Finally! I've had my first great seafood meal as a Jacksonville resident. Believe the hype! Chowder Ted's delivered a wonderful meal on a hot summer afternoon. The hole-in-the-wall joint excels in fresh seafood and a no-frills menu. There are a few appetizers, sandwiches and specials. Think, "less is more." Also, the bare bones menu fills you up without breaking the bank. Smoked Fish Spread - Woah! I loved this. Chunks of fish, creamy and spicy. Would order again and would love to steal the secret recipe. Oyster Po' Boy - Fresh oysters, fried perfectly, soft bread. However, not the best oyster po' boy I've ever had. To be honest, the fish and batter combination was rather bland. Next time, I'd order something else off the menu. Still, very strong sandwich. Local Aardwolf beer, check. Excellent service from the wait staff, check. Owner/chef on site to verify food quality, check. What's not to love at Chowder Ted's? No wonder they're a hometown favorite! read more

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I was so happy to get to go try out Chowder Ted's, I got to go with some good friends and get some great fresh seafood! I was worried it was going to be hard to find but no it was right off the main road, it really is a small place, but easy to find. This was first time here and we had to get the chowder, it was in a tomato broth (so no thick white Chowder) with big chunks of veggies and fish ? I think? It had great flavor and warmed us up......We got the special which was Mahi broiled and the Crab cakes....both dishes were good, definitely fresh stuff here. Very happy to get to try out some local fresh food cooked with love! Cash only! read more

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This is one of those "Diners, Drive-in's, & Dives" type places. It located at the foot of the bridge on Heckscher Dr (105). Blink and you may miss it. It looks like an old ice cream snack bar that went by the wayside in the 70's then was adopted by what, all I can tell, is a very gifted chef. It's def a locals place. We wandered in and were greeted by Michelle who was very upbeat, pleasant & helpful. Kind of like your big sister. We started with the coconut shrimp which were the absolute best i've ever had. Not sure if the chef skewers them but they come long and straight. Most at other places are curled up & rubbery. These were crunchy on the outside and moist and tender inside. Fabulous. For entrees: I had the special which was blackened snapper over fettuccini with mixed vegetables. My wife had the 1/2 Pot, a fish stew. I have to say, that was the finest cooked piece of fish I've ever had since moving to FL nearly a year ago. Seasoned well, fluffy & moist inside. Pasta done perfectly and vegetables perfectly cooked and not mush like many other places. Everything on that plate was well thought out. Sometimes you get pasta & veg as a toss off and they're over cooked. Not here. My wife's pot of seafood stew was equally delicious, if not a bit spicy. So if spicy hot isn't your thing, you may want to rethink that. This is not a fancy place. It's great food and great home cookin. Highly recommend. I'll post a couple photos but they don't do the food justice. read more

Chowder Ted's - Blackened snapper over fettuccini. Picture doesn't do it justice. It was delicious. - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Tasty food, a lot of deep fried stuff but I didn't check out the fish options. A cozy place. I enjoyed the outdoor deck looking over the river. read more

It is always good to do your homework (especially on Yelp) when you find the most underrated, highly valued establishments. I will say this about Chowder Ted's - it was very good and I would like to personally thank the Yelp Jax! team on their recommendation. Venue: A hole in the wall (which in most cases, these are the gems). Unpaved parking that surrounds the building. If you are driving too fast down the main road, it can be be easily missed coming from I-295. It will be on your life at about 2 miles down on the left. Decor: Kind of dingy in there but that's alright. Couple of pictures on the wall. I will say that it was up to 10 tables in the front where you take orders and then there were a few tables off to the side passed the bathrooms down the hall. Service: Whoever the lady that served us, she was upfront and very honest about the menu selections and recommendations. She was prompt , was knowledgeable about what to go for, what not to go for from what it seemed. Environment: A take out or sit down place to enjoy with family, friends, a cool little date. Something for everyone. Very casual, no tuxedo needed. Food: Specialize mostly with seafood, chowder and burgers. I ordered the fried shrimp and tried some of the cajun shrimp. Fried shrimp taste fresh & so clean clean * Outkast Voice *. The cajun shrimp was simply delicious. Prices: Very reasonable, most items will be under $12 Debbie Downers: I was hoping to see more items, more selection on their menu after frequently visiting many places like these in my years. However, overall satisfied Yelper! Conclusion: I definitely recommend this place if you are a seafood lover, want your best bang for your buck Overall: Grade B+ read more

Chowder Ted's - Front page of menu, pretty good stuff. - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Chowder teds is a jax gem. Many people know about it and know their specials religiously, others bask in the glory of never crossing the Dames Point Bridge other than going to the zoo or airport. CTs is good. Their menu is limited, but the daily specials is where it's at. I went on a Wednesday and the special was seared ahi tuna with greens. I asked if they could make a sandwich and they sure did. Talk about a fancy tuna sandwich. I also tried the chowder. Chowder is sweet and tomato based, so if you're in to that, you'll probably like it. The tuna was good. Oh so good. Cash only. Don't be a dick. Cheers. read more

Chowder Ted's - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Wonderful service and delicious food it's my spot to go every Friday. Swamp burger is one of my favorites.

So the place is a bit old and it shows. Small dining area inside and closed in spot in the back. It's also hard to find if you aren't looking for it as other Yelpers have mentioned. It's right before the bridge and across the street from the bait shop and food truck. I really wanted to eat outside but the screened in area just looked sad. I had the ((fresh)) blackened Mahi Mahi sandwich and it was delicious. Everything about the sandwich was perfection. Just the right amount of seasoning to give it some heat but not enough to hide the juicy flavors of the fish itself. Wow. I was impressed. The price is under 10 bucks for most menu items, which is hard to find in a seafood place. I'll be back every single time I visit Talbot. read more

Chowder Ted's - Blackened (just caught) Mahi Mahi sandwich. So good! - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Small place but a couple of covered picnic benches outside (no service but short walk inside). Fresh seafood and cold beer! Great little place. read more

I haven't received my food yet and I already know I won't come back. I don't care how good the food is. We've been here about 30 or 45 minutes and still no food. I ordered smoked fish dip for an appetizer, which was okay. It was simply dipped out of a container with some crackers, so it shouldn't take long to bring it to the table. It took 10 or 15 minutes to arrive. Also it's very warm in here - I'd guess around 80 degrees. read more

Amazing food. Hidden gem for sure. Chowder was great and the Argentina shrimp was sooooo good. Cooked to perfection. Service was great too!

This is a small restaurant tucked at base of the bridge. Seating for 20-30 people. Non-descript little place. We dropped in for lunch and we're very happy with our choices. Definitely plan to return. Famous for their seafood chowder. 16 oz or 32 oz pot. It was very tasty! It's made with tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onion, olives and multiple types of fish. Has a little heat to it but not too spicy. Very good! The Conch fritters were fabulous! Definitely recommend for appetizer. The crab cake was served over bed of lettuce with raspberry dressing. It was very good. read more

Best seafood in Jacksonville. Hands down! The tuna salad and Cajun burger are the best thing in town! read more

Chowder Ted's - Cajun burger. - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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After a day of kayaking, my friend and I were pretty hungry. I had read about this place the night before while searching through restaurants to try out. This is a great little spot on the water, you really have to know where you are going to find it as it is right below a tiny bridge. We started off with the smoked fish dip which was great! Not as smoky as I expected but still delicious. I then had the crab cake + salad which was also great. One crab cake though, so if you are very hungry I would try something else. Portion size was fine for me as I had the fish dip appetizer prior. My friend isn't big into seafood so she had the chicken wings which were huge! She couldn't even finish all 6! Overall this is a great little place for a quick bite to eat. read more

Chowder Ted's - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Fantastic little place. The fish chowder was quite tasty and the flounder sammich was really good.

Just off I295, the perfect lunch spot! Everything was fresh, the service was super friendly. Everything seemed to be made from scratch, including the smoked fish dip. Fresh smoked tuna on the premises! The founder and Cajun sauce were also great. Wished we lived closer so that we could try more items but we will definitely stop back when we are passing through! Oh, and definitely agree with other reviews, don't go by the exterior! read more

Waitress Jess always take's great care of me when I stop in on my lunch breaks. She always provides wonderful service and got me addicted to the burgers that I never would have thought to try at a seafood restaurant. read more

rude employees. tried place a Togo order . they lied on the phone and told me they were out of something. went inside 10 minutes later and found out they weren'. read more

I met some friends at Chowder Ted's last night - it had been on my list of restaurants to try for a very long time. It's a destination - pretty far off the beaten path - but worth the trip! Tucked into a little spot off the St Johns River and Browns Creek, you just know everything is gonna be fresh. The views in the area are Southern Coastal - a nice change from the city. I arrived a bit early, so I grabbed a seat st the bar. The kitchen sits behind the bar and is open and efficient. I was greeted by the entire kitchen staff and thanked for coming! They had 6 or 7 well-chosen local beers on tap and lots of national brands as well. While I waited, I watched the staff work so well together and provide each customer with a true Home experience that makes everyone feel they're a regular. Menus change frequently and Saturday offers specials. The food is typical fish camp faire, but done well and with a slight gourmet flair that was unexpected. Care is taken to present very pleasing plates to the eye and the palate. My only disappointment - with parties of 6 or more, they don't split the check. We were 5 plus a child (who only had onion rings). Since they only take cash, it makes things awkward when it doesn't need to be. read more

Omgosh I am so addicted to the crab cakes here, the shrimp is amazing too. You can't go wrong with anything you order here and the service is top notch. If it's not hot, eat outside, if it's packed up front, don't worry, there's more seating in the back! read more

Glad I was finally able to get by and try Chowder Ted's. Place is tiny, but the food was worth the trip. Staff friendly and accommodating. Looking forward to trying some of the other items on the menu. Cash only, plan ahead. read more

Chowder Ted's - Seared Tuna and seaweed salad - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Good food at a good price. Quick service! Nice beer selection. Definitely I will return on my next trip to Jax.

A local legendary place! The views are great from outside, and the food is so delicious. These type of places are the best to visit because you never know what you're going to get and it's top-notch. read more

We go there at twice everytime we are in the area. You can't go wrong with the fish spread and the chowder. Yum!

Grouper special of the day was so fresh, chowder was insane! Yummy fritters and Brussels sprouts. Reasonable prices and very friendly staff. Completely exceeded my expectations as a little roadside fish joint read more

Chowder Ted's never disappoints! It is truly a hidden gem! Today I had a half pot of chowder and fried fish sandwich.

1st time here today - will not be the last! Miranda is a joy to spend time with - informative, super upbeat, and knows the menu! Every suggestion on point - we had Brussel sprouts, coconut shrimp, onion rings and grilled cheese. All were amazing. Next time we will try the platter read more

Hell Yes I would recommend this hole in the wall!!! I have no words for this place but to check it out for yourself. Every visit to the area this is a must stop by. I wish I had pics but every time I think about posting the food It's to late lol read more

Their signature seafood chowder has great flavor, slightly spicy, full of seafood. Specials are great - seafood combo platter is tasty and fried just right. Crab cakes come on a salad with raspberry vinaigrette and full of flavor. Quality spot. Just a little difficult to turn in to. Be careful merging onto Hecksher Dr! read more

When it comes to hidden gems in Jax, Chowder Teds is at the top of the list. A non descript building on the side of Hecsher drive hides one of the best dives in Jax! Introduced a friend to this place and they were astounded that they have been past it hundreds of times and never noticed it. We started with the housemade pimento cheese with candied jalapeño. OMG is was heaven! I ordered the ahi tuna and it was fresh and. Poked perfectly. My friend went for the crab cakes and they were delicious. They also serve local craft beer . read more

Chowder Ted's - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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The food is great, have been going there since 1990s. Left 4 hr oncology appt, and went to CTs for a burger and shrimp. Im on oxygen and use a walker. As Im eating, a drunk woman left and backed her new dark blue Dodge full 4 door longbed truck into my car - twice, then came inside- and asked me if I was alright???? Before I could stand up, she ran out the door and drove off. asked for camera footage. NO. destroyed tail lights, and had to spend $230.00 on a new tail light. Meanwhile, the drunk driver escapes, and 4 hours later at 10pm, the police finally show up and make a report. Case # 24-649680, 10/23/2024. For many many years, it was my happy place. Not anymore. Im angry the owner didnt stop the drunk woman, and just let her drive off after hitting my car twice. The truck she drives has a special license plate with a big horse head in the center, and a white stripe on the right rear of the bed where she hit me. read more

Back in sept stop here great fish sandwich and dip and cold beer. Plan on coming back next time out here. Soon read more

Chowder Ted's - Wife sandwich great. - Seafood Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Cool little hole in the wall. Food is excellent. I would recommend the flounder sandwich. If you are every driving down heckshire drive, do not pass this place up. read more

Great food, great staff. Love soft shell crab sandwiche or Mayport Red shrimp! Chowder is the best.

Hole in the wall little joint. We had the blackened mahi sandwich and shrimp po-boy. Husband said mahi was great. Enjoyed my sandwich too, but would have liked it lots better with tarter sauce. Never been to a seafood place that did t have tarter sauce. Will stop again but won't order shrimp. Very friendly server. Didn't enjoy the staff using the outside door near our table to go outside to smoke. That was worse then no tarter sauce. read more

Totally unassuming place but these coconut shrimp don't quit! Everyone else loved their dishes, too- the Cajun shrimp and sauces were all amazing. read more

I ordered a bowl of chowder and the blackened tuna sandwich and my husband had the magi sandwich. The cut of fish was amazing on both sandwiches. The chowder is tomato based with a nice kick and the olives were an unexpected surprise. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend going out of your way for a great no frills lunch. read more

Eat local! Small and friendly place with excellent food. Plus cold beer! The fish was super for dinner and our salad was freshly made. It was bright with greens and tomatoes. read more

Place was just awesome, literally some of the biggest shrimp I've ever had and the peel was something of legend. Go, 1000%, go.

So delicious!!! What an unexpected find. My husband and I stopped here before heading to the cruise terminal for lunch. I had the blackened mahi and let me tell you it was phenomenal!! It definitely had the Cajun kick to it the Cajun sauce is also delicious with the mahi. We also ordered a lb of peel and eat shrimp which were also very good. The fries were ok but the seafood was great. My husband had the cheeseburger and thought it was pretty good as well. If you are in this area you should check it out! read more

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