See Where Culver’s Ranks On New List Of Nation’s Best Burgers

I'm not saying that your average person gets into arguments with other people about what the best fast-food burger in America is, but...no, wait...I am actually saying that people argue over things exactly like this.

If you've ever found yourself in a spirited debate over the best fast-food burger in America, Culver's fans just got some serious bragging rights.

The Double ButterBurger with Cheese has been voted the 5th Best Fast-Food Burger in America in USA Today's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, putting the Wisconsin-born favorite in the company of some of the biggest names in the burger business. The rankings were determined by votes from USA Today readers after nominations from a panel of food experts.

Around Northern Illinois, that's not what we would call shocking news.

Culver's

Rockford's First Culver's Location Opened 30 Years Ago In 1996

Rockford got Culver's surprisingly early in the chain's expansion. Culver's was founded in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin, and by 1993 there were only 14 restaurants, all in southern Wisconsin. The company's first restaurants outside Wisconsin didn't arrive until 1995, so the Rockford area was among the earliest markets to embrace the brand.

Going back to the rankings for best fast-food burger in America, here's the complete USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice rankings for 2026:

1. Habit Burger & Grill – Double Char
2. A&W – Papa Burger
3. Jack in the Box – Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger
4. In-N-Out Burger – Double-Double
   5. Culver's – Double ButterBurger with Cheese
5. Five Guys – Cheeseburger (tie)
6. Shake Shack – ShackBurger
7. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers – Original Double
8. Burger King – Whopper
9. Whataburger – Double Meat Whataburger

The annual rankings begin with nominations from a panel of burger experts and USA Today 10Best editors before readers across the country cast the votes to determine the final order.

white In-N-Out Burger neon sign

Here Are A Few Things About Culver's That You May Not Know

Their signature ButterBurger isn't cooked in butter. Instead, the lightly buttered bun is toasted before serving, giving the sandwich its distinctive flavor and name. Every burger is cooked to order using fresh, never-frozen beef that's pressed and seared on the grill.

A few other fun Culver's facts:

• The chain now has restaurants in more than two dozen states, but it has stayed true to its Midwestern roots (26 states, 1,040 locations)
• Culver's fresh frozen custard is made in small batches throughout the day, which is why fans swear it tastes richer and creamier than traditional ice cream.
• Wisconsin Cheese Curds have become nearly as iconic as the ButterBurger, helping introduce a classic Badger State snack to diners across the country.
• In 2025 alone, Culver's guests enjoyed more than 200 million of the chain's signature buttered, toasted buns, proving America has developed quite an appetite for the Midwest original.