Wisconsin cheese curds are squeaky fresh cheese pieces, either eaten raw or beer-battered and deep-fried, served with ranch dipping sauce as a Wisconsin bar.
Wisconsin's cheese curd tradition dates to the state's 19th-century immigrant Swiss and German cheesemakers, who sold the byproduct curds from cheddar production fresh at the dairy door. The fried cheese curd, deep-fried in a beer batter, became a Wisconsin tavern staple in the 1970s when state cheesemakers and brewers cross-promoted; today fried curds appear on every Wisconsin tavern, brewpub and supper club menu. Clock Shadow Creamery in Walker's Point produces them fresh daily for Milwaukee restaurants.
5 editor picks for Wisconsin cheese curds in Milwaukee, ranked by editorial score. All Milwaukee signature dishes · Wisconsin cheese curds across every city.
Lakefront Brewery ★ 4.7
riverwest · 1872 N Commerce St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Lakefront Brewery on North Commerce Street, Russ Klisch's 1987 brewery, runs the city's defining Friday fish fry with a polka band and free brewery tours.
Sobelman's Pub and Grill ★ 4.4
walkers-point · 1900 W St Paul Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Sobelman's Pub and Grill on West St Paul Avenue serves Milwaukee's most photographed Bloody Mary with brat, slider and pickled garnish stack since 1999.
AJ Bombers ★ 4.3
downtown · 1247 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
AJ Bombers on North Water Street downtown is Joe Sorge's burger bar with airplane-themed peanut delivery, the Barrie Burger and a deep beer list since 2009.
Kil@Wat ★ 4.2
downtown · 139 E Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Kil@Wat inside the Saint Kate Arts Hotel on East Kilbourn Avenue runs an all-day American gastropub menu with Wisconsin cheese curds, burgers and craft.
Crafty Cow ★ 4.2
walkers-point · 611 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Crafty Cow on West National Avenue in Walker's Point makes smash burgers with Wisconsin cheese, fried cheese curds and craft beer; opened by the Lowlands.