Ham’s Station

Less if I could. We drive through 88 a lot but never had time to stop. Today we are sorry we did. We walked in and there was a guy behind the bar and a trailer trash lady sitting at the bar. They both just stared at us so I asked if I just sat anywhere for lunch. The lady said yes. We sat and my husband left to use the restroom so I ordered his coke and an Arnold Palmer for me. The lady, who ended up being our waitress gave me a blank stare. I said lemonade and tea. She shook her head and said no electricity just generator and water. So I ordered a water but they did have coke for husband. He came back and I left to use the restroom. By the time I got back he had changed his order to water and said the crazy waitress was not happy about the change. Even though she had not opened the can yet. I ordered a grilled cheese and fries. Then my husband ordered s grilled cheese but had the nerve to ask for bacon and onions. The crazy bitch then went stupid. Said the cook would be pissed. That they only had a small grill and we needed to understand that this was a 260 year old building. When we got up and left she screamed at us to go back to the city. Can’t say if the food was any good. We will never stop here again. They need to leave this place to the wolves or real professionals. If the place was more inviting they might do well. Wish they had reception because I would have read Tara’s post and known better.

This is as old school as it gets. The owner is real and will tell you how it is. He is not fake and that is hard to come by these days. Amazing burger with all the fresh ingredients. I highly recommend this spot. The owner bartender has been running this place for 35 years and he will not take your shit. Great guy and will take shots with you lol. Historical place so support them and go in for old fashioned food and drinks.

Truly unique & historical, but a bit edgy. Tom & kelly are doing their best to extend an 1862 Sierra Nevada survival stop. If you are looking for a brass & fern bar, fawning to your every need, this is not the place for you! Our group of 7 stopped in today. Tom was crabby with the credit card machine, but after 10 minutes we had Tom laughing and we had a blast! You get what you get but its good enough. Please support these historical «stations» because one day they may be gone.

My Husband and I LOVE this place. If we are hunting/​camping in the area we just eat our meals here and I can catch the 9ers game when on! Tom mostly runs the place on his own with a great gal that helps sometimes.
He does all the cooking, waiting, bartending, himself. Occasionally, he will run out of things because c’mon people its not like he can run to Safeway for your non-​beef fru-​fru needs, and at least he is honest enough to refer you down the road if he’s out! (we stay anyway, because he is so like my hubby and a great personality!)
If you want a fancy meal with a wine sommelier, or a chain restaurant with overpriced premade crap you can get anywhere, or if you are vegan, vegetarian or otherwise restricted keep going! BUT if you want yummy, home cooking it’s here!
Bottom line — if you’re not a snob and love good old stories and camaraderie stop in, you won’t be disappointed.

Off the grid…
Mark this on your gps because you cant read this review from Ham’s Station.
This place is totally off the grid with zero cell service. You cant check your google msp here, but you (and your friend) also cant phone, text, email, facebook, or do anything but eat, drink, and talk.
This this the last stop up the mountain before silver lake. Sells a few extra items, toiletries, ice.
Owner/​operator Tom was more than helpful with direction. Attitude was a refreshing comically cursing and offbeat friendly.
Limited menu. We had western burger, chilli burger, and fries.
French fries: shoestring and awesome.
Hamburger: frozen patties, just edible.
Chilli burger: hormel chili
Beer: no draft, good selection bottle beers, Gordon Briesch was plentiful.
Id recommend sitting at the bar, talk to Tom, get a couple orders of fries and drink bottle beer. Ask Tom about the «Bob’s Family Steak and Lobster» special. FYI: you cant get steak or lobster or likely find anyone named Bob here.
Bathrooms available to customers, and clean enough to use as a toilet. If I dropped a quarter on the floor, I wouldnt be picking that up.

Do not stop here if you can avoid it! Stopped here on Sunday July 21 about 12:15pm. Sat ourselves at a table and were brought menus within a reasonable time. Menu was limited but that’s ok in a small place. After just a couple of minutes a gentleman, who appeared to be the owner, came to take our order. I asked for the fish sandwich and was told there was no fish or chicken — limits the menu for someone who can’t eat beef :(That’s ok, I ordered the grilled ham and cheese, my hubby ordered a burger. Both come with chips or, for an extra charge, fries. We stuck with chips. A few minutes later 2 young men (20 – 25 years old) came in and seated themselves, just as we did! The owner? told them he would «have to send them down the road and wouldn’t be able to serve them». There were 4 of us in the seating area and 2 people at the bar! A family of 4 came in a few minutes later and were told the same thing, they had 2 young! children. Our food arrived and it was blah! The burger was served on a hot dog bun!?!
This is a business with a sign near the bathrooms that says the bathrooms will be closed if people don’t buy items or make a donation! 6 people were turned away during our very brief visit! Stop at Cook’s station, which is only 5 minutes away! Cook’s Station has a larger than expected menu and the 3 women working there on Friday July 19 seemed happy to see each person who stopped in — no matter how brief or extended their stay! Choose the friendly, happy to see ya business!
I would have selected a zero star rating if that were possible

I love this place, always stopping here on the way to Tahoe or when I’m lost looking for the free campsite on Ellis Road off Hwy 88 which, btw, I did last July. No, I really was lost. The guy running the store said I was about the 5^th person that was lost for the day! We came here when we needed camp supplies on the way down the hill from a day trip to Silver Lake to kayak and fish (Bob-​not me!). Of course it’s a bit pricey, most joints like this are… cool thing is they serve food and ice cold beer from the tap too, one of which I enjoyed thoroughly after a day on the lake.
Its a nice place to stop, use the lav and cool your jets lots of local charm.

This place is a life saver. When your jackass «I’m from the Bay Area so I’m smarter than these mountain people» buddy who cant even board a blue says that ¹⁄₈ tank is enough gas to get from South lake to Jackson, bypasses the station at Kirkwood even though we are on fumes and the gauge reads ZERO miles of gas left for 25 miles, Hams Station saves the day.
Cooks station is closer, but they have no gas. Hams has gas, chains, snacks etc. and who cares if its 3.50 a gallon, Jackass can pay 5 bucks a gallon for all I care. He’s the know it all with the Audi, he can afford it.
As a rule of thumb, don’t leave Jackson without at least a ½ tank of gas. In fact if you have lived in the mountains at all, you dont let your tank fall below ½, you never know if when you are going to get stuck and need the gas for heat, fire, etc.