Krekel’s Custard & Hamburgers

I give the food and shakes a 4 stars, 1 star for service, so 3 starts total.
Stopped here on a visit to Springfield to take in the local history. Since I love a good old fashion burger joint this seemed like a must go-​to place.
I ordered a cheeseburger, shake, and a Krekel’s root beer to go. All were as one would expect for this kind of place. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. I took the root beer home for my boyfriend who stated it was one of the best root beers he’s ever tried.
The reason I was disappointed was because the (presumably) high school kids working there were too busy goofing off to do their jobs. The young lady who rang me up (because that’s literally all she did) ruined the experience. She managed to only say a single word to me the whole time I was at the register. No greeting, no confirmation she heard my order, nothing indicating our interaction was over and my food would be right up, the only single word she uttered the whole time (to me, she had plenty to say to her co-​workers) was ‘YUP’ as a reply to me saying ‘thank you’. My dining companion had the exact same interaction. «Thank you»…“YUP”. Add this poor customer service experience to watching the person distractedly making all the food while wearing only one glove and teasing another coworker there whom was standing around not doing anything herself I left with a good taste for the food but a «bad taste in my mouth» for the place as a whole.
Being the kind of place that has a history in a community it’s a disappointment to let it’s name be tarnished by some malcontented employees. This is what happens when you hire minimum wage teenagers who lack work ethic. Cheap labor, but they do nothing for your business.
Places like this make it in a community based in part on their nostalgia factor, but if your customers have a crappy experience it destroys that warm fuzzy hint of yesteryear they’re looking for. Good cheap food is available everywhere, a chance to go somewhere that reminds you of the old days is a rarity and great customer service helps keep those good times rolling, and the customers coming back for more.

They charge $ 0.25 for a cup of water. There were a few flies that kept pestering us while we ate.
We ordered a #2 (double cheeseburger, fries, and a medium drink) for $ 6.99, onion rings, and a Heath bar concrete. I thought they over charged me because they charged for everything individually and the meal items added up to $ 7.24. But apparently they charge $ 0.25 extra for lettuce and tomato. Who does that?
The cheeseburger reminded me of the burgers at Billy Goat Tavern because the meat parties were so thin but it didn’t taste as fresh.
I wouldn’t come back for the food but I would come back for the concrete. But honestly, we probably won’t come back with all the ridiculous extra charges.
The pop tasted funny. A bit watered down and sour. The ketchup tastes funny too, sour and a bit like alcohol.

Burgers were fresh and flavorful. The edges were nice, brown and crunchy. Yum! The service was fast and friendly. The concretes were thick and creamy. The concrete was just the right balance of peanut butter, banana and chocolate. Reece’s peanut butter cups and fresh chunks of banana. Mmmmm! Great stop along our long drive upstate! Well worth the pit stop and less than 5 minutes off the freeway!

Food was greasy, onion rings were burned, the dining area was dirty, and the wait was ridiculous for what we ordered, especially since it was not very busy. I’ve been to several Krekels which I enjoyed … this was not one of them.

We go when we get a craving for lemon custard. Last time we went we waited outside the window over 20 minutes for 1 cone. Decided then we would just go to Culver’s in the future.

Nothing special, not much better than a fast food chain burger!

Classic li’l burger joint! Great local eatery!

We eat there often always great food and great service staff is always very friendly would recommend to try

You have not lived until you have ate at this place! In decatur ill or spfld it does not matter the quality is the same. The chili, burgers, chicken sandwich all will rock your world! There is no place like this anywhere i have lived outside of these 2 places, steak n shake comes close but no cigar! In the summer they have strawberry lemon custard my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I think the food has such flavor from the age of their grills it’s just oooozzzzing with built in flavor! The milkshakes that you can create your own flavor my fav to create is a choc, bananna, strawberry pineapple one it has pieces of real fruit and it’s such a treat when you get a chunk of fresh fruit in your mouth. I can say I have ate at every kreckle’s location in ill and am always pleased with the food and svc.

Little out of my way, but worth the drive each time.

Very yummy!!! Great place for a cool treat!

Been eating here my whole life. I like the burgers over steak n shake. Plus, such a variety of cold desserts. My favorite place to eat!

This place is a hometown favorite. It is something that I crave on a regular basis. The cheeseburgers are thin and greasy and amazing. I always get the double cheeseburger, fries, and a lemon milk shake and am more than satisfied!

So much history is in this place it brings back the old burger joint hangout feel. The crinkle cut fries and the burger is served in a bag. The Patties are thin, well done steak burgers with seared marks on the edges. Fantastic! You gotta come here!

Tried the Elvis concrete you guys are raving about. Hardly any toppings. Not good.
I ordered some chicken strips that took forever, and when finally served they were clearly the frozen type you can buy at shop and save and over cooked as well. Hard to screw it up but somehow they managed. This place is a dud. Wont be back.
Try Freddys for concretes… LOADED with everything!

Minus one star for the fries? WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME???
I am updating my review because this place is officially amazing. It’s now my favorite burger joint in Springfield. And during the winter months they offer chili! It’s a bit on the salty side, but boy, is it good especially if you pour it over their cheese fries a la Chili Cheese Fries. Their «custard» (aka ice cream) is really yummy. We had the pumpkin concrete recently and ooooo la la! Staff are great too, I really enjoy coming here.

Great burgers and great custard!!! I got the Elvis Concrete per the previous reviews and it was very good. There is nothing fancy about this place, but it doesn’t need to be. Very, very, clean also! A girl working there was going around scrubbing the walls down with bleach. I appreciate that! A definite must stop when in Springfield.

Dropped in this place while visiting Springfield. It was a bit out of the way but, worth the effort. Awesome old-​fashioned custard just like I remember it from the days when I was a child. I went with the family and we tried a variety of the available flavors that day. Not one unsatisfied customer.

We stopped here on our cross country dive from LA to the East Coast. Great family owned place. Thanks to Unilocal I had the Elvis Concrete (Concrete is like a Dairy Queen Blizzard). Super clean bathrooms. Definitely a good local place to stop for a frozen treat.

I visit Springfield often because my father lives there. I read a post on
about Springfield eateries to try — focusing largely on fast food and extremely casual places — and found out about Krekel’s burgers. They are known for the thin patty with a crispy edge. I ordered the recommended thirties or forties style burger with just mustard, pickles and onions… with fries. The fries were good, fresh from the fryer and crispy outside and soft inside. Not great, but very good. The burger was amazing… absolutely spot on. Very tasty. I only wish I’d ordered some custard as well! Highly recommended.