Culver’s Menu Guide 2026: ButterBurgers, Custard & All Worth Ordering
When you visit almost any Culver’s restaurant, you can hear a characteristic sound of butter-toasted bun hitting the griddle, followed by the whirring noise from the frozen custard machine. It is a small detail, but it says quite a lot about the essence of the chain — burgers cooked to order and dessert that is churned right in front of you.
Unfortunately, when you are approaching the counter (or opening the app to order), the simplicity of the concept gets lost, and there appears a menu with plenty of options and categories. ButterBurgers come in six different variants, which are available in singles, doubles, and triples. Add chicken, seafood, sides, soups, salads, desserts, and even a kids menu, and it would take a while to make up your mind.
What Is Culver’s? A Brief Overview of the Brand
Culver’s was founded in 1984 by Craig and Lea Culver along with Craig’s parents in Sauk City, Wisconsin. They created the chain with a single restaurant serving butter-toasted burgers made of a family recipe. Today, the company is represented by numerous locations in most states of the US, although it is especially widespread in the Midwest — the regional identity that the chain did not really try to break.
There are several distinguishing features of Culver’s chain that should be kept in mind while analyzing its menu:
- never-frozen beef used in ButterBurgers, cooked fresh
- fresh frozen custard, made in small batches
- local dairy sources in many regions
the chain’s slogan “Thank You. Come Again.” that is placed on receipts, signs, and everywhere else, showing the hospitality-focused nature of the company
Those factors do not influence the menu directly, but they help to understand why the Culver’s menu is the way it is constructed.
The Full Culver’s Menu (by Category)
| Burger | Patty Options | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| ButterBurger “The Original” | Single / Double / Triple | Lower end of the burger lineup |
| ButterBurger Cheese | Single / Double / Triple | Slightly above the Original |
| Cheddar ButterBurger | Single / Double / Triple | Mid-range |
| Cheddar ButterBurger with Bacon | Single / Double / Triple | Mid-to-upper range |
| The Culver’s Deluxe | Single / Double / Triple | Mid-range |
| The Culver’s Bacon Deluxe | Single / Double / Triple | Upper range |
| Mushroom & Swiss | Single / Double / Triple | Upper range |
ButterBurgers
ButterBurger is a main reason why people enter the chain and the main menu consists of a few basic recipes, available in three forms — singles, doubles, and triples.
“ButterBurger” does not refer to ingredients used for making the dish, but to the process of cooking the bun is buttered and toasted on the griddle before assembling it, which gives this burger a slightly crispy texture and buttery taste that is impossible for the steamed bun. Other options differ only in types of cheese and toppings Mushroom & Swiss being an exception as far as the taste is concerned.
If you want to save money, singles are the obvious choice, but doubles is where most people stop it is enough food to feel satisfied, but not to eat three ButterBurgers.
Crispy Chicken & Sandwiches
Alongside beef burgers, Culver’s prepares a number of chicken and seafood dishes:
- crispy or grilled chicken sandwiches with few types of sauces and toppings
- chicken tenders, available in singles or baskets
- fish sandwiches, mainly served during Lenten season, but some locations serve them all year round
It is necessary to pay special attention to the seafood menu, as it is the most inconsistent — availability depends on the season and even region, and that is the category where it is worth checking your location menu before heading to the restaurant.
Value Baskets & Combos
Combos consist of a main dish, a side, and a drink and are cheaper than ordering those products individually.
A general rule of thumb regarding those options:
- If you need only a burger/sandwich, it is cheaper to order à la carte
- If you know you will need a side and a drink anyway, it is always better to choose a combo/basket
- It is cheaper to increase the size of a side or a drink in a combo than to buy them individually
Sides
The sides menu of Culver’s is short but distinctive, and it is probably the place where the chain stands out among other burgers restaurants:
- crinkle cut french fries
- Wisconsin cheese curds
- onion rings
- coleslaw
Cheese curds are the most searched and photographed dish in the whole menu and they become one of the reasons why people enter this chain.
This is the category that tends to be ignored, but it is definitely a good choice, if you want to have a light meal or something warm during winter months:
Soups, Chili & Salads
- George’s Chili and Chili Supreme, the latter is the loaded version of the former
- Hearty Soup, rotating weekly in the cycle of different flavors
- Cranberry Bacon Bleu Salad with grilled chicken
- This category is good for those who wants to have something non-fried.
Kids’ Menu
The kids menu is a standard one for quick service restaurants — a smaller portion of the main item (cheeseburger or chicken tenders), side, and drink, usually with a small snack included in the menu.
Pricing of the items in the menu is significantly cheaper, compared to adults’, and portions are made for children.
Frozen Custard & Desserts
Probably, this is the category for which Culver’s is the most famous. The whole menu is built around a few ideas.
What is Flavor of the Day?
The Flavor of the Day is a rotating flavor of frozen custard that changes everyday according to the monthly published calendar and differs by the location, so the same day in two different towns can have absolutely different flavors of the day. Customers usually check the current flavor through Culver’s app, website, or calling in advance, because the absence of this step leads to disappointment in most cases.
Except Flavor of the Day, the dessert menu includes:
- sundaes (Create Your Own, Turtle, Caramel Cashew, Fudge Pecan, and others)
- concretes and flurries
- shakes and malts
- cones and bowls in chocolate, vanilla or Flavor of the Day flavors
This is one of the few places where Culver’s really plays with novelties — rotating flavors of the day give repeat customers a chance to try something new every day and not just stick to the old items.
Drinks
The drinks menu of Culver’s chain is rather standard for this kind of restaurants and serves only to complete the menu:
- fountain soft drinks in different sizes
- root beer floats
- iced tea
- white or chocolate milk
- bottled water
Culver’s Menu Prices (2026 Overview)
Culver’s chain has many independently owned franchises in different parts of the country, which means that prices can vary not only state by state and town by town, but from restaurant to restaurant.
There is no universal price list, and you have to find exact price list for your specific location. In general:
| Category | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| ButterBurgers (single) | Lower end of the burger category |
| ButterBurgers (double/triple) | Mid-to-upper end |
| Sides (fries, curds, onion rings) | Modest, with cheese curds usually priced above fries |
| Soups & chili | Comparable to a side, sometimes slightly more |
| Salads | Priced closer to a sandwich when chicken is added |
| Combo meals | A moderate premium over the main item alone, offset by side/drink inclusion |
| Custard treats | Ranges widely depending on size and mix-ins, with specialty sundaes at the top end |
| Kids’ meals | The most affordable full-meal option on the menu |
Price reports on quick service restaurants in the country note that prices increased in recent years due to ingredient, labor, and operating costs rise. It affects not only Culver’s, but all quick service and fast-casual segment. Since the franchise owners have their own pricing strategy within the general guidelines of the chain, it is the best idea to check the price list on the Culver’s website or app for your specific location.
Nutrition Information
Culver’s provides comprehensive nutrition information for all items of the menu through its website, with an online nutrition calculator that allows to calculate nutritional value of the whole order in real time — an extremely useful function if you are tracking your intake carefully.
Without referring to specific figures that change as the menu evolves:
- Single ButterBurger without cheese or bacon is relatively light option for the burger category
- Grilled chicken sandwiches tend to be less caloric than crispy/fried ones
- Salads with grilled chicken are the most caloric-light option of the menu, provided that you use light dressings
- Small custards (single scoops, shakes) allow you to try the dessert without ordering a large Concrete or sundae
Dietary Restrictions and Allergens
Culver’s chain publishes its allergens information, so it is recommended to check it in advance, if you are managing some restrictions. Some notes:
Vegetarian options are relatively limited, but exist in the menu. They are mostly salads and sides and some custard items, but you should take into account that there can be some cross-contact issues in a shared kitchen
Dairy, gluten, tree nuts, and peanut are the most common allergens in the menu (dairy is understandable, given the presence of frozen custard and cheese in the menu)
Customization is possible, but you should contact the restaurant for details of each case
Since ingredient and preparation methods can differ from restaurant to restaurant, it is the best way to take allergen information from Culver’s official source as it is, instead of making assumptions.
Seasonal Menu
There are a few categories in the Culver’s menu that change with the season:
- Seafood promotions, especially during Lenten season
- Limited-time Flavor of the Day, including holiday flavors of frozen custard
- occasional limited-time menu items
Since those items can appear or disappear from the menu unexpectedly, it is better to track the menu of your location using the app or website, rather than assuming that the same seasonal item will return next year.
How to Order (In-store, Drive-thru, App & Delivery)
There are the following ordering methods in Culver’s:
- classic in-store ordering method, with menu boards and available staff to ask questions
- drive-thru, the fastest option
- curbside pickup at many locations for orders that were prepared in advance through the app or website
- Culver’s app, with mobile ordering, Flavor of the Day lookup, and rewards/loyalty program with occasional promotions
- third-party delivery apps, in case the location partners with delivery services, although it is usually more expensive than ordering direct
- It is worth downloading Culver’s app mainly because of the Flavor of the Day functionality — it saves you from unnecessary guessing and often helps to find promotions that are not announced in-store.
Tips for Maximum Value at Culver’s
A few habits that will make your future visits easier and more profitable:
- Choose combos if you plan to order a side and drink anyway — the à la carte calculation is rarely favorable in this case
- Keep an eye on extras that the kids’ meals can have and that can push their price up to an adult meal
- Order custard upsizes, rather than two separate desserts
- Always check the app for location-specific promotions before ordering
- Order singles if you are not particularly hungry
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular menu item at Culver’s?
ButterBurger, especially Original and Deluxe, and Wisconsin Cheese Curds, which become the most popular side. Those two products are the signature of Culver’s and the ones that are promoted the most.
What is Culver’s Flavor of the Day?
It is a rotating daily flavor of frozen custard, which is defined by the published monthly calendar. The flavor differs by the location, so the flavor in one Culver’s can be different from another location even on the same day. People usually check the current flavor in the app or website before visiting the restaurant.
How much does a typical meal cost at Culver’s?
The price of combos is typical of fast-casual restaurants, while individual burgers, sides, and custards are sold à la carte. Individual prices are not the same in different states and from restaurant to restaurant, as they are set by the individual franchise.
Does Culver’s have healthy or low-calorie menu items?
Yes. Grilled chicken sandwiches, salads with grilled chicken, and single-patty burgers without cheese or bacon are the lightest items in the menu. You can calculate calorie and nutritional value of the order in the Culver’s official nutrition calculator.
Does Culver’s have seafood or seasonal items?
Yes. Fish sandwiches appear in the menu, but mainly during Lenten season. Also, some locations offer seafood all year round. Besides seafood, there are Flavor of the Day and limited-time menu items.
Final Thoughts
Menu of Culver’s requires a little bit of preparation. Decide in advance which ButterBurger you like, check the flavor of the day on the app, and decide if you will order a combo or a burger and you will order faster than you could expect.
The prices and seasonal items differ from location to location and by the season, so, before your next visit, it is recommended to check Culver’s app or website and learn which items are available, how much they cost, and what is the Flavor of the Day in your location.
You Can Check: Culver’s Menu With Updated Prices 2026
Check: Culver’s Seafood Menu With Price
Check: Culver’s Flavor
