If you grew up near a Big Boy, you probably remember the checkered-overalls statue out front before you remember the food. That’s part of the charm. The chain has thinned out a lot since its peak, but the restaurants still standing serve the same double-decker burger, bottomless coffee, and hot fudge cake that built the brand back in 1936. This guide breaks down the current menu, realistic prices, the deals worth asking about, and where you can still find a location open near you.
A Short History Behind the Menu
Bob Wian opened a ten-stool diner called Bob’s Pantry in Glendale, California, in 1936. Six months in, he sliced a bun into three pieces, stacked two beef patties between them, and the double-decker burger was born. Regulars started calling it “the big boy burger,” and the name stuck to the sandwich, the restaurant, and eventually the pompadoured mascot holding it.
By the 1980s, Big Boy statues sat outside hundreds of locations nationwide, and competitors like Bob’s Big Boy, Frisch’s Big Boy, and Elias Brothers all operated under licensing agreements tied to the original recipe. Ownership changed hands several times over the following decades, passing through Marriott, Elias Brothers Restaurants, and eventually a group of Michigan-based investors who now run the brand as Big Boy Restaurant Group out of Southfield.
Big Boy: Signature Picks
Today the brand is smaller and more fractured than it used to be, split between Big Boy Restaurant Group in Michigan, Bob’s Big Boy in California, and the independently run Frisch’s Big Boy in the Midwest. That history matters because it explains why menu names, prices, and even the burger’s exact recipe can differ depending on which Big Boy you walk into. A location in Warren, Michigan and one in Cincinnati technically belong to two different companies, even though both still hang the same checkered-overalls mascot by the door.
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Big Boy Menu With Prices
Big Boy doesn’t publish a fixed national price list — pricing is set at the franchise level and shifts by state, so treat the numbers below as realistic ranges pulled from recent customer receipts and menu-tracking sites rather than guaranteed totals. Always check with your local restaurant or its ordering app before you go.
Burgers
| Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Big Boy® | American cheese, shredded lettuce, and Big Boy sauce on a sesame seed bun | $6.50–$8.50 |
| Super Big Boy® | Double the meat, same toppings | $8.50–$10.50 |
| Best Cheeseburger on the Planet® | Tomato, red onion, pickles, mayo, mustard, and red relish on a grilled brioche bun | $9.00–$11.00 |
| Mushroom & Swiss | Caramelized onions, garlic spread, grilled brioche | $9.00–$11.50 |
| BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger | Bacon, onion rings, barbecue sauce, brioche bun | $9.50–$12.00 |
| Patty Melt | Caramelized onions, two cheeses, marbled rye | $8.50–$10.50 |
| Brawny Lad | Butter, onion slice, toasted rye | $6.00–$7.50 |
Breakfast
| Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Blockbuster | Two eggs, two bacon strips, two sausage links, hash browns, choice of toast or hotcakes | $8.00–$11.00 |
| Original Hotcakes | Vanilla hotcakes, butter, and syrup | $6.00–$8.00 |
| Cinnamon French Toast | Cinnamon-swirl bread, whipped cream, caramel drizzle | $7.50–$9.50 |
| Meat Lovers Omelette | Bacon, sausage, ham, cheddar, hash browns | $9.00–$11.50 |
| Biscuits & Gravy | Buttermilk biscuits, country sausage gravy | $6.50–$8.50 |
Sandwiches, Soups & Salads
| Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Slim Jim® | Ham, Swiss, tomato, lettuce, Slim Jim sauce | $7.50–$9.50 |
| The Dolly Chicken Sandwich® | Hand-breaded fried chicken, pickles, tartar sauce | $9.00–$11.00 |
| Philly Cheesesteak | Shaved steak, mushroom, onion, four-cheese sauce | $9.50–$11.50 |
| Chicken Caesar Salad | Grilled chicken, romaine, parmesan, croutons | $8.50–$10.50 |
| Loaded Chili | Chopped onion and shredded cheddar | $4.50–$6.50 (cup/bowl) |
Dinners & Desserts
| Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Fried Chicken | Hand-breaded chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, coleslaw | $11.00–$14.00 |
| Fried Shrimp | Ten breaded shrimp, fries, cornbread, coleslaw | $12.00–$15.00 |
| Hot Fudge Ice Cream Cake | Chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream | $5.50–$7.50 |
| Strawberry Pie | Fresh strawberries, flaky crust, whipped cream | $4.50–$6.00 |
| Hand-Dipped Shake | Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies & cream, and more | $4.50–$6.00 |
Big Boy Menu Specials
Big Boy doesn’t run one standing national deal the way some quick-service chains do; promotions rotate by season and by franchise group. A few offers show up consistently enough to plan around:
- Seasonal fest menus — limited-time lineups built around a single ingredient, such as recent strawberry-themed items covering waffles, hotcakes, salads, and milkshakes at once.
- Senior menu discounts — smaller portions of breakfast classics at reduced prices, typically served with coffee and no substitutions, available during set hours.
- Kids’ meals — a main, a side, and a drink bundled together, usually priced well under the standalone adult items.
- Rewards program pricing — customers who sign up through the app or website earn points toward free items and occasional bonus offers.
- Combo pricing on sandwiches and burgers — most sandwiches can be turned into a combo with fries and a drink for a few dollars more than the item alone.
Because pricing and promotions are handled at the franchise level, the exact wording and value of any deal depends heavily on which Big Boy you’re visiting. Calling ahead or checking the location’s Facebook page is the most reliable way to confirm what’s currently running.
What Sets Big Boy’s Menu Apart
Plenty of diners serve burgers and hotcakes. What keeps Big Boy recognizable after nearly ninety years comes down to a handful of specifics competitors rarely match item for item.
The original double-decker format. Most burger chains built their menus around a single patty first and added stacking later. Big Boy’s entire identity started with two patties and three bun layers, and that structure still anchors the burger lineup today.
All-day breakfast that isn’t an afterthought. Omelettes, hotcakes, and scrambles stay on the menu past the morning rush at most locations, something increasingly rare among sit-down chains that shrink breakfast hours to control kitchen costs.
A senior menu with real portion control. Rather than simply discounting a regular plate, Big Boy builds smaller versions of core breakfast items specifically for the senior menu, priced and portioned differently from the standard offering.
Dessert as a destination, not an afterthought. The Hot Fudge Ice Cream Cake and Strawberry Pie have loyal followings independent of the rest of the menu — customers who order dessert-only visits aren’t unusual at longtime locations.
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Vegetarian and Lighter Options
Big Boy built its reputation on burgers and gravy, so it’s easy to assume there’s nothing for anyone eating lighter. That’s not quite true. The current menu marks several sides and dishes as vegetarian-friendly, including the side house salad, seasonal vegetables, fresh fruit, coleslaw, and waffle fries, plus a mac and cheese option built around cavatappi noodles in a four-cheese sauce.
Grilled chicken shows up across the menu as a swap for fried versions — the Chicken Caesar Salad and the Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Sandwich both use a grilled breast rather than breaded and fried. Fully vegan options are limited, and dedicated plant-based proteins aren’t part of the standard lineup, so anyone with stricter dietary needs should call ahead and ask what a specific location can adjust.
Frisch’s vs. Bob’s vs. Michigan Big Boy: How the Menus Differ
Because three separate companies now operate under variations of the Big Boy name, the menu you get depends on geography more than brand loyalty.
- Big Boy Restaurant Group (Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota, Nevada, Wisconsin) runs the version most people picture today, with the full breakfast lineup, Slim Jim sandwiches, and rotating seasonal fests like the strawberry menu.
- Bob’s Big Boy (California) leans harder into its retro drive-in identity, with a smaller footprint of four or five restaurants and a menu that keeps closer to the original 1930s double-decker format.
- Frisch’s Big Boy (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana) operates independently under its own trademark rights and has its own signature items, including a chili spaghetti dish and regional favorites not found on the Michigan menu.
If you’re traveling and specifically chasing one dish, it’s worth checking which company operates the location you’re headed to rather than assuming the menu will match a Big Boy from a different state.
Tips for Getting the Best Value
A few small habits make a noticeable difference in what you end up paying:
- Ask about the senior menu even if you’re not sure you qualify — age cutoffs vary by location and staff will usually just tell you the requirement.
- Check for a rewards sign-up bonus before your first order; many locations offer a free item just for joining.
- Order breakfast items for dinner where available — all-day breakfast pricing tends to run lower than dinner plates for a comparable portion size.
- Split a Super Big Boy instead of ordering two separate burgers if you’re dining with someone who eats a lighter portion.
Where Big Boy Restaurants Still Operate
The Big Boy footprint has shrunk sharply over the past two decades, and the brand now exists as several separately run companies sharing the same name and menu heritage.
| Operator | Approximate Locations | Primary States |
|---|---|---|
| Big Boy Restaurant Group | Roughly 50 | Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota, Nevada, Wisconsin |
| Bob’s Big Boy | About 4–5 | California |
| Frisch’s Big Boy | Around 30 | Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana |
Michigan accounts for the overwhelming majority of remaining restaurants under Big Boy Restaurant Group, with well over 80% of that company’s locations concentrated in the state. Frisch’s operates as a separate business under its own trademark rights across parts of the Midwest, so a Frisch’s Big Boy and a Michigan Big Boy can carry slightly different menus even though both trace back to the same 1936 recipe.
How to Order From Big Boy
- Dine in. Most locations still offer full table service, including the senior menu and bottomless coffee refills.
- Order online. The official site and most franchise locations support online ordering for pickup.
- Use a delivery app. Availability depends on the market, so search your address directly in whichever delivery app you use.
- Call ahead for catering. Larger orders, including family-style dinners, are typically handled through a phone call to the specific location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Big Boy’s signature dish?
The Big Boy® hamburger — two beef patties, American cheese, shredded lettuce, and Big Boy sauce on a sesame seed bun — is the dish the entire chain and its mascot are named after.
What are the most popular Big Boy menu items?
The Big Boy burger, the Slim Jim® sandwich, all-day breakfast platters like the Classic Blockbuster, and the Hot Fudge Ice Cream Cake consistently rank as customer favorites across locations.
How many Big Boy restaurants are still left?
Roughly 80 to 85 locations remain across all Big Boy-branded operators combined, including Big Boy Restaurant Group, Bob’s Big Boy in California, and the independently run Frisch’s Big Boy in the Midwest.
What is the 2 for $5 and 3 for $7 deal?
That promotion belongs to Burger King, not Big Boy — the two chains are frequently confused online. Big Boy’s own deals rotate seasonally, so check your local restaurant’s app or Facebook page for current combo pricing.
Final Thoughts
Big Boy’s menu has held onto its identity better than its footprint has. The double-decker burger, the all-day breakfast, and the hot fudge cake are essentially unchanged from the version longtime customers grew up eating, even as the number of open locations keeps shrinking. If there’s one still running near you, the prices remain reasonable for the portion sizes, and the menu rewards showing up hungry rather than picking at a single small plate.