One burger shop here once closed every Tuesday, a habit that started with Meatless Tuesdays during World War II. That rule is gone now.
The cheeseburger that made people care about it is still very much here.
The patties are ground fresh every day. Cooks mash them thin on a flat grill until the edges crisp up.
Then they land on a toasted bun with a slice of yellow cheese, and that’s basically the whole plan.
I love how stubborn that sounds. This Pennsylvania counter has been doing the same simple thing since 1935, and it never felt the need to dress it up.
So how does a plain little cheeseburger keep families coming back for generations? The answer is tastier than you might expect.
The Cheeseburger That Refuses To Get Fancy
Fresh ground beef, a toasted bun, and one slice of yellow cheese. That short list is the whole reason Charlies Hamburgers has stayed busy since 1935.
The patties are made fresh daily, not pulled from a freezer box. Cooks form them by hand and mash them onto a flat grill, where they get thin and crisp around the edges.
Then comes the bun, which is soft white bread toasted on the grill. It’s often buttered and seasoned with salt and pepper, so even the bread brings some flavor to the party.
The slice of signature yellow cheese melts right over the hot beef. Nothing hides it.
No towering stack of sauces gets in the way.
I like that this burger trusts itself. Plenty of modern spots pile on ten toppings to look exciting, but this one keeps things tight and balanced.
One food writer summed it up as no frills, with no frills needed. That’s a pretty fair way to describe a burger that has outlasted trends for almost a century.
If you’re a first-timer, start with the plain cheeseburger. It’s the clearest way to understand why people keep returning.
Go Double If You Want The Sweet Spot
Two patties change everything here. The double cheeseburger is often called out for having the best balance on the menu, and it’s easy to see why.
Each patty is thin, so one alone can feel a little light for a big appetite. Stack two, and you get more crispy edges and more beefy flavor without the burger getting clumsy.
The single slice of yellow cheese still ties it all together. You’re not drowning in extras, so every bite tastes like beef, cheese, and toasted bun in good proportion.
That idea of balance matters more than it sounds. A huge burger can be fun for a photo, but it often falls apart in your hands.
These smaller patties keep things manageable.
My advice is simple. Order a single on your first trip if you want the original experience, then try the double next time to compare.
Hungry crews can go even bigger, since the kitchen makes stacked burgers too. Still, the double sits right in that happy middle zone.
It’s filling, it holds together, and it shows off what that flat grill does best.
Meet The Burgers Named After Real People
Bunny, Peg, and Tim all have burgers here. These named specials give the short menu a fun, family-style personality.
The Charlie’s Special is a single patty with cheese, fried onion, tomato, and pickles. Want it bigger?
The Double Charlie stacks two patties with those same toppings.
Fans of a sharper bite should look at the Bunny Special. It comes with cheese, raw onion, mustard, and tomato, and there’s a Double Bunny for bigger appetites.
The Peg Special skips the vegetables and goes savory. It’s a double patty with cheese, fried onions, and bacon, which sounds like a very good decision.
Then there’s the Tim Special, which might be the boldest of the bunch. Two patties and two slices of cheese sit on a grilled cheese bun.
Yes, a grilled cheese bun.
I like how these names make ordering feel personal. Instead of building a burger from a giant list, you pick from combos that already work.
Here’s a practical tip for groups. Have everyone order a different special, then compare notes.
It’s a fun way to find your favorite without eating six burgers yourself.
Save Room Because The Milkshakes Are Serious Business
Burgers get the headlines, but the milkshakes deserve their own fan club. Google even describes this spot as an old-fashioned joint for burgers and shakes.
The flavor list keeps things classic. You can choose Black and White, Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, Oreo, or Mint Chocolate Chip.
Black and White is a fun pick if you can’t decide. It blends chocolate and vanilla, so you don’t have to pick a side in that old dessert debate.
Mint Chocolate Chip feels like a cool finish after a hot, salty burger. Oreo works if you want something a little more like dessert in a cup.
Shakes and burgers are a natural pair for a reason. That cold, creamy sip cuts right through the crispy, cheesy richness of a griddle patty.
Here’s my honest suggestion. Don’t treat the shake as an afterthought you’ll maybe grab later.
Order it with your meal so it arrives while the burger is still hot.
Kids will probably go straight for Chocolate or Strawberry, and that’s fine. Grown-ups get to feel like kids too at a place that has served this combo for generations.
Fries, Onion Rings, And The Sidekicks That Hold Their Own
A great burger needs a strong supporting cast. Luckily, the sides and extras here bring plenty to the table.
Fries and onion rings are both on the menu. The rings are whole onion rings that are batter fried, which is exactly what you want next to a smashed patty.
Not in a burger mood? That happens, even at a burger shop.
The menu also has hot dogs, hot sausage, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken fingers, and chicken fries.
The hot dogs have a fun twist. They’re split and served flat on a burger bun, so they fit right in with everything else on the tray.
Grilled cheese makes this a handy stop for picky eaters. Chicken fingers do the same job for kids who think beef is suspicious for some reason.
My tip is to share sides across the table. Get one order of fries and one order of rings, then let everybody grab from the middle.
Wash it all down with a soda if you’re skipping the shake. Either way, you’ll leave with a full belly and maybe some crumbs on your shirt.
The Story Starts With A Guy Named Charlie In 1935
Back in 1935, Charles Convery started flipping burgers under the name everyone still uses. Yes, the Charlie on the sign was a real guy.
That makes Charlies Hamburgers one of the longest-running burger spots in this corner of Pennsylvania. Many families have passed down the habit of eating here from parents to kids.
The shop has a few quirky chapters in its history too. For years, it closed every Tuesday, a tradition that came from Meatless Tuesdays during World War II.
Later, an owner dropped the Tuesday closing after employees asked for the change. So if you spot an old menu with that schedule, don’t panic.
It’s just history.
Today the doors open seven days a week. Hours usually run late morning into the evening, with later closing on Friday and Saturday and shorter hours on Sunday.
I believe that kind of history makes every bite taste a little better. You’re eating a recipe that has stayed steady through generations of change.
Not many restaurants can say the burger hasn’t really changed in decades. Here, that’s the whole point, and it’s honestly kind of comforting.
New Address, Same Grill Magic
Road widening forced a big move in April 2019. After about 30 years on Kedron Avenue, the shop packed up and moved roughly one mile away.
Charlies Hamburgers now sits at 237 E Macdade Blvd, Folsom, PA 19033. That’s in Delaware County, a short drive from Philadelphia.
The newer home is in a strip mall setting. One local writer pointed out that the move erased much of the old nostalgic look, and that’s a fair point.
Here’s the good news, though. The menu stayed largely the same after the move, and the burgers are still the main reason anyone shows up.
Honestly, a burger this simple never needed fancy walls to shine. The grill, the fresh beef, and the toasted buns made the trip, and that’s what counts.
The location also makes it an easy stop for travelers. Philadelphia International Airport isn’t far away, so it’s a handy first meal after landing in Pennsylvania.
So if you remember the old Kedron Avenue spot, don’t worry too much. The address changed, but the cheeseburger you remember is still on the menu and still on that flat grill.
Quick Service With A Friendly Old-School Feel
Speed matters when hunger hits hard. Luckily, this is a casual, quick-service spot built for getting a hot burger into your hands without a long production.
The staff is often described as kind and efficient. That’s a nice combo, because fast service only feels good when people are pleasant about it.
Ordering is simple too. There’s an order kiosk inside, and food can be brought out to your table once it’s ready.
Cash only used to be part of the deal here. These days, that’s no longer the case, which makes a quick stop a lot easier for everyone.
Prefer eating at home? Delivery apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub carry the menu.
Just remember that a thin, crispy patty always tastes best fresh off the grill.
My tip is to double-check your bag before you leave, especially with a big group order. That’s smart advice at any busy burger counter.
The overall mood is relaxed and unfussy. It feels like a neighborhood burger joint where the main goal is serving good food fast, and that’s exactly what most of us want.
Why This Little Burger Became A Delco Tradition
Ninety years is a long time to keep anybody happy. Charlies Hamburgers has done it with a small menu, a hot grill, and a refusal to overthink things.
In Delaware County, the shop has earned a reputation as a true local tradition. It holds a strong 4.5-star rating on Google with more than a thousand reviews.
A big part of the appeal is consistency. When a place serves the same style of burger for decades, it becomes a memory you can actually go back and taste.
That’s why it works so well for family outings. Grandparents can share the burger they grew up with, and kids can find their own favorite special.
Plan your trip around the hours, since Sunday has the shortest window. Friday and Saturday give you the most time if you want a later dinner.
I can’t think of a better reason to drive across Pennsylvania than a burger with this much history. It’s simple, honest food made the same way for generations.
So grab a seat, order a cheeseburger, and add a shake. Then see if you start planning your next visit before you even finish.
