Wisconsin takes its fried cheese curds seriously. From casual pubs to upscale restaurants, Milwaukee serves them at scale and in many varieties – beer-battered, plain, breaded, savory, sweet and everything in between. Here are a few of the metro area’s most popular spots to satisfy your cheesy cravings.
1. West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe
Head down to the West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe – either in Stallis or in its Milwaukee Public Market location – to browse all kinds of artisan cheese, meat and craft goods. Their curds come deep fried, on sample platters, and in their signature poutine with french fries and gravy. Milwaukee Public Market: 400 N. Water St.; 6832 W. Becher St., West Allis
2. Camino
The American eatery is one of the most recommended cheese curd spots, with a location in Milwaukee and West Allis. A half pound of Clock Shadow Creamery cheese curds comes golden and crispy, served with a side of their creamy giardiniera aioli. 434 S. Second St.; 7211 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis
3. Lakefront Brewery
Lakefront Brewery is maybe best known for its “Curd of the Month” special, which often brings a wild twist to the curd form. October’s apple crisp curds are coated in sweet apple batter and topped with caramel sauce. Looking ahead, November will have a “Thanksgiving” curd on offer, and December will have “anniversary cake.” For something a little more restrained, their normal curds are fried in a handmade beer batter and served with garlic ranch sauce. 1872 N. Commerce St.
4. Who’s on Third
This sports bar and grill is a late-night curd spot. Their cheese curds are battered in Lakefront’s Riverwest Stein beer, served crispy every day until 2 a.m. 1007 N. Martin Luther King Dr.
5. Heirloom
This Bay View restaurant (and its roaming food truck) serves Clock Shadow Creamery battered white cheddar curds are served with two house-made dipping sauces: roasted tomato jam and jalapeño ranch. 2378 S. Howell Ave.
6. Milwaukee Brat House
These classic white cheddar cheese curds are beer battered, deep fried, and dusted with parmesan cheese, served with a side of their creamy Wisconsin ranch. 1013 N. Martin Luther King Dr.; 4022 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood
7. Miller Time Pub & Grill
Pair your favorite beer with Miller Time’s buttermilk-battered cheese curds, served with ranch and marinara sauce. 509 W. Wisconsin Ave.
8. Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen
Central Standard’s half pound of Hill Valley Dairy Curds feature an indulgent dockside bourbon batter and a house ranch. 320 E. Clybourn St.
9. Vier North
Vier North’s breaded and fried white cheddar cheese curds come with ranch or marinara. Pair them with one of the bar’s cocktails or beers. 1832 E. North Ave.
10. Oscar’s Pub & Grill
Each order of these fried cheddar cheese curds comes with Oscar’s signature tangy house dipping sauce. 1712 W. Pierce St.
11. Black Sheep MKE
Black Sheep’s cheese curds are uniquely pancake-battered. The white cheddar curds are dipped in fluffy pancake batter, fried, and dusted with powdered sugar. Don’t forget to dip them in syrup! 216 S. Second St.
12. Red Lion Pub
This UK-themed pub fries cheese curds in their Spotted Cow batter with a side of creamy ranch. 1850 N. Water St.
13. Pilot Project Brewing
Pilot Project’s curds feature a parmesan potato crust, served alongside a buttermilk chive crema. 1128 N. Ninth St.
14. Explorium Brewpub
The gluten-free white cheddar curds served here come with carrots, celery and a side of ranch dressing. 143 W. St. Paul Ave.; 11200 W. Burleigh St., Wauwatosa; Southridge Mall: 5300 S. 76th St., Greendale
15. Crafty Cow
The Cow’s white cheddar curds – beer-battered and fried to a golden-brown crisp – are sourced from Wisconsin-based Ellsworth Creamery. You can also order them tossed in the house hot honey. 2675 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.; 6519 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa; 153 E. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc
16. O’Lydia’s
The recipe is simple – a half-pound of breaded and fried curds, served with pineapple dipping sauce. 338 S. First St.
17. Motor Restaurant
Here’s how they do it: hand-bread the curds, fry till golden, serve with buttermilk ranch. 400 W. Canal St.
18. Henry Flach’s
Tempura is the batter of choice, and the curds come with ancho chipotle ranch. 9140 W. National Ave., West Allis
Non-Fried Bonus:
Looking for something a little squeakier? Here are two spots to pick up some cheese curds sans breading.
Milwaukee Cheese Bar by Hill Valley Dairy
This artisan cheese shop in Walker’s Point offers an elevated cheese experience. Their plain cheddar curds are made fresh daily with milk from Hill Valley’s family-owned farm in East Troy. Grab a bag of them to take home or sample some alongside a glass of wine as part of their curated tasting experience, which brings together cheeses from other makers around the state, too. 138 W. Bruce St.
Wisconsin Cheese Mart
As you could probably guess from the name, this mart has a lot of cheese, including non-fried cheese curds in varieties like dill and garlic, cajun, sour cream and onion, and sweet bourbon chipotle bacon. They also sell their own cheese curd batter mix for those interested in frying curds at home. 215 W. Highland Ave.
