Ben's Big Burger (Gone)
Sacramento, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here’s Ben’s Big Burger along Del Paso Boulevard, back when a little of its Googie character could still be seen. The angular rooflines, bright orange dining room, and roadside neon were eye-catching enough to earn the place a spot in Alan Hess’s book on Googie architecture.

Ben’s also served a giant oval double cheeseburger known as “The Football.” The restaurant had a nearly identical sister location on Arden Way, giving North Sacramento two places to tackle one.

UPDATE: Ben's Big Burger has gone through several iterations over the years. A few years ago, the place was becoming a BBQ joint. 09-10

UPDATE: The Del Paso building later passed through several restaurants, including Big D’s BBQ and Chando’s Tacos. Chando’s has closed, leaving the heavily remodeled building vacant. The neon sign and remaining Googie details are gone. 09-26

Giant Burgers
Hayward, CA
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

Cruising along Mission Boulevard in Hayward, check out the classic roadside sign for Giant Burgers. The big lettering and glowing arrow make a pretty good advertisement for a hamburger stand, especially after dark when the neon starts doing its work. Another Giant Burgers location shows how colorful these signs could look once the sun went down.

This walk-up burger stop has been serving the East Bay since around 1957. Built for the car-culture years, it made things simple. Pull off Mission Boulevard, order at the window, and head back to the road with a burger in hand. Here's a shot of another location at night.

Giant Burgers signs and stands were once scattered around Hayward, Oakland, Fremont, and other East Bay communities. Most operated independently, despite their similar names and roadside look. This location is also separate from the Nation’s Giant Hamburgers chain, just in case there were not already enough giant burgers to keep straight.

UPDATE: The restaurant remains open. Its familiar sign was restored during a major 2011 renovation, although some colors were changed and the old “Home Made Pies” panel became “Gourmet Burgers.” The classic roadside shape and neon still survive. 09-26

Oscar's Burgers (Closed)
Berkeley, CA
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

Near the university campus in Berkeley, Oscar’s Burgers showed off its whimsical arches, scalloped roofline, and big white globe lights. Add the neon script out front and this little walk-up stand had plenty of personality along Shattuck Avenue.

Oscar’s opened in 1950 and spent 65 years serving burgers, fries, and chocolate malts. Customers shouted orders directly to the grill cook, then paid a cashier who kept track of everything by memory. No number needed. Just hope nobody forgot the extra fries.

UPDATE: Oscar’s closed in October 2015 and the property became Sweetgreen. The original neon sign was removed, but the new restaurant retained much of the little building’s distinctive exterior shape. 09-26

Sam's Super Burgers (Closed)
Oakland, CA
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

Check out the colorful mid-century sign for Sam’s Super Burgers. Although this roadside photo was listed under Oakland, Sam’s actually operated two East Bay locations, one along East 14th Street in San Leandro and another on Hesperian Boulevard in San Lorenzo. Both featured small, gas-station-style buildings surrounded by tight drive-thru lanes made for the automobile age.

Sam’s became a longtime late-night stop for charbroiled burgers, big orders of fries, thick shakes, and its well-remembered deep-fried hard-shell tacos. The restaurants stayed open until 2:30 in the morning on weekdays and as late as 4:00 on weekends. That gave plenty of night owls a place to pull in when most of the East Bay had already gone to sleep.

The colorful sign was a big part of the attraction, with its oversized lettering and simple roadside design doing a good job of catching drivers along the busy commercial strip. Nothing fancy was needed here. Just follow the sign, squeeze into the drive-thru, and place an order.

UPDATE: Both Sam’s locations have closed and remain vacant. Their weathered roadside signs were still standing, although the neon is no longer illuminated. 09-26

Texas Size Burgers (Closed)
Lodi, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

If you're hungry and out on the road, how could you resist a burger stand called Texas Size Burgers? The little Lodi walk-up featured a big wood-plank sign with just enough western flavor to suggest that the burgers would arrive large and the napkins might be needed by the handful.

Located at Eden Street and Cherokee Lane, the stand had an outdoor ordering window, a narrow drive-thru, and picnic tables for anyone willing to stop for a while. The oversized cheeseburgers lived up to the name, but longtime customers also remember the broasted chicken and seasoned potato wedges. Sometimes the side orders become as famous as the sign.

UPDATE: Texas Size Burgers closed around 2005. The building survived and was converted into a succession of Mexican restaurants, including La Parrilla, La Taquiza, and Taqueria Mexico. The big western-style Texas Size Burgers sign was removed during the transition. 09-26