This Family-Owned California Restaurant Roasts 200 Pounds Of Turkey Daily And Serves Old-Fashioned Comfort Food
Every single day, one kitchen roasts 200 pounds of fresh turkey. Not just in November. Every day of the year.
On Thanksgiving, the restaurant prepares an especially large amount of turkey to meet holiday demand.
The mashed potatoes and gravy get made from scratch daily too. So do the sauces and salad dressings. Nothing about this place feels rushed or borrowed.
The same family has run it since 1959, and a third generation is now stepping in.
It sits in Southern California, close to some of the biggest movie studios in the world. Yet the building looks like a castle wandered out of a 1950s cartoon.
I love when a place has something unexpected up its sleeve. A medieval-style diner with a turkey obsession? I have a feeling this one would leave an impression.
Two Hundred Pounds Of Turkey Is Just A Regular Tuesday Here
Most kitchens save the big bird for one holiday a year. The Tallyrand Restaurant in Burbank roasts 200 pounds of fresh turkey every single day.
That steady supply feeds two signature plates. The Famous Turkey Dinner and the Hot Turkey Sandwich have carried this place for decades.
Thanksgiving turns the volume up to a whole new level. The kitchen roasts more than 3,000 pounds of turkey for the holiday rush.
That’s a lot of birds and a lot of gravy. Speaking of which, the mashed potatoes and gravy are made from scratch daily.
The sauces and salad dressings get the same homemade treatment. So your plate isn’t hiding anything from a can or a packet.
Cranberry sauce often shows up as a sidekick, which feels right. Turkey without cranberry is like a movie without popcorn.
If you only order one thing on your first visit, make it turkey. That’s the whole reason this restaurant earned its reputation.
Honestly, a place that roasts this much poultry daily clearly believes in it. That kind of commitment deserves at least one forkful of your attention.
And if you end up loving it, good news. They’ll be roasting another batch tomorrow.
A Family Started It With Five Thousand Dollars And A Dream
Back in 1959, Al and Delores Thomas left the Midwest with $5,000. They used it to open a coffee shop on Olive Avenue in Burbank.
That small gamble grew into one of the city’s oldest family-owned restaurants. Pretty good return on a five-grand investment, right?
Today, their children Karen Ross and Mark Thomas run the place. Karen’s daughter Katie is also stepping into a role, making her the third generation.
Three generations working under one roof is rare in the restaurant world. Plenty of places change hands every few years.
The family celebrated a big milestone in August 2024. That’s when the restaurant marked its 65th anniversary in California.
Long-running staff are part of the story too. One server, Marisa, has been with the restaurant for more than 30 years.
That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. It usually means the people in charge treat their team like family.
So when you sit down here, you’re stepping into a story that started with a couple and a modest bank account. I find that detail particularly charming.
It makes every plate feel a little more personal.
The Name Came From A French Soup, Of All Things
Ever wonder how a Burbank diner ended up with such a fancy name? The answer comes straight out of a cookbook.
The founders spotted a French soup in a St. Francis Hotel cookbook. That soup was named after Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, a 19th-century French statesman.
The family liked the name enough to borrow it. They just simplified the spelling to Tallyrand along the way.
So a famous European diplomat now shares a name with a turkey-loving California coffee shop. History really does take some odd turns.
It’s a fun bit of trivia to bring up at the table. Your friends will either be impressed or ask you to pass the gravy.
The name fits better than you might expect, though. The restaurant’s look has a playful, old-world flair that matches something with European roots.
Still, the food stays proudly American. You’ll find burgers, pancakes, and steaks rather than delicate French soups.
That mix of fancy name and down-to-earth cooking gives the place real personality. It doesn’t take itself too seriously.
And honestly, it’s hard not to grin at a diner named after a statesman serving hot turkey sandwiches all day long.
Each Dining Room Inside Has Its Own Personality
Choose your own adventure, diner edition. Several separate dining rooms give the interior lots of variety.
One room has maroon booths, wood tables, and painted brick walls covered with artwork. A counter with bucket seats sits nearby for solo diners or quick breakfasts.
Another room feels cozier, with yellow walls and round orange booths. Country-themed paintings finish the homey look.
The front dining area fills with natural light in the morning. It’s a cheerful spot for breakfast, and it includes a pastry case that’s hard to ignore.
Then there’s the showpiece. An antique-looking, ornately carved armoire serves as the coffee station.
Yes, your coffee comes from a piece of furniture that looks like it belongs in a palace. That’s a detail you won’t forget.
Some older touches still remain, like an old-fashioned number system for the waitresses. It’s a small wink to how diners used to run.
Downstairs, a dimly lit lounge with potted plants and a retro bar adds another mood entirely. It feels like a secret level in a video game.
Wander a bit before you sit, and pick the room that suits you.
Breakfast Here Has Won Some Serious Hometown Bragging Rights
Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Those four words might be all the convincing you need.
The breakfast menu has earned Best of Burbank awards. That’s a big deal in a city full of morning spots.
Buttermilk Pancakes and Omelettes are among the stars. They’re the kind of classics that never go out of style.
Muffins deserve their own spotlight. They’re homemade and baked fresh every morning.
Flavors like banana bread and cappuccino chip have shown up on plates. Getting one warm alongside your meal feels like a tiny gift.
Eggs Benedict appears on Sundays, so plan accordingly if that’s your favorite. Weekend brunch fans, take note.
The doors open at 8 AM, which gives early birds a solid start. Breakfast service runs until early afternoon before a short break.
The bright front room makes mornings feel extra cheerful. Sunlight, a pastry case, and a hot plate of pancakes make a strong combo.
A kids’ menu is available too, so the little ones won’t feel left out. Breakfast becomes a family outing instead of a negotiation.
Just be warned that deciding between sweet and savory might take a while.
The Rest Of The Menu Reads Like A Comfort Food Hall Of Fame
Turkey gets the headlines, but it doesn’t work alone. The supporting cast is packed with old-fashioned favorites.
Chicken Fried Steak is on the lineup, along with Tender Beef Liver. Those are dishes many modern restaurants quietly dropped years ago.
Steak lovers can go for top-quality Angus cuts. Burger fans have juicy options of their own.
Fresh Salmon and other seafood keep things lighter. Large salads also fill out the menu for anyone pacing themselves.
Sandwiches cover plenty of ground too. A turkey melt is one more way to enjoy the house specialty.
Daily specials rotate in, giving regulars something new to look forward to. Pot roast specials have been a highlight for many diners.
Everything leans into homestyle cooking. The restaurant calls it a one-of-a-kind dining experience, and the menu backs that up with variety.
Dinner service runs from 4 to 9 PM daily. That evening window works well after a long workday in the Media District.
So if someone in your group isn’t a turkey person, no problem. There’s something here for every appetite.
Just maybe sneak them a bite of turkey anyway.
Huell Howser Helped Put That Hot Turkey Sandwich On The Map
California television fans know the name Huell Howser well. The beloved TV personality featured this restaurant on his Visiting series.
His favorite? The Hot Turkey Sandwich. His appearance gave the restaurant a major boost in popularity.
Howser had a gift for spotlighting places with heart. His enthusiasm sent curious viewers across the state looking for the spots he loved.
Plenty of people still come in hoping to taste what he enjoyed. That’s a pretty lasting legacy for one TV segment.
The sandwich itself is simple comfort done right. Roast turkey, homemade gravy, and the kind of plate that makes you slow down.
It also shows how much the turkey matters to The Tallyrand Restaurant. Their daily roasting turns into this signature dish again and again.
Ordering it feels a bit like joining a club. You’re eating the same meal a California legend praised on camera.
Bring a friend who’s never had it. Watching someone try a famous sandwich for the first time is half the fun.
And if you grew up watching Howser, this stop might feel extra nostalgic. Some meals come with a side of memories.
Family, Friends, Traditions Is More Than A Sign On The Wall
Three words sum up this place better than any review. Family, Friends, Traditions is the motto, and it’s displayed right inside the restaurant.
The staff carry that idea into how they serve. Some team members have worked here for decades and built real relationships with customers.
You’ll find the restaurant at 1700 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506. It sits in Burbank’s Media District.
That location puts it near NBC, Warner Brothers, and Disney. Hollywood Burbank Airport is close by too.
So it’s an easy stop before a flight or after a studio tour. Few airport-adjacent meals feel this homey.
Hours run daily from 8 AM to 2 PM, then 4 to 9 PM. Plan around that afternoon break so you don’t arrive to locked doors.
Thanksgiving gets especially busy, so give yourself extra time that day. Thousands of pounds of turkey attract a crowd.
The free parking lot and outdoor patio make visits easy. Air conditioning helps on hot Southern California afternoons.
After 67 years, The Tallyrand Restaurant still feels like a neighborhood living room. That’s a tradition worth showing up for.
