children’s menu.

For more breakfast stops beyond waffles, check out our kid-friendly breakfast restaurants guide and best kid-friendly restaurants across greater Milwaukee.

Waukesha County

Waukesha County pulls from both ends of the waffle spectrum.

Tofte’s Table in downtown Waukesha is a more elevated chicken-and-waffles stop, with fried chicken thighs, truffle waffles, sautéed Brussels sprouts, shallots, spicy maple syrup and orange butter.

In Brookfield, Café Hollander covers the Belgian-style brunch category, while Gordo’s Bubble Waffles at 17395 W. Bluemound Rd. brings bubble waffles, mini pancakes, croffles, waffle sticks, ice cream and late-night dessert energy to the west side.

Brookfield is also home to The Original Pancake House at 16460 W. Bluemound Rd., which offers several waffle choices, including Apple, Fresh Fruit, Bacon, Blueberry, Pecan, Belgian and Gluten Friendly waffles.

Ozaukee and Washington Counties

Smaller communities north of Milwaukee have their own dedicated waffle destinations.

Lemonzello in downtown Port Washington serves fresh lemonade, crafted sodas, small bites and Belgian Liège waffles at 126 E. Main St. It is a fun stop to pair with a Port Washington lakefront walk, marina visit or casual family day trip.

In Cedarburg, PJ Piper Pancake House at W61N514 Washington Ave. offers a Bananas Foster Waffle, Pecan Waffle, Strawberry Waffle, classic waffle and Chicken & Waffles. If you are planning a longer Cedarburg outing, pair breakfast with our Cedarburg restaurants guide.

Further west in Washington County, Main Street Café in West Bend serves homemade Belgian waffles finished with powdered sugar, whipped cream and maple syrup. Its waffle menu includes plain, caramel pecan and fruit-topped options.

Racine and Kenosha Counties

The waffle map extends south, too.

Chloe’s Cafe at 2920 Taylor Ave. in Racine is a family-owned breakfast and lunch restaurant that includes waffles among its breakfast staples.

In Kenosha, Mad Rooster Cafe at 11710 75th St. brings the same waffle appeal as its West Milwaukee sibling, including Spicy Chicken & Waffles, Chicken & Waffles with chicken chorizo gravy, and simpler waffle options for kids or picky eaters.

Best Stops by Waffle Style

Best bubble waffles: Gordo’s Bubble Waffles in Bay View, near Marquette and Brookfield.

Best chicken and waffles: Mad Rooster Cafe, Tofte’s Table and Café Benelux.

Best pecan waffles: Maxfield’s Pancake House, The Original Pancake House Brookfield, PJ Piper Pancake House and Main Street Café.

Best Liège waffles: Press. Waffles and Lemonzello.

Best flexible dietary options: Sweet Diner, thanks to gluten-free or vegan waffle options on request.

Planning Your Waffle Tour

With this many options spread across greater Milwaukee, a waffle-focused road trip is entirely doable over a few weekends. Families with younger kids might start close to home with a diner-style breakfast at Maxfield’s, Original Pancake House, PJ Piper or Main Street Café. Dessert lovers can build a bubble waffle trip around Gordo’s. Brunch fans can aim for Café Benelux, Sweet Diner, Honeypie, Tofte’s Table or Mad Rooster.

Hours and menus change, especially around holidays, summer weekends and farmers market season, so check each restaurant’s current website or social media before heading out. For more food adventures, browse our guides to Milwaukee food halls and markets, North Shore farmers markets, and Belgian waffles in greater Milwaukee.