# Is the Big Mac actually big in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378 "2018-02-07T17:46:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/61 "2018-02-11T23:16:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The smallest burger today is Sonic. The patties are so much thinner than other chains. I’m always still hungry after lunch at Sonic. White Castle begs to differ. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/62 "2018-02-11T23:27:43Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > The Big Boy down the street closed a few years ago. So I haven’t been to one in awhile. I can’t think of any fast food place I would drive across town for. When it was here I definitely preferred the Big Boy to the Mac and they also had a bigger version, Super Big Boy. The big Boy itself is advertised as 1/4 pound, so a little bigger than the Mac. > > As far as whether it’s “big” or not is subjective. I personally require more daily calories than 3 Big Mac combo meals would provide, but most people don’t. For many people a 500 calorie burger is huge. Others complain if a burger is under 1200 calories or so. Many people eat 1 or 2 meals a day or intermittent fast. Others drink loads of sugar water and snack all day. If you don’t eat fries or several hundred calories in sugared beverages at a time, the burger itself might not amount to much more than a snack. Big Boy isn’t fast food, it’s more of a chain diner or some other thing with some stupid name people dont’ actually use in real life (like fast casual). You get seated at a table/booth, served by a waitress, then they go to the kitchen and place the order. You pay after everything. Also, it’s not Bob’s Big Boy to whoever called it such, that’s just the local franchisee on the west coast. Every region had their own, but most consolidated into just plain old Big Boy after the michigan franchisee Elias Bros. bought them out. And yeah, it’s much bigger than a Big Mac. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/63 "2018-02-12T00:29:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Bob’s Big Boy, which was more or less identical to the Big Mac. The Big Mac was a total rip-off. > > [The 5 Most Egregious Big Mac Rip-Offs Of All Time – OC Weekly](https://www.ocweekly.com/the-5-most-egregious-big-mac-rip-offs-of-all-time-6623151/) Frisch’s Big Boy in my area. There were also Shoney’s Big Boys and maybe others. Burger Chef had their version, the Big Shef, three years before the Big Mac. People in my area (central Indiana) had mostly forgotten that the Big Shef was a Big Boy copy, as they saw the Big Mac as a Big Shef copy. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/64 "2018-02-12T01:31:20Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Also, it was called the “[Big Boy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boy_Restaurants#The_Big_Boy_hamburger)” at Big Boy restaurants long before McDonald’s stole it and started calling it the Big Mac. I’m not sure if it’s Ram’s Horn (local chain) or Denny’s or some place like that, but I recall them having a sandwich called “The Imitator,” which is just a Big Boy/Mac. > [@silenus](#): > > **gaffa** got it. The old Big Mac, with the ring, just looked bigger. Probably because the ring kept the shredded lettuce from compacting when they wrapped it. I was working at McDonald’s when we switched from the foam clamshell package to the ring. This would have been 1989 or so, and the rings aren’t original. It was the best thing the company could think of doing instead of foam clamshell packages. Not sure why paperboard containers weren’t available. Making those rings really sucked, too. And wrapping ringed Big Macs in that crappy paper wasn’t easy. I remember that a #1 Extra Value Meal (the Big Mac meal) came to $2.72 including tax, though. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/65 "2018-02-12T05:11:05Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Big Boy isn’t fast food, it’s more of a chain diner or some other thing with some stupid name people dont’ actually use in real life (like fast casual). You get seated at a table/booth, served by a waitress, then they go to the kitchen and place the order. You pay after everything. The technical industry term for that style of restaurant is a “casual dining restaurant” (often shortened by those in the business to “CDR”). CDRs are characterized by table service by a waiter, and generally by a moderate price point (as opposed to higher-end “fine dining” or “white tablecloth” places). CDRs that don’t offer (or don’t strongly feature) alcoholic beverages (like Big Boy, Denny’s, etc.) might also be referred to as diners, or family restaurants. “Fast casual” restaurants are a step above traditional fast food, but don’t usually have table service (i.e., you order at a counter). Chipotle, Panera, etc. are fast casual. And, you’re right, normal people pretty much never use any of those terms. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/66 "2018-02-12T14:20:06Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > 2000 calories a day is standard according to most NUTRITION FACTS labels. If you skip breakfast, which lots of americans do, 1000 calories for one of the two remaining meals is just about right. In my experience, very few people indeed limit their eating to just their meals. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/67 "2018-02-12T17:41:16Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Big Boy isn’t fast food, it’s more of a chain diner or some other thing with some stupid name people dont’ actually use in real life (like fast casual). You get seated at a table/booth, served by a waitress, then they go to the kitchen and place the order. You pay after everything. > > Also, it’s not Bob’s Big Boy to whoever called it such, that’s just the local franchisee on the west coast. Every region had their own, but most consolidated into just plain old Big Boy after the michigan franchisee Elias Bros. bought them out. > > And yeah, it’s much bigger than a Big Mac. So, I just described my years of experience eating at my local Big Boys (frisch) and you had to lecture me about what is and isn’t fast food and my actual experience? Sorry, if you can get it in a drive through with no wait, I consider that fast food. Same for Steak 'n Shake. If you aren’t eating in, there’s really no difference in the experience. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/68 "2018-02-12T18:21:52Z")
Anybody been to Dairy-Rite in Staunton VA? Their [Superburger](https://roadfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/rfl_16177.jpg) is practically identical to the Big Mac, and they’ve had it since 1952, long before the Big Mac was created. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/69 "2018-02-13T03:39:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > CDRs that don’t offer (or don’t strongly feature) alcoholic beverages (like Big Boy, Denny’s, etc.) might also be referred to as diners, or family restaurants. Does Denny’s serve alcoholic beverages? For me, the one thing that separates Denny’s from Big Boy is alcoholic beverages and quality. Okay, that’s two things, but I can count on a beer at Big Boy (né Elias Bros., from the old “Big Boy is regional” days). ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/70 "2018-02-13T13:18:13Z")
Fun fact: The inventor of the Big Mac is from my home town. I like Big Macs. They aren’t big by any means but they have a certain flavor that I just crave once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/71 "2018-02-13T15:14:06Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Does Denny’s serve alcoholic beverages? For me, the one thing that separates Denny’s from Big Boy is alcoholic beverages and quality. Okay, that’s two things, but I can count on a beer at Big Boy (né Elias Bros., from the old “Big Boy is regional” days). No, Denny’s doesn’t serve liquor. And, it’s been so long since I’ve been at a Big Boy that I didn’t even recall that you could get a beer there. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/72 "2018-02-13T15:39:56Z")
Some Denny’s do. > **[Sorry 8 a.m. Drinkers, Denny's Can Only Serve You Alcohol at 10 a.m.](https://www.delish.com/food/news/a39595/dennys-liquor-license/)** > > Community Board 1 members refuse to let New York's first Denny's serve alcohol at 8 a.m., but decide that 10 a.m. is just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/73 "2018-02-13T16:15:27Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Does Denny’s serve alcoholic beverages? For me, the one thing that separates Denny’s from Big Boy is alcoholic beverages and quality. Okay, that’s two things, but I can count on a beer at Big Boy (né Elias Bros., from the old “Big Boy is regional” days). Some do, the first time I encountered a Denny’s with a bar I was confused because I always thought of Denny’s as the place you go to after the bars close. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/74 "2018-02-13T18:15:11Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Everything I can find says the basic hamburger patties have always been 1/10th of a pound. I worked at a McDonalds 1976-1977. I can attest that Big Macs then were made of two 1/10 lb. patties. These were the same patties used for regular hamburgers and cheeseburgers. The same cheese and pickles were used in the BM as in a cheeseburger. The 3 stage bun and the Mac sauce were the only differences. They did a much better job of actually toasting them back then. Seems to be a lost art, or corporate decision to save electricity. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/75 "2018-02-13T18:19:51Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > They did a much better job of actually toasting them back then. Seems to be a lost art, or corporate decision to save electricity. The toasting process is automated now with a big feed toaster. You drop the buns in the top and they slide out the bottom toasted. No “art” to it. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/76 "2018-02-13T19:58:18Z")
McDonald’s food always seemed a lot bigger when I was smaller. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/77 "2018-02-13T20:17:58Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Also, it’s not Bob’s Big Boy to whoever called it such, that’s just the local franchisee on the west coast. I wonder which one Springsteen is singing about? I assumed it was in NJ but Route 60 ain’t. “Early north Jersey industrial skyline” and a scrap metal hill would be. I met Wanda when she was employed Behind the counter at Route 60 Bob’s Big Boy Fried chicken on the front seat, she’s sitting in my lap We’re wiping our fingers on a Texaco road map I remember Wanda up on scrap metal hill With them big brown eyes that make your heart stand still ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/78 "2018-02-13T20:19:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > We had the option of McDonald’s, but we never went. I remember when Burger King came to San Diego in the late-'60s or 1970. It was when they had the ‘It takes two hands to handle a Whopper. The burgers are bigger at Burger King’ commercials. Loved those. But JITB was the go-to place. Yes, Burger King came in mid to late 70s and became our go-to place since it was closer to our house. We Catholic school kids got a half day every Wednesday and went to eat there. I haven’t had a Whopper since because I think the nostalgia would do me in! ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/79 "2018-02-13T20:42:36Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > The toasting process is automated now with a big feed toaster. You drop the buns in the top and they slide out the bottom toasted. No “art” to it. May be so, but they don’t seem very toasted to me. No way near as toasted they were in the 70’s. Especially the crowns. I can’t remember the last time I had a crown that was really warm to the touch, and I usually order Big Macs without pickles, so they should be “fresh”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/80 "2018-02-13T20:59:36Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I haven’t had a Whopper since because I think the nostalgia would do me in! In the late-'70s/early-'80s there was a Carl’s Jr. a couple of miles from our house. ISTR there being a Burger King next door to it, but I can’t be sure now. Carl’s Jr. quickly became my favourite burger (specifically, the Super Star w/Cheese) because you can actually _taste_ the char. Burger King… Not so much. Whoppers were _amazing_ when I was eight or ten. Now, they taste rather bland. Unfortunately, there are Burger Kings all over the place up here in northwestern Washington; but there’s only _one_ Carl’s Jr. between my home near the Canadian border and Seattle. Let’s see… four miles to the freeway, carry the one… Yeah, about 70 miles from my house. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378.md?page=5)