Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: What to Order and Where to Find Them in South Carolina

A South Carolina chain built on fresh custard and hand-formed burgers

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is a regional fast-casual restaurant where you order at a counter and eat in a booth or take food with you. The menu centers on hand-formed steakburgers made fresh throughout the day—not pre-formed patties—and frozen custard made on-site in small batches. Unlike soft-serve ice cream, frozen custard contains more egg yolks and butterfat, giving it a denser, richer texture. Freddy's also serves hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, fries, and shakes, but the steakburger and custard are what draw people back.

The chain started in Nebraska in 2002 and has expanded across the Midwest and into the Southeast. South Carolina locations are concentrated in the Upstate and the Midlands, making it easier to find if you live in or near Greenville, Columbia, or Spartanburg than if you're on the coast.

Key Takeaways

• Freddy's hand-forms steakburgers to order and makes frozen custard fresh daily, so both take longer than typical fast food but taste noticeably different.
• The menu includes single and double burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and a full custard dessert menu with shakes, concretes, and sundaes.
• Most South Carolina locations are in the Upstate (Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson) and Midlands (Columbia, Irmo), with a few in the Lowcountry.
• Freddy's is more expensive than McDonald's or Burger King but cheaper than sit-down burger restaurants, with most burgers in the $8 to $12 range.
• The frozen custard flavor changes daily, so the menu board shows what's available that day rather than a fixed rotation.

What to order: burgers, custard, and sides

The steakburger is the signature item. You choose between a single (one patty) or double (two patties), and the kitchen forms the meat fresh when you order. Toppings include lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mustard, ketchup, mayo, and cheese. The beef has a slightly higher fat content than typical fast-food burger meat, which is why it tastes beefier and stays juicier. If you want to taste the difference between a Freddy's burger and a chain burger made hours earlier, order a single with just cheese and condiments.

The frozen custard comes in cups or cones, and you can order it plain or mixed with toppings—crushed candy, brownie chunks, cookie pieces, or fruit. A "concrete" is custard blended with mix-ins until thick enough that the spoon stands up in it. Shakes, malts, and sundaes are also available. The flavor rotates daily, so the board might show salted caramel one day and turtle cheesecake the next. If you have a favorite, ask staff when it cycles back.

Sides include hand-cut fries (thicker than fast-food fries, cooked to order), cheese curds, and onion rings. The fries are worth ordering on their own. Hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and salads round out the menu for people who don't want a burger.

South Carolina locations and hours

Freddy's has roughly a dozen locations across South Carolina, with the heaviest concentration in Greenville County. The Greenville area has stores in downtown Greenville, Simpsonville, and Mauldin. Spartanburg, Anderson, and the surrounding Upstate towns each have one or two locations. In the Midlands, Columbia and Irmo have Freddy's restaurants. A few locations exist in the Lowcountry, though they are less common than in the Upstate.

Hours vary by location but typically run from late morning (around 10 or 11 a.m.) through late evening (9 or 10 p.m.). Some locations stay open later on weekends. Because hours and locations change, check the Freddy's website or call ahead before driving across town. Many locations are in shopping centers or standalone buildings near major roads, making them easy to spot once you know the address.

Price and what to expect when you arrive

A single steakburger with fries costs roughly $8 to $10, depending on toppings and location. A double runs $10 to $12. Frozen custard cups or cones start around $4 to $5 for a small. A combo meal (burger, fries, drink) typically costs $12 to $15. This is noticeably more than McDonald's but less than a sit-down burger restaurant like Five Guys or a local diner.

When you walk in, you order at the counter and pay before eating. The kitchen makes your burger fresh, so expect a wait of 5 to 10 minutes during busy times. Fries and custard are usually faster. You can eat in the dining room, take food with you, or order through a drive-through window if your location has one. The dining room is casual—booths and tables, no table service—and the atmosphere is family-friendly, with kids and adults both common during lunch and dinner.

How Freddy's frozen custard differs from soft-serve ice cream

Soft-serve ice cream (the kind at McDonald's or Dairy Queen) is made with less fat and more air whipped in, which makes it lighter and fluffier. Frozen custard is made with egg yolks and a higher fat content, so it's denser and creamier. The texture is closer to premium ice cream than to soft-serve, even though it's served at a slightly warmer temperature. If you've never had custard before, the difference is noticeable on the first spoonful.

Freddy's makes custard fresh throughout the day in small batches, which is why the flavor changes daily and why it tastes fresher than mass-produced ice cream. The downside is that you can't always get your favorite flavor—if you love turtle cheesecake and it's not on the board today, you'll have to come back another day or choose something else.

Freddy's as a casual family or group meal

Freddy's works well for a quick lunch, a casual dinner with family, or a group outing where people want different things. Because you order at the counter, there's no wait for a server, and everyone can customize their burger and custard order. The price point is reasonable for a group, and the food comes out quickly enough that you're not sitting around hungry.

The restaurant is also a good stop if you're driving through the Upstate and want something better than a typical fast-food burger. If you're in Greenville for a day trip or passing through on I-85, a Freddy's location is usually within a few minutes of the highway. The combination of a real steakburger and fresh custard makes it worth a detour if you're curious about the difference between this and what you'd get at a chain burger place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order a burger without waiting?

No. Freddy's hand-forms steakburgers to order, so there's always a wait of a few minutes, even if the restaurant is quiet. During lunch or dinner rush, expect 5 to 10 minutes. If you're in a hurry, order a hot dog or chicken sandwich instead, which are prepared faster.

What if my favorite custard flavor isn't on the menu today?

Flavors rotate daily, so you can ask staff when that flavor typically comes back around. Some flavors are seasonal or appear less often than others. You can also choose a different flavor or order a plain custard with toppings mixed in.

Does Freddy's have a drive-through?

Some locations do, but not all. Check your nearest location's website or call ahead to confirm. Even with a drive-through, expect a short wait because burgers are made fresh.

Is Freddy's more expensive than McDonald's?

Yes. A Freddy's steakburger and fries cost roughly twice what you'd pay for a McDonald's burger combo. The difference is that Freddy's burgers are hand-formed fresh and made with higher-quality beef, and the custard is made on-site daily rather than shipped in.

Are there vegetarian options?

Freddy's menu is meat-focused, but you can order a salad or ask about veggie toppings on a bun. Call your local restaurant to ask what options they can make for vegetarian diets.