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    The Big Bopper Drive-In

    3.5 (200 reviews)
    InexpensiveBurgers, Mexican
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    The Big Bopper Drive-In Photos

    THE BIG BOPPER DRIVE-IN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Big Bopper Drive-In

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    Yummm fried Zucchini! It's healthy cause it's a vegetable!
    Brett S.

    Surprisingly delicious! Every other solvang place had a massive line--so worth the walk! We got the basics, burgers, fríes, fríed zucchini! It did not disapoint! Next time in Solvang, if you tire of ableskevers, check out the big bopper!

    The Solvang Burger with everything one it and fries.
    Claudia M.

    Solvang burger with fries. Sevice was fast and burger was DELICIOUS. Tasted homemade. Fries had a really good seasoning on them. Will definitely come back again

    Fries are good.
    PatrickJ T.

    The Big Bopper Drive-In was not on our agenda for Christmas day. The nieces really wanted to go to another restaurant. Unfortunately that other restaurant was closed as were the majority of businesses in Solvang that Christmas day. Since Big Bopper was one of the few places in town that was open for business for Christmas, they were packed with customers. Order at the window and find a spot to sit at their outdoor dining area. No indoor seating available. It was about a 30 minute wait for our food to be ready. Well worth that wait!! Usually my wife and I would order differently so we could share. This time, though, we each chose to try the Western Viking Burger. We both agreed that it their Western Viking burger is a pretty damn good one. I can honestly tell you that it is the best burger that I've ever eaten in Solvang. Fries were tasty also. Thank you to the kind staff at Big Bopper Drive-In for working on Christmas Day! Highly recommend folks to stop by the Big Bopper Drive-In when you are in town.

    Double Solvang Burger
    Jessica H.

    My husband and I came here during Christmas 2023 - and frankly, it was one of the few places open for food without a long wait! That being said, the service was very fast, the food was solid (burger was a 3 out of 5; salad a 3 out of 5), and the ambiance was good as a place you can sit down outside!

    Menu
    Eric H.

    Drive-in burger joint. In a town with mostly $20 burgers, theirs are about $12. Big Bopper has a massive bun with a 1/2 lb patty. The bun still swallows up the patty. The Viking is a bacon cheeseburgers. Both burgers are good, not exceptional. Probably the best value in town. Outdoor seating only. Fries are crispy and the beer is cold. No table service.

    Tri-Tip Taquitos -lots of garnish, including sour cream (but no guacamole)
    Pawnee Rick T.

    This fast food drive-in is right off Mission Drive as you enter the western side of Solvang, and it's worth a visit. The menu is diverse with selections including burgers, sandwiches, burritos, and all the accompanying sides you'd expect. Additionally, they offer shakes and dessert items. We tried their signature tri tip sandwich, which was fantastic! The sandwich roll was fresh (maybe from one of the many local bakeries?) and the meat portion and toppings were generous without any single ingredient overpowering the overall taste. Please note there is also a "California" version of the sandwich for a slightly higher price which includes a few more ingredients and must be equally tasty. We also brought some tri tip taquitos back to our room, but we didn't realize guacamole wasn't included (or the server neglected to pack it) though it was on the menu as a side. They were also good but could have been a real home run with the guac. For those seeking a bit of nostalgia, the physical structure put me in mind of an old A&W drive-up (sans carhops). There is outside shaded seating or the option to eat in your auto if not taking your food "to go." This is a perfect spot to grab a bite if staying in one of the nearby motels and looking for a snack later in the afternoon or evening as Big Bopper's closes later than many of the other restaurants in the area (open until about 8 p.m.). Also, this spot is good if feeding young ones who may not be fans of the local Danish cuisine. Overall, Big Bopper's is another noteworthy dining option when visiting Solvang - especially if staying in one of the nearby motels. When in town consider checking it out.

    8 piece chicken strips & fries - $16.99 as of 6/17/24
    M K.

    The food at the Big Bopper Drive-in is very good! They have a large selection of deep fried, sandwiches, and burgers!

    Chili Cheese Fries
    Chris N.

    A solid, fresh, classic hamburger. I had the Solvang burger, which is the smallest and cheapest in price that they offer. I enjoyed it, could it be bigger? Probably, but the quality is there. I also had the chili cheese fries. Fresh, hot fries, piping hot chili and cheese. What else can you ask for? I came here for a straight forward, classic American hamburger meal. Came, conquered, and left happy. If you want a classic, American burger meal. This is the spot.

    the inside of a restaurant

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    1 month ago

    tastes like dirty grill... we also ordered fries separately and it was forgotten. Service was whatever.

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Don't bother ... pastrami sandwich with more pickles than meat. Also had better tri tip sandwich at Arby's!

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    10 months ago

    The Hamburger was great people was nice to it was a nice place to have lunch in Solvang California

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    9 months ago

    Great burgers. Wife had BLT and was very impressed with the sandwich. Highly recommend for lunch.

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    11 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Great place. Great location. Not a 5 but def a great burger place. The patties were a lil thing but the buns were amazing

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    1 year ago

    Great burger and fried zucchini! This place was a great place to take our dog. It has a patio with shade. Very convenient!

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    Great little mom and Pop joint. Tasty burgers, fries and onion rings. Loved that we could sit outside and enjoy the nice weather.

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    Page 1 of 5

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    Craft House At Corque

    Craft House At Corque

    4.2
    (497 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    Celebrating our nation's 250th birthday in beautiful Solvang!…read more We ate at Craft House four times during our visit--and for good reason! It is, in our opinion, the best restaurant in Solvang. Every meal was exceptional, and the service was consistently outstanding. From the moment we walked in, Daniel welcomed us with a warm smile that made us feel right at home. At our first breakfast, Taylor provided friendly, attentive service that set the tone for the rest of our visits. That evening, we enjoyed the cauliflower appetizer, beet & burrata salad, short rib grilled cheese and black tie burger. Every dish was absolutely delicious. On our second breakfast visit, Sandra took wonderful care of us. She is such an asset to Craft House--knowledgeable, personable, and genuinely welcoming. Sophia, who brought out our food several times, always greeted us with the biggest smile. You can tell she truly loves what she does. Lorenzo and Nora were also fantastic servers who helped make every visit memorable. Over four visits, we sampled several different entrées and breakfasts. The avocado toast and chorizo quesadilla were definite standouts, and every meal exceeded our expectations. A heartfelt thank you to the entire Craft House team for your incredible hospitality, exceptional service, and outstanding food. We can't wait to return!

    Our favorite spot in Solvang. We come 3 times a year and this is always our dinner spot ( sometimes…read morewe'll come twice if we're there longer). Everything we have ordered has been amazing. Some favorites are the short rib grilled cheese, Korean filet salad, pizza, pasta, Brussel sprouts,, cocktails, I mean everything is so good! Live music outside on weekends is a vibe. Service is always great! Whenever we bring family or friends here they all have loved it! I usually make a reservation for a Saturday night but there's always some open tables available.

    Photos
    Inside front.
    Inside front.
    The BEST Black Tie Burger
    The BEST Black Tie Burger
    Our table.

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    Our table.
    Fitzpatrick's Tavern

    Fitzpatrick's Tavern

    3.9
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    This is my second visit here, and I am remiss in not having reviewed my first visit - but, ""s for…read moreeach visit! This place is non-descript yet just off the main park downtown, and an easy walk from most of the major hotels in town, or the central parking lot - plus lots of street parking as well. It seems rather small, with one area for bar seating and small tables, plus a larger dining area "next door" to the bar, but I like the bar ambiance, so it may be challenging on busy tourist days. Luckily, I travel on non-busy days and have always had a good seat. The ambiance is great, with a typical, colorfully decorated pub feel with TVs offering an invitation to relax and have a pint - or two! The menu is varied, and I had planned for what I wanted, but when the server/bartender/boss offered the daily special as an option, I quickly jumped at the chance. The special was a queso dip with house-made chips, and I had to try it! Sadly, I also ordered my usual, the Cobb salad. Sadly, because after the "appetizer" arrived, I quickly realized the full consequences of the saying "your eyes are bigger than your stomach!" The dip and chips were plentiful in both, and for me would have made a great meal on their own. But I was committed and managed to finish the salad. On my previous visit, I had the mac 'n cheese and the Cobb salad, along with a Guinness dark! That was sooo tasty as well! The food at this visit was great, and the service was as well. Sam, who is the owner, bartender, server, and jack-of-all-trades, is always friendly, professional, and efficient, no matter how busy it is, and this visit was the only one outside the kitchen. If you're in the area, give them a try! And leave room for dessert - I have yet to do that, but you can learn from my mistakes!

    Fitzpatrick's Tavern absolutely delivered…read more We went all in on the food, and everything came out spot on. The spicy wings had great flavor--more on the spicy side than "hot," which honestly made them even better and more enjoyable. The Reuben with onion rings was done right--classic, satisfying, and the onion rings were perfectly cooked with a great crisp. The bread on the sandwich had the perfect crisp as well, which really brought it all together. And the standout was the spicy melt burger. My friend ordered it medium rare, and it came out perfectly medium rare--juicy, flavorful, and cooked exactly as requested (which doesn't always happen, so that's worth noting). Everything was executed really well, and you can tell they take pride in the kitchen. Easy 5 stars. Would definitely come back.

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    Fitzpatrick's Tavern
    Fitzpatrick's Tavern
    Fitzpatrick's Tavern

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    Paula's Pancake House

    Paula's Pancake House

    4.1
    (3.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Always an exceptional breakfast at Paula's. We are a large group (9) so we always have a long wait,…read moreespecially since we only go on Sunday mornings. The staff is very accommodating and gets us in as quickly as possible. It should be noted that at particularly busy times they will stop taking names for parties for an hour to an hour and a half until they get caught up. The staff members are engaging and efficient. It's difficult to recommend a specific dish because everything is good. On this particular occasion, the eggs in my eggs Benedict were over poached, but honestly out of a half dozen breakfasts, this is the only hiccup I've ever experienced. The buttermilk pancakes are very good, but if you've never tried them before, I recommend giving the Danish pancakes, a try; they're very flavorful. You can add fruit to them, typically cinnamon apples are enjoyed by my family, but you can also have them just with butter and syrup.

    Came here on a Saturday around 7:45 a.m. and there were barely any people there. By about 8:15…read morea.m., the place started filling up quickly, so I'd definitely recommend arriving earlier if you want to avoid the crowd and wait. Unfortunately, my experience started off on the wrong foot. When my coffee arrived, I noticed what looked like lipstick on the rim of the cup. At first I thought it might just be a stain, but when I touched it, it smeared. Pretty gross, especially for a $4.50 cup of coffee that was very mediocre. The portion sizes were generous, but the food wasn't anything memorable. I ordered the Solvang Danish-style sausage with eggs, hash browns, and an English muffin. I did appreciate that the English muffin was buttered, but the sausage was underwhelming and didn't have anything special about it. My husband ordered Paula's Special with Danish pancakes and warm cinnamon apples. He usually loves pancakes, but he also thought they were just okay. I actually liked the thin Danish pancakes, but I'm not much of a sweets-for-breakfast person. The service also left something to be desired. I found it odd that I had to ask for a water refill instead of it being offered. When I asked for water, the server smiled and nodded but never brought any. I asked again, thinking maybe she hadn't heard me. She returned with a cup full of ice, so I had to ask a third time before I finally got water. Overall, while the restaurant is popular and serves large portions, I don't really understand the hype. Between the mediocre food, the lipstick on the coffee cup, and the inattentive service, it wasn't an experience I'd be eager to repeat.

    Photos
    Paula's Pancake House
    Paula's Special Combo.
    Paula's Special Combo.
    Danish Pancakes

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    Danish Pancakes

    The Big Bopper Drive-In - burgers - Updated August 2026

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