Editor’s Note: Kayla Anderson revisits her three-part series from 2018 on the region’s Best Burgers. Read her picks from the first series at TheTahoeWeekly.com.
With locals’ summer now in effect, it’s easier to find yourself a juicy, filling burger after a day of activities on the uncrowded trails. Here are a few establishments in South Lake Tahoe that provide wholesome burgers and a neighborhood ambiance.
The Getaway Café: Franks Burger
On our way to pedal up the trails at Kirkwood Mountain Resort (read the feature in this edition), we stopped at The Getaway Café to get some fuel before our ride. I called in our order 10 minutes before passing through and it was coming fresh off the grill when we walked in the door. The front patio was packed and everyone seemed like they had been there before.
Read Kayla’s picks for North Tahoe & Truckee burgers
I ordered the highly esteemed Frank’s Burger – lettuce, tomato, bacon, shoestring sauteed onion rings, buffalo sauce, pickles, avocado and a half-pound beef patty served open faced on a slightly charred, brioche bun. With that much meat in it, that’s all I could taste in the first few bites after I put it all together, with dabs of buffalo sauce spiciness in the middle. Come hungry for this burger and don’t expect to finish it in one sitting — unless you want to waddle out of there. | tahoegetawaycafe.com
Sno-Flake Drive-In: The Tahoe Burger
While running errands in South Lake Tahoe on a cloudy, drizzly afternoon, I drummed up an appetite and happened to look over at the right time to see a sign that read, “Famous Burgers.” Attached to the side of Sno-Flake Drive-In, the interior holds booth-style seating, a TV and a full menu of shakes, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches.
“Oh yeah, [Casey’s Western Bacon Burger] always dislocates my jaw. But that’s not a bad thing.”
–Ched Peppel
I went for “The Local’s Favorite” Tahoe Burger and it did not disappoint. It smelled heavenly when it came out, solidifying that I made the right choice. Every bite included pickles, tomato, crunchy fresh lettuce, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions, cheese, special sauce and a quarter-pound, medium-rare beef patty on a sesame seed bun. It provided proof that you can still get a filling quality burger in Tahoe for less than $10. | Sno-Flake Drive-In on Facebook
Casey’s: Western Bacon Burger
On a random weekday afternoon in Casey’s, next to the Safeway in Zephyr Cove, Nev., the bar was full of regulars watching the Padres/Giants baseball game, playing on the poker machines and taking advantage of the happy-hour drink specials.
I saddled up to the bar and quickly made new friends. I asked everyone around me which burger they liked best and one said Casey’s Western Bacon Burger. But seeing that all burgers had a decent hunk of meat in them, I settled for the classic hamburger. It came out 5 minutes after I ordered it, served with thick-cut fries and a serious steak knife. The burger was so big I could barely catch a sliver of beef in my first bite but could catch all the goodness in subsequent bites.
“Oh yeah, it always dislocates my jaw. But that’s not a bad thing. I have a small mouth,” said Ched Peppel, the guy next to me. | caseystahoe.net
Try Kayla’s other South Shore picks:
Caprese | California Burger Co.
Dessert Delight | Burger Lounge
Gold Rush | Lucky Beaver Bar & Burger
Izzy’s Special | Izzy’s Burger Spa
The Veggie Burger | Big Daddy’s Burgers
Tag your favorites @TheTahoeWeekly
