Milwaukee, WI
What fast-food chain does Milwaukee need most? There’s a runaway winner, readers say
Here’s a glance at Milwaukee’s Top 25 Restaurants selected by Rachel Bernhard
For the first time in five years, the Journal Sentinel presents Milwaukee’s Top 25 Restaurants, this year from new dining critic Rachel Bernhard.
From much-loved chains to acclaimed local spots, Milwaukee is home to many great places to eat.
However, like any city, some popular restaurants are missing. This may ring especially true if you’re a newcomer looking for a taste of home ― or a Milwaukeean who’s discovered a new favorite while traveling.
We asked our readers which fast-food brand they think Milwaukee needs and why. Our survey, which was open from Feb. 27 to March 2, received 199 responses. One restaurant won decisively, with more than six times the votes of any other.
Here’s which restaurants Milwaukeeans are hungry for:
In-N-Out Burger is Milwaukee’s most-desired fast-food restaurant
California-based burger and shake spot In-N-Out Burger claimed the title of Milwaukee’s most-wanted fast-food joint with 62 votes, nearly one-third of survey responses.
Founded in 1948, In-N-Out is known for its limited but celebrated menu featuring hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries and shakes. The majority of its about 400 locations are in the brand’s home of California, with others across the western U.S. in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Utah. Many Journal Sentinel readers praised In-N-Out’s “great-tasting” and “juicy” burgers, affordable menu and “excellent service.”
“Taste, prices, service. Everything about this place is top-notch quality,” one reader, Jason, said.
“Burgers taste terrific. Still remember them after being in California 10 years ago,” reader Connie said.
Which restaurants do people wish were in Milwaukee?
Another burger chain, Texas-based Whataburger, finished in a somewhat-distant second with 10 votes. With locations mainly focused in southern and southwestern states, Whataburger offers a more varied menu that includes burgers, chicken, breakfast, melts and desserts.
Burger, chicken and fish spot White Castle and Mediterranean bowl-based restaurant Cava tied for third, each with eight votes. You don’t have to travel far to go to the nearest White Castle. It’s in Kenosha at 11730 75th St. Cava has locations in the Chicago area.
Fourth place was also a tie. Illinois-founded burger and milkshake joint Steak ‘n Shake and 24/7 Southern breakfast favorite Waffle House each got seven votes. Steak ‘n Shake has restaurants just over the Wisconsin-Illinois border, in Gurnee and McHenry, according to the company’s online store locator. Waffle House has restaurants in the southern Midwest, South and Southwest, with its closest locations to Milwaukee being in the St. Louis and Indianapolis areas.
Finally, San Diego-based Jack in the Box came in fifth with six votes. Jack in the Box is known for its extensive menu, which offers everything from burgers and chicken to tacos, egg rolls and cheese-stuffed jalapeños. The brand’s nearest locations to Milwaukee are in Chicago.
Here are the top finishers in our survey:
1. In-N-Out Burger: 62 votes
2. Whataburger: 10 votes
3 (tie). Cava: 8 votes
3 (tie). White Castle: 8 votes
5 (tie). Steak ‘n Shake: 7 votes
5 (tie). Waffle House: 7 votes
7 (tie). Jack in the Box: 6 votes
8 (tie). Bojangles: 4 votes
8 (tie). Jollibee: 4 votes
10 (tie). Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips: 3 votes
10 (tie). El Pollo Loco: 3 votes
10 (tie). Torchy’s Tacos: 3 votes
10 (tie). Zaxby’s: 3 votes
Restaurants readers wish Milwaukee had: Honorable mentions
The other restaurants mentioned by survey respondents are listed below. Each received less than three votes. Four readers also said they didn’t want any fast-food chains coming to Milwaukee; two said they would instead prefer new local restaurants.
- &pizza
- 85C Bakery Cafe
- Anime Cafe
- Applebee’s IHOP
- Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
- Birdcall
- Blake’s Lotaburger
- Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken
- Boston Market
- BurgerFi
- Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop
- Chicken Salad Chick
- Church’s Texas Chicken
- Cook Out
- CosMc’s
- Del Taco
- Der Weiner Dog
- Duck Donuts
- Dutch Bros Coffee
- Earl’s Kitchen + Bar
- Fatburger
- Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
- Friendly’s
- Fuddruckers
- Godfather’s Pizza
- Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
- Hello Kitty Cafe
- Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders
- Hungry Hobo
- Johnny Rockets
- King of Donair
- Krystal
- Long John Silver’s
- McAlister’s Deli
- Mel’s Diner
- Nando’s Peri-Peri
- Next Level Burger
- PDQ Chicken
- Pei Wei Asian Kitchen
- Piada Italian Street Food
- PLNT Burger
- PrimoHoagies
- Protein Bar & Kitchen
- Ruby Tuesday
- Saucy by KFC
- Skyline Chili
- Slim Chickens
- Smashburger
- The Earl of Sandwich
- The Peach Cobbler Factory
- Tim Hortons
- Veggie Grill
- Which Wich Superior Sandwiches
- Yogurtland
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee boy critically missing, last seen near Teutonia and Kiley
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department requested the public’s help to find 11-year-old Sir’Charles Bason, a critically missing boy who was last seen near Teutonia and Kiley at around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
Police described Bason as 4 feet, 5 inches tall with a slim build, brown eyes and black, low-cut hair. He was last seen wearing a gray jacket with green lines, dark-colored jeans, tan sandals and carrying gray Nike Jordan shoes.
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What you can do:
Anyone with information on Bason’s whereabouts is asked to call Milwaukee Police District 4 at 414-935-7242.
The Source: The Milwaukee Police Department released information.
Milwaukee, WI
Former ‘Most Wanted’ Milwaukee man sentenced for killing cousin in 2020
MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man, previously named one of Wisconsin’s Most Wanted, has been sentenced to prison for shooting and killing his cousin in 2020.
In court
What we know:
A Milwaukee County jury found 39-year-old Brandon Gladney guilty of first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a firm by a felon earlier this year.
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Judge Michelle Havas sentenced Gladney to 29 years in prison on Friday, April 17. He was granted credit for more than a year’s time served and further sentenced to 14 years of extended supervision.
Arrested in Arizona after years on the run, court records show Gladney has also been ordered to pay the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office more than $1,800 for extradition costs.
Homicide investigation
The backstory:
The shooting happened in May 2020. Investigators said Gladney was captured on video apparently arguing with the victim, his cousin, outside a Milwaukee convenience store near 21st and Meinecke.
“It’s all on video, and it’s devastating for that family,” the marshal on the case told FOX6 when Gladney was profiled on Wisconsin’s Most Wanted. “You have a family member that shot and killed another family member.”
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Prosecutors said Gladney walked away but then returned with a gun pointed directly at the victim and shot him. The victim died from his gunshot wounds at a nearby hospital. Multiple bullet casings were found at the scene.
Gladney went on the run for years. He was arrested in Arizona in January 2023, years after he was charged.
The Source: FOX6 News referenced information from the U.S. Marshals Service, Wisconsin Circuit Court and prior coverage.
Milwaukee, WI
Brewers beat Marlins in extras, Mitchell’s double the difference
Brice Turang slides to home plate to score during a game between the Miami Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers on April 17. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MIAMI – Garrett Mitchell went 2 for 4 with three RBIs including a two-run double in the 10th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Miami Marlins 7-5 on Friday night.
By the numbers:
Miami’s Calvin Faucher (1-2) entered a 4-all game in the 10th and walked Gary Sánchez with Brice Turang on second. Jake Bauers hit a single to load the bases.
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Luis Rengifo reached first on a throwing error by second baseman Xavier Edwards, allowing Turang to score. Mitchell followed with his double.
The Marlins scored one run in the bottom of the 10th when Jakob Marsee came home on Trevor Megill’s wild pitch. Megill settled in for his fourth save.
Coleman Crow, who made his debut on the mound for the Brewers, threw 77 pitches over 5 1/3 innings. He threw four strikeouts, gave up two earned runs and a walk.
The right-hander was 2-0 with a 4.07 ERA in two starts with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate in Nashville. He missed part of the 2023 season and all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The Brewers scored three runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Mitchell hit an RBI single, Bauers scored on a forceout at first and Rengifo scored on a throwing error by catcher Agustín Ramírez.
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Miami’s Otto Lopez hit a triple to center field in the fourth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Owen Caissie. Lopez hit a two-run homer in the sixth to pull Miami within 4-3 and Ramírez doubled in the eighth to tie the game at four.
Abner Uribe (1-0) earned his first win of the season, coming on in the ninth inning.
Marlins third baseman Graham Pauley left the game in the seventh inning with right oblique discomfort after spinning out of the way of a pitch.
What’s next:
The Brewers and Marlins continue their 3-game series on Saturday, with Brandon Woodruff (1-0, 4.36 ERA) taking the mound for Milwaukee and Sandy Alcantara (2-1, 2.67) for Miami.
The Source: The Associated Press provided this report.
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