Let start with the food...... I've been coast to coast and have never found steamed burgers good for one reason, NOBODY has the veggies right! The burgers and food sampled was wonderful! ALL veggies on the sandwiches were actually fresh! The fry's were perfect on the seasoning and balance! Overall on the food 9.7 no complaints Service...... Chef was professional, quick, and polite with great presentation on food Serving crew...... U thought the speed of light was fast? Bet u these guys could beat quantum physics if they wanted to there so quick, again respect factor across the board Ambiance...... This IS NOT a corporate swanky loud wild spot..... This is a beautiful masterpiece stuck in time with a super clean interior a bathroom and outside seating available! Causal music for a wonderful date with someone or even just bring the kids read more

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I freaking adore this place. I came last week (years after originally watching the Anthony Bourdain show about it) and although it doesn't seem to hit for some people because I don't think they have the right expectations, it totally hit for me. I got the single steamed burger with lettuce, tomato, and my boyfriend got the double steamed burger with bacon and we both added cheese to ours. We sat at the bar and somehow there was no one inside which we didn't expect because some days the lines are crazy. Delightful surprise. Tasty, juicy, prices are ultra cheap and very friendly staff... I'd skip the fries for anybody wondering but the burgers really hit for me. I loved it! read more

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Just went to Ted's yesterday. What a disappointment. It was the driest burger I ever had. I have been to Ted's years ago and it was fantastic. Did management change? The thing that I noticed most was, we got our burgers in less than 3 minutes. So the burgers were not made to order. We won't be back which is sad because I would rather support small business. read more

Was a treat to find a stool at lunch hour. Introduced to steamed meat and cheese ( to this day I remember the cheese-Cooper Cheese) the most unique way! Almost 50 years ago- still remember the dripping on my ties!!! read more

STEAMED HAMS For understated, old fashioned, high quality --the kind Principal Skinner could only dream of making--you gotta pick Ted's. You roll the dice on showing up for a seat but even if you decide to take out you're treated to a quality hamburger that scratches an itch you didn't know you had. There's a variety of additional menu items that reflect some creativity to add on, but the burgers is why you come. If you decide to dine in (a good party of. Roadtrip!) you can enjoy the diner aesthetic and open kitchen and picture yourself in the place of someone who's enjoyed Ted's back when they first opened. A great destination to put on your burger bucket list! read more

Ted's Restaurant - Ted's Big Bacon - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Food was great. Hubs and I each had a single cheese with everything and shared an order of fries. The burgers were huge and delicious. The fries were great-crispy outside and potatoey inside. The service was quick and friendly and our orders came out practically instantly. It was spotless inside. While I was dubious at first this was a very pleasant surprise!! read more

Ted's Restaurant - Single cheese with everything and fries. - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

The famous Ted's Steamed Burgers! I wanted to try them since moving to Meriden but they weren't open when I previously tried to go. Finally had the chance to get takeout one day and went for it. Parking is a bit inconvenient as it's limited street parking. The interior is likewise small and limited seating. Thankfully I went to enjoy it at home. The burger was tasty. I didn't love the bread choice because it can get soggy and break down easily, but it was a good burger. read more

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Amazing burger....I definitely recommend!!!! I have no complaints,only compliments ...really tasty...it even tasted clean....well it's steamed lol read more

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Come here for the food and bucket list check off. The staff was friendly and service was quick. Overall ambiance of the establishment is a small counter and tight dining area. What it lacks for in that, is made up for with the quality of the burger. If you only come here once you have to have the steamed hamburger. I decided to go with the BBQ Bacon and it was great. Amazing flavor and the cheese melted and infused with everything made it a tasty mess. Onion rings were good and I had to polish it off with a milk shake. Probably not the healthiest choice you will ever make, but you aren't coming here because you wanted a salad. read more

Ted's Restaurant - BBQ Bacon - Single - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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My husband saw this place featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri and really wanted to try the "steamed cheeseburgers" from here. No parking lot, but there's plenty of free street parking. They have 3 booths for indoor seating and 4 picnic tables for outdoor seating, depending on your preference. We got the double steamed cheeseburgers and 2 regular steamed cheeseburgers (1 plain and the other with toppings). All the food came out fairly quick, and the server always had a smile while taking and giving us our order. The burgers were served on vienna rolls instead of your traditional burger bun, which made it taste even better topped with swiss? cheese and your choice of toppings. They were moist and tasty with more than enough melted cheese to add an additional flavor profile. However, I thought the patty could be bigger/ flattened since there were more cheese and bread than meat. We've never had steamed burgers before, but these were definitely better (maybe healthier) than your typical Five Guys or fast food burgers. If you're traveling to Connecticut or in the area, try Ted's :) read more

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Memorably delicious steamed cheeseburgers, remarkably good seashore-style fries, and shakes to quiet down any sweet tooth. My steamed single bacon cheeseburger was killer good, perfectly seasoned and cooked, and big enough for an incredibly hungry person. The digs are unassuming and old school, as is the menu, which offers a lot at fair prices. Chicken t's are solid, too. I see why this place is a cult classic and burger-fan destination. Check it out when around Meriden! read more

Maybe not amazing, but wish there was a way to rate 3.5 stars as opposed to 3 stars or 4 stars. The nostalgia, the service, and the fries are great, but tried another flavor of milkshake this time and was again underwhelmed. The cheeseburger was good though not the most flavorful I have ever had, though I am more of a cheese lover than a burger lover so I prefer their version of grilled cheese with the works. read more

This was a Burger Connoisseur's bucket list item of mine for years: Steamed Hamburgers in Connecticut! I had no idea what to expect other than that the burgers would be completely different than any I'd ever had before. That was absolutely the truth! Steamed hamburgers are like none I've ever had before, and not likely since. Imagine a well cooked hamburger with no loss of flavor or a charred or burnt taste. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the steaming doesn't take away from the experience of tasting the meat. It makes the experience a little more messy because there's a lot more moisture. In no way did it make the experience less enjoyable, and actually made it unique. So much so that I would by my own "steam chest" to have this as a burger prep option at home. The service was super helpful and friendly, and very proud of the unique contribution of Connecticut to the Hamburger World! If you're heading to Boston, the Cape, Maine, etc, add Meriden to your stops and hit up Ted's for steamed hamburgers! read more

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Service was outstanding! The burgers met expectations yet were not the same as I remember from many years ago. New owners maybe? Prices fair and reasonable for the quality and quantity of the burgers and fries. Will try again when in the area. read more

Well....I really wanted to love this place especially because I pass by it almost everyday. Unfortunately, I was very underwhelmed to say the least. We walked in and I am one for customer service...almost non-existent. The young lady said, "hello do you know what you want to order?" I responded, no, this is our first time and she handed me a menu. What I don't understand is WHY they have a menu with absolutely no pricing?! I could see that online but in-person is just silly. There are a couple booths for those who want to dine-in. We ordered 1 double cheeseburger (l,t,o,m,p and bacon) - $15.85! No fries, just the burger. I said to my husband, this burger must be amazing at that price. Ted's is known for 'steamed burgers'. We saw a man pressing ground beef into a little pans and popping them in a steamer box. No seasoning. No salt and pepper. And you could taste that when eating it. The bread was an untoasted Portuguese roll. We received our order pretty quick - 7 mins tops. It reminded me of my childhood when my mom would make homemade burgers in a pan - Except she seasoned the meat. Honestly, the best part of the burger was the stringy gooey cheese. Almost like the cheese in a mozzarella stick. I feel bad for having to leave this low review but I must be honest with my Yelp community. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Portuguese roll - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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We were looking for a place to stop for lunch after shopping in Costco. Hubs told me about this place and that it was part of Hamburger America. I was excited about trying it. He told me that the burgers were all steamed and I was intrigued about it. The place is more of a hole in the wall, with three black booths lined up against the green-and-white wall and a small counter next to it. The unisex restroom is a small space at the back and a mounted TV hangs above the counter. Daughter ordered Single Everything, which has lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, ketchup, mustard, mayo, salt & pepper and thought it was delicious. She loved the idea of steamed burgers and loved that hers was falling apart. Hubs ordered the Ted's Special Creations, Black & Bleu single steamed cheeseburger. This has bleu cheese crumbles, bacon, BBQ sauce and fried onion strings. He usually likes his burgers as rare as possible, so when he got it steamed and saw that it was completely cooked inside, he was disappointed. Lastly, I ordered the single cheeseburger original with onion and mustard and thought this was ok. I didn't realize what steamed burger meant until today. It reminded me a little of burgers I had when I was in school. We also got regular french fries with garlic parm. These are french fries tossed in garlic parm seasoning for an extra $3. I felt that this was the best item on our table. Place was pretty clean. When we got here, the place was empty. The place was bustling with takeout and dining in by the time we were done. Service was quick and friendly. There's only a few booths and counter seat, so it's a bit cramped inside. We managed to find a parking space a few feet from the place. I'm glad that I got to try one of these Hamburger America places! read more

Was in the area today and decided to check it out. Hadn't been there for over 20 years. Forgot about the parking situation but was able to find a spot quickly. Was like walking back in time. Had a cheeseburger and fries. Both were outstanding and came out very quickly. The two girls working were very pleasant. Won't wait so long to return next time. read more

Absolutely love these burgers and fries they are absolutely delicious! This has a great atmosphere like a small hole in the wall with great food! The service was great we were in and out quick. Only problem is the parking situation. read more

Got a steamed cheese with onion and ketchup on a fresh hard roll. And a side of real potato home fries. The staff was friendly and the food delicious. read more

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A central CT icon, Ted's original burger and the shop that serves it has not changed much even if the menu has expanded quite a bit in recent years. Fresh toppings, fresh roll and that melted gooey cheese makes this a must try burger. They now offer a multitude of sides, chicken sandwiches, etc. I always go with my standard - cheeseburger with sautéed onions and mushrooms and home fries with cheese. Walking in is like stepping back in time. The TV's on the wall are the only real give away. Service is always great. It's a no frills lunch and I hope it always stays that way. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Steamed Cheeseburger w/sautéed onions and mushrooms, home fries w/cheese - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

I visited here for various reasons....but the main reason I would return is for nostalgia sake. Inside is a small counter and dining area. I visited right before closing one weekday, and they were kind enough to stay open for me. I just ordered the basic burger and some fries and sat at the counter so I could see the process of steaming the burger. I would say the burger is just okay, same for the fries. This is not a fancy establishment nor a fancy burger by any means, so if you're looking for a gourmet burger, you should go somewhere else. However, this may be the best burger in town, so I would say just get used to it. read more

Burgers still great but had to update my review bc the young girls that work there are rude. Just unhappy at work which is clear.

Ummmm...Hmmmm.... Have wanted to check out Ted's steamed burgers for years after first seeing them on the Food Network and reading about them in Road Food. On this particular trip, we planned our drive around a stop at Ted's and.... the burgers were ok. They were much smaller than the bun and cooked in an almost big meatball shape, with a dry crumbly texture. Staff was super friendly though and the small metal steaming drawers of meat and cheese were VERY cool! read more

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Stopped by for lunch to go. Cheeseburger with lettuce onion and mayo. It was delicious. The burger to bun ratio loss way better than the pictures look. The flavor is just beef with a little salty from the melted cheese. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Ted's is Truth. I love everything about this spot. Got an egg nog milkshake the day after Christmas. Drinking a cake is cool and the cheeseburger is a loveburger. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Ted's Restaurant is legendary for their Steamed Cheeseburgers. Along with hot lobster rolls and white clam pizza, Steamed Cheeseburgers are one of the most famous foods uniquely associated with Connecticut. I'll defer to the Wikipedia page for historical details. How famous are Steamed Cheeseburgers? The Hartford Yard Goats have never played as the Hartford Hot Lobster Rolls, or the Hartford White Clam Pizza. They have played as the Hartford Steamed Cheeseburgers, complete with theme appropriate uniforms, right down to the yellow bun hat, with lettuce, beef patty and ketchup stripes, and an "H" made out of fries. So . . . that famous. When you're reviewing a place like Ted's, you need to decide if you're treating it as an important part of food history, or comparing it to the best contemporary restaurants selling burgers. In other words . . . would you give a Ford Model T an average review because it's not a 2021 BMW? Would you give prime Bob Cousy an average review because prime Michael Jordan would have beaten him 11 - 2 in a game of one on one? Maybe you would, and that's fair. I choose to review Ted's as a historical restaurant because it's cool to keep something going that your state is known for. That means I can really only compare Ted's to itself, and to a discrete number of other places that have served steamed cheeseburgers. Today, I ordered a Ted's Steamed Single Cheeseburger with "everything except mustard", to use their language. That's steamed cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, ketchup and mayo. The bun, vegetable toppings and condiments were all good. The burger comes well done, which is not how I order a burger in modern restaurants. Although the Ted's Burger is well done, it is not dry, because the steaming process adds water. The joy in the steamed burger for me has always been the oozy steamed cheddar cheese. I haven't had a Ted's cheeseburger in a while, but the cheese today was stiffer than I remember in past Ted's Cheeseburgers, and the cheese was not oozy. For this reason, I'm giving Ted's Four Stars today. In any event, if you care about CT food history, Steamed Cheeseburgers and Ted's are on the syllabus. Now, excuse me while I go order one of those Hartford Steamed Cheeseburgers hats. read more

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Tiny restaurant, opened in 1959, that's highlight is their steamed cheeseburger. The place is inside of a house-type building with 3 booths and a counter with 10 stools. The steamed cheeseburger is a CT-based food, as it's believed that the first steamed cheeseburger was made at a Middletown lunch spot called Jack's. I had never eaten a steamed cheeseburger before coming here, and I was not really a fan. The meat reminded me of when I tried to use a George Forman grill to cook meat in my freshman dorm. Pretty bland and with a soggy texture. My critique of steamed cheeseburgers being said, I still really liked this place. Their menu contained a bunch of other basic American food options in addition to the steamed cheeseburger, and they had a bunch of different toppings that you could add to your steamed cheeseburger. They also prepared all of my food extremely quickly and were very friendly. Additionally, if you sit at the counter you can see them preparing all of the food! I also tried the fries here and they were incredible! Very large, crisp, and fresh! 7.5 read more

The Connecticut hamburger trifecta has now been completed. Somehow the Connecticut claim to fame is they invented the hamburger in their state. If they really want it, I'll give it to them. I mean, New York is famous for pizza, bagels, hot dogs and baseball. You want burgers? Fine. Louis Lunch, Shady Glen and now Ted Restaurant all have a unique burger. I do like that all these Connecticut burgers can be enjoyed for under $10 dollars. What these television shows don't tell you is the actual taste of the burger. You can see the picture. It looks like a nice size burger. The Teds restaurant burger IMHO takes the #3 slot for Connecticut burgers. And what threw me was the meat cooking process. They take two tins, one has cheese and the other has the meat. They take the tins and put them in a steamer. The meat cooked in its own juices so the patty isn't a dry burger. It's just a flavorless burger. There's no texture or caramelization you'd get from a traditional flattop burger. And I'm sure 50 years ago they had salt and pepper?? I guess my biggest beef, I've said this about the owner at Louis Lunch. We're in the 21 century. Get wild! Take that steamed burger and throw it in a pan! There's no one to call and get you in trouble. Ted or son of Ted. That guy from Louis Lunch is a basket case. No ketchup?? C' on dude. I say relax and make changes. If I took you to New York City, our first stop would be at a Josh Capon restaurant to try his burger. You'd say: What the hell have I been doing with steam all these years? Steam the cheese, it's not for burgers! Son of Ted? 3 Yelp stars from me. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Glad to have a chance to visit Ted's again for those famous steamed cheeseburgers! Cheese was ooey gooey deliciousness! Battered onion rings hit the spot along with Foxin Park birch beer! Small, no frills place with only on street parking. Still as busy and popular as ever which is so great to see. read more

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Came here to try the world famous steamed hamburgers this restaurant is known for. We both got the steamed cheeseburgers, fries and a couple of Coke's. The staff, the food both didn't disappoint!! We loved our food!! And will visit again before we head back to the West Coast!! Should've taken a photo of our food, but was super hungry, so we took a photo of the outside before we left. read more

Ted's Restaurant - The outside of Teds Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

In New York, it's a political scandal when a knife and fork is used for pizza. I wonder if any Connecticut candidates have been similarly condemned for utensils while tackling a double everything from Ted's. I didn't get through this mighty sandwich without spillage. In a brief 2-day trip that involved PATH, subway, Metro-North, Amtrak, CT Rail, buses, Uber and a 1.2 mile walk from the Meriden train station, I wanted to get a classic item. But based on the juicy excellence I'm sure the brand extensions like the Hawaii 5-0 and Buffalo Bleu are fine too. Lesson for my next visit: I got a Pepsi but didn't know they had Foxon Park bottles here. read more

How many steamed burger joints have you ever visited? Let's answer that question two ways: ON THE ONE HAND I've only ever visited one. How cool is that! How unique is Ted's! They're doing things differently here, and it's got such great character. We sat inside and watched the steam cabinet magic unfold before our very eyes. There it was, a bunch of trays with burgers, a bunch of trays with very generously sized cubes of cheese melted and dumped onto the top of burger, and served up wicked quick. Great crispy fries, simple burgs, very affordable prices... this is definitely a one-of-a-kind shop. ON THE OTHER HAND. I've only ever visited one. And you know, that probably makes sense. You have to ask yourself why the steamed meat technique didn't take off and we all enjoy steamed burgers all over the nation. And if the weirdly pale burger aesthetic doesn't answer the question, then the flavor of char or caramelization or crispiness that you find yourself missing certainly will. I actually liked the steamed burger--it was plenty juicy--but you will probably also end up feeling like if they just finished it on a super hot grill for like 30 seconds it would be even better. There's probably a reason this concept isn't ubiquitous. All in all, I'm giving mad love to Ted's. I loved everything about it. I loved the small shop, the friendly fast service, the lore, the unique concept. But gastronomically speaking, know before you go that you're going for something different. read more

I have no idea how I haven't been to Ted's in 25 years in Connecticut! I'm so happy I was finally able to visit this local institution. The service was absolutely friendly and accommodating. I was reassured that the Cajun fries were one of the best sellers and, spoiler alert, they were the best Cajun fries I've ever had. Seasoned to perfection and each fry had the perfect snap and fluffy interior. I ordered a steamed cheeseburger with LTO, Mayo, Must and Jal. Ted's is the original for a reason. Juicy, juicy flavored burger with steamed, melty cheese. You just can't beat it. One of the best burgers I'ver ever had. It'll be a mistake on your part if you don't come and try Ted's!! read more

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I have no idea why this place is so popuar. I expected much more based on the hype. A steamed burger is just what it sounds like: a moist hunk of meat. You can drown it in condiments but it is still the weakest link in the chain. For $9.25 it's simply not worth it. The roll seems to be an afterthought, just an ordinary kaiser deli roll. read more

Amazing little burger joint just off the Berlin turnpike. Probably the best steamed burger have ever eaten. Imagine, pulling up a stool, and watching a master chef open a pressure chamber. Steaming like a demon, little coffins of juicy stewing ground beef, are deftly pulled into set up, kaiser rolls with your typical spreads ketchup, mustard, mayo, one slice tomato, lettuce, and onion. Then while steaming, slathered in. Molten mozzarella cheese. Can it get any sexier? If you're in the area u gotta try! Be warned though parking is small capacity. read more

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Wow. I saw this place on a show online and looked good - but I had no idea how good it would be. We stopped here on a weekday while heading more north, and even though it was rainy and cold and foggy and hell, we still walked up. They were nice enough to put a canopy over the order window so people wouldn't get wet while waiting. There wasn't an outside eating option due to the weather so eating in the car had to happen. The food was so good - I ordered a double (two burgers side by side on a sub roll), topped with the steamed cheese, and I added lettuce, onion, tomato mayo and ketchup. It was so damn good. The fries I would say take it or leave it, but the burger was insanely good and so much better than a grilled burger for me. Well worth the slight pitstop from a drive to Boston via Providence. read more

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Had the most amazing cheeseburger here on our drive to nyc. The cheese was so bubbly and the Texas mayo was delicious. It's a perfect neighborhood place with really good food and friendly people. The moment we walked in we were greeted so warmly and felt really welcomed. We'll definitely be back. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

I finally came here in the fall of 2021 after having this place bookmarked for years. Every road trip I took up to Connecticut had me trying New Haven style pizza (which is totally fantastic by the way). But back to Ted's, it's definitely smaller then what I envisioned from seeing it on a multitude of food shows. There are only a few tables inside, but the inside was closed when I visited due to covid. The take out line was a few people deep in front but the staff had it moving along at a nice pace. The steamed cheeseburger was great but I wouldn't recommend taking a few extras home. You need to eat these bad boys fresh. It wasn't the best burger I ever had but it was on the unique side, which is always nice to try something different. Their menu is larger than I expected so you aren't just stuck with a burger and fries......but that's the only reason why I came. It's definitely worth a try. read more

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As we started our journey early in the morning and tried to get ahead of things, this was our first stop for lunch. It is always a good thing when the place is tiny, but the reviews and food are huge. It makes you feel like you found a hidden treasure. I had done zero background research, so I was walking up blind but had a good feeling. Sadly, with COVID and rain, we couldn't eat there but that truly wasn't a big deal because it allowed us to eat and continue on. I had a tough time ordering because I had a mask on, my voice is pretty quiet and the building Ted's is in has a lot of noise coming from it so I felt like I had to yell. I hate that, but I get it. It was neat that they offered Fox's Soda in Birch Beer. Super pleased with this. I used to drink Birch Beer with my grandfather, and it is very hard to find out in the wild. I ordered a blue cheese buffalo burger and it was INSANELY good. Now that I am reviewing this place, I would kill for another right about now. The juice was spilling out of it and I loved that. The bun was right, the stuff inside was tasty and the fries topped it off. Side note: I used to hate hamburgers as a kid because of how hard they were to chew - random - I know, but this styled of steamed burger was darn good. read more

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The best steamed burger spot in town! Great service and tasty food. Many ways to customize your meal. Lots of different side options, and great selection of floats you can get to drink. My only criticism is that the burgers never seem to have enough sauce and can make the burger overall dry. However, if you ask for extra sauce Ted's will gladly oblige. read more

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