Culver’s Menu With Prices in 2023: Why So Expensive?

Famous for Butterburgers and frozen custard, Culver’s is a burger-chain founded in Wisconsin and ranked as the 8th largest burger chain in the United States with more than 800 locations.

Let’s take a look at Culver’s latest menu prices in 2023. I also explain some of the massive price increases made to the Culver’s menu and why ordering anything aside from a cup of water has gotten more expensive. 

Culver’s menu flyer.

Butter Burgers Menu

Value Baskets Menu

Build Your Own With Any ButterBurger or Sandwich

Sandwiches & Favorites Menu

Snackpack Meals Menu

Includes Entree, Small Fries, and Small Soft Drink

Kids Menu

Includes Fries or Applesauce, Drink or Milk, and Frozen Custard

Dinners Menu

Includes Fries or Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans or Cole Slaw, and Dinner Roll

Chicken To Go Menu

Meals Include Choice of 2 Classic Sides

Salads & Soups Menu

Drinks Menu

Cones Menu

Chocolate, Vanilla, or Flavor of the Day

Shakes and Malts Menu

Sundaes Menu

Sides Menu

What You Need Know about the Culver’s Menu

Why is Culver’s so expensive now?

Imagine the horror of people stepping into a Culver’s location and placing your regular order to discover it’s 13% more expensive than before. Unfortunately, this is the reality of most every major fast-food restaurant. Meals across the board have gotten significantly more expensive the past two years. 

Given that Culver’s prices are higher than your average fast-food chain, adding more bucks to the usual is a blow to their patrons. But what exactly is causing such a high increase in prices? The number one reason is everything inflation that’s rocked everyone in the fast-food industry. 

Related Reading: In-N-Out Burger Menu & Prices: What Costs More in 2023?

Inflation is the Increase in the cost of labor and ingredients. Again, let’s not forget that originally, Culver’s prices aren’t your average chain prices. From the beginning, they’ve always been more expensive than usual, but that is partially due to larger servings and better quality ingredients. 

Here are a few examples of how the prices of Culver’s menu items stack up against the competitions similar menu items. 

• Culver’s Better Burger w/ Cheese: $4.99 VS McDonald’s Cheeseburger: $2.79
  • Culver’s is 78% more expensive.
• Culver’s Chicken Sandwich: $4.29 VS McDonald’s Hamburger: $2.49
  • Culver’s is 72% more expensive.

Keep in mind these aren’t exactly apples to apples comparisons since the portion sizes are typically larger. Still, consumers have always had the option of finding a lower cost burger even before inflation reared its head.

Obviously, many consumers are still wiling to pay for a premium product. However, adding the cost of inflation to an already expensive price list equals a lot MORE expensive items. And some loyal customers aren’t so enthusiastic about this, going as far as to voice their concerns online. 

Culver’s Takeout.

Culver’s doesn’t have much control over all of these price increases of course. Inflation hits everyone, including Culver’s and other famous fast-food chains, cafes, and even restaurants. The increased costs of transportation, wages, and the ingredients to make a sandwich or fries. 

I guess, a consolation to the sad hearts and empty wallets of Culver’s fans is that, at least Culver’s isn’t the most expensive fast-food joint there is. Wendy’s topped the list of the highest price increase when they increased prices by 35%. The chicken sandwich joint Chic-fil-A also raised their prices about 15%. 

Are there ways to save at Culver’s?

Despite the overall menu price increases there are some ways to save.

First off is the seniors discount which isn’t an official policy in all Culver’s locations, but some do offer a 10% discount, especially for elders 65 and above. So, remember, the next time your pops or your grandma is craving some frozen custard, ask the cashier if they offer a senior discount. Doesn’t hurt to do so! 

Next up is buying the kid’s meals. I get it, you’re probably not a 7-year-old girl reading this blog post, thinking why would you get a kid’s meal but if savings is what you’re after, you’re going to get that kid’s meal. 

New Culver’s Locations are always opening up.

Aside from saving some bucks, a kid’s meal also has fewer calories, plus a free scoop of custard. Every order of a kid’s meal also gives you a Scoopie token. Once you’ve collected 10, you can trade them for 1 free kid’s meal. 

Sign-up for the MyCulver’s email list to exclusive deals and coupons emailed to you. You also get to enjoy a free custard on your birthday. Right now, they’re even giving away a $500 gift card to one lucky entrant who joins the program. How many ButterBurgers could you buy with that?

During your last visit to Culver’s, did you notice the receipt? Sometimes they give you a free coupon in exchange of a completed survey on their website. This will take less than 5 minutes of your time and voila, you get to have a free coupon in exchange for providing your opinion. 

You see, these are small but helpful ways you can get some bucks off your total bill. And although it doesn’t completely bring back the previous price of their menu items, they’re good deals you can enjoy with little to no effort on your side. 

What are the best lunch choices at Culver’s?

Whether you’re into a heavy or light lunch, what’s good is that Culver’s has so much to offer, there is enough variety for everyone in the family. Do you like salads? They have salads. You prefer sandwiches, they have those too. Chicken? Of course. Burgers? Present. 

Personally, here’s what I like to order for lunch when I visit Culver’s.

ButterBurger: The ButterBurger is what made Culver’s famous and for good reason. It’s made with a fresh, never-frozen beef patty that is seared on a grill and topped with onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, mustard, and ketchup.

Wisconsin Cheese Curds: Wisconsin Cheese Curds are a must-try for any visitor to Culver’s. They’re made with fresh, squeaky cheese that is deep-fried until golden brown. I suggest dipping the curds in a side of ranch dressing.

Frozen Custard: Culver’s Frozen Custard is made with fresh milk and cream, and then slow churned to create a rich and creamy texture. Frozen Custard is available in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Imagine a Dairy Queen Blizzard, but richer and that’s sort what you’ll get here.

If you’re not up for burgers for lunch, their sandwiches aren’t bad at all, in fact, they’re really good. The beef pot roast sandwich and the grilled chicken sandwich seem to be the top contenders. 

What kind of meat does Culver’s use?

Culver’s has been very vocal about their commitment to quality. To ensure that they serve their burgers with the best taste, they have them fresh and not frozen. Patties are made with a special blend of sirloin, chuck, and plate.

These cuts are well-marbled for richness and flavor, and never treated with hormones or antibiotics. The beef is ground fresh daily at each Culver’s restaurant and then seared on a grill when ordered.

What is the most unhealthy food at Culver’s?

Most people head to Culver’s for an indulgent cheat meal. Not to cut calories.

The most unhealthy food at Culver’s is the ButterBurger Deluxe. It has 770 calories, 42 grams of fat, and 1,540 milligrams of sodium. The burger contains 10 grams of saturated fat and 10 grams of trans fat. The ButterBurger Deluxe is a high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sodium meal. If this is your favorite item on their menu, I’m sorry for being the bearer of bad news.

Here are some other items consider unhealthy at Culver’s:

• Bacon Cheddar ButterBurger: 740 calories, 44 grams of fat, 1,510 milligrams of sodium
• Chicken Sandwich: 470 calories, 27 grams of fat, 1,170 milligrams of sodium
• French Fries: 350 calories, 14 grams of fat, 220 milligrams of sodium
• Chocolate Chip Cookie: 540 calories, 26 grams of fat, 240 milligrams of sodium
• Frozen Custard Concrete Mixer: 610 calories, 27 grams of fat, 340 milligrams of sodium

What makes Culver’s burgers special?

It comes down to two key aspects: meat quality and the unique cooking process for burgers. Let’s dig into each one.

Meat Quality 

As I’ve mentioned before, quality is never compromised at Culver’s. They use 100% beef for their burgers and are never frozen, cooked to order so you know you’re getting it fresh. Culver’s burgers are prepared by “grill masters”, some of which were trained personally by George, the founder of the burger chain himself to ensure quality.

World’s Largest Culver’s Location.

Cooking Process

Aside from getting high-quality beef, they also follow a special technique – the puck method. The burger is placed on a flat-top grill and then pressed down with a special tool called a puck. The puck helps to flatten the burger and also helps to create a crispy crust on the outside.

The puck method was implemented by Culver’s in an effort to improve the quality of their burgers. The company found that the puck method helped to create a more evenly cooked burger with a better flavor and continues to be used at all locations.

What’s more, is that there are 9 different types of burgers in Culver’s. You can choose from single to double patties, the type of cheese you want to be put in, and the type of bun your heart desires (grilled rye or toasted sourdough bread). 

The effort that Culver’s put into their burgers is a testament to the brand’s success through the decades. These responsible food sourcing efforts and food preparation process keep customers coming back. 

Why is the frozen custard so good at Culver’s?

Made with fresh dairy, Culver’s takes pride in their frozen custard. This has been one of the chain’s most popular menu items since opening day. Customers continue lining up for classic vanilla, chocolate, and whatever their Flavor of the Day is. 

According to Culver’s, the secret to their frozen custard is that it is frozen slowly to avoid any air bubbles mixed in, which allows it to be richer and denser. Culver’s frozen custard contains more milkfat than ice cream, which gives it a richer flavor.

Culver’s has also revealed that they serve their frozen custard at a temperature that is warmer than ice cream to prevent freezing taste buds. This way, customers can taste and enjoy the flavor longer and with fewer annoying brain freezes.  

Are Culver’s mashed potatoes good?

Culver’s mashed potatoes are made with Russet potatoes, milk, and butter. The side order is then topped with a creamy gravy.

Most people enjoy the creamy texture and the rich flavor of the potatoes. The gravy adds a touch of sweetness and savory flavor.

But not everyone is a fan. Many online comments say the mashed potatoes are too heavy and rich. Others complain the mashed potatoes are simply too bland. Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy Culver’s mashed potatoes is a matter of personal preference. Everyone’s a critic!

Can Culver’s be delivered?

Culver’s does not offer its own delivery in-house service. However, you can order Culver’s through a third-party delivery service, such as DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats.

Please note that not all Culver’s locations participate in third-party delivery. To find out if a Culver’s near you offers delivery, you can visit the Culver’s website and enter your address. Of course, you can also ask a good friend to drive to the nearest location and bring you back a fresh made order.

What is the difference between a butter burger and a regular burger?

Culver’s butter burger has been making waves since the beginning and for good reason. Well, aside from confusing people as to what it actually is, they’re so good! But what exactly is the difference between a butter burger and a regular burger? 

With a butter burger, Culver’s lightly butters the crown of the bun for that extra butter and creamy taste and the perfect touch of goodness. And a regular burger? Same with its name, it’s just your average burger minus the buttery taste in the bun. 

Is Culver’s better than McDonald’s?

I can’t just answer this question with a simple yes or no. It depends on a lot of factors. 

First, because in terms of pricing, McDonald’s is cheaper. However, you get larger servings and better quality ingredients at Culver’s compared to McDonald’s. In my opinion, the increased price is worth it. A few key differences include the fact that Culver’s never freezes their meats and cooks to order. I used to be employed at McDonald’s when I was younger and I can confirm all the burger patties are frozen solid upon arrival to a store. 

Second, you also get your order faster at McDonald’s. That is because Culver’s only grill their food when an order comes in, unlike McDonald’s which have its food laid down, ready to be served anytime you order. This means you end up getting food that’s a little less fresh at McDonald’s. McDonald’s uses a timer system to ensure that burger patties or nuggets don’t stay in the hopper too long before being served.  But this is not the same as getting a meal cooked to order like at Culver’s. 

Butterfinger Concrete Mixer.

Third, there are a lot more McDonald’s locations than Culver’s. So if you’re someone who wants to instantly have what they’re craving, McDonald’s is a better choice because you are sure to find one wherever you are. McDonald’s locations can usually be found off the freeway or inside an airport. 

In conclusion, if you want cheaper, faster fast food then I would say McDonald’s is the winner. But if you want to get your money’s worth, enjoy a filling and more delicious meal, I would choose Culver’s for days. 

Is Culver’s better than In-N-Out?

Culver’s VS In-N-Out has always been a hot topic. Partly because both chains are family-owned and originated from their own states which exploded to be two of the most popular fast-food chains. The menus are also very similar with typical burger and fries combo offerings plus some desserts.

Depending on where you grew up, I know exactly how most will answer this question. If you grew up in California, you will say In-N-Out is the best. If you grew up in Wisconsin, you’ll swear nothing beats Culver’s for lunch or dinner. Depending where you were raised, you likely have nostalgia and grew up frequenting these different restaurants.

But when it comes to the two, who actually reigns supreme? With both chains taking pride in their burgers, it’s a matter of personal preference which one is the winner to who. Aside from their burgers, In-N-Out and Culver’s are also known for their shakes. But In-N-Out offers fewer choices than Culver’s which is known for such a huge variety. 

Crinkle cut fries will make you do crazy things.

Sauces. Now, let’s talk about sauces. You can’t have a full-on burger and fries experience without sauces. They just make it so much better. In-N-Out has the usual, ketchup and mustard, plus a special sauce to go with their toppings. For Culver’s though, they offer such variety that it is literally a sauce party! Also, their sauces are not exclusive to burgers and fries, you can enjoy them with their other dishes too. 

So, who wins? Personally, I think Culver’s gets the crown. They offer more variety in terms of their food offerings and they are serious about quality control too. Although In-N-Out is such an icon, it does not compare to the taste and quality of what Culver’s has to offer. 

When it was founded in 1984, the restaurant was named Culver’s Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers and only sold two items at their first location in Sauk City, Wisconsin. Since then the menu has expanded to get other items including cheese curds, chicken, sandwiches, and salads.