Nebraska's Tiniest Burger Joint Will Have Your Mouth Watering In No Time
By Delana Lefevers|Published December 23, 2017
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this article, Staab’s Drive Inn has permanently closed.
There’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of a juicy, perfectly seasoned burger. You’ll never be at a loss for choices in Nebraska, where it seems like just about every restaurant and bar serves up their own version of the perfect burger. There’s one special little place that just might be the tiniest burger joint in the entire state, and you’ll be happy you stopped by.
Staab's Drive Inn in Crawford has been a staple of western Nebraska summers since 1981. The seasonal stand is so tiny that you might miss it if you're not looking for it.
There's no indoor seating here. In fact, there's not even a whole lot of room inside for the workers to move around. But everything is meticulously organized and clean so you know you're getting quality treats.
Many people come just for the ice cream, which is amazing. The broasted chicken is another local favorite. For a real retro treat, though, we recommend trying the burger.
The hand-formed patties are made with fresh, high-quality beef. There's nothing fancy here — just meat, a bun, maybe some cheese, and the basic condiments. Spring for a double if you're really hungry.
The taste will take you back decades to when everything was made by hand. The sheer novelty (for young people, anyway) of walking up to a window and ordering food is sweetly nostalgic. If you want to stop and stay for a while, there's a covered outdoor seating area.
While you won't find anything fancy at Staab's, you will find friendly, fast service and some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet. If they're not too busy helping customers, be sure to chat for a while. You'll walk away with a smile on your face for sure.
Staab’s Drive Inn is open seasonally from approximately March through October. Keep up with the opening dates, new menu items, specials, events, and the often-hilarious letter board sign out front on their Facebook page.
If you’re looking for more burger action (or you just can’t wait for Staab’s to open) check out some of our other favorite Nebraska burger joints here and here.
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