by Sure, the pasty is considered a U.P. delicacy. But just because they’re a staple north of the border doesn’t mean you have to go there for a good one. The traditional pasty, derived primarily from Cornwall in the United Kingdom, is a concoction typically of ground meat, potatoes, and onions – sometimes with rutabaga or carrot added – tucked inside a flaky, crimped crust, and baked. They became a handy, nutritious, and easy-to-eat meal for miners, who could keep a pasty warm all day in its wrapping and either have it for lunch or nibble it throughout the day. When Michigan’s Upper Peninsula mining industry boomed, miners from the U.K. came with their families to work the mines and brought their recipes with them. To this day, the pasty is essentially a “signature dish” in the U.P. and many pasty shops exist. Some of our favorites there include Syl’s Cafe in Ontonagon at the end of U.S. 45, Regoni’s Bakery and Joe’s Pasty Shop in Ironwood just off U.S. 2 and a stone’s throw from Hurley, and Colonel K’s Pasties along U.S. 41 in Menominee. But our own state can claim some pretty darn good places to get a true pasty, too. From Mineral Point to Ashland, here are seven places in Wisconsin you can get a hot, fresh pasty – one of our favorite comfort foods.
Teddywedger’s, Madison
101 State Street, Madison, WI 53706, (608) 230-5360, 
Our State Capitol dominates the view from Teddywedger’s the way their pasties will dominate your taste buds. Teddywedger’s started up back in 1976 on nearby Johnson Street before moving to the edge of State and Mifflin Streets abutting the Capitol Square. The unique name is somewhat of a portmanteau: “Teddy Boys” was a frequent nickname for the mine workers, who loved pasties for lunch, and the nickname they had for their meal: “Tater Wedges” – hence, Teddywedger’s.
Their Traditional Pasty uses ground steak, potatoes, and onions (the debate about rutabaga continues) and a spicy variation that adds jalapenos along with mozzarella. They also have a Big Cheese, stuffed with mozzarella and Marinara; a Chicken Pot Pie pasty; and one filled with sweet potatoes with southwestern ingredients like corn, black beans, chiles and peppers. Their Breakfast Menu, available until 11am, adds eggs to their southwestern version, as well as a corned beef and hash version and a more traditional breakfast of eggs, bacon, and cheese stuffed inside the pasty crust.
To reach Teddywedger’s, head to the Capitol via U.S. 151 (East Washington or West Washington Avenues) and just keep going until to get to the dome. You can’t park on State Street, but you can at locations on the square or the myriad of streets that intersect around there.
Copper Pasty, Ashland
417 Main Street W, Ashland, WI 54806. (715) 292-6267,
A relatively new addition, Copper Pasty is a lovely little pasty place among the blocks of charming shops on Main Street in Ashland, one block up from the busy U.S. 2/Highway 13 corridor overlooking Lake Superior. Opened at this location in 2022 by U.P. native Victoria Peters, the Copper Pasty offers several varieties of pasties but the signature is the Miners Pasty – the traditional one with beef, potato, carrot, and rutabaga in that savory crust. You can’t get gravy with your pasty… yet… but they do offer ketchup and a nice variety of spices and hot sauces to amp your pasty up even more.
The Copper Pasty offers frozen pasties to go as well as hot and ready in-store. They’re open Wednesday – Saturday from 10:30am to 6:30pm, so plan accordingly!
Reynolds Pasty Shop, Milwaukee
3525 W. Burleigh Street, Milwaukee, WI 53210, (414) 444-4490,
Sometimes also called “Reynolds Northern Pasties,” this shop has been in the heart of Milwaukee’s northwest side neighborhood since 1956. They’ve parlayed their business into frozen offerings you can purchase at grocery stores across the state including Pick N Save locations, Festival Foods, Sendik’s, Copps, Sentry, Piggly Wiggly, even some Citgo and BP gas stations. But why not enjoy them hot and fresh at the source when you can? Reynolds doesn’t use rutabaga in their traditional pasty, but they do add carrots. And they stick with that as their prime offering. They do have a variety of “add-ons” from the popular gravy and ketchup sides to jalapeno peppers, hot sauce, sour cream and butter, and a carrot-onion mix to augment this “meal in itself.” If you’re up for dessert they also have a good pecan pie and apple turnovers.
Reynolds is right where Highway 145 (Fond du Lac Avenue) meets 35th and Burleigh Streets, forming a triangle in which you can park.
Rocks For Fun Cafe & Pasty Shop, Tigerton
N4410 U.S. Highway 45, Tigerton, WI 54486, (715) 535-2008,
This unique, rocky location right along U.S. 45 in Tigerton is adorned with unusual and oft-decorated rocks both inside and out – over 400 unique rocks and counting. Oh, and the pasties? They bake up over 30 varieties, most with their blend of “21 herbs and spices.” They Traditional and Rutabaga, Chicken, and Twin Cheezy Dogs, which are truly two wieners wrapped in American cheese and baked inside that pasty crust. Other varieties include Cabbage, Veggie, Tuna, BBQ Chicken, varieties of “Scramblers,” even one stuffed with sausage gravy inside a biscuit crust for that traditional “biscuits and gravy” breakfast. Remember we mentioned Tuna? They also have a Fillet of Baked Fish variety, which includes rice and cheese; Spaghetti & Meatball; a Picnic Pasty that includes baked beans; Reuben, Ribs, Stuffed Green Peppers, and more. It’s a crazy selection, but their tried-and-true traditional are among the tops anywhere and they’ve drawn visitors from over 22 countries. Currently they are take-out only and sell them frozen, ready for three minutes in the microwave or baking in the oven or air fryer. They’re open from 6am to 5pm except Tuesdays; they’re also open by appointment. Follow U.S. 45 between Marion and Wittenburg, and you’ll find it!
Red Brick Pasties, Niagara
973 Main Street (U.S. 141), Niagara, WI 54151, (715) 251-4653,
The Red Brick Inn is known for pasties; they housed “Cussin’ Jack’s Pasties” for a long time and now they’re just called Red Brick Pasties. Housed in a large, historic brick building along Niagara’s main drag, the Inn itself has an extensive menu but their pasties are considered – along with pizza – their specialty. They keep it simple with one option: the Traditional, a meat-filled pasty with optional gravy and/or coleslaw. Ketchup is available, of course, by request. They’re open every day from 6am – 10pm, right along U.S. 141, with the Menomonee River and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula beckoning just behind the building.
Sheboygan Pasty Company, Sheboygan
811 Indiana Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 53081, (920) 395-2132,
Located in back kitchen of the Four of a Kind Bar & Grill, the Sheboygan Pasty Company opened in January, 2021. The owners are tapping into the U.P. heritage of their grandparents, striving for a strong “Yooper” experience. Open from 11am – 9pm, for now they are carryout only. Their Traditional pasty include rutabaga; they also have an Italian, a Sheboygan Pasty filled bratwurst (the city’s signature food), and a Veggie, which is their traditional minus the meat. It’s right in downtown Sheboygan near the Harbor District, just east of where Highways 23, 28, and 42 all meet – and end (or begin, depending on your perspective.) It’s about 10 minutes of I-43. Or you can follow County PP – once Highway 23 – into Sheboygan from the west and you’ll run into it right by the downtown roundabout.
Red Rooster Cafe, Mineral Point
158 High Street, Mineral Point, WI 53565, (608) 987-9936,
Mineral Point points proudly to its mining roots and early population of immigrants from the Cornwall area of the United Kingdom, so it would stand to reason they would have places that offer up good pasties. The Red Rooster Cafe on High Street in the heart of this historic downtown definitely fits the bill. A breakfast and lunch place with a long, old-school counter and a wide menu, the Red Rooster is famous for its pasties and even serves up other Cornwall dishes such as figgyhobbin. If you’re doing a drive tour around Wisconsin’s gorgeous Driftless Area, this is a must-stop! It’s a couple of blocks off Highways 23 and 39 in Mineral Point, minutes off the U.S. 151 freeway.
Remember, you can use the map at the top to find and navigate your way to any of these tasty places! Happy road tripping, and pasty-ing (if that’s a word…)
