In this series, we’ll be hiking the burger trail to find the latest, greatest and most delicious burgers in Milwaukee. Click here for an explanation of the criteria used to rate each burger. Where have we been? Check out the complete catalog of burger reviews here.
Ka-Bob’s Bistro
6807 W. Becher St.
(414) 588-8020
ka-bobs.com
If you’re looking for a casual spot on the West Side of town to grab some grub, Ka-Bob’s is a good option. This casual spot is clean and bright with friendly staff and an upbeat vibe.
The menu is the sort that has "something for everyone," from burgers and macaroni and cheese to pork mignon and beef tenderloin medallions. On Saturday nights you can get a full rack of ribs for $21 or aged prime rib for $20.
On my latest visit, I ordered the Becher Burger, which features a one-third pound hand-pattied burger topped with bacon, provolone, Monterey jack, fresh jalapeños, jack straw onions, kabob's sauce on a toasted bun ($10) along with a choice of sides.
Presentation: 6
This was a tough one to call. On the one hand, the individual ingredients looked pretty good: the glossy bun, the fresh leaves of lettuce, the crisp onion strings. But their composition? Meh. This could have been a beautiful burger, and it just wasn’t.
Bread/bun: 8
The brioche bun was glossy and soft with a nice sweet flavor. It was appropriately sized to the burger and toppings, and it came beautifully toasted. That’s worth bun points in my book.
Burger: 7
When we ordered our burgers, we weren’t asked how we wanted them to be prepared. So I was relieved to find mine cooked to about medium, with a fair amount of pink throughout. The burger wasn’t overly flavorful; however, it did come nicely seasoned, and there was a bit of char on the exterior giving it a pleasantly grilled flavor.
Toppings: 7
On the toppings side, the ingredients were high quality; but, there was a lot going on ... maybe a bit too much. Fortunately, there was redemption in the details. The kebab's sauce added a tangy barbecue-sauce-like flavor, eliminating the need for additional condiments. The cheese was well melted. The bacon was spectacularly crisp, and the jalapeno slices, were ultra fresh. Even the fried onion strings were well executed: crisp, without being greasy; unfortunately, they had a tendency to fall out of the sandwich, so I ended up eating most of them out of hand.
Value 8
This average priced burger delivers with above-average ingredients, making it a good value for the money. It’s also plenty of food for a ten-spot, so you’re unlikely to leave hungry.
Total: 36/50
Some people are burger patty people. Others are topping people. If you’re one of the latter, you just might find your niche at Ka-Bob’s Bistro.
Ka-Bob’s Bistro is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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.
