Im from Highland park area in the city of Los Angeles. We had a Bobs big boy in my neighborhood. I’m 48 now It’s been years since they closed it down. This was my most favorite restaurant ever as a kid. I always gave the doll (big boy) a hug and a kiss as we came into the restaurant. Special place and memories.
I was the first cook hired at that specific Bobs Big Boy in Highland Park, 2 weeks before it opened. It was right accross the street from the police station and a bail bonds place. I was just explaining to one of my kids how Marriott the parent company of Bobs BB at that time would send out there best of the best called the "task force" to train all new people to do things exactly how they wanted it done. P.S. we never did salt the patties, other than that the video was perfect. Thanks for the heads up on the relish recipie. I remember how that relish smell would stay on the cook so bad that people would ask me in a grocery store line if I worked at big boys, and I would have to say yes, they could tell because of the smell. That was after going home and taking shower sometimes. (This happened to me multiple times trough out the years). Small world sometimes
As someone born in So Cal and currently living in a non-Bob's state, this is awesome! I have tried to describe a Bobs Big Boy to my family for a long time...but now I can show them! Thanks! Well done!
I'm so excited about this thanks so much for sharing. I am from California living in Texas and no Bob's big boy or Shoneys anymore. Thank you thank you.
I was amazed when I found myself in Augusta GA in 1968 having been drafted into the US Army and stationed at Ft. Gordon to find Shoney's (might have been Schoney's). It was like being back in S. Calif.
It’s 2:00am husband is talking about Bobs Big Boy Burger he had growing up in OC. I grew up in San Francisco and never had one. I’m going to make them tomorrow for lunch. Thanks for getting the chili sauce and relish recipe.
I shipped off to the Navy in 1966, and one of my last meals from home came from Bob's Big Boy. It was closed when I returned to the area, and I haven't had one since, but now I have that chance again. Thanks so much for working this one out and sharing it Greg. I will definitely be doing many of these.
My father had been going to Bobs Big Boy since 1938. I have been going there all my life. I followed your steps and I was floored! It actually tasted just like a Big Boy. The red relish mixture is spot on. Amazing!! I still have 2 BB locations near me in southern California but to be able to make one at home is a godsend. Thank you for posting this video. 8:03
I realize you posted this six years ago. My dad was a Big Boy fanatic. He died 30 years ago today, and in his honor I was searching for the original BB recipe. He and my mom met at Bob's in Burbank and were married shortly after, and stayed together until he passed. They even went on a Bob's billboard tour back in the day. Thank you for this copycat! My kids and I are going to enjoy this tonight in his honor.
@@BallisticBBQ No they cannot do that. Nope, no, NO. I had a full collection of the banks and in a moving rush they were accidentally left behind in old house. Tried to get them back to no avail. I'm slowly repurchasing off ebay to ease my sadness.
@@BallisticBBQ by the way, this copycat was even perfect using Beyond meat and vegan cheez ha!! Can't wait for my brother to visit so I can wow him with the original Big Boy plant-based style. It was so delicious, brought back fantastic memories. Thanks!
@@elvis3810 Glad you enjoyed it! Have you tried Impossible Beef? I am a card-carrying carnivore, but it is by far the closes thing to actual beef in flavor and texture. Cheers Elle!
@@BallisticBBQ Oh for sure, I have a harder time finding the Impossible 'meat' than I do Beyond. There's also another out there made by Kroger that is pretty damn good! That's the one I used for your BB copycat.
I am so happy that I found you. All the recipes for Bob's big boy hamburger sauce is just like you said it's thousand Island dressing. I left Bob's big boy ever since I was a little girl. Anytime I go to visit my family in California we go to Bob's big boy in Burbank. Friday and Saturday nights are hot rod night so everyone brings their old classic cars and muscle cars there and they still bring the trays to the cars on those nights. My favorite is the big boy combo. You get the salad which I had Bob's big boy blue cheese salad dressing, the big boy classic hamburger, french fries and for dessert hot fudge cake it was awesome with the ice cream in the whip cream, absolutely awesome thanks for the recipe I can't wait to try it.
I have to be honest though you would have never known. I watched a couple of your videos a long while back and didn't really give you a chance. I was in a weird replication recipe TH-cam vortex. I don't know how I got here tonight but I have watched quite a few of your videos. You are smart, witty, and funny. You really know your stuff as well and make good food. I want to say sorry for not giving you more of a fair chance back when. Thank you sir for your hard work and your content. Also thank you for sharing.
I see Greg as the burger grandpa, cant stop watching his vids, he makes it with so much love that it makes me feel like he is a relative. Gotta love his works and hope he makes it big in YT.
I fondly remember going to Big Boys in Milwaukee Wisconsin back in the late 60's and early 70's. The burgers were 2 for a dollar back then. However, in the Midwest the sauce was a Thousand Island dressing. Love your videos. Keep up the good work !
@@antomano5623, no, if you had thousand island dressing on your Big Boy it was either not a Bob’s, or it was a Big Boy franchise store that chose to do them Elias Bros. Big Boy style. Red relish is the original style. I made thousands of those in the ‘70s.
@@paulscanter5562 I grew up in Cleveland. A restaurant chain called Manner's had the local franchise. They had the1000 island style sauce, not quite the salad dressing you would buy, but pretty close.
@@thelastremainingmoderate1997, yeah, I think most of the franchises had thousand island on. The Big Boy burger except Bob’s, who used the red relish and Elias Bros, who used tarter sauce I think.
That brings back memories. We use to have a Big Boy in Dallas when I was a child, I'm 65 now. But I still remember that great restaurant and the iconic Big Boy statue out front.
I remember eating them back in the late 70's and early 80's, every time we went to our grandfather's place in Hollywood, on the corner of Lexington and Vine St. where the restaurant was located. The sauce was not a chili type but a 1000 island mixture. I would eat 2 burgers, was hands down better tasting than a big mac.
I think you nailed it, Greg. And you've taken me on a memory trip back to the middle of the last century. We had a Bob's when I was growing up, back to the 50s. It was a true drive in of the era, and it was a special treat to pack the family of 5 into the car, go pull into one of the drive-in stalls, and eat in the car with the trays hanging off of the windows. I was addicted to the Big Boy when I was 10, and I'd whine and make my Dad order me two. I think they were 30 cents, maybe 35. LOL That drive in is long gone, but those memories don't fade, and a burger that's endured for this long has to have something very special going for it. It's the simplicity, and that sauce.
LOL! We had A&W Root Beer and Oscar's out here when I was a kid. Both car-hops as well. You're right, there was something special about that tray hanging off of the window and eating in the car.
Bob's franchised, so they all had different names except for Big Boy. In our area it was Azar's. Loved the Wimpey reference. "I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" has to be a classic line.
I saw this video of yours long ago and to this day I still got to give you credit for hooking us up with that red relish recipe. I literally just bought some chili sauce and relish last night once again!
eating like this in front of us isn't fair, I am here working on my thesis report getting lazier and lazier and not even making myself a coffee to help me wake up and you bring in this good stuff making me feeling hungry; now it's all gone from my mind and can not think straight anymore. Thanks man!
As a cook at a bigboy in Michigan, we make them way different. We make it bun, bigboy sauce(thousand island) shredded lettuce, American cheese, 2 oz patty, middle bun, bigboy sauce, patty, top bun.
Thank you for the relish recipe much apprecated. My German grandmother made a double decker pork patty burger, which my mother said was she remembered eating and learning to make in the 1950's and i remember from the late 1970's, where the middle layer of bread was made using thick cut white bread and cut with a cookie cutter to shape. But it was fried in bacon fat nice and crispy, I in turn have taught my wife and kids that trick. Thanks for all the videos take care and God bless.
It was Kip's Big Boy in Dallas. It was my FAVORITE meal in the universe: Big Boy, fries and root beer at a really cool "Jetson's" style diner on Gaston Avenue (the building is still there, but it's a bank now). I remember the "sauce" as being *extremely* close to thousand island (that pink color), but otherwise identical to how Greg did it, including NOT melting the cheese on the patty. That sauce might have varied from geography to geography. I really miss it.
Our BBB has been just a memory for something like 25 years (I hear those old Big Boy "statues" are priceless now). I can either make one here, or set the way-back machine to sometime in the late 80's. Of course, I had to watch this BEFORE dinner… heh heh.
reminds me of growing up in the 70's... i used to go to BBB after going to the dentist( happened to be right down the street from there) and get that burger and a big ole shake ! life as a 7 year old :-) thanks for the walk down memory lane brother man
Another great burger video Greg! Funny thing, is that we never had a Bob's Big Boy around here, but we did have the Shoney's Big Boy with that same statue until they dumped the Big Boy image sometime in the late 70's, then a few years later, I actually got to eat at a Bob's Big Boy in Slidell, LA with that exact same statue that Shoney's use to have, but to find out, the huge Statue idea always belonged to Bob's. Kinda confusing in away, but I sure did like their burgers! :)
Ballistic BBQ I just looked it up on Wikipedia. Apparently, Shoney's started it, but there was tolerance for individual franchise owners to produce unique menus, prices and even styles of big boy statues. Different franchise owners named the restaurants differently. There are 31 big boy restaurant sub-chains named after franchise partners. Bob's big boy controlled most of the west coast. Shoney's is the original in Tennessee and controls the southern Mississippi river area from the gulf on up the river to Missouri.
Doing this tonight. Thanks brother. I remember eating at Bob's. Chili Spaqhetti and a Bigboy..Yum! Used to go to the one in Burbank and Highland Park, Calif.
That sauce is also used by a famous Canadian burger as "Tripple O" sauce (confirmed by a local supplier here years ago). Easy solutions for burger sauces are almost always correct.
I'll bet I've eaten a thousand of those Big Boy burgers. My go to was "no relish, add avacado". Try one that way. Thanks Greg, that was a great trip down memory lane...
Dang Greg I always loved BBB. Shameful they trickled down to only a few restaurants over the decades. You have inspired me to re-create that long time love I enjoyed back in the early 70's when they brough the order to your car in the parking lot and hooked those clamp-on trays to your car door. Great vid and thanks for the idea and inspiration--specially' for the relish sauce. Thumbs up
The original big boy was in Southern California . we still have big boy in SoCal but I think I'd rather make my own :) I think you nailed the relish because big boy used to market sauce and dressing at the supermarket and the only one they sold that was not the same as the one on the hamburger was relish probably because of Heinz the source product?
Made one of these today and it turned out great. I haven't had an OG big boy burger so I don't have anything to go off of but I've always liked the brand / character. I was skeptical about the red relish at first when I tried it but it works extremely well with the burger. I'd like to think there's an alternate universe where Bob's Big Boy beat out McDonalds lol.
Good job Greg! Makes my chops water! Must have took some heavy research time to discover the relish was practically sitting in your fridge! Brings back fond memories of a tasty burger....and tines long gone. In the South Big Boy was called Shoney's, sporting the same iconic fellow you displayed briefly, and our town had a larger than life figure outside the joint. In the early 70's our two rival high schools had the big football game approaching and they went nuts..."allegedly" one or the other stole Big Boy and would put him on the rival's school property, as though to assign blame to "THEM - THEY did it!" ;) This would go back and forth even when Big Boy was replaced at his rightful place at the restaurant , til one day Big Boy mysteriously disappeared and was never seen again, and wasn't replaced by the franchise owners (sigh...) Well I had to tell ya that when I saw the feller peek up from screen bottom. Back then it was one of the few places you could count on for consistent good food (mostly, depending who was running it) Shoney's is gone now, but I miss that Big Boy, both the place, the burger and the logo. I can only assume you came by your "little" Big Boy legally and didn't figure out how to shrink what was once a huge icon from our small town :) Cheers!
For those of you wondering why this is NOTHING like the Big Boy that you remember, keep in mind that different parts of the country got different burgers with very different sauces. This red relish seems to have been a west coast thing that we'd never seen in the midwest. Ohio Elias Bros. had a sauce that was basically 3/4 C mayo, 1/4 C dill (some folks say sweet) relish, and 1 tsp onion powder. We've been making this for years and it as close to what we remember from the restaurants as any of us can recall.
Sharon Dufala. Some people call it Dill, some people call it sweet relish? thats because theyre 2 different kinds of relish. dill just tastes like a chopped up dill pickle. sweet relish has added sugars and is.... you guessed it. Sweeter.
We used to eat at Big Boy most Sundays when I was a kid. Of course in Milwaukee they were actually Marc's Big Boys (Bob sold regional rights to Marcus and the new chain was also fairly successful).
I was reading a little history of Bob's and I guess there are a few different places that are licensed for the "Big Boy" name. I didn't know that until I started looking into this video.
Ballistic BBQ I would have guessed they were all Marc's Big Boy's until this post, so it brought back some pleasant memories from days gone by, and I learned something to boot - sounds like some others went down the same road. Thanks...
Congrats Greg, you have an awesome channel with great recipes, highly addictive mate. You should come to Australia to open up your own chain of burger shops
Having made thousands of these at my first job at Bob’s in the ‘70s, I can say you ALMOST nailed it. One dash of salt goes on the top patty before the relish goes on and you have about 3 times too much relish. Otherwise perfect!
Love Bobs Big Boy!! Have you guys been to the one in Burbank? They say it's the oldest remaining one...we went on my 50th birthday trip. The traffic was awful but the experience was worth every bit of the hassle. Good job...yum!
Bobs Big Boy was made by my dad Bill Swan along with many other iconic fiberglass statues which are in A short Amazon book called "The man behind the mufflerman ".
Frisch's Big Boys are the best. I had no idea they were an Ohio-only thing, though, until I stopped once at a Big Boy a little ways over the Michigan state line. The Big Boy burger there had thousand island dressing on it, and was so disappointing/confusing when I was expecting the tartar sauce.
They have mostly all closed down. 😭 Just a couple of the left. Thank god there’s still one in Burbank Ca. They have the best burger, hot fudge cake and onion rings ever! Oh and the famous Bobs big boy blue cheese 😋😋😋
Greg I found an awesome way to replace a burger bun. Use leftover mashed potatoes and form them into 2 1/4 inch patties, cook a burger, let it cool a little, ad cheese and whatever toppings you want, then form the potato patties around the burger, coat it in bread crumbs, and fry it. It is kind of like an inside juicy lucy except with mashed potatoes
I miss BBB. Moved to Washington 6 years ago and have only been back to So Cal once since then. Guess the one food place I went. That's right the only BBB I know still standing out in Toluka Lake. I'm totally going to make this though. I can't wait. :) Thanks
Hey Greg, I've seen that little guy on a commercial here some time back I'm sure if it. Lol at the start when you banged him out the way. Burger looks fantastic and your right... Simple sometimes is best. Thanks Hun!
Hi Greg, I just had The original double Decker burger from Bob's big boy #6 and the last remaining original Bob's Big Boy in So Cal opened by Bob Wian himself. That looks exactly like the Bobs Burger. The other videos on U Tube try to create some sort of 1000 island dressing. There is no pink sauce in a Bob's double Decker. The Mayo is completely separate from the red relish like in your video. Thanks for the Heinz chili sauce secret. I have been trying to make this recipe with regular ketchup and it does not taste the same. That Heinz chili sauce is definitely The Secret ingredient. Thanks again.
Also hey Greg can you please to a general gear vid. What kind of grill you have, why you like it as opposed to others. cutlery ect. Basic stuff you could not live without that everyone should have or get. I've noticed you do reviews but I can't seem to find a general gear vid.maybe i'm just not seeing it(Ive been binging on your vids all afternoon. Thanks for all the great expertise you share.)
There are 3 different versions of the Big Boy. Bob's original with mayo & red sauce. Big Boy Inc.'s big boy sauce (1000 island) x3 & Frisch's Big Boy (NW Ohio), tarter sauce & pickles.
Ballistic BBQ I wish MA could offer a crazy burger that would be considered truly authentic! But, there is this one place, called Boston Burger Company that makes "big-ass" burgers - and one of their burgers has flattop fried mac and cheese on it...... its ridiculous! If you want to check out the burger, search youtube for "phantom gourmet boston burger company" (Phantom Gourmet is the channel) and that video should show you the enormity of this ridiculous thing :D Thanks for chiming in as always!
WOW GREG that relish looks great! But i have to tell ye here in Kentucky and Ohio we have Frisch's Big Boy and it's just like that only they serve it w Frisch's Tartar Sauce and yes its WAY better than a big mac, i got my son one a couple weeks ago and he KILLED IT! Thanks cant wait to try the red relish!
Funny story, we used to have a Big Boy here in town that used the red relish...but it closed. I recently went to another Big Boy while traveling and ordered a Big Boy Classic, it showed up with no red relish. When I asked about it, the said "we don't have that, we just put Tartar Sauce on it...needless to say I was disappointed.
my parents dated at the original 10 stool bob's in Pasadena, so we have been a big boy family for eons. here is what made them so special IMO: they were half wrapped in some sort of very thin butcher paper, then put in a half paper sack that just allowed the top third of the burger to stick out. being wrapped like that all the flavors melded together and it stayed hot. when marriot started putting the burger unwrapped on a plate they lost that whole melding thing and got cold right away. that is when bobs lost it. there other claims to fame were the silver goblet shakes, soft serve in a nice metal goblet, and the hot fudge sundae. bobs had to have the red relish, sorry bout that you 1000 islanders. bobs lost it when he franchised in the early 60s.
Big Big Boy sauces all depend on where you live. I've been to many of them across the country and they differ from region to region as the change splintered apart .
A great recipe & thank you! I am not familiar with Bob's big boy sandwich. I was thinking it was one of my long gone all time fav's from Frisches Big Boy Burger sandwich. It did have a different sauce and I Loved it. Have you made this one before? Would love to see your take on it. Love watching all of your cooking demo's!
Awesome job on the Bobs Big Boy classic Cheese Burger.Loved going there when I was a Kid.There is one about 10 minutes from my house Ill have to try it.I no a girl that works there and she has told me in the past that owner owns a few more.I'll let you no so when you get up this way you can check it out..
Thanks for this video/recipe for the Bob's Big Boy Red Relish. I Have had many of Bob's Big Boy Double Deckers. I remember liking them, but do not remember the Red Relish being such an important part of the burger. I like your simplicity in making the Red Relish. Another clone I found is way too compicated for me. It calls for basically making a sweet relish and Ketchup. Too much work for me today. Heck, if following the recipe, it will not be ready until the next day because it needs to be refrigerated. George Motz uses Ketchup and Sweet Relish. I think I am going to try the ketchup/Relish version and add chili powder and because I already have Jalapenos, finlely chop up 1 and add that to. Probably you will not see this or even care. But I do watch and enjoy many of your burger videos.
great job Greg,the burger i wanted to suggest u trying out in the last video i commented on,was the Butter Burger,from the Culver's burger chain thats primarily in the Upper Midwest as well as Ilinois/Indiana
Everything you grill looks yummy, btw what grill attachments are those where do you get those or does it come with the BBQ grill it's self. Really enjoy your vids! Keep up the burger videos
That griddle is something I had made up. That being said, very soon I will be doing a review on a flattop that has recently hit the commercial market. Hope to have a video up in a week or so.
No Bobs around the Boston area that I know of , but sure looks good Greg , I like a nice thin patty or two sometimes, as usual great job on the burger series.
For anyone who has eaten a steak burger at the apple pan in LA, is the relish sauce he makes in this video the same kind of sauce the apple pan puts on their steak burger?
I'm from Michigan and every Big Boy burger I've ever had didn't have red relish. It had a thousand island dressing-like sauce. Virtually identical to a Big Mac.
Yea we don't do the relish or the mayo in Michigan. We do a thousand island type sauce like you said. I've always wondered what the relish version is like. 🤔 I'm guessing it's completely different because our sauce is pretty distinct. Apparently in Ohio the do a tartar sauce 🙄
What I figured out about the middle bun, just use a piece of bread. Trim it up and there you have it! With the price of buns going up, this seems more economical.
Im from Highland park area in the city of Los Angeles. We had a Bobs big boy in my neighborhood. I’m 48 now It’s been years since they closed it down. This was my most favorite restaurant ever as a kid. I always gave the doll (big boy) a hug and a kiss as we came into the restaurant. Special place and memories.
I was the first cook hired at that specific Bobs Big Boy in Highland Park, 2 weeks before it opened. It was right accross the street from the police station and a bail bonds place. I was just explaining to one of my kids how Marriott the parent company of Bobs BB at that time would send out there best of the best called the "task force" to train all new people to do things exactly how they wanted it done. P.S. we never did salt the patties, other than that the video was perfect. Thanks for the heads up on the relish recipie. I remember how that relish smell would stay on the cook so bad that people would ask me in a grocery store line if I worked at big boys, and I would have to say yes, they could tell because of the smell. That was after going home and taking shower sometimes. (This happened to me multiple times trough out the years). Small world sometimes
As someone born in So Cal and currently living in a non-Bob's state, this is awesome! I have tried to describe a Bobs Big Boy to my family for a long time...but now I can show them! Thanks! Well done!
I'm so excited about this thanks so much for sharing. I am from California living in Texas and no Bob's big boy or Shoneys anymore. Thank you thank you.
I was amazed when I found myself in Augusta GA in 1968 having been drafted into the US Army and stationed at Ft. Gordon to find Shoney's (might have been Schoney's). It was like being back in S. Calif.
It’s 2:00am husband is talking about Bobs Big Boy Burger he had growing up in OC. I grew up in San Francisco and never had one. I’m going to make them tomorrow for lunch. Thanks for getting the chili sauce and relish recipe.
I shipped off to the Navy in 1966, and one of my last meals from home came from Bob's Big Boy. It was closed when I returned to the area, and I haven't had one since, but now I have that chance again. Thanks so much for working this one out and sharing it Greg. I will definitely be doing many of these.
My father had been going to Bobs Big Boy since 1938. I have been going there all my life. I followed your steps and I was floored! It actually tasted just like a Big Boy. The red relish mixture is spot on. Amazing!! I still have 2 BB locations near me in southern California but to be able to make one at home is a godsend. Thank you for posting this video. 8:03
I realize you posted this six years ago. My dad was a Big Boy fanatic. He died 30 years ago today, and in his honor I was searching for the original BB recipe. He and my mom met at Bob's in Burbank and were married shortly after, and stayed together until he passed. They even went on a Bob's billboard tour back in the day. Thank you for this copycat! My kids and I are going to enjoy this tonight in his honor.
My pleasure! I always stop by Bob's when in the area of Burbank! I hear a rumor that Bob's may change their mascot. Hope it's not true!
@@BallisticBBQ No they cannot do that. Nope, no, NO. I had a full collection of the banks and in a moving rush they were accidentally left behind in old house. Tried to get them back to no avail. I'm slowly repurchasing off ebay to ease my sadness.
@@BallisticBBQ by the way, this copycat was even perfect using Beyond meat and vegan cheez ha!! Can't wait for my brother to visit so I can wow him with the original Big Boy plant-based style. It was so delicious, brought back fantastic memories. Thanks!
@@elvis3810 Glad you enjoyed it! Have you tried Impossible Beef? I am a card-carrying carnivore, but it is by far the closes thing to actual beef in flavor and texture. Cheers Elle!
@@BallisticBBQ Oh for sure, I have a harder time finding the Impossible 'meat' than I do Beyond. There's also another out there made by Kroger that is pretty damn good! That's the one I used for your BB copycat.
I haven't seen a Big Boy in probably 20 years......oh but I remember them as a kid! I'll take three with a vanilla shake!!! Very nice Greg!
Thank you for checking it out Larry!
I am so happy that I found you. All the recipes for Bob's big boy hamburger sauce is just like you said it's thousand Island dressing. I left Bob's big boy ever since I was a little girl. Anytime I go to visit my family in California we go to Bob's big boy in Burbank. Friday and Saturday nights are hot rod night so everyone brings their old classic cars and muscle cars there and they still bring the trays to the cars on those nights. My favorite is the big boy combo. You get the salad which I had Bob's big boy blue cheese salad dressing, the big boy classic hamburger, french fries and for dessert hot fudge cake it was awesome with the ice cream in the whip cream, absolutely awesome thanks for the recipe I can't wait to try it.
I have to be honest though you would have never known. I watched a couple of your videos a long while back and didn't really give you a chance. I was in a weird replication recipe TH-cam vortex. I don't know how I got here tonight but I have watched quite a few of your videos. You are smart, witty, and funny. You really know your stuff as well and make good food. I want to say sorry for not giving you more of a fair chance back when. Thank you sir for your hard work and your content. Also thank you for sharing.
+Bill Jangins Thanks for giving me a second chance!
I see Greg as the burger grandpa, cant stop watching his vids, he makes it with so much love that it makes me feel like he is a relative. Gotta love his works and hope he makes it big in YT.
I fondly remember going to Big Boys in Milwaukee Wisconsin back in the late 60's and early 70's. The burgers were 2 for a dollar back then. However, in the Midwest the sauce was a Thousand Island dressing. Love your videos. Keep up the good work !
Yes, thank you. Also was the 1000 Island mix here in Los Angeles then was watched to the red chili sauce in the 2000's.
@@antomano5623, no, if you had thousand island dressing on your Big Boy it was either not a Bob’s, or it was a Big Boy franchise store that chose to do them Elias Bros. Big Boy style. Red relish is the original style. I made thousands of those in the ‘70s.
@@paulscanter5562 I grew up in Cleveland. A restaurant chain called Manner's had the local franchise. They had the1000 island style sauce, not quite the salad dressing you would buy, but pretty close.
@@thelastremainingmoderate1997, yeah, I think most of the franchises had thousand island on. The Big Boy burger except Bob’s, who used the red relish and Elias Bros, who used tarter sauce I think.
That brings back memories. We use to have a Big Boy in Dallas when I was a child, I'm 65 now. But I still remember that great restaurant and the iconic Big Boy statue out front.
I remember eating them back in the late 70's and early 80's, every time we went to our grandfather's place in Hollywood, on the corner of Lexington and Vine St. where the restaurant was located. The sauce was not a chili type but a 1000 island mixture. I would eat 2 burgers, was hands down better tasting than a big mac.
Hollywood....lol
I think you nailed it, Greg. And you've taken me on a memory trip back to the middle of the last century. We had a Bob's when I was growing up, back to the 50s. It was a true drive in of the era, and it was a special treat to pack the family of 5 into the car, go pull into one of the drive-in stalls, and eat in the car with the trays hanging off of the windows. I was addicted to the Big Boy when I was 10, and I'd whine and make my Dad order me two. I think they were 30 cents, maybe 35. LOL
That drive in is long gone, but those memories don't fade, and a burger that's endured for this long has to have something very special going for it. It's the simplicity, and that sauce.
LOL! We had A&W Root Beer and Oscar's out here when I was a kid. Both car-hops as well. You're right, there was something special about that tray hanging off of the window and eating in the car.
Bob's franchised, so they all had different names except for Big Boy. In our area it was Azar's. Loved the Wimpey reference. "I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" has to be a classic line.
Oh man, bobs big boy. They always made the best blue cheese dressing
I saw this video of yours long ago and to this day I still got to give you credit for hooking us up with that red relish recipe. I literally just bought some chili sauce and relish last night once again!
eating like this in front of us isn't fair, I am here working on my thesis report getting lazier and lazier and not even making myself a coffee to help me wake up and you bring in this good stuff making me feeling hungry; now it's all gone from my mind and can not think straight anymore. Thanks man!
They are still in Cleveland. I haven't been to one in years. Looks yummy for sure! I love taking restaurants recipes and making them!
Me too Kelly! Thanks!
Goodness Greg, that intro had me in tears. Your videos are awesome, keep it up.
As a cook at a bigboy in Michigan, we make them way different. We make it bun, bigboy sauce(thousand island) shredded lettuce, American cheese, 2 oz patty, middle bun, bigboy sauce, patty, top bun.
KING KILLA can you get it with the red relish in Michigan?
Thank you for the relish recipe much apprecated. My German grandmother made a double decker pork patty burger, which my mother said was she remembered eating and learning to make in the 1950's and i remember from the late 1970's, where the middle layer of bread was made using thick cut white bread and cut with a cookie cutter to shape. But it was fried in bacon fat nice and crispy, I in turn have taught my wife and kids that trick.
Thanks for all the videos take care and God bless.
You're my goto burger guy on TH-cam.
Keep on making me hungry with all the delicious food you cook up.
Thank you Jay!
I've looked for the Bob's relish on & off for years. Like you, none of the copycats seemed to hit it on the nose. I'll definitely try this easy fix.
It was Kip's Big Boy in Dallas. It was my FAVORITE meal in the universe: Big Boy, fries and root beer at a really cool "Jetson's" style diner on Gaston Avenue (the building is still there, but it's a bank now). I remember the "sauce" as being *extremely* close to thousand island (that pink color), but otherwise identical to how Greg did it, including NOT melting the cheese on the patty. That sauce might have varied from geography to geography. I really miss it.
I can't stop watching your vids. Great stuff.
I remember it well, we had one at the El Toro Road exit from I5. Many an evening I stopped there for dinner. Thanks for the memory lane recipe.
Thank you for checking it out!
Made this today using the ballistic griddle over coals on the Weber kettle. Absolutely delicious!
Our BBB has been just a memory for something like 25 years (I hear those old Big Boy "statues" are priceless now). I can either make one here, or set the way-back machine to sometime in the late 80's. Of course, I had to watch this BEFORE dinner… heh heh.
LOL! Our local BBB closed its doors about a year ago. Bummer...
This is the all-time greatest upload on TH-cam. Greg is Tha Man! I want to hang out with this dude and make some burgers.
reminds me of growing up in the 70's... i used to go to BBB after going to the dentist( happened to be right down the street from there) and get that burger and a big ole shake ! life as a 7 year old :-) thanks for the walk down memory lane brother man
LOL! Cheers John!
I'll gladly pay you Tuesday...
Great video Greg. Love all the burgers you do.
LOL! Cheers buddy!!!
I agree that sometimes simple is the best. I love your videos! A hug from Brazil!!
Thank you Cesar! Cheers!
Another great burger video Greg! Funny thing, is that we never had a Bob's Big Boy around here, but we did have the Shoney's Big Boy with that same statue until they dumped the Big Boy image sometime in the late 70's, then a few years later, I actually got to eat at a Bob's Big Boy in Slidell, LA with that exact same statue that Shoney's use to have, but to find out, the huge Statue idea always belonged to Bob's. Kinda confusing in away, but I sure did like their burgers! :)
Yeah, I guess a couple companies ended up merging into "Big Boy Company". Bob's started it out though. Thank you Rus!
Ballistic BBQ I just looked it up on Wikipedia. Apparently, Shoney's started it, but there was tolerance for individual franchise owners to produce unique menus, prices and even styles of big boy statues. Different franchise owners named the restaurants differently. There are 31 big boy restaurant sub-chains named after franchise partners. Bob's big boy controlled most of the west coast. Shoney's is the original in Tennessee and controls the southern Mississippi river area from the gulf on up the river to Missouri.
Doing this tonight. Thanks brother. I remember eating at Bob's. Chili Spaqhetti and a Bigboy..Yum!
Used to go to the one in Burbank and Highland Park, Calif.
That sauce is also used by a famous Canadian burger as "Tripple O" sauce (confirmed by a local supplier here years ago). Easy solutions for burger sauces are almost always correct.
You, again knocked it out!!!
I always feel hungry when I saw your every video !!!!!!!
Anything u cook is look very delicious!!!!!
Thank you Idou!
I'll bet I've eaten a thousand of those Big Boy burgers. My go to was "no relish, add avacado". Try one that way. Thanks Greg, that was a great trip down memory lane...
Dang Greg I always loved BBB. Shameful they trickled down to only a few restaurants over the decades. You have inspired me to re-create that long time love I enjoyed back in the early 70's when they brough the order to your car in the parking lot and hooked those clamp-on trays to your car door. Great vid and thanks for the idea and inspiration--specially' for the relish sauce. Thumbs up
The original big boy was in Southern California .
we still have big boy in SoCal but I think I'd rather make my own :)
I think you nailed the relish because big boy used to market sauce and dressing at the supermarket and the only one they sold that was not the same as the one on the hamburger was relish probably because of
Heinz the source product?
Wow you nailed that sauce and it was so easy...great burger Greg
Thank you Tom!
Made one of these today and it turned out great. I haven't had an OG big boy burger so I don't have anything to go off of but I've always liked the brand / character. I was skeptical about the red relish at first when I tried it but it works extremely well with the burger. I'd like to think there's an alternate universe where Bob's Big Boy beat out McDonalds lol.
Great job on the sauce!
I toast the buns slightly on a grill, before putting the burger together. That's how the original ones were made.
Good job Greg! Makes my chops water!
Must have took some heavy research time to discover the relish was practically sitting in your fridge! Brings back fond memories of a tasty burger....and tines long gone.
In the South Big Boy was called Shoney's, sporting the same iconic fellow you displayed briefly, and our town had a larger than life figure outside the joint. In the early 70's our two rival high schools had the big football game approaching and they went nuts..."allegedly" one or the other stole Big Boy and would put him on the rival's school property, as though to assign blame to "THEM - THEY did it!" ;) This would go back and forth even when Big Boy was replaced at his rightful place at the restaurant , til one day Big Boy mysteriously disappeared and was never seen again, and wasn't replaced by the franchise owners (sigh...)
Well I had to tell ya that when I saw the feller peek up from screen bottom.
Back then it was one of the few places you could count on for consistent good food (mostly, depending who was running it) Shoney's is gone now, but I miss that Big Boy, both the place, the burger and the logo.
I can only assume you came by your "little" Big Boy legally and didn't figure out how to shrink what was once a huge icon from our small town :)
Cheers!
For those of you wondering why this is NOTHING like the Big Boy that you remember, keep in mind that different parts of the country got different burgers with very different sauces. This red relish seems to have been a west coast thing that we'd never seen in the midwest. Ohio Elias Bros. had a sauce that was basically 3/4 C mayo, 1/4 C dill (some folks say sweet) relish, and 1 tsp onion powder. We've been making this for years and it as close to what we remember from the restaurants as any of us can recall.
Sharon Dufala. Some people call it Dill, some people call it sweet relish? thats because theyre 2 different kinds of relish. dill just tastes like a chopped up dill pickle. sweet relish has added sugars and is.... you guessed it. Sweeter.
We used to eat at Big Boy most Sundays when I was a kid. Of course in Milwaukee they were actually Marc's Big Boys (Bob sold regional rights to Marcus and the new chain was also fairly successful).
I was reading a little history of Bob's and I guess there are a few different places that are licensed for the "Big Boy" name. I didn't know that until I started looking into this video.
Ballistic BBQ I would have guessed they were all Marc's Big Boy's until this post, so it brought back some pleasant memories from days gone by, and I learned something to boot - sounds like some others went down the same road. Thanks...
BigBQ Thank you for watching. I enjoyed reading the posts on this video. Pretty cool stuff!
Just found your channel and I have to say I have already tried some of your burgers, keep the vids coming, greetings from Denmark
Great looking burger. :)
Which is better Bob's big boy Classic double decker or Macdonald ' big mac?
Nice catch on the red relish..Great video..
Thank you Chris!
Your burger vids are by far my favorites! :)
WOW!! thats impressive Greg, That red relish looked killer and sport on!!
That is one classic burger!!
Thank you Allen!
I might go there today in Burbank. They are Open 😇. Your Double Decker Burger is Exactly. How they make them So Delicious. Thank you so much Greg
Congrats Greg, you have an awesome channel with great recipes, highly addictive mate. You should come to Australia to open up your own chain of burger shops
Please make more burger videos!!!!!! They are all so good.
No plans in the near future of stopping. I have a lot of fun making these burger videos. Thanks!!!
i dont know why people dislike u are just makeing good food
I dont know why you typed such an asinine comment.
Having made thousands of these at my first job at Bob’s in the ‘70s, I can say you ALMOST nailed it. One dash of salt goes on the top patty before the relish goes on and you have about 3 times too much relish. Otherwise perfect!
wimpy burger reference! haha. You rock dude....Kudos to your continuous burger work.
and my list keeps getting bigger! thanks for this one! looks great!
Thank you Eric!
My stomach always growls when I even think of this channel
Love Bobs Big Boy!! Have you guys been to the one in Burbank? They say it's the oldest remaining one...we went on my 50th birthday trip. The traffic was awful but the experience was worth every bit of the hassle. Good job...yum!
Thanks Jen! We've been wanted to do the one in Burbank.
Cool video.Proves that it doesn`t have to be complicated to be great!
I delivered to Shoney's for years aka Big Boy's of the south and you are correct about the sauce actually spot on.......
Thank you for the feedback. We recently lost our Bob's out here. Cheers!
I got hungry after 30 seconds, you did a really good job with the burger!
addicted to your vids! great job!
Bobs Big Boy was made by my dad Bill Swan along with many other iconic fiberglass statues which are in A short Amazon book called "The man behind the mufflerman ".
I guess "Bob's" Bigboy used relish, Frisch's Big Boy up in Ohio uses their awesome tarter sauce. Never heard of the relish. Have to give it a try
Frisch's Big Boys are the best. I had no idea they were an Ohio-only thing, though, until I stopped once at a Big Boy a little ways over the Michigan state line. The Big Boy burger there had thousand island dressing on it, and was so disappointing/confusing when I was expecting the tartar sauce.
Dude that was a great opener! So non traditional for you but it was awesome! Burger looked delicious of course!
They have mostly all closed down. 😭 Just a couple of the left. Thank god there’s still one in Burbank Ca. They have the best burger, hot fudge cake and onion rings ever! Oh and the famous Bobs big boy blue cheese 😋😋😋
I busted out laughing when you unveiled that Big Boy relish revelation! It was so simple
Too funny, huh! I was stoked last night though. I couldn't believe it!
your burger videos are just amazing!
now even a swiss guy wants to eat a burger every day! ;D
LOL! Toss on a little swiss cheese and some mushrooms!
Greg I found an awesome way to replace a burger bun. Use leftover mashed potatoes and form them into 2 1/4 inch patties, cook a burger, let it cool a little, ad cheese and whatever toppings you want, then form the potato patties around the burger, coat it in bread crumbs, and fry it. It is kind of like an inside juicy lucy except with mashed potatoes
Sounds KILLER! Thank you very much! Gonna' give this a try.
Awesome! I was thinking you could kind of make it a sheopards pie kinda theme to go with the potatoes. Tweek it up! Can't wait to see a video for it
I miss BBB. Moved to Washington 6 years ago and have only been back to So Cal once since then. Guess the one food place I went. That's right the only BBB I know still standing out in Toluka Lake. I'm totally going to make this though. I can't wait. :) Thanks
Hey Greg, I've seen that little guy on a commercial here some time back I'm sure if it. Lol at the start when you banged him out the way. Burger looks fantastic and your right... Simple sometimes is best. Thanks Hun!
Hi Greg,
I just had The original double Decker burger from Bob's big boy #6 and the last remaining original Bob's Big Boy in So Cal opened by Bob Wian himself.
That looks exactly like the Bobs Burger. The other videos on
U Tube try to create some sort of 1000 island dressing. There is no pink sauce in a Bob's double Decker.
The Mayo is completely separate from the red relish like in your video.
Thanks for the Heinz chili sauce secret. I have been trying to make this recipe with regular ketchup and it does not taste the same. That Heinz chili sauce is definitely The Secret ingredient. Thanks again.
Also hey Greg can you please to a general gear vid. What kind of grill you have, why you like it as opposed to others. cutlery ect. Basic stuff you could not live without that everyone should have or get. I've noticed you do reviews but I can't seem to find a general gear vid.maybe i'm just not seeing it(Ive been binging on your vids all afternoon. Thanks for all the great expertise you share.)
There are 3 different versions of the Big Boy. Bob's original with mayo & red sauce. Big Boy Inc.'s big boy sauce (1000 island) x3 & Frisch's Big Boy (NW Ohio), tarter sauce & pickles.
Yea in Michigan it's always been with a thousand island type sauce. The red relish really has me curious 🤔
You are the best at replicating burgers 🍔👑🙌‼️ Try using that chili sauce with a bit of BBQ sauce on a meatloaf !
Awesome! I I have never had one since there are no Bob's out here in Mass, but I enjoy watching the re-creations happen! Sauce was a cool trick :D
Thank you! Any suggestions from the great state of Mass?
Ballistic BBQ I wish MA could offer a crazy burger that would be considered truly authentic! But, there is this one place, called Boston Burger Company that makes "big-ass" burgers - and one of their burgers has flattop fried mac and cheese on it...... its ridiculous! If you want to check out the burger, search youtube for "phantom gourmet boston burger company" (Phantom Gourmet is the channel) and that video should show you the enormity of this ridiculous thing :D Thanks for chiming in as always!
Hi Greg, I always love your burger vids. They are always perfect. Want to fire up the grill right now as a matter of fact. Cheers!
Thank you! Cheers!
WOW GREG that relish looks great! But i have to tell ye here in Kentucky and Ohio we have Frisch's Big Boy and it's just like that only they serve it w Frisch's Tartar Sauce and yes its WAY better than a big mac, i got my son one a couple weeks ago and he KILLED IT! Thanks cant wait to try the red relish!
Thanks for stopping by! Yeah, that red relish is good and very easy to make. My kind of sauce!!!
I think you nailed the red relish.Simple is best.Cheers!
Thank you Sal!
Funny story, we used to have a Big Boy here in town that used the red relish...but it closed. I recently went to another Big Boy while traveling and ordered a Big Boy Classic, it showed up with no red relish. When I asked about it, the said "we don't have that, we just put Tartar Sauce on it...needless to say I was disappointed.
my parents dated at the original 10 stool bob's in Pasadena, so we have been a big boy family for eons.
here is what made them so special IMO: they were half wrapped in some sort of very thin butcher paper, then put in a half paper sack that just allowed the top third of the burger to stick out. being wrapped like that all the flavors melded together and it stayed hot. when marriot started putting the burger unwrapped on a plate they lost that whole melding thing and got cold right away. that is when bobs lost it.
there other claims to fame were the silver goblet shakes, soft serve in a nice metal goblet, and the hot fudge sundae. bobs had to have the red relish, sorry bout that you 1000 islanders. bobs lost it when he franchised in the early 60s.
Wow, looks awesome!
With this fuckin delicious lookin Burger you got yourself +1 Subscriber. Greetings from Germany :-D
Big Big Boy sauces all depend on where you live. I've been to many of them across the country and they differ from region to region as the change splintered apart .
Exactly. Ours served a 1000 Island mix in Los Angeles, CA. But in the last 10 to 12 years it's the red chili sauce which tastes awful.
A great recipe & thank you! I am not familiar with Bob's big boy sandwich. I was thinking it was one of my long gone all time fav's from Frisches Big Boy Burger sandwich. It did have a different sauce and I Loved it. Have you made this one before? Would love to see your take on it. Love watching all of your cooking demo's!
Frisches used tartar sauce instead of mayo, everything else is the same.
Awesome job on the Bobs Big Boy classic Cheese Burger.Loved going there when I was a Kid.There is one about 10 minutes from my house Ill have to try it.I no a girl that works there and she has told me in the past that owner owns a few more.I'll let you no so when you get up this way you can check it out..
Thanks! Ours closed its doors about a year ago, BUMMER!
Frisch's Big Boy has their special tarter sauce. That's far better, in my opinion.
Thanks for this video/recipe for the Bob's Big Boy Red Relish. I Have had many of Bob's Big Boy Double Deckers. I remember liking them, but do not remember the Red Relish being such an important part of the burger. I like your simplicity in making the Red Relish. Another clone I found is way too compicated for me. It calls for basically making a sweet relish and Ketchup. Too much work for me today. Heck, if following the recipe, it will not be ready until the next day because it needs to be refrigerated. George Motz uses Ketchup and Sweet Relish. I think I am going to try the ketchup/Relish version and add chili powder and because I already have Jalapenos, finlely chop up 1 and add that to. Probably you will not see this or even care. But I do watch and enjoy many of your burger videos.
great job Greg,the burger i wanted to suggest u trying out in the last video i commented on,was the Butter Burger,from the Culver's burger chain thats primarily in the Upper Midwest as well as Ilinois/Indiana
I'll look into that one. Thanks!
Everything you grill looks yummy, btw what grill attachments are those where do you get those or does it come with the BBQ grill it's self. Really enjoy your vids! Keep up the burger videos
That griddle is something I had made up. That being said, very soon I will be doing a review on a flattop that has recently hit the commercial market. Hope to have a video up in a week or so.
it's amazing how i can smell it cooking in the office! Yum
greg your vids are crazy good. thanks again :)
No Bobs around the Boston area that I know of , but sure looks good Greg , I like a nice thin patty or two sometimes, as usual great job on the burger series.
Thank you Charlie!
For anyone who has eaten a steak burger at the apple pan in LA, is the relish sauce he makes in this video the same kind of sauce the apple pan puts on their steak burger?
love those Big Boy Burgers and don't forget the cream of broccoli soup.
Oh yeah!!!
I'm from Michigan and every Big Boy burger I've ever had didn't have red relish. It had a thousand island dressing-like sauce. Virtually identical to a Big Mac.
Yea we don't do the relish or the mayo in Michigan. We do a thousand island type sauce like you said. I've always wondered what the relish version is like. 🤔 I'm guessing it's completely different because our sauce is pretty distinct. Apparently in Ohio the do a tartar sauce 🙄
What I figured out about the middle bun, just use a piece of bread. Trim it up and there you have it! With the price of buns going up, this seems more economical.
I'm gonna try it today! You rock!