Solly's — *The Solly’s Grille butter burger*

Greater Milwaukee’s burger scene runs much deeper than the standard pub cheeseburger. Across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, and Kenosha counties, you’ll find butter-soaked classics, crispy-edged smash burgers, cheese-stuffed Juicy Lucys, wild-game creations, custard-stand favorites, and chef-driven burgers that rival anything served at a steakhouse.

This guide brings together more than 60 noteworthy burger destinations, organized by county. Menus, prices, specials, and seasonal hours change frequently, so check the restaurant’s website or social media before making a special trip.

If crispy-edged patties are your priority, you can also explore our separate guide to Milwaukee’s best smash burgers.

🍔 The Great Milwaukee Burger Map 🍔

72 burger joints, 6 counties, zero bad decisions. Tap a pin to see what makes it special — from the North Shore Family Adventures burger guide.

Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County is the center of the region’s burger culture, spanning historic diners, neighborhood taverns, frozen-custard stands, and acclaimed chef-driven restaurants.

The Diplomat

The Diplomat at 815 E. Brady Street serves the Diplomac, chef Dane Baldwin’s polished interpretation of a fast-food double-decker. The restaurant makes the essential components—including the bun, pickles, sauce, and beef grind—in-house while deliberately sticking with American cheese.

Milwaukee Magazine named it the publication’s favorite burger in its 2025 guide to Milwaukee’s best burgers. It is exceptionally rich, making it a surprisingly reasonable burger to split.

Crafty Cow

Crafty Cow at 2675 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View is known for indulgent stuffed burgers, fried chicken, and Oklahoma-style smash burgers.

Depending on the current menu, you may encounter creations filled or topped with Wisconsin cheese, bacon, mushrooms, pork belly, hot peppers, or bone-marrow butter. The casual atmosphere and children’s menu make it one of the easier chef-driven burger stops for families.

Crafty Cow was also one of the Wisconsin Beef Council’s 2024 Best Burger Elite Eight.

Oscar’s Pub & Grill

Oscar’s Pub & Grill at 1712 W. Pierce Street is one of Milwaukee’s best combinations of size, flavor, and value. Its half-pound burgers arrive on substantial bakery buns with fries included.

The signature Big O layers chipotle Jack, smoked Gouda, bacon, chorizo, fried onions, and guacamole. The restaurant also offers an extensive build-your-own selection with considerably more cheese, sauce, and topping choices than the average neighborhood pub.

Oscar’s also operates Oscar’s Winners Circle at 3800 W. Burnham Street.

Sobelman’s Pub & Grill

Sobelman’s at 1900 W. St. Paul Avenue became nationally recognizable for its towering Bloody Marys, but burgers were the foundation of the restaurant long before those drinks went viral.

The Sobelman combines American, Swiss, and cheddar cheeses with bacon, fried onions, and jalapeños. Other burgers incorporate bratwurst, hot peppers, specialty cheeses, and Wisconsin-inspired toppings. The original Menomonee Valley tavern has a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere during daytime dining hours.

Solly’s Grille

Solly’s Grille at 4629 N. Port Washington Road in Glendale has served its signature butter burger since 1936.

A sirloin patty is cooked on the griddle and finished with a generous amount of Wisconsin butter that melts across the burger and onto the plate. Solly’s received a prestigious James Beard America’s Classics Award in 2022, recognizing its importance to American regional food culture.

Counter seating, breakfast service, cherry shakes, and an old-fashioned diner atmosphere make it an essential North Shore stop.

Kopp’s Frozen Custard

Kopp’s Frozen Custard has locations in Glendale, Greenfield, and Brookfield. Although best known for frozen custard, Kopp’s jumbo burgers are nearly as important to Milwaukee food culture.

The patties stretch across oversized buns and can be ordered with “the works”—ketchup, Düsseldorf mustard, relish, and fried onions. Pair one with onion rings and the flavor of the day for the complete experience.

Kopp’s is especially convenient for families, although seating is primarily outdoors or in open-air areas rather than a traditional dining room.

Crave Cafe

Crave Cafe at 3592 N. Oakland Avenue in Shorewood remains one of the North Shore’s best burger sleepers.

The Crave Burger combines a thick Angus patty with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, arugula, and white-truffle aioli. The Korean BBQ Burger heads in a different direction with kimchi, spicy mayonnaise, and cabbage slaw. Orders are often packaged in Chinese-style takeout boxes, adding to the restaurant’s quirky personality.

Fox Den

Fox Den operates from a walk-up kitchen inside Great Lakes Distillery at 616 W. Virginia Street.

Its menu specializes in inventive smash burgers, including the Bang! Burger with American cheese, minced onion, pickles, and signature sauce. The Umami Bomb adds mushrooms, bacon, caramelized onions, mushroom ketchup, Swiss cheese, and a Parmesan crisp.

Fox Den also makes its own vegan patties and offers numerous house sauces—but famously does not serve conventional ketchup.

Wild Roots

Wild Roots at 6807 W. Becher Street in West Allis serves one of the area’s most distinctive upscale tavern burgers.

Its burger has featured house-ground beef seared in duck fat, American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, and a tangy house sauce. Because Wild Roots changes portions of its menu seasonally, confirm the current preparation before visiting specifically for the burger.

Merriment Social

Merriment Social at 240 E. Pittsburgh Avenue is known for its double-patty Merriment Burger with American cheese, pickles, and Social Sauce on a soft house-style bun.

The restaurant’s old $5 happy-hour burger is no longer a safe promise, so check the current menu and specials before visiting. The regular burger remains one of Walker’s Point’s most popular upscale-casual choices.

Saint Bibiana

Saint Bibiana at 1327 E. Brady Street deserves a place near the top of any Milwaukee smash-burger list.

The Bibiana Burger features two thin patties with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and special sauce on a sesame bun. The restaurant stays open later than most burger destinations, making it a particularly useful option after an evening on Brady Street.

Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern

Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern at 234 E. Vine Street is best known for brunch, but its burger has become one of the city’s most frequently recommended.

The Wolfundito has traditionally combined two smashed patties, American cheese, griddled onions, pickles, lettuce, and house sauce. Availability can vary with the restaurant’s evolving daytime menu, so check before making it the sole purpose of a visit.

Birch

Birch at 459 E. Pleasant Street serves a wood-fired, chef-driven burger that regularly appears in discussions of Milwaukee’s best.

Its exact construction changes, but the appeal comes from high-quality beef, fire-driven flavor, and carefully balanced toppings. The burger may be limited to the bar or specific service periods, making this one to verify when reserving a table.

Camino

Camino operates in Walker’s Point and West Allis. Its half-pound tavern burger with American cheese and fried onions has developed a loyal following, especially during the restaurant’s recurring Monday burger promotion.

Because discounts and participation can change, consult the restaurant’s current specials before counting on a particular price. Additional Milwaukee dining promotions can be found in our day-by-day dining-deals guide.

Bebe Zito

Bebe Zito opened inside the 3rd Street Market Hall in 2025, bringing the Minneapolis company’s award-winning burgers and house-made ice cream to downtown Milwaukee.

The menu leans into crisp smash patties, American cheese, special sauces, and playful combinations. Its food-hall location makes it particularly convenient when a group cannot agree on one cuisine.

The Fatty Patty

The Fatty Patty specializes in Zabiha halal burgers. Menu options may include turkey bacon, avocado, fried eggs, gyro meat, spicy sauces, and stacked patties.

It is an important inclusion for diners seeking halal beef, but confirm the currently operating location before leaving home because the company’s Milwaukee-area footprint has changed over time.

Burger Hub

Burger Hub at 6231 S. 27th Street in Greenfield offers freshly pressed halal beef burgers in a casual counter-service setting.

The menu includes Wisconsin-inspired combinations with cheese curds and turkey bacon alongside more conventional cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, and loaded fries.

Goodkind

Goodkind at 2457 S. Wentworth Avenue is a small Bay View restaurant known for cocktails, seasonal cooking, and imaginative comfort food.

Its burger preparations can change, and burger-night promotions should not be treated as permanent. When a burger appears, expect a chef-driven combination rather than a standard pub build.

Faklandia Brewpub

Faklandia Brewpub at 3807 S. Packard Ave in Saint Francis is a brewpub with a serious burger menu — half-pound Angus chuck patties on toasted brioche, including a Mushroom Swiss with roasted garlic aioli that scored 45/50 on OnMilwaukee's Burger Trail.

Adonis Burger Co.

Adonis Burger Co. at 1978 N. Farwell Ave in Milwaukee (inside Temple Goddess Cafe) serves an all-plant-based burger concept with Beyond Burgers, jackfruit "pulled pork," and loaded mac and cheese.

Pallino Burger

Pallino Burger at the Lost Whale patio, 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave in Milwaukee, is a Bay View food truck parked Thursday–Saturday evenings with fresh-ground burgers from an Italian family butcher shop pedigree, alongside meatball bombers and chicken parm sandwiches.

Your Office

Your Office at 763 N. Milwaukee St in Milwaukee is an upscale-dive-bar hybrid open from breakfast through late night — the house burger, "The Promotion Patty," is a thick-cut standout alongside pull tabs and a deep bourbon list.

Nite Owl Drive-In

Nite Owl Drive-In at 830 E. Layton Avenue has been serving burgers since 1948.

The seasonal restaurant reopened for its 2026 season with daytime hours Tuesday through Saturday, generally closing around 3 p.m. or whenever the day’s beef sells out. Arrive early rather than assuming it will still be serving in the late afternoon.

The cheeseburgers are unapologetically old-school, with house-ground beef, plenty of American cheese, and soft buns. Nite Owl is typically open from spring through fall.

Archie’s Flat Top

Archie’s Flat Top in West Allis embraces 1950s burger-stand nostalgia with smashed patties, American cheese, braised onions, shredded lettuce, and special sauce.

It shares a destination with Scratch Ice Cream, making the burger-and-ice-cream combination an easy family outing. Confirm current operating hours because the burger counter and ice-cream business may not always follow identical schedules.

Riley’s Bar + Burger

Riley’s Bar + Burger opened at 100 E. Montana Street in Bay View in 2025.

Its menu centers on wagyu smash burgers, beer, cocktails, and tavern-style pizza. The expansive dog-friendly patio and casual ordering system help distinguish it from more formal burger restaurants.

Additional Milwaukee County Burgers Worth Trying

Other notable choices include Elsa’s on the Park for a downtown burger in a dramatic setting, The Wicked Hop in the Historic Third Ward, Layman Brewing in West Allis, Wonderland in Riverwest, and The Brick Pub & Grill in Glendale.

The closure of Stack’d Burger Bar in April 2025 means it has been removed from this guide. Café Bavaria has also been removed because it closed in 2019 and was replaced by Buckatabon.

Waukesha County

Waukesha County combines destination burger bars with neighborhood custard stands, breweries, and family-oriented restaurants.

Sobelman’s Pub & Grill Waukesha

Sobelman’s Waukesha at 332 Williams Street brings the Milwaukee institution’s Black Angus burgers to downtown Waukesha.

Look for Wisconsin-minded combinations featuring bratwurst, multiple cheeses, bacon, fried onions, and spicy toppings. The relaxed atmosphere and outdoor seating make this location suitable for families.

Crafty Cow Oconomowoc

Crafty Cow Oconomowoc at 153 E. Wisconsin Avenue offers the brand’s cheese-filled burgers and crispy smash patties in downtown Oconomowoc.

The rotating menu has included burgers filled with cheddar, bacon, spinach-artichoke dip, or other rich ingredients. Check the current menu rather than relying on a particular specialty remaining available indefinitely.

Point Burger Bar

Point Burger Bar is located at W229 N1400 Westwood Drive in Pewaukee.

The extensive menu features Angus burgers, build-your-own combinations, specialty meats, shakes, and bar food. Its proximity to entertainment venues in the Pewaukee entertainment district can make it part of a larger family outing, but verify the operating status of neighboring attractions separately.

Badger Burger Company

Badger Burger Company operates in Oconomowoc, Mukwonago, and Richfield.

Its half-pound burgers lean heavily into Wisconsin comfort food. Depending on the location and current menu, toppings may include cheese curds, bacon, macaroni and cheese, fried pickles, onion rings, and barbecue sauce.

Murf’s Frozen Custard & Jumbo Burgers

Murf’s Frozen Custard is located at 12505 W. Burleigh Road in Brookfield—not on Capitol Drive as older listings sometimes report.

Murf’s has served burgers and frozen custard since 1993. The restaurant emphasizes fresh beef, Wisconsin ingredients, rotating custard flavors, and affordable children’s meals that include custard.

Raised Grain Brewing Company

Raised Grain Brewing Company at 1725 Dolphin Drive in Waukesha pairs beer with substantial pub burgers.

Burger offerings and sauces change periodically, while the tap list revolves around Raised Grain’s own beers. It is a stronger destination for adults and families with older children than for diners seeking a traditional custard-stand experience.

Mainstream Bar & Grill

Mainstream Bar & Grill at 404 W. Main Street in Waukesha offers extensive burger customization and rotating monthly creations.

House-made chips and dip are a signature accompaniment. The restaurant also hosts entertainment and weekly events, so diners who prefer a quieter meal may want to check the schedule.

Milk Can Hamburgers & Frozen Custard

Milk Can Hamburgers & Frozen Custard in Muskego serves fresh burgers, fries, frozen custard, and shakes in a nostalgic quick-service setting.

The drive-through makes it a particularly convenient choice for families traveling through southern Waukesha County.

Lou’s Lucky Penny

Lou’s Lucky Penny at 739 W. St. Paul Avenue in Waukesha offers burgers, wings, fish fry, and Wisconsin-style comfort food in a remodeled tavern with a large patio.

The cheesy potatoes provide a more distinctive side option than the usual fries.

Ozaukee County

Ozaukee County’s best burger stops combine historic taverns, lakefront views, custard stands, breweries, and classic-car nostalgia.

Skippy’s Burger Bar

Skippy’s Burger Bar at 113 Green Bay Road occupies a building dating to 1855.

Skippy’s reached the Wisconsin Beef Council’s Elite Eight in both 2024 and 2026. Signature burgers include the Better Mac, Farmhouse, and Skippy Burger with proprietary Skippy Sauce.

The casual atmosphere, homemade chips, and seasonal outdoor seating make it one of Ozaukee County’s most approachable family burger destinations.

Wayne’s Drive-In

Wayne’s Drive-In at 1331 Covered Bridge Road in Cedarburg delivers the full nostalgic experience: Black Angus burgers, buttered Sheboygan-style hard rolls, shakes, malts, picnic tables, and classic-car nights.

Wayne’s is seasonal, generally operating from early April through mid-November. Check the calendar before driving out during early spring or late fall.

You can find more nearby dining options in our complete guide to Cedarburg restaurants.

Hefner’s Frozen Custard & Jumbo Burgers

Hefner’s at N71W5184 Columbia Road has served Cedarburg since 1995.

Its menu combines jumbo burgers with rotating frozen-custard flavors. Specialty burgers may incorporate bacon, fried onions, bratwurst, beer cheese, or locally inspired cheese spreads. The outdoor tables and broad menu make Hefner’s an easy family stop.

Schooner Pub

Schooner Pub at 114 N. Franklin Street in Port Washington pairs burgers and pub food with views of the harbor.

The menu has included beef and bison burgers along with rotating specialty combinations. Its location makes it convenient to combine lunch with a walk along the marina or lakefront.

Crave Bar and Food

Crave Bar and Food at 10401 N. Port Washington Road in Mequon offers a more polished burger experience built around a substantial Angus beef blend.

Signature versions have included Wisconsin, truffle-mushroom, Southwest, and Mediterranean-inspired burgers. Multiple bun choices and a children’s burger make it flexible for families, although the restaurant is generally closed on Sundays.

Inventors Brewpub

Inventors Brewpub at 305 E. Washington Street in Port Washington combines house-brewed beer with an imaginative food menu.

Burger creations change, but past offerings have included peanut-butter-inspired, jalapeño-popper, and black-and-blue combinations. The harbor setting, house-made sodas, poutine, and pet-friendly patio broaden its appeal beyond beer drinkers.

Moonlight Tavern

Moonlight Tavern inside The Port Hotel at 101 E. Main Street offers a more refined Port Washington experience.

The restaurant’s burger and broader supper-club-inspired menu can change seasonally. Its extensive whiskey collection and historic hotel atmosphere make it a better fit for a leisurely dinner than a quick counter-service meal.

Washington County

Washington County earned statewide burger attention when Brazen Head Pub won the Wisconsin Beef Council’s 2025 competition.

Brazen Head Pub

Brazen Head Pub at 147 N. Main Street in West Bend won the 2025 Wisconsin’s Best Burger Contest.

The winning Brazen Beer Cheese Burger features a half-pound Angus patty with cheddar, bacon, onion rings, and Harp beer-cheese sauce on a pretzel roll.

Brazen Head remains the 2025 champion, although the statewide title changed hands in 2026 when The Dump Bar & Grill in Cambria won with its Tennessee Whiskey Burger.

Local Press Burger Bar

Local Press Burger Bar at 143 Main Street in Kewaskum reached Wisconsin’s Elite Eight in 2025.

Its menu is one of the region’s most exuberant, with burgers inspired by wild game, macaroni and cheese, doughnuts, birria, and other comfort-food combinations. The Beasty Boy has combined boar, wagyu, bison, and elk, while the Dough Boy uses a glazed doughnut-style bun.

Local Press is generally open Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

Bixenberg Tavern

Bixenberg Tavern at N112W21209 Mequon Road in Germantown focuses on hand-pressed smash burgers and Wisconsin craft beer.

The signature Bixenburger combines a one-third-pound patty with pickles, tomato, caramelized onions, and cheese on a branded brioche bun. Despite earlier publicity suggesting more limited hours, the tavern currently lists service Wednesday through Sunday.

Badger Burger Company Richfield

Badger Burger Company at 1872 State Highway 175 in Richfield offers large charbroiled burgers with combinations of Wisconsin cheddar, cheese curds, bacon, macaroni and cheese, fried pickles, and onion rings.

This is one of the county’s better choices for diners who believe a burger should be structurally excessive.

Big Sky Country Bar & Grill

Big Sky Country Bar & Grill in Germantown serves half-pound Angus burgers in a casual western-themed setting.

The Boom-Boom Burger, with candied peppered bacon and house sauce, is among its best-known combinations.

Smash Daddy’s

Smash Daddy’s in Hartford concentrates on loaded smash burgers.

Expect combinations involving cheddar, fried jalapeños, cheese curds, onion straws, garlic aioli, and house smash sauce, plus loaded fries and “dirty soda” drinks.

Big Guys

Big Guys near Pike Lake in Hartford is a neighborhood sports bar known for half-pound burgers and recurring weekly specials.

Because those specials can change, check the current Facebook page before planning around a particular day or price.

Racine County

Racine County preserves several important pieces of southeastern Wisconsin burger history while offering some of the guide’s most memorable family environments.

Kewpee Lunch

Kewpee Lunch at 520 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Racine has operated since 1926.

Fresh beef is shaped and flattened on the grill, while homemade root beer and traditional malts complete the experience. The Art Deco diner, horseshoe counter, and collection of Kewpie-doll memorabilia make the restaurant feel like a genuine time capsule.

Kewpee is cash-only and keeps limited daytime hours, so check before visiting. It is also part of a small surviving regional Kewpee chain, but claims about the exact number of remaining locations vary and are best avoided.

Fred’s Burgers

Fred’s Burgers at 596 N. Pine Street in Burlington has specialized in burgers since 1980.

The menu offers quarter-pound and half-pound patties with combinations such as the Cajun Jack, Cowboy, Horseradish, Roasted Garlic, Olive, and Fred Burger with ham, onions, peppers, and Swiss cheese. A veggie patty and gluten-free bun are available.

Fred’s is also known for its potato sides, especially seasoned fries and house-style chips.

Georgie Porgie’s Treefort Restaurant

Georgie Porgie’s at 5502 Washington Avenue in Mount Pleasant offers one of the region’s most memorable family dining environments.

A large artificial tree rises through the restaurant with an elevated “treefort” seating level. Burgers may be topped with beer cheese, bacon, fried onions, cheese curds, jalapeños, cream cheese, or onion rings.

Fresh frozen custard, hand-dipped shakes, a children’s menu, and the treehouse theme make this one of the strongest burger destinations for younger children.

Toad Hall

Toad Hall at 611 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Racine serves creative gastropub burgers.

Past combinations have included gyro meat and feta, buffalo sauce with macaroni and cheese, and bacon with caramelized onions and sharp cheddar. Board games, craft beer, and trivia reinforce the English-pub atmosphere.

TinCAN Roadhouse

TinCAN Roadhouse at 20715 Durand Avenue in Union Grove serves customizable burgers and scratch-made bar food in a rustic-industrial setting.

The restaurant is particularly known for its poblano dip and broad selection of burger toppings.

Stumble Inn

Stumble Inn at 1501 200th Avenue in Union Grove is a neighborhood tavern serving half-pound seasoned burgers.

Older reviews advertise extremely low burger prices, but those figures should no longer be treated as current. The atmosphere is more bar-oriented, although daytime dining can work for families comfortable in a traditional Wisconsin tavern.

Kenosha County

Kenosha County’s burger scene ranges from historic carhops to rooftop dining and elaborate Wisconsin cheese-curd creations.

The Garage

The Garage Sports & Burger Bar at 3001 60th Street pays tribute to Kenosha’s automotive history.

The menu emphasizes build-your-own burgers with numerous toppings, cheeses, sauces, and patty options. Sports, games, beer bingo, and a casual neighborhood atmosphere make it livelier than the average burger restaurant.

Captain Mike’s

Captain Mike’s Beer & Burger Bar at 5118 Sixth Avenue is a longstanding downtown Kenosha burger destination.

The restaurant rotates specialty creations and offers beef and meatless patty options, macaroni and cheese, and a deep craft-beer selection. Confirm premium-meat options such as Kobe-style beef on the current menu rather than assuming they are permanently available.

The Apis Hotel & Restaurant

The Apis at 614 56th Street offers a sophisticated counterpoint to Kenosha’s drive-ins and sports bars.

The restaurant describes its current dinner concept as a modern Italian steakhouse using USDA Prime beef sourced from Stock Yard Butchers. Burger preparations change with the seasonal menu, and the rooftop deck adds lake and downtown views during warmer months.

Bristol 45 Diner

Bristol 45 Diner at 8321 200th Avenue surrounds diners with vintage signs, records, soda-counter details, and colorful 1950s-inspired booths.

The Bristol 45 Bomb Burger features a large charbroiled patty with barbecue sauce, cheddar, and haystack onions. Hand-dipped shakes and seasonal classic-car nights add to the nostalgic experience.

Milwaukee Burger Company

Milwaukee Burger Company at 9901 77th Street in Pleasant Prairie specializes in oversized burgers and enormous Wisconsin cheese curds.

The menu includes stuffed and smashed burgers, including combinations with jalapeños, bacon, cheese curds, smoked cheese, and caramelized onions. Gluten-friendly choices and a broad children’s menu make it more family-accessible than the restaurant’s giant Bloody Marys might suggest.

Ron’s Place

Ron’s Place at 3301 52nd Street has served Kenosha since 1972.

Its signature 5x5 burger uses an eight-ounce patty on a five-inch sesame bun. Variations add ham, grilled onions, blue cheese, jalapeños, nacho cheese, bacon, and Thousand Island dressing.

The restaurant’s enormous Long Island iced-tea menu attracts considerable attention, but smaller burgers and nonalcoholic choices make daytime visits possible for families.

El Camino Kitchen

El Camino Kitchen at 9900 77th Street in Pleasant Prairie combines American burgers with Mexican and Southern California flavors.

The Elote Burger incorporates Mexican street-corn flavors, while other combinations may feature chorizo, jalapeños, Chihuahua cheese, queso, or guacamole. Vegetarian and vegan choices are also available.

The Spot Drive-In

The Spot Drive-In at 2117 75th Street has offered year-round carhop service since July 4, 1945.

Fresh, never-frozen beef, homemade root beer, frosted mugs, and breaded cheese squares define the experience. The restaurant remains open seven days a week until 2 a.m., making it one of the region’s latest-operating burger stops.

The Spot is traditionally cash-only, with an ATM available, although online and app-based ordering may provide additional payment options.

Big Star Drive-In

Big Star Drive-In at 1500 Washington Road has offered seasonal carhop service since 1954.

The restaurant is generally open from spring through late summer, serving thin griddled burgers, fries, shakes, and root beer at old-fashioned drive-in prices. Bring cash and check its seasonal opening dates before visiting.

Waterfront Warehouse

Waterfront Warehouse at 3322 Sheridan Road is known for burgers, beer, and casual American food.

Several burgers incorporate Wisconsin ingredients, including cheese curds and Merkts-style cheese spread. The broad menu and casual environment work well for groups with mixed preferences.

The 1844 Table & Mash

The 1844 Table & Mash inside The Stella Hotel offers a more polished burger experience in downtown Kenosha.

Its burger preparations can change, but past versions have featured Wisconsin cheese, pork belly, or other upscale steakhouse-style toppings.

Planning Your Greater Milwaukee Burger Tour

For Wisconsin burger history, begin with Solly’s Grille, Kewpee Lunch, Nite Owl, The Spot, Kopp’s, and Big Star. Together, they trace nearly a century of diner, drive-in, butter-burger, and frozen-custard traditions.

For chef-driven burgers, prioritize The Diplomat, Bavette, Birch, Wild Roots, Merriment Social, and The Apis.

For smash burgers, start with Saint Bibiana, Fox Den, Riley’s Bar + Burger, Uncle Wolfie’s, Archie’s Flat Top, and Bixenberg. Our complete Milwaukee smash-burger guide includes even more options.

Families with younger children will find especially memorable experiences at Georgie Porgie’s Treefort, Kopp’s, Wayne’s Drive-In, Bristol 45 Diner, Hefner’s, and Milk Can.

Adventurous diners should consider Local Press Burger Bar, Crafty Cow, Fox Den, Milwaukee Burger Company, and El Camino Kitchen.

Vegetarian diners have credible options at Fox Den, Fred’s, Captain Mike’s, Milwaukee Burger Company, and several build-your-own burger bars. Diners with celiac disease or serious allergies should consult our Greater Milwaukee gluten-free dining guide and speak directly with restaurant staff about shared grills, fryers, and cross-contact.

Seasonal restaurants require the most planning. Wayne’s typically operates from April into November, Nite Owl from spring through fall, and Big Star primarily during the warmer months. Limited daytime hours and sellouts are also common at Nite Owl and Kewpee.

Finally, treat every price and promotion as temporary. Burger specials, happy hours, menu ingredients, and operating schedules can change without notice. Check the linked restaurant website or social-media page before making a long drive.

Whether you want a butter-drenched Wisconsin classic, a crackly-edged smash burger, a cheese-curd-topped creation, or dinner delivered to your car window, Greater Milwaukee offers a burger stop for nearly every appetite.

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