Happy National Hamburger Month! To honor the humble hamburger, we decided to go straight to the sources — the locals who know Green Bay’s burgers best!
We asked Green Bay locals online and IRL to give us the lowdown on their favorite burgers around the city, and boy, did they deliver! If you're hungry and wondering where to grab your next mouthwatering masterpiece, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to get the scoop on the area’s fascinating hamburger history and find your new favorite burger!
Hamburger History
Before we dive into the locals’ favorite hamburger joints, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that we live just a short drive from burger history itself. That’s right, the humble hamburger got its start not far from Green Bay in Seymour, Wisconsin! This little town has laid claim to the invention of the hamburger, and it all started with a teenage start-up and a cart full of meatballs.
Way back in 1885, 15-year-old Charlie Nagreen, later known as “Hamburger Charlie,” rolled his ox cart into the Seymour fair, ready to sell meatballs to hungry fairgoers. There was just one small hiccup — people didn’t want to stop and eat, they wanted to stroll and snack! So Charlie got creative. He squished his meatballs flat, slapped them between two slices of bread, and voilà, the hamburger was born! He named his new invention after Hamburg, Germany, a nod to the popular beef dish enjoyed by the area’s many German immigrants.
Charlie’s portable lunch was a hit, and he became a staple at fairs across Wisconsin for decades to come. While other cities might try to claim the title, Seymour’s got the early newspaper clippings and hometown pride to prove it. So next time you sink your teeth into a juicy burger, give a little thanks to Hamburger Charlie, the teen who turned a meatball into a mouthwatering piece of culinary history.
Green Bay Loves Burgers
Like our other entries in the Ask a Local series, we like to ask Green Bay locals online and IRL for the lowdown. And boy, do Green Baes (yes, still trying to make it happen) LOVE their burgers. With close to one hundred responses to the question, “What’s the best burger in Green Bay?” it’s safe to say you’ll find a burger you absolutely love somewhere on this list.
The Drift Inn
1535 N S Ashland Ave, De Pere, WI 54115
This local favorite for the best chili in town also stands its ground when it comes to a delicious burger. Several folks on and offline mentioned this as their top spot for burgers, calling them “delicious and very affordable” (MasterpieceBrave5266 on Reddit) and “the only place I'll order a burger from.” (MajesticMango56 on Reddit). Some IRL fans also told us that it’s the number one place they recommend for out-of-towners. But Reddit user AC-Ghost may have said it best: “After spending my first 24 years in Green Bay, that place is GOATed.”
Hilltop Cafe
2278 Bay Settlement Rd, Green Bay, WI 54311
Another great restaurant mentioned several times was Hilltop Cafe, located on the east side of Green Bay. In fact, there were so many glowing reviews, we can’t even mention them all here!
Reddit user M00M00420 gave their sound endorsement: “Highly recommend Hilltop Cafe. I worked there for 5 years, and the boss had fresh burgers, never frozen 99% of the time. It is also hands down the cleanest establishment I’ve ever worked at.”
And user Silver-Quiet-550 gave their best insider info: “Here’s a pro tip, ask for a bacon double cheeseburger. It’s not on the menu, but they always make it. If you order it with Cajun fries, you’ll get the meat sweats before you’re through.”
Check their Facebook frequently, as they often post burger deals you won’t want to miss!
Joe Rouer’s
E1098 Co Rd X, Luxemburg, WI 54217
Head out to Luxemburg for a stand-out burger from Joe Rouer’s bar, mentioned by several locals.
Reddit user DDSRDH says it better than we ever could: “Absolutely the best in the entire world.
Order three. The first is the appetizer. Second is your meal, and third, dessert. Perfect level of grease, flavor, and size, where it is bigger than the bun. No need for any ketchup or mustard. Put some fried onions on there and enjoy.”
Basil’s II
5595 S, County P, Denmark, WI 54208
Located just south of Green Bay, Basil’s II got some love for their “authentic Wisconsin butter burger,” described by Reddit user woofan11k as “perfectly toasted.” Just “add a cup of chili and an order of fries to make it a meal!”
Gallagher’s
1651 S Webster Ave, Green Bay, WI 54301
2655 W Mason St, Green Bay, WI 54303
330 Reid St, De Pere, WI 54115
You may know Gallagher’s best for their pizza, but did you know they’ve got a burger worth writing home about? One Reddit user told us why they love this burger best: “because they use a 1/3# patty, all toppings are no extra charge, and it's only like $11 with fries.”
Al’s Hamburger
131 S Washington St, Green Bay, WI 54301
It’s hard to deny this place does a great burger when it’s right there in the name! This old-school eatery has been slinging burgers since 1934 with no signs of stopping anytime soon. Choose from a classic burger, a ¼ pound specialty burger (jalapeno popper burger, anyone?), a ½ pount specialty burger, or check out their monthly specials to try something new. And the best side to complement the main event? “Onion rings all the way,” one Green Bay local told us.
Honorable Mentions
Green Bay loves burgers so much, we couldn’t fit every single one on this list. Take a look at these honorable mentions that also garnered plenty of votes. Then get out there and find your favorite hamburger!
-
Brickhouse Burgers & Brews: Imagine a fresh brioche bun, meat from Otto’s Artisan Meats, and a Spotted Cow in your hand.
-
The Booyah Shed: Not just for booyah! Try one of 15 specialty burgers on the menu… or if you’re really hungry, try them all!
-
Mackinaws: “I've repeatedly enjoyed the hell out of the Smash Burger at Mackinaws. I was surprised how much I loved that burger, I mean Mackinaws is pretty good, but I never thought of burgers when I thought of that place.” - Geek_King on Reddit
-
Cheesesteak Rebellion: You know how good the cheesesteaks are at Cheesesteak Rebellion? Well, they do burgers just as well! We could wax poetic about these ¼ pound butter burgers, but we think Reddit user UndergroundEvilDoer said it best: “Cheesesteak Rebellion makes a hell of a cheeseburger.”
-
Napalese Lounge: Good vibes and good burgers. Feeling like something a little outside the burger norm? Try their cheese-filled pizza burger!
-
River St. Pier: Fridays at River St. Pier feature many locals’ favorite fish fry, but any other day of the week? Grab one of the black angus charcoal-grilled butter burgers.
