Dining Month is brought to you through a partnership with Educators Credit Union, Potawatomi Hotel Casino and Saint Kate Arts Hotel.
While the pace of openings has slowed considerably, over 45 restaurants and cafes opened in Milwaukee during the very end of 2024 and in 2025. Some occupy spaces vacated by other restaurants; others have emerged in food halls or unexpected locations. All have added something unique to the plucky local food scene.
We’ve organized this list of new eateries by type of cuisine so that you can reference it based on your current cravings. We hope you’ll consider supporting as many of these new ventures as you can. We’re certain you’ll find at least a few new favorites among them.
For more new restaurants, check out the list of spots that opened in 2024.
What are you craving?
American / New American
Asian / Asian Fusion
Burgers / Pub fare
Cafes
Dessert / Bakeries / Snacks
Indian
Italian / Pizza
Latin American / Mexican
Levantine / Middle Eastern
Mediterranean
American / New American
Caulfield’s Wine Bar
7413 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, (414) 226-6510
caulfieldswinebar.com
Serving: New American, snacks and plates
[Read more]
David Alan Alan’s Smokehouse & Saloon
Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water St., (414) 616-1079
daasmokehouse.com
Serving: Smoked meats and sides
[Read more]
Forage Kitchen
Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water St., (414) 616-1326
eatforage.com
Serving: Healthful bowls
[Read more]
The Inn in Hartland
110 Cottonwood Ave., Hartland, (262) 361-4079
theinnhartland.com
Serving: Wood-fired classics
[Read more]
IVR Kitchen & Bar
10950 Good Hope Rd., (414) 206-0026
mke.ivrbar.com
Serving: American fusion fare
Jackson's Soul Food Redefined (second location)
6137 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., (414) 231-3008
jacksonsoulfood.com
Serving: Soul food
Mae Velma’s Corned Beef
540 N. 27th St.,(414) 210-3768
maevelmascornedbeef.com
Serving: Corned beef, sandwiches
[Read more]
Mother’s
2900 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 914-1025
hobmke.com/mothers
Serving: Global small plates, brunch
[Read more]
Outlaw Oyster – Bay View
2675 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 808-0481
outlawoysterwi.com
Serving: Oysters, seafood
[Read more]
Temple Goddess Cafe
1978 N. Farwell Ave., (262) 278-3363
templegoddesscafe.com
Serving: Globally inspired vegan fare
[Read more]
Waking Daisy
20340 W. Lord St., Brookfield, (262) 202-8521
wakingdaisy.com
Serving: Brunch and lunch
[Read more]
Wayfinder MKE
2108 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 539-4343
wayfindermke.com
Serving: Globally inspired small plates
[Read more]
Asian / Asian Fusion
Bangkok Kaizen
11200 W. Burleigh St., Wauwatosa, (414) 420-1120
bangkokkaizen.com
Serving: Thai cuisine, sushi
[Read more]
In-Yun Korean Food (3rd Street Market Hall)
275 W. Wisconsin Ave.
3rdstmarkethall.com/in-yun-korean-food
Serving: Korean fare
Laojiu Rice Noodles
10714 W. Oklahoma Ave., West Allis, (414) 252-0633
laojiuricenoodles.com
Serving: Chinese fare, rice noodles
Ni Burmese
2140 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 374-1546
niburmesemke.com
Serving: Burmese fare
[Read more]
Osaka Ramen & Hibachi - Brookfield
920 S. Moorland Rd., Brookfield, (262) 505-5055
osakaramenbrookfield.com
Serving: Japanese hibachi, ramen
Saigon Baguette
2338 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 210-3944
saigonbaguettemilwaukee.com
Serving: Vietnamese fare
K-Street Cafe
7028 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, (414) 500-8864
kstreetcafe.online
Serving: Coffee, Korean dishes
Burgers / Pub fare
Bebe Zito (3rd Street Market Hall)
275 W Wisconsin Ave., (414) 249-5062
bebezitomn.com
Serving: Burgers, chicken, custard
[Read more]
Dr. Dawg
105 W. Freistadt Rd., Thiensville, (262) 302-4023
drdawg.net
Serving: Hot dogs, burgers, sides
[Read more]
Explorium Distilled
333 W. Juneau Ave., (414) 539-4343
exploriumdistilled.com
Serving: Pub fare
[Read more]
Riley’s Bar + Burger
100 E. Montana St., (414) 455-3022
rileysandwich.com
Serving: Burgers, sides
[Read more]
Slow Buffalo
** Currently Closed Due To Flooding **
3872 S. 92nd St., Greenfield, (414) 231-9330
theslowbuffalomke.com
Serving: Pub fare
[Read more]
The Studio Kitchen & Cocktails
139 E. Kilbourn Ave.,(414) 270-4422
thestudiomke.com
Serving: New American, sushi
[Read more]
Food Palace for the Soul
9002 W. Silver Spring Dr., (414) 210-2328
food-palace-food-for-the-soul.square.site
Serving: American comfort foods
Cafes / Coffee Shops
Aroma Cafe
8100 W. National Ave., West Allis, (939) 425-9325
aromacafemke.com
Serving: Puerto Rican coffee, desserts
Azal Coffee
1318 S. 1st St., (414) 226-6355
azalcoffeeusa.com
Serving: Yemeni coffee, pastries
Baya Bar
2220 N Prospect Ave., (414) 226-5811
bayabar.com
Serving: Acai bowls, smoothies
Haven Cafe & Cocktails
648 N. Plankinton Ave., (414) 273-3950
havencafemke.com
Serving: All-day cafe and bar
[Read more]
Kinship Café
2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.,
(414) 301-1478
kinshipmke.org/cafe
Serving: Breakfast, lunch
[Read more]
K-Street Cafe
7028 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, (414) 500-8864
kstreetcafe.online
Serving: Coffee, Korean dishes
Midwest Sad
601 S. 6th St., (414) 335-8162
midwestsadmke.com
Serving: Pastries, sandwiches, snacks
[Read more]
Style Pop Cafe
934 S. 5th St., (414) 243-2363
stylepopcafe.com
Serving: Coffee, cafe fare
[Read more]
Valentine Cafe on Downer
3126 N. Downer Ave, (414) 398-0220
valentinecafe.com
Serving: Coffee, cafe fare
[Read more]
Vendetta Coffee – Bay View
2268 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
vendettacoffeebar.com
Serving: Italian-inspired coffee, cafe fare
[Read more]
Dessert / Bakeries
Jr’s Treats Snack Bar
624 N. Water St., (414) 808-0008
facebook.com/p/Jrs-Treats-Snack-Bar
Serving: Snacks, desserts
[Read more]
Midwest Sad
601 S. 6th St., (414) 335-8162
midwestsadmke.com
Serving: Pastries, sandwiches, snacks
[Read more]
Poppy Bakery
2021 E. Ivanhoe Pl., (414) 763-0033
poppybakery.com
Serving: Homestyle bakery items
[Read more]
Ruby’s Bagels
5513 W. North Ave., (414) 763-0033
rubysbagels.com
Serving: Bagels, coffee
[Read more]
Sugar Studio & Company
2201 S. 84th St., West Allis, (414) 763-0033
sugarstudiomke.com
Serving: Bakery, artisan foods
[Read more]
Indian / Pakistani
Baithak of Punjab
4252 S. Howell Ave., (414) 763-0033
dineatbaithak.com
Serving: Indian, Pakistani fare
Italian / Pizza
doh’p Woodfired Fare
2509 E. Oklahoma Ave., (414) 763-0033
dohpmke.com
Serving: Pizza, wings, wood-fired fare
[Read more]
Latin American / Mexican
Cinco Lokos
3430 N. 84th St., (414) 455-3333
cincolocosmexicanwi.com
Serving: Mexican fare
[Read more]
Electric Lime Taqueria
811 N. Jefferson St., (414) 249-4587
electriclimetaqueria.com
Serving: Mexican fare
[Read more]
Jalisco’s Cantina
2018 S. 1st St., (414) 672-0777
jaliscoscantina.com
Serving: Mexican fare
Las Gardenias
305 N. Plankinton Ave., (414) 249-3738
gardeniasmke.com
Serving: Mexican fare
[Read more]
Ventura's Taco (second location)
5823 W. Burnham St., West Allis
facebook.com/profile
Serving: Mexican fare
Levantine / Middle Eastern
Purslane
1751 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 212-8692
Purslane.kitchen
Serving: Eastern Mediterranean
[Read more]
Mediterranean
Creta Mediterranean Grill (3rd Street Market Hall)
275 W Wisconsin Ave., (503) 932-1382
3rdstmarkethall.com/creta-mediterranean-grill
Serving: Mediterranean fare
Kavos
20 S. Main St., Oconomowoc, (262) 354-0306
kavosoconomowoc.com
Serving: Greek, Italian, Spanish-influenced small plates
Purslane
1751 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 212-8692
Purslane.kitchen
Serving: Eastern Mediterranean
[Read more]
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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