Big Kahuna Burger

Big Kahuna Burger
The Stallion Grill in Austin was converted into a Big Kahuna Burger for From Dusk till Dawn: The Series . [1]
First appearance	Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Last appearance	The Adventures of Cliff Booth (TBA)
Created by	Quentin Tarantino
In-universe information
Type	Restaurant
Location	United States

Big Kahuna Burger is a fictional chain of Hawaiian-themed fast food restaurants that has appeared in films by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, including Reservoir Dogs , Pulp Fiction , Four Rooms , From Dusk till Dawn , and Death Proof . ^[2] The packaging was created by Tarantino's longtime friend Jerry Martinez. ^[3]

The Big Kahuna brand features most prominently in Pulp Fiction, where hit-man Jules Winnfield eats the hamburger in order to intimidate the main target of a contract-killing he's been ordered to carry out, and remarks, "Mmmhm... This is a tasty burger..." In Pulp Fiction, the burger appears to be a typical American beef burger, with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a standard, seedless hamburger bun.

Multiple real restaurants have featured a "Big Kahuna Burger" on their menus, including Inskip Grill located in Tarantino's hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

Appearances

Appearance	Year	Notes	Description	Citation
Reservoir Dogs	1992	Written and directed by Tarantino	Mr. Blonde is drinking his soda, it is seen in a Big Kahuna Burger to-go container.	[10]
Pulp Fiction	1994	Written and directed by Tarantino	Brett and his roommates are eating Big Kahuna Burgers, when Jules and Vincent show up to his apartment. Jules refers to the restaurant by name.	[10]
Four Rooms	1995	Co-written and directed by Tarantino and Rodriguez	In the segment "The Man From Hollywood", a Big Kahuna Burger drink cup is visible on the hotel bar.	[10]
From Dusk till Dawn	1996	Written by Tarantino, directed by Rodriguez	Seth Gecko gets takeout for three from Big Kahuna Burger.	[10]
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion	1997	Starring Mira Sorvino	A Big Kahuna Burger takeout bag is seen in Romy and Michele's apartment.	[11]
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl	2005	Written and directed by Rodriguez	A Big Kahuna Burger takeout bag appears on the dock during the dream in which Max meets Sharkboy.	[10]
Death Proof	2007	Written and directed by Tarantino	Stuntman Mike asks Jungle Julia about a billboard "near Big Kahuna Burger".	[10]
From Dusk till Dawn: The Series	2014	Developed by Rodriguez	In the first season, a scene takes place inside a Big Kahuna Burger restaurant building.	[1]
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood	2019	Written and directed by Tarantino	A Big Kahuna Burger billboard is seen on a passing bus in 1969, the oldest in-universe reference to the food-chain brand.	[12]
Captain Marvel XXX: An Axel Braun Parody	2019	Written and directed by Axel Braun	A Big Kahuna Burger branded cup is held by Fury.	[ citation needed ]
The Adventures of Cliff Booth	TBA	Written by Tarantino	On the window of a building, a decal reads Big Kahuna Burger, with the silhouette of a surfer imposed on the top of a hamburger bun.	[13]

See also

• Los Pollos Hermanos

References

1. Richard Whittaker (25 March 2014). "'From Dusk Till Dawn' Bites into a Big Kahuna". The Austin Chronicle.
2. Marina Grishakova; Markku Lehtimäki (2004). Intertextuality and Intersemiosis. Tartu University Press. p. 135. ISBN   978-9985-56-911-5. 13–15 February 2003
3. Entertainment News Service (12 July 1996). "Product Placement Takes a Little Twist". Greensboro News and Record. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020.
4. Maui Grille Archived 5 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine , in Surprise, Arizona with a "Big Kahuna Burger"
5. "The Big Kahuna Burger" Archived 4 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine at Pancho and Leftys, Hare (near Taylor, Texas)
6. "World Famous Big Kahuna's" Archived 12 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine in Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA. A "Big Kahuna Burger" described as "The Best burger in Town!, featured in the film "Pulp Fiction"
7. "Brass Monkey Tiki Bar, Copenhagen, Denmark: kahuna burger"
8. "the big Kahuna burger". Atomic Burger menu. Britain. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2013. swiss cheese, pineapple & teriyaki sauce
9. "Big Kahuna's, Imperial Beach, CA - Our Menu". Big Kahuna's, Imperial Beach. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
10. Jason Wiese (16 July 2024). "32 Quentin Tarantino Movie Easter Eggs That Hold The Tarantinoverse Together". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
11. "Quentin Tarantino's Influence on 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion'". Entertainment Weekly . 2 May 1997.
12. Hunt, James (16 August 2019). "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: Every Easter Egg, Tarantino Reference & Cameo". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
13. Balderston, Michael (9 September 2025). "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Sequel Set Video Reveals Pulp Fiction Easter Egg". ScreenRant . Retrieved 11 September 2025.