Burkies Drive-In

A lifelong Muncie tradition… Our family has been going to Burkies for nearly 50 years. The servers are always friendly and attentive, greeting everyone with a smile. We’ve always enjoyed the food although we go mainly for the nostalgia. Some favorites are the tenderloin sandwiches, Vanilla Coke, and shakes.

Had heard this place was a Muncie staple so I decided to try it out. The vintage drive in style was fun but the food was just alright. I had the Burkie burger and while I enjoyed it, it wasn’t more than a regular burger really. The vanilla shake was pretty bad too. Service was fast and friendly though. I probably won’t come back next time I’m in Muncie.

I have to get their JUMBO Breaded TENDERLOIN, at least one/​week, & today was the day. «Couldn’t believe I ate the whole thing,» but I did. Had a ice cream for dessert, too. Locals tell me it was «THE PLACE,» in the 1950’s and for several decades, & we’re glad they rebuilt it, & brought back the great foods.

Damn me for knowing what good food tastes like. The coney dog I just ate was horrible. It was microwaved to toughness, very little coney sauce. The shake was good. The place looks really bad. Please Burkies get rid if the microwave!

At least once a week I pull in and order a veggie burger, well-​done, add lettuce, tomatoe, pickle, ketchup and mustard. Always satisfied and happy I can get something here besides french fries and ice cream.
Oh, and the cherry cokes are awesome too!

I’ll admit, burkies is kind of a run down looking joint. But it still serves up some of the best (and one of the only places I’m even aware of here that has) fried mushrooms. Being a vegetarian, Burkies doesn’t seem a likely choice for one of my favorite places to eat. But yet, it is. My husband and I visit at least once a week and I fulfill my craving for fried deliciousness (onion rings & the aforementioned shrooms) and a giant cherry coke. The service is always fast, the prices are reasonable, and the people are pleasant enough. And they practically never ever ever make a mistake with our order.

I’m torn. Separating the fantasy of my past from the sometimes harsh reality of today. So I’ll cave and write a little of each for this review.
I lived in Muncie for my first 40 years of life. I’ve pulled into one of Burkies drive-​in parking spots and ordered from their microphone order boards more than once. It’s part of my childhood — a very fond part. Their food was good, tasty and cheap, emphasis on the latter as I usually didn’t have more than a dollar or two on me at any time.
My parents would pull in now and then and we’d enjoy a thick chocolate shake together in the car. Man their shakes were great… they still are!
However, based on my recent trip back in time, I was shaken to the core when I had a less than perfect tenderloin sandwich. Warmed cardboard came to mind as I continued to bite into it, hoping the next bite would finally live up to my memories. Alas, I finished it and no such luck.
The onion rings I had with it were excellent and the aforementioned chocolate shake, as good as always. «I caught them on an off night», I reasoned. I must give them another chance and so I will next time I’m in town.

I love this place, it brings back such food memories. a big tenderloin with some deep friends mushrooms with ranch and a coke, nothing better!

Creepy, rundown Americana!
I was raised on Burkie’s chili cheese dogs, fries, and vanilla cokes. My family loved it because we’re fat asses at heart, plus it’s cheap — (almost) just like the old days!
Later in life, I lived a few blocks away from ye old drive-​in, so on a hot summer’s day, I still felt a calling to a «Big Gulp» sized root beer float.
Fries are flat, fat and piping hot. Big, greasy onion rings still wet from the deep fryer. Perfectly melted sheets of fake orange cheese. I remember really being into their pulled-​pork sandwich for a few consecutive summers, and now I’m really wanting to recreate that into a nice veggie sandwich with TVP or something…