If you love delicious barbecue, all you have to do is grab your car keys. Wisconsin has some restaurants that offer some of the best ribs, chicken and brisket on earth and they are all just a short drive away. Here’s a road trip that will take you to five of the best hole-in-the-wall BBQ restaurants in Wisconsin. Be warned: you’ll want to pace yourself on this road trip, but it won’t be easy! For some of the best BBQ in Wisconsin, grab some extra napkins and dive into this epic barbecue road trip through the Badger State.

This trip covers about 120 miles and takes a little over two hours to complete - but allow plenty of extra time to eat some barbecue!

Google Maps

  1. Hillery’s Kenosha Bar-B-Q, Kenosha

Facebook / Hillery’s Kenosha Bar-Bq Restaurant The first stop on this road trip is an unassuming spot in the heart of Kenosha. The menu at Hillery’s has a lot of great options, but if you can’t decide, consider the rib tips with fries. Delicious! Hillery’s Kenosha Bar-B-Q, 7613 Sheridan Rd, Kenosha, WI 53143, USA

  1. Iron Grate BBQ, Milwaukee

Facebook / Iron Grate BBQ Co.

Iron Grate/GoogleMaps You can smell the delicious smoke of barbecue at any hour at this lively BBQ hotspot. Iron Grate prides itself on live wood-fired meats, smoked overnight every night. The results speak for themselves.

Editor’s Note: In November 2022, Iron Grate lit their smokers for the last time to serve a full house of hungry BBQ-lovers. This local favorite will be truly missed.

  1. Speed Queen, Milwaukee

Facebook / Speed Queen BBQ

Anthony Johnson/GoogleMaps You can’t find southern-inspired barbecue that’s more authentic than at Speed Queen. This culinary icon has been wowing Milwaukee locals since the 1950s with its no-frills fare and secret BBQ sauce recipe. Speed Queen Bar-B-Q, 1130 W Walnut St, Milwaukee, WI 53205, USA

  1. Double B’s, West Allis

Eric Trizis/GoogleMaps

Levi Booth/GoogleMaps Double B’s says it’s THE place to go for a BBQ education. Prepare to study up: they serve some amazing hickory smoked ribs, pork, wings, brisket, kielbasa, and more… which can occasionally found to be boozed up in the best way. And those waffle fries can’t be beat! Double B’s BBQ Restaurant & Timber’s Catering MKE-Style BBQ, 7412 W Greenfield Ave, West Allis, WI 53214, USA

  1. Smoky Jon’s, Madison

Google / Noelle

Smoky Jon’s/GoogleMaps Not far from the Dane County Airport is a little restaurant where flavor takes flight. Smoky Jon’s is a tasty barbecue restaurant haven that has won a small mountain of awards – everything is delicious and done RIGHT. Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ, 2310 Packers Ave, Madison, WI 53704, USA

Once you’ve worked your way through these awesome hole-in-the-wall Wisconsin BBQ restaurants and filled up up on ribs, chicken, and slaw, you might need a little dessert. You’re in luck, because you’re in the Dairy State! Here’s the route to the state’s best ice cream.

Google Maps

Facebook / Hillery’s Kenosha Bar-Bq Restaurant

The first stop on this road trip is an unassuming spot in the heart of Kenosha. The menu at Hillery’s has a lot of great options, but if you can’t decide, consider the rib tips with fries. Delicious!

Hillery’s Kenosha Bar-B-Q, 7613 Sheridan Rd, Kenosha, WI 53143, USA

Facebook / Iron Grate BBQ Co.

Iron Grate/GoogleMaps

You can smell the delicious smoke of barbecue at any hour at this lively BBQ hotspot. Iron Grate prides itself on live wood-fired meats, smoked overnight every night. The results speak for themselves.

Editor’s Note: In November 2022, Iron Grate lit their smokers for the last time to serve a full house of hungry BBQ-lovers. This local favorite will be truly missed.

Facebook / Speed Queen BBQ

Anthony Johnson/GoogleMaps

You can’t find southern-inspired barbecue that’s more authentic than at Speed Queen. This culinary icon has been wowing Milwaukee locals since the 1950s with its no-frills fare and secret BBQ sauce recipe.

Speed Queen Bar-B-Q, 1130 W Walnut St, Milwaukee, WI 53205, USA

Eric Trizis/GoogleMaps

Levi Booth/GoogleMaps

Double B’s says it’s THE place to go for a BBQ education. Prepare to study up: they serve some amazing hickory smoked ribs, pork, wings, brisket, kielbasa, and more… which can occasionally found to be boozed up in the best way. And those waffle fries can’t be beat!

Double B’s BBQ Restaurant & Timber’s Catering MKE-Style BBQ, 7412 W Greenfield Ave, West Allis, WI 53214, USA

Google / Noelle

Smoky Jon’s/GoogleMaps

Not far from the Dane County Airport is a little restaurant where flavor takes flight. Smoky Jon’s is a tasty barbecue restaurant haven that has won a small mountain of awards – everything is delicious and done RIGHT.

Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ, 2310 Packers Ave, Madison, WI 53704, USA

If you want more Wisconsin restaurants, make sure to sign up for our weekly dining newsletter. Every Thursday, a new eatery to try in the Badger State will be delivered straight to your email. Yum!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best BBQ in Wisconsin & Related Info February 07, 2023 Jennifer What are some of the most unique restaurants in Wisconsin? Whether you’re warming up in winter or chilling out in summer, Wisconsin knows how to give hungry diners a foodie experience to remember. From delightfully quirky themed restaurants to hidden gems housed in unexpected places, here are just a few of the most unique restaurants (and bars) in Wisconsin:

AJ Bombers, Milwaukee Al Johnson’s, Sister Bay Camp Trippalindee, Madison Classic Garage, Eau Claire Frank’s Diner, Kenosha Georgie Porgie’s, Oak Creek and Mount Pleasant Mader’s Restaurant, Milwaukee PC Junction, Bailey’s Harbor Rushing Waters, Palmyra SafeHouse, Milwaukee Tom’s Burned Down Café, La Pointe Wedl’s Hamburger Stand, Jefferson

  Are there any romantic restaurants in Wisconsin? The perfect blend of ambiance, a gorgeous setting, and impeccable cuisine adds a touch of magic to any special evening. Wisconsin is full of a surprising number of upscale, date night-worthy establishments - often featuring the state’s phenomenal farm-to-table cuisine. For a stunning candlelit evening to remember, these beautiful, romantic restaurants in Wisconsin each offer magnificent cuisine and a quiet, cozy ambiance to enjoy with your special someone:

Apollon, Appleton Back When Café, Wausau Belfrē Kitchen, Delafield Carmella’s, Appleton Chives, Suamico Fireside, Egg Harbor Harbor House, Milwaukee Immigrant, Kohler Lake Park Bistro, Milwaukee Le Chateau, LaCrosse L’Etoile Restaurant, Madison Osteria Papavero, Madison Pasta Tree, Milwaukee Plae Bistro, Green Bay Sebastian’s, Racine Tuscany, Kenosha Vino in the Valley, Maiden Rock Whistling Swan, Fish Creek

 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best BBQ in Wisconsin & Related Info

February 07, 2023

Jennifer

What are some of the most unique restaurants in Wisconsin? Whether you’re warming up in winter or chilling out in summer, Wisconsin knows how to give hungry diners a foodie experience to remember. From delightfully quirky themed restaurants to hidden gems housed in unexpected places, here are just a few of the most unique restaurants (and bars) in Wisconsin:

AJ Bombers, Milwaukee Al Johnson’s, Sister Bay Camp Trippalindee, Madison Classic Garage, Eau Claire Frank’s Diner, Kenosha Georgie Porgie’s, Oak Creek and Mount Pleasant Mader’s Restaurant, Milwaukee PC Junction, Bailey’s Harbor Rushing Waters, Palmyra SafeHouse, Milwaukee Tom’s Burned Down Café, La Pointe Wedl’s Hamburger Stand, Jefferson

  Are there any romantic restaurants in Wisconsin? The perfect blend of ambiance, a gorgeous setting, and impeccable cuisine adds a touch of magic to any special evening. Wisconsin is full of a surprising number of upscale, date night-worthy establishments - often featuring the state’s phenomenal farm-to-table cuisine. For a stunning candlelit evening to remember, these beautiful, romantic restaurants in Wisconsin each offer magnificent cuisine and a quiet, cozy ambiance to enjoy with your special someone:

Apollon, Appleton Back When Café, Wausau Belfrē Kitchen, Delafield Carmella’s, Appleton Chives, Suamico Fireside, Egg Harbor Harbor House, Milwaukee Immigrant, Kohler Lake Park Bistro, Milwaukee Le Chateau, LaCrosse L’Etoile Restaurant, Madison Osteria Papavero, Madison Pasta Tree, Milwaukee Plae Bistro, Green Bay Sebastian’s, Racine Tuscany, Kenosha Vino in the Valley, Maiden Rock Whistling Swan, Fish Creek

 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Whether you’re warming up in winter or chilling out in summer, Wisconsin knows how to give hungry diners a foodie experience to remember. From delightfully quirky themed restaurants to hidden gems housed in unexpected places, here are just a few of the most unique restaurants (and bars) in Wisconsin:

  • AJ Bombers, Milwaukee
  • Al Johnson’s, Sister Bay
  • Camp Trippalindee, Madison
  • Classic Garage, Eau Claire
  • Frank’s Diner, Kenosha
  • Georgie Porgie’s, Oak Creek and Mount Pleasant
  • Mader’s Restaurant, Milwaukee
  • PC Junction, Bailey’s Harbor
  • Rushing Waters, Palmyra
  • SafeHouse, Milwaukee
  • Tom’s Burned Down Café, La Pointe
  • Wedl’s Hamburger Stand, Jefferson

 

Are there any romantic restaurants in Wisconsin?

The perfect blend of ambiance, a gorgeous setting, and impeccable cuisine adds a touch of magic to any special evening. Wisconsin is full of a surprising number of upscale, date night-worthy establishments - often featuring the state’s phenomenal farm-to-table cuisine. For a stunning candlelit evening to remember, these beautiful, romantic restaurants in Wisconsin each offer magnificent cuisine and a quiet, cozy ambiance to enjoy with your special someone:

  • Apollon, Appleton
  • Back When Café, Wausau
  • Belfrē Kitchen, Delafield
  • Carmella’s, Appleton
  • Chives, Suamico
  • Fireside, Egg Harbor
  • Harbor House, Milwaukee
  • Immigrant, Kohler
  • Lake Park Bistro, Milwaukee
  • Le Chateau, LaCrosse
  • L’Etoile Restaurant, Madison
  • Osteria Papavero, Madison
  • Pasta Tree, Milwaukee
  • Plae Bistro, Green Bay
  • Sebastian’s, Racine
  • Tuscany, Kenosha
  • Vino in the Valley, Maiden Rock
  • Whistling Swan, Fish Creek