Since 1929, Triple XXX Family Restaurant has stood at the corner of Chauncey Hill near Purdue University as Indiana’s first and oldest drive-in restaurant—a living, breathing piece of American food history. 🍔
Owned today by Greg and Carrie Ehresman, who purchased the iconic black-and-orange eatery on April 1, 1999, from Greg’s parents—fulfilling Greg’s lifelong dream after first washing dishes there in 1969—this family-owned Indiana burger institution is as personal and genuine as restaurants get.
Featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Triple XXX has earned its legendary reputation through 100% sirloin chop steak burgers and housemade pure cane sugar root beer.
How Triple XXX won Lafayette’s hearts
Triple XXX Family Restaurant captured West Lafayette’s devotion through nearly a century of consistent excellence, a one-of-a-kind sirloin burger program, and a family legacy so deeply woven into the community that Purdue alumni travel from across the country just to relive their first bite. 💛
The Triple XXX name itself carries remarkable history—originating in 1895 from Anheuser-Busch’s Galveston Brewing Company, where three X’s were stamped on barrels to signify the highest quality beer, the rating system was later adopted for root beer after Prohibition—a quality standard that has defined Triple XXX for over 130 years. 🍺
What makes Triple XXX’s burgers extraordinary is their foundational commitment: every patty is made from 100% sirloin ground fresh in their own kitchen, which is why they’re called “Chop Steak” rather than simply burgers.
The beloved Duane Purvis All-American—a peanut butter cheeseburger named after a 1930s Purdue All-American halfback—has become one of the most iconic regional burgers in all of Indiana, drawing curious first-timers and devoted regulars.
Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives feature introduced Triple XXX to a national audience—but locals had already known for decades that this West Lafayette burger landmark is the kind of place that defines a community’s identity and anchors its food culture.
This combination of nearly 100 years of family ownership, fresh-ground sirloin craftsmanship, Purdue community pride, and genuine Midwestern hospitality has cemented Triple XXX Family Restaurant as the most beloved Indiana burger destination.
Food Highlights
- The Boilermaker Pete: A triple-decker featuring a generous ⅓ lb sirloin chop steak, two slices of American cheese, and a heap of perfectly grilled onions on a toasty sesame bun—the quintessential West Lafayette burger that honors Purdue’s beloved mascot. 🏈
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The Duane Purvis All-American: The undisputed signature burger—a ¼ lb sirloin chop steak with thick, creamy peanut butter, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion on a toasty sesame bun, named after a 1930s Purdue All-American halfback. 🥜
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The Drew Brees First Choice: A specialty burger named after the legendary Purdue quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer—a celebrated sirloin creation.
- The Flash Gordon: A monster burger that leaves every diner speechless — featuring four sirloin chop steak patties, bacon, grilled onion, cheese, jalapeño peppers, and jalapeño ketchup.
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The Bert Burger: A classic, no-frills crowd favorite featuring a ¼ lb sirloin chop steak, American cheese, two slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Miracle Whip—named after original Triple XXX founder Bert Wright. 🍔
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The Boudia: A triple cheese indulgence featuring American, Swiss, and Philadelphia cream cheese with two slices of bacon and tomato on a toasty sesame bun, then served with hash browns smothered in sausage gravy. 🧀
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The Ryan Kerrigan: The restaurant’s first and only ½ lb burger, stacking two ¼ lb sirloin patties with cheddar cheese, covered in Triple XXX’s Famous Homemade Chili, lettuce, and tomato—named after former Purdue and NFL defensive star Ryan Kerrigan. 🏆
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The Barney Burger: A beloved simple classic featuring a ¼ lb sirloin chop steak with cheese and caramelized grilled onions.
Atmosphere
Triple XXX Family Restaurant delivers a perfectly preserved, vintage American diner experience unlike anything else in the Midwest—the iconic two-story building painted in bold black and orange Purdue stripes is unmistakable from blocks away. 🟠⚫
The interior hums with nostalgic energy—counter stools, vinyl booths, walls lined with Purdue memorabilia and vintage photographs—creating a dining room where every surface tells a piece of Indiana’s sports and food history.
Seating is cozy and tight, but that only adds to the authentic drive-in character that has charmed guests since 1929—a reminder that the best experiences in life don’t always come in spacious, polished packages.
The outdoor drive-in lane remains operational during warmer months, allowing guests to experience Triple XXX exactly as original customers did nearly a century ago—ordering fresh sirloin burgers and ice-cold root beer from their cars in one of America’s most authentic living drive-in traditions. 🚗
Bottom Line
Visit for fresh-ground 100% sirloin chop steak patties made in-house daily, the legendary Duane Purvis All-American peanut butter burger that defines Indiana burger culture, celebrity-named specialty burgers honoring Purdue’s greatest athletes, and housemade pure cane sugar root beer served in frosted mugs. ✨
Address:
2 N Salisbury St, West Lafayette, IN 47906
📞 (765) 743-5373
🕔 Open Mon & Wed–Sun 7 AM–10 PM (closed Tuesday)