Great burgers and shakes, and the onion rings are about the best I've had in a long time

They opened a new Chuckwagon that serves breakfast now. Tried the Breakfast burrito (has tater tots, Genius!) and the Biscuits & gravy. It was all delicious and the gravy was not over salted like most. read more

Got the giant burger medium with grilled onions and fries with a strawberry shake. Everything was delicious. The burger was nice and juicy. The fries were my FAVE! Really crunchy and not too potato-y. The strawberry milkshake was also yum and the staff was really friendly. Glad I stopped by! read more

Don't waste your time or money. Ordered online and order was ready when it said. Unfortunately the burgers and fries were a big disappointment. 1/4 lb. burgers were small and charred unbelievably. Fries were out of a bag with no taste whatsoever. Chocolate shake was vanilla soft serve with chocolate in it, but very watery. 2 burgers, large fries and a shake came to $26.00. Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

It's a bad sign for a place to compare poorly to Burger King... My burger was topped with two huge discs of red onion (together I think they were larger than the burger patty) and a lake of mustard - standard; I'm glad I had them hold the mayo. My milkshake was so thick as to be undrinkable and was made from syrup and soft-serve, so the quality wasn't very high either. (The silver lining is that since I didn't drink it all, I saved myself several hundred calories.) Prices were above-average for generally below-average food. The atmosphere and decor are rather distressed, and the staff made notable errors in several orders around me. It's nice you can request your burger cooked-to-order; too bad that didn't seem to affect whether you got "well-done" or "well-done". Still, it was nice to see a bulletin board with local events (misspelled) and business cards on it. Sadly, Bartels demonstrated why there's a niche for national franchise burger chains. read more

Usually a great place to eat. Got a to go order today. Two giant burgers and a large fry. Almost $21 bucks. They may need to change their name, our giant burgers looked no different than a 1/4 lb burger patty you would buy at Costco. Definitely could taste the difference too. Let me know when you guys go back to hand made giant size burgers!!! Would hate to see this place not be what we all remember it as. read more

Wow! I was craving a burger after a weekend of wine tasting. I decided to give Bartels a try. Wow! I can't wait to come back!!! read more

Bartels Giant Burger - Bacon cheeseburger with fries!! OMG!!! That was amazing!!! - Burgers Near Me - Corning, California

It was by sheer coincidence that I stumbled across this place. I was actually heading south on I-5 and exited intending to head over to the Olive Pit because of their 327 billboard ads I had seen in the last 3 miles. But who can pass up an inconspicuous roadside burger joint? Not this biatch. I could tell this place is probably packed at lunch time and on weekends. No-nonsense burgers, fries and shakes. They asked me how I wanted my burger (rare when it comes to $3.95 burgers)...and when I said "still mooing", they obliged. Crisp lettuce and extra onions and tomatoes topped with a bloody patty, just like I asked. This is my new favorite place! I'll be coming here every time I pass through Corning, wherever the F that was anyway... read more

I ordered the large cheeseburger (they use American cheese) prepared medium, and they did a great job on it. We ate at the counter, and plates are not provided, not even paper plates. Green? They just slid paper-wrapped burgers in front of us. OooooK. Kinda weird, but whatever. Minor complaint, but this kind of stuff bugs me..... The BBQ sauce bottle was sticky. They should at least wipe it down. That was gross. So, a very good burger, served in a sheet of paper with no frills. Prices were also good. 4 for the burger - done medium as desired, and great taste. 1 for the lack of service, or conversation beyond taking the order and the money and sticky stuff on BBQ sauce container. read more

Excellent burgers and fries! Old school ambiance and great food and service! If you want a tasty perfectly cooked burger this is the place!

Stop by every chance I get. Been there for years and they never disappoint. If you're looking for a real burger joint that has real burgers, this place is it. read more

I've driven by this exit a lot, and even turned off to go to some joints on the other side of the freeway, but never stopped at Bartel's. My loss! It is indeed an old-fashioned burger joint, tasty food, and great service - prompt and efficient, very helpful. The owner thanked us for our business - a rare treat these days. I'd say I'll stop there much more often now. A nice break on a long drive between Oregon and the Bay Area! read more

It is important to recognize when you pull up here that it is a dive. That is its charm. I read a lot of reviews for this place and see what is ultimately the ugly side of yelp, which is reviewer's lack of perspective. My visit here was just last week. I was very happy with the burger, fries, and soda. the inside was very clean, comfortable, and the staff was friendly. we ate outside where it was impeccably clean and the provided shade was pleasant. The highlight of the meal were the fries. piping hot and perfectly salted. old school. The low of the meal was the cheese on the burger was not melted through. I would suggest to them to lay the cheese on the patty as it finishes cooking and steam it down with a lid. other than that the patty was just as ordered and the garnish fresh and crisp. couldnt ask for more from a dive except for an ice cold beer! read more

Came to this burger joint and they got my order mixed up. There were numerous of flies everywhere, and the burger was not the best. The Jalapeños they had on a jar were all dry and old. read more

Bartels is quite possibly the biggest, most delicious burger you will ever eat. Don't be put off by the look of the place, they know exactly what they're doing. I've been coming here for 20 years, and the place has always been quality. I've been to several lauded So-Cal places (Father's Office, Umami Burger, The Counter, etc.). For my money the giant burger trumps them all. However, be warned. This isn't some 6oz gourmet burger like you'll find in the city. It's a big, greasy, delectable monstrosity made for locals and truckers. It's the burger your grandpa would eat. Quality ingredients, friendly staff, bomb shakes, and decent fries. Get the Giant Burger not the regular one if you have any sort of appetite. As for the complaints below: if you want a fast food burger made to the blandest, lowest common denominator, this isn't it. Alternatively, if you want Gruyere cheese, a side of asparagus or organic gluten-free ketchup, you're not getting that either. This is a straight-up, old-school burger joint. And for the love of God, order the burger how you want it. Don't like mayo? You should probably tell them to hold it. Sheesh. Bartels rocks (rant over). read more

Great Cheeseburgers, fries & drinks. Easy 5 freeway on/off access & clean restrooms. Perfect for a quick non-chain fast food roadtrip stop. Super friendly service! read more

Bartels Giant Burger - You can view the grill from the counter. I always love that! - Burgers Near Me - Corning, California

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I'm not generally a "burgermeister", but the burgers here could make me change my ways. Like Stacy, we were drawn off I-5 by the lure of anchovy-, jalapeno- and (believe it or not) olive-stuffed olives at the Olive Pit. However, the place was undergoing renovation and the restaurant was closed, so rather than give in to the major-chain fast-food imperative we decided to try the giant burger. This was at noon on a Sunday, and a great proportion of the folks there seemed to be locals. While the menu is limited (two sizes of burgers and a grilled chicken sandwich), in-n-out manages to be amazing with even less choice, so I'm not concerned as long as they deliver. What can I say -- the beef tasted fresh, the buns were soft, the toppings were top-drawer, the price was right and the service was friendly. From now on, I think this may become a normal stop for us when we're on the move along I-5. Highly recommended! read more

Stopped here on a road trip to OR, and on first sight, we recoiled a bit--it looks rundown from the outside; however, what Bartels lacks in first sight love, it makes up TREMENDOUSLY in service and tastiness. Mr. Bartel took our order and he was bright and friendly. It appeared his adult sons were there throwing the fries down and that this is a family business because mom came out with fresh leaves lettuce and produce to place in fridge. I appreciate that you can watch your food prepared. Bartel recommended the fry sauce and seemed excited for us to try it--it was delicious. The milkshakes? Old fashioned made fresh there ice cream and fresh crepe. Visiting Bartels was like stopping at an old fashioned diner where the owners care just as much about their food as they do customer service and making sure you leave with a smile. Bartels will be a regular pit stop on our summer drive to OR from San Diego. Don't let looks fool you--stop at Bartels! read more

Bartels Giant Burger - Bartel recommended trying their fry sauce--GRAB SOME when you stop! friendly customer service and yummy roadside food. - Burgers Near Me - Corning, California

We stopped here on the way back from a Ladies retreat and we enjoyed the fresh burgers, fries and milk shake. So when we were on a recent road trip to Ashland, OR, we stopped here. Food was ok..Service was not. They had opened at 10:00 and it was 10:30, they didn't have any milkshakes because they just had turned on the machines. She said it would take an hour for them to warm up. 15 mins later I heard them running. The lady was not friendly at all. It was just my husband and I and our two year old, so it wasn't like there was a lunch rush hour. No smiles, no how are you today, gosh not even a hello. We ate quitely inside afraid to talk much because she was hovering over the counter like she was waiting for us to leave. Also, we finished our sodas, but didn't ask for refills beacuse just had that feeling she would say no. Wish I could say I had a better experience. read more

Solid burger joint in between Redding and the Bay Area. The fries were tasty and hot and the burger juicy and delicious. The service was a bit slow, it was prime lunch time, but it could have been better. The place is a bit tired and run down but I'd stop there again in a heartbeat. read more

We needed a place for lunch on our way to San Diego. If Giant Burger was any closer to I-5 it would be on the hard shoulder. It was an atmospheric joint with a small menu and an emphasis on the burgers and an explanation of the different cooking temperatures. I asked about the veggie burger and was told that it was a bunch of vegetables smashed together and frozen and that if you wanted a burger go for the meat. I think it was there just to appease any vegetarians who are stupid enough to walk into a place with a 100 foot tall Giant Burger sign. The burgers came out quickly and were pretty good. Nice and juicy. The chicken breast sandwich, despite being previously frozen was also very good. We took a chocolate malt to go and it was excellent. Nice and cold on a hot day with great malty flavor. Fun, quick, and easy stop of the I-5 with good burgers. read more

Tomorrow I start a 24-month mineral balancing plan which involves a very strict diet of little to nothing on any restaurant menu. That said, today I wanted to splurge, but because it was to be a final splurge, it HAD to be great! I took a big risk going somewhere I'd never eaten before, but I've passed this place often and never tried it, so today was the day. Well... not only did it meet my hoped for expectations, it flew right past them! I haven't tasted a burger this good, sloppy, messy, cheesy, or perfectly cooked since I was a kid. You know, back in the '60's and '70's when eating in a good burger joint meant food that was better than what you could make at home. Bartels is clean and comfortable, the Giant burger w/cheese, (2 slices!) lettuce, tomato, red onion, mustard, mayo (I added a good portion of their fry sauce) was lean and flavorful. Veggies were fresh: lettuce crisp and tomato, ripe. I got the combo which includes fries. Normally I'd skip frozen fries, but again, this was a special splurge day. These fries were better than the fresh ones served at some of the popular chains! Workers were friendly and even the owner stopped by to check on me. Good food, good prices, good vibes. Now that I've tasted Bartels, it's going to be a very long 24 months! Do yourself a favor - go have a Giant cheeseburger for me. read more

This is probably my favorite burger joint in town! I always loved to go there back when I was in high school. Even now, I sometimes bring my friends from out of town to Bartels and they love it. Although the price is a little more expensive than your average McDonald's burger, the flavor is great! Plus you get to custom order how you want your burger, which makes it extra special. The only negative side is that the bathrooms are out in the back of the establishment. So be prepared to ask for the bathroom key and walk around the corner if you need to "go." read more

This is a cute little place to try when you find yourself on the road north. It is small but if the weather is nice you can sit outside facing the road. The staff is very nice. However this probably isn't the place to stop at if you have wee-little ones. The bathrooms require a key and a walk along the orange rail out back. Although nice there is no changing table (yet) so you'll have to change your kids diaper in the car. Overall the food was okay. The garden burger tasted homemade and the fries were fresh. read more

Stopped for lunch. Took burger and fries to go. Burger raw-asked for medium. Fries overcooked, dark brown and greasy. Didn't want to turn back. This place is usually good, but was downright bad this time! read more

Small little family business that started in 89'. They removed the classic car photos because they did some repainting. The food was great. Customizable burgers with lots of options, if you come here from Sac you might as well get their shake for the long drive home. ! The bathroom is in the back which is the only con but their customer service is great. You can eat outside or inside and they get to know you on a personal level read more

First off hair in burger...no thank you. Second, seeing smokers that don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom, definitely not. Yes people, those are the cooks. (I know they don't wash their hands because I was waiitng to go the bathroom and you can hear EVERYTHING!) My parents stopped here awhile back just to use the bathroom and again, confirmed the "no hand washing". Comparing stories with them just proved my point. Flies...I don't think I need to say much more. Don't eat here. read more

Wow 8 Bucks for the regular little burger, a small drink and frys that tasted like grease. Nothing out of this world, but liked the fresh iceberg lettuce, and healthy amount of mayo on the fresh bun. Hmm, ok if you want a little hole in the wall burger place and support Ma and Pa, then go here! Just do not be terribly hungry if you order the small meal! read more

I walked in today and the employees were scratching lottery tickets instead of helping customers. When I complained to the management could careless. Poor management and they use cheap meat and charge a fortune. read more

I read the reviews and with a wary eye decided to try this place out on road trip today and make up my own mind. Positives: My fiance got her order exactly as desired, ordered the burger medium well. Chocolate malt was pretty good. Negatives: I ordered a burger with cheese, medium, everything and grilled onions. I got a larger burger, medium-rare (mushy, warmed over), no grilled onions. The gal at the grill was on the surly side so I didn't feel like complaining and just pulled off the non-grilled onion and ate it. No fries available, fryer on the fritz. Potato chips made do. Flies mentioned previously were in attendence. This joint doesn't stand up to places like the Red Onion in the East Bay, which has a similar menu. Nor In-N-Out, though I was going for the no-chain thing. I was hoping for roadside charm and while I didn't experience any Texas chainsaw, the lunch was, on the whole, not worth the stop. read more

This place is great I stop by when i visit my family it currently has great people working there

I was thrilled to find a burger place near by as we traveled on I-5 that had such wonderful Yelp ratings. Oh my gosh. What a huge disappointment. The burgers we so dry. (I later learned the cook kept squeezing the juices out as the burgers cooked). The lettuce, tomato etc were so very limp and sparse. Bathrooms were very dirty which makes me wonder if their public bathroom is a mess how clean is the kitchen we didn't see? Again, a disappointment. read more

There are a few things I look for in a burger joint: good juicy burger that's not overdone. fresh-tasting cheese and produce good buns (I look for this on a woman too, coincidentally) solid fries (In 'n' out fries blow, for reference) customer service Bartel's has always nailed all of the above. I've been going to the ones in Redding since I was a child, and it's always been the best burger I think I've ever had. Whether it's a giant or a double-Giant with cheese, they're awesome. And they've always been great with their customers. This particular Bartel's has a gentleman that works there (whose name escapes me at the moment) that has to be the nicest guy I've ever met. I don't go often, but when I do he remembers me and we chat, and I'm always blown away by how much of a nice guy he is. I honestly can't recommend this place enough. tip: want a milkshake? get a pepsi freeze. fantastic... read more

Bartels Giant Burger - This is good. - Burgers Near Me - Corning, California

Our family decided to stop off here for some food on our way back home from our Labor Day weekend trip. It looked like a classic burger place and that sounded far more enticing than the run of the mill fast food joints. That's pretty much where the excitement ended. My kids ordered grilled cheese sandwiches, which were all black and burnt on one side and I got a basic hamburger, which was raw on the inside. Definitely not healthy nor safe for a pregnant mommy. With 2.5 hours left on our trip turning around to inform them of their poor quality wasn't going to happen so we continued down the road. But trust me when I say that we will NEVER be back. read more

Bartels Giant Burger - Burnt grilled cheese sandwich! - Burgers Near Me - Corning, California

I have no idea why some reviewers are comparing this place to Burger King. If hamburgers are a commodity food item for you, stick to BK and McD's. This place is for those who appreciate a little throwback to yesteryear, when drive-ins were more common than drive-thru's. My family likes to go off the beaten track a little bit, and this place certainly qualifies, even though it serves a very traditional burger. The service here doesn't try to treat you like Their Most Important Very Important Customer with cheer and Pleasant Smiles and Is There Anything Else I Can Get For You, ad nauseum. Instead, they just do their job and it well: get your order, fill your order efficiently, and then move on to the next customer. If you want to be pampered, go to some other apostrophe S restaurant (Red Robin's, Applebee's, Chili's, ... you get the point). My wife finds that few restaurants can remember to remove the tomato from her burger; but these guys did. She loved the Ortega chili on the burger. I ordered my burger cooked to medium, she order hers well-done. Her order and my order were quickly delivered to us, cooked exactly as we had ordered them, and both were hot with crisp lettuce inside. The order of fries we shared were still fresh-from-the-fryer hot. And I had a chocolate malted that still had the chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream imperfectly but sufficiently mixed; that thing was made by real hand, not by a machine. I gave this place five stars, but it's important to note that I'm comparing it to other similar burger joints, not to just any place which serves a burger, or even just restaurants in general. If you want to go back to the year 1975, and get a great burger freshly made exactly like it would have been back then, with fries and a shake or a soda, then this is the place where you should go. read more

Great burger place right off I5. Free wifi burgers shakes fries water for dogs outdoor seating. read more

Bartels Giant Burger - Burgers Near Me - Corning, California

This is a good place for fun, classic dive food. A retro burger shack, with thrift store decor, and the menu is simple and delicious! I love the onion rings and their dipping sauce. They have different special meal deals for every day of the week, so that is fun too. If you are vegetarian, they have a yummy veggie burger as well. I am not from the country, so I also find it exotic and fun that it is nestled in the middle of nowhere. I like to share my burgers with the stray kitties running amuck, who are apparently treated well by the employees here as well. :) I gave the place 4 stars, because the food isn't unique or special, but it is good enough to frequent. Tasty food, good staff, I just love eating here. :) read more

This was by far one of the best burgers I've had in a long while! The burger was cooked perfect with fresh toppings and fresh hot fries. Also the prices are great and you won't leave here hungry! read more

Stopped on way back from wedding in Oregon. Not only friendly service awesome burgers made to order. We will be stopping whenever we go back and forth read more

Having lived in the area for many years back in the day...even before the Mickey D's, Jack-in-the-Box, Wendy's and all other national franchise chains...Bartel's Giant Burger was (still is!) the place to get a hot, delicious hamburger and a basket of french fries! i would highly recommend stopping in on your travels on I-5 freeway and treat you and yours to a delicious meal! read more