A Taste of Stallis: Dine Around West Allis

The phrase hidden gem doesn’t do it justice. Neither do phrases like best-kept secret or seriously underrated. No, this suburb just west of downtown Milwaukee moves a little differently. It’s West Allis, a fast-growing suburb with blue-collar roots, a tight-knit community and small businesses all over the place.

Wander through its many pockets, and you’ll discover a city with a creative heartbeat. It isn’t always obvious, and if you’re not looking for inspiration, the spark might just pass you by. It’s the thoughtful craft brews at places like Ope! Brewing Co. and the occasional mural or painted electrical box that fly under the radar. But you can get a taste for what continues to draw locals and visitors to this western suburb best in its dining scene.

You can take a bite out of this exciting culinary scene for yourself with special discounts and deals during A Taste of Stallis, a dining week that takes you on a tour of the neighborhood’s bars, restaurants, cafes and beyond.

Some like it spicy, some like it savory, some want the straight-up best breakfast bites around, and others want late-night tacos served al fresco from a permanent walk-up food stand. Full of diverse, adventurous and sometimes daring dining options, these are some of the spots that make Stallis special—morning, noon and night (and beyond).

Order up.

West Allis Farmers Market

Milwaukee’s farmers market scene flies under the radar. For the most part, each neighborhood has its own, and each has a unique vibe and atmosphere. The West Allis Farmers Market is one of the best around, though, and a weekly staple for locals from May through October. With nearly 40 vendors from across the state of Wisconsin, here you can pick up fresh produce, local honey, meat, plants and artisanal goods to take home with you. Stroll the market to take in the energy of a busy farmers market in motion and tick a few things off your grocery list all at once.

Coffee & Bakery

Grebe's Bakery

Grebe’s is a donut dynasty, and that’s not a phrase to take lightly. For four generations, and the better part of a century, this place has been churning out fried, sweet, doughy treats to morning crowds looking for a pairing to their A.M. coffee. Their specialty, found at around 200 locations across the area, is the cruller: dense, crunchy on the outside, soft and crumbly on the inside, and so good it will change the way you see donuts. On Sundays, Grebe’s honors another longtime tradition: hot ham and rolls.

Also Try: Lake Effect Coffee Company

Breakfast

Mad Rooster Café

While Wisconsin’s agricultural roots run deep, you won’t find a traditional farm in Milwaukee proper. But at this breakfast stop, basically in the parking lot of American Family Field, farm-fresh flavors and the country fixin’s come standard. Welcome inside Mad Rooster Café. The outside gives off rustic farm vibes, and inside, you’ll find a menu of farm staples, with eggs, bacon, sausage, omelets, pancakes, waffles, hash browns and all of the dishes that make breakfast food worth waking up at the crack of dawn. You probably won’t have to be up and at ’em when the rooster crows, but you know, the early bird gets breakfast first.

Also Try: 84th Classic Cafe, Michael's Family Restaurant

Lunch

West Allis Sausage & Cheese Shoppe

When you picture a classic deli, you’re imagining a place just like the West Allis Sausage & Cheese Shoppe. Known for, as luck would have it, sausage and cheese, their café is a great place to get a deli sandwich. There’s the classic Reuben and a turkey club, but the Stallis Stack is everything you’re looking for. It’s a hefty handheld loaded with ham, turkey, bacon, provolone, goat chevre and really a smattering of everything that makes this sandwich shop a favorite of West Allis residents and a magnet for visitors.

Also Try: Gus' Deli, Su Plus Two, Ruta's Fresh Indian Fare

Dinner

Sze Chuan

Do any amount of research on the West Allis food scene, and some names will crop up again and again. Sze Chuan is one of them. Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, this may just be some of the best Chinese food you’ve ever had in your life. Yeah, they do sesame chicken and shrimp fried rice and egg rolls, but they also do dry-fried green beans seasoned with peppers and fried pork dumplings that are so good they become a part of the standard order. Dine in or take it home with you, but be warned: once you get a taste, you’ll be back for more.

Also Try: The Slow Buffalo, Archie's Flat Top, Camino West Allis, Crawdaddy's

Drinks

Ope! Brewing Co.

Ope! Welcome into the brewery; what can we getcha? With over 20 beers on tap and a taproom that’s huge without losing an ounce of personality, Ope! Brewing Co. is the place to be. The hop-inspired bar lighting, plenty of dartboards and décor that pays homage to Milwaukee’s corner bar roots without getting stuck in the past make it easy to see why it’s a local favorite and a hangout for West Allis residents. Tack on the fact that the whole place is pup-friendly, has a massive patio, a packed events calendar and a menu that also includes seltzers, sours and cocktails, and you’ll wonder why anyone ever leaves.

Also Try: Perspective Brewing Company, Slingshot Bar

Late Night Bites

Taqueria El Toro

Pull into the snug parking lot of Taqueria El Toro any time of day or night, any time of year, and you’ll notice that it’s always busy. Not lines down the block or congested parking lots. No, this late-night spot, serving Mexican cuisine to walk-up traffic only, is well loved by locals and a true hidden gem to those in the know. In good weather, customers dine al fresco at the nearby picnic tables, and in bad weather, they take it to their cars or save it until they get home, but the consensus is that this is a food find worth the trip. Here, $3 scores you a taco or $10 for a burrito, and after a few late-night libations or when midnight cravings hit, this is a place to close out the evening.

Also Try: TomKen's Bar & Grill, Natty Oaks Pub & Eatery