America's Best Pie Shop In 2026 Is A Family-Run California Gem Tucked Between Sacramento And Lake Tahoe

There's a lot to do and see in inland Northern California, ripe with travel-worthy gems, particularly among its former Gold Rush towns. However, it's not just the historic sights and outdoor recreation that score in popularity; it's also the local businesses that can captivate visitors. This is the case in Auburn, California, where Ikeda's Country Market & Pie Shop — a family-run market and bakery serving up "orchard to fork" treats — has received national attention.

Ikeda's Country Market & Pie Shop began in 1950 as a roadside fruit stand by founder and farmer Sam Ikeda, who wanted his fruit to go directly from the trees into customers' hands, with no middle person involved. Sam and his wife Sally realized that dream with a roadside fruit stand, growing their business as they raised their sons Steve and Glen. When the sons joined the business full time, they expanded Ikeda's with ideas like selling fine wine, prime beef, and the now famous house-made pies. Today, there's even a counter-service eatery, and the next generation is getting involved, securing Ikeda's as a local favorite and road trip staple. Situation along Interstate 80, you'll find this mom and pop shop in Auburn, a preserved California Gold Rush town, about 40 minutes from Sacramento and 90 minutes from Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe.

Today, Ikeda's has risen to fame as USA Today readers voted it America's No.1 Best Pie Shop for 2026 in its 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Winners in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards are chosen after a four-week voting period once nominations in each category are announced. The Auburn hotspot also boasts 4.6 stars on Google with over 3,000 reviews. I visited Ikeda's twice to check out its delights on a trek between Sacramento and Reno. While I didn't indulge in everything, I was able to experience the atmosphere and treats that have driven Ikeda's popularity. If you're traveling through this region, it's a must to add "America's Best Pie Shop" to your itinerary.

Ikeda's Country Market & Pie Shop is divided into a grocery and an eatery, and there's no shortage of pie to choose from on either side. You can view the pie-making in action in the back of the market under the "Fresh pies baking now" sign. You'll find whole pies on the market side, with individual slices available to-go or dine in, so you can try as many as you can handle. During my visit, there were at least a dozen fruit varieties available on the counter — from blueberry and cherry to strawberry-rhubarb — along with cream pies like coconut and chocolate truffle, and cobblers with butter-crumb topping. It's not just sweet pies either, they bake up savory chicken, steak, and vegetable pot pies too.

With so much pie to choose from, you might be looking for a recommendation. An employee shared with me that the best-sellers are the Dutch apple, marionberry, and peach. When in season, the peach, apple, and various berry pie fillings come from their own orchard, while others are sourced from local farms. The pies are sold frozen, fresh, and ready-to-bake so you can bring them back home with you. To go with all that pie, they sell custom-made ice creams created from their pie fillings and produced by a local creamery.

Part of Ikeda's appeal for road trippers is the market and the counter-service restaurant — where a dozen different burgers are the specialty of the house, and milkshakes and floats are popular picks. Diners vie for seats on both the outdoor patio and indoor seating area. When I arrived for my first visit, there was no wait, but as lunch hour hit, the line was out the door. On my second visit, the parking lot was packed and the store was a bustling scene of happy shopper. On both my visits, it was clear that Ikeda's is a well-loved staple among the 14,000 residents of Auburn and road trippers like myself — and not just for the pie, but for friendly, family-run vibe that makes Ikeda's so special.

In the market, don't miss sampling their homemade spreads available in a cold case. These included various schmears (my favorites were the mango and the Italian sun-dried tomato options). You can also pick up the seasonal fruit from their orchard — where they grow plums, berries, nectarines, and so much more. They also sell other locally grown produce, prime meats, ready-made items like sauces, and a selection of fine wines to enjoy when you reach your destination. For me, it made for an ideal road trip stop as I headed back to Sacramento, an artsy city and California's "City of Trees," known for its green areas. I was even offered a complimentary bag of ice when I inquired about purchasing one to protect cold items. There's also a second Ikeda's in Davis, a laidback and charming college city brimming with brews, art galleries, and fun shops, about an hour away from the original.