Nielsen's Frozen Custard

Nielsen’s Frozen Custard in South Jordan is my guilty obsession. I’d driven by the restaurant several times after moving to Daybreak but never felt the need to stop. Then a longtime Utahn told me the restaurant has been around since his childhood and the custard concretes are delicious—think really creamy ice cream with mix-ins. I never should have stopped by because now I can’t stop stopping by. Here’s what to expect. First, a diner-style menu complete with the usual entrees like burgers, cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, corn dogs, fries, and onion rings. But then, there’s a full page of grinder sandwiches. If you’ve never had a grinder, this is a hot sandwich on a freshly baked 8-inch roll. Then it’s packed with fresh-sliced meats like slow-roasted lean beef, smoked ham, oven-roasted turkey, and seasoned pastrami. You get a choice of cheeses—American, Swiss, or cream cheese. There’s a veggie option too. (A friend of mine stops for a grinder every time she visits Utah.) I’ve only tried the cheeseburger, and I’d describe it as diner good. I probably wouldn’t stop just for the burger, but the restaurant is often packed, with people at the tables inside and out. So they’re doing something right. I’ll try the grinder next time. Fries and onion rings are done right. And if you’re a purist like me, you need to know there is Diet Coke on tap. (Plus Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, and more…including Ironport, which I had to look up.) But back to the most important reason for stopping: the Concretes. Pick a vanilla or chocolate base, then add a mix-in like peanut butter, almonds, cookie dough, Oreos, chocolate chips, pineapple, lemon, and more. The menu says it has less fat and calories than premium ice cream, but I dunno. It’s just so good. I like the raspberry chocolate chip or a chocolate base with peanut clusters—which ends up being double-chocolate. I don’t mind. The place is always busy, especially in the summer, with a line of cars snaking onto the street from the drive-thru. It’s got a summer night ’50s vibe. So you might wait a minute, but it’s worth it. And sometimes the concrete is filled to the brim and spilling over. So it can be a little messy, but you never have to wonder if you got the full value. On a hot afternoon, a summer evening, or anytime--Nielsen's Frozen Custard is worth the visit!