This place! You know what I'm saying?! You hope to find joints like this across the country: little places that believe in serving good food quickly and without price gouging. Jewels like this are to be treasured and shared. Despite the small size of the place and limited seating area, we were able to find two seats at the bar immediately. There is pretty quick turnover, so I would think even a line would move fast here. The menu is pretty straightforward, nothing overly fancy, and not complicated, so don't pore over it for too long. We had the same thing: bacon double cheese burgers with a single side of chili cheese fries to split. That was still too much food, basically! The fries are huge, and the burgers are nothing to slouch at either. Both were super hot and very fresh. The chili, what everyone seemed to be raving about, is quite good. I wouldn't liken it to any other style, except perhaps a Coney dog sauce. It's somewhat loose without being runny, very deep in flavor, dark, and meaty. It might even have too much depth of flavor, since it comes across as heavy on the palette. But, add on a dab or two of their hot sauce? Symphonic!! Seriously, that stuff made everything vibrant and awake! I asked if it was homemade and if they sell it, but she said it was Arizona Gunslinger's sauce. Tangent: you can buy if from the company website, and it's totally delicious. I was really impressed by this joint. It has some history, and a ton of said history is displayed on the walls and ceiling. Old posters speak of a time long ago, whether this Quonset hut experienced them or not. It's a no frills, no nonsense, no facade place, where you know what you're going to get and you know the price is fair. This is a beautiful place, and I really hope I can stop by again some day. read more

I ate at Casper's today. It's been 20 years since I've eaten here, and it was really great! Service was friendly and fast, the restaurant was clean, and the food was really good. If you're looking for basic good food at a reasonable price Casper's is hard to beat. If you going for lunch be prepared to wait, because it can get really busy and seating is somewhat limited. read more

You need to stop and try the double cheese burger and chili with cheese. The cony dog is fabulous! read more

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Just a classic place to try in Springfield. Food has always been okay, you go for more of an atmosphere. Unfortunately they are in the process of moving buildings and it's delayed so I can't speak of what it will be like at the "new" location. read more

Was looking for a good old fashioned burger place for dinner and seen the reviews this place had so thought I'd give it a try, haven't had much luck following reviews a lot of times. Wow this place didn't disappoint. The burger was very good and filling, the fresh cut fries were great as well. Also had a small bowl of chili. My waitress was a very friendly young lady who kept checking up on me to make sure I was enjoying my meal, I was very much enjoying it. I accidentally spilled my drink and the young man came right over to clean it up for me as I apologized to him for being messy. Definitely a must try place, with an old fashioned feel inside as well. I'll definitely stop back in as I'm a big fan of old fashioned burger places over chain restaurants any day. read more

Finally caught a time that we could stop in. Food was barely hot. Chili was a commercial chili- not the original Casper's. The texture and flavor were just not the same. read more

Awesome food!!! My favorite is the Wammy. Great service. Fun to just sit at the counter.

My husband mentioned this place after seeing it on FB so when we drove over to Springfield, we sought it out. I'm so glad we did. It's a tiny place with limited seating but does it have flavor! Very unique with old and new posters, prints, figurines, etc. they line the curved ceiling. One waitress doing it all and I believe just one cook. The menu is limited but their shtick is that they are the oldest cafe in town, since 1909 and pride theirselves on the chili I ordered a cheeseburger which normally comes with mustard, pickle, onion and relish. I opted out of all that and stuck with mayo and tomato. It was delish! Nothing like a freshly made patty grilled up greasy. I also got a cup of chili. Wow, the cup runneth over. Full of meat and a few beans, it was decent chili. I wouldn't say the best I've ever had, but it wasn't bad. I didn't care for the fries at all. They are totally missing the boat on the fries. Considering the fresh burger and chili, I'm surprised they don't have fresh cut fries! They have just run of the mill frozen fries. Blah. They give you saltines for the chili in a basket. No paper or anything, just 20 or so crackers dumped in a basket and set on the table. Hmm. Wonder how many hands have been on those? Uh, nope. People were waiting outside to come in (no waiting space) so if you don't time it right and have to wait, make it a nice day :) I saw some fresh pies for dessert and a mean looking frito pie at the next table. I'd come back for the burger and the character of the joint. The waitress was top notch. But when you are done, get out. They need your table for the next patron! read more

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One word describes this unique place ... "Awesome"! Have been here twice and just loved it, the service was great and the burgers and chili is awesome. A must visit place when you go to Springfield, MO! read more

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Probably the best burger I have had in the past 8 years. Chili is awesome! Unique, flavorful and staff was amazing! Traveling through this was much needed break. read more

Casper's - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

Man this place was a staple back in the day. After the move and reopen it seems they're reaching for a crowd that isn't interested in them. They've got such a weird ambiance now with weird creepy pictures and masks and skulls covering the walls, I thought maybe it was "leftovers" from the previous restaurant but it's not. It was a decorative decision that should be removed. Our server was very rude and we felt like we were a burden to her. Food was okay but nothing near what it used to be. Very cramped and close but everyone seemed like they would rather be anywhere but there at work. 1/10 do not recommend. read more

God I love this place! You literally have to visit Casper's when you come to town. It is a greasy spoon, everybody knows everybody, kind of place. You have to get there early or they might run out of chili and you do not want to miss out on the chili. We love the frito pie, coneys, and burgers. If you are in for a true experience, get your burger covered in chili. You cannot go wrong with the chili cheese burger! They take cards now but you will get a small fee, so if that bugs you, bring cash. read more

Casper's - Frito pie. - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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This is a Diner's diner, y'all. The real deal, Great American Story, authentically pure kind of diner. First, the building. An orange-front Quonset hut on the corner of a lot. Who can resist? A quick search online told us they have the best burgers in town, and have for decades. Our familiar glance toward each other that meant, "Why not?" had us turning around and entering the parking lot. Our first visit, December 2016, had me eating the Casperito. My friend had fried pickles and a burger. We both loved it. If fine food is what you're after, begone with you! If true diner food, and a true diner experience, along with charming service and eclectic decor, are what you're after? Get the self seated immediately! Marcie served us both times, and we LOVE Marcie. When I'm there in September, I hope to see her again. Our second time, in May 2017, we had cheeseburgers and the fried pickles. And it was everything. EVERYTHING. You will not find a better stack of meat and cheese anywhere in Springfield or the surrounding area. My friend is a travel nurse, and I'm glad she's back in MO. Because that means in September I get to visit and we get to chow down on a deliciously juicy, cheesy, perfect burger while listening to Marcie make everyone feel like they're just stopping in to sit & eat in their best friend's kitchen. read more

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What a place!! If you want to talk about a "hole in the wall" joint, this is it. Go there.. you WON'T regret it!! The waitress is so friendly and a doll. We ordered the fried pickles and chili cheese fries and were amazed. The chili could use a bit more flavor, but still VERY good. This place is known for their chili, however the waitress convinced us to come back and try the double cheeseburger. We will be back to take that on!! read more

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Double burger, no questions. This place was a treat to the eyes and the tummy! Great vibes all around, staff was kind and friendly- love genuine good people making great food! Thanks!! read more

A unique experience, but a tasty one! Chili, burgers, and fried pickles are quite good. We are so glad we stopped by and were able to try this unique restaurant! read more

Casper's - Might be the only time we've ever eaten in a Quonset hut. - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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I kept hearing about this restaurant with "Great Chili" called Caspers. I just thought it was an Urban Legend. I finally went downtown one afternoon with a friend from work for lunch & saw this small "building" I thought there was no way this was true. Went in & sat up at the counter & ordered Cheeseburger with a side of Chili. WOW...the Chili came out quick with crackers & the burger soon followed. It was FANTASTIC! The staff is really friendly & the food is BETTER than I thought. They are only opened from 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. They open up just after Labor Day & Close the last week of May. No Summers, but I can guarantee you that I will be back MANY times! Seriously you need to try it out. read more

Wow. Casper's is truly, truly a Springfield original. Don't be intimidated by the somewhat sketchy exterior of this neon orange airplane hanger of a restaurant, because you're in for a treat. As soon as you walk in, your senses are completely bombarded with the smoky-sweet smell of chili and the visuals of clutter and color. Color on the walls, on the chairs, on the ceiling. Let me elaborate on that last bit - one of the absolute best things about Casper's is its decor, which borders on absurdity, and yet is wonderful. You'll never have time to memorize every item in this place, from ancient, crumbling Chaplin and art deco posters climbing up the rounded walls, to shelves of utterly terrifying porcelain figurines, to flyers from Springfield events gone by, to bizarre masks. From an aesthetic standpoint, Casper's is a freak carnival, but it rules. As far as the menu goes it's simple - chili, by itself or on stuff. You're a fool to not order the chili here. It's simple but essential and texturally flawless. Personally, I love the Frito pie with onions, and every time I take the first bite, it takes me back to my utter joy when it was Frito pie day in my middle school cafeteria. For $5, it's not a bad deal at all, and most of the menu items are even cheaper than that. Finally, the service when I came here was INCREDIBLE. Our waitress was so kind, helpful and personable and every employee in general was willing to say something to us to make us feel welcome. It's a small enough place where everyone in the restaurant can have one conversation, and that actually happened. It was a great experience on that front alone. Also, this is worth noting: when we first walked in, we realized we hadn't brought any cash along (there were three of us), so we awkwardly stood in the front deciding what to do. One of the workers behind the counter, probably the owner or manager, told us we could eat and come back and pay later. We went to an ATM and came back instead, but it was one of the most wonderful and genuine sentiments I've ever heard from a restaurant. Rules to abide by at Casper's: IT'S CASH ONLY, and you have to order a slice of pie or cake. I repeat: you HAVE to. Don't ask, just do. The chocolate cake is too heavenly for words. Moist, complex, and a HUGE portion. I'll come back every chance I get! read more

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Casper's Chili Parlor is not just a legendary landmark burger "joint". It is a true piece of Americana in the form of a little chili parlor. The ambiance is ala weird-o-rama in a wonderfully historic way. A little slice of Quonset hut heaven in a city of too damned many corporate chain restaurants! Casper's earned a well deserved 5 star place in my heart. This is not just an urban legend. It is a real place tucked away in the twilight zone of Springfield, MO. The place is adorned with the eccentric art work of former owner, Charles Lederer and family. This is a one of a kind chili that no one else can reproduce. The top secret chili recipe is one which is nearly impossible to figure out. I detect some curry like spice in it. My favorites are of course anything with chili. The chili burgers rock. A bowl of chili or chili mac with a shot of hot sauce and cracker totally rock. A plain old cheeseburger at Casper's is great for non chili lovers. Also they have great ham & beans, good ham sandwiches, egg sandwiches. They use a unique home made spread on their burgers and sandwiches that tastes a little like real mayonnaise mixed with mustard and another couple of secret spices. One of them may be a slight bit of curry. I grew up with Casper's. It is comfort food to me. But I am curious if I brought visitors from out-of-town to this little dive they would understand and share my appreciation. Or would they shun me for my bad taste and love of seedy little local joints. Well if they do, they can Kiss my A _ _ and go some corporate cookie cutter place else with no character whatsoever. You are what you eat. So be sure to eat at local places with character instead of corporate hog troughs. You can shove Ruby Tuesdays you know where as far as I'm concerned. Casper's definitely has character and chutzpah. Bon appetite burgers and chili dive lovers! The Facts: bring cash -- they don't take credit. Hours are short/ It is a lunch only spot, come between about 11A -3P. Not open in Summer. Don't dress up. This is Springfield, MO shoes are optional. For extra fun, bring a high maintenance date who is expecting some elegant dining. DON'T ASK THEM FOR THEIR CHILI RECIPE! IT WON'T WORK!!!!!! read more

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There are places that go beyond just a restaurant. Casper's is one of those places full of stories, nostalgia, and character. I'm ashamed to admit I've lived in SGF for 6 years and have now just experienced this gem. I got the Frito Chili Pie with a side of fries on a rainy day. Now you have to realize, chili is one of those foods everyone has specific feeling about and set expectations. I didn't make this at home exactly to my taste and can't hold it to that standard, and with that understanding it was great chili. It was thick and flavorful. Not soupy or watered down. The service was great the waitress was lively and full cheer. I got my food very quickly and it was during the lunch rush. I sat at the bar eating lunch and just taking in all the decor and charm. If you are looking for an experience, go to Casper's, it won't disappoint. read more

They are only open during the cooler months of the year and that's pretty much it. Nothing fancy here and I don't remember anything being more than $4? It was hard to spend $10 for 2 people. I'd say the food is a 3 but the history bumps it a star. It's really a local place and you know how that goes; you either get it or you don't. Probably not going to win a Michelin Star for anything but it is a sentimental part of local history and you gotta preserve that. -business just sold so maybe hours/menu will be extended....but hopefully it continues on unchanged. read more

Casper's - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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I am always looking for a different place to eat and it's good to find something that does follow the "cookie cutter" chain environment. The environment at Caspers is unique and more like an old time diner. The food was good and priced appropriately for what we received. The service was friendly and helpful. read more

Casper's - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

If you want good food good people and down right a cute little awesome place to check out you've found the right place

I came here for the first time today for lunch and it was great! The building is really neat and divey) with all sorts of strange posters and items on shelves. The menu isn't large: mostly chili, coneys, burgers and some sides. I ordered the frito pie with onions. It was huge! It was $6 too which is a steal. My friend ordered the chili cheese coney for $2.25 and a side of fries ($3-$4 or so) and she couldn't finish the fries. We ordered a meal to go for our other coworker and left spending around $15. Service was super quick. There isn't a lot of seating (maybe could fit 20 people if I'm being liberal), but it's definitely worth coming here! I will be going back again soon to try the chili cheeseburger. Looked delicious! read more

Casper's - Frito pie with onions. I couldn't finish it. Delicious! - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

I love places like this the history and the eclectic flare and art on the walls is always fun when you step into Casper's. The chili here is what keeps people coming back for more this place has been around for quite sometime and has been turning out some awesome and cheap fares to delight your palate. This place can sometimes have a line out the door depending on when you arrive but they turn tables pretty quick and it's worth the wait. They are always doing fresh pies of the day as well so get you a slice of heaven and some chili. read more

I saw a claim that Casper's has the best chili in the country and I can completely believe that! The chili is tasty and they give you a generous amount. I tried the Casperito and the Sr. Coney. Both were fantastic! I was so stuffed when I left. The physical location is a little unusual. You just park on the side of the road and run across to this small, cramped building. But I kinda like the charm of the place! The hostess bursts with personality as well. Just one slight criticism: I would highly recommend saying no to onions in your chili. The onions are cut really large and, being raw, taste too strong. They're too immersion-breaking in my opinion and take away from the amazing chili. read more

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WOW! My bf grew up here. My 1st trip to Springfield.....this was our 1st stop. Oh my gosh the chili! Oh my gosh the burger! The staff. The local friendly customers. You have to.....you just have to stop. Who knew a hole in the wall restaurant could have impeccable midwest hospitality. Nailed it! *****! See you next time Caspers! read more

I can't wait for their new location to open even though I'll miss the "hanger" on College street. The chili is delicious by itself or on a burger! read more

Super cute little diner. The burger tasted like a diner burger. The waitress was super sweet. But the chili was awful I wanted to love it but couldn't. read more

Casper's - Chili - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

Just the best chili and burgers around. My all time favorite dish is the single whammy. It's not on the menu. It is a open face chili cheeseburger coved in cheese and put in the oven until the cheese is nice and melted. They also have it in a double if you are up for a challenge. read more

Greasy spoon at its absolute best. The service is unrepeatable. Have lunch at the legendary Caspers, and be ready for the experience.

I'm going to be back in Springfield for a high school reunion in 2022 and was checking on a couple of places I used to eat at back in the 70's. When did Casper's move from 1961 S Glenstone location? We used to eat there at least once a week....Cheeseburger, fries and a bowl of chili. Out here in So Cal it's Tommy's....just not as good as what I remember at Casper's. read more

Whenever we travel we have a rule that we cannot eat at a place we can eat at home. So happy we have that rule. Love this tiny dive. It is worth the drive and the crowd. The food did not disappoint, nor did the service. She made sure we all left happy. I will be back. read more

Casper's - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

This is one of the coolest diners ever. If you need or want to try out some old-fashioned diner with a really cool look this is definitely recommended. I went in and ordered a cheeseburger and fried pickles and they were very tasty and the waitress was super friendly. I had a great time I would definitely recommend anyone who stops by Springfield. read more

Casper's - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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Casper's is a little gem (seats only 29 give or take) inside the city. This little quirky Quonset has burgers that are delicious cooked on a well seasoned flat top. Chili is tasty. Really enjoyed the Frito pie. Great place to catch a quick bite to eat. Very friendly staff. read more

Casper's - Frito pie, chili cheese fries, cheeseburger - Diners Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

This place is great! A true Springfield original greasy spoon chili diner. My dad used to bring it home in quarts to us but I'd never been in the restaurant itself. Talk about ambiance!! Can't wait to go back. I thought Chili was exceptional and my family had cheeseburgers and chili fries and were very pleased. Our waitress was great too. read more

Great food and atmosphere! Close to Route 66 too! We'll be back to try the chili and upside down pineapple cake.

Not sure what is keeping this "must go to (once?)" eatery open since there is nothing outstanding about the food and/or service. It was okay but not worth all the hype it has received over the years and definitely not a place I will be returning to. But hey,...it is now off my foodie bucket list...no longer going to use the 417 Magazine for recommendations! read more

This place is unique. It is a dive and a great place for lunch. Their chili is special. Get the chili hamburger. It is great and a lot of food. The pie is homemade and also worth having. read more

This is a tiny diner known as the oldest Diner in Springfield, Mo that probably only seats around 30 people. It is located inside of a Quonset Hut. The waitress was bubbly & full of personality & helped us decide what to order. My family ordered a variety of foods to share. We ordered a Double Cheeseburger, a Sr Coney with Cheese, a Basket of Fries, Onion Rings & Fried Pickles. Everything tasted great. Even after sharing we all left completely full. I loved the Kitchy atmosphere of this old diner. I highly recommend getting there early, because the diner is not very big & it draws in a crowd. As we were leaving around 11:30 there were people starting to line up out the door. read more

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