On the Hunt for the Best Cheese Curd

Madison is ground zero for amazing cheese curds and they are no doubt a ‘Wisconsin’-thing. You either gonna hate them or can’t live without them. They are the go-to snack at every farmers’ market. Often called “squeaky cheese,” they are prized in Wisconsin for their rubbery texture, mild flavor, and the audible, fresh squeak they make when bitten. Whether enjoyed fresh on their own or battered and deep-fried, they are a beloved dairy staple. Wisconsin is the undisputed hub of these bite-sized dairy gems. Legend has it that the phenomenon of deep-frying them began at county fairs in the state, turning fresh curds into indulgent, golden-brown snacks with a crispy, beer-battered exterior and a gooey, melted center. These are exactly the ones we were on the hunt for and came up with quite a list of places where you can enjoy them. So, don’t be afraid of ‘fried’!

Bear & Bottle
601 N. Sherman Ave.
Madison WI 53704
Bear & Bottle is a popular neighborhood pub on the North Side of Madison. It blends a laid-back California coastal vibe with classic Midwestern comfort food. They of course also have cheese curds on the menu and offer them as a hand-breaded curd with home-made ranch dressing for twelve bucks.

Blue Moon Bar and Grill (no website)
2535 University Ave.
Madison WI 53705
The Blue Moon is just a nice old-established neighborhood restaurant and bar off of University Avenue near the UW campus with friendly patrons and staff. They are known for their good burgers and fries! For Nine bucks you get a nice portion of their battered and fried cheese curds.

Butterbird
1134 Regent St.
Madison WI 53715
Located on Madison’s famed Regent Street, Butterbird Chicken & Bar is an energetic celebration of the Midwest’s most celebrated college town. Besides offering amassing chicken sandwiches, they make some pretty darn good cheese curds as well. They offer them as ‘Wisco fried” with Clockshadow Creamery cheese, served with home-made ‘ranch for dippin’. Their curds are ten bucks for the basket.

The Botanist Social
206 State St.
Madison WI 53703
This upscale Gin Cocktail bar offers also some great food options, including our beloved Wisconsin cheese curds. Their curds are hand-breaded and made with American white cheddar cheese and are lightly fried and served with their home-made ranch sauce and they are very delicious.

Coopers Tavern
20 W. Mifflin St.
Madison WI 53704
The Coopers Tavern is a European-style neighborhood tavern right in downtown Madison. This tavern’s white cheddar cheese curds are called ‘Coppers Curds’ and are Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) beer-battered and are served with a house-made ranch dressing. You can get these super crispy curds for eleven bucks.

Craftsman Table & Tap
6712 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave.
Middleton WI 53562
Craftsman Table & Tap is nestled into Middleton Hills. They’ve got that upscale brewpub vibe with industrial chic aesthetics. They have truly mastered the classic cheese curd. Beautifully presented in a metal tin and served with home-made buttermilk ranch, this appetizer checks all the boxes. The Wisconsin cheese from Carr Valley tastes phenomenal, and they’re perfectly fried into oozing golden nuggets. The price is twelve bucks.

Culver’s
Various Locations
Obviously, there is Culver’s; so “Welcome to Delicious!” Culver’s is famous for their cheese curds which are a Dairyland delicacy. They are made using the freshest, un-aged yellow and white Wisconsin cheddar cheeses, deep-fried golden brown for a warm buttery crunch. Provided exclusively to Culver’s by La Grander Hillside Dairy in Stanley, Wisconsin. The curds come with countless dipping sauce options. Prices vary by location, but typically range from four bucks fifty for a medium portion to nine bucks for a family basket.

Curd Girl
Various Locations
Cheese curds on food carts are a must. Curd Girl focuses solely on this one Wisconsin tradition, so you know they’ve spent time and effort getting these curds just right and to perfection! Make sure to indulge when you see this food cart out and about. You might see them at events like the Taste of Madison.

Dane County Farmers’ Market
Every Wednesday and Saturday morning on the Square
Let’s celebrate those squeaky fresh curds! They are the must-get at the farmers’ market. Rip open the bag and snack immediately. Without them there would be no fried curds. There are so many choices during the summer months at the outdoor market. Farmer Johns’ Cajun spiced curds and garlic curds are always popular. McCluskey Brothers, Schroeder Kaese and Hook’s fresh curds are always another favorite. La Clare Farms goat cheese curds are tangy and delicious. During the winter months the selection is more limited, but still fresh and direct from the farmer to your mouth. Although not deep-fried, these cheese curds were worth the mention.

Dotty’s Dumpling’s Dowry
317 N Frances St.
Madison WI 53703
This longtime local institution offers mostly specialty burgers, cheese curds & tap beers in quirky digs. A Wisconsin tradition, their breaded and deep-fried White Cheddar nuggets are always a pleaser. Served with a side of homemade ranch dressing, they are simply amazing and only seven bucks!

Everly
2701 Monroe St.
Madison WI 53711
Check out this friendly and electric neighborhood eatery on Madison’s iconic Monroe Street. When they do offer a fried cheese option, their menu often features a Fried Mozz Gnocchi appetizer, which diners and Yelp reviewers describe as a delicious cross between a gnocchi and a cheese curd.

Fromagination
12 S. Carroll St.
Madison WI 53703
You have to check out ‘Fromagination’, an artisan cheese shop on the square downtown Madison. Even though they don’t have deep-fried curds, they do offer numerous cheese curd options. In addition, they sell cheeses, locally-made jams, wine and crackers. It is a perfect spot to stock up on your favorite cheese curds, if you want a bit of a healthier version or fry them at home …

Full Mile Beer Company & Kitchen
132 Market St.
Sun Prairie WI 53590
Full Mile Beer Company & Kitchen is a locally-owned, restaurant, tavern and craft brewery in downtown Sun Prairie. They offer their local beer-battered cheese curds for twelve bucks.

Graze
1 S. Pinckney St.
Madison WI 53703
Opened in 2010 by James Beard Award winner Chef Tory Miller, Graze serves seasonally inspired dishes in a lively airy venue with sweeping views of the state capital building. Graze’s take on the classic curd is highly celebrated because of its vodka batter, making the exterior crispy and light without the heavy, greasy feeling of traditional beer batters. The curds are one of the best you will ever taste and they are served with a side of house-made ranch for just ten bucks.

The Great Dane
123 E. Doty St.
Madison, WI 53703
(multiple locations)
In the 25 years since the Great Dane first opened its downtown Madison location, they have expanded multiple locations. All include their Old Glory Cheese Curds on the menu, served rolled and fried in an American Pale Ale batter and a house-made chimichurri ranch dressing which has just the slightest kick of spiciness. The best part is that these cheese curds are offered on their late night menu, making the Great Dane the best place to go to satisfy your cheese craving in the middle of the night. The price is eleven bucks.

Haven
430 W. Gilman St.
Madison WI 53703
Haven is truly a unique spot for curds! Try their fried Ellsworth White cheddar cheese curds! They are lightly breaded and perfectly fried to a golden brown crispy texture. They are of course warm, gooey, and delightfully creamy inside and make the perfect appetizer. They are served with a side of cool, tangy ranch for dipping. The basket here is Nine Ninety Nine!

Heritage Tavern
131 E Mifflin St.
Madison WI 53703
Check out this farm-to-table local tavern. You can find the Heritage Tavern’s Clock Shadow Creamery cheese curds on the Happy Hour menu. They are delicately fried and they’re tempura bacon-wrapped (from Fox Heritage Farms). The order comes with tempura battered sweet potatoes as well which are a “healthy” addition to this experience of heaven.

The Lone Girl Brewing Company
114 E. Main St.
Waunakee WI 53597
The Lone Girl Brewing Company  in Waunakee has been brewing their own beer since 2016. Their tasty cheese curds are made with muenster cheese and hand-battered with their own ‘Lone Girl ‘beer before deep fried golden brown. The small basket is eleven bucks.

Lucille’s
101 King St.
Madison WI 53703
Lucille gracefully blends bar, restaurant, and lounge to provide great food and a superb experience. They may be best known for their wood-fired pizzas, but everything they do, they do with care and skill, and the Cedar Grove cheese curds are no exception. They come with your choice of ranch and marinara sauce. The flavor of this crispy batter is exceptional. They’re served with a sprinkle of parsley and lemon. The price is twelve bucks.

Merchant
121 S Pinckney St.
Madison WI 53703
Merchant is Madison’s iconic craft cocktail bar with a contemporary take on American comfort food. Merchant’s cheese curds are fried but light and delicious with a tang. These buttermilk-battered Cedar Grove Curds are to-die-for! They are served with home-made ranch and hot honey sauces. The price is twelve bucks.

Nitty Gritty Madison
223 N. Frances St.
Madison WI 53703
& other locations
The original Nitty Gritty was established on October 3rd, 1968 by Madison TV-personality Marsh Shapiro. Today it is famous as “Madison’s Official Birthday Place”. Since its opening day, they have celebrated hundreds of thousands of birthdays. When you visit on your birthday, you get a free keepsake mug filled with a cocktail, beer, or soda. Try their amazing cheese curds! They offer them as crispy White Cheddar cheese curds with their famous “Gritty” sauce, absolutely worth trying for thirteen bucks fifty.

North and South, Seafood & Smokehouse
6604 Mineral Point Rd.
Madison WI 53705
& other locations
This business is a locally owned and operated seafood and smokehouse restaurant in the Madison-area with craft cocktails, authentic wood-fired smokehouse items, excellent seafood and of course … the beloved cheese curds. They offer them as hand-battered to order, perfectly fried and served with a cajun-spiced ranch dressing on the side for thirteen bucks.

Off Broadway Drafthouse
5404 Raywood Rd.
Madison WI 53713
Off Broadway Drafthouse is a historical neighborhood gathering spot that friends tell friends about. They offer a generous portion of cheese curds, dusted lightly with a house-made blackening blend. They are served with a choice of ranch dressing, garlic aioli, or chipotle aioli for nine bucks.

The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St.
Madison WI 53703
Right downtown and on the square, this local, Wisconsin-themed, retro-style tavern offers a huge selection of beers and a generous portion of their Wisconsin Cheese Curds for eleven bucks. Old Fashioned curds were featured on the Food Network and voted #1 curds in Wisconsin! They don’t get any fresher than this. They are house-made, pure Wisconsin beer-battered fresh curds from local farms and served with a paprika-spiced aioli to die for.

Prost Beer Hall
401 E. Washington Ave.
Madison WI 53703
The best German beer hall and restaurant in downtown Madison is probably ‘Prost’! They are home to Oktoberfest and serve traditional German cuisine & steins of beer. What would beer be without the Wisconsin famous cheese curd? They offer them as fresh-made Wisconsin curds, hand-dipped, perfectly fried and served with ‘Old Bay’ lemon aioli for ten bucks.

Settle Down Tavern
117 S. Pinckney St.
Madison WI 53703
Settle Down Tavern is a cozy downtown Madison spot near the Capitol Square with a relaxed, retro setting. At Settle Down they call the curds ‘cheese puppies’ and they are super tasty of course. The cheese curds are cornmeal-battered and perfectly fried and come with a side of house-made ranch dipping sauce. A basket is thirteen bucks.

Stadium Takeout
1517 Monroe St.
Madison WI 53705
This city vibe joint offers some of the best cheese curds around. They are made from Wisconsin cheese, deep fried to a golden brown and come as two options. You can choose between regular and garlic and they are advertised for just seven bucks fifty.

Starkweather Brewing Company
2439 Atwood Ave.
Madison WI 53704
Starkweather has only been open for a few years, but they know what they are doing when it comes to beer and cheese curds. These curds are made with muenster cheese and served with a homemade ranch dressing (also as a spicier version with jalapeño ranch). The appetizer basket is ten bucks fifty.

Sweet Home Wisconsin
910 Regent St.
Madison WI 53715
This place is definitely your place to go for nostalgic Wisconsin comfort food! Their cheese curds are made from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery white cheddar cheese and are hand-battered to perfection, lightly fried and served with sriracha ranch dressing. These curds are simply amazing and a must-try and come for only seven bucks.

Tavernakaya | Umami
27 E. Main St.
Madison WI 53703
Located downtown Madison right on the square this restaurant doesn’t scream “cheese curds” by nature but don’t be fooled. Their cheese curds are a secret amazing appetizer item! They offer them tempura-style with Clock Shadow Creamery white cheddar cheese, served with a spicy mayo for ten bucks.

Tipsy Cow
102 King St.
Madison WI 53703
For a neighborhood brewpub vibe in downtown Madison, get your cheese curds at the Tipsy Cow. In addition to their traditional Spotted Cow beer battered cow cheese curds (they come with ranch), there’s the option for local goat cheese, and they’re absolutely worth the extra two dollars. Where their typical cheese curd is smooth and mild, their goat cheese curd is sharper and tastes great with the crispy, peppery beer batter. The cow curds are 10 and the goat curds are twelve bucks.

Turnkey Supper Club
1344 E. Washington Ave.
Madison WI 53703
Turn Key Supper Club is located in one of Madison’s most historic buildings built in 1885. This restaurant’s cheese curds are called ‘puppies and are advertised as gluten-free Hush Puppy-battered cheese curds. They are dusted in tomato powder and come with a buttermilk ranch dipping sauce for thirteen bucks.

Vintage Brewing Company
803 East Washington Ave.
Madison WI 53703
& other locations
The Vintage Brewing Company has three  locations in the Madison area. Check out the one downtown. Their curds are breaded, not battered, and the cheese is from Ellsworth Creamery. The breading is nice and thick, just like the ranch dipping sauce they are served with. The basket here is eleven bucks.