What Culver's Is and How to Order
Culver's is a fast-casual restaurant chain that serves ButterBurgers (hamburgers on buttered, toasted buns), cheese curds, and fresh frozen custard. You order at a counter, pay, and either eat in the dining room, take your food to go, or use a drive-through window. The chain operates in the Midwest and has expanded to other regions, with locations in more than 25 states.
When you walk in, you'll see a menu board above the counter. Point to what you want or tell the cashier your order. Most locations let you order through their mobile app or website for pickup, which means you can order ahead and skip the line. You pay before you receive your food, either with cash, card, or mobile payment.
The restaurant is known for making frozen custard fresh daily in small batches, which is different from soft-serve ice cream. Culver's also rotates special flavors each day, so the custard available changes. You can check the website or app to see which flavors are available at your location today.
Key Takeaways
- Culver's serves ButterBurgers on buttered buns, cheese curds, and fresh frozen custard made in small batches daily.
- You order at the counter, through the app, or at the drive-through, and pay before receiving your food.
- Frozen custard flavors change daily, and you can check the app or website to see what's available at your location.
- Culver's locations vary in size and services — some have dining rooms, some are drive-through only, and some offer delivery through third-party apps.
- Prices and menu items may differ slightly by location, so check your local Culver's for specifics.
ButterBurgers and the Menu
The signature item at Culver's is the ButterBurger. It's a beef patty on a bun that has been buttered and toasted on a flat-top grill. You can order it plain, with cheese, or with toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and condiments. The butter on the bun is part of the standard preparation — you don't order it separately.
Beyond burgers, Culver's serves chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches (especially on Fridays), and salads. The menu also includes cheese curds, which are small pieces of fried cheese. These are a Wisconsin specialty and come with a dipping sauce. Culver's also sells chicken tenders, hot dogs, and sides like fries and onion rings.
Prices vary by location and by what you order. A basic ButterBurger costs less than a ButterBurger with multiple toppings or cheese. Combo meals (burger, fries, and drink together) usually cost less than ordering each item separately. Check your local Culver's menu and prices online or in the app.
Frozen Custard and Daily Flavors
Culver's frozen custard is made fresh each day in small batches, which means it has a denser, creamier texture than typical soft-serve ice cream. The base flavors — vanilla and chocolate — are available every day. On top of that, Culver's rotates special flavors daily. One day might feature turtle (pecans, caramel, and chocolate), and another day might feature mint oreo.
You can order custard in a cup or cone, in small, regular, or large sizes. You can also get it blended with mix-ins like candy, cookies, or fruit — this is called a Concrete Mixer. The price depends on the size and what you add to it. A small cup of vanilla costs less than a large Concrete Mixer with multiple mix-ins.
To find out which flavors are available today, check the Culver's website or mobile app. Most locations post their daily flavor lineup in the morning. If you have a favorite flavor, you can check ahead to see when it's scheduled, though the schedule can change.
Ordering Through the App or Website
Culver's mobile app and website let you browse the menu, see prices, and place an order for pickup. You create an account, select your location, add items to your cart, and pay through the app. You then drive to the restaurant and pick up your order at a designated pickup area, or go to the counter if the location doesn't have a separate pickup spot.
App orders usually take 10 to 20 minutes to prepare, depending on how busy the location is. Some Culver's locations also work with third-party delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats, which means you can order through those apps and have food delivered to your home. Delivery fees and wait times vary by service and location.
The app also shows you the daily custard flavors, lets you save favorite orders, and sometimes displays special offers or discounts. Check your local Culver's app to see if there are any current promotions.
Drive-Through and Takeout Options
Most Culver's locations have a drive-through window where you can order and pay without leaving your car. You pull up to the speaker, tell the worker what you want (or they can see your app order), pay at the window, and receive your food. Drive-through lines can get long during meal times, especially lunch and dinner.
If you don't want to eat at the restaurant, you can take your food to go. The restaurant will put your order in bags or containers designed for transport. Frozen custard in a cup or cone will start to melt during transport, so eat it soon after you leave. If you're ordering delivery through a third-party app, the delivery time depends on how far you are from the restaurant and how busy the service is.
Some Culver's locations are smaller or in areas where a full dining room isn't practical, so they may only have a drive-through and takeout. Check your local location to see what options are available.
Dietary Information and Allergens
Culver's provides nutrition information and allergen details on its website and app. If you have a food allergy or follow a specific diet, you can review this information before you order. Common allergens at Culver's include dairy (in custard and cheese curds), gluten (in buns and breaded items), and nuts (in some custard mix-ins).
Culver's does not have a dedicated allergen-free kitchen, so cross-contamination is possible if you have a severe allergy. If you have questions about how food is prepared or what ingredients are in a specific item, ask the staff at your location. They can provide more detail than what appears on the menu board.
The restaurant also offers some items that may work for certain diets — for example, you can order a burger without the bun, or a salad instead of fries. Check the menu to see what options fit your needs.
Culver's Loyalty Program and Rewards
Culver's has a loyalty program called Culver's Rewards that you can join through the mobile app or website. When you sign up and link your payment method, you earn points on purchases. These points can be redeemed for free items or discounts on future orders.
The program is free to join. You don't have to pay a membership fee. Points accumulate with every purchase, and the app shows you how many points you have and what rewards are available. Rewards vary — sometimes you can get a free small custard, sometimes a free burger, depending on the promotion.
The app also sends notifications about special offers or limited-time deals. If you visit Culver's regularly, joining Rewards can save you money over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Culver's frozen custard and regular ice cream?
Culver's frozen custard is made fresh daily in small batches and contains egg yolks, which makes it denser and creamier than soft-serve ice cream. Regular ice cream is churned differently and often sits in a machine for days. Custard has a richer mouthfeel, but both are cold desserts.
Can I order Culver's through food delivery apps?
Some Culver's locations partner with DoorDash, Uber Eats, or other delivery services. Check the app or website for your location to see if delivery is available. You can also order through the Culver's app for pickup at the restaurant.
Are cheese curds only available at Culver's?
Cheese curds are a Wisconsin specialty and appear on menus at other restaurants, but Culver's is known for them. Culver's serves them fried and warm, usually with a dipping sauce. Other restaurants may prepare them differently.
Do I need to order a combo, or can I buy items separately?
You can order items separately or as a combo. A combo (burger, fries, drink) usually costs less than buying each item alone, so it's a better value if you want all three. If you only want a burger and custard, you can order just those two items.
What if I don't like the daily custard flavor?
Vanilla and chocolate custard are available every day, so you always have at least two flavors to choose from. If you want a specific special flavor, check the app or website to see when it's scheduled, or ask the staff when it might return.