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    Maid Rite Sandwich Shop

    3.8 (89 reviews)
    InexpensiveSandwiches
    Open 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Maid Rite Sandwich Shop Photos

    Business Info

    MAID RITE SANDWICH SHOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Maid Rite Sandwich Shop

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    a plaque on the side of a building
    James U.

    I love nostalgia. We stumbled across this place that has been here for 99 years. We thought it would be pork tenderloin sandwiches but it was loose meat hamburgers. We had two with fries and a homemade root beer. I also had chili. I liked everything about it. I'm going to go back again soon.

    Est 1924
    Deirdre C.

    Iconic restaurant. Historic Springfield eatery opened in 1924. Homemade root beer was awesome. Basic Sandwiches - loose meat hamburger, with pickles and onions. Only $3.99. They also have horseshoes and vegan chili I think. Fries. VERY short menu. Three other sets of parents in there with kids. My daughter had never been there. Try it out. #Visityourtownlikeatourist.

    Street view.  First drive thru window in IL !!
    Brian B.

    This is my kind of place. Funky, real, great at what they do and reasonably priced. The owner is as friendly as all get-go too, even to a novice loose meat sandwich customer like me. The basic sando is a bit smaller than a Mickey-D's basic burger, so you'll want at least two. The seasoning is great - have at least one plain before adding cheese, condiments, etc. Fries are perfect crinkle cuts. And root beer, in a frosty mug, is absolutely heaven-sent! (But there are other sodas if you must). Downtown Springfield. Small parking lot. Have fun, my fellow divers and nostalgia fans!!

    Loose meat sandwiches, fries and homemade pickle mustard and root beer
    Ann C.

    I have always heard of loose meat sandwiches and finally had the opportunity to try one. They are an acquired taste but I enjoyed the experience. I appreciate the fact that they make their own mustard using pickle juice and the homemade root beer was amazing! Creamy and smooth. Made from real sassafras roots. I enjoyed the vintage feel of the restaurant and the gentleman behind the counter was friendly and informative. Definitely worth trying if you have never had loose meat before.

    Order window
    Cynthia E.

    So glad we went! Juicy, oniony, beefy, deliciousness. The homemade root beer was frosty and sweet with a slight bite. The room is old school, you can sit at the counter or take a seat at a table or TINY booth. A wonderful sandwich!

    Tammie W.

    This is a cute spot. It is very historic and the owner is very friendly. The food was good and authentic. Definitely stop and check this when you ate visiting Lincoln hometown.

    Maid Rite Drive thu
    Bart S.

    I was in town for the IL State Fair..the fair food was boring, I mean to say, how many food booths are there that sell corn dogs? Like every other one! Food at the fair was really pretty bad (good pork chops though)..I went to Maid Rite and I am glad I did. The history of the place is not as old as Springfield politics, but close. Just go, get the Maid Rite with Cheese! Have a homemade Root Beer. They claim to be the first drive thru..I say OK, but go inside and check it out, you can also eat outdoors if it's nice out. Love this place. (see my pictures posted) The staff was super nice, and appreciate everyone who stops by.

    Steamed burger with cheese, crinkle cut fries, chili, and a lemonade.
    Eugene L.

    Maid Rite is an old fashioned steamed "loose" burger franchise. It's a smallish sized burger with loose meat, like a sloppy joe without the sauce. It's on the national historic registry and if you're nearby it's worth stopping by for the old fashioned charm. When you walk in you walk right by the little counter and can see them cooking everything. The staff and owners are all EXTREMELY (yes, that needed to be capitalized) friendly and welcoming. They will inform you of the specials and that they make their own homemade root beer. I ordered the special which had two burgers, fries, and a drink, and I also ordered chili. The fries were a small portion of crinkly cut fries and were average at best. The burgers seemed to lack a lot of taste and the cheese seemed non existent and didn't add to the flavor. You're really going to have to LOVE steamed meat to like this burger. The chili was liquidy and had more of the steamed meat thrown in the middle of it. It just wasn't the meaty type of spicy chili I prefer. Unfortunately I would not go back for the food. But it was worth the visit (once) for the great service experience and historic value. I would only recommend this if you were flying out of the airport and needed something quick on the way out or back. Otherwise there are other restaurants in the downtown area near the Lincoln museum I would go to first.

    Drew S.

    I must travel 2,500 miles to get to Springfield, but Maid-Rite is always one of my first stops. The food is unique and tasty (first-timers should stick with the 2 sandwich special with fries and root beer for the traditional experience). The more-adventurous might enjoy the shop's version of a "horseshoe" sandwich - a Springfield original. But I also go to Maid-Rite to get my dose of home-town nostalgia. This location is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is certainly one of the first drive-thru windows in the country. The current owner seems well-aware of the historical significance, and maintains much of its old-time charm. (Hand-painted signs on the wall for "The Law" of the dining room, etc.) I'm sure there can't be much profit for the owner, so I am thankful that he puts in the love and effort to keep the place going. Personal note: I can recall sitting with my grandpa in the tiny little benches in the original "caboose" section - and now I am old enough to be a grandpa myself. So it is more than the food that brings warmth to my tummy when I visit. It's worth the $7 to enjoy the history - and the food is darned good too!

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Best sandwiches in Springfield paired with the best customer service and nicest owner who works there every day.

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    2 years ago

    Cute spot. Love maid rite. Solid service. I think they even make their own root beer. Classic spot

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Maid Rite Sandwich Shop

    Review Highlights - Maid Rite Sandwich Shop

    I grew up in Springfield, a few blocks away from Maid Rite, and went to Springfield High School in the late 50s.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Long Nine Junction - Plain Jane

    Long Nine Junction

    4.9(306 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    We had an amazing experience here today. From the moment we walked in, the owner personally greeted…read moreeveryone, which immediately set a welcoming tone. She even made a point to walk around and check on each table, making sure everything was perfect--that kind of attention really stood out. I ordered the Thai pork bowl, and it was absolutely packed with flavor--perfectly balanced with a little heat, a touch of sweetness, juicy pork, and a satisfying crunch from the coleslaw. The sauces tied everything together beautifully. My wife got the chicken ranch sandwich and couldn't stop raving about it. I took a bite myself and was seriously impressed. The chicken was incredibly juicy and flavorful, the bread was outstanding, and the candied bacon took it over the top--truly next-level. This sandwich was done right. To finish things off, we tried the oatmeal cream pie cookie, and it did not disappoint. It was soft, perfectly baked, and full of rich flavor. I even had to grab a side of that candied bacon to go--it was that good. We'll definitely be back.

    The food is delicious. I had the Southwest bowl and the quality of the ingredients was shockingly…read moregood. Get the bread - you won't need it (the bowl is huge), but they make it and grill it and it is delicious. Get a cookie to have later (I ate mine over the course of 3 days). I recommend the chocolate peanut butter. The service is friendly and efficient. Ambience is okay. It's busy and the seating is a bit uncomfortable and tight, but they did maximize the utility of the space.

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    Long Nine Junction - Thai pork bowl and chicken bacon sandwich

    Thai pork bowl and chicken bacon sandwich

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    Toasty-Subs - Menu

    Toasty-Subs

    4.1(33 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Revived as Desi Cravings with a small menu of sandwiches, burgers, and chaat--with South Asian…read morefusion influence. Tried the chicken tikka sandwich & the samosa chaat. Sandwich was great --nice amount of diced chicken, moist between sauce, mayo, cheese with good spice level & pan toasted like panini. You will need napkins! The chaat was also very good--good amount of heat, chickpeas in sauce with nice chopped fresh onion & cilantro. The inside is modest but whimsically decorated with puzzles and small & family sized tables--. They have some Indian sweets that looked good & both US & Indian chips & drinks. Friendly & feels like a family place& local. Good neighborhood option.

    Support local. Support national food/drinks days. You get me. We can be best friends! On…read morenational Eat a hoagie day where should I go, I picked Toasty-Subs. I ordered the Toasty-Subs Special Club with ham, turkey, bacon, and cheddar cheese, served toasted on sweet bread and added lettuce and tomatoes. You get the choice of a side and they have a ton of options from chips to a banana to a brownie. I went for the Parmesan ranch chips as I'd never seen this brand or flavor before. Great pick as the chips were really good. After I ordered I had no idea what the price was going to be as prices are not listed on the website or on the banner menu above the register. It was $12.99 before tax and tip. After snapping a picture of the whole sandwich for my Yelpers, I cut it into fourths. The bread was so fresh and delicious as were the rest of the ingredients. I would have loved double cheese as it got lost in the sea of meats after it was melted onto the ham. The huge sandwich ended up being three separate meals for me, so totally worth the price point. They also threw in a free sample of their Parmesan pesto pasta salad. Thank you kind sir, that was yummy too!

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    Toasty-Subs
    Toasty-Subs - Reuben and chips

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    Maid Rite Sandwich Shop - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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