Auction Yard Café

I met the nicest gentleman and the kindest waitress in town there today! Hands down the best food I’ve had here while visiting Alturas for the Sheepdog Finals… beautiful town and a great place to eat!!❤️Thank you Pierce your kindness is a rare find!

You know how at the beginning of the new Top Gun movie, Maverick walks into a small town diner and asks where he is and the kid says "Earth"? That might have been this place. The chicken fried steak was recommended and I tried it and it was... Edible... but horribly overdone. This place is on my never to return list.

The Auction Yard Cafe is the place to eat while in Alturas! The wait was a little long because of the smaller kitchen, and only seats about 30 people at a time. Floor was a little stucky... but meh, not a big deal. Food did not all come out together but pretty close, it was hot and fresh! Wendy our server was amazing and kept up with the rush, and made sure we were all doing good. Coffee was a bit strong for my liking, hot coco was really good! Very highly recommended!

The food was very good, with an adequate portion size- no leftovers. Cas only. Make your own omelet and half portion of biscuits and gravy with a side of hash browns.

The waitress was so kind. She recommended the biscuits and gravy and oh my they were so delicious. It's a little café perfect for a quick drop-in. 👌 I traveled up north from the high desert and this small town has a few choices but im glad we stopped here . Delicious food and great service. Thank you.

Great place to eat! Friendly staff!

I had one of the best burgers I've ever had here. Definitely a good stop while in Alturas.

Great food, friendly staff. Would recommend to anyone

Stopped at this place for some grubbin before heading back to Susanville. Asked what was good from the waitress and she stated the burgers and explained you can make your own... so that's what I did I said I'd take one with everything. She explained that there was an auction of cattle going on next door and that normally it's next weekend but due to the holiday they were having it today so that is why the place smelt of cattle... I just thought we were getting some really really fresh meat... lol Pattie's we're not frozen or pre formed, they were hand formed and were dripping In deliciousness. Inside the lil place was homey, people seemed to all be very friendly and everyone seemed to know one another. Great place and fast service.

We went on a pretty busy day. However, the place had cleared out a lot while we were there. My omelette had egg shells in it,,too much sour cream which was just not ok, and the eggs hadn't been whisked (much?). The hills and whites were obviously not blended. Next, it wasn't very tasty. Smelled like seafood-- which wasn't in it. The mushrooms were old. Being a chef myself, I recognize old mushrooms, when they've been cooked... these probably should've been tossed. Hubby had the chicken fried steak. It was burned and slathered in gravy. Tbh, it was just ok. My ham steak and omelette were served 12 minutes apart. My husband's food was delivered 12 minutes before mine, with my ham steak. Bizarre timing from the kitchen. The ham steak was ok. But not from a bone in ham, as they described. Overall, meh. Lovely service. Nice girl. She kept apologizing, but really just needed more help with a focus on food quality. Took 25 minutes with a mostly empty restaurant to deliver our bill. But here's the kicker. No debit or credit cards. CASH ONLY establishment. Hmmm....

Great find in Alturas. The service was so refreshing, just a great small town feel. They brought me free fries just because they're nice. I ordered clam chowder which tasted great. The burgers were huge, I was not prepared at all for it. The patty was hand made and it was good. The fries were also good, not greasy at all. I loved the atmosphere too, a country diner dining room where they chat with their customers and make you feel at home.

This place is a charming family ran business. The food was delicious and service was friendly and attentive. I was very pleased to see two kids helping out and my burger was delicious.

We stopped for breakfast on our way through town, this cafe lives up to the reviews! I had pancakes and sausage, and my husband had French toast and sausage. Both meals came with eggs. Some of the best sausage we've ever had (seriously!), and the pancakes and French toast were delicious. Huge portions, we couldn't finish our food, even though it tasted so good. My child gobbled up her meal as well. And the prices can't be beat: $30 for 3 of us. Waitress Nicki was very friendly and gave us some good advice for our travels. We will definitely be back! Country Breakfast

On our way to Idaho for a family wedding we found this gem! I checked on Yelp like always and found this place, Adorable great food, mama's in the kitchen cooking and daughter is serving up the food. I had a delicious roast beef sandwich the coffee was good too. Thank you ladies :)

Lucky for us! Most everything was closed in Alturas when we rolled in on our motorcycles on Sunday of Labor Day weekend. I had even called ahead the week before to confirm what places were going to be open on Labor Day Weekend and the one we were planning on had changed their hours and was closed. The next closest place that was open was packed with zero social distancing. Soooo one more call before leaving town hungry was to Auction Yard Cafe. I asked if they were open and had indoor seating available for a party of 6 with social distancing. The nice girl that answered said yes!, We close in 45 minutes and we can make that happen! We arrived in 5 minutes to a nice table set up for us, ordered and enjoyed breakfast and lunch items that were without a doubt the BEST FOOD IN TOWN!!

This was by far the best pancake I had in my entire life spanning several decades. I hadn't ordered it but my travel companion made me taste it and I just had to order it. It melts on your tongue. So special!! Not enough stars for my rating!

Still, the best breakfast in town! Great to stop by again and have a great meal. Pancakes are big, coffee is hot, and the bacon is the best!

Had a great breakfast here at a great price with some great service. I would highly recommend this place for anyone in the Alturas area looking for a good breakfast

Great food and one of the best waitresses ever! I'll be back when in Alturas! Highly recommended!

Flying thru the thriving metropolis of Alturas You will pass by the town's Auction yard. This is where u slam on the brakes and roll back the sleeves and get your Eat on..!! Now for all you polo wearin, Gucci packing peps..u may want to get off that high horse before opening the door. This is a county diner, hole in the wall,..god damn good eatin joint. .. this is where u order biscuits and gravy and a cup of black coffee.. And u can't jam it all down. So if you come this way.give these great folks your business.. Out.. Ohhhh.. biscuits and gravy..oh Soooo goood

The auction yard is the best place to grab breakfast in Alturas. Absolutely delicious and individual portions that could feed two or more people. My cohort ordered the biscuits and gravy and French toast and said both were the best they had ever had. The food is amazing... ...the only reason for a four star rating is the fact that they only accept cash or check. Add the debit option and I will up my rating to 5 stars.

Good, greasy-spoon type food. Arrived around 1:30 pm and a customer leaving informed us they were getting ready to close (although Yelp says they're open till 4 pm). We offered to get our food to go, but they waitress said it was ok to dine in, although it made the meal seem uncomfortable because she probably didn't really want us to stay. The restaurant is pretty dated and the outside is downright dilapidated, but there's not many options to choose from. It was clean enough and the food was yummy. Had clam chowder, cheeseburgers, and grilled cheese with fries.

Just driving through. Amazing burgers. Can't imagine what the double looks like. BLT had loads of crispy bacon. Service was so genuine. Loved this place. Oh. I don't think they even had a sign out? Don't pass this up. Perfect American dinner experience.

Excellent food I recommend this place. Fresh beef and mouth watering taste. I just wish they didn't only accept cash other then that it's a 5 star rating in my opinion!!!!

A taste of pure country. Nothing fancy here, but good food. Burgers are great made to order, sandwich delicious. Everything is fresh made, as per the server. Less salt on the vegetable soup would have made it even better. Very friendly server, big portions. In general a fun experience . Be prepared, CASH OR CHECKS ONLY. Also you can check the livestock auction next door.

I love this place, and stop in every time I come through town. I am a vegetarian, and wouldn't have expected to find a real meal at the Auction yard. Lol! But when I asked the house mama if she could make me something veggie, she didn't skip a beat. It was a delicious sandwich that was custom to my tastes. What's more, She told me a story. My grandma grew up in Alturas and left in her 20s. When I asked the her if she remembered my family, she told me a story about them. Seriously this place is a down home oasis in the desert.

just a couple from out of town looking for a good place for breakfast, stopped by this interesting place and had breakfast wow what a fantastic breakfast me and my husband had,my omelet done to perfection to me the best tasting sausage.my husband had ham and eggs stated this was one of "the best breakfasts I had in a while" NIKI the daughter served us she was so friendly and welcoming which has a definite home town feel. we give this place 5 will be back.

This place is AMAZING! I'm a local and this is THE go to breakfast place in town. Great food and great prices!Family business (most of them. ) you will want to adopt em' Also you better be hungry. But bring cash because no CC's accepted here...

The place to go for a hearty breakfast in Alturas. All the locals eat here for a reason. Our waitress was working the whole place and kept our coffee cups full and was really attentive. Definitely recommend.

Our truck broke down in Alturas so we stopped by Martin's to have it repaired. He recommended the café across the street while we waited. Totally unassuming little cafe and a pleasant surprise. Friendly service and Mom has owned/been cooking here for 47 years. Soooo good!! My husband rates breakfast places by their biscuits and gravy and he said they were spot on. His sausage was fresh, not from a grocery store but from a butcher/rancher. My omelette was delicious; fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection. Only open until 2:00 pm. If you're ever passing through Alturas, would highly recommend this restaurant.

Best Burger Ever! A rundown building on the outside, but delicious burgers on the inside! Not to be missed! Best burger I've ever tasted. They also do a good beef sandwich that they called beef supreme I think. But I go for the burger!

We ate breakfast at the Auction Yard Cafe back in June 2018. The cafe sits in a dilapidated, seemingly abandoned building that had definitely seen better days and looked like it wouldn't survive a windy day let alone be the home to an eating establishment. I was wrong on both counts. The Modoc Auction Yard operates every Saturday selling cattle and at the end of the long building we discovered what was to be our breakfast destination. It was a chilly morning. The car thermometer registered 47 degrees. We entered the cafe where the temperature inside felt like it was oh, about 46 degrees. Some patrons were bundled up and others looked comfortable in short sleeve shirts. The room was small and had what you might call rustic charm with about seven tables and a counter with four stools. The place was very clean but I wasn't quite sure about its structural viability. I figured I was going to be eating my meal as fast as possible to finish before my food got cold and/or the room collapsed. There was an open kitchen visible under a large sign that said "MOM'S KITCHEN". You could see a woman back there doing all the cooking solo. I'm guessing she was Mom. The room was filled to its capacity of about 18 customers by the time we had finished our breakfast. Mom had her work cut out for her. The menu was straightforward: eggs, meat, pancakes, and potatoes. I ordered the "Country Connection" which included three pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage. The pancakes were quite tasty. (By the way, I've run into this phenomenon in quite a few other breakfast establishments, but when ordering pancakes or biscuits why do they give you enough butter to grease a locomotive?) The sausage was also very good but the scrambled eggs were little bit too overcooked for my taste. The coffee was hot which was much appreciated. Other than that, it tasted pretty institutional. For more commentary and photos go to usabreakfast.blogspot.com

We love this place for breakfast. You get way more than you can eat, but it is good food.

Probably wouldn't have stopped if it weren't for all the great reviews. Glad we did. The homemade soup was really good. The BLT and Ham & Cheese sandwiches were big and delicious. They came with a huge pile of fries. Service was so friendly.

Best burgers for 300 miles. Great choice for breakfast too! You couldn't get fresher meat if it came from one of the cattle out back. Great for breakfast also! Check the hours, they close fairly early in the afternoon after lunch.

Location: Hwy 299, Alturas, CA 96101 Hours: Tues - Wed: 8am - 2 pm Thurs - Fri: 8am - 2 pm 5 pm - 7:30 pm Sat - Sun: 8am - 2 pm Food Styles: American (Traditional) Breakfast BIG & cooked to order Burgers BIG & come with salad or homemade soup & fries, mashed, or baked Steaks BIG & Tender cooked they way you ask Parking: Huge parking lot Attire: Casual Services: Walk-Ins Welcome, Good for kids of all ages, Take-outs Specialties Breakfast, Lunch,& Dinner At each meal you get huge portions, They have Coffee, Tea (hot & Cold) Milk, Juices, & Sodas Phone: 530.233.2966 We eat here a lot and I have to say, you get your money's worth! There is a cattle auction every other weekend so there are lots of people and they do stay open longer till the auction ends and folks stop coming in. In short the food is good and the people are friendly.

When I think about a country cooked breakfast, this is totally the food I think of. You can not get food like this anywhere else. Its a little on the greasy side, but thats how they cook in the country. And since Alturas is "where the West still lives" I don't know how you could get any more country. HA! Anyway i love the servers, I love the building and design, I love the food. The best biscuits and gravy for, well I havent had better. I dont usually get them though, but if you like B&Gs, that is what i recommend ordering. Everything is delicious though. Weekend breakfasts before golfing are always held here!

I stopped in on Saturday at 10:30 and could barely find a seat. It was our first time there and we were wanting to try this place out. We had nice chat with a cattle buyer ( we shared a table with him as there was no other seating available LOL ) that was there for the auction so the time pasted quickly. My wife and i had a bacon burger and they were very good with homemade potato salad. I would have liked biscuits and gravy but they were out. But when food is homemade that can happen. Would defiantly stop again. Great parking too

Great service, good home cooked food and friendly prices. Would recommend to anyone.

Great friendly service with pretty decent breakfast options. Would definitely go again just for the nice conversation :)

If I hadn't read about this place before I came up on it, I would have surely missed out on a great time and even better meal. Hit it on auction day, so pickups pulling stock trailers were everywhere. Peeked in on the auction and even if I'd had my western wear on these "real" cowboy ranchers would have instantly spotted me for a city dude. But everyone I met was polite and invited me to sit and listen to conversations and the bidding. Most just sat quietly listening, as I was with little talking. Some of the ranchers just watched with no intention of buying, but admitted that if they spotted a deal they'd come back with a trailer. What a Hoot! I walked out, following the "dirt" trail on the sidewalk to the cafe door. Inside it was rustic, clean and neat. Perfect! Coffee cups are on the tables when you sit down, so you know they're serious about the important stuff and understand efficiency in saving footsteps. Families and couples were around me with auction attendees breezing back in coffee cups for refills. Server came right over with coffee, menus and an engaging manner. Be hungry! Being beef country, I ordered something I rarely see, an omelet with "beef", onions and green peppers, with hash browns and a homemade biscuit. There was a ton of really tasty, fresh ground beef and it was filling. Tried the pork sausage and admit that it was just about as perfect as it gets. Everything was wonderful. At the table across the small room were two families with skinny young boys comparing their flexed arms. Hilarious! They were very talkative and they competed with each other to chat for a while. Ahhh! So reasonable and so good, I left a big tip. In the parking lot, well-trained, hard-working ranch dogs waited alertly but patiently in truck beds for owners to come out. Can't say enough about this place. This should be a destination if it's an auction day. Wow! Loved it. Western Americana at its best.

You will never leave hungry. The food is the best in the West. Cheryl s wonderful juicy tasty hamburgers are hand pressed, not the pre-made frozen kind you get elsewhere. Steak and eggs come on two large platters. Her gravy is to die for. Daily homemade soups are delicious. Chief salad is made with actual real chicken, beef and ham, not the package meat you get at other restaurants. And the prices are Very Very reasonable. Nikki the server is a sweet heart. Cash only. No ATM or credit cards taken.

I am ok with the food it is american style. But lot's of my food I get there's hair's in it. And the burgers are some time mushy. But it still taste's ok in my opinion. I think that's the last time I am ever gonna go there.

We landed in Alturas at lunch time and found this cute cafe on Yelp. The breakfast looked amazing but we all had sandwiches and they were better and bigger than we ever imagined. The quality was excellent, if you are in the area go here for breakfast or lunch. It's obvious that this is a family restaurant because the server was especially friendly and she told what kind of soup mom made and a table full of teen boys hopped up to bus and move tables. When we are back in the area, we will definitely return.

Located west of Alturas on US-299, I'm sure most tourists drive right past this place since it's in the 55-MPH section, not the 45 or 25-MPH speed controlled section in the town of Alturas. Don't let the gravel parking lot or the weather beaten exterior looks fool you, I'm thinking this is the place to east breakfast or lunch in this part of NorCal. The locals know and frequent this Cafe, both times I've been there I'm quite sure I was the only tourist. My first visit was mid-week, and before I departed the place filled up with CHP officers, tables pushed together set up for their arrival. The next time was the following Sunday and as the locals walked in they were often greeted by the folks there who said hello, knew their name; often the women getting hugs and the men a hand shake. One little girl who's birthday was that day was made a fuss over, very charming and nice to see. The waitress during the week was Nicky, on the weekend Ally, both gals were friendly with quick efficiency. If it weren't 300-miles from my house I'd become a regular there too. Good food, friendly service, and people enjoying themselves. Bravo!

By far best place to get food in Modoc! the food is always delicious and fresh! everyone is sooo friendly! fairly cheap and the you definitely get your money's worth! don't pass this place up!

It was ok food. My husband ordered the egg and burger breakfast and said the burger was the best! I ordered eggs, bacon and hash browns. Bacon was well done and crunchy and the potatoes were under cooked and way too greasy. They need fly abatement. I understand where the restaurant is located, but flies belong outside.

What a great find on the backroads of California. Burger was fantastic and french dip huge and tasty. Fries were crunchy on the outside and creamy in the middle. We noticed a guy in a UPS shirt cooking back in the kitchen and there was a UPS truck out front. Turns out he is the local UPS driver and his mom owns the cafe. He stops by on his lunch hour to help cook. Cash only.

The food is amazing and well proportioned! The environment is special for the setting! I will eat at the place with anyone and everyone as I am so proud!

I am giving it 4-stars for the ample breakfast and great local flavor. For sure come here for breakfast while in Alturas. Ate there for breakfast while touring Modoc county. The sausage patties were hand made, not typical frozen cardboard mini-burger shaped variety you get from most breakfast joints. Great for local flavor and a totally unique place, especially to observe the locals one of their morning gathering spots. The coffee situation was a bit desperate. They still use the Globe pots and let it sit on a hot warmer that cooks the coffee. Plus no half-n-half, just milk. Not good. The meals that you get are huge, and if you have liking for some plates drowned in gravy, you will love the swamping that they do.

Wow, you'd better hungry! Great biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon and ham. And really friendly folks!

If you're looking for good cooking, large portions and friendly service, this is the place! It may not look like much from the outside but you'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality of food and hospitality.

I love the Auction yard, friendly people and great food. They have the best burger in modoc county.

Best place to have a good country breakfast for miles. I always stop in for my breakfast before heading home. It is actually breakfast and lunch. The waitres is so friendly you feel that it is your mother serving you.

Formally called the Modoc Auction Yard Cafe (Modoc for the county), this place is genuine. It is quite small and adjoins a real cattle auction building. It was a bit hard to spot, as there was no big sign in front, just a big steer figure on the roof for the auction yard. It is where local regulars come in for breakfast, and the breakfasts are both big and good. The waitress' mother is the cook, and both are friendly and very good at their jobs. The waitress, Nickie, is funny and good at befriending customers. Our group of 7 had a great time and a very good breakfast. I'm sure I would give it five stars if I had been there for one or two more meals.

Excellent food, great service. Very friendly people. The soups are great, homemade, the garbage burger rocks as do the omelets. I am 6'5" and I cannot finish the portions are so big.

There is no better place to eat in my opinion. Cheryl, the chief is a hoot. Her yummy soups are homemade. The burgers are the best I've ever had. Tender well seasoned Steaks and eggs are to die for, which include the best gravey you'll find anywhere. If you love salads, try either the Taco Salad or the Chief Salad where you will find REAL BEEF, HAM & CHICKEN instead of the press lunch meat normally found in other restaurants.The prices are more than extremely reasonable or the amount of food you get. It's a great place to eat, visit with new and old friends. Nikki, the waitress, is a jewel.