Krekel’s Custard & Hamburgers in Grandview, Illinois, is exactly that kind of culinary unicorn—a humble roadside establishment that has people mapping out weekend road trips with all the strategic planning of a military operation. Photo credit: Krekel’s Custard & HamburgersEither way, you’re experiencing burger craftsmanship that chain restaurants have spent billions trying to replicate and consistently falling short. The concrete mixers take the custard experience to another dimension, blending that silky frozen custard with mix-ins like Oreo cookies, M&Ms, Reese’s, and Heath bars. No QR codes, no apps to download, no loyalty program requiring your email, birth date, and favorite color—just good food waiting to be ordered. Throughout Illinois and beyond, you’ll find burger joints that have borrowed elements of the Krekel’s formula—the thin patties, the frozen custard, the no-frills approach.