Posted in Wisconsin American, Food & Dining January 31, 2023 by

The Most Delicious Wisconsin Road Trip Takes You To 5 Hole-In-The-Wall BBQ Restaurants

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
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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.

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!

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