I tried frozen custard from Culver's, Freddy's, and Shake Shack — and there's only one chain I'm rushing to return to

I ordered frozen custard from Culver's, Freddy's, and Shake Shack. The winning dessert came from a Midwest favorite.Savannah BornI visited chains Culver's, Freddy's, and Shake Shack in search of the best frozen custard.Freddy's seemed to have solid prices, and Shake Shack's portion size felt generous.In the end, Culver's left me most impressed with its frozen-custard desserts.Nothing beats a sip, spoon, or bite of anything cold on a hot summer day — especially frozen custard.Best described as ice cream's rich cousin, frozen custard is made with egg yolks, which are meant to give it a thick, dense consistency.Culver's, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and Shake Shack are all known for their custard, including blended concoctions, and I was curious which had the best. There was only one way to find out.I spent the same Wednesday night at all three chains, ordering a plain vanilla custard and (when possible) an Oreo-themed custard concrete. To keep things fair, I opted for the smallest size of each.Here's how they measured up in taste, value, and price.I started at Culver's, a Midwest staple.Savannah BornCulver'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.Culver's seemed moderately busy for a weeknight.Savannah BornThe 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.Freddy's is also a Midwest staple, but it's pretty new to me.Savannah BornAnother 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.Freddy's seemed much busier than Culver's.Savannah BornA 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.This was my first time at a Shake Shack.Savannah BornShake 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.This Shake Shack had a chic, modern vibe.Savannah BornUnlike 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.Culver's custard was super customizable.Savannah BornWith 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.I ordered the same thing at Freddy's.Savannah BornThe 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.Unfortunately, Shake Shack didn't have custard concretes on the menu.Savannah BornSince 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 on

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