The food was out of this world. Burger was crispy and smashed just like we like it! Chicken strips were delish, gravy was homemade. Got the bbq pork nachos and they were the perfect mix of sweet salty and a little heat from jalapeños. There cheese sauce was homemade. Plenty of seating, parking and the wait wasn't bad at all. Most of the workers were super friendly, but there was one girl in the front of house that was not the friendliest or most helpful. It seemed like we were bothering her when we needed a refill or wanted to order ice cream after. Everyone else seemed really nice and she may have just been having an off day.

Great diner food. Always fast service. Staff is always polite and courteous. Clean. Nice outdoor area.

Krekels is where you go for a great burger! It is one of the best smash burgers in the area! Flavorful, with a nice crisp texture on the ends with your choice of toppings and made to order! Request the double for the best smash burger impact! The storefront may not have the most current fixtures and the chairs may be a bit worn but that's only because Krekel's focus is clearly on giving you one of the best burgers in the area! Give them a visit. The wait might be a bit longer compared to one of those national chains but Krekel's burger is worth the wait!

It's a fast sandwich shop. Quick and nothing fancy. Good is good, shakes great, service great. Come as u are and feel welcome. Friendly. Clean.

The best hamburgers and fries! Lots of choices for meals. Ice cream always! Always busy -- everyone can find something to eat!

I had been scouring the Western region of Central Illinois to find a good burger, and alas! I have found it. I had ordered a #4 Special...a Triple Cheeseburger (a silly amount of patties), crinkle cut fries, and a medium fountain beverage in which I chose, Mr. Pibb. The Pibb was a Pibb. Bubbly, spicy cherry goodness that slid down my gullet with ease. The fries were crunchy with a soft interior. The type of fry that you hope...has some extras at the bottom. They put me in a state of sleep paralysis where I thought I was eating deep fried clouds due to the soft pillowy texture inside the crispier outer shell. It was that level of perfection. The burger...heaven! Gooey, drippy cheese...so succulent I thought I was back at mothers for Sunday dinner! The patties were not just 100% pure beef. They were 100% bewilderment. I couldn't fathom the flavour and sexual tension I was receiving from these patties. Grilled Onions?Mayo? What was not to endear about this burger? Krekels was a magnificent experience, and while my buttcheeks may end up spreading like rumors after...I will be back. Everyday. Until I perish. Shit was straight gas. Sincerely, Billingsley.

My wife grew up on Krekels while living in Central Illinois. We live in the St. Louis area now and Krekels is about an hour and half away. So every now and then we will hop in the car for a Krekels trip. It's a lunch adventure because there are so many cool places to stop on the way. When we get to Krekels, we know the trip was worth it. Their burgers are always tasty! My wife loves the breaded mushrooms. My kids love their chicken strips. Top it off with some crinkle cut fries and you have the perfect meal! We will continue making trips to Krekels! It's a taste of nostalgia. It's the way food should be everywhere! Goodness in every bite!

I'm sad I wasn't able to stay and enjoy a burger because I'm sure they would've tasted great but we came to Krekels to get ice cream. The menu seemed a bit overwhelming at first but once you figure out what type of treat you want (sundaes, soft serve, concrete, milkshake, etc.) it's pretty easy to pick what you want. I went with the World's Fair concrete which included vanilla, pretzels, peanuts, chipped chocolate, and waffle cone. We ordered, paid, and got it almost within 2 minutes. Amazing!

Overall experience: 4.7/5 Location: about 3 miles from interstate 55. Perfect for a food stop on a road trip. We were driving from St. Louis to Chicago and stopped. Cute little place (pic of outside posted). There are small (tiny two-seater) tables outside, we had dogs with us so that was nice to have a place to sit with them out of the car. Service: Excellent. Small town friendly. Coming from Texas, we appreciate that. Ambiance: can't really speak to that as I was the one assigned to sitting with the dogs outside but my boyfriend who went in to order our food said it was older interior but clean and decent. Apparently there are no restrooms? Again, didn't go in, this was told to me by the boyfriend. But there is a Casey's General Store (gas station) a block away that has restrooms. Food: we both got the meal deals that included fries and a drink. I also got the chocolate chip malt. (Pictures included since there are only pictures of people on previous reviews). The meal deal options include double/triple patty options, but they're thin patties so it's like one tick patty. Very good burger comes dry and you choose your toppings. Basic burger place that doesn't try to get fancy, just serve good burgers. The fries were crinkle cut fries and yummy. The malt was super yummy, not too thick.