Big Kahuna Burger, the fictional fast-food chain, is a recurring Easter egg in Quentin Tarantino’s films as well as in films of some of his fellow directors.
Big Kahuna Burger conversion of the Stallion Grill in Austin, TX for Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk till Dawn: The Series Cropped from picture by Steven Polunsky on Flickr, 28 Jan 2015
It first gained prominence in Pulp Fiction (1994), where Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jules, famously enjoys one during a “business meeting”.
The fictional chain of Hawaiian-themed fast food restaurants that has appeared in films by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, including Death Proof, Four Rooms, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and From Dusk till Dawn. The packaging was created by Tarantino’s old friend Jerry Martinez.
Beyond Pulp Fiction, here’s where else you can spot Big Kahuna Burger in Tarantino’s cinematic universe:
- Reservoir Dogs (1992): While not explicitly shown being eaten, a Big Kahuna Burger cup is visible in the background during the opening diner scene, subtly tying it into the Tarantino universe.
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996): In this film, which Tarantino wrote and starred in (directed by Robert Rodriguez), George Clooney’s character, Seth Gecko, picks up a Big Kahuna Burger meal for the group during their motel stop before the vampire chaos ensues.
- Four Rooms (1995): Tarantino directed and acted in the segment “The Man from Hollywood.” A Big Kahuna Burger bag makes a cameo appearance on the table during the penthouse sequence.
- Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003): Though less overt, a Big Kahuna Burger advertisement can be glimpsed in the background during the Tokyo scenes, reinforcing the brand’s presence in his world.
- Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019): During one of the driving scenes through Los Angeles, you can spot a Big Kahuna Burger logo on an advertisement displayed on a passing bus.
Trivia: In the movie “Point Break,” FBI Special Agent Johnny Utah, played by Keanu Reeves, goes undercover to infiltrate a group of surfers who are suspected of being bank robbers known as “The Ex-Presidents”.
