On any given morning (except Sundays), you can expect to see a line forming outside a pearly-white shop in Savannah’s historic district. The diners in this queue, myself included, are waiting for the coveted bagels from Big Bon Bodega. One of the city’s most beloved casual eateries led by Kay Heritage and Shahin Afsharian, Big Bon is a Korean-inspired bodega, that merges American comfort food with Southeast Asian flavors. This reimagination of cuisine has earned the restaurant national attention, including an appearance on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. With that pedigree—and my preexisting love for bagels—I had more than enough reason to visit during my trip to Savannah. And I’m very glad I did.
From Food Truck To Beloved Bodega
Big Bon started as the city’s first wood-fired pizza food truck in 2016. In 2019, founder Kay Heritage shifted the concept into a bodega-style shop inspired by places she frequented during her upbringing in South Korea.
“I wanted Big Bon Bodega to have that warm, welcoming feel of a small, family-owned shop that I remember growing up in Korea,” Heritage says. “Since I started Big Bon with my daughter, Anna, the name felt very appropriate. It’s extremely rewarding to nourish hearts and souls and to create a casual, welcoming environment where everyone can feel at home.”
Watching families gather around the picnic tables out front, it’s clear Big Bon achieves exactly that.
What’s On The Menu
“Although our food is very simple, with a menu that’s centered on bagels, pizzas, and bowls, Shahin is extremely mindful of how each menu item will be enjoyed by our guests,” Heritage says…