You know that moment when you’re halfway through a road trip and realize you’ve based your entire route on snacks and nostalgia? Yeah, that’s not just you. Somewhere between craving cheese curds so fresh they squeak and needing a burger that doesn’t taste like regret, you end up on I-90 in Wisconsin.
This stretch of highway is not for the weak-willed or lactose-intolerant. Here, every mile is a chance to feed your feelings, memories, and (let’s be honest) your need for a little culinary therapy.
This isn’t just about filling up. It’s about chasing the kind of comfort only fried cheese and grilled beef can deliver when you need it most. Ready? Here are 13 stops that’ll make you grateful your jeans have stretch.
1. Rudy’s Drive-In (La Crosse)
Remember being sixteen and feeling like a root beer float could fix anything? Rudy’s Drive-In brings that steady comfort back, one basket of cheese curds at a time. There’s a retro pleasure in pressing the buzzer and knowing your dinner is rolling out on a carhop’s tray, not microwaved in the back like some sad airport sandwich.
The burgers here are charcoal grilled, a detail that feels oddly reassuring. The cheese curds arrive piping hot, always crunchy and somehow never greasy; like your favorite old friend who never lets you down. People wax poetic about their homemade root beer, and honestly, it deserves the hype.
If you’re with someone who still thinks ketchup belongs on a brat, let them try the fries. You, though? Get the burger, order the curds, and look forward to a drive where the only thing dripping onto your lap is gooey cheese, not existential dread.
2. The Kiltie Drive-In (Oconomowoc)
Imagine a place where milkshakes come with whipped cream so high you have to negotiate with gravity. The Kiltie in Oconomowoc is that place: equal parts kitsch and comfort. You pull in, windows down, heart open.
Yes, the servers wear kilts. Yes, that’s as charming as it sounds. Their burgers have a loyal following, but the cheese curds? They’re like edible love letters from Wisconsin’s dairy gods.
There’s something about the fried curds here: big, golden, unapologetic. You don’t rush through a meal at The Kiltie. You savor, you gossip, you let your brain rest for once. Don’t skip the milkshake, unless you hate happiness.
3. Ardy & Ed’s Drive-In (Oshkosh)
Picture this: a carhop in roller skates balancing a tray of burgers and curds with the cool grace of a figure skater. That’s Ardy & Ed’s. It’s the place you go when you need a reminder that joy can be delivered on four wheels.
The cheese curds here snap when you bite them, no sad sogginess. Their burgers are thick, unapologetically old-school. There’s a little bit of magic in every visit, like you’re in on a local secret.
If you need a pick-me-up, order the homemade root beer. It’s sweet, a smidge spicy, and somehow makes you believe in summer again. There’s no judgment here, just plenty of napkins.
4. The Old Fashioned (Madison)
Some places just feel like a long exhale. The Old Fashioned in Madison has that slow, supper club calm that makes you forget whatever drama you left at work. The cheese curds are beer-battered and served with a mustard sauce that probably deserves its own fan club.
Their burger menu reads like a love letter to Wisconsin flavors: think fried onions, local bacon, and a bun that actually tastes like bread. On a cold night, it’s the kind of meal that makes you believe you’ll survive Midwest winters forever.
Pro tip: pair your food with a local beer, then eavesdrop on the State Street regulars. You might leave with a new favorite curd, or a new appreciation for small talk.
5. Pete’s Hamburgers (Prairie du Chien)
Not every stop needs bells and whistles. Pete’s Hamburgers has been slinging poached burgers since 1909, and the line on a Saturday says everything you need to know. There’s no need for fancy: just onions, beef, salt, and a griddle with serious history.
Their technique (poaching, not grilling) makes for the juiciest, melt-in-your-mouth burger you’ll ever meet. It’s humble, honest, and comes wrapped in paper that always ends up a little see-through by the time you finish.
Skip the cheese curds (they don’t make them here) and double down on the onions. Sometimes, simplicity is the flex. Grab a burger, sit on the curb, and let the world slow down.
6. Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery (Ellsworth)
If you’ve ever wondered where cheese curds come from, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery is the answer. This place doesn’t just sell curds; they produce 180,000 pounds every single day. That’s a lactose lover’s dream, or, if you’re honest, a dare to your digestive tract.
You walk in and the smell alone could make you consider a second mortgage just to live nearby. They offer fresh curds that actually squeak, which, if you’ve never experienced it, is weirdly satisfying.
People make pilgrimages here for a reason. Whether you eat them plain or deep-fried, you’ll leave convinced that happiness is a handful of cheese in a paper bag.
7. Mona Lisa’s Restaurant (Eau Claire)
You wouldn’t expect to find killer cheese curds at an Italian spot, but Mona Lisa’s refuses to play by the rules. Their curds come with a side of spicy marinara, and somehow, it works. It’s like your favorite aunt who shows up in sequins to Thanksgiving: unexpected, but she pulls it off every time.
The burgers are chef-driven, layered with flavors you didn’t know you needed. There’s a quiet confidence in how the staff describes the daily specials, as if they know you’ll be back.
If you’re tired of the usual, Mona Lisa’s will wake up your taste buds. Bring a friend who appreciates a good surprise, and order extra napkins.
8. The Brat Stop (Kenosha)
The Brat Stop isn’t subtle about being a Wisconsin icon. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it smells like grilled brats and fried cheese the minute you walk in. You’ll see high school reunion groups at one table, bikers at another, and everyone ordering the cheese curds.
Their burgers are hefty, loaded with toppings, and best tackled with both hands. The curds are big, beer-battered, and don’t apologize for it.
If you ever needed an excuse to order a bratwurst and a burger at the same meal, this is it. Sit back, watch the chaos, and remember that calories don’t count at roadside institutions.
9. Gilles Frozen Custard (Fond du Lac)
You go to Gilles for the frozen custard, but you stay for the burgers and curds. A family-run stand since 1949, Gilles is the kind of place where dessert comes first and nobody judges you for it. The menu is simple, but every bite tastes like summer.
Their cheese curds are pillowy, almost improbably light, and best eaten in the front seat of your car while you watch the world go by. The burgers are classic, never fussy.
If you’re having a tough week, nothing soothes like a vanilla custard chased by fried cheese. Some days, nostalgia tastes better than any new trend ever could.
10. Buckhorn Supper Club (Milton)
You know those places where everyone seems to know everyone else? The Buckhorn Supper Club has that vibe. It hugs the edge of Lake Koshkonong, and the view alone is enough to heal your soul a bit.
Their cheese curds are crisp, golden, and best paired with a brandy old fashioned. The burgers land on your table tall and messy, in that way that means someone actually cared while making it.
On a Friday night, the dining room hums with laughter and stories. If you linger long enough, you’ll probably get invited to someone’s pontoon boat. Wisconsin, right?
11. Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry (Madison)
You don’t have to be a UW student to appreciate Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry, but it helps if you bring your sense of humor. The decor is a fever dream of college nostalgia and thrift shop finds. Their burgers are tall, weirdly inventive, and legendary on campus.
The cheese curds are a table staple, fried till golden, with dipping sauces that spark actual arguments about which one is best. There’s something oddly reassuring about a place that doesn’t try to impress you, just feeds you well.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try the house special burger piled high with onion rings. You’ll need extra napkins, but that’s half the fun.
12. Culver’s (Onalaska)
Maybe you’ve had a bad day. Maybe you just want something reliable. Culver’s is the Midwest’s comfort blanket, and their Onalaska location does it right. Butterburgers and cheese curds, hot and fresh, never judged.
You order at the counter, take a seat, and suddenly everything feels simple again. Their curds are small, ultra-crispy, and oddly addictive.
It’s not glamorous, but who needs glamour when you’re eating cheese that squeaks? Sometimes, you just need a place that gets your order right and delivers on the promise of salty, melty joy.
13. Wildcat Mountain Bar & Grill (Ontario)
Wildcat Mountain Bar & Grill is the kind of roadside find that makes you text three friends, “You have to try this.” Tucked near the state park, it’s a post-hike paradise. Picture a burger that’s smoky and juicy, paired with cheese curds so fresh they practically snap.
The vibe is as relaxed as your favorite flannel: friendly, a little wild, and never fussy. Motorcyclists, hikers, and locals all grab a table and let the conversation wander.
Order a burger, a basket of curds, and maybe a house cocktail. Stay for the view, but don’t be surprised if you start planning your next trip before you leave.
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