Hand-Dipped Milkshakes & Fresh-Never-Frozen Burgers: How Wayback Burgers Brought Classic American Comfort to Utah

Walk into any of Utah's three Wayback Burgers locations and you'll smell it before you see it—burgers sizzling on a flat-top grill, bacon crisping to perfection, the sweet vanilla aroma of hand-dipped milkshakes being crafted one at a time. Through glass windows separating the kitchen from the dining room, you can watch your Double Bacon Cheeseburger being assembled from fresh, never-frozen beef while your Cinnamon Toast Crunch shake spins thick and creamy in a metal cup. This isn't fast food pretending to be better. This is the real thing.

One St. George local put it simply: "This burger was SO GOOD! I was a huge fan. It was juicy, fresh, and delicious." That straightforward enthusiasm captures what Wayback Burgers has accomplished since arriving in Utah in 2023—bringing genuine, made-to-order American comfort food to a state that knows its burgers.

From Delaware Roadside Stand to Utah's Fast-Casual Favorite

The story starts in 1991 in Newark, Delaware, where a humble burger shack called Jake's Hamburgers opened with a simple promise: fresh beef, hand-dipped shakes, no shortcuts. The original location—which still operates today—wasn't fancy. Patrick Conlin, the company president, describes it as "a roadside hamburger shack in Delaware. It really was a shack with the bathrooms out back." That unpretentious beginning shaped everything that followed.

By 2008, the concept had proven itself enough to begin franchising under Jake's Wayback Burgers, eventually dropping "Jake's" in 2014 to become simply Wayback Burgers. The name fits—this brand exists to transport you back to simpler times when burgers were made right, fries were hand-cut, and milkshakes required actual ice cream and a spindle mixer.

Fast-forward to 2022, and the chain had grown to over 170 locations across 35 states and multiple countries. But Utah? Utah was about to get its first taste.

Arturo Ramirez Brings Wayback to Southern Utah

When Arturo Ramirez started looking for franchises to bring to St. George, he chose Wayback Burgers because of its mission: "They came to unite people through the comfort of food in the old-fashioned way. That's what I like the most from them."

Ramirez, who operates the St. George location at 2134 E. Riverside Drive, saw more than just a business opportunity. He saw a philosophy that aligned with how he wanted to serve his community. When asked what customers could expect, Ramirez emphasized that guests would "feel valued and enjoy fresh, cooked-to-order food at a good price." For employees, he promised Wayback would be a workplace where they'd feel valued and supported.

That mission-driven approach shows up in the reviews. One customer praised both the product and the people: "The food was great, burgers, fries and shake. Customer Service is a dying art but they have it figured out! Customer Service was awesome, they were friendly, appreciative, and attentive."

The St. George location opened in August 2023, adding 30 jobs to Southern Utah's economy and giving the region something it hadn't quite had before—a fast-casual burger spot that could compete with the big names on quality while maintaining the approachability and value families needed.

Scott and Natalie Beckstead Make It a Family Affair in Utah County

Up north in Pleasant Grove, husband-and-wife team Scott and Natalie Beckstead saw what Ramirez was building and decided Utah County needed the same thing. When Scott Beckstead evaluated franchises, "Wayback Burgers was an obvious choice," citing both the variety of quality food and the "overwhelming support" from the Wayback Burgers family.

The Becksteads opened their location at 863 S. North County Boulevard in Pleasant Grove in 2024, right off I-15 in the Valley Grove mixed-use development. They personally vouched for their favorites before opening: "We look forward to sharing delicious menu items, especially our personal favorites, the Big Easy and the Cajun tater tots." That kind of owner investment—where the franchisees aren't just selling food but genuinely love what they're serving—makes a difference customers can taste.

The Pleasant Grove location benefits from being Scott's first franchise venture in Utah, meaning he's all-in on making it work. And early customer feedback suggests it's working. One recent visitor described being "blown away by the entire experience. The customer service was top-notch; every team member was welcoming and attentive."

Between St. George, Pleasant Grove, and the West Jordan location at 1822 W 9000 S (which opened in summer 2023), Utah now has three outposts of this Delaware-born burger chain, each bringing the same commitment to fresh ingredients and made-to-order quality.

The Wayback Experience: What Makes These Burgers Different

Here's what separates Wayback from the drive-thru chains: nothing comes pre-made. Wayback Burgers makes every customer's food right when the order is placed. There's no microwaving or warming up of items they serve. You order, they cook. Simple as that.

The signature move? The Cheeeesy Burger—four slices of melted American cheese, two fresh beef patties, all pressed between an inverted, grilled, buttered bun that gets toasted until golden. It's ridiculous in the best way possible. One customer ordered the double bacon burger, fries, and a brownie shake: "The burger was excellent, the fries were perfectly crisp and well-seasoned, and the shake was absolutely delicious."

The Double Bacon Cheeseburger shows up again and again in reviews. A food reviewer who tried it with fresh-cut fries noted the burger was "juicy, fresh, and delicious," while the fries "resembled Wendy's French Fries, but more fresh and more firm and crisp." The fry sauce—because this is Utah and fry sauce matters—gets consistent praise for hitting that tangy-creamy sweet spot.

Then there are the sides that go beyond basic. Cheese curds get called out regularly. "The cheese curds are incredible! Love this place," one Pleasant Grove customer raved. Cajun tater tots—the Becksteads' favorite—offer a spicy alternative to standard fries. Fried pickles, onion rings, even mac and cheese bites round out a menu that gives you options without overwhelming you.

But the milkshakes. Lord, the milkshakes.

Hand-Dipped Shakes That Actually Earn the Name

In a world of soft-serve machines claiming to make "shakes," Wayback goes old-school. Their milkshakes "are made with real ice cream, not from a machine," using Blue Bunny ice cream and actual ingredients. The Brownie Milkshake gets love. "The Brownie Milkshake was good, and not too rich, it was just right," one customer noted, appreciating that it satisfied without being cloying.

The Cinnamon Toast Crunch shake has become something of a local legend—vanilla ice cream blended with actual Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, creating a drink that tastes exactly like the milk at the bottom of your childhood breakfast bowl. Another popular option: "For desert we had a Strawberry, vanilla and a Cinnamon Toast Crunch milkshake. They were great too."

Cookie Butter shake. S'mores shake with real marshmallow creme and graham cracker. These aren't gimmicks—they're thick, hand-dipped creations that require a good spoon and some patience. As one regular put it: "If you're craving a milkshake definitely go here. They have the most unique flavors of milkshakes and they always fill you up."

Building Community Through Comfort Food

What Arturo Ramirez said about Wayback's mission—uniting people through comfort food—isn't marketing fluff. The brand partners nationally with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and locally, franchise owners are expected to engage with schools, youth sports teams, and community organizations.

Ramirez explained his vision: "I believe when companies have a really nice mission, everything comes along; and that's how I think we will be able to grow in the whole state. We can always be striving for how to add more value to (the) community, how to add more value to the employees, how to add more benefits to everyone. The goal is to have a better future."

That philosophy shows up in how these Utah locations operate. The St. George restaurant employs largely high school and post-high school workers. One reviewer noted: "The Service was GREAT! They're younger kids working, either high school or post-high school age. This isn't a 'waiter or waitress' style restaurant, but the employees delivered the food to us and kept checking to make sure we were doing well, and even offered to get us sauces from their sauce bar."

In Pleasant Grove, the customer service gets similar praise. Recent visitors described the experience: "We had an amazing experience at the Wayback! The customer service is outstanding—friendly and fast. On top of that, the cleanliness of the restaurant..." stood out.

These aren't just jobs. They're opportunities for young people to learn hospitality, develop work ethic, and earn decent wages in communities where those opportunities matter.

How Wayback Fits Into Utah's Burger Landscape

Utah's got burger history. Apollo Burger and Crown Burger have been slinging pastrami burgers for decades. Lucky 13 owns the craft burger conversation (though the 21+ requirement limits their reach). Five Guys and Smashburger represent the fast-casual competition. In-N-Out has cult status despite its limited menu.

Wayback carves out its space by being the family-friendly middle ground—better ingredients and customization than fast food, more accessible and affordable than full-service burger bars, and more variety than limited-menu competitors. The chain is celebrated for its fresh, made-to-order burgers that deliver exceptional flavor and quality.

For Utah families—who tend to be larger than the national average—the value proposition hits hard. A combo meal runs around $8-12, putting it in competition with better fast-food options while delivering noticeably fresher ingredients. You can feed a family of five without taking out a loan, and everyone actually enjoys what they're eating.

The locations are strategic too. St. George captures the Southern Utah market—retirees, young families, and tourists heading to or from Zion. West Jordan plants the flag in the heart of Salt Lake County's sprawling suburbs. Pleasant Grove, right off I-15 in Utah County, catches traffic between Salt Lake City and Provo while serving the growing communities of American Fork, Lehi, and Pleasant Grove itself.

Planning Your Visit

St. George Location:
2134 E. Riverside Drive, Suite B2
Open Monday-Saturday 10:30am-10pm, Sunday 10:30am-9pm
Owned and operated by Arturo Ramirez

Pleasant Grove Location:
863 S. North County Boulevard, Suite D-E
Open Monday-Saturday 10:30am-10pm, Sunday 10:30am-9pm
Owned and operated by Scott and Natalie Beckstead
Easy I-15 access at Pleasant Grove Boulevard exit

West Jordan Location:
1822 W 9000 S, Suite B
Open Sunday-Thursday 10:30am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 10:30am-midnight

What to Order:
First-timers should start with the Double Bacon Cheeseburger or the Cheeeesy Burger. Get the fries with fry sauce (this is Utah, after all). Add cheese curds or Cajun tater tots if you're hungry. Finish with any hand-dipped shake—you genuinely can't go wrong, but the Brownie and Cinnamon Toast Crunch versions have devoted followings.

Lunch rush hits between 11:30am-1pm on weekdays. Dinner gets busy 5-7pm, especially Friday and Saturday. If you want to avoid the rush, mid-afternoon (2-4pm) is your sweet spot.

All three locations offer dine-in, takeout, and delivery through major apps. The rewards program is worth joining if you plan to visit regularly—buy-one-get-one deals pop up frequently.

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There's something fundamentally satisfying about watching someone make your food from scratch. No heat lamps. No pre-formed frozen patties. Just fresh beef hitting a hot grill, hand-cut fries dropping into clean oil, ice cream being scooped and blended with real ingredients. Wayback Burgers brings that satisfaction to Utah—in St. George, where Arturo Ramirez is building something sustainable and community-focused; in Pleasant Grove, where Scott and Natalie Beckstead are sharing their personal favorites with Utah County families; and in West Jordan, where Salt Lake suburbanites can grab genuine quality without the boutique burger prices.

It's not fancy. It doesn't need to be. Sometimes the best food is just done right, served warm, and shared with people you care about. That's the whole point.

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Follow Wayback Burgers Utah on Instagram: @waybackburgers