Pete’s Hamburgers

I really love this place. Simple and very good. Plus you can smell it a block away. Definitely worth the wait in line. To those who aren’t aware, Pete’s has been around for more than a hundred years! You won’t find fries or onion rings here, but who needs ‘em anyway? No cheese either, just fried onions, brown or yellow mustard, ketchup, and salt and pepper. All on fresh buns. Yum!

Pete’s isn’t about the burger it’s about the experience! It’s a tiny shack in which a guy cooks burgers in water with onions. It’s kind of a real real old fashioned food truck where you stand outside — usually in line — for a burger, chips and a pop. And people having been doing it in the same spot in this little town for 106 years and counting.
I asked the helper to put a little mustard and ketchup on my burger. What I got was a tasty treat — moist, fresh and flavorful. Was it the best burger I ever had — no. But the last time I had a Pete’s burger was 34 years ago — and as I ate my burger I flashed back to when I was 21.
Pete’s burger cost me $ 4.25 but its value to my soul was priceless.

Amazingly unorganized. No concept of customer service. Perhaps if people would demand and not just line up they would care.

My husband, the in-​laws and I were in town for a wedding. We stopped by because it came highly recommended and we love a good burger. Evidently people wait for hours for these burgers. The smell of fried onion was incredible but that’s where the goodness stopped.
We got to the stand at 2pm and there was a line. Two lines, one on each side of the stand, are exactly the same so get in the shorter one. We waited in line for 20 minutes before we saw someone leave with a burger. I guess they cook 50 at a time and then serve. Once they get going the line moves but I can’t imagine how long we would have had to wait if they ran out of that batch.
The burgers are cooked in a steam bath of friend onions, fence the delicious smells. They only cook hamburgers so you either get plain or ‘with’ which just means with boiled onions. Ketchup, mustard, and deli mustard are the only condiment offered. Get everything, and lots of it, because the burger itself is soooo flavorless. Not bad, just bland. Because it’s steamed, the burger has a similar texture to meatloaf.
If this was the only thing open, it took 5 minutes instead of 20 and the burgers weren’t nearly $ 5 a piece, I might return. Until then, I hope you take my word for it and go elsewhere.

Pete’s burgers have no taste. It is boiled meat with boiled onions. Very disappointed. .my husband and I did not get the allure at all. Over priced as well.

it is a hamburger boiled in onion water. I could only eat a few bites and threw the rest out the window.
It makes the town smell great, but the food is horrible. I can not figure out why people line up for this every weekend.

In Prairie du Chien visiting some family last weekend and had heard about this place. I am always looking for a great burger and based on Unilocal reviews and word-​of-​mouth from relatives I wasn’t going to visit this community without stopping at Pete’s Hamburgers (118 W. Blackhawk Ave., Prairie du Chien).
Believe the hype — this is as good as it gets, folks.
There were a couple of negatives and they are so insignificant that I almost don’t even feel that they’re important. One «negative» is the line. The line is lengthy and once you’ve eaten one of these works of art hamburgers you’ll know why. The other negative is their hours. They aren’t open until April-​May and are typically closed by September-​October (according to the folks working there they’ll be open until October 19 this year). Other than that, there is NOTHING bad to say.
They have only two burgers, «with» or «without.» The «with» burger has onions and the «without» does not. No cheese on these beauties, but they really don’t need it because they are so delicious without it. You can order these two burgers and they offer canned pop, bottled water and chips. That’s it (other than souvenir hats and shirts if you want those). Also, bring cash… they don’t take credit cards.
The burger is like nothing I’ve experienced before… which is a good thing because they are ridiculously awesome. I ate two and almost went back for a third. Onion or no onion you can’t go wrong. The secret is that they «boil» the burger on a hot griddle in water. Nothing fancy and you wouldn’t even think it would be that good based on that, but that burger is so good that it could grow back a limb.
If you are anywhere near Prairie du Chien (and I mean anywhere within 100 miles) and you are looking for a great hamburger, stop in at Pete’s. Their prices are good ($ 4 for a burger) and I was told by an employee that some of their proceeds go to charity and to help with special needs throughout the community. You just can’t go wrong with this place.
Do I recommend Pete’s — yes and no. YES, it’s an AMAZING hamburger and you should definitely experience it at least once in your life but NO because you standing in line in front of me might delay me in getting my hands on that delicious goodness. Worthy of 5-​star praise!

WOW! What a great hamburger. My whole family loved the juicy flavor. We almost overdosed on Pete’s burgers the two days we were in town because we kept going back. I am already missing it after one day without.
Simple joy with only hamburgers chips and drinks available. Order extra burgers to share but you might end up fighting over them.
Some people complain and walked away refusing to wait in line a couple minutes but I just laughed because the fools don’t know what they missed! Waiting and watching it being prepared is actually part of the experience. It is also nice to talk to people from all over the Midwest while you wait for a little bit of heaven in a bun.

Very unique shack the burgers are served out of. Small joint with one burger grill on the front window do you can see the magic happen. Had burgers «with» of course and would rank five star if some Wisconsin cheese was on top. Worth a stop. Burgers, chips, pop and water are only items on menu.

I cannot drive through, or near, Prairie du Chien without a stop at this wonderful place! For over 100 years, people have been lining up in Prairie du Chien to buy one or more of Pete’s famous hamburgers. Although this place is not on the National Register of Historic Places, it might as well be. There isn’t a person in town who doesn’t know about Pete’s. While shooting photos of downtown Prairie du Chien, I was approached by the previous year’s Carp Queen (don’t ask) who was genuinely surprised that I have never heard of Pete’s, let alone had one of Pete’s famous burgers.
The smell of cooking burgers and onions filled the entire downtown area, leading me to the little stand like Popeye to a can of spinach.
The burgers are served only two ways — with and without — and that means onions. Even though Prairie du Chien is in America’s Dairyland, cheese is not available on Pete’s burgers and trust me, there is no need. The buns are soft and delicious, especially baked locally for Pete’s.
I was told that people come to Prairie du Chien just to have burgers at Pete’s and after sampling the magic sandwich, I can understand why. Next time you’re in western Wisconsin or eastern Iowa, a trip to Pete’s is in order!

Must stop if you are in the area, they have been serving up burgers since 1909 and they keep it simple and tasty.

I saw them on the show burger land. I was working down in the area for the week and had to try one. Very good burger and hard to believe I would like any burger that doesn’t come with cheese. It’s was worth the wait in line!

This is one of the times when nostalgia has steered me right.
In a little hut in downtown Prairie du Chien lies a little piece of yesteryear. They have been cooking burgers here for over 100 years.
While not the best burger I have ever eaten, Pete’s burgers have a taste and texture that’s unique. Not unique as in Aunt Gertie’s doily collection, but unique in «I have never had a burger quite like this and I really like it». The closest thing I guess is a White Castle Slider, only this one tastes good and has a thickness measured in centimeters not angstroms. It was almost an inch think and melted in my mouth.
Toppings are simple ketchup and your choice of yellow/​brown mustard. Onions are optional, but recommended.
Its carryout only and cash only so be prepared.

Pete’s is always a good stop…

This place rocks. I’d give it five stars but the usual long wait in line docks it a star. If you are in Prairie du Chien when this place is open and you don’t stop… you are stupid. After wolfing down a couple of these burgers, don’t forget to stop into Starks where you can buy liquor and guns. Another perfect combination!

Alot of history for this little familiy operated burger stand smack dab downtown. Served HOT, moist and juicy «with or without’ onions Burgers are simmered in a thin layer of water next to «Piles» of slow cooked steamed onions. A fantastic aroma!
People line up along the sidewalk for the limited menu of hamburgers, no cheese, pop chips and water. Thats It!
There is a reason why people wait in line to bite into this steaming hot meaty covered «witt» onion wrapped in grease covered waxed paper delivered in a small clear protective tote with extra napkins… ahhh. ‘Its worth it!

Oh, this place rocks! I had my first Pete’s burger about 20 years ago and I can tell you they are just as wonderful today!
Pete’s cooks the burgers on a large griddle with a lip around it. Heaps of onions and water simmer together with the perfectly seasoned burgers. If you order «two with», that means two burgers with onions served on top of the meat on a soft yellow bun. If you love onions, this is the place to go! I recommend a dollop of brown mustard on each sandwich.
The burgers are a decent size — about ¼ pound or so. Back in the day I used to put away four (probably still could)… But two are pretty filling for a hungry guy… I kinda wish I’d gotten a third.
One word of advice — they are only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and only till it starts to get cold in early to mid October. Then Pete’s closes for the winter.
Great stuff!

Practically impossible to believe that in Wisconsin, you get the best burger without cheese. These hamburgers are grilled to perfection in Pete’s secret ingredient, water. Slather them with some sloppy onions, and you’ve got a winning recipe!
Pete’s hamburger stand has been family-​owned since the early 1900s. They are only open in the summer, so stock up. I always freeze some so that my winter is not without Pete.

Simply amazing. Unlike anything you will ever have. Its success is in its simplicity. I highly recommend asking for salt and pepper. The S&P with the fresh meat is simply to die for. Otherwise, you can get whatever, they are all good. I can never remember how I like them so I one each way whenever we go. No cheese is provided or needed, neither are fries. Chips, pop and a burger and you eat them on the hood of your car. Makes me want to move up there. Sucks we only get up there once or twice a year. Also check out the smoked fish up the street at Mississippi Valley Fish Market.

Petes Hamburgers is a regional icon. They have a seasoning, and grill their burgers in this little shed on the street. THe taste is slightly reminisceient to White Castle to me, only logrythmically better!!!