As a native of the Pacific West, I had never heard of Culver’s until about 2010. I flew out to Wisconsin to visit my in-laws for the first time, and they introduced me to the culinary term “cheese curds,” especially the deep-fried variety. I loved them; the idea that one could buy bits of cheese, breaded and cooked in oil, to consume was truly an epiphany. Culver’s is also known mostly for its ButterBurgers and frozen custard, which, again, was beyond me as a native Californian; I had never come across such things at a drive-thru.
In 2008, Culver’s moved farther west, opening a restaurant near Phoenix, Arizona, coinciding with my move to the state at the same time. Now I could have cheese curds, ButterBurgers, and whatever else they featured on the menu any time I wanted. Culver’s menu items are thankfully relatively inexpensive. For instance, a double-patty deluxe ButterBurger with cheese is only $5.59 at my location in Queen Creek, Arizona.
If a burger is only that much, surely Culver’s must have other good things on the menu below that cost? Thankfully, they do. Let’s take a look at Culver’s menu items $5 and under you shouldn’t ignore.
Crinkle Cut Fries
I love french fries, and the Culver’s variety didn’t disappoint. They are crinkle-cut and thicker than most of the competitors, and coming in at a nice $3.39 for a medium, you get a pretty hefty portion. These were the most fragrant of everything I ordered for this review; they triggered a childhood memory of me sitting in the backseat of our old Country Squire station wagon at a drive-thru, inhaling the salty fumes of hot frying oil, grilled meat, and the hint of an overflowing grease trap…