Kewpee Hamburgers

With over 100 years of experience they have the burger buisness figured out! Great tasting burger and fast friendly service. Dont let the line scare you away at this location. We were eating within 5 minutes of walking in the door.

Love Kewpee! Burgers always good and original. Folks working there are great. Lady at the DU window is so friendly. In my many years every order is correct. Prices are reasonable. Food is good. It shows, always a line, always same staff.

Best burgers ever! Meat is sourced locally. It's a Lima tradition, we come here every time we are in town from North Carolina!

Hello! I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your kindness! Your food was absolutely amazing after a long trip in the truck. You’re my heroes ❤️

I finally tried Kewpee after driving by many times. I felt like I was whisked away to a much simpler time as soon as I walked in. It was older inside, but well maintained. They had someone taking orders ahead since there was a decent line. But by the time I made it to the counter the order was ready and freshly made. There are no combo meals here. Everything is straight forward priced. The burger and fries were tasty and exactly as I ordered them. I look forward to returning the next time I’m in Lima!

This place is amazing, fresh pies, donuts. Yes, we had to wait in line because it's so fabulous. Even the drive through is packed 10 cars back. Want an old-fashioned hamburger and a wonderful old-fashioned setting. Original owners come here and stop by the frosties are fantastic. The staff is absolutely wonderful, friendly

It was okay food the one in downtown lima was definitely better and friendlier staff... the old woman behind the counter needs to retire or take customer service course my husband wanted just 4 hamburger patties with cheese on a plate no bread nothing just meat and cheese and it was like you asked her to make a science project as she asked multiple times, making remarks, and scribbling on her note pad but the younger lady that was cooking knew exactly what he wanted as soon as he said it so thank you to the kind lady cooking

Very cool place. Burgers are awesome. Love the diner experience. You will not be disappointed!

Kewpee Hamburger is a legendary place worth going to. They have very good servers and for how busy they are they manage the crowd well. It also is a very calm atmosphere there even when there is a lot of people. There food is amazing and there burgers are the best I've ever had in my life.

Kewpee Hamburgers is a legendary burger joint in Lima, Ohio that's been in business for about 100 years. A century in business??? They must be doing something right. Named after the kewpie doll, the baby logo'd brand specializes in burgers, chili, milkshakes, french fries, and donuts. This place is a prized possession in Lima, so be prepared to wait in line for a mighty long time if you visit during lunch hour. Whether the drive thru or in the restaurant, the wait is real! Walking in is like stepping into a time machine. It's as old school as old school gets. From the employees uniforms to the bright orange stools to the retro booths, eating at Kewpee is like dining inside a museum of burger nostalgia. THE ORDER: Double Cheeseburger w/ LTO, mustard, and pickles.On the side, I went with French Fries and a Cup of Chili w/ shredded cheese and sour cream. For $10.47, this was the lunch of champions. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. WIll it blow your freakin' mind? Of course not, but it's a damn fine meal if you ask me! What a find in Lima. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this local institution, I highly suggest you score yourself a very tasty burger!

The finest old fashioned hamburgers and malteds in the state. We were in Lima at the beginning of July and wanted something quick and tasty. Yelp directed us around the corner to this location. We looked it up and drove over but never checked in and didn't eat there. It must be a high priority matter that I, once again, don't understand. I've gotten a continuous daily message and an email for me to write a review. All I can think to do is relay the details of our last visit here. The people were very friendly and so efficient. They had the order perfect and everything tasted great. The malted stood out, as always and one more time we all ate more than we should've. A very clean dining room, no surprise. I also was very impressed with their snow removal team. We were the first customers there and that lot was cleared of a good foot of snow from the night before. The best part of Kewpee was the ridiculously low prices. $1.90 for a cheeseburger or $1 for a double large drink. I imagine the costs are still somewhat low! 07/24

The legend of Lima is real! Scoping out the Lima food scene from afar, the one constant was Kewpee. It stood out as an old standby and something beloved by the community, so when we visited I knew we had to check it out at some point and I'm so glad we made it happen. There's some serious history here, going back more than 100 years, and a visit here is a step right back into it. The space is brimming with nostalgia in the best way possible, and if you visit at peak times you'll see it's a community tradition with multiple generations represented in the line. The menu old school in the best way possible. Burgers are the focus, with fries, shakes, pie, chili and donuts as the accompaniments. The burgers are ground fresh and hand pattied every morning, a difference you can taste, then topped with the basics, but you can get a little wild if you want, adding bacon or even green olives and miracle whip for I believe .10 each, if the mood strikes. I wanted to try the greatest hits and ordered a double cheeseburger with bacon and tomato added to the standard free toppings, fry, small chocolate malt, cup of chili, and a "Double Large" soda. The grand total was $16.50, so it seems that prices here haven't changed much in 100 years either, which is wild. Additional toppings ran about .10-.20 each and the largest soda was less than $1.50, pricing you can't find anywhere else. Everything was solid. Exactly what you expect from a nostalgic burger shack. I'm so happy we had this experience and if you're in the area, you should go for one too. I sure wish I knew where that baby came from though.

Line around the restaurant on the inside and drive thru was jamming to get a very tasty Kewpee Burger. Excellent and fresh quality fast food in the heart of America! Wonderful and friendly service- as long as you follow the protocol.

I'm not leaving a review based on their hamburgers. Their lemonade slush is the best lemonade slush I've had in a long time. Perfectly tart and sweet. Drive-thru is always a pretty decent line so make sure you have the time to wait for some food. Staff is usually friendly or not, no in between. Most of the time they are friendly though. I've never eaten inside so I couldn't give much insight into how dine in experience is.

Landmark fastfood-- we needed to try while driving through Lima. Line was really long at 2pm on a Tuesday, but it went fairly fast as staff took orders before arriving at the counter. We had cheeseburgers, chili, fries and pie. The restaurant was clean and the employees were very friendly. The cheeseburgers were very good. We ordered the special. The chili and fries were not as good as what we might order at the other square-burger national chain. We did enjoy the pie and the frozen lemonade. We understand why this is a destination and are glad we stopped here.

This place makes a great burger. This place is very efficient. The line inside and outside was very long at lunchtime. But they handled it very well and as long as the line was the line continually moved. The chili was good and so are the shakes ! Definitely stop in !

Legend has it that Kewpees is where Dave Thomas stole all his ideas to start Wendy's. In fact, many of the locals will swear to it. As such, I had to try it during my recent trip to Lima, Ohio which is between Toledo and Dayton. There are three locations in Lima and they may very well be the last Kewpees that exist. We ate at the Allentown Road location. The first thing you notice is that the drive through line is similar to a Chick-fil-A. It was stretched out into the adjacent street. The line inside was just as long and people waited patiently as we all crept through it. Looking around the place it is definitely a step back in time. The decor is sixties fast food and the staff still wear white pants, white shirts and those paper Gomer Pyle caps. (Google it lol). They actually had one man who did nothing but bus tables and looked like he stepped out of a Back To The Future diner. All of it was awesome. Wife ordered a single and I ordered a double. There are no value meals or combo meals. Everything is ala carte and all of it is a value so no deals were needed even though you have to pay .10 extra for tomato and lettuce. Remarkably, there is nothing "Super Sized" here. Except now, they do have a "double X" drink. That's a new thing. Everything else is normal size. Like what you would imagine normal is supposed to look like before we all got fat in America. I definitely see why the locals resent Wendy's because this food sure looked familiar. Although, not only is Kewpees beef never frozen like Wendy's, they grind it daily in house! Everything was tasty too. It reminded me of how Wendy's tasted when I was a kid. Before copackers took over fast food and dumped preservatives and processing into the mix. The best, by far for us was the "Frosted". No, not Frosty, Frosted. That blew Wendy's out of the water. So thick you can turn it upside down and nothing moves. Also, you know how a Frosty starts liquifying almost immediately? Not a Frosted. It sat on the table and watched us eat our meal and was just as thick as when we sat down. So if you want to see where it all began for Wendy's, don't go Downtown Columbus. Go to Lima, Ohio. It is worth it and it isn't too far off of I-75.

I have yet to get an actual hot hamburger, barely like warm. It's a local favorite, for some reason, don't see or taste it! Better than McDonalds!

someone of the kewpee staff put a green olive in my cheeseburger when i didn't even ask for olives

Kewpee is our hometown hamburger joint so no one is allowed to diss it! Juicy hamburgers, hot crisp fries, chocolate frosted malts and every kind of pie you could want! What else can I say ?

Always a Lima classic - Kewpee cheeseburgers and french fries. The burger patties are small so if you're exceptionally hungry get a double or two single burgers. The French fries are always perfect with a little crunch. The soda sizes are tiny here, so an extra large is a normal small at other fast food places. The fresh pies are always a sweet way to finish the meal. Or get a frosty for dipping your fries. The drive-through line can look daunting but it moves fairly fast during rush periods. The menu is pretty limited but there's fish sandwiches and chilli to mix it up with.

Couldn't get served today...they let us wait in line and then got down to the point where we were the last two...then told us they couldn't serve us. Wtf!? Wow... of course we were black and everyone in front of us were white. Smh! 2022! I've been coming to kewpee for 36 years! Gotta be my last time. Wow!!

The best family owned restaurant in Lima, If your not from around the area it's a must.

The best place for burgers!!! And a great fish sandwich too!!! The service is great and hard workers there for sure

Always horrible...wrong order and waited 32 min from speaker to window today. Last time ever.

Oh my goodness. In Lima for work. Had a late night, driving back to hotel saw Kewpee's thought I grab a bite, pulled in parking lot at 8:00 pm. Saw a line like no other inside and at drive through. Came back today decided to grab a couple to try. It has to be good, based on what every body I asked. And the line is just as crazy. Must say place is clean, line moved like no other. Totally impressed. Will update once I try my burger. It smells delicious. Ok update here, I just ate my burger, a double with cheese, onion, mustard pickle, relish. Pretty darn good. This place puts fast back in fast food. Defiantly worth the stop even seeing the long lines. Do not pass this place up!

The burger that you crave. Lines are long at times but move steadily. Clean and fast. The staff keeps things moving and in order

Local beef used and ground fresh daily! The burgers have a taste like no other restaurant! Chili is awesome!! And don't forget to try their Yuban Coffee.

Kewpee has some of the best hamburgers in the Midwest. However, on October 7, my wife and I got to this location at 8:28 pm with 10 people in line. We got our food at 9:15. The high school staff was more interested in closing. Taking down grills, shake machine, garbage cans, without focus on their customers. Good burgers and horrible service won't keep any business open. I miss the two or three ladies that were there for 30+ years, that would never have allowed customers to be treated so badly. Lima has some of the most patient folks on the planet to put up with such lousy service.

I'd heard of this place and the chains history so when I was in the area, I decided to stop in for lunch. What I received was a no frills, solid fast food burger and fries + malt. Everything was fresh and the fries were perfectly crispy, all for less than $6 Next time I come through town I'll definitely stop again and maybe try the pie!

We are from out of town but we're told we had to stop on by our next visit to Lima. The Kewpee was super cute and had an awesome diner vibe - like stepping back! The service was so so - the person that took our order was very disinterested and took the order down incorrectly. The food was good - real beef hamburger and the fries were good. They had a nice selection of pies available as well. A really fun option for burgers if you are in the area!

Best burger & fries around. I always get a frozen yogurt for dessert. Better to go before the adults leave at 3:30. After that, service slows way down

I lived in Lima for 10 years, and left with my wife to Travel Nurse in various states. We moved back this year from New Mexico and have settled back in... We thought we would give Kewpee another try. I saw very long lines and figured that the food may have improved in the 11 years we were gone...WRONG. I mean , the burger was ok..the fries were ok, but not as good as Happy Daz. The Medium size soda was the size of a child's! I just don't get it I guess. It must be that Kewpee has been around forever, so people are used to it. I have nothing against the restaurant, but it doesn't rise to the level of some other restaurants in town. Sorry.

Great food great people great service. A must stop if you are in the area. Got to get a piece of pie

Kewpee is always packed to the street so I have get the chance the l to eat there but the food and staff are all great. There's is a reason it's crowded all the time

I grew up in Lima but have no memory of going to Kewpees as a kid, but when I went back for a visit in 1986 our old neighbors told me our families used to go there all the time and I just had to go there while I was in town. I do remember always liking Kewpee Dolls and that is probably why--they were planted in my subconscious! I went to the one on Allentown Rd, near our old neighborhood, not realizing this was a newer one and wouldn't have been the one we used to go to. But I still loved it--cheap everything and the desserts looked so good I had to try three of them! You can't find Sugar Cream Pie in California unless you make it yourself! Their pecan pie was pretty respectable and the malt was yummy! My kids and I all had a good time. Later when I found out that was a new one I went to the one downtown and enjoyed it too. though the parking was inconvenient--had to park about a block away. I made sure to go to the one downtown when I was back in '97 with my family and it was great then too. This past October, 2007, I was back to Lima again and headed for the first Kewpee's I found--the one on Bellafontaine--by myself this trip. I still enjoyed it, having burger, fries, small malt and both sugar cream and Mincemeat Pie (you won't find that in Cali either). I think I ate sugar cream pie in every restaurant I went to that carried it the whole trip! I even bought a Kewpee's coffee cup an saved the bag for a keepsake. The next day I went back to the one on Allentown and ate there again. So much for variety! So I guess this is my review of all three Kewpee's! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kewpee

This was a great find on our way south on I-75! Three double cheeseburgers and an order of fries for less than $17! Thin burgers fried on a griddle while you wait. Delicious and fast food that is with the stop!

Kewpee takes IN-N-OUT's formula of a simple, cheap menu with high-quality ingredients and adds a touch of genuine Midwestern charm. Almost all the ingredients are local: the meat is ground and pattied in-house daily, the produce and dairy is local, the buns are baked daily in Lima. The day staff mostly is adults, big ones, who look like they have no higher aspirations than burger work or have retired and just want something to do. That's not a criticism. They're absolutely awesome for being into Kewpee's. If I could make a living slinging burger, I probably would. Anyway, the food is out of this world. Burgers are fresh. Chili is famous, but I wasn't impressed. The malts are a bit bland and taste more like soft serve than a genuine malt. Some other nice features at this Kewpee location: MasterCard is accepted. Old people EVERYWHERE. Naked kewpee dolls hanging from the walls. LOTS of parking and registers to take your order. The downtown Kewpee is short on both and almost always has a line. Also, the food wrappers are so cute I had to save mine. Example: My malt cup reads, "Hamburg Pickle On Top! Makes Your *heart symbol* Go Flippity Flop!" I intend to take every out-of-town guest to Kewpee. Well, maybe not the vegetarians.

Wow, I somehow didn't know about this place until recently. What a trip down nostalgia lane. The food is inexpensive, delicious, quality, and the service is great. Cheeseburger, fries, Malts, and a bunch of homemade pie options. It's like walking into the 60's in here. Worth a special trip to try out this regional fare. Rare 5 star.

Once I moved to the Delphos-Lima area, was told to try out Kewpees. One of the great things about this place, is its simplicity. The menu is simple, yet it has some great food! And some of the best fast food hamburgers I've ever had! Burgers are made fresh and are very juicy and tasty. It can get very busy at times so it is best to schedule your time around the rush hours. The cheap prices are also a plus, especially for a college student like myself! I really appreciate the style of the restaurants, they keep the soul of what I understand as an icon for a part of Lima's history. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a quick bite to eat!

I loved it. This is a diner. Straight out of 1960. But it is clean as you would hope. Friendly staff. I had a double cheeseburger and I enjoyed it. It doesn't massively stand out but I would eat it anytime. I liked it. Enjoyed it. Very much liked eating there too. It was 3pm in the afternoon and it was busy! Be confident going here for a good sandwich.

Keewpee has always been a Lima favorite. Best burgers in Ohio! The chili is always on point as well.

It's Lima Ohio version of Wendys and think it better also cheaper. I try to go there as much as possible to help support the community.

This was our go to joint every time we were looking for a burger fix. (During 2004 - 2007, when we lived in Lima, OH) 1) The staff were always attentive and friendly. They were always joking around when we ordered our food. 2) The burgers as well as the ingredients tasted fresh. 3) Service was fast.

Off Allentown on the westside this Kewpee can get busy, very busy at peak times. The line at the drive thru can snake back all the way to the alley behind. Although it is fast food it does take the line forever to move-- fast food but the burgers here are fried fresh so unlike chains there are no sweaty drawer they keep them in. Going inside is no solution, as the duel lines in their cafeteria serving format go out the doors. So keep in mind if you are on a schedule. As with the others in town this store serves great food--fast food staples. In its day, the 1920s, the Kewpee was an original chain with art deco designs sparkling in every city across the midwest; think soda waitresses on skates, red round trays held high, white hats, flapper grown, shakes. This is one of five now left and the newest one being built in the 1980s, they have long given up the skater girls for a modern drive-thru. If you are visiting Lima from elsewhere ( my condolences!) I'd suggest visiting the downtown location. Its historical space will give you a sense of its past. The food is comparable to Culivers or In-and-Out Burger on the west coast, except the patty is thinner and cheaper. If you notice similarities to Wendy's this is no acccident. There is plenty evidence that Mr Thomas took concepts from the old chain for his new one in the 1960s. For fast food I've always love the Kewpee. I usually get The Special which has tomatoes, lettuce and mayonnaise. I still think their fries are better than any giant chain you can think of. The dining area here as of all their stores needs work. There is little to no atmosphere and it echoey acoustics can be as depressing as the rusting crumble of factories boarded around town. But still, it s a great place to eat for a great price. History addendum: Yes the Kewpie doll hanging above is creepy, but the doll has a history connected with Americana. At one time cities had amusment parks usual at the end of the trolley car line. For example, Olengtangy Park that once was at the Giant Eagle in Clintonville. There was once found game booth, like at the fair, were one could win prizes. A common prize was a toy called Kewpie Dolls which were these anatomically incorrect porcelain dolls like the one hanging at Kewpee Hamburgers. They came from an cartoon artist and the name is a warping of cupid. --the more you know!---

Always a staple every time I come home. Love love love those burgers! Usually busy, expect to wait in a line whether drive thru or inside. Sometimes hard to find seating if you come during usual lunch or dinner hours. Any of the burgers are delightful, and I always get a malt. Hamburger, pickle on top makes MY heart go flipity flop!! I personally like these burgers better than McDonald's and the other regular fast food places. Fries are so-so.

Interesting little local place to get a hamburger. They do have fries and chili available also. The hamburgers are fresh and the patties do not appear to be frozen at least when they are grilling them. Unfortunately the hamburger has almost no flavor and neither does the bun. The price is right and that probably explains why so many locals come here. You cannot go to the Golden Arches and get a loaded burger for $2.40. Also had their strawberry rhubarb pie and it was pretty good. It was not loaded with sugar like some people do but it is also not Grandmas. Getting a slice of pie for $2.10 is a great price though. Total bill for burger, fries, extra large soda and piece of pie was $7.58. Again this is probably why so many locals come here.

Prices and decor are as if stuck in time. Haven't visited in almost 20 years but still the exact same. Great quality and excellent value. Menu limited for kids if not burger eaters.

Second time eating from this location, and very impressed! The burgers were fresh, and hot! The fries were good with just the right amount of salt, most other places fries are way salty. Ordered 2 of the double Burgers with cheese with fries and double large soda's . Plenty of pickels and Onions were on my friends Burger just the way he liked it. Hot, Juicy and flavorful burgers!

Growing up in Lima had it's good times and bad. One of the best things about Lima is it's good grub! Because I now reside in the San Francisco Bay, I have been able to experience both Kewpee and In-and-Out. While to me there is NO comparison, kewpee reigns in my book for best burgers EVER. Kewpee was around before In-and-Out and will be around forever! Although they have a very simple menu, it never gets old...and the pecan or sugar cream pie is to die for! I can't even find sugar cream pie anywhere else! If you are ever "Lost In Middle America" or in LIMA, be sure to stop by Kewpee. There are 3 locations for your picking!

Yikes, Kewpee and In-N-Out should never be compared or even used in the same sentence. Two totally different hamburger worlds! Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy an In-N-Out burger (animal style) But Kewpee will always come first in my heart! For me, no burger joint will ever come close to touching Kewpee's! You can get relish and GREEN OLIVES on your burger for the love of god, show me another burger place that does that! I order my Kewpee burger loaded with just about everything but the kitchen sink. My whole family is from Lima, OH and I spent many a summer there growing up, for me Kewpee is always my first stop, before I even go see my grandma. I generally visit the Allentown Rd location, but I do enjoy the gritty downtown location as well! And yes, I am one of those people who dips their burger and their fries in the malts, and man is that the best! Somebody Fedex some Kewpee's out here to AZ, I am in desperate need!

Kewpee was a staple of my childhood as we used to drive an hour from Defiance for a hamburger. I live in Columbus now and happily drive almost 2 hours for one of the best classic burger experiences in the US. We habe visited the Racine location years ago but you'll be hard pressed to find an experience that rivals the vintage downtown Lima experience.

Best hamburgers in town. They're simple, old fashioned, and freshly made to order. My favorite thing to accompany them is getting fries and a chocolate malt to dip them in. This place is usually busy so give yourself sometime to order, but it's so worth it. You won't want to miss this local treasure.

Fast, inexpensive, great food. Should have known when the drive-thru was always full when we drove by that there was good food inside. Only disturbing thing were the naked Kewpee dolls on the wall.

Kewpee Hamburgers is a pillar in the community of Lima, Ohio. Great food, great employees, and top notch owners. The food is great because of the high quality ingredients (fresh beef ground and pattied daily, locally sourced buns, etc) that are used by this restaurant and the reason for this is the owner's character. They could easily use more economical ingredients but they will accept nothing less than top quality for their customers; their name goes on every meal that is produced. Equally important is their support of the community. I'm fortunate to live in Lima where I have easy access but I know many people that have moved away and make Kewpee one of their first stops when returning home. It doesn't matter if you go to Kewpee East, West, or downtown; great food and great service all the time.

Kewpee never disappoints. Everytime I visit Lima, Kewpee is a must go to place. Fresh Ingredients and hometown feel.

Fabulous service with ever better food! The burgers were greasy and tasty. I love the old time feel of the place. Very well up-kept and friendly staff. Will visit again.