Joe’s Burger Search

Bill’s Jumbo Burgers - Big Mama with Cheese

Thursday, October 15, 2009

It might not be 100% accurate to call Bill’s Jumbo Burgers a “hole in the wall” diner since there are no holes in the wall, but other than that technicality the term fits wonderfully. If you are like me and kind of gravitate to these types of hole in the walls then you will love Bill’s Jumbo Burgers. It’s one of those tiny places that if you are lucky enough to get a seat you can watch you burger being made.

Bill’s Jumbo Burgers opened the summer of 1960 by Annie and Bill Henry. Four years later the building burned down and was replaced by an abandoned building in Tulsa that was built in 1929 in Texas and moved to its current location. Bill’s is under operation by Teresa Johnson, brother Tim Henry and his wife Sandy with help from other relatives. Side bar note: the Henry relative Hank Henry originally opened another great burger spot called Hank’s.

When going to Bill’s your 1st challenge is to find it (located east of the Utica on ramp). Your 2nd challenge is what size of burger to go with (there are 7 sizes from 1/3 lb Big Daddy all the way up to the 2 lb Double Okie). The 3rd challenge is how long do you have to wait to get your burger (30 to 40 minutes during peak times - tip call ahead), and your 4th challenge is where to eat your burger (only 7 stools inside and a few picnic tables outside). Once you get past those challenges you are in for one great burger.

We found Bill’s since I’ve been here many other times. I did struggle on which size burger though. I like the names of the burgers Okie Burger and T-Town Burger but both are way too big for me being 1 lb and 1 1/2 lb respectfully. I ended up going with the Big MaMa Burger with Cheese which is 1/2 lb although I got close to changing the order due to my concern that the name was kind of feminine. I’m really glad I didn’t change. That size was perfect, consisting of two 1/4 lb patties smashed together with onions and two slices of cheese. My son ended up going with the 1 lb Okie Burger which is basically two 1/4 lb patties smashed together with onions with another two 1/4 lb patties smashed together with onions stacked on top of each other. My Big Mama was fantastic, bun nicely toasted, burger juicy (yeah I know that’s grease but that’s some great grease), and the american cheese was something special. By the time I had eaten half of my burger my son had polished off his full 1 lb Okie Burger. The fries are top notch, fresh cut potatoes, fried crispy with a lot of those little crispy pieces that my son and I fight over. The onion rings appear to be a beer batter base fried like their fries, very crispy, and tasty. I would have a hard time not getting both fries and onion rings next time. Thankfully my son likes to share.

The last thing worth mentioning about Bill’s and for that matter most burger spots in and around Tulsa are the great people you meet. We started up a conversation inside with three different groups, one of which was a fellow named Tyson who knew his burger stuff including the El Reno type onion burgers and another young lady talking about the Memphis Dyer deep fried burgers.

Bill’s Jumbo Burgers might have its challenges but the reward makes it all worth it.

It’s kind of hard to miss this color scheme Say Hi to Bill!

7 burger sizes to choose from Limited seating inside

Quite a production at peak times. None of these 16 burgers were ours

My Big MaMa (1/2 lb) My son’s Big Okie (1 lb)
Even looks bigger in real life

Fresh crispy fries Beer batter onion rings

*Click to Play*

Rating Criteria
Cook to Order: No / Well
Thickness: Medium
Notes: Onions cooked in
Burger Cost: $4.50
Burger: 9 of 10
Fries/Rings: 8 of 10
Final Word: Amazing hole in the wall burger

Name:

Bill’s Jumbo Burgers

Address:

2002 E Admiral Blvd

Tulsa, OK 74110

918.592.5191

Hours:

Mon/Sat 1030am-3pm