RIPON – It’s a classic burger at the downtown Ripon Roadhouse sure to leave egg yolk running down your fingers and hands with the first bite.

The restaurant is located in the 100 block of East Main Street where it occupies the legendary and historic Odd Fellows two-story red brick building that once made headlines when a skeleton was discovered in its upstairs – a skeleton that had once been used for the initiation of new members.

Chef Dennis Fang, whose brother Isadore owned the restaurant of the same name in Manteca, displays his passion for creating the best and probably largest burger imaginable.  His creation includes cheddar cheese, Aioli sauce, sautéed mushrooms and onions, topped with a single, large onion ring and a fried egg.  The mushrooms and the onions are placed inside the onion ring soon to be immersed in golden, runny egg yolk.

Along with the burger presentation are San Francisco-style French fries. 

Fang worked as a cook most recently at Ernie’s restaurant in Manteca.  When he was hired at the Ripon Roadhouse, he brought two of Isadore’s cooks with him – Miguel and Lori.  That worked out just perfectly for them, he said.

Hospitality and Food Services manager Joey Vindiola said that for every table of guests that comes in there is at least one burger on their order with adults ordering more burgers than the children.  Certified Angus beef is used in the kitchen.

“We can go to healthier burgers like the Cesar Burger with provolone cheese and Cesar salad added to the top of the patty,” he said.  “Our Jack Daniels Burger is the most popular with a Jack Daniels glaze on top of the burger with fried onion strings and bacon and provolone cheese.  We do turkey patties, vegan patties and chicken patties, as well.”

Garlic and regular seasoned fries are a customer’s choice on the menu, along with potato slices dusted with Cajon seasoning once they’ve been removed from the fryer. Guests can also enjoy a beer or cocktail from the bar.