9 must try fish fry spots in Milwaukee

Wisconsin is known for it’s Friday Fish Fry. It’s a tradition where most restaurants will offer a special fish fry option on their menu for Friday, and it’s only on Friday! Don’t try ordering it any other day; most likely, the fish fry will not be available. With such a strong tradition, we set out to find the top 9 fish fry spots in Milwaukee.

With so many great fish fry options in Milwaukee, we spent a year trying out a new fish fry restaurant every other week. Here are the top 9 must try fish fry spots we found in Milwaukee!

*Some prices may have changed since we visited.

1. Swinging Door Exchange

• Style: fried in a very light batter that doesn’t leave you feeling greasy or baked to flaky perfection.
• Sides: choice of house-made chips, fries, potato pancakes, or cup of soup.
• Price: 2-pc Icelandic Cod for $13 or 3-pc for $15.
• Extra: they also offer lake perch fry, shrimp fry, or a combo fry with all 3!

2. Lakefront Brewery

• Style: fried in Eastside Dark beer batter.
• Sides: basket comes with fries or dinner comes with choice of mac & cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, fries, chips, potato cakes, salad, or corn on the cob.
• Price: 2-pc cod basket for $13 or 3-pc dinner for $16.
• Extra: order a family pack (serves 4-5) for $70. Enjoy live music & polka dancing!

3. Kegel’s Inn

• Style: hand breaded and deep fried in a light batter or baked with a tangy seasoning.
• Sides: choice of potato.
• Price: traditional fish fry for $13, walleye for $16, blue gill for $16, or lake perch for $17.
• Extra: authentic German cuisine and German vibe.

4. Fuel Cafe

• Style: hand battered cod fish with heavier breading.
• Sides: french fries.
• Price: Fish Fry Fridays for $9.
• Extra: 3-6pm happy hour! $3 taps + $5 apps every day.

5. Old German Beer Hall

• Style: Hofbrau beer battered cod with heavier breading and a little on the greasy side.
• Sides: seasoned french fries.
• Price: 2-pc for $9.95.
• Extra: live music + at 6pm on Friday, they tap a keg of one of the house beers which is free until the keg runs out!

6. County Clare Irish Inn & Pub

• Style: homemade beer battered.
• Sides: steak fries.
• Price: County Clare Fish Fry for $17.
• Extra: brings the taste and feel of Ireland to you!

7. St. Paul Fish Company

• Style: lightly breaded.
• Sides: french fries.
• Price: cod fry for $12.50. Other fish available: lake perch, grouper, catfish, and walleye.
• Extra: a seafood restaurant, this place has a variety of fish options, shrimp, lobster, etc.

8. Maxie’s

• Style: beer batter.
• Sides: fries.
• Price: haddock fish fry for $17.95.
• Extra: southern comfort vibes. Happy hour Tuesday – Saturday 4-6pm $1 oysters + $1 off drinks.

9. Hacienda Beer Co.

• Style: deep fried in house beer batter.
• Sides: seasoned fries.
• Price: haddock fish fry for $13.
• Extra: in past years, the fish fry was all you can in!

It was a fun tradition for us to go on the hunt for the best fish fry in Milwaukee, and we won’t get sick of it! So, let’s hear from you what you think is the best fish fry in Milwaukee. If a good fish fry isn’t your thing, check out our recommended list for the best date night restaurants in Milwaukee.