An airplane fuselage sits on the roof of a burger joint along an Oregon highway. Yes, an actual chunk of airplane. It’s the first clue that lunch here won’t be ordinary.
Inside, old license plates are nailed to the walls. Engine parts, odd signs, and even a mannequin share the space. The benches look like they were pulled straight out of old cars.
Then there’s the food. One burger comes topped with fried cheese, pepperoni, jalapenos, and hot sauce, all at once. The buns get grilled with Parmesan cheese before anything lands on them.
A Tiny Hot Dog Cart Grew Into Something Much Bigger
Every good roadside legend needs a scrappy start. Junkyard Extreme Burgers and Brats got its start in 2006 as a simple hot dog cart. Kim and Craig Zumwalt ran it in Lancaster, a small unincorporated community along Highway 99.
The cart wasn’t fancy, either. It was fashioned from an old race trailer and served folks as a walk-up and drive-up stop. That racing connection feels fitting, considering what the place became later.
Over time, the menu grew beyond hot dogs. Burgers joined the lineup, and the business rebranded to the name it carries now. The word extreme wasn’t added just for fun. It describes the toppings, the portions, and honestly the whole personality of the place.
I find it easy to appreciate a business that grows one step at a time. There was no giant opening with a fancy dining room. There was a trailer, a couple with a plan, and a lot of hot dogs.
Knowing this backstory makes a visit feel different. You’re not just grabbing lunch off the highway. You’re stopping at a spot that built itself, piece by piece, much like the junk sculptures covering it today.
Good Luck Driving Past That Airplane On The Roof
Most restaurants rely on a sign to grab your attention. This one uses an airplane fuselage parked right on top of the roof. It’s hard to think of a stronger way to say pull over now.
The rest of the exterior keeps the theme rolling. Industrial materials and rusty car parts give the building a true junkyard look. Bright red umbrellas pop against all that weathered metal outside.
The spot sits right off Highway 99, just north of Junction City in Oregon. That roadside setting is part of the charm. You can sit out front and watch cars roll past on the old highway.
Parking is easiest behind the building, where there’s plenty of room. That’s a handy tip, since the front can feel busy with traffic going by. A quick loop around back saves some stress.
Bring your camera, because the outside is worth exploring before you even order. Rusty parts and odd metal pieces are scattered all around the property. Kids and adults alike will find plenty to point at while deciding what to eat. The building basically doubles as the world’s most unusual billboard.
The Interior Looks Like A Garage Exploded In The Best Way
License plates line the walls like trophies from a thousand road trips. The inside of Junkyard Extreme Burgers and Brats has been described as a three-dimensional collage of automotive history and industrial design. That phrase fits surprisingly well.
The owners fill the space with what they call themed shabby chic junk, art, antique collectibles, and just downright weird stuff. Everything gets cleaned and refinished before going on display. So it’s quirky, but it’s cared for.
Look around and you’ll spot engine parts, old signs, and a mannequin hanging out among the oddities. Dark walls make all that bric-a-brac stand out even more. Your eyes won’t get bored for a second.
Seating matches the theme perfectly. Benches are styled like car seats, and wooden chairs fill in the gaps. Even the lighting comes from repurposed industrial fixtures.
The restaurant has a compact indoor space, while outdoor and semi-covered seating provide additional room for diners. The space is small to begin with, and most seating happens outside anyway.
One Burger Packs Fried Cheese, Pepperoni, And Hot Sauce
Pepperoni on a burger sounds like a dare. At this Oregon roadside stop, it’s part of the signature Junkyard Extreme burger. The stack includes the restaurant’s signature fried cheese, pepperoni, jalapeños, and an assortment of sauces and vegetables.
Then come onion, jalapeno, mayo, tomato, and pickle. A splash of Frank’s Hot Sauce ties the chaos together. It’s basically a pizza, a nacho plate, and a cheeseburger sharing one bun.
Speaking of buns, they get grilled with Parmesan cheese. That little touch adds a savory crunch before the toppings even arrive. It’s a small detail that shows real thought behind each burger.
Fried cheese pops up a lot on this menu, and for good reason. It’s one of the things the restaurant is best known for. Crispy cheese on top of melty cheese might be the most extreme move of all.
Burgers come in quarter-pound and half-pound sizes. That gives you some control over how hungry you want to leave. If you’re new here, the Junkyard Extreme is the burger that best captures the spirit of the place. Grab extra napkins.
You’ll need them sooner than you think.
Car Lovers Will Recognize These Burger Names Instantly
Big Block, Wrecker, Alternator. The burger names read like a list of parts from a mechanic’s shop. That’s no accident at a place built around rusty car parts.
The Big Block is the heavyweight champ. It features two half-pound beef patties topped with American cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. Named after a powerful engine, it lives up to the title.
Craving something creamy with a kick? The Wrecker brings cream cheese, pepper jack, and jalapenos together. Spice fans tend to gravitate toward this one.
The Alternator takes a calmer route. Grilled mushrooms and Swiss cheese make it a classic pick for folks who like savory over spicy. It’s proof the menu isn’t all about heat.
Other choices fill out the lineup too, and the car theme runs throughout. Ordering feels a bit like choosing a ride at a classic car show. Do you want horsepower, attitude, or a smooth cruise?
My advice is to pick based on mood. Go with the Big Block if you skipped breakfast. Choose the Alternator when you want something hearty that won’t send you into a nap afterward.
Handmade Brats Earned Their Spot In The Name
Burgers may grab the headlines, but brats share top billing for a reason. The sausages here are handmade exclusively for Junkyard Extreme Burgers and Brats. You won’t find these exact links anywhere else.
The classic Bratwurst comes topped with stone-ground mustard, sauerkraut, and grilled onions. It’s a simple combo done the traditional way. Sometimes classic is exactly right.
Things get playful from there. The Chicago Brat wears classic Chicago-style hot dog toppings. Meanwhile, the Pesto Brat gets pesto sauce and black olives served on fried cheese.
Yes, fried cheese shows up again. At this point, it’s practically the house mascot. Pairing it with pesto and olives is the kind of idea that sounds odd until you think about it.
Remember, this whole business started as a hot dog cart. So the sausage side of the menu carries real history. These aren’t an afterthought added to fill space.
If your group can’t agree, splitting a brat and a burger is a smart strategy. You get to taste both halves of the name in one visit. Everyone wins, especially the person who suggested it.
Pizza Made From Fried Cheese Is Very Much A Thing Here
Crust is optional at this roadside joint. The menu features a fried cheese pizza, using that signature crispy cheese as the base. It’s wild, and it totally fits the junkyard spirit.
Several other pizza options sit on the menu too. So if burgers aren’t calling your name, you’ve still got choices. Pizza at a burger stand might sound strange, but nothing here follows normal rules.
Hot dog fans aren’t left out either. Imported all-beef hot dogs come with a range of toppings. The Lancaster Dog nods to the community where the business first began.
There’s also a Chili Dog for anyone who likes things messy. Chili cheese fries and other loaded fries offer plenty of hearty sides to share.
This part of the menu works great for groups. One person can grab a burger, another a hot dog, and the table can share a pizza. Variety keeps everyone happy, even the picky eater in the back seat.
My tip is to treat the fried cheese pizza as a must-try. It’s the kind of food story you’ll want to tell later. Nobody believes it until they see the photo.
Guy Fieri Rolled Into Town And Put It On The Map
Flavortown came calling in 2014. That year, Junkyard Extreme Burgers and Brats appeared on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Suddenly, a small Oregon roadside stop had a national spotlight.
The show still draws curious travelers today. Plenty of people plan a stop after seeing the episode. It’s a fun way to taste something you first spotted on television.
Once you arrive, ordering stays casual. You can walk up to the counter or swing through the drive-thru. Both options keep things simple and quick.
Most seating is outdoors or semi-covered. Red umbrellas offer shade on sunny days. Some areas have heaters, which helps during cooler Willamette Valley weather.
The vibe is relaxed and come-as-you-are. Nobody cares if you show up in work boots or road trip sweats. It’s a place built for easy, unfussy meals.
That laid-back mood is part of why the TV fame never made it feel stuffy. It still feels like a roadside stand at heart. Just one with a fuselage on top and a famous visitor in its past. Not a bad combo for a former hot dog cart.
Plan Your Stop Around These Hours Before You Hit The Road
Timing matters with this one. Junkyard Extreme Burgers and Brats closes on Mondays and Tuesdays. Showing up hungry on those days would be a real bummer.
Online ordering is available Wednesday and Thursday from 11 AM to 4:30 PM. Friday and Saturday online ordering runs from 11 AM to 6:30 PM. Sunday online ordering runs from noon until 4:30 PM.
Notice those early closing times. This isn’t really a late dinner spot. Lunch or an early supper works best for planning a visit.
You’ll find it at 95410 OR-99, Junction City, OR 97448. It’s just north of Junction City, right along the highway in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Folks heading north or south on 99 can easily work it into a trip.
Because seating is mostly outside, checking the weather helps too. Covered spots and heaters make cooler days manageable. Sunny afternoons under those red umbrellas are hard to beat, though.
Remember to park around back where there’s extra space. Then take a few minutes to wander and admire the junk art before ordering. A little patience pays off with a lot of fun. And maybe a fried cheese pizza for the drive home.
