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Ikeda's Tasty Burger, along with the adjoining Ikeda California Country Market and Pie Shop, has been an Auburn icon for many years, as the restaurant produces some of the finest burgers in Western Placer County, along with crab sandwiches... which is a rarity in the Sierra Nevada foothills. As with all restaurant reviews I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's about 10:45 in the morning on Friday, August 20, 2021, and I've arrived at Ikeda's Tasty Burgers to enjoy an early lunch. Note the weird color of the sky... it was due to the "Caldor Fire," burning in nearby El Dorado county. You could smell the smoke, and the sun was an orange ball. Despite the somewhat unhealthy air quality, I chose to dine outside on the patio.
Photo: Located adjacent to the restaurant, under the same roof, is the California Country Market and Pie Shop, which sell fruit, produce, pies, wine, meat, baked goods, jams, jellies, sauces, "Ikeda apparel," and many general grocery items. It's a fun place to browse as the restaurant prepares your meal, and you'll definitely find something that you can't live without. Both the restaurant are owned and operated by the Ikeda family, who have been residents of the Auburn area for many years. Years ago, Sam Ikeda started out as a rancher, and in order to eliminate the "middle man," opened up a fruit stand, and has not become a fine restaurant and country market. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet Steve Ikeda, one of the owners, and he is truly a great guy.
Photo: The store is simply amazing, and both the fine wares and the friendly staff make the store a magnet for Auburn locals, and for travelers, on nearby busy Interstate 80.
Photo: Ikeda's California Country Market features a whole wall devoted to condiments, locally crafted honey, sauces, marinades, rubs, and more. The wall features the largest selection of hot sauces that I've seen in Placer County. An added bonus is there are few national brands, as most of the hot sauces are either local, regional, or "California grown." If you like hot sauce, Ikeda's California Country Market is truly a destination of choice. Ikeda's has two locations, the original location in Auburn, the subject of this article, and another location in Davis, a few miles west of Sacramento.
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll immediately notice the order counter, the pie slices, and the menu, which is above the order counter. There are no printed menus, as the menu is posted above the counter, and online. The restaurant operates like a "fast food" restaurant, in that you make your selection from the menu, pay for it, and in return, you'll receive a receipt listing your order, along with a number. When your order is ready, your number will be called and you simply come up to the counter and pick up your order. Seating is informal, as you can sit anywhere you choose, either inside in the dining room, or outside on the patio.
Photo: Ikeda's Tasty Burger does not have a paper menu, as their menu is placed above the order counter, and it's online. After looking over the menu, I started at the "top" and went with a "Tasty Burger" but I made it a double and I added Cheddar cheese. I went with fries, which come with the meal. The menu totals four pages, and to see each page, click on THIS LINK, as I've posted all four pages.
Photo: It's almost 11:00 in the morning, and the restaurant is getting quite busy, with diners that I suspect have been attracted off the nearby interstate. The gentleman to the right of the photo seems to be picking up utensils, as plastic utensils, along with straws, cup tops, napkins, and little packages of mustard, ketchup and hot sauce are kept in the dispenser. If you look to the rear of the photo, you'll notice the entrance to California Country Market and Pie Shop, which is another of Ikeda's enterprises.
Photo: Do you like in-house made chicken pot pies? Inside the restaurant, there is a display of freshly made pies, hot and ready to eat on-site, or take home to enjoy.
Photo: Ikeda's Tasty Burger, along with the California Country Market and Pie Shop is known for pies, and slices of fruit and cream pies are on the counter, for sale to those who appreciate fine pies. Whole pies and slices are sold in the store, while the restaurant sells slices only.
Photo: T.B., who was working the cash register, takes an order from a customer.
Photo: Here's a glimpse into part of the kitchen, over the counter, as I pick up my order. All orders arrive in a paper bag, with the burger in a plastic "to go" box, and the fries in a paper bag. It doesn't matter if the order is "to go" or "dine in," as they're all packaged as "go to." I dined on the patio, but my order was in a paper sack, like I was going to take it home, but at least my 805 IPA was in a frosted glass!
Photo: The patio is located in front of the restaurant and is large, comfortable and spacious. It's surrounded by a low fence, to comply with state laws when alcohol is served. Despite the nearby wildfire making the air quite hazy and smoky, I enjoyed my burger and fries outside on the patio, as I always prefer to dine outside. I think dining outside makes delicious food taste even better.
Photo: I'm ready to enjoy my "Tasty Double Cheeseburger," along with a HUGE MOUNTAIN of fries, and an ice-cold 805 IPA outside, on Ikeda's comfortable patio.
Photo: From the "Burger Combos" of the burger section of the menu, I went with the "Double Burger," along with the standard order of fries that comes with all burgers and sandwiches listed on the menu. The menu describes this burger as, "Two one-third patties, buttered Brioche bun, sauce, lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickles." I order optional Cheddar cheese to make my burger a "Double Cheeseburger." Sides can be upgraded - for a small extra charge - to curly fries, truffle Parmesan, sweet potato fries or onion rings. When I dine at a restaurant for the first time, I like to start at the "top" of the menu, and sample the restaurant's "signature" offering. In the case of Ikeda, the "Tasty Burger" was listed at the "top" of the menu, and the "Double Burger" simply added extra meat to the burger. My "Double Burger" started out with two 1/3 pound beef patties, cooked medium, slightly crispy on the outside, and just a little pink inside, exactly the way I love it. I didn't ask when I ordered... my burger arrived this way. Perfect! I "upgraded" to a cheese burger for an extra $.99 and I received TWO pieces of Cheddar cheese, perfectly melted, which enhanced the flavor of this delicious cheeseburger. The burger included fresh slices of red onion, tomato, lettuce, along with slices of dill pickle, and a tangy white sauce. All of this goodness was placed between a fresh, grilled and buttered brioche bun, to complete the goodness. If you're a lover of fries, you've arrived at the right restaurant, as the fries are simply delicious, and Ikeda's Tasty Burger gives you a MOUNTAIN of them! The fries were cut to about medium in size, lightly seasoned, and perfectly deep fried to a perfect, golden brown. I noted that remnants of potato skin still clung to some of the fries, which rates an "A" in my "fry book." There is nothing better to compliment a fine lunch of a cheeseburger and superior fries than a glass of draught beer from the tap, and today, I chose a 16-oz glass of cold 805 IPA. Such a great companion with my delicious lunch! My "Double Burger" definitely was one of the better burgers that I've had the pleasure to enjoy for quite some time, and it is definitely in the "Top 10" of burgers in western Placer County. The fries were simply amazing and made for an outstanding side dish.
Photo: Quarter section of my "Double Burger" showing all of the burger goodness in this amazing cheeseburger. Note the perfect layers on this amazing burger. The "sauce" that came with the burger did the trick, as it would have ruined this fine cheeseburger if I had added mustard or ketchup. Ikeda's Tasty Burger lives up to the name of the restaurant, as the burgers served at this fine restaurant are as tasty as it comes, and as good as it gets. When you're in the mood for a great burger in western Placer County, look to Ikeda's Tasty Burger, located in Auburn, CA. Ikeda's Tasty Burger Copyright(c) 2021 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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