Milwaukee is butter burger country. The local classic is a griddled patty finished with a generous amount of Wisconsin butter, and one of the places credited with making it famous has been serving it since 1936. Around that tradition you'll find frozen custard stands that also sell jumbo burgers, a seasonal drive-in near the airport, overloaded pub burgers on the south side, and a new wave of smash burger counters and chef-driven burgers.

Some of the best spots sit just outside the city line. Port Washington Road in Glendale, north of the city, is home to two classics. West Allis, to the west, has one of the area's most interesting chef burgers. In the city, Brady Street on the East Side, Brewers Hill north of downtown, Walker's Point and the south side near the airport are all worth a stop. Every spot below appears on the cards above, and you can browse more in our restaurant directory.

Best burgers in Milwaukee by style

Butter burgers

Solly's Grille in Glendale is the place to start. It has served its sirloin butter burger since 1936 and received a James Beard America's Classics Award in 2022. Expect counter seating and a classic diner feel. Read the full story in our Wisconsin butter burger guide.

Custard stands and old-school spots

Kopp's Frozen Custard pairs its custard with jumbo burgers on oversized buns, and it has locations in Glendale, Greenfield and Brookfield. Nite Owl, near the airport, has served old-school cheeseburgers with house-ground beef and American cheese since 1948. It's seasonal and keeps daytime hours, so plan ahead. Find more spots like these on our best classic burgers page.

Pub burgers

Oscar's Pub & Grill on the south side serves half-pound burgers on bakery buns, and its signature Big O is loaded with chipotle jack, smoked gouda, bacon, chorizo, fried onions and guacamole. There's also a build-your-own option and a second location, Oscar's Winners Circle.

Smash burgers

Fox Den is a walk-up kitchen inside Great Lakes Distillery serving smash burgers with a long list of house sauces, plus house-made vegan patties. Uncle Wolfie's, best known for breakfast, makes a double smash burger with American cheese, griddled onions, pickles and house sauce. Its flagship is in Brewers Hill, with a second location downtown. For more, see our best smash burgers page.

Chef-driven

The Diplomat on Brady Street makes the Diplomac, chef Dane Baldwin's take on a fast-food double-decker, with the bun, pickles, sauce and beef grind all made in-house. In West Allis, Wild Roots sears house-ground beef in duck fat and tops it with American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles and house sauce. Its menu changes with the seasons, so check that the burger is on before you go.

Local burger traditions

The butter burger is Wisconsin's best-known burger style. The butter can go on the bun, on top of the patty, or both, and it makes for a rich, savory burger that's usually kept simple otherwise. Solly's is the classic place to try it.

Frozen custard is the other tradition. Custard stands are a big part of Milwaukee food culture, and many of them serve burgers too, so a burger and a scoop is a classic local meal. For a statewide view, read the best burgers in Wisconsin.

Tips for visiting

Pair Solly's and Kopp's. They're both on Port Washington Road in Glendale.
Go to Nite Owl for lunch. It's open seasonally, usually spring through fall, and closes in the afternoon or when it sells out.
Check before visiting Uncle Wolfie's or Wild Roots for a burger. Menus there can change by time of day or season.
Kopp's has mostly outdoor or open-air seating, so dress for the weather.
Make one at home with our Wisconsin butter burger recipe.
Know a Milwaukee spot we missed? Suggest a spot.

Browse by style

Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best classic burger joints, cheap burgers in Milwaukee.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Milwaukee?

For the classic, get a butter burger at Solly's Grille. For a chef-driven burger, The Diplomat's Diplomac is one of the city's most praised. For a smash burger, try Fox Den or Uncle Wolfie's.

What is a butter burger?

It's a burger finished with a generous amount of butter, a Wisconsin tradition. Solly's Grille in Glendale has served its version since 1936. Our butter burger guide covers the history.

Where can I find a cheap burger in Milwaukee?

Kopp's Frozen Custard and Nite Owl are casual, old-school stops. Fox Den's walk-up counter is another good pick for a quick smash burger.

Where can I get a burger and frozen custard in Milwaukee?

Kopp's Frozen Custard does both, with jumbo burgers alongside its custard at its Glendale, Greenfield and Brookfield locations.