Bob's Big Boy   

Bob's Big Boy -- historic landmark? It may sound implausible, but in 1996 the LA Conservancy managed to get the Burbank location of this famous franchise declared a "California State Point of Historical Interest." They weren't being entirely ridiculous -- this is the oldest remaining Big Boy in America, built in 1949, and it is, as a very official-looking plaque beneath the Big Boy statue assures us, "a magnificent example of the emerging California coffee shop style that exploded in Los Angeles in the 1950's." The food here is typical Big Boy -- burgers, fries and breakfast any time -- but that's not the main attraction. It's the history, which the owners milk for all it's worth, offering '50s-style car hop service on weekends and hosting events like the weekly "Classic Car Night." There's even a gift shop where you can buy Bob's memorabilia like car hop dining trays and Big Boy boxer shorts. If you're a fan of kitschy Americana or greasy patty melts, put this Bob's on your must-see list. -- Andy Hermann