The Galley Boy Cheeseburger From Swensons Drive-In In Ohio Has A Cult Following, And There's A Reason Why
By Sarah McCosham|Published December 20, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
No offense to the almighty Big Mac or a particular SoCal double double, but the Buckeye State wins in the burger department. And while there are delicious diners and restaurants across Ohio known for serving up killer burgers, nothing compares to the Galley Boy Cheeseburger from Swensons Drive-In. This behemoth burger has a cult following, and after just one bite, you’ll understand why.
It doesn't get more "classic American cuisine" than a burger and fries, and while there are restaurants, franchises, local diners, and drive-ins all across the country that specialize in this combo, only Ohio lays claim to Swensons.
Swensons Drive-In is an Ohio drive-in restaurant with locations in the Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati areas. The restaurant was first opened in 1934 by Wesley T. “Pop” Swenson, who actually started by selling burgers out of a station wagon in Akron.
A burger like no other, the Galley Boy combines two special sauces on two patties of freshly ground beef between two slices of freshly baked, buttered, and toasted buns. The buns are delivered fresh daily by a local bakery, making each Galley Boy a wholly unique and dynamic experience depending on where you live.
This burger and its signature green olive garnish is the most famous menu item, and popular with all of their regular customers. There's much debate over the proper order of operations when diving into a Galley Boy. Do you eat the olive before, as an appetizer? Or after, as an epilogue? The choice is yours.
Feeling extra hungry? Make your Galley Boy a double, which takes this cheeseburger to new heights! This is four patties of delicious, burger bliss, friends.
Of course, for those looking to shake things up, Swensons has a robust menu of diner classics, including creamy milkshakes, fried bologna, potato teezers, fries, and puffs.
This wonderful restaurant is so popular, there are many locations for you to visit. So the next time you're craving an epic cheeseburger in Ohio, head to Swensons!
Have you tried the cheeseburger from this Ohio drive-in before? The Galley Boy Cheeseburger is a cult classic that definitely deserves a spot on your Buckeye State burger bucket list!
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