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    The Big Bopper Drive-In

    3.5 (201 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?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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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.

    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.

    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.

    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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    3 months ago

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

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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

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    11 months ago

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

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    3 years ago

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    7 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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    4 years ago

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    8 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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    2 years ago

    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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    Don Nacho's Cafe - Asada taco salad near

    Don Nacho's Cafe

    4.5(205 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    •$$

    My friend and I were craving Mexican food while in Solvang and decided to try Don Nacho's Café…read moreafter finding it on Google and I'm glad we did! The food took a little while to come out, but it was definitely worth the wait. Everything tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and full of authentic Mexican flavor. You can tell care went into the dishes. The only thing to keep in mind is the portion size it's a bit small for a Latin restaurant, especially at around $20 per plate. Still, the quality makes up for it. Customer service was okay. Since you pay before eating, they didn't really come by our table to check in, which felt a bit impersonal. The place is very quiet, nice decor. Overall, I'd recommend it just know the portions are on the smaller side!

    I finally got to try Don Nachos Café on Tuesday the 15th after missing out during my visit to…read moreSolvang last year when they were closed. This place is very tucked away--almost hidden. If you aren't looking up while walking or specifically searching for it, you could easily miss it. It feels less like a traditional sit-down restaurant and more like a casual, fast-food spot. You order at the counter yourself, and while they do bring the food to your table, they don't really come back to check on you. The space is very small both inside and out, with the outdoor seating area feeling especially tight. As for the food, the taste was excellent--fresh and delicious. However, I agree with other reviewers that the portions are quite small for the price. I paid $20 for my main plate and was still hungry, the portion was very small, so I ordered the beef nachos with all the trimmings. I have never seen tortilla chips so tiny and light at a Mexican restaurant. The beef was chopped into such minuscule pieces that it completely blended in with the beans, making it hard to find but you could taste it, just a bit strange I have to say. That being said, the flavor was still very good. While the prices feel a bit high for the amount of food you get, the quality is definitely there. Interestingly, while I left wanting a bit more, the portions were actually perfect for my girlfriend. For the first time ever after eating Mexican food, she didn't feel totally stuffed and didn't even need a Pepcid, which says a lot for her sensitive stomach! Again, the portions are small, she was happy with it, I was a bit too hungry afterwards and trust me, I've never felt hungry leaving any Mexican restaurants or Mexican at a fast-food place. I guess it will also depend on what you order, I read some reviews "so much food", I don't know how much they ordered and if they ordered many different plates of food to share and taste, where of course you can say "so much food", but if you order regular dinner for two people like we did, I still have to say "portions are small" and you will feel hungry afterwards that's why I ordered after my regular dinner plate nachos supreme, and I explained how the "supreme" was anything but; however, very tasty and worth trying it for sure, and I would personally order it again if and when I may visit Solvang again. Basically, order a few different plates if you want to fill yourself up, otherwise, you'll leave feeling good but still a bit hungry. Not knocking the place, it was just my personal experience as far as the amount of food or lack of, but the freshness was definitely there and for Mexican food, it was very light, and that's also a good thing. We both had room for a danish pastry and that was a good thing and still were not stuffed, which is also a good thing. Overall, if you are someone who expects huge plates of food at a Mexican restaurant, this place won't give you that. But because the food tastes so fresh and great, I totally recommend it, I enjoyed it and would definitely eat here again on my next trip to Solvang to try some different dishes.

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    Don Nacho's Cafe - Outside dining area

    Outside dining area

    Don Nacho's Cafe - Rice, beans, chips and salsa

    Rice, beans, chips and salsa

    Don Nacho's Cafe

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    Dos Carlitos - Steak quessadilla

    Dos Carlitos

    4.1(701 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    •$$

    As vegetarians, my family usually struggles to find decent offerings at Mexican restaurants,…read moreusually settling for bland bean-and-rice burritos, cheese enchiladas that clearly were made haphazardly (if not out-right cooked from the freezer), or calorie-bombed nachos. This is not the case at Dos Carlitos in Santa Ines! Yes, my kids split the order of nachos, but the ratio of black beans, tomatoes, and guacamole to cheese made this mother happy. The vegetable tostada was loaded with grilled vegetables and the freshly-made tortillas were incredible! Finally, the cheese enchiladas (we're creatures of habit) were freshly cooked, with more of those in-house tortillas, and they were, according to my husband, some of the most delicious that he's had in a long time. Service was courteous and prompt, and we were greeted by the host in a very pleasant manner. I have to give a shout-out to our busboy, who was fantastic, ready with water or chip refills before we even thought to ask (whatever his name was, he was working Thursday, July 23 at noon). In short, Dos Carlitos is a first-rate Mexican restaurant! We love how it is not loud or overfilled with patrons. One might balk at some of the high prices, but in general I have to say it was overall worth it!

    It's been years since I was last here. This visit, some friends were craving Mexican and I…read moreremembered coming here a few times. Like prior reviews, it's more Tex Mex for me. But food is still good. It's a nice little restaurant right in the heart of Santa Ynez. A cute little town with restaurant and some shops. Theres plenty of parking along the street as well as a small lot behind and to the side. You'll find parking somewhere. There's both inside and outside seating. I personally prefer outdoor as it can get stuffy inside. It's not that big inside and the seating area are over sizes chairs so it can feel stuffy. Just my opinion. Regardless, the menu does offer pretty much loads of dishes. The salsa and bean salad that's brought out with chips is always good. Don't fill up on it though. Drink wise, it's was quite strong this visit so worth the money. Also, the guacamole was good. Decent amount for sharing. A few dishes were had. The grilled chicken salad which was quite nice with the dressing. Then there was the shrimp tacos. The shrimps were pretty big which was nice. Two tacos with a small sides of beans, guacamole and salsa. Also the chicken enchiladas with both rice and beans. And the carnitas meal with rice and beans. Food is good and flavorful. It's alway busy so they're doing well. Each visit, it feels like it's more of the locals that visit versus tourists. Overall, the visit was nice. Chips with the salsa and bean salsa were good. The meal was enjoyed as well as the margaritas. A little pricey for Mexican food but with location, it works. More Tex Mex in my opinion but much appreciated and enjoyed. Friendly staff and good service.

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    Dos Carlitos - Bar Area

    Bar Area

    Dos Carlitos - Beef tostada

    Beef tostada

    Dos Carlitos

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    Craft House At Corque - Eggs Benedict

    Craft House At Corque

    4.2(508 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    •$$$

    Craft House At Corque was the perfect place for an early lunch for my family of four…read more This is a really nice restaurant with natural potted plants that hang from the ceiling, soft and natural lighting throughout, and a beautiful classy bar. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. She gave us a couple of recommendations off the menu and boy, she was not wrong. My kiddos ordered their own pizzas, both were so delicious. The cheese on the pepperoni, wow! The mushrooms on the other, delish! Both straight out of the oven, baked perfectly. The crust had the ideal crunch on the outside and soft baked texture of the dough on the inside. I recommend either one of these pizzas..delicious! I ordered the Prime Rib Dip...amazing! The flavors- you taste it all! The prime rib just melts in your mouth, this was absolutely delicious. This dish comes with fries which were well seasoned and hot. I highly recommend. My husband ordered a breakfast dish that came with a side of bacon and house potatoes. Fries were perfectly seasoned and golden crisp on the outside with a nice soft texture on the inside. So good. Restaurant gets busy especially in the evening. If you want to dine alfresco, they offer patio seating with a bonus of live music...The ambiance in the patio is amazing, have your camera on standby. If you're visiting the area, this is a really nice spot. I highly recommend. Enjoy!

    Best dining experience of our entire trip. My wife and I were in town celebrating our 10th…read moreanniversary, and Craft House is the meal we're going to remember. Our server Hally greeted us the moment we sat down. I asked her for an appetizer recommendation and she immediately named three with no hesitation, no hedging, no "everything's good here." We landed on the calamari and the Truffle Gnocchi, and that gnocchi was the surprise of the night. Not a lot of places do gnocchi at all, much less one built this well. Spinach dumplings, grilled artichokes, and a black truffle cream sauce that stayed balanced instead of heavy. Exquisite is not close. We both ordered the filet mignon. Perfectly cooked and tender enough to cut with a fork. Hally checked on us the whole night without ever being pushy or hovering. She was warm, welcoming, and completely professional; the kind of server who clearly takes pride in her work and is a real asset to the ownership team. This meal alone would bring us back to Solvang.

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    Craft House At Corque - Inside front.

    Inside front.

    Craft House At Corque - The BEST Black Tie Burger

    The BEST Black Tie Burger

    Craft House At Corque - Our table.

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    Our table.

    Burritos Lalo - Beef Fajitas

    Burritos Lalo

    4.0(184 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    •$

    On a Sunday morning during my stay at Flying Flags in Buellton, I woke up craving some good menudo…read more With four Mexican restaurants surrounding the resort, I had a few options to choose from. After looking through photos and reviews, I decided to give Burrito Lalo a try. It was only about 1.4 miles away, right off McMurray. I ordered the menudo to-go and decided to go without "pata" (pig's feet), along with a bottled Coke. My order was ready in about 5 minutes, which was impressive. The young lady who helped me was friendly and packed everything nicely in a cardboard box, including all the fixings and a bag of chips. I have to admit, the menudo was very good! The broth tasted clean, flavorful, and delicious. My only reason for giving it 4 stars is that I would have preferred a little more hominy to balance everything out. There were also plenty of large chunks of tripe. Depending on how you like your menudo, that could be a positive or negative. Personally, I prefer my tripe cut into smaller pieces. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend Burrito Lalo to anyone looking for a good bowl of menudo in Buellton. My only advice is to make sure you tell them exactly how you like your menudo, especially the size and amount of tripe and hominy. That part was my mistake for not asking. Either way, the menudo was delicious, and I would definitely give Burrito Lalo another try the next time I'm in the area!

    What a fantastic little place. It's very unassuming. However, looks are very deceiving. The food is…read morefantastic and the service was very good. I had the Tres Amigos (3 tacos) and they were filling and tasted delicious. My wife had the flautas. They were also fantastic and a huge portion of food.

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    Burritos Lalo - Mural

    Mural

    Burritos Lalo - Burritos

    Burritos

    Burritos Lalo

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

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