I Tried Frozen Custard From Culver's, Freddy's, And Shake Shack — And There's Only One Chain I'm Rushing To Return To

Culver's is a beloved Midwest staple based in Wisconsin.

What started as a regional specialty operates over 1,000 locations across 26 states, though Midwesterners (myself included) still claim it as their own. I grew up in Illinois just five minutes from a Culver's.

The chain is known for its ButterBurgers, and of course, its custard.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived at my local Culver's was a partially full parking lot and kids peeping at me from the windows.

Diners occupied about six tables, and judging by appearances, a significant portion were under the age of 10.

As much as I enjoyed the family vibe, the restaurant itself wasn't anything special. I kind of felt like I was in a healthcare setting, thanks to the plain gray tables, generic carpet, and fluorescent lighting.

Another Midwest favorite, Freddy's began in Kansas and has since expanded to 37 states and Canada. It has over 500 stores, including a few near my current home in Indiana.

As the name suggests, Freddy's is famous for its signature steakburgers and frozen custard. I'd only ever been here one other time, and it was quite recently.

A long line awaited me at Freddy's. It stretched not quite to the door, but halfway there.

Whereas kids dominated Culver's, Freddy's seemed to have a much older clientele. This might be because of its senior meals, which launched earlier this year and offer discounts to the over-55 crowd.

The inside looked notably cute, with a retro red-and-white theme that made it feel like a vintage diner.

Shake Shack is based in New York, where it started as a hot-dog cart in Madison Square Park.

It operates over 350 restaurants in the United States and abroad, yet somehow, I'd never been. From what I've heard, Shake Shack has pretty tasty burgers and custard-based treats.

Unlike Culver's and Freddy's, both a few miles from downtown Indianapolis, Shake Shack had a location in the heart of the city.

The interior still seemed chic, modern, and industrial, with colorful wall murals, exposed-pipe ceilings, and shiny floors that appeared to be concrete.

Much to my surprise, only a few of the tables were in use during my visit. I also liked the convenient self-ordering kiosk.

With Culver's create-your-own option, I could choose a vanilla or chocolate custard base, either in a dish or as a Concrete Mixer, and add toppings.

For those wondering, a Concrete Mixer is just Culver's trademarked version of a custard concrete — a frozen custard with toppings blended in.

Per my plan, I ordered the smallest-size dish of vanilla custard ($3.39) and a vanilla-based Concrete Mixer with Oreo pieces ($4.59). The concrete included two free mix-ins, but I only opted for Oreos.

The large menu screens on televisions were out of service when I arrived, but luckily, there were paper menus.

I already knew what I wanted, anyway: a small dish of vanilla custard ($3.39) and an Oreo-themed custard concrete ($4.69).

Like Culver's, Freddy's concrete custard had a create-your-own option, which included one free mix-in. Mine, of course, was Oreos.

Since Shake Shack is partially known for its custard, I expected to find custard concretes. However, they weren't available to order when I asked.

Turns out this fan-favorite specialty dessert was removed from US menus in 2020.

I was disappointed I didn't get to taste one, especially after reading about the chain's past unique mix-ins, like cereal and, at one point, bits of regional local pies.

Without the option for a concrete, I just ordered a small vanilla custard ($4.49).

Light in color and dense in texture, the dessert seemed like a thicker version of soft-serve ice cream. It had a velvety mouthfeel and sweet, vanilla-bean-like flavor. The plain vanilla felt anything but plain.

That said, I was incredibly disappointed in the portion. I know I ordered the smallest size, but the 8-ounce cup arrived barely half full.

For those seeking a classic vanilla flavor, Freddy's delivered. It was tasty and decadent yet not overpowering.

However, the custard itself had a drippy consistency in the bowl and a grainy one in my mouth. Far from smooth, it lacked what defined custard: a luscious, full-bodied texture.

Again, I was disappointed in the portion I was served. This one seemed even more scant than Culver's, and my 8-ounce cup had plenty of room left in it.

Shake Shack's vanilla custard wasn't overly sweet, but it still had a strong vanilla taste, and I appreciated the creamy texture. It didn't feel too heavy, either.

Shake Shack's small custard seemed like a great value. My portion size felt massive compared to the other chains, to the point where I wondered if the staff had given me extra by mistake.

Later, a Shake Shack spokesperson told BI that, in the US, its custard comes in a single scoop (5 ounces) or a double scoop (8 ounces).

Although I ordered a small, and that's what I was charged for, I felt like I was served more than 5 ounces. It looked like maybe I'd been given two scoops, too.

When my Concrete Mixer arrived looking as thick as ever, I knew I was in for a treat.

The concrete custard was so firm that I could flip the cup like a Dairy Queen Blizzard without anything spilling out — and the texture mirrored it, too. It was even silkier than Culver's plain vanilla custard.

I didn't expect to find substantial chunks of Oreos, either, yet the concrete was peppered with large and small bits that fell apart in my mouth. The Concrete Mixer checked every box and more.

Similar to its plain vanilla custard, Freddy's Oreo-themed concrete had a nice vanilla flavor. And like Culver's, it had real cookie pieces.

But the custard itself didn't seem firm enough to me. Soft and liquidy, it mimicked a shake rather than a concrete.

As I ate it with a spoon, I wondered if I could drink it with a straw. (Later, I tested it and confirmed that I could.)

I was unable to find the portion sizes for the custards and concretes at each chain on the menu or online — eventually, I just reached out to local stores and company headquarters directly to confirm.

As I mentioned, my small vanilla custards at Freddy's and Culver's should have been served in 8-ounce dishes, and my Shake Shack custard should have been a 5-ounce single scoop.

I paid $3.39 for a small vanilla custard at Culver's and Freddy's. Shake Shack's version cost me $4.49 — $1.10 more — but to be fair, my custard portion seemed almost double the size … even though, on paper, it was supposed to be smaller.

In terms of custard concretes, Freddy's had a slight price advantage.

At Culver's, my small 8-ounce Concrete Mixer came to $4.59, or $0.57 per ounce. Freddy's small 10-ounce concrete mixer cost $4.69, or $0.47 per ounce.

All in all, though, prices felt pretty comparable and fair across the board.

In terms of plain vanilla custard, it was a toss-up between Culver's and Shake Shack.

In my opinion, Shake Shack dominated in the value department, considering the generous portion I received (though I'd have to try ordering it again to see whether it was just my lucky day).

For the best taste and texture, however, I'd still recommend Culver's plain vanilla custard. It had the densest, most unique consistency and the sweetest flavor.

Still, there's only one dessert I tried that really blew me away …

Out of the desserts I tried, Culver's Concrete Mixer was the only one I'd order again.

It dominated in taste and value, and even though it cost a smidge more per ounce than Freddy's, I'd gladly pay a little extra.

Plus, I liked the 8-ounce size, especially for such a rich treat. Any more would have been too much of a good thing — for me, anyway.

Business Insider reached out to Freddy's, Shake Shack, and Cuver's for comment.