At Inas’ Kitchen, the 2023 winner of Variety’s Best of the Marianas Burger contest, Chef Sonnie Sablan and his hard-working crew have four ways to celebrate National Burger Day. These are their famous house Cheeseburger, Swiss Burger, Pika Burger and Kaksaska Burger, all hot, fresh, and made with half a pound of Certified Angus Beef from Triple J.
During Variety’s recent visit, dozens of patrons were already seated inside the Sadog Tasi restaurant, with other customers phoning in orders for pick up. It’s a testament to how good the burgers are. If you’re in the mood for something classic that never fails to satisfy, the house burger has you covered with garlic aioli, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. The Pika Burger has some kick to it, featuring Inas’ Kitchen’s Pika Cabbage Slaw alongside toasted Thai chilis, and pepper jack cheese.
Chef Sonnie said the two showstoppers of the menu are the Swiss Burger and the Kaksaka Burger. The Kaksaka Burger takes the ½ lb of beef and throws down crispy bacon, sauteed onions and mushrooms, a spicy ancho gravy, one sunny side up egg, and Swiss cheese. As for the Swiss Burger, Chef Sonnie said it features garlic aioli, Swiss cheese, sautéed onions and mushrooms.
He said in the six years Inas’ Kitchen has been operating, word of mouth has helped contribute to the restaurant’s success. “After [Typhoon Yutu] happened we had more FEMA people coming around so we had a lot of foot traffic from those new arrivals from off island,” he said. “People [they were working with] were seeing the food so more and more people started following in their footsteps.” It isn’t just locals and federal visitors who have noticed how good the burgers are.
Chef Sonnie said Korean tourists are always in the market for a beefy lunch. “They’re always looking for an American burger,” he said. “If 12 people come in, 11 want burgers.” He said his personal favorite is the Kaksaka Burger. “I like stuff heavy and fatty and meaty,” he said. “You got the egg, the gravy, the onion, the mushroom, the bacon. I mean what else can you ask for?”
And of course what burger meal is complete without a side? Inas’ Kitchen offers French fries, sweet potato fries, bishu fries, seasoned fries, and a green salad as options. Located on Isa Drive in Sadog Tasi, Inas’ Kitchen is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. For more information, call (670) 488-1627.
Four hot, fresh, and juicy burgers are ready for you at Inas’ Kitchen in Sadog Tasi. From left to right are the house burger, a Swiss Burger, the Kaksaka Burger, and the Pika Burger.
The house Cheeseburger at Inas’ Kitchen has everything you need for classic burger experience:garlic aioli, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Swing by for lunch and you'll see the Inas’ Kitchen staff hard at work grilling some of the best burgers on island.
Chef Sonnie Sablan, center, poses for a photo with his Inas’ Kitchen crew.
Say Hafa Adai to some of the best burgers in the Marianas at Inas’ Kitchen.
The Kaksaka Burger is a show stopper that features all kinds of heavy hitters. Next to it is the spicy slaw topped Pika Burger.
A local favorite, the Swiss burger features garlic aioli, Swiss cheese, sautéed onions and mushrooms.
