Speed Queen Has Wisconsin’s Best BBQ and When You Taste The Sauce You’ll Agree

If you want to enjoy the best ribs in Wisconsin, don’t go looking for the BBQ king – find the BBQ queen. Speed Queen Bar-B-Q in Milwaukee has been serving up some of the best BBQ ribs in Wisconsin for decades, and that’s not all. This iconic restaurant also delivers top-shelf smoked turkey, fried catfish, and so much more. Feeling hungry? Here’s why you need to make fast tracks to Speed Queen.

The restaurant is located at 12th & Walnut in Milwaukee. The restaurant opened in 1956 right next to what was then considered the best BBQ restaurant in town, “Black King.” In the beginning, Speed Queen survived on the overflow crowd from the restaurant next door.

But Speed Queen was not destined to live in the King's shadow for long. Eventually the Black King moved on. By then, Speed Queen’s owners, Betty Gillespie and Leonard Partee won over legions of fans with a family recipe for BBQ and a secret sauce.

Soon the restaurant had all the business it could handle, drawing crowds with its delicious BBQ, secret sauce, and speedy service. Today Speed Queen produces outstanding barbecued meats using the largest BBQ pit in the city and its trademarked secret sauces.

When you sample the ribs, you’ll understand why this place is such a big hit. They are everything ribs should be – tender and smoky with a wonderfully tangy sauce. Feeding a crowd? Order the mixed pan of shoulder and tips. It will feed 4-5 people very, very well.

Speaking of that sauce, you’ll want to order some fries. They are legendary in their own right and the perfect thing to dip in BBQ sauce!

But whatever you do, be sure to save room for some desert. Speed Queen serves some incredible pecan and apple pie, as well as a downright delicious banana pudding.

Speed Queen has a full menu that also includes many great sides like collards, black eyed peas, and mac and cheese. Be sure to arrive very hungry! Interested in more great Wisconsin restaurants? Here are some that are worth all the hullabaloo.