Best Dish MKE - Hottest Restaurants in Milwaukee

Wela

We might have been sad to see Bavette go, but we couldn’t be happier with it’s replacement, the new-to-town modern Thai joint @welamke that’s menu is crafted by a Michelin starred chef from Thailand who uses the craft of French cooking to elevate original recipes.

The service was excellent and the staff was extremely knowledgeable about the dishes, always a good sign for a brand new place. The hamachi crudo was an amazing first bite, coupled with an apple mint vinaigrette and apple-basil sorbet. We’ve always loved a stuffed chicken wing, but these came with sticky rice instead of glass noodles and a flavorful seasoning that made these some of the best we’ve had. Their signature curry is the Duck Breast Rawang Curry, a beautifully seared duck with crispy skin and green curry that offered a nice spice level that most can enjoy.

Best Dish The Hamachi Crudo with apple-basil sorbet

The Vig

909 E Michigan St #201, Milwaukee, WI 53202

The Vig is a byproduct of our neighbor to the South, and Milwaukee has welcomed this Chicago newcomer, located in the The Couture building downtown, with open arms. The Vig brands themselves as a “lively and stylish sports parlor for the contemporary drinker”, and their description is pretty on point. Think happy hour gatherings and get togethers with the girls (for that, they offer the recently trendy “Girl Dinner”). The Vig’s menu aims to please with refined bar food that does not lack on the dipping sauces, but overall the highlight here is the drinks and the social scene.

Best Dish Girl Dinner (they make a mean caesar salad and dirty martini)

Cocina Filipina

3801 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI 53208

Cocina Filipina, which is woman and queer owned, started as a popular food truck that you may have seen at an event or festival. They recently opened a plant-filled brick and mortar in the Washington Park neighborhood, and we’re always happy to see unique cultural adds to the MKE food scene. Cocina specializes in rice bowls served with Filipino-style meats, specifically pork and chicken. You’ll also find crispy fried lumpia and an ube flan and horchata here. Their lunch special, offered M-F, is worth stopping in for - pork or chicken adobo (or pork belly), garlic rice, lumpia, an egg, and a soft drink all for $15, and the sauces and egg really tie everything together.

Best Dish The Hot Piggy (Slow-cooked marinated pork served over garlic rice, topped with house-made sriracha aioli, pickled red onions, and green onions)

Nakama

1600 N Jackson St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Nakama is just the second omakase bar to open in Milwaukee, following the huge success of the first, 1033 Omakase. Similar to 1033, Nakama has an intimate setting and reservations are hard to come by. For our first visit, we got a taste of what the hand roll bar had to offer upstairs in The Listening Room, which was a vinyl artwork-filled homage to the Japanese Listening Room. The hand rolls are the star of the show here, but don't ignore the small plates. The bites are light, so make sure you start with the Itsumi-San Inari, a savory-sweet fried tofu pouch for a good base.

Attention to detail is not just in the presentation and beautifully curated building, but also in the food. We loved the nuance of soy sauce in dropper bottles that allowed you to not overwhelm the taste of the fresh rolls. For dessert, the black sesame ice cream was elevated to a whole new level with the side of brown butter sesame crumble.

While reservations may seem hard to come by, the staff made it known that the way back in isn't necessarily on Open Table, but by subscribing to their newsletter. And that may be the way we get back in for the omakase…one day.

Best Dish A5 Wagyu Handroll

Cassis

333 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Chef Kyle Knall was already a buzz worthy name in Milwaukee with his success and James Beard nod for his first Milwaukee location, Birch. So it was a pretty sure thing that his second restaurant, a highly anticipated French bistro located on the river in the Third Ward, was going to be a hit. As soon as Cassis opened its doors in January 2026, it was confirmed and the word spread on socials. Inspired by the South of France, the building is carefully curated to represent that authentic European feel; but more importantly, the food does not disappoint. The foie gras eclairs are rich and delightful, and there is no better roasted chicken dish in town. Cassis’s menu offers a true balance of casual but elevated and innovative cuisine that will keep them on top of people’s minds for years to come.

Best Dish Roasted Chicken (order with a side of the Pommes Puree)

1033 Omakase

1033 S 1st St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

We had the pleasure of dining with the now chef of 1033 Omakase when he was doing pop ups out of Easy Tyger and went by the name Dag Omakase, and we knew then he would have no problem filling seats when he finally landed a brick and mortar spot. Milwaukee previously did not have an Omakase option (omakase translates to “leave it up to you” and is a chef-driven bite-by-bite sushi experience). When they moved into the former 1033, a tiny 10-seat corner spot in Walker’s Point, word spread like wildfire. And as if scoring a reservation wasn’t hard enough, 1033 Omakase has now been nominated as a semi-finalist for Restaurant and Chef by the James Beard Foundation. When you finally do score a res (check at 11 am on the last day of the month), get ready for 12-14 inventive and beautifully crafted bites that you won’t soon forget.

Best Dish Impossible

āya

700 E Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

The owners of āya opened their first restaurant, Saffron, a modern/elevated Indian cuisine spot in the Third Ward in 2022. We dined there once and left feeling a bit disappointed at the knowledge and enthusiasm of the waitstaff and feeling like we could get food just as good at our regular Indian place for less than half the price. That being said, it is on our radar to give it another go.

āya is an elegant new spot downtown in the Ascent tower that features an elevated and eye-catching Mediterranean-Middle Eastern menu. We went into our visit with a bit of skepticism, wondering if the focus on presentation and atmosphere was the goal over quality food. But, we were very happy to be proven wrong. While the high menu prices are a fair concern, we were more than impressed with every item ordered. The lamb ragu hummus is a favorite, and the Greek salad inside a giant tomato isn't just a gimmick, it was actually quite good. Similar to Saffron, the desserts and cocktails have an added flair and elegance.

Best Dish The Kastaleta Skewer, two grilled lamb chops that were tender with just the right Mediterranean flavors.

Room Service

2159 A2 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

The introduction of Room Service in April 2024 proved one thing: Milwaukeeans are HUGE fans of upscale Thai and Japanese cuisine. Two years later, and a reservation at this luxurious Bay View spot is still hard to come by. Room Service offers an elegant ambiance, an inventive cocktail menu, and every single item on the menu just hits. With a six page menu book (not including drinks or desserts), that's a real feat. Impress your guests with the One Night in Bangkok cocktail that surrounds your table in a lemongrass aromatic cloud, purple royal flower dumplings that literally sparkle, and the Kinnickinic Crisp Shell appetizer for an anything but a mundane dining experience. The inventive menu is brought to you by a culinary team that boasts extensive experience in Bangkok and New York City's most sophisticated Asian restaurants.

Best Dish Kinnickinic Crisp Shell

Ca'Lucchenzo

6030 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213

Whenever people ask us what our favorite restaurant in Milwaukee is, we usually name a few- and Ca’Lucchenzo is always on that list. And the strange thing? Most non-foodies have never heard of them! Which you wouldn’t expect, since reservations can be tough to land and you can always bank on a full dining room. But that may change as Chef Zak Baker was recently nominated as a 2026 semifinalist by James Beard for Best Chef: Mid-West - and we truly believe they have what it takes to take home the gold. Though selfishly, we enjoyed it being Milwaukee’s best kept secret. Ca'Lucchenzo specializes in seasonal, housemade pasta and Italian dishes, empowered by the owner’s (husband/wife duo Sarah and Zak Baker) experience cooking with various chefs in Italy. They also boast a well-curated wine list from their extensive wine studies and experience overseas.

Best Dish Quite literally any of their pastas - the culinary region changes with the seasons

Allie Boy's

Multiple Locations

Allie Boy’s has been serving up delicious bagels and schmears since 2020, and the momentum has not slowed down. The last few times we went to Allie Boy’s, it was so busy that they had to turn online ordering off, and that’s after they opened their second location on Farwell. Proclaimed the “finest nosh in Milwaukee”, Allie Boy’s is popular for their classic hot hand-rolled bagels and a smorgasbord of Middle-East/NYC inspired dishes. They keep us coming back for their ingenious specials; most recently we’ve been obsessed with the Mango Sticky Rice Crunch: a kefir lime sugar bagel with mango sticky, sesame coconut cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk that is to die for. Allie Boy’s is open Thursday-Sunday only, so make sure you plan your visit accordingly.

Best Dish The Veg Head

Axolotl Cafe

3001 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

In Milwaukee, brunch is a culture, and we still haven’t seen a city that offers more options. One of Milwaukee’s newest options is Axolotol Cafe, a Mexican-focused daytime spot in Bay View (the old Blackwood Brother’s) that serves unique sweet and savory options. Favorites include the chilaquiles, the Axo benedict with birria, and their fun take on pancakes (horchata or guava). But we recommend you come with a group to tackle the daunting but stand out Mexican style churro toast - a buttery, deep-fried, cinnamon sugar masterpiece served with a side of cajeta or chocolate sauce. Make sure you join the waitlist online before you go!

Best Dish Mexican style churro toast

Odd Duck

939 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Odd Duck’s motto is “Small Plates, Big Ideas”, and it perfectly describes the spirit of what they represent. Up until recently, the Walker’s Point duck-filled restaurant did not share their menu on their website due to how often it changed. Odd Duck is always keeping it fresh with new dishes that you won’t see anywhere else. The menu is divided by charcuterie, vegetable and animal, but the goal is for the table to share in all of the delicious bites (our favorite kind of dining). Not only does Odd Duck keep their menu fresh, but they aim to be an inclusive place for all, keeping diners coming back for more.

Best Dish It's always changing, but we love to order the charcuterie with a chili crisp devilled egg

EsterEv

2165 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Before Chef Dan Jacobs made it to the final round of Bravo’s Top Chef, his and partner Dan Van Rite’s passion project EsterEv, an elevated and inventive tasting menu, lived within their Chinese-American restaurant DanDan on the weekends. The team announced that EsterEv would be moving to its own home in Bay View right around the time of Jacob’s Top Chef success in 2024. The story didn’t end there unfortunately, when a pipe burst soon after opening, closing the spot for six long months. EsterEv (named affectionately after the Dans’ grandmothers) came back with a new, more approachable format that would allow all diners to see what the (almost) Top Chef’s cuisine was all about. The new menu is seasonal, with quirky and unlikely flavor parings. Divided into courses, you can now order a la carte- as much as you want and what you want.

Best Dish The Broth and Bread starter, a cheesy monkey bread with a slow-simmered rich, umami broth and pat of cultured butter

Riley's Social House / Riley's Burger Bar

Multiple Locations

Owners John and Jess got the idea for the ever popular Riley’s Sandwich when they visited the patio at the Iron Horse hotel and saw a dog sitting on a couch. We could do that, they realized, and set forth in creating Milwaukee’s first dog-focused eatery, named after their beloved dog Riley. The evolution of Riley’s has been fun to watch, and as cat-owners, the draw for us was the delicious sous-vide sandwiches including the CBR and the Steak Kensington (Oakland Style). Soon Riley’s was all over social media, and momentum brought them to opening their second spot in the Third Ward, Riley’s Social House. The social house was truly that: a place for people to bring their dogs, connect, compete in darts, play cribbage, sing karaoke- you name it. And while they eventually ended up closing their original place in Shorewood, Riley’s brought us their second wagyu smashburger focused social spot, Riley’s Bar and Burger, in the summer of 2025. Both have this in common: delicious food and regulars that continue to come back for more of what only Riley’s has to offer.

Best Dish Steak Kensington (Oakland Style)

Doner Kebab

138 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212

In our travels to Germany and Chicago, we began to notice a large missing category in Milwaukee’s dining scene: the Doner Kebab. Doner Kebab is a Turkish sandwich (though immensely popular in Germany) made from seasoned meat roasted on a rotating vertical spit and topped with veggies and flavorful sauces. Word came out that one had come to Hartland, and we made the trip whenever we had the craving and the time, but the long drives are no longer needed as they’ve opened a second location on the East Side. Be prepared to wait; we promise it’s well worth it.

Best Dish Classic Doner with the trio of signature sauces (spicy, herb, and garlic)

Purslane

1751 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Purslane has quickly become one of the East Side’s trendiest dining spots, thanks to its refined yet welcoming take on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors in small plate format. Chef and owner Mary Katsman brings serious credentials, including a James Beard semifinalist nomination at Driftless Cafe, and that experience shines through in the restaurant’s confident, ingredient-driven cooking. Purslane sources from an extensive network of small and family farms in rural Wisconsin, delivering remarkable freshness in dishes like a crisp snap pea served with whipped feta. Now located in the former space of Ardent, Purslane pairs inventive cocktails with artistic, Mediterranean-inspired décor that feels both transportive and homey. High demand often means the second dining room opens to accommodate guests- a testament to its popularity.

Best Dish Check out their specials for maximized fresh ingredients

Goodkind

2457 S Wentworth Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

It seems like every time we go to Goodkind, there’s always a seat at the bar waiting for us. But it’s the very last seat, and the place is always hopping. Goodkind has been a Bayview favorite for years, and we’ve always found it to be warm and inviting, especially in colder months. We particularly enjoy their Tuesday burger nights where we have had some of our favorite burger creations, but the other menu items such as champagne battered oyster mushrooms and spicy crab pasta also hit. Chefs and co-owners Lisa Kirkpatrick and Paul Zerkel will compete against Ca’Lucchenzo this year for the James Beard Best Chef Midwest prize. We recommend keeping your party small (2-4 people) as the majority of seating is around their beautiful centerpiece bar.

Best Dish Tuesday Burger or Spicy Crab Pasta