It is 11:30 p.m., and I am laying in bed watching YouTube vlogger Emma Chamberlain’s videos in my pajamas. Suddenly, my stomach begins to grumble, and I am craving one thing: chocolate custard. I grab my keys and drive down to Andy’s Frozen Custard, which is open until midnight every weekend. If I had wanted Custard Station, I would have had to leave my house 2 hours earlier and put on a real outfit. I drive home, sipping my delicious M&M, Oreo and chocolate milkshake from the comfort of my car. The creamy custard and convenience put a smile on my face.

Andy’s Custard is a chain that first opened in 1986 in Osage Beach, Missouri, about 2 and a half hours away from Kirkwood. Since then, they have opened an additional 62 stores in 11 states across the United States. According to their website, Andy’s is the largest dessert-only franchise in the world. With all these different locations, they have the upper hand when it comes to practice and perfecting their concretes and sundaes.

I completely understand wanting to support local businesses, and the Custard Station does have a better atmosphere for hanging out with friends. Also, their Instagram page is very aesthetically pleasing. But for a superior custard experience, you will always find me at Andy’s. I have several scientifically backed reasons why this dessert chain is the holy grail of custard.

I appreciate the customer service at Andy’s, and they are always well-staffed. The cheerful employees are ready to take my order and craft my dream custard. A quote from their website states, “If you are in the service business, you have to hire people that have a strong desire to serve. Pay them above average, train them well, and demand nothing but the best.”
One major difference between Andy’s and the Custard Station is their chocolate custard. At the Custard Station, their chocolate custard tastes like vanilla, just colored brown. As someone who would rather eat toenails than vanilla custard, this doesn’t work for me. Their custard is also so heavy that it just sits in the bottom of my stomach. I’m not lactose intolerant, but their custard always manages to make me feel sick. On the other hand, the chocolate custard from Andy’s is perfection. With a rich, chocolatey taste and airy consistency, I’d pick it over Custard Station any day.

Andy’s is also open year round. Need I say more? What happens when December rolls around and you are craving custard? You can’t go knocking on the Custard Station window expecting them to whip up some sweet treats. The drive-thru at Andy’s also makes it a perfect spot for lazy people like myself.

The chunks of toppings in Andy’s concretes, sundaes and milkshakes are a lot bigger than the ones at Custard Station. If I order a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup concrete, I don’t want the candies blended into dust. If I order an Oreo concrete, I want to find almost an entire Oreo in the bottom of my cup. I want to continue to munch on the candy of my choice during the entire eating experience, not just for the first few bites. Andy’s offers so many different options for custard consuming, including their signature Jackhammers, a concrete with a core full of whatever you choose. You can also buy pints of their fresh custard that will last you for days.

The closest Andy’s location is on Kirkwood road, a seven minute drive from KHS. They are open year-round until 11:30 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends. They offer over 30 different toppings and mix-ins, so there is always something for everyone. Unless, of course, you enjoy the taste of toenails.