This is hands down my favorite restaurant and BURGER in Big Bear! Cash only, in an effort to keep prices low, and boy are the prices a steal! Their specialties are burgers and sandwiches, and they have fantastic homemade sides including potato salad, macaroni salad, and a balsamic coleslaw. You can get beer / wine for ~$3/4 per glass, and pitchers offered as well!It’s family owned and run, the waitress & cook are the owners, I believe! It does have limited indoor seating, but they turn over tables quickly, and there’s lots of room for outdoor seating in summer / if you have your warn gear on in the winter.The building is old, and the seating is picnic table style, so there is some aging. The decor is hilarious vintage Big Bear in the best of ways, a legitimate version of what an Applebee’s tries for. Families welcome.To combat an early review on the cleanliness… 1. I’ve been here many times and I was not aware they even severed French fries? Never mind how “greasy” they are. Also, you’re mad that food that had been deep fried is greasy? Hmm… 2. I’ve seen into this kitchen many times (anyone can from the dining room) and while it’s not aesthetically pretty, it’s clean. I’ve worked in many kitchens, and it meets the standards.3. A bathroom is not a kitchen. They don’t cook in the bathroom. Complaint noted, but did you tell the staff or just troll about it on the internet?Parking: Shared a parking lot with a few businesses including the Market, but street parking nearby if full (which is rare).
This was the only place close to our rental when we got to Big Bear. Ambience was very homey, like a mom and pop shop. My daughters got the mini hamburger, which they said was good. My husband and I shared the club sandwich. Bacon was a little too burnt for me, and sandwich was overall very dry. The 4 stars are for the burger and the nice wait staff who helped us with our order. Would I go back here? Maybe.
Bill Nichols
This place gets 1 star only due to the kindness of the server and her patience. The place has been around forever so I don't expect it to look new what I do expect though is it to be clean. It's not remotely clean, it's less clean than a hotel room where 10 drunk teenagers stayed for 30 days without ever cleaning.The benches, sticky, like my hand stuck to them, the bathroom, the door was the first indication and it was insanely sticky as if it hadn't been wiped down in a year, not a figure of speech. The bathroom looks like a set from an episode of SVU where they found a body. Standing water in the bathroom, bathroom floor cracked all the way though, zero paper towels and if you walk out the bathroom don't look into the kitchen to the right, it's the stuff of nightmares.Now to food, half our order was wrong, the server though was fantastic and was quick to fix / help with everything. She was kind, great with kids, super pleasant and is the best thing here.Food quality was bad, really really bad. Some of my favorite places are small, local BBQ places (like manny or dons in Yucca or 29). The food was caked in oil / butter, meat was sparse and incredibly fatty, potato salad was runny, like tip the container over and it just ran out runny.Avoid, seriously, go anywhere else. Unfortunate as I was hoping this place would be a gem but after digging it was just a dirt clod.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4
Amanda H.
Stopped for lunch on a rainy day & split a Reuben sandwich, potato salad, Mac salad & bowl of chili. The Reuben was delicious 10/10! I'm really picky about my deli salads, but these were super good 10/10. The chili was hearty with a lil kick, but a bit salty for me (my bf had zero complaints & devoured it) 7/10. The ambience was really chill & homely & the staff was funny & sweet. Will def be back next time!
Mathew Hawkins
Great pastrami! Wonderful atmosphere! Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwiches
Mike Johanson
A "Burger Joint" that is well known among the locals of Big Bear. Great burgers and other sandwiches. Situated in a old "Log Cabin" style building.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwiches, Burger
Dick Gherkinstien
Some of the best burgers you'll ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hamburger
Faith R.
10/10 every time I eat here. Grew up next door to this family and they are extremely kind. Their food is delicious! It is cash only so come prepared!!!
Brianna Golding
Insanely delicious! Great service, really cozy inside. One of those local treasures - stop reading this review and go! I ordered pastrami on sourdough with macaroni salad and it was FIRE!
BJ's Restaurant and Sandwich Shop - Tasty food at good prices with a Big Bear experience.My girlfriend and I stopped at BJ's Restaurant and Sandwich Shop after a long weekend of partying and snowboarding in the Bay Area. She chose this restaurant because it was highly rated on Yelp and she was craving a sandwich.Getting to the restaurant was a bit of a challenge, as Apple Maps gave us an incorrect location. However, once we arrived, we were impressed by the unique cabin-themed decor with curated wall decorations, which we don't often see in the Bay Area.The food was great. I ordered a veggie sandwich and my girlfriend ordered a hot roast beef sandwich with au jus on the side. The veggie sandwich was healthy with great taste, and the sauce stood out as creamy and savory. The bread was a good balance of spongy and firm, though a bit messy to eat at times.My girlfriend loved her sandwich, saying the meat was juicy and flavorful. The au jus paired well with the meat. She wishes she had more of her Mac salad.I also loved the potato salad recommended by the owner, which had a great crunch from the greens and flavorful sauce. Wish there was more, but the small side makes me want to go back for more.The restaurant is cash only, but there's a shop next door that offers cash back. The owner mentioned that they have a balcony open during the summer and cold beer for the heat.For two sandwiches, the total came to around $20, which was a good price. The portions weren’t massive, but perfect for the price.We felt that BJ's Restaurant and Sandwich Shop caters to the local community, and if you're looking for a Big Bear experience, it's definitely worth checking out!
Am I missing something with the hours of these places? It says they're open but when we arrive they say they're not taking any orders.
Richard Ryan
I stumbled across this place while exploring Big Bear. Tasty food, reasonably priced and very friendly service. A must for lunch I will for sure be coming back. Thanks
Kimberly Hall
Love it! It's a must stop for us every time we are up the mountain.Owners are the best. Chuck cooks the best burgers around and Heidi is always welcoming and gives phenomenal service. Chili is a staple too!It is a locals place and we love it for that. Slightly off the beaten path. Tons of character. And the beer IS COLD! The deck is open in the summer and the wood stove is kicking in the winter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
216 PAUL
I stumbled across this place while exploring Big Bear. Tasty food, reasonably priced and very friendly service. A must for lunch I will for sure be coming back. Thanks
One of the best burgers I ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger
This is hands down my favorite restaurant and BURGER in Big Bear! Cash only, in an effort to keep prices low, and boy are the prices a steal! Their specialties are burgers and sandwiches, and they have fantastic homemade sides including potato salad, macaroni salad, and a balsamic coleslaw. You can get beer / wine for ~$3/4 per glass, and pitchers offered as well!It’s family owned and run, the waitress & cook are the owners, I believe! It does have limited indoor seating, but they turn over tables quickly, and there’s lots of room for outdoor seating in summer / if you have your warn gear on in the winter.The building is old, and the seating is picnic table style, so there is some aging. The decor is hilarious vintage Big Bear in the best of ways, a legitimate version of what an Applebee’s tries for. Families welcome.To combat an early review on the cleanliness… 1. I’ve been here many times and I was not aware they even severed French fries? Never mind how “greasy” they are. Also, you’re mad that food that had been deep fried is greasy? Hmm… 2. I’ve seen into this kitchen many times (anyone can from the dining room) and while it’s not aesthetically pretty, it’s clean. I’ve worked in many kitchens, and it meets the standards.3. A bathroom is not a kitchen. They don’t cook in the bathroom. Complaint noted, but did you tell the staff or just troll about it on the internet?Parking: Shared a parking lot with a few businesses including the Market, but street parking nearby if full (which is rare).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Macaroni Salad, Sandwiches, Burger, Double Burger
This was the only place close to our rental when we got to Big Bear. Ambience was very homey, like a mom and pop shop. My daughters got the mini hamburger, which they said was good. My husband and I shared the club sandwich. Bacon was a little too burnt for me, and sandwich was overall very dry. The 4 stars are for the burger and the nice wait staff who helped us with our order. Would I go back here? Maybe.
This place gets 1 star only due to the kindness of the server and her patience. The place has been around forever so I don't expect it to look new what I do expect though is it to be clean. It's not remotely clean, it's less clean than a hotel room where 10 drunk teenagers stayed for 30 days without ever cleaning.The benches, sticky, like my hand stuck to them, the bathroom, the door was the first indication and it was insanely sticky as if it hadn't been wiped down in a year, not a figure of speech. The bathroom looks like a set from an episode of SVU where they found a body. Standing water in the bathroom, bathroom floor cracked all the way though, zero paper towels and if you walk out the bathroom don't look into the kitchen to the right, it's the stuff of nightmares.Now to food, half our order was wrong, the server though was fantastic and was quick to fix / help with everything. She was kind, great with kids, super pleasant and is the best thing here.Food quality was bad, really really bad. Some of my favorite places are small, local BBQ places (like manny or dons in Yucca or 29). The food was caked in oil / butter, meat was sparse and incredibly fatty, potato salad was runny, like tip the container over and it just ran out runny.Avoid, seriously, go anywhere else. Unfortunate as I was hoping this place would be a gem but after digging it was just a dirt clod.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4
Stopped for lunch on a rainy day & split a Reuben sandwich, potato salad, Mac salad & bowl of chili. The Reuben was delicious 10/10! I'm really picky about my deli salads, but these were super good 10/10. The chili was hearty with a lil kick, but a bit salty for me (my bf had zero complaints & devoured it) 7/10. The ambience was really chill & homely & the staff was funny & sweet. Will def be back next time!
Great pastrami! Wonderful atmosphere! Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwiches
A "Burger Joint" that is well known among the locals of Big Bear. Great burgers and other sandwiches. Situated in a old "Log Cabin" style building.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwiches, Burger
Some of the best burgers you'll ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hamburger
10/10 every time I eat here. Grew up next door to this family and they are extremely kind. Their food is delicious! It is cash only so come prepared!!!
Insanely delicious! Great service, really cozy inside. One of those local treasures - stop reading this review and go! I ordered pastrami on sourdough with macaroni salad and it was FIRE!
Restaurantji Recommends
BJ's Restaurant and Sandwich Shop - Tasty food at good prices with a Big Bear experience.My girlfriend and I stopped at BJ's Restaurant and Sandwich Shop after a long weekend of partying and snowboarding in the Bay Area. She chose this restaurant because it was highly rated on Yelp and she was craving a sandwich.Getting to the restaurant was a bit of a challenge, as Apple Maps gave us an incorrect location. However, once we arrived, we were impressed by the unique cabin-themed decor with curated wall decorations, which we don't often see in the Bay Area.The food was great. I ordered a veggie sandwich and my girlfriend ordered a hot roast beef sandwich with au jus on the side. The veggie sandwich was healthy with great taste, and the sauce stood out as creamy and savory. The bread was a good balance of spongy and firm, though a bit messy to eat at times.My girlfriend loved her sandwich, saying the meat was juicy and flavorful. The au jus paired well with the meat. She wishes she had more of her Mac salad.I also loved the potato salad recommended by the owner, which had a great crunch from the greens and flavorful sauce. Wish there was more, but the small side makes me want to go back for more.The restaurant is cash only, but there's a shop next door that offers cash back. The owner mentioned that they have a balcony open during the summer and cold beer for the heat.For two sandwiches, the total came to around $20, which was a good price. The portions weren’t massive, but perfect for the price.We felt that BJ's Restaurant and Sandwich Shop caters to the local community, and if you're looking for a Big Bear experience, it's definitely worth checking out!
Recommended dishes: Macaroni Salad, Sandwiches, Roast Beef, Salad
Am I missing something with the hours of these places? It says they're open but when we arrive they say they're not taking any orders.
I stumbled across this place while exploring Big Bear. Tasty food, reasonably priced and very friendly service. A must for lunch I will for sure be coming back. Thanks
Love it! It's a must stop for us every time we are up the mountain.Owners are the best. Chuck cooks the best burgers around and Heidi is always welcoming and gives phenomenal service. Chili is a staple too!It is a locals place and we love it for that. Slightly off the beaten path. Tons of character. And the beer IS COLD! The deck is open in the summer and the wood stove is kicking in the winter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I stumbled across this place while exploring Big Bear. Tasty food, reasonably priced and very friendly service. A must for lunch I will for sure be coming back. Thanks