Over a decade ago, I reviewed Big Ed’s Hamburgers – the last remaining location of a once-thriving chain that, along with its corpulent owner, 'Big Ed' Thomas, was a shining star of Oklahoma City’s dining scene.
At the time of my original review, I poured some fry grease out for the dearly departed and had a Jumbo Cheeseburger in his name.
Since then, the restaurant has apparently gone through multiple ownership changes, but amazingly, its prices have stood the test of time. The Jumbo Cheeseburger has only increased by two quarters, a dime, and two pennies—from $7.29 to $7.91.
While my original review leaned heavily on Louis-style flippancy (sorry!), I decided to revisit Big Ed’s to see how the ownership changes have affected the joint.
According to social media reviews, the place now uses frozen patties instead of fresh, house-ground beef, and some claim the quality has gone downhill.
I’m not sure where these online critics get their information, but whether it’s straight from the freezer or fresh from the stockyards, it’s still one of the best burgers in OKC.
My fiance and I stopped by a little after noon. The dining room was mostly empty, but the staff was hard at work—a woman manned the grill while an older man wiped down recently vacated tables.
As I read the menu board on the wall, I noticed that not only were the Jumbo Burgers still reasonably priced, but the entire menu seemed stuck in a pre-inflation time capsule.
Fuck McDonald’s!
While I chose the Jumbo Cheeseburger basket ($12.59) with hand-cut fries and a drink, my fiancée went a different route – a Foot Long Coney ($10.59) combo with tater tots,
As we waited for our meals, we nibbled on an Otis Spunkmeyer-branded cookie and sipped our drinks. The décor was quintessentially Oklahoman—likely unchanged since the original 2014 timeframe—featuring flag-waving signs and whimsical bon mots to keep us moderately entertained. Meanwhile, a gaggle of road workers lined up for a burger or two.
Our entrées eventually arrived, and—my inferiority complex notwithstanding—my fiancée’s Foot Long Coney was a hit. Topped with chili, cheese, and plenty of onions, the hefty meat stick outshined Sonic’s version, with better-quality meat and a richer chili, all slow-boiled to perfection.
The tater tots were not home-made but, with some extra chili to dip them in, she had no complaints.
As I mentioned earlier, I stuck with my go-to from a decade ago—the Jumbo Cheeseburger with all the fixings. Taking a big bite with my mangled mouth, I was relieved to find it still ranked tops in my book. The meat-to-cheese ratio was off the charts, a fact I happily confirmed with each subsequent bite
The main criticism of Big Ed’s remains the switch from fresh beef to frozen patties. If that bothers you, fair enough. But over time, I’ve learned that it’s not just the meat—it’s how you cook it that matters.
And at Big Ed’s, they cook it right.
Even better, the copious hand-cut French fries are the real deal—perfectly shaped, perfectly fried, and easily among the best in the Oklahoma City area.
Paired with the burger, it’s a timeless meal that’s well worth the price—and then some.
On the way out I noticed that the original Family-Style Big Ed Burger is still on the menu. A two-pound cheeseburger that can feed a family of six for around fifty dollars. I thought about getting three or four of them for our wedding but, sadly, I was overruled.
Maybe for our five-year anniversary?
Cómpralo ya… otra vez!
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
