‘Best in America’: Sacramento area pie shop is voted #1 in the nation
For generations, Ikeda’s California Country Market has sold fruit and pies to great local acclaim. But for the first time, Ikeda’s has been recognized nationally. Wednesday morning the Ikeda family refreshed the USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards website to learn that they had been voted best pie shop in the nation.
“We’re speechless,” Derek Ikeda, a member of the third generation of Ikeda’s to run the business, told The Sacramento Bee. “There’s a lot of excitement. We’re figuring out how to celebrate, and how to thank everyone.”
Ikeda’s has two locations, one Auburn and another in Davis. It was founded in 1950 as a humble fruit stand off of Highway 40 by Sam and Sally Ikeda, Derek Ikeda’s grandparents. After Ikeda’s California Country Market was nominated for the contest, Ikeda campaigned relentlessly to drum up support, urging fans and customers to cast daily votes.
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“I am a pretty competitive person,” Ikeda said of his efforts, and added that he found the campaign process fun and invigorating. But, he said, the win came down to the customers who have supported Ikeda’s since the beginning. For generations, he said, the family has focused on “building a relationship with customers. Not just a business relationship, but a person-to-person relationship.”
Pies have become Ikeda’s main calling card and the shop offers 20 pie varieties including tripleberry, seasonal pumpkin and pecan, and a cherry cobbler.
“We want to thank all the people who supported us,” Ikeda said. For his part, he said he’s proud to have added the win to Ikeda’s history. The entire list of the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Pie Shop can be found on the USA Today’s website.
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 11:10 AM.
