Ford’s Real Hamburgers

Ummm did they move or something? Their food was so good. I’m sad. I’m actually very upset. Best burgers in Sacramento

The hamburger is just okay and VERY expensive. The customer service is awful.
This place is now closed. LOL

Last time I was here it was bout 8 years ago! Man how I wish it was still then, the burger is dry and the cheese was still cold! Huge let down.

This was my first-​ever job while I was in highschool, so maybe I am biased, but…
I LOVE FORDS! And I am really sad it’s gone. The reasoning behind it all is pretty ridiculous from what I’ve heard, and I can’t believe this Land Park-​Land Mark has seen it’s last days.
I’ll admit, as far as appealing to the eye– extremely lacking! But they have a nice patio that stays pretty cool during the summer. I worked Mon– Thurs 11:00−3:00 (I did independent study, therefore was able to work such hours) and it ALWAYS filled up during lunch time. And then again for the after school rush.
Pete (the owner) was a great boss and although could come off as a bit grouchy at times to customers, (haha) he was actually really supportive, nice & funny.
The food– I don’t think there was a single item on the menu I didn’t like. (Yes, I tried it all). Highlights– the turkey burger, onion rings, fries, real-​good sauce, onion ring sauce, chocolate malts, and their garlic bread.
Although, I did visit pretty soon before they closed for good & noticed their fries had changed :(They used to be freshly cut (daily) and they weren’t nearly the same, deliciously thin-​cut, greasy fries I was used to.

When we finally went to Ford’s after meaning to try it for a few years, we expected a meal of simple but outstanding burgers at prices typical of a low-​key neighborhood burger joint. After paying nearly $ 18 for two small burgers, 1 small fry, and 2 small sodas, we hoped Ford’s product would be pretty darn amazing. However, it failed to impress.
Stylistically the burgers are similar to those at Five Guys, but the taste falls far short. The fries were the high point of our meal, but the serving was much smaller than we expected for the price, and again, we’ve had superior fries at other burger joints. The less-​than-​ethusiastic service and lackluster décor didn’t help.
In sum, the gourmet prices don’t match with the grimy feel and overall absence of character. Ford’s has the potential to be a great, old school-​style place to grab a burger, but the effort to make it that way just doesn’t seem to be there.

I found this place on accident. It doesn’t look like it’s going to be out of this world, in fact, just by the exterior I would expect something less than par.
This is just one reason why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (or a restaurant by its building). I ordered a ¹⁄₃ lb. burger with bacon and pepper jack cheese. My boyfriend and I split a large fries and I ordered a mocha shake. He ordered an orange shake.
The burger was delicious. I don’t typically want hamburgers, but I have found myself craving Ford’s multiple times since we went. This may cut out the gas money it takes to drive to In n’ Out.

On the cusp of returning to my healthy eating ways, I thought I’d treat myself to a big fattening turkey burgery (if you read my reviews, you already know my ongoing mission is to find delicious turkey burgers around town). Though I’d gone to Ford’s once before, it was more than five years ago and I couldn’t really remember the experience.
My turkey burger was delicious! The cheddar and bacon on top of the turkey burger along with the condiments made for a juicy, fatteningly amazing, tongue tasting experience. The fries were just «ok» for me, but I really just wanted the burger anyway. The bun was fresh, the tomato was juicy, the lettuce was crisp, and the burger put a smile on my face. However, the surrounding events are what left me rating Fords with a 3 instead of a 4 or 5.
I didn’t want to dine in, so I took to the internet and was happy to see a menu online. It was quite helpful. I called in my order (I love pick-​up service) and was a tad disappointed by the lackluster attitude of the young woman who answered the phone. She talked to me like I was supposed to know everything about Ford and its menu options and didn’t seem to take into consideration my «new» customer status. Nonetheless, I ordered and drove over to pick up my food.
I imagine the young woman at the counter was the same one I spoke to on the phone because the same lackluster attitude was the one that «greeted» me when I walked into the restaurant. While waiting to pay, I noticed a sign that said credit cards weren’t allowed (wish I’d known that ahead of time since I came intending to use one) and there was an approximate .70 charge for using one’s ATM card. The inconvenience and the fee annoyed me to no end, particularly in a time when folks rarely carry cash. Noticing I seemed put off, Miss. Lackluster asked if I wanted to just «cancel my order» in her annoyed and disinterested tone. Her attitude left a whole lot to be desired.
There were survey forms available next to the order window for customers to talk about their Ford’s expericence. I thought it would be a perfect way for me to at least encourage Ford’s to consider taking credit cards and getting rid of a rather high fee while also touting the goodness of my burger. I thought wrong. The lines on the survey were less than an inch long which left absolutely NO room to make any true statements. I can’t help but think a form like that implies the business doesn’t really care what the customers think.
Though I really enjoyed my burger, I’m not so sure I’ll be returning to Ford’s. No matter how tasty something is, I can’t support bad or inconvenient service. Ford’s impressed my taste buds but disappointed my sensibilities.

Squeeze in wha? Wille’s who? If you’re looking for a great burger in Sacramento, Ford’s makes one of, if not THE BEST burgers in Sac. But I warn you, don’t come here if you’re worried about keeping your hands clean. This is the kind of place you go to when you’re ready to dig into something delicious, without shame… extra napkins please. I recommend it with cheddar and bacon, and add avocado… it’s an amazing mess, and I promise you’ll enjoy every second of it.
I really do believe Ford’s makes the best burger in Sac, and for quite some time, that alone was enough to make this place #1 on my list of Best Burger Places in Sacramento for quite some time. But as time has gone by, and many burgers passed through… though Ford’s are a bit above the rest, there are other things to consider, and hence I’ve moved my beloved Ford’s down on my list.
All things considered:
The Good:
–Ford’s makes the best burger in town.
–they have ice-​cream and/​or shakes, with a good number of flavors to choose from, including peanut butter chocolate (yum!)
The Bad:
–as most unhappy reviewers have already stated, the price here is a notch above the rest, and this is something people just don’t like and some can’t even get past. For the most basic of burgers (¹⁄₃ lb no cheese), you’re looking at about $ 7, and that can go up substantially with each additional topping or burger size. I normally order a very manly sized ½ lb burger with cheddar, bacon, and avocado for $ 13.55. That’s a lot of money for a burger, meaning I then expect a lot of burger for that money. I hope they realize with prices like that, they’re setting the standards/​expectations up very high, and to a place some people aren’t even willing to go. The cost is without a doubt the biggest complaint I hear from people when talking about Ford’s.
–they have fries and onion rings (the battered type), but at $ 4 for a small basket of them, I’ll pass
–the place itself isn’t the nicest, and isn’t the most comfortable either
–and lastly, I don’t know what it is with the people working there, but they need a big lesson or two on customer service and learning how to just be polite. I’ve been there many MANY times, and not once have I been greeted with a smile, or felt like I wasn’t treated rudely and/​or condescendingly at the register.
All in all, though they are still the best burger in town, as other burger places continue to pop up and come up with new and inspiring ways to bring in business, Ford’s has failed to make any improvements. Where others offer more for less, Ford’s is okay with simply charging more for less. In any business model you have to consider two things, first, how do you bring in new customers? and secondly, how do you keep them coming back? I feel like Ford’s hasn’t asked themselves this in a long, long time. So if you’re looking for the best burger in town, look no further than Ford’s. But if you’re looking for the best burger place in town, look to my list for The Best Burgers in the Sacramento Area, a list that used to include Ford’s at #1. That coveted #1 spot is now held by a business, and others like it down the list, who have similarly great burgers with more options, less cost, and thus a more positive dining experience overall.
I give these harsh critiques out of love for you Ford’s. I look forward to being a regular of yours for quite some time, and would hate to see you ever go out of business for not staying with the times and keeping up with the competition. Because there is competition, and don’t ever forget it.

This place is within walking distance from my school but it definitely not college student friendly prices! I’ve always seen this place going to Starbucks and thought of it as a more family place for local regulars. I was so right.
My friend took me here after class one day and seeing as how he’s a foodie, I was pretty excited. The prices were crazy! I thought they included a drink and fries but even cheese was extra! For such an old styled place, I was impressed that they had a vegetarian option. I love my friend for treating as I would never ever pay so much for a burger. The patty was your average frozen faux meat patty, probably a garden burger but not cooked very well. It came with barely anything on it and wasn’t very tasty, but the bread was so freakin good. I’m a total sucker for sourdough so if it is, that’s why. The fries are pretty good, they pack a lot on there. They don’t seem very fresh and both times I got them they were over cooked and kinda seemed like the small bottom pieces.
I would give this place 2 stars, but free soda refills and nice service by who I think was the owner bumps it to 3. These girls the next time had attitude. I prefer Willies on Broadway regarding price, service, and product quality overall as their fries are bursting and perfect. Oh, this place sells orange shakes though, which is apparently a big deal according to my friend.

The veggie sandwich was mehhh– it tasted like a BLTA without the B. I know, I know, burgernotveggiesandwichplace, blah blah blah. But you know what? If it’s on the menu, you’re responsible for its tastiness.
PLUS they made me feel like a giant fatass for asking for more peanut butter in my not-​at-​all-​peanut-​buttery PEANUT BUTTER milkshake. Major faux pas to a pms-​ing woman, Ford’s. MAJOR faux pas.

The Past —
A local and independent longstanding Sacramento institution serving hamburgers; what’s not to like? Well, unfortunately it turns out there are a few things. I had been to Ford’s a time or two before, but it was pre Unilocal era and I didn’t completely remember my experience. What I am sure of is that my meals or meals back when were not $ 15 because I am positive I would’ve remembered that.
The Present —
This last Saturday I was really looking forward to trying Ford’s again after a long hiatus. The experience started off bad from the beginning due to a bad disposition from the girl at the counter. She was not friendly whatsoever and seemed almost inconvenienced by the fact that she had to take my order. Her frustration seemed to grow as I had a lot of $ 1s and found myself counting out ten of them to go with my only $ 5. I find the bigger issue to be that I my meal was $ 15, not that I was unexpectedly running low on cash and counting out ten $ 1s. I splurged a little bit when I went with the bacon cheeseburger, but find it a little shocking the smallest burger (¹⁄₃ lb.), add cheese and bacon with a side of onion rings and a medium drink was $ 15. Actually it was $ 14.99 and I felt almost insulted as the rude girl at the counter handed me my penny back. Ok so this was way more expensive than I expected, but whatever I am moving on at that point. After receiving my penny I stand there waiting for my drink, which one would normally expect to receive at the counter. only to be informed that my drink would only be available with my meal. I have never seen this before in all of my years of dining. Is this measure in place to save money on refills? Is it because I may down half of my drink while waiting on my burger to come out? I don’t know, but I think it is lame. Not only that, I don’t like that the fountain machine isn’t just out for self service. For all I know this place may not even offer free refills because at the end of my meal I didn’t feel the need to go back inside and deal with the unpleasant girl at the counter to find out. As for the burger itself, I have no real complaints other than the cheese was not melted at all. This burger overall wasn’t really special, but it was good. A lot of people have written reviews raving about the onion rings, but for me, they were average at best. What about the Ford’s sauce? I didn’t find it to be anything special either.
The Future —
Unfortunately I am not sure Ford’s and I will have a future. I like the burger, but not for $ 15 and the service was a major turn off. This is like the girl that doesn’t get a second date due to of lack of physical attractiveness, but rather because her personality sucks. I would much rather spend my money at a local and independent establishment, but in this case I think I am inclined to eat at The habit where the burger is basically just as good, I can have my drink upfront and spend half the money.

Pretty solid place to grab picnic grub if you’re headed to William Land Park, as it’s right across the street at Sutterville & Freeport.
Since you’re paying a premium price anyway (ours was $ 23 for 2 burgers, sm fry & o rings), I’d highly recommend going for the addition of bacon. Thick and salty, it really kicked up the burger. Onion rings are battered rather than crunchy-​crusted and if you like that, they’re tasty. The spicy dipping sauce is a nice touch. Fries were crispy and fresh.
The burger sizes start at ¹⁄₃ lb. That’s the size I got and it was plenty of meat to cover the hefty, soft bun. Because I had read the warnings in other reviews about the burgers being overcooked, I took my chances by ordering it med-​rare. Came out a perfect med-​WELL :) Coulda used a bit more flavor (see note about bacon above), but overall, above-​average.

Ok look here all you one and two star giving people, I don’t know where you think you’re eating at, but Fords has thee best burgers I have ever had!!!
My boyfriend is a MEAT LOVER and this place does the trick for him. We looked up «old fashion» hamburgers and found nothing but Wendys Wendys and more Wendys blaaah. Then we came across Fords. This little hole-​in-​the-​wall (which you could totally pass up if you don’t know it’s there) will not fail you!
We drove all the way from Stockton just to try it out for the first time and found ourselves driving back there JUST to eat a burger. We love this place! The owner Hank is an awesome guy. He remembered my boyfriend just by the 2^nd time he had been there. How often does that happen??? Like someone said in a different review, this shows his dedication to his customers.
So for all you one and two star giving people, take your money and go to Mcdonalds, with all that grease, frozen meat, microwaved tasting fries, and their ice cream in a cup shakes. Fords is the best!
*Pricing is a bit high, but you’re definately getting your moneys worth, especially if you have left over burger =)

So, growing up downtown, this was always in my bag of tricks when looking to get a decent sandwich when i was a youth. I went there today fully expecting to be writing a 1 – 2 star review as For some reason I remember having a less than decent experience at some point.
so, for 10 bucks I got a huge and tasty burger, fries and a drink. Not to bad. I have to say.2 bucks for a bag full of fries. FTW. its awesome. They have plenty of add ons but i kept it simply in the form of a swiss burger.
Do not go here for a small bite to eat. I got the ¹⁄₃ lbers… and usually i can throw one back from a similar restaurant and be totally cool. Right now the only thing i want to do is take a nap. Fords, your back in my heart as a go to place.

I love the name of the this restaurant Ford’s Real Hamburgers. There are certain places that remind you of the start of the fast food culture, the old school burger stands and good old fashioned American dining. Ford’s is classic.
I had a Bacon Cheeseburger, it was messy and delicious. The Charbroiled burger tasted like a Real Hamburger and went perfectly with my Kona Coffee Milkshake.
No argument here, I completely enjoyed my meal and can’t wait to come back to try the Chicken Burger and Onion Rings. Keep making them real burgers.

Onion Rings — I’ve never been a fan. Until Ford’s. And their onion ring sauce. They have some sort of explanation about the onion ring sauce. All you need to know is it’s beyond awesome and ask for extra because one of those little sauce things will not be enough for an order. Oh, and they fry them to order. Even if you call in your order for pickup, they don’t put them in the fryer until you arrive. Back in the day when I ordered fries here, they did the same thing but it’s been so long since I’ve ordered the fries at this place.
And the burgers, even the ¹⁄₃ lb-​er, is big. The bun they use is awesome and a lot heartier than a regular bun, with a slightly firm crust. Large hamburger patty, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, raw red onions, their in-​house sauce (it’s sweet opposed to spicy like their onion ring sauce but both are thousand island derivatives). When it’s done right, they’re perfectly seasoned, so so good and I can’t wait to come back!
And that right there is why can only give Ford’s 3 stars. When they’re perfectly seasoned, they’re legendary. But I’ve been here more than a few times where the burger has been completely unseasoned (there are few things as gross to eat texturally as an unseasoned hamburger). The one and only time I ordered fries here, they were severely overcooked (which is why I switched to onion rings — happily so — they’ve yet to screw those up thankfully!).
My guess is it has to do with whomever is the line cook when you put your order in. I’ll still keep coming back, because when it’s done right, Ford’s is amazing. But when it’s not, you’re spending an awful lot of money for really meh food.

The office burger club went to Ford’s last week, and gave a collective B-​. I think I was a little more critical than the rest, because this place is crazy expensive for burgers that are not great.
The cheapest burger on the menu is $ 5.49 — no cheese, small-​ish, no fries — just the burger. Small drink is only $ 1, but it’s also only 8 ounces. Fries are extra.
The meat was good, the pepper jack cheese I ordered on mine was completely flavorless, the sauce was bland, and the tomatoes were tasteless. And no pickles — very sad. The fries were really good — crispy and hot, and with good pepper. Yes, i put salt and pepper on my fries. The Ford’s pepper, while out of a standard shaker, is somehow more coarsely ground than most shaker-​pepper and exceptionally flavorful.
Coworkers indicated the bacon on their bacon cheeseburgers was very good — even if it cost a bunch extra.
Go for the fries, and maybe a $ 5 – 7.49 milkshake. Serious. the large milkshake is $ 7.49

Great drink selection if you like semi-​obscure soda pops. A chicken curry sandwich that isn’t bad. *Great* onion rings, and I don’t usually like them. Comfortable seating. Decent selection of cheeses on the burgers.
Yesterday two regular (¹⁄₃ lb) hamburgers, one with cheese, a split side of onion rings and two drinks ran us $ 20. Not cheap, but given the quality of the burger and onion rings we were happy. Perfect amount of food for dinner.
They’d get five stars if they added beer to the menu.

A honest ¹⁄₃ pounder!
Thanks to you other Unilocaler’s out there I was tipped off to Ford’s while looking for a burger joint during a Sac visit. Right after my trip to the River City Gun Exchange (
) I was feeling in need of some fuel before the ride back to the coast. Ford’s Real Hamburgers came up on the top of the list for places nearby.
Before I go further I have to say I love a charbroiled burger much better than «steel burger». See my review for Joe’s Cable Car (
) if want to know about that term. But Ford’s is highly rated so I decided to give them a try.
The Burger:
On this visit I ordered a Bacon-​Cheeseburger with everything on it. With Cheddar as the cheese choice. Mine was only a ¹⁄₃ pounder. Most people probably won’t need more because of the meat quality. Ford’s has a special brand of extremely low fat meat ground and brought in daily. Ford’s hamburger grind refuses to shrink while cooking on the grill. As a result even the ¹⁄₃ pounder is a big enough burger for just about anyone. See my pictures! The burger is as large as it looks! Since it’s ground fresh daily this is a place you can feel good about having a burger cooked less than well done. Mine was cooked medium and it was delicious!
Ford’s also offers a ½ pounder and even a FULL pounder. Hank mentioned that he sells at least one a week. That brave soul must have a bottomless pit for a stomach!
All the veggies and condiments that arrive with your burger choice are fresh and tasty. Even the tomatoes are thick sliced! Ford’s serves their burgers with a sauce creation that resembles Thousand Island dressing, but without the pickles. It’s very good sauce but tell them up front if you are traditional mayo /​mustard /​ketchup only fan.
Even the buns are special bun. It’s good bread Ford’s has made for them. Ask for them toasted if that is the way you like your buns.
The whole pedigree of a Ford’s Hamburger is top notch (minus the cooking style).
The Coke:
It was passable. But Hank really needs to have the mixture checked out! They’ll never win a Coca-​Cola award until they do. A nice point about the drink is free refills for an size ordered.
The French Fries:
Nice fries! They taste as good as they look in my pictures! All golden brown and a touch crispy. I would stop at Ford’s for the fries alone! In fact my next visit to Sac will include another stop at Ford’s to try out an order fries and a chocolate malt.
The Seating:
It was a hot day on my visit. Ford’s offers a nice shaded area with overhead fan to quell the heat. I love the fact you can sit in shade outside and enjoy your burger. On a really hot or cold day I might get my order to go.
The Payment:
Ford’s accepts cash or ATM cards. No credit cards here. Just make sure your card handle ATM transactions and you’ll be fine. I found Ford’s prices to br quite reasonable for the quality and the amount you get.
The Staff:
Hank the owner does not present a smile. He seems to be all business when you walk up. But just one question to spark a bit of conversation and you’ll find he is very friendly. Hank also knows all all the regular customers who walk up. That speaks much more about his dedication to his customers that a fake smile ever could. On the other hand Tricia (who will serve your burger) has a smile and a happy voice for every order she calls out. Look behind the counter and you’ll see the burgers flow out the window with ease. The rest of the staff must be happy to work here.
The Customers:
Ford’s Real Hamburgers has as big of a cross section of America as you could possibly imagine. On my visit I could better answer a question about who I didn’t see. You could tell the people who came were serious about their food! Lot’s of kids and their parents and/​or grandparents out enjoying a Ford’s burger on a Saturday afternoon let’s you know this is neutral territory for burger lovers.
The Nap!:
With all this goodness you have to pay the piper somehow. After you finish your meal be prepared to do one of two things. (1) Go into a food coma for a while. A turkey dinner nap will be about as long. Like a bar stop, it should be illegal to drive after a Ford’s burger! (2) Go run your butt off trying not to fall asleep! All those calories need something to do and the park is right across the street.
This ended up being another «steel burger» review that earned Four Stars. Ford’s Real Hamburgers makes a great steel burger. Ford’s will never get a full five stars from me until he cooks with flame. Take my four stars to be the highest possible score! :-)

If there were more places like this in the world we would all be a little better off.
Ford’s is old, but not old and dirty. The guy behind the counter (I forgot his name!) is so nice, you feel like a regular halfway through your first sentence. The place is clean, and small. I imagine on a busy day you have to fight for seat but on a thursday at 12:00 there was plenty to go around. I sat on the patio and Sacramento in May can be a glorious place to be outside.
I ordered the #1 (¹⁄₃ lb) with Bacon and American Cheese, onion rings, and a diet coke. It took about as long as it takes to cook a medium rare burger with bacon and cheese. The cheese was not melted which tells me the cook really knew what medium rare meant… if you ever get a medium rare burger with melted cheese it has been microwaved (no doubt about it).
The burger was bursting with fresh veggies and the flavor was perfect. The beef tasted lightly seasoned, with that natural beef flavor that one can only get these days by paying a premium price at the grocery store. The onion rings were perfectly battered (I like mine hard on the outside and easy to crunch into).
My meal was extrememly delicious. I had rationalized that since I only ate a ¹⁄₃ of beef I could afford a milkshake for dessert. I got the strawberry and was impressed by the bits of fresh fruit and silky texture of the cream.
This place is a win-​win for my belly and my tastebuds. I cannot wait to go back.