The best fast food burger is from a chain you’ve never heard of

As a food writer who’s extensively sampled basically every fast-food chain’s menu, I was shocked I’d never heard of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers until I started receiving emails about the brand in my inbox. The chain opened in 2002 in Wichita, Kansas and has since rapidly grown to more than 500 locations in more than 35 states. How could it be that I’d never seen one, let alone visited? I did some research (read: watched YouTube reviews) and realized I may have been sleeping on one of the best up-and-coming chains in the game.

As a self-proclaimed burger-and-fry connoisseur of sorts, I needed to know how the underrated brand compared to its competitors. I headed to the nearest location with a list of must-try items for newbies, selected for me by Rick Petralia, Chef and Director of Menu Strategy and Innovation for Freddy’s. Below, you’ll find honest reviews and original photos from a first-timer. (Spoiler: There were no misses.)

A first-timer's review of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers’ burgers

Freddy’s is a top contender for smashburgers, which are pressed supremely thin for caramelized, crispy edges. According to the brand, every steakburger is cooked to order. Of course, there are chicken sandwiches, tenders, hot dogs, and melts on the menu too, but as a Freddy’s rookie, I had to go with beef.

I started with Freddy’s Original Double, a classic composition of two paper-thin steakburger patties, American cheese, mustard, onion, and pickles on a toasted bun. The first thing that stood out to me was the long, flat, sandwich-style pickles; they made for better distribution and consistent flavor, versus round, small pickle chips that either dominate a single bite or are absent altogether.

The meat was lacy and frizzled, and tasted less seasoned than other fast food joints’ burgers. That’s not a con, though; with the help of punchy mustard, the meat’s freshness and quality got to shine without being bogged down by salt or spices. The cheese was plentiful and creamy, a rich foil for the sharp raw onion. 

As satisfying as the O.G. was, the Prime Rib Steakburger (razor-thin prime rib, two steakburger patties, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, sauteed portobello mushrooms, and garlic aioli on a toasted bun) still blew me away. It was more heavily seasoned, thanks in part to the seared-yet-tender prime rib. It was moist and flavorful with a contrasting exterior crispness that amplified the crust of the burger patties. 

The garlic aioli and Swiss cheese sort of vanished into a melty, saucy abyss, while the onions provided pops of sweetness to round out the other components. The mushrooms were toothsome, tender, and chewy without being rubbery. Both burgers overwhelmed the bun with their width, but particularly the prime rib pick. Have napkins at the ready.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers’ sides have a cult following for a reason

Freddy’s offers all the basics, from onion rings to tots to chili cheese fries. Being that it was my inaugural visit, I had to go for standard fries to see how the chain stacks up, as well as the cheese curds, which have a serious cult following. 

The Cheese Curds are made with sharp white cheddar curds, which are breaded in “butter crumbs” and fried until crisp and golden. After hearing these were one of the best fast-food cheese curds out there, my expectations were high. When eaten ASAP, the cheese was stretchy and molten, like a mozzarella stick. Once they cooled, the cheese firmed up (almost like a softer halloumi) and offered the signature squeak curds are famous for. The breading was light, bringing crispy contrast without detracting from the milky center. 

As tasty as the curds were, I’d say Freddy’s Fries are a better match for the burgers, especially if you’re planning to have custard (the cheese curds are certainly heavier). The supremely thin shoestring spuds were dusted with Freddy’s Famous Steakburger & Fry Seasoning (a mix of salt, dried garlic and onion, paprika, turmeric, sugar, and spices). They were dangerously easy to devour by the fistful, thanks to their small size. They also struck a solid balance between soggy and crispy. 

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers’ desserts are custardy greatness

Freddy’s dessert offerings are just as essential as the food—after all, custard’s in the name. ICYMI, custard differs from ice cream mainly because it includes egg yolks, which give it a higher fat content and a denser texture. Freddy’s custard is freshly churned throughout the day at every location for the optimal consistency. You can get milkshakes, floats, custard sandwiches, and pints to go, but I opted for two chain-famous sundaes. 

The Signature Turtle is the quintessential Freddy’s dessert. It comes with vanilla custard, hot fudge, hot caramel, toasted pecans, whipped cream, and a cherry. As someone who isn’t wild about hot fudge, it surprisingly won me over. The cool custard caused it to solidify a bit, turning it chewy and tacky, sort of like a soft Tootsie Roll or brigadeiro. The caramel had the optimal dose of salt to pair with the waxy, nutty pecans. As for the custard itself, it had more of a solid texture than ice cream; it coated my mouth the moment it hit and required some gentle “chewing” to dissipate. Due to the temperature of the sauces, the custard melted pretty fast, so I recommend eating the Turtle ASAP or ordering it after you finish your meal. 

As tasty as everything was, the Strawberry Dreamcake sundae with vanilla custard, strawberry purée, cheesecake pieces, cinnamon streusel, and whipped cream was my favorite item of all. The custard offered a rich, fragrant, yet neutral base for the flurry of bold toppings. The strawberry sauce tasted like an elevated version of the discontinued McDonald’s strawberry sundae sauce, but it was less sticky and had a more rustic taste and look, courtesy of real fruit pieces. The cheesecake was daringly tangy and sturdy, bringing plenty of salt for balance. The streusel was teeming with gentle notes of warm spices, and it offered a seriously impressive crunch to the soft dessert. I appreciated that the toppings kept materializing as I ate; it seemed like they almost layered custard and toppings for even distribution, because I never hit a dreaded brick of straight-up custard. 

Is Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers worth it?

There were truly no misses across all three categories. It’s no wonder Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is on the up-and-up—they serve quality, fairly priced food with unique menu items that set them apart from competitors. The retro packaging and aesthetics, along with ample custard offerings, inspire nostalgia at first bite. 

I think this is a pretty flawless lineup for first-timers who don’t know what to order, and I’d have a hard time recommending any option over the other (save for the sundaes—the strawberry number wears the crown in my book). Purists will want to go with the original double and fries, while more adventurous eaters who want to taste what makes Freddy’s truly special should try the prime rib burger and curds.