Eating BIG in Central Illinois

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties 
- More Roadfood from the Land of Lincoln  

I have another post from the vault to launch as summer comes to end. This week we're going to head down to Central Illinois and check out some spots I've checked out down there from over the years. If you've ever wondered what constitutes Central Illinois it's the entire central third of the state, divided from north to south. The biggest cities include Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Quincy, Champaign–Urbana, Bloomington–Normal, Galesburg, and Danville. It's not the most scenic part of the state nor is it the most entertaining but it does have it's charms including some cute little towns including a few along Route 66, there's the state capital and a few universities including the states largest institution - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's also the home to the state fair and an area I find myself in now and then. Here's a roundup of some of the spots I've stopped at over the last few years 

Pics from Central Illinois (click all pics to enhance)
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Wally's Gas Station (Pontiac)

First stop is a place Illinois politicians love to swoon over - Wally’s Gas Station in Pontiac, Illinois is located just off I-55. Wally’s is known as the states “premier gas station” boasting a 30,000 square foot campus comprised of more than 75 pumps, four EV charging stations and a massive store where you can buy everything from beef jerky, popcorn, pastries, and bbq sandwiches and camouflage hunting gear too. If Wally’s sounds like Texas based Bucee’s that’s because it’s basically a knockoff. I’ve stopped here a few times over the years as it’s a great place to use the always clean bathrooms and grab gas but I really don’t see the appeal in their food and the snacks. Popcorn is popcorn…it’s fine. The brisket sandwich is akin to what you might get if Culver’s added one to their menu and they don’t stock lots of regional snacks like you usually find at these type of massive gas stations.

Brisket Sandwich at Wally's
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Cazadores Tacos (Onarga)

I’ve probably visited as many towns in Illinois as anybody save for a select few and more times than not it’s bc I stopped in at a bar and or eating establishment in one of them. That’s how I ended up in the small town of Onarga, 95 miles south on I-57 in Iroquois County. I had heard there was some good tacos to be found here and although my visit was more than five years ago it doesn’t look like much has changed when I look and read updated pictures and reviews. It’s a no frills family run taqueria located in the middle of the corn fields. Both the steak and “al pastor” were above average and the salsas are made with produce from their garden when weather allows. It’s a great place to stop if you need a quick bite in the area as there aren’t a ton of other options outside typical fast food.

Taco at Cazadores Tacos
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Lucca Grill (Bloomington)

There’s a handful of legitimately good tavern style pizzerias in Central Illinois and Lucca Grill in Bloomington is my favorite of the bunch. Opened in 1936 it’s been in the same building for more than 80 years. The inside of Lucca Grill is super old school with an ornate tin ceiling, an antique mahogany bar, and walls lined with pics and memorabilia from another era. Lucca Grill has a full menu but you’re here for the pizza which is also old school in the best of ways. JFK visited in 1960 while on the campaign trail. Pizza is said to have first appeared in Central Illinois when it went on the menu at Lucca Grill in 1953. According to the always informative Road Tips blog it was the son of one of the owners who introduced it after a trip to St. Louis (Lucca Grill doesn't use Provel). At first they weren’t sure if the pizza would stick around but that it did and more than 70 years later it’s the most iconic pizzeria in the region. The pizza at Lucca Grill is everything you want in a tavern pizza - it’s thin, it’s crisp, and the sausage has hints of fennel. This place would hold its own 135 miles away in Chicago.

Sausage Pizza at Lucca Grill 
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Stango Cuisine (Champaign)

We passed on Chinese food to check out a Zambian spot in Champaign. University of Illinois has a huge Chinese student body and some good Chinese restaurants to boot but Stango Cuisine is the only restaurant in the state serving the food of Zambia and one of just a handful in the country. First up was a platter with a little bit of just about everything. This included beef stew, chicken curry, and a Hungarian sausage link that I learned is popular in Zambia. All that came with rice, roasted sweet potatoes, greens. We also tried the oxtail and it all it the hit the spot like I was hoping it would. Zambian cuisine is mostly based on nshima, which is a food prepared from pounded white maize that came with our tasting platter and also the oxtail. It reminded me of grit cakes and took on the taste of the oxtail gravy which was pretty great. Also of note was the Kabulangeti Beans served with each order, you could tell those were slow cooked. This was some of the best African food I've had in Illinois. 

Zambian Platter at Stango Cuisine 
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Wienerschnitzel (Champaign) 

Regular readers should know my stance on fast food by now. I’m not big on the easily accessible spots like McDonalds, Taco Bell etc. but I do like to try the regional fast food chains at least once. For whatever reason Wienerschnitzel is one of the few QSR’s (quick service restaurants) specializing in hot dogs. They were founded in 1961 by a former Taco Bell employee in Los Angeles. I’d never been to a Wienerschnitzel until I drove by their only location in Illinois and decided to stop bc why not as it’s quick and cheap and I very much like hot dogs as well as all forms of regional food. Chili dogs are Wienerschnitzel’s most popular menu item so I tried one of those and I actually liked it more than I thought I would. These are one of those things that seems to be better than the sum of its parts as the wiener is skinless and the tomato forward chili comes from a can, which they sell there at the store.

Chili Dog from Wienerschnitzel 
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Krekel's Custard (Decatur)

It's coming up on 10 years since my semi deep dive into the smashed burger and it's original hub of Central Illinois. Since then the humble burger has gone international and no I'm not taking claim of that I'm just stating a fact. But since my post went live back in 2015 two of the better smashed burger spots have closed however they both reopened with great joy from their fans. It's tough to pick a single spot when it comes to the best smashed burger in Central Illinois but it's not as hard to pick the most iconic and successful of the bunch and that would be Krekel's. William Krekel, current owner Suzie Wichmann's grandfather, started the Krekel brand in 1949 in Decatur, Illinois. Today they have seven locations and I always like to check in at Krekel's Custard which is at 800 E. Wood St. in Decatur. They make the platonic smashed burger which is a McDonald's sized patty (get a double) smashed until the edges are crisp served up on nothing more than a cheap white bun with whatever toppings you want - mustard, onion, pickles are the way to go. Skip the frozen fries and pair your burger with a cone of custard - half lemon and half strawberry. As far as bang for your buck goes this is one of the best burgers not just here but anywhere. So until the Chicago Bears win another Super Bowl Krekel's is the best thing that Decatur has ever produced. A 1st Ballot Roadfood Hall of Famer.  

Burger and Custard at Krekel's Custard
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Maid-Rite (Springfield)

The story behind Springfield's Maid-Rite is a bit murky as there’s all sorts of years and numbers depending on who you ask or what you read. According to some it’s one of just a few early Maid-Rite's still standing. The Maid Rite chain is credited with creating the loose meat sandwich which is essentially a sloppy Joe without any sauce. It’s a hamburger made with loose meat. The first ever Maid Rite appeared in Muscatine Iowa circa 1926 but the Springfield Maid Rite is not a part of the Des Moines based franchise and claims to have risen in 1924 marking this year as their 100th anniversary. Not just that but they also claim their building, located along the historic Route 66, is the country’s first drive thru window as it was added to National Register of Historic Places in 1984. I stopped for a loose meat and a mug of made on site root beer and it was a fun stop despite the food being average at best. I didn’t like how the sandwiches are pre made but it’s a cool building to check out and the owner is a nice guy who saved one of Springfield's most iconic eateries.

Loose Meat Sandwich at Maid-Rite
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Illinois State Fair (Springfield)

The Illinois State Fair is going on right now so we’ll finish with a few of the spots I think are worth trying should you find yourself there. But if I’m being completely honest the Illinois Fair is lacking compared to some of its peers. For ex. the Minnesota State Fair puts Illinois to shame but in fairness it pretty much tops all the other 48 states too. I think one of the biggest problems the Illinois State Fair has is its location - again I'm only being honest. Being in Springfield means it’s three hours away from Chicago which in turn means it’s tough for some of the states best restaurants and festival related stands to make the trek down there for two weeks (the Minnesota State Fair is in Minneapolis). Nonetheless there’s still a few things I rec seeking out incl. the previously featured Vose Korn Dogs.

Korn Dog at Vose Korn Dogs

Vose Korn Dogs has been a staple of the Illinois State Fair since 1966. Founder Bob Vose worked the state fair as a young man and he liked it so much he decided to start up his own stand specializing in corn dogs. Cornmeal coated hot dogs on a stick are one of the great state fair foods and they’re said to have been created right here in Springfield at the Cozy Dog Diner along Route 66 though Vose’s are considered the standard. Owner Bob passed away in 2023 but his family continues running the stand which is open all summer and not just during the State Fair. I’m not the biggest corn dog booster but I always enjoy getting one from Vose Korn Dogs - the state fairs most iconic stand.

If you want some fries alongside your corn dog check out Cullers French Fries. Anyone that’s been to a county and or state fair in Illinois over the past 75+ years likely came in contact with this historic stand. Forest Culler started the business 72 years ago working the Champaign County and Illinois State fairs and the original trailer is now in a carnival museum in Florida. These days the family owns three trailers which make appearances at more than 30 seasonal events. They sell just one size of fries and no drinks. The only condiments on offer are salt and cider vinegar. Spuds are cut from fresh Russet Burbank (Idaho) baking potatoes by a machine that the family invented. The fries are then blanched in oil at one temp and moved to another basket of oil at a higher temperature for crisping. 

French Fries at Cullers French Fries 

Then there's the Pork Patio. It’s been a part of the Illinois State Fair for more than 30 years. They have a handful of items made with Illinois farm raised pork including the popular pork on a stick. Last time I was down there they were sold out of the pork on a stick so I went with a pork chop sandwich which is nothing more than a pork chop in a bun but it’s pretty damn good with some mustard added on. I would definitely eat a few of these every year if I was a regular attendee of the Illinois State Fair. 

Pork Chop Sandwich at The Pork Patio 
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Tastee Treat (Taylorville)

A couple summers ago when I went down to the Illinois State Fair for the night with a friend who had to be there for Democrats day we took a ride the next morning to the small town of Taylorville to try an old school burger spot that I documented HERE. After that we hopped over to the Tastee Treat which was established back in 1964. This is your typical Midwest ice cream stand and I mean that in the best way possible. They don't make them this anymore. Seeing as how Tastee Treat is in Central Illinois I made sure to get the lemon soft serve which is a signature summer snack in these parts.

Lemon Soft Serve at Tastee Treat 
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If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

Smashed Crispy Burgers of Central Illinois

The Illinois Fried Chicken Trail

Eating BIG in Peoria

Illinois Fish Sandwiches

More Burgers in Illinois
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See ya next time @chibbqking

More Burgers in Illinois

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Burgers in the Heartland 

Is there any food more American than the burgers? Today we celebrate one of our country's greatest culinary inventions - cheeseburgers. As I've typed many a times on this site, the Midwest is a hotspot for burgers. You'll find the largest concentration of old school burger spots in the Midwest region. States like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois offer up endless options. Local places that have been serving their communities for decades on end. Here in Illinois you'll find a large number of old school burger spots in the central part of the state. It was back in 2015 that I first introduced the internet to the smashed crispy burgers of Central Illinois. The smashed burger has become a national phenomenon since that post first dropped. You can find one just about anywhere these days but today we head back to the land where they were abundant long before influencers were a thing. 

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Dairy King (Breese)

Our first stop is Breese, Illinois (pop. 4641) where there’s not one but two iconic burger stands that sit across the street from each other. First up is the local Dairy King which has been a part of the Breese community since 1951 when it was a small ice cream shack in the back of another business. The old building was torn down and a new one with a drive-thru lane was built. They have a couple signature items including the Cheese Squeeze which is two smashed beef patties with American and Swiss cheese plus grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo. If melts aren’t your thing go for a classic cheeseburger which gets a textbook smash. A large selection of the locally made soda pop called Ski is the other big draw, along with ice cream. The soda pop comes from the nearby Excel Bottling plant and is avilable in different flavors like citrus and a cheery that was developed for Dairy King. They sell the largest volume of fountain Ski including an exclusive Rainbow Ski which is a mix of flavors and a bunch of crushed ice. A legendary stop in the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metro area.

Cheeze Squeeze and Rainbow Ski at Dairy King 
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Wally's (Breese)

You'll find Wally's right across the street from Dairy King. They opened in 1951 in a converted gas station. We arrived around 10:45a about 15 mins after opening and it was already packed with locals picking up lunch on the job and families coming from soccer and such. Many were leaving with boxes of burgers to bring elsewhere. The meat is ground on site and formed into thinner patties that are cooked up to 50 at a time on weekends. It’s best to get a double which is less than $4 and better than most burgers of any price-point. Although these weren’t smashed they were full of flavor and carried the aroma of a slider. I knew I would like me some Wally’s just from the looks of it but I was surprised just how good it was. One of the best anywhere but some still prefer the spot across the street.

Double Cheeseburger from Wally's 
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Fairview Inn (Fairview Heights)

We drove over the Mississippi River from St. Louis into Fairview Heights Illinois: home of the Fairview Inn, a dive bar known for it’s burger. Fresh balls of beef are smashed on a tiny four wheel flattop behind the bar. Pictured below is a double that almost melts in your mouth due to the softness of the beef and the bun. A real deal contender that’s relatively unknown outside of the area. Both the bar and the cheeseburger reminded me some of Green Gables in Hudson which served one of the best burgers in the state before burning down in a fire. Hopefully this place doesn't meet the same fate. 

Double Cheeseburger at Fairview Inn
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Bill's Toasty Shop (Taylorville)

I finally got to visit this Central Illinois classic that I’d been trying to get to for years but it just never worked out despite the fact it’s open 24/7. Bill’s Toasty Shop has been at it since 1932 and shows no signs of slowing down. Burgers come in 1/4, 1/2, 1 lb and 1.5 lb portions with the 1/2 pounder pictured below. It’s a classic setup with a long counter with seating for about 10 and a few tables lined up against the wall behind it. The grill is at the front near the window and there’s pretty much never a time when burgers aren’t being cooked on it. Fresh balls of beef are lightly smashed and full of flavor from the veteran flattop. This was one bad ass burger and the handspun milkshakes are also great.

Cheeseburger at Bill's Toasty Shop
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Fulgenzi's Pizza & Pasta (Springfield)

Double Smashed Crispy Burger, Slim Jim Sandwich, Chilli, and a housemade tortellini soup (not pictured). That was our lunch spread at Fulgenzi’s in Springfield across the street from the State Fairgrounds in the former location of the local legend that was Custard Castle. The space was taken over in 1979 by a local alderman who turned it into an Italian restaurant but kept around the regionally loved smashed burgers that made Custard Castle so popular. Central Illinois style Chilli, yes it’s a thing, always spelled with two L’s, is very popular in these parts too. The most glaring characteristic of Central Illinois style "chilli" is the puddle of grease on top of each bowl. This is called oleo oil and it comes from the suet used. You’re supposed to use all the oyster crackers you get with it to soak up all the oil. Other than that it’s ground beef, kidney beans and whatever other secret ingredients are used. I’ve seen recipes calling for tomato juice and other interesting stuff. Honestly I’m getting to old to eat this but I had to document it and gave it a taste too. I like it but it’s without a doubt a heart stopper. Despite numerous trips down here I’d never heard of The Slim Jim Sandwich which is another regional specialty which the lady taking our order told me is a relic of another long gone town favorite, Tops Big Boy. A Slim Jim is grilled hot ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sauce which here is thousand island dressing but elsewhere around town some spots use tartar sauce which is basically what Bob’s Big Boy Sauce was back in that chains heyday. No room for a Horseshoe but they have those here too. There's lots of interesting food stops down in the State Capital.

Lunch at Fulgenzi's (click pics to enhance)
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See ya next time @chibbqking 

Illinois Fish Sandwiches

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties

- Fish Sandwich Culture in Downstate Illinois 

No Friday Fish Fry's for me this Lenten season. Not unless the weather warms up and I can sit outside anyway. As regular readers know I've been active at Fish Fry's on both sides of the Illinois state lines as far as Northwest Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin go. Fish Fry's are a way of life this time of year in both regions. But what about the rest of the Midwest? The more land locked areas. During my travels in downstate Illinois and middle Indiana I've noticed that the humble fish sandwich is popular in different parts of both areas as well as a few other landlocked spots. Not in the Midwest but Western Pennsylvania is another area where I learned the fish sandwich is very popular. Same with Louisville and Nashville. My best guess is it's a catholic and lent combination as it's not like any of these places are are near the ocean. Heck most arent near a great lake. Though in many cases they are near a major river and when so they typically serve fish sandwiches made with river fish. 

Menu at Ed & Woodies Tap in Pittsfield, IL

The other reason for the fish sandwiches popularity in more rural Midwest areas may be simply bc it's really easy to make one. You don't need much and odds are lots of these spots are using frozen fish so it's not like that ever expires like the fresh stuff does. I'd hoped to visit a couple more Illinois places popular for a fish sandwich for this post but I've been hoping so for a few years now and that still hasn't happened. So it's time to post some old finds from over the years. Lets take a look at some spots downstate popular for fish sandwiches, especially on Friday's this time of the year. Places like O' Jan's down on the Mississippi where they fry up buffalo fish and throw it in-between some white bread with raw onion, mustard, and hot sauce. Or then there was the Seaboat in Champaign (RIP). 

Buffalo Fish Sandwich at O'Jan's in Grafton, IL

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Carter's Fish Market (Springfield, IL)

First stop up is an iconic business in my homestate capitol. Carter's Fish Market sells local fish as in different types of catfish, buffalo fish, and other lake and river dwellers. They have both a walk-up window where they sell fried fish sandwiches and also a market where they sell fresh river fish. They were out of Buffalo fish in the booth but had ribs for sale in the store. I'd never seen fish ribs but have since found them on the city's Westside. My second choice of a catfish sandwich was damn good. Perfectly fried to where the outside was crunchy and the inside was light and flaky. I could see this spot winning a Beard Foundation 'American Classics' award one day. If you live in Springfield you know of this place. A favorite of the State politicians who order boatloads of fried fish for both the House and Senate on Fridays during Lent. Blue/Red - Black/White. Everyone loves Carter's Fish.

Catfish Sandwich at Carter's Fish 

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The Fish Wagon (Farmer City, IL)

Our next stop is down in Dewitt County which is Central Illinois territory. You know what this means?! Smashed Crispy Burgers. I fully realize I'm probably the only person who registers that when Central Illinois is mentioned. But I do believe the areas popular burger style should be just as popular on a regional scale as the Horseshoe. The Fish Wagon is a new school spot by which I mean it's less than a decade old. They're popular for their fish sandwiches and yes their smashed burgers too. We stopped in to try both of those and also ended up getting some fish tacos too. They fry up Alaskan whitefish fillets and you get one wrapped with a flour tortilla if you order a taco. I enjoyed it for what it was while being fully aware if a place like Wendy's ever did fish tacos this is probably how they'd be. The fish sandwich here comes with four fillets and two pieces of white bread served with raw onions, pickles, and tarter sauce. As you can see from our first two stops these Midwest fish sandwiches are much of the time just a bunch of pieces of fried fish and some condiments with enough bread to make sandwich. But again I liked this sandwich which was in fact better than any fast food fish sandwich I've tried. Same goes for the burger no doubt. It was a damn good one with a pretty nice smash job. 

Taco, Burger, Fish Sandwich at The Fish Wagon 

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Marko's Fish House (Madison, IL)

There aren't many real deal old school undiscovered gems left but I feel like this place is one of them. Marko's is in the Mississippi River town of Madison, Illinois. They serve up a signature cod fish sandwich and it is wonderful. There's also catfish nuggets, fried shrimp, and burgers. But that's it. So I was told they've been making the same fish sandwich the same way since 1926 using the same local bakery as the bread supplier. Marko himself is Croatian and the bread is said to be an old family recipe baked just for them. Inside is small and there's three mini frying machines where all the work gets done. Talk about a perfect fry job this sandwich was one of the best fish sandwiches ever. No way they weren't using beef tallow because it had that flavor which stayed in me with each burp afterwards. Everything about this sandwich was money. From the soft but sturdy bread to the simple toppings of onion, banana peppers and tartar sauce. The only thing missing was the ocean in sight.

Fish Sandwich at Marko's Fish House 

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See ya next time @chibbqking

The Smashed Crispy Burgers of Central Illinois

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Introducing Illinois' Regional Burger

It's time for the next chapter in my Burger Americana posts. We all know about Schoop's in Northwest Indiana and many of us are familiar with Carl's Drive-in down in St. Louis. Less of us are familiar with Workingman's Friend in Indianapolis. Up until last year I was pretty sure those spots were the main purveyors of the ultra smashed burger. But as it turns out there's an entire region of purveyors located in-between Schoop's and Carl's. What is a smashed crispy burger? Well in laymen terms its exactly that. A smashed ball of beef that turns into a patty with a glistening crust due to an extra hot flattop and a little extra attention to detail when smashing. The edges get so crisp that the good ones produce meat chips, little pieces of crispy beef that fall off the patty when unwrapping.

What it's not is a smashed burger which is a style common in the Midwest and now elsewhere due to places like Smash Burger and Shake Shack, the latter of which was inspired by Steak 'n Shake which was founded in Normal Illinois in 1934. It actually started out as a gas station where they served fried chicken but the founding father knew that chicken shacks were a dime a dozen while good hamburgers weren't nearly as common. Staying on topic of the smashed crispy burger. I believe these places below, which make this style, are inspired by each other and it all goes back to Steak 'n Shake who probably served something similar back when it had just one location. Or was Steak n' Shake inspired by another unknown place in the area? I don't know if anyone has the correct answer as this is the first round-up of it's kind to go online.
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Just Hamburgers

Paxton, IL

This little nondescript spot is found about an hour and 45 minutes south of Chicago off I-57. I'd had them on my list for a long time. I found an article from 2011 in the 'Paxton Dealer' which says they were celebrating their 40th year of biz. So now they're nearing 45 years. Before its birth as a hamburger stand the building was a meat locker. To this day all the meat used in their burgers is cut by hand and ground on site. The product is, in my opinion, one of the best burgers you'll ever eat at the $3 price point they seek for each one. Not having a huge menu allows for the specialty of the house to shine. They're only open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4-7 p.m and you should expect a line when you go. However because they're rightfully expecting everyone to order a burger they stay smashing them before your order is placed. They say that most weekend days they serve more customers than minutes they're open. I'd put their product in the top half of the spots featured.

Double Cheeseburger

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Butcher Boy Burgers

Rantoul, IL

Just a short 10 mile ride down from Paxton you'll find Butcher Boy Burgers in the town of Rantoul. According to something I read online they're located in a former Just Hamburgers location. The menu features a few things with the burgers and homemade pie being the popular things to eat. As can be expected some places do the smashed crispy burger better than others. Butcher Boy serves a burger thats better than it has to be but it also isn't as good as it could be. Aside from being greasier than most upon unwrapping I was also somewhat weary of it based on how fast it came out after being ordered. The smash job was average thus all in all it was a bottom halfer as far as rating.

Double Cheeseburger

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Krekel's

Decatur, IL

Krekel's is perhaps the most successful Steak 'n Shake spawn. Bill Krekel opened his first location in Decatur during the summer of 1953. Today they have seven locations with four of them in Decatur. The other outlets are located in Springfield, Pawnee, and Mt. Zion. The eldest location seen here is said to be the best due to the old age of the flattop. I've been to the location in Springfield and judging from my visit along with other pictures and peoples undying love for them I think they're very consistent from spot to spot. Krekel's and most other spots featured on here tend to use raw diced onion as the standard. I'm impartial as to diced or grilled, on this style they're both worthy. Krekel's makes one of the best burgers in the state and because I love this style I'd call it one of my favorites in the States. Cheap eats don't get much better.

Double Cheeseburger

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Green Gables

Hudson, IL

Green Gables has a history that traces back to 1929. It was opened as a gas station and later they added a small grocery. When it was purchased in 1952 the new owner turned the gas stations into a bar/restaurant. According to the website this would be the reason Green Gables is what it is today. The old time feel is there waiting in the air.

Sitting at the bar

As you can see the flattop is tiny but it's responsible for large flavors producing one of most popular cheeseburgers in the region. In classic tavern tradition it's made by the bartender. The lady behind it wasn't new to the job but at first it seemed like she might've been, hacking away at the ball of beef with no rhythm whatsoever. Or was chaos her secret weapon? This one would be a beauty by the time it was fully dressed and the addition of grilled onion most certainly didn't hurt. The salty melted cheese oozing into a crispy beef patty was mouth watering upon arrival and had me in love upon finishing it. A meat treat indeed.

Double Cheeseburger

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Sunrise Cafe

Springfield, IL

AKA Hamburger Dan's I've posted about this place before. It's a pretty lowkey spot that's gotten little press compared to some other restaurants in town but it's not to be missed by those in search of the smashed crispy burger. While the menu boasts most everything you'll find at a breakfast/lunch diner the clue is in the name. After all they don't call it Dan's Biscuits and Gravy. Look at that smash job!

Double Cheeseburger

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Dewey's Drive-In

Farmer City, IL

I think you need to be from around the area or visiting someone in the area to know about this place. Reason being this summertime only operation is located away from the well traveled highways. I took a 45 minute detour on the way back from St. Louis to stop here. According to an article online it's a mimic of an old favorite. Opened in 2011 it's an homage to an old town favorite that had a 51 year run before closing its doors. The remake seems so well done and thats because it sits in the same building the original did, originally a Swirly Top Dairy Bar. The recipes are said to be handed down and aside from the hand pressed burger the lemon ice cream is also a big seller.

Signature Lemon Ice Cream in a Cheery Dipped Cone

While it's possible this one stands out most due to the fact it's the most recent place of all these I ate at, the picture makes me think otherwise. It was a dandy and at just a little over $4 one of the more expensive ones if you can even call it that. The smash job was second to none with meat chips flying off upon opening. On this day it would be well worth the detour.

Double Cheeseburger

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The Shack

Clinton, IL

I cant seem to find much online about this popular burger stand but the sign outside said they've been around since 1920. I snapped some pics of a pic of the old building but I cant seem to pinpoint around what year it was when they started serving burgers. If it was in 1920 then its quite possible this place started the trend. The smash job was that of a skilled grillman and the burger was a dandy. They had tenderloins, horseshoes, and other regional favorites listed on the menu too. Anyone know anything interesting about Clinton's oldest restaurant? Lemme know.

Double Cheeseburger

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Gross' Burgers

Danville, IL

Another longtime spot on my list. When I was informed by the bosses that I'd making the rounds in and out of Vermilion County the first thing to reach my mind was the fact I'd finally be able to try Gross'. They've been at it since 1982 when they opened with the name Grunts. The current owner has a US Marines background and thus the inside is decked out in pictures and memorabilia. Don't let the name fool you. You know the drill by now. The beef is ground fresh on-site and formed into little balls that are smashed crispy on the flattop. I thought this burger was a little bit bigger than the rest, though the price didn't reflect that much. The bun was thicker too but the burger was on point. I've seen others pics of the product here where the burger looks more smashed than mine but I wasn't dissatisfied at all with what I got. I happily gobbled it down.

Double Cheeseburger

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Mike's Grill

Tilton, IL

Mike's was a spot where I could feel the nostalgia as I drove by. It wasn't on my radar but I spotted it while riding into Danville and wondered what all the craziness was about. Turn's out that then Governor nominee Bruce Rauner was making a stop on the campaign trail. So I ended up waiting for his entourage to leave this classic old school drive-in that's been in business since 1958. It would be here that I learned a couple things about this style of a burger. Everything at Mike's means the whole shebang. Lettuce, tomato etc. Both of which have no business on a crispy smashed burger. Its all about the mustard, onion, and pickles. Put ketchup on if you must.

Cheeseburger, everything

The other lesson learned is that it's always best to go double. The meat to bun ration is perfect when there's two smashed patties involved. Mike's Grill didn't seem to smash with as much skill as some of the other spots and the wetness from the veggies seemed to take away some of the crispness.

The insides

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Burger King

Mattoon, IL

If unfamiliar with the this spot please read this thread as you may be a little bit confused right now and thats ok. Before there was Burger King, there was Burger King. The behemoth tried to take this little guy to court and got served. Long story short no franchised BK's can open within town limits. You can read the original thread to get an idea although I did find this recently. The original family that opened it sold the business although the new owners plan on keeping it the same. This means one of the best burgers under $3 you will find should remain that way into the foreseeable future.

Double Cheeseburger

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Mike's Grill
2006 Georgetown Rd,
Tilton, IL 61833
(217) 446-6605

Burger King
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Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-8122