Don’s specialties include burgers made from pure beef – ground fresh and pattied daily – and curly fries cut from unpeeled potatoes each day. But the café also offers a range of sandwiches and fried potatoes in your favorite forms, including criss-cross, straight and as Tater Tots. Homemade onion rings, too. Ah, on-the-go, American comfort food.At Don’s, you’re in experienced hands. Don Shull began flipping burgers in 1969 when he took over a burger business his brother ran out of the family garage on summer evenings. In 1982, Don moved his business to the present location in Oakley. And he’s still found at the grill.
What sets Don’s food apart from other burger joints’ is its fresh taste and flavor. The café uses family recipes for seasonings and many of its side items, including Pickle-O’s and onion rings. The café’s prized Pizza Burger, made up of a pork patty, pizza sauce, onions and cheese, is Don’s creation. Plus, the café’s burgers and sandwiches are cooked on a customized grill designed for Don’s specialized cooking methods. What’s more, freshness is such a priority that customers can see Don’s reminder at the top of his lighted menus: “We Don’t Cook It ’Til You Order It!” This is no run-of-the-mill, frozen, assembly-line food.
If you love vintage cars, a good time to visit Don’s Drive-In Café is during the annual Oakley Cruise-In and Car Show, which will be held June 10-11 this year. Show cars park under the awning and in nearby lots to compete for prizes, including Mayor’s Choice and Best of Show. Activities also include a city-wide garage sale and quilt show. Best of all, you can fuel your fun with a Super Cheeseburger from Don’s – two large patties and two slices of real cheese on a toasted sesame-seed bun!
For more on Don’s Drive-In Café, call (785) 672-3965.