Klinger’s East

About

Bars, Fish & Chips, American (Traditional)

Price Range : Under $10 ($)

  • star
    Yelp rating
    3.5 stars

Location

Adress: 920 E Locust St, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Phone: (414) 263-2424

Business info

  • turned_in_not
    Health Score
    95 out of 100
  • list_alt
    Takes Reservations
    No
  • directions_car
    Delivery
    No
  • move_to_inbox
    Take-out
    Yes
  • credit_card
    Accepts Credit Cards
    Yes
  • thumb_up
    Good For
    Dinner
  • local_parking
    Parking
    Street, Private Lot
  • directions_bike
    Bike Parking
    Yes
  • accessibility
    Good for Kids
    No
  • group
    Good for Groups
    Yes
  • insert_emoticon
    Ambience
    Divey
  • volume_up
    Noise Level
    Average
  • local_bar
    Alcohol
    Full Bar
  • turned_in_not
    Good For Happy Hour
    Yes
  • transit_enterexit
    Outdoor Seating
    No
  • wifi
    Wi-Fi
    Free
  • tv
    Has TV
    Yes
  • fastfood
    Caters
    No
  • scatter_plot
    Has Pool Table
    Yes

Reviews

  • Precious L.

    star star star star star 7 June 2026

    So my cousin and I was at the nail shop all day and was super hungry..
    I recalled that Today was Friday and Friday means  fry!!
    So I heard that Klinger's East has one to check in to..
    So that is what I did..
    Came in and we sat at the bar.. the rear was full of people enjoying their meals and I can hear the sound of am gold in the Background(a super plus to me because I love am Gold!!)..
    Our bartender was witty and very stylish. And the fish fry that i ordered was fantastic!! So delicious!! Will definitely come back!!

  • Ron R.

    star star star star_border star_border 2 June 2026

    Well we've been coming here for a few times, and finally came down for the fish fry. Service was friendly and prompt as usual, the employees are paying attention to the bar.  They all seem like they've been here forever.

    The fish fry was just OK.  It was tasty, don't get me wrong, but considering the options for fish fry in Milwaukee it doesn't really stand out right now.  The batter was pretty much flavorless. But that's ok, it's just a way to transfer the tartar sauce to my tongue! ( or is it??) malt vinegar is on hand, so that's helpful.  The kitchen is busy, you can watch the cook- it's right behind the bar. But this also lets you see other things. Things like the bags of frozen fryer products. Meh.

    It's cheap enough, so there's that. But I think the reputation as one of the best frys in Milwaukee is a bit overrated.

    But the staff is great, so friendly.

  • Kit O.

    star star star_border star_border star_border 25 May 2026

    Picked up a to go perch fish fry due to top recommendation.
    Was disappointed.  Fish had very thick batter tasteless and hard as in not prepared on premise.. Potato pancake was also not too tasty and not home made. The teeny containers of apple sauce and one of cole slaw could have been larger.  They did give large portions but I threw the rest  away because it was not very good compared to many others in Milwaukee..In addition I did have some intestinal problems within a few hours after I ate but who know how that occurred..I was afraid it was the meal and that is probably major reason I threw it out..Although restaurant not up to par, I probably would have eaten the rest on the next day had it not been for the intestinal issue.....

  • Chadrick J.

    star star star star star_border 16 May 2026

    Klinger's, yes it's a dive but the Friday fish fry is oh my goodness, good! Actually it's excellent and I consider to be one of MKE's finest. Don't go here and expect to be all fancified cause Klinger's ain't that kinda place. Good drinks at reasonable prices and plenty to entertainment you. This is a true neighborhood joint.

  • Rick R.

    star star star_border star_border star_border 15 May 2026

    I had a friend highly recommend the fish fry at Klinger's East, so I finally went to try it.

    There were several options to choose from such as cod, walleye, bluegill and perch. I asked my server which was most popular and she said the standard cod fry for $8.

    I decided to start with a cup of their New England Clam Chowder. The base was a bit bland. I added salt and pepper to try and help. The chowder was hearty, filled with potato, corn, potato, a few bits of clams, and potato, so it was like a potato chowder.

    When the fish fry arrived, almost immediately after my clam chowder arrived, so I had to pick up the pace on the chowder, I was impressed with the large pieces of fish.

    It appeared lightly battered which was encouraging. I'm not a fan of thick greasy batter.

    Unfortunately, it was still greasy, really, really greasy.

    As I picked up a piece with my fork, I saw a small puddle of grease that it was sitting in before I picked it up. Also, the fish pretty much fell apart as the fork lifted it.

    The batter slid off and broke apart, revealing the grayish and slimy interior.

    Blah!

    I was happy that potato pancakes were an option. They tasted decent but were from a distributor.

    The texture of the rye bread was like it was a few days old and refrigerated. The cole slaw was served in a small paper cup and also disappointed.

    I really have to do a better job at considering the source when I get restaurant recommendations.

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