It’s hard to pin down exactly when and where the hamburger was created. After all, similar ground-meat-based dishes have been around across cultures for centuries.
However, several sources I’ve found do agree that the hamburgers we know and love today likely originated somewhere in the Midwestern region of the US.
All restaurants serve them a bit differently, but as a Midwest native from Kansas City, Missouri, I wanted to see which popular chain near me had the best basic cheeseburger.
I went to Sonic, Culver’s, and Freddy’s to find out.
First, I ordered from Culver’s.
I love a good trip to Culver’s. The chain, which started in Wisconsin, is a Midwest staple that’s expanded to over 1,000 locations across 26 states since 1984.
During this visit, I ordered a ButterBurger with cheese, which cost me $5.46.
The Culver’s ButterBurger was the freshest-tasting option.
I liked how the Culver’s burger was wrapped in waxy paper. Although I waited to eat my burger at home, I could easily peel the paper back and eat it on the go.
My deluxe single cheeseburger came with one flat patty, tomato, American cheese, lettuce, sweet red onion, pickles, and the brand’s signature mayo.
The bun was buttered and nicely toasted, and the produce was crisp. It tasted fresh and flavorful. I had no complaints.
Next, I swung through Sonic Drive-In.
For those who aren’t as familiar with the fast-food chain, Sonic has only drive-in and drive-thru options — customers don’t go inside.
Founded in Oklahoma, Sonic is by far the largest chain in this taste test, with more than 3,000 locations in 47 states.
Sonic locations have stalls where you can pull in, push a button, and order your meal. Carhops then walk or skate the food to your car, giving it a nostalgic, 1950s-style vibe.
However, you can also use the more modern drive-thru if you don’t want the production.
I was quickly in and out of there with my $5.96 burger.
Sonic’s cheeseburger was the most filling.
Sonic’s cheeseburger came wrapped in foil and paper, and it did get slightly smashed on the side after riding in its bag to my final destination.
The patty was thick and juicy and stacked with crinkle-cut pickles, American cheese, onions, ketchup, mayo, lettuce, and tomatoes.
In my opinion, Sonic’s burger patties were the juiciest and packed the most flavor. The burger had a lot of condiments, however, so the toasted bun was soggy by the time I sat down to eat it.
Lastly, I picked up a Freddy’s burger.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002. These days, Freddy’s has more than 500 locations across 36 states.
Inside, Freddy’s has a bit of a ’50s diner aesthetic, with bright white and red decor and fun signs pointing to the pickup stations.
My original cheeseburger cost $7.52 and came in a square, insulated sleeve. Since it wasn’t wrapped as tightly, I had to rearrange the bun and toppings a little when I got home.
The chain’s burger fell a little flat.
Freddy’s regular burgers come with two patties, which are flat with crispy edges. Those are layered with two slices of cheese, crinkle-cut pickles, ketchup, mustard, onions — all between a toasted bun.
In the past, I’ve really enjoyed the crispy edges of Freddy’s burger patties. This time, though, the edges of my burger were more chewy and dry than crispy. I don’t know whether it was the packaging, the commute, or just some unfortunate luck.
If the Freddy’s patties had been as crispy as I’ve had them before, I would’ve liked them more.
Still, the burger was delicious and filling — and I enjoyed the mix of condiments, cheese, and pickles — but I also missed the tomatoes and lettuce that came on the other two.
For this taste test, I ordered the default iteration of each burger, but next time, I’d add lettuce and tomatoes to this one (for no extra charge).
In the end, Culver’s cheeseburger was my favorite.
For me, the winner of the three-burger showdown was Culver’s.
The fresh crispness of the produce and thicker tomato slices added texture and flavor. The patty felt like a decent size, and the buttery, toasted bun was a nice touch.
Culver’s burger also ended up being the cheapest of the three, which is a huge plus.
I’d definitely eat at the other two chains again, but the Culver’s burger was just too good to beat.
This story was originally published on October 29, 2024, and most recently updated on May 26, 2026.
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