Every star has their big break, but oftentimes they’re slingin’ drinks—and for some, doing the dirty work in the kitchen before reaching household fame.
Prior to playing America’s craziest nun and dishing hot takes on The View, Whoopi Goldberg was a dishwasher at a “greasy spoon” diner in the South Park neighborhood of San Diego, California.
The Big Kitchen Café is still standing today, tucked away along a shaded street between buzzing bars and an after-school learning center.
Passersby can blink and miss it—which might add to its current crisis, flying under the radar despite its star-studded history, from having Goldberg on staff to Rachael Ray’s Food Network visit and declaring she “loved” it, to PBS featuring the beloved hole-in-the-wall in a documentary.
Big Kitchen (or “BK,” as some locals call it) is run by Judy “The Beauty on Duty” Forman, its owner since 1980 and the beating heart behind the community-oriented safe haven. She once summed up her approach to feeding customers by saying, “If I’m taking their money, I’m stuffing them.”
View this post on InstagramCustomers are beyond happy leaving the cozy eatery, as the storied café holds an impressive 4.5-star rating on Google, with reviews like, “I have eaten at The Big Kitchen several times over several decades. The food and atmosphere nourishes the body and soul.”
But satisfied palates haven’t translated to sales the business needs, as recent reports indicate BK is now on the “brink of closure” amid financial struggles for a myriad of reasons.
There have been two separate fundraisers launched in hopes of keeping the stove on:
2025: A GoFundMe was created for Judy Forman personally. 2026: A new GoFundMe was launched to help keep Big Kitchen open and cover its mounting expenses.Residents would hate to see it go. There was a lot of fuss when local grocer Gala Foods was replaced by Target in 2015 as South Park takes pride in “buying local.”
South Park resident Stephanie Williamson is one of many who would hate to see BK close up shop.
In an exclusive interview with Parade, she said, “BK is such a special spot because you can feel Judy’s love for the community the moment you ask for a table. I go for the delicious pancakes, but stay for Judy; she talks with everyone, dances to the live music, and makes everyone feel like South Park is home.”
Williamson added, “Losing a place like Big Kitchen would mean losing a piece of the community itself. It’s one of the last real places in the neighborhood.”
Fittingly, the diner’s most famous employee is still a tangible part of its story. Whoopi’s connection lives on with her namesake breakfast dish, a menu staple serving as a small reminder of what Judy and her restaurant mean to San Diego.
The “Whoopi’s Breakfast” costs $21 and comes with two eggs any style, plus bacon, home-fried potatoes, toast, and a large orange juice.
Big Kitchen is open Thursday-Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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