EAST PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - The owners dub it “the best burger this side of paradise.”
Burger Barge in East Peoria will celebrate 30 years in business in 2026.
They started with deliveries on the Illinois River.
“My mom and her husband at the time, they had a marine radio,” Manager Jeniffer Giffhorn said. “People would call in their orders. They had a Sea-Doo and would take orders out to the boats.”
Burger Barge serves more than 20 types of burgers. They are also known for their drinks. Chefs make homemade river chips with three original sauces.
Giffhorn said they have a special seasoning blend called “burger sugar.”
Burger Barge can be found at 123 Meadow Ave. in East Peoria. The restaurant is open Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, the hours are 11 a.m. to 9

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