Carl’s Drive In

Best. Burger. Ever. Sure it’s a greasy, fast-​foody type burger, but the best there ever was. Just try it, you won’t be sorry. And the root beer– don’t even get me started. Simply amazing. Just go here! Forewarning though– if you go at peak lunch hours you will be standing in a small, crowded area waiting for a seat. However, it’s worth it and service is fast.

Been wanting to try this place, went around 7pm, not busy too busy (got a stool and ordered right away) weird yet cool setup of the place, ordered a double chz, fries, and root beer… Total $ 6−7…burger and root beer were fantastic, fries needed some work, would recommend

Food is simple and tasty but portion sizes are pretty small for the price. I get the grilled cheese, which is tiny, and split the fries and I’m still pretty hungry. The mug of root beer is the perfect addition to the greasy diner food. The eating experience can be kind of weird, though. Last time I went, the staff just stared at us while we were eating and kept sneaking glances. It was quiet and awkward. Sometimes the idea of going there and being watched stops me from eating there. Stop watching me eat. It’s creepy! Tip: bring cash because apparently we’re still in the 1800s and credit cards aren’t a thing.

The workers at Carl’s are masters of organized chaos.
Having just moved to the area, I’d been wanting to try this place for about a month. I didn’t realize the following it had, and thinking I could go around 11 in the morning on a Saturday (when they open) to avoid a crowd, couldn’t have been more unrealistic.
The place sits maybe 18 people, and at 11:10, I was probably No. 23.
You’re up close and personal with the goings-​on — in the kitchen and with everyone else sitting near. I expected Guy Fieri to pop out any minute, and he really should, although this place is doing fine without more publicity.
I had the double cheeseburger, fries and a large root beer float. It. Was. Amazing.
As I waited for my food, and as I was eating, more and more customers kept coming in from either side — all ordering food to dine in. I wish it wasn’t so crowded, but then again, that’s what adds to its character and uniqueness. At a fault of my own, I cared too much about the people waiting behind me that I didn’t finish my float so they could take a seat. It’s really the only knock I have about this place — and maybe the fact that they want cash.
I’ll be back again and again, I’m sure.

Food was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. From our interactions with the people working there, we probably won’t be back. No one smiled, they acted annoyed at us. And one of the staff who wasn’t waiting at us gave me an super awkward/​uncomfortable stink-​eye the whole time we were there. It was our first visit, and we got our food to-​go.

It’s okay.
It’s very old fashioned and will probably stay that way. My SO and I watched the cook as he did his job. He was good at it and in his own little world.
The food was good but it wasn’t the best that I have ever had in my whole life; although I really liked the French fries.
I couldn’t believe how small the place was and the amount of takeaway business didn’t surprise me since it’s as small as it is.
It’s a nice place if you like that old style type of greasy spoon or diner type stuff.

One of my all-​time favorites. Hands down the best triple burger + frosty root beer combo. A must try for visitors, as well, or anyone wanting to get to know what Saint Louis really tastes like.

love this joint. 2 seating areas. everybody has a good view of the root beer tap. the root beer is crazy good. same recipe since 1919.
next time we come & eat & drink i can guarantee a 5 star.
we will absolutely return! for years to come.

My girlfriend and I have been wanting to try Carl’s for quite some time. Every time we think about going, it’s Monday, when Carl’s is closed.
We went today. Not wanting to get into a crowded diner or having patrons standing behind us waiting for us to vacate our stools, we went early — arriving about 10 minutes before Carl’s opens at 11 a.m.
Watch which door you use. Once you’re in, you cannot get to the other side without exiting, walking around the building and entering on the other side.
Rather varied menu: burgers and cheeseburgers (single, double, triple), footlong hot dogs, chili, pork steak, tamales, Reuben dog, grilled cheese, fish and chicken. Fries and onion rings.
Just about anything you get ON your food costs extra: lettuce and tomato, grilled onions, and cheese sauce. Ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard are NOT extra.
My girlfriend got a double cheeseburger with ketchup, mayonnaise and tomato; fries; and a bottled water.
I got a double cheeseburger with mustard, grilled onions, lettuce and tomato; and a large diet DP — $ 7.30.
Our lunches came up pretty quickly. They were working diligently.
Our server was friendly. The three women cooking, pulling root beer and taking carryout orders over the phone didn’t say a word to anybody, except themselves.
You can watch them working on the flat-​top and frying the potatoes and onion rings, both of which are frozen.
The burgers were A-​OK; served on itty-​bitty paper plates. A lotta bun. I could have used a triple. Crispy edges, but actually, the entire burger was crispy. .. not just the edges. I like crispy edges, but I don’t want the whole burger to be crispy like a potato chip. It was so crispy, I didn’t taste much meat flavor.
I would say these patties are two or three ounces each.
My girlfriend ate some of her fries. It was a reasonable portion. I tried one. It was A-​OK — not those atrocious crinkle-​cut frozen fries, but a variation ALMOST verging on a steak fry.
This is not a place to linger. You get a stool (16 are available; eight on each side of the grill/​food prep area). Order your food. Eat your food. Pay for your food. You’re done, and you exit.
If you need to use the facilities, you have to tell them. At the back of the building, there’s a red door that is locked. They have to let you in.
I was so glad it was a flushie. We didn’t know what to expect: an outhouse or a Johnny-​on-​the-​Spot.
I’m not from St. Louis, so I have zero nostalgic memories of Carl’s. I know Carl’s has been around a long time. And probably will be around for another long time.
It’s cash only.
.

For many home chefs in the know we worship only one deity. J Kenji Lopez Alt. Reading through the 11 best things he ate on a cross country road trip, I was highly intrigued by Carl’s Drive In. I love the diner style cheese burger and have been a huge fan of the smashed patty since my first Shake Shack. With all this in mind I made Carl’s Drive In my first stop in St Louis.
J Kenji Lopez Alt suggested getting a double. I did not listen because I had a big dinner planned that night. He was right. The single just doesn’t have the proper meat/​bun/​toppings ratio. (They were a little heavy on the mustard/​ketchup). Their cooking technique results in a meat «frico» if you will, crispy and stiff. Washed down with a cold root beer from the barrel. What could be better?
Walking in here felt like going to someone else’s family reunion. It seems like a great place to be a regular but for us first timers they didn’t really help us out very much. Still it is definitely worth your time if you need a quick bite!

Overrated for sure. Ok, maybe historic. One of the best burgers? Naaah. Really a ripoff of Steak ‘n Shake’s original sear technique. The difference is, Steak ‘n Shake’s beef profile (cuts they use) produces a considerably better burger flavor. French fries were average, absent of good flavor; not crispy, the batch i received today. We sat and watched as the expressionless staff poured a huge can of generic catsup into the red squeeze bottles. Heinz? Hunts? Not even close, and the flavor shows. Root beer floats were festive, but an aftertaste from the soda interrupted any satisfaction.
It has been quite awhile since I visited, and I will likely not be back.

Outrageously fun old-​fashioned diner with two sides of little round stools. Always ice cold Root Beer from a barrel and great thin burgers and tasty fries. Parking limited, occasional wait at peak hours – Worth it for the experience and food. Older kids will enjoy too (kids who can sit on regular stool). Space is limited. Efficient service is more fast than friendly per se.

Want a thin burger? Well this place will slap one together for you and it is TASTY! How does one taste so good? They must never clean the grill for this burger has flavor galore! We know they clean the grill, I’m just saying it has that crisp edges that just cry’s flavor! Try it, I’m telling you, you’ll come back just like I did 6 months later. It’s the kind of place you won’t forget.
Did I say it’s small? Yea it is but with nice weather coming up, step outside and eat on a picnic table. Know what you want when you step up to the counter! If you fumble around you’ll feel like your talking to the Soup Nazi!
I love these girls, just kidding!

I cannot explain how awesome this place is. It brings me back to a simpler time of how burger joints should be. The hubby and I split a large root beer, and I had a hamburger with cheese and he got a burger with cheese and bacon. We split some onion rings which were delicious. I love this place! It’s easy to see why it’s on the top 10 list of burger restaurants in the US.

Picked up lunch for the whole office. Staff was very friendly. Order was prepared quickly. Suggest getting their cheeseburger one of the BEST burgers in town. Definitely coming back again.

Eating here is like stepping back into my childhood. I used to come here all the time in grade school whenever we had half days. This place has some of the best burgers in town. They onion rings are great. The shakes are awesome. The root beer is incredible. The pricing is very affordable. I do nto have a complaint about this place whatsoever.

I’ve only been here once but I loved it! I took a couple of kiddos I babysit and everyone enjoyed their meal. The hamburgers are amazing however I will say the wait was obnoxious. I went on a Saturday but from what I hear it is always busy so maybe go prepared to have a line out the door. The service was great and all in all no complaints. Will definitely be going back!

Small counter top only dive with super cheap & tasty burgs.
They cook them with a nice crispy edge & cost like $ 2.50
Be sure to order a Root Beer Float.
A+ 100% One of the best burgers in the Country. (I saw the list.)

At the end of the day, this place is (and will always be) a STL favorite. I get that going to Carl’s Drive In is a part of the STL experience. I can check this one off the list now.
For STL natives — this is the place you grew up loving… I get it. Enjoy!
For transplants from other places, there is certainly some charm and uniqueness to this place. You may love it, you may not. Personally, I’m pretty lukewarm on the whole experience.
Flat burgers — they produce a decent interpretation of the smashed on the griddle burger. The edges are nice and crispy. The flavor is real beef. The seasoning is present but not overpoweringly salty or peppery. They are doing this part right. That said — don’t waste your time on the grilled onions. Miniscule portion of minced and greasy onions for an upcharge makes no sense to me. Also, using just one slice of cheese on a double cheeseburger left me wanting more.
Milkshakes — I didn’t have one but I watched one being made… and then kicked myself for not ordering one. Hand-​dipped, thick and amazing from what I could tell.
Root beer — frosted mug, ice cold, perfect. Their root beer reminded me of car trips through the upper Midwest in the early 70s and stopping at A&W…sometimes just for a root beer in a big frosted glass mug. As far as I am concerned, there are few things more uniquely American than that experience.
Tamales — bbq sauce is great on lots of things but tamales aren’t on that list. Not sure who came up with that idea but they should probably be tarred and feathered.
Fries — meh.
Service — pure crap. Several of the waitresses were just plain rude. Rude to me. Rude to those around me. Rude to people on arrival and rude to people on departure.
Overall, not a good enough experience to bring me back but that won’t hurt their bottom line in the slightest. I fully understand that this place is a STL tradition and will remain so regardless of the occasional dissenting opinions voiced on Unilocal and other places.
Live long and prosper, Carl’s Drive In…

Best burgers in STL. Burgers are thin and crispy… total love!!! Carls burgers make you come back for more. Crispy onion rings and fries. Root-​beer served in frosty mugs. Tiny hole in the wall, diner atmosphere. Staff will give you trouble if you like it or not, bring your wit with you.
Call ahead & Carry out popular here. Cash Only.