# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**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 19, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/81 "2018-02-19T01:47:06Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > 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”. There was a period of time in the 90’s where they stopped toasting buns completely, at least in Texas, where I was stationed. I remember complaining on USENET and an actual McDonald’s representative indicated that the bun formulation didn’t require toasting. My perspective was, it’s not about absorbing the ketchup; it’s about the toasted taste! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/82 "2018-02-19T04:33:47Z")
The McDonald’s near my home in Chicago has the three sizes of _Big Mac_ that they had a year or so ago for a limited time - the \*Mac Mini \*and the _Grand Mac_ in addition to the traditional size. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/83 "2018-02-19T20:01:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > 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. ☹ Heh. I just looked it up to see where the closest one is to me now (192 miles) and it’s in Lake Katrine, NY – right near where I grew up!! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/84 "2018-02-19T23:10:48Z")
The Big Boy combo was always my favorite. You actually got a salad with your fries, and I’ve always been a pushover for their bleu cheese dressing. It also felt more like eating in a restaurant than any of the other fast-food places. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > (Sometimes you just have to go with crap – like Jack In The Box’s tacos… You mean those fried pockets of mystery-meat-sludge? Pass. ---
**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 19, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/85 "2018-02-19T23:38:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > You mean those fried pockets of mystery-meat-sludge? Pass. Sometimes ya just gotta. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/86 "2018-02-19T23:39:49Z")
Usually at 2am. ---
**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 19, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/87 "2018-02-19T23:43:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Usually at 2am. Duuuuuude! 99 tacos for 2¢? Awesome! ---
**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 20, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/88 "2018-02-20T02:07:40Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > The McDonald’s near my home in Chicago has the three sizes of _Big Mac_ that they had a year or so ago for a limited time - the \*Mac Mini \*and the _Grand Mac_ in addition to the traditional size. Yeah, that was mentioned EIGHT days ago in post #60. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/89 "2018-02-20T17:19:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > The Big Boy combo was always my favorite. You actually got a salad with your fries, and I’ve always been a pushover for their bleu cheese dressing. It also felt more like eating in a restaurant than any of the other fast-food places. Whoa, that just brought back a memory. When we would go to NYC when I was a kid, we would always go to Flame Steak. Now, my father was very frugal so we never ate out at home, except for one pizza at the pizza place on report card days. Flame Steak back in that day, you got a “steak” (Salisbury steak), baked potato and salad for something like 2.99, if that. I never had to eat salad at home, but at Flame Steak they had bleu cheese dressing that made the salad really good. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/90 "2018-02-20T19:53:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > The Big Boy combo was always my favorite. You actually got a salad with your fries, and I’ve always been a pushover for their bleu cheese dressing. It also felt more like eating in a restaurant than any of the other fast-food places. > > You mean those fried pockets of mystery-meat-sludge? Pass. No National chain can do “mystery meat” anymore.\* The Taco, Regular Filling Ingredients: Beef, Chicken, Water, Textured Vegetable Protein (Soy Flour, Caramel Color), Defatted Soy Grits, Seasoning (Chili Pepper, Corn Maltodextrin, Spices, Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour [Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Folic Acid], Salt, Garlic Powder, Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy, and Wheat Proteins, Monosodium Glutamate, Onion Powder, Natural Flavors, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Succinic Acid), Salt, Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Sulfiting Agent).\* Beef & Chicken with some soy. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/91 "2018-02-20T19:56:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No National chain can do “mystery meat” anymore.\* The Taco, Regular Filling Ingredients: Beef, Chicken, Water, Textured Vegetable Protein (Soy Flour, Caramel Color), Defatted Soy Grits, Seasoning (Chili Pepper, Corn Maltodextrin, Spices, Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour [Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Folic Acid], Salt, Garlic Powder, Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy, and Wheat Proteins, Monosodium Glutamate, Onion Powder, Natural Flavors, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Succinic Acid), Salt, Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Sulfiting Agent).\* > > Beef & Chicken with some soy. Yum-O! :o ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/92 "2018-02-20T20:14:52Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Whoa, that just brought back a memory. When we would go to NYC when I was a kid, we would always go to Flame Steak. Now, my father was very frugal so we never ate out at home, except for one pizza at the pizza place on report card days. Flame Steak back in that day, you got a “steak” (Salisbury steak), baked potato and salad for something like 2.99, if that. I never had to eat salad at home, but at Flame Steak they had bleu cheese dressing that made the salad really good. I don’t know if you have it on the East Coast, but Norm’s here is (and was) very similar to that. The ultimate cheap family steak house (around here, anyway). Kids under a certain age eat free when you get an adult meal. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/93 "2018-02-20T21:49:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No National chain can do “mystery meat” anymore.\* The Taco, Regular Filling Ingredients: Beef, Chicken, Water, Textured Vegetable Protein (Soy Flour, Caramel Color), Defatted Soy Grits, Seasoning (Chili Pepper, Corn Maltodextrin, Spices, Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour [Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Folic Acid], Salt, Garlic Powder, Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy, and Wheat Proteins, Monosodium Glutamate, Onion Powder, Natural Flavors, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Succinic Acid), Salt, Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Sulfiting Agent).\* > > Beef & Chicken with some soy. Yeah, except for the TVP and soy grits, that’s pretty much exactly what I use when I make homemade American style ground meat tacos. (And I have no problem stretching it with the soy, but I don’t need to.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/94 "2018-02-20T22:23:24Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > I don’t know if you have it on the East Coast, but Norm’s here is (and was) very similar to that. The ultimate cheap family steak house (around here, anyway). Kids under a certain age eat free when you get an adult meal. Only two Norms left, however, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/95 "2018-02-21T00:18:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Only two Norms left, however, yes? Ah…I guess it definitely isn’t an East Coast thing. But there are 18 locations, all in SoCal. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/96 "2018-02-21T00:29:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Ah…I guess it definitely isn’t an East Coast thing. But there are 18 locations, all in SoCal. Wow, I thought most had gone th eway of the Dinosaurs. We used to eat at the one in Santa Monica (gone) a lot. We went to the one in Sherman oaks a while ago, and yep, same old menu. Decent food at a decent price. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378/97 "2018-02-21T02:05:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Wow, I thought most had gone th eway of the Dinosaurs. We used to eat at the one in Santa Monica (gone) a lot. We went to the one in Sherman oaks a while ago, and yep, same old menu. Decent food at a decent price. Yeah, I used to eat a lot at the one in San Gabriel (also gone now). It looks like most of the ones that are left are in the L.A. basin, with a couple in the Valley, one in SGV, one in Riverside, and one out Ontario way. Every once in a while I’ll hit one of the ones near the South Bay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-big-mac-actually-big-in-the-us/808378.md?page=4)