Just wanted to make a note that as of April 2026, this place is still legit. Great, solid burgers. It is still more of a pick-up place rather than a sit down place. There are tables and chairs, but it's tight and when it got busy with people coming to pick up their lunch, would feel weird sitting down to eat. As it was, we just waited to pick up our food, like everyone else. Didn't see a single person actually eating inside, though we saw a LOT of people coming to pick up lunch. Previous review stands (3/25/2022) This is another happy review. I'm happy to report that the burgers have improved significantly since my last review 4 years ago. Korean BBQThey toned down on the shredded cabbage and the sauce in the korean bbq burger. Everything balanced out much better than what I remember, and I could actually taste the kimchi inside this time. The meat was cooked to a nice medium, and travelled well in our to-go order. Soft Shell CrabThey put two whole deep fried soft shell crabs in one burger. Topped off with a lot of arugula, bacon and tomatoes. It was good, but not quite as balanced out as the Korean BBQ burger. I'm not quite sure what it is... Lacking some sauce?Overall, the place had some great burgers and I would definitely go back more often that I have recently. But there's a little bit missing still to give it a whopping 5 star review. Plus the buns were really bready... a little less dough would have been nice. And on the downside... the fries weren't awesome. They were ok. But felt more like baked fries than deep fried. In any case, I love improvements and having great joints in my neighborhood. Thank you Crave Cafe! read more

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Good food (frozen), friendly folks, bathroom is like a gas station. Not a lot of seating. Take the food to go. read more

Crave Cafe - Japanese Katsu - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Staying true to its name, it is truly the burger to be craveddd! I have been a 1000% sold on how true to the art of making a solid Milwaukee burger tastes like. And to be completely fair, I don't eat beef and so I went with the Shroom with fries and the other burger ordered was beef (which was raved about; was told it was juicy, flavorful, and gas). To speak to the burger I ordered, The Shroom was a masterpiece of aioli, arugula, and mushroom. It had quickly spiraled me into an arugula phase for several weeks after haha I'm a fiend for fries, and I will stand by the fact that these were a solid 10/10- crisp edges, cut for the soft potato inside and golden brown outside-hit the spot. I will definitely be back for more bites here! The seating inside is limited and there's some outdoor, but I would more likely bank on a grab n go style. They're relatively quick with getting orders together, but honestly if you had to wait a little longer than you wanted to, worth the wait. I will say the parking is kinda nice for the summers in the sense that you park your car as close to the lake as you can, walk to eat, and then leave to get your steps in and let your food coma bathe in the sun. read more

Crave Cafe - The Shroom with fries - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

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This was the second time here. It's a small place, described as a "take-out" business. They have a few tables inside and several others on a small patio (in the front parking lot). Came with a small group and arrived a little before noon. You order inside, either at a kiosk or at the counter. There were a couple of friendly folks taking the orders. We got three Crave Burgers and one Korean BBQ Burger. We each got a small fry. You get a ticket and then wait for your orders. It didn't take long for the burgers to be done. They were all hot, had excellent flavor, and were a good size. The Crave Burgers were especially good. The flavors from the Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, and truffle aioli were well balanced. The brioche bun was perfectly toasted, and the burger was cooked to the right temperature. The fries were all fresh and hot, with good portions. Everyone in the group had nice things to say about their meals. For $10.75 ($9.75 for the Korean BBQ), it's a great value. Would definitely come back. P.S. - Crave was given 3rd place in the 2025 Best Burgers in Milwaukee by Milwaukee Magazine. It was well deserved! read more

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My 80 year old mom says Crave Cafe has the best burgers in Milwaukee! She raves about this place all the time, which is why I am writing a review on her behalf. Her and her friends really enjoy ordering from here. I'm looking forward to trying it in the future! read more

Crave Cafe - Exterior Crave Cafe - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Cheeseburger and Cajun Fries! Sooo good, cooked to order and pretty quick. I came on a Thursday evening and it was busy! Lots of people with to go orders. Decent sized burger for the price, will definitely be coming back to hit that burger craving. Also to try the Japanese katsu burger! Limited seating but good service! read more

Crave Cafe - Cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

This is the best burger you can find in Milwaukee. People behind the counter are relatively nice. The sitting area could be a little more comfortable and cleaner, but overall it is very nice and the food is always worth it. read more

Crave has the best burger in Milwaukee. Having tried nearly every great burger in the city, hands down crave is the place. The service is always very quick. Great hole in the wall vibe, the best things often are in the place you'd overlook- also outdoor seating is great during summer. read more

Picked up a take out order for my friends and I on a Saturday around 2pm after calling it in. It was ready in 15 minutes! When I tell you this might be one of the best burgers I've had in quite some time, I mean it! Also, this place I fairly affordable too! I ordered the Hamburguesa (medium-rare) and it was perfection. My friends got The Standard and Hamburguesa respectively. Walked out of there dripping about $40 which is not bad considered we also ordered two side large fries! Would absolutely recommend this spot for a take out burger!! read more

How have I never reviewed this place??? Hands down, they have the best burgers on the East Side. My go-to orders are The Korean and The Standard--both consistently amazing. Don't skip the fries; they complement the burgers perfectly. I've been coming here for 4 years, and I've always had the same cashier. She's quick, efficient, and clearly knows what she's doing--the food always comes out fast. The space is small but functional: 8 indoor seats and a patio with about 12 outdoor seats. If you go during non-peak hours, you can usually grab a table for two. That said, they're really built for takeout--ordering online or calling ahead is super smooth. Parking is surprisingly decent, with spots in the lot or around the neighborhood. There's also one veggie burger option, which wasn't bad at all. read more

- Good food, chill ambiance, great service - No reservation, cannot make one - Would come back, fun and tasty menu w/ great price! Was looking for a more affordable eat than where we have been recently going, and this place was delicious and made my wallet happy! It was a cute lil restaurant with a fun menu and friendly staff :~) I had gotten the Soft Shell Crab BLT and it was an interesting option that I was excited for because I love soft shell crab! The sandwich came with 2 crabs that were fun to see with their appendages sticking out at both ends, and lots of greens and some nice crispy bacon. We did take this to-go, but it still had some nice crisp and crunch when we did eat it a bit later. The crab and pieces were good together, but I think there could have been some more flavor in the aioli spread across the bun. I initially thought it was just mayo, but revisiting the menu, saw it was listed as a garlic aioli. A delicious sandwich that I would recommend, but a bit more flavor there to contrast the vegetables would have made it perfect! Pookie got the Japanese Katsu and hers was also a tasty bite. The crispy katsu was nice and crunchy, and the slaw on top added even more crunch and texture to the sandwich! The katsu sauce was tasty and added some tanginess to the sandwich, but I think a bit too much was added, as it was really spilling out of the sandwich, and it is already a flavorful condiment on its own. Still good! Overall a good meal and I would love to come back... the people next to us ordered burgers and they look tasty! While we did take it to-go, the food was still delicious and crunchy, so i can only imagine it fresh in front of me. This restaurant is quite small as it only had about ~4 tables w/ 2 seats each, but with how we enjoyed it after some errands, don't be afraid to take it to-go! Aside from the kind service, we ate looking forward to visiting again to try other menu options :~) read more

Crave Cafe - Soft Shell Crab BLT - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

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Drive past Kopp's Crave is so much better!! The burgers are amazing and the service is so much better. My family has been going here for 8-9 years and it never disappoints!! read more

There is nothing I can add to these reviews that hasn't already been said. Outside of 1 burger in DC that no longer exists (RIP Ray's Hell Burger), the Crave Burger here might be the best burger I have ever had! You can legit smell the white truffle aioli just from walking in and the wafting scent actually translates to flavor in the burger...none of this fake over the top faux truffle. Every ingredient adds something to the burger which translates into a bite full of umami from the aioli, butteriness from the amazing brioche bun, and the high quality meat. The fries also hold their own and are super flavorful and crispy. Next time I should ask for a side of sauce to dip them in as opposed to the sad looking ketchup packets they had at the counter. read more

Crave Cafe - Crave Burger and Fries - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Food is always delicious and service hs always great. Plus you can't beat the price! We love to get takeout from here and walk to Hubbard park. read more

We were craving a burger for dinner. I feel like it's very hit or miss when you go and try to find somewhere with burgers. This place did not disappoint its a little hole in the wall and I love it. Not much seating but they had both indoor and outdoor seating. No fountain drinks but they had canned soda which works just as good. The burger was perfectly cooked and was just the right amount of juice. The edge of the bun was crispy and really added to the texture. The fries were also fantastic. We ordered our food and probably had it in 5 minutes, the service was extremely quick and friendly. We'll definitely be coming back. read more

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SUCH A HIDDEN GEM!!! The outside of the place looks a little rundown or like it's closed but is the complete opposite of the food! The food is serious restaurant quality food. You can call and order in or take it to go. There are some tables inside and outside but not many. read more

There is literally nothing except their burgers. But their burgers are menu photo perfect every single time no matter which one you order. It is hard to describe since it is just a cafe counter order. But there is no better burger experience. read more

They're not lying when they say this is the best burger in Milwaukee. I got the crave burger with American cheese instead of Swiss. The truffle aioli was the shining star. The restaurant doesn't serve much in the way of ambiance but with food this good it doesn't matter! There is only a few tables so probably hard to dine in during peek times, there is a nice outdoor patio when weather permits! read more

Crave Cafe - Crave burger with American cheese + ranch fries - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

The burgers are delicious but the phone ordering system needs a serious makeover. You either cannot get through or you wait in "hold" while listening to whomever is working the front take multiple orders.....unfortunately just not a great system. read more

My Hubby absolutely loves this spot - he was told by Reddit that it's the place to eat so of course we had to go. My husband gives it a 5/5 stars but one dish just didn't hit for me. We got the Hamburguesa, Friday fish fry and Cajun fries. The Hamburguesa was VERY good as well as the Cajun fries. And I would definitely stick to a burger if/when I go back. The fish was bland and overall not that great. Since our visit my husband has already gone back and tried another burger. Needless to say it was a hit and he is a big fan! Definitely worth trying if you are on the eastside looking for a good burger :) read more

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Very good food! Great service, very friendly! Very clean. I would recommend this restaurant.

I have been craving a burger and thought I would finally try Crave Cafe. This joint is small, limited seating, and no table service. We got our burgers for dine in and ordered and ate all within 30 minutes. I tried the Crave Burger and the Soft Shell Crab BLT. The Crave burger was delicious, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The bun was a buttery beautiful brioche. The BLT was unique with the soft shell crab and I am glad I tried it but I was yearning for a bit more flavor. I am very curious about their KBBQ Burger and Japanese Katsu which is what I'll be getting next time. Fries had potential but they were pretty soft/soggy. If only they were crispier! I got cheese and cajun flavor add on and the cheese was the winner. I'll be back when the burger cravings hit! read more

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Wow, one of the best burgers I had in a long time! Soft buns, real meat (cooked to order), fresh vegetables, and decent prices. My husband ordered the Korean burger, and we both thought the kim chee was delicious. Totally impressed with this place! read more

A great place to grab a quick bite to eat or order to go. The fries were great and the perfect amount of crispy. The burger was also very good. Will be visiting again! read more

Crave Cafe - Fries - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

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Best burger I've had in Milwaukee! Be careful because the fries are a separate charge from the burger but still was well worth it for both because the fries were great too! Polite staff and was quick and easy to order and get our food. Limited space to dine in but still an option, will definitely be back because the burger I had was amazing! Toasted bun and a juicy seared patty! read more

Crave Cafe - Crave Burger - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Good prices, kind staff, quick service. The burger was cooked good medium rare , thick and big. Ranch seasoning on fries tasted like Pringles sour cream and onion seasoning read more

A true hidden gem in Milwaukee. My go-to recommendation, so figured I'd finally write a review! I just had the Crave burger again tonight and I am flabbergasted yet again. Seriously, skip the Culver's run tonight and treat yourself to a burger from this place. On top of food, the people working there are lovely. They always have such a great vibe and when you take your time because you cannot possibly decide what to eat, they never bat an eye. Thoroughly impressed and proud to recommend every time. read more

Crave burger- I think the best burger I've ever had. It was so juicy and so flavorful and a good portion size too! Japanese katsu- katsu was very crunchy and sauce was flavorful as well but I'll say not my favorite item. Good quality burger still though. I like how this is a small hole in the wall shop with quick service. Would recommend! read more

Crave Cafe - Crave Burger Japanese Katsu Burger Ranch Fries - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

A little dirty in the inside, otherwise great food, ambience was OK. Service was OK. Other than that, I had a great time hope to see them getting better and improve read more

Top burger spot in Milwaukee. I had the crave burger with a small fry. Very flavorful, the bun was incredible, and the fries were crisp. Service was quick and great. The cafe has 3 tables with chairs inside and a patio. Definitely more of a carry out spot, but wouldn't mind staying to eat if I had a small party. read more

I didn't snag any pictures, but we're already craving our next burger. So juicy and delicious. We also got two orders of fries- we couldn't stop eating them. It's absolutely a hole in the wall hidden spot. Some of the best burgers in town read more

Best burger in town! Friendly service, they make the fries when you arrive pick up your order so the fries are fresh and crispy! Standard burger (with house make thousands island sauce!) is my all time favorite if you like Big Mac you definitely love this one! Also like the Crave Burger too! i heard they have hidden menus like sweet potato fries and onion rings i will definitely order that read more

Crave Cafe - Cute little decoration not for sale - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Food was amazing. I had the butter with mushrooms and Swiss. Burger was nice a juicy. It was soooo flavorful. It's clean, small and fast. No frills place. I will be back to try the other offerings. read more

I don't think I can impart with my words how much you will crave their burgers! Try their Crave burger and get some of the truffle aoli on the side for dipping- get some fries and go crazy. If you're more into fish/seafood they also have a soft shell crab BLT that is delicious! My husband's go to order is the Korean BBQ burger which is excellent but be warned, it's spicy! It's a nondescript spot that has minimal seating during the cooler months, so plan accordingly. The burgers keep well in a to go bag, so get your food to go! Would most definitely recommend them if you're looking for a fantastic burger! read more

We love crave cafe! From their Korean bbq burger (do spicy I cry while I eat it because it tastes soo good) to their crave burger with truffle aioli (chefs kiss) are fantastic. Plus we love their fries. We often get the Cajun fries (also spicy) or the ranch fries (really it's the Midwest how can you not?!) we have yet to find something that wasn't scrumptious. The place itself although they have 3-4 tables is mostly made for takeout, so next time you want a night in, consider picking up crave on your way home for a delicious dinner. read more

Don't judge a book by it's cover! Crave Café is such a low key joint and it doesn't really appear to be much of anything form the outside. Get in though and order the food and you'll see why this place is far from nothing! Crave is not a massive diner. There's a few chairs and tables that deck the place out. I came around 1 pm for a late lunch. I noticed right off the bat that Crave is focused on the food. They have an assortment of burgers and my favorite, the Soft-Shell Crab BLT, did not disappoint! Crave also has some really killer French fries that you can get an assortment of seasonings on, from ranch to BBQ. Crave will now be one of personal go to spots for all thing's burger related for lunch. Easy in, easy out make popping in to grab some grub a breeze. read more

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I love this place! The service is always quick, and the family running it is very sweet. I always get "The Standard", it reminds me of In-n-Out but with a huge juicy patty. My wife loves the Hamburguesa, for those who want a little bit of spice. Be sure to try their fries, the Cajun and Ranch are seasoned perfectly. Not to mention, the price is reasonable for how much food you get. I'm always stuffed after finishing my meal from here. I recommend it for anyone who wants a tasty burger! read more

We found this place on Google. We are visiting from Houston Texas and this place has a 4.7 star rating on google. We decided to give it a try. We ordered the crave burger. This is perhaps one of the best burgers I've tasted. This is definitely a spot we will be coming back to whenever we come back and visit Milwaukee. It's a must try. Make sure to be hungry. read more

Crave Cafe - Carve Burger - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Adding to this review as I remembered I had this awesome picture of the Crab BLT! If you like seafood and have never tried a soft shell crab I highly recommend this. I get soft shell crabs often from seafood boil restaurants- it's often an appetizer on there menus severs with fries. I've totally never had it as a sandwich but crave does this really really well. I would get this with a little extra sauce! read more

Crave Cafe - Cheeseburger add Bacon, Standard Fries - New American Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

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Reliably delicious. Great twist on the classics and perfect fries (even without seasoning).