Today I took the bus out to Wrigleyville to check out a Culver’s. I’d been wanting to try it for a while — I once saw a ranking of US fast food brands where Culver’s came in at #4, right behind Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out, and Raising Cane’s. All I really knew about it was that it’s famous for ButterBurgers and frozen custard, so today I finally made the trek. (There’s no Culver’s anywhere near my place… sadly.)
Getting There — Bus to Wrigleyville
On the bus, the view outside shifted into that classic Wrigleyville look — lots of trees, low brick buildings. Got off and walked a bit; the tree-shaded sidewalks made it an easy walk. Every neighborhood in Chicago has its own personality, and Wrigleyville definitely leans hard into sports-bar-and-baseball-fan energy. Made a little small talk with people along the way to the burger place. (No Cubs home game that day, so it was relatively quiet.)
Arrival — Right Across from Wrigley Field
The storefront had a big “ORDER ONLINE AT CULVERS.COM” sign. Turns out this location is right across from Wrigley Field — the Chicago Cubs’ home stadium. I could see that unmistakable red “WRIGLEY FIELD HOME OF CHICAGO CUBS” sign directly across the street. This place must get absolutely packed on game days.
The Menu — ButterBurgers to Frozen Custard
Walked in and the menu board took up an entire wall. There were Sandwiches & Salads, Seafood, Chicken, and a dedicated section for ButterBurgers — Culver’s signature item. They were also pushing a new Dr Pepper Fried Pickle Pub Burger pretty hard. Next to that: Concrete Mixers (kind of like a milkshake) and a whole lineup of sundaes/cones/dishes made from their fresh frozen custard. The whole point of a ButterBurger, apparently, is that the bun gets grilled in butter — curious enough about that alone that I just went with the classic.
Ordering & Getting a Table
Kept it simple: DLX Single (deluxe single ButterBurger) + fries + a medium drink, $12.06 total. Sat down and there was a little sign at the table — “BATCH AFTER BATCH: we make fresh frozen custard right here in the restaurant.” A pretty gentle nudge to grab some after the meal. Tempting, but I decided to hold off and save that for a future trip with my wife and kids instead. Waited a bit, and once my number came up, a staff member walked the food straight over to my table.
Finally, Digging In
The wrapper had “FEEL THE NEED FOR CHEESE” printed on it, which made me smile. The fries were crinkle-cut, and the burger smelled like butter the second I unwrapped it.
First bite — the outside of the bun had that light crisp from being grilled in butter, soft on the inside. The patty was thick and juicy, topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo/mustard — all the classic ButterBurger fundamentals, nothing over-designed. Nothing about it was trying too hard, and every ingredient tasted genuinely fresh. I got why it’s ranked #4. Not flashy, just really solid execution. If you’re after that classic salty American burger flavor, this isn’t quite that — but if you want something a bit cleaner and lighter, with a lot of vegetables piled in, I’d recommend it.
Wrapping Up
The location right by Wrigley Field is a pretty long trip from where I live, but the neighborhood itself was clean and never felt sketchy or unsafe. The ButterBurger itself exceeded my expectations. I’d definitely come back to try the frozen custard next time.
It’s a great spot to hit before or after a game, so if you’re hoping for a quieter visit, it’s worth checking the Cubs’ schedule before you go. If this is your first ButterBurger in Chicago, I’d point you to this location.
This post is based on a personal visit and isn’t sponsored by or affiliated with Culver’s in any way.