The origin of the salad has different accounts, but the most popular story dates back to 1937 when Robert Cobb, the owner of the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, CA, found himself hungry after closing time. He scavenged the fridge and stumbled upon a mix of leftovers—lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and hard-boiled eggs. Adding some bacon, he tossed it all together with dressing, creating the iconic Cobb salad, which quickly became a signature dish of the restaurant.