I collect food experiences, but if I were a local, I'd probably eat these 6 to 8 times a year. The service was super fast, the food was good and the price was reasonable. Things to consider. The patty is not a thin flat top patty but a thick steamed one - so this is a beef forward burger. It doesn't get the carmelization - so the meat tastes plain. Be thoughtful about your toppings, cuz that's what makes ro breaks the experience. Sauted onions or mushrooms will give you a little grilled taste. The lettuce was a whole leave of butter lettuce - nice touch. The tomato slice was tastey and the bun super soft and fresh. read more

I was here back on Feb 15th due to being in the area and hearing many good things about this place. Well, they were partially true. Decent place. Good service that we ordered from the waitress to go. But the cheese fries were very bland. See pic. Just some American cheese thrown on and melted. Lacked flavor. The hot dog was alright. The cheeseburger while good was not amazing. Seemed and tasted just like many other cheeseburgers out there despite being steamed. No difference to us. May try them again to see if any difference in the future if in the area. Cute cozy small clean place though. Easy parking on the street right out front. read more

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A steamed cheeseburger may SOUND like a terrible idea, BUT....yeah. It is. Both my friend and I agreed that this was the worst burger we've ever had. The steaming process results in a flavorless patty with a gross, loose texture. I wish I could say the shakes made up for it, but they were fine at best, and my friend's shake had a giant mass of chocolate sprinkles at the end. We weren't fans. read more

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

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I came into Ted's Resturant with high expectations as my colleague was talking it up! Unfortunately this place did not live up the expectation he created. It's a tiny little hole in the wall with little to no parking. It's more lengthy then it is wide - for a random weekday afternoon it was quite packed and we were pretty lucky to grab a table from a leaving couple. We ordered two steamed burgers one with cheese one without and fries. Both burgers came out with cheese - so I had to send one back to get the cheese taken off. I'm not used to the consistently of a burger that was steamed and it really threw me off. Other then the consistency the burger was bland and not seasoned at all! The fries were probably the best part of the whole meal. read more

Finally got to try this joint !! We were a party of four & we arrived around 3:pm after just having an amazing experience over @ Frank Pepe's .... We nailed it..... great timing this joint was empty but their steamer hot box was loaded with super moist steamed burgers & lovely melted cheese..... Omg, was definitely worth the extra 20 minute drive over here... the place is small maybe 14 seats total ... very clean & neat ... The steam burger man ... sorry I didn't get his name had some tats was very friendly and answered all our questions.... told us what to order since it was our first time over here ... The steamed cheese burger with raw onion; the meat was super moist, good quality chop meat.. Tip; must add salt & pepper & of course ketchup !! The cheese is in its own class; it comes out of the steamer hot ooey & gooey & like melts & covers the burger perfectly..... For me I would like a sharper cheese but this one works .... it's like a mild white cheddar .... It's amazing to watch theses burgers & cheese come out of the mini box steamers !!! Their bun for us was a lil disappointing...... we all agree that if they would use Martin Potato buns wow this would put their burger over the top .... All & all love this joint & our waitress was a lil sweet heart !!! Thanks for the great food & friendly service !! Hope to see ya's soon !!! Greg D & Family read more

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My uncle took me to Ted's years ago and I became obsessed. Maybe it was doing something special with my uncle or that nobody (not even my uncle) would take me there again later. I think a little of it had to do with that my only exposure to steamed burgers was White Castle and I was surprised that a steamed burger could be substantive and tasty. What I like about steamed burgers are twofold. For one thing, they're well-done but still juicy. For another thing, the steamed cheese on top is other-worldly! It is somehow a little aerated and squishy - kinda like a really dense quiche. I am itching to try the cheese on top of the fries! I've tried a number of burgers including the basic cheeseburger, Hot and Spicy, Hawaii Five-O, and California Steamin'. My favorite is the California Steamin' because of the contrast of the rich burger flavors with the refreshing, crisp vegetables. The other burgers are a little too heavy and one-note to me. For example, I expected the Hot and Spicy to be interesting, but it tasted kinda like a regular bacon cheeseburger (except with limp, chewy bacon) and barbecue sauce. The pickled jalapenos were super mild and didn't add anything. Ted's has veggie and chicken burgers for folks who don't eat beef. They have a number of other menu items too, but I only go for the steamed burgers, fries and milk shakes. The fries are really good. I like that they look as if they're cut from real potatoes. I like the seasoning too (I've tried garlic and Cajun). As I mentioned earlier, I'm itching to try their cheese fries! They've messed up every single time I've ordered a milk shake. I've ordered a peanut butter milk shake twice and I got vanilla the first time and cookies and cream the second time. I was on the road when I figured it out and it wasn't worth going back to have them fix it. I recommend you try your milk shake immediately to make sure it's what you ordered. In regards to ambiance. Well. You park on the street (and it's a pretty busy street) and walk up to the window. I ordered online once and they didn't have it. I had to show them the receipt on my phone and they filled the order for me. Since then, I've ordered in person. You queue up outside and order from the window. Way back when, you could go inside and sit at the counter. Now you can sit outside at picnic tables between the restaurant and an auto mechanic and watch people vacuum their cars at the car wash across the street. read more

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Delicious huge steamed burgers. Their single size is double size at most other burger places. Cheese & parmesan fries are excellent. Definitely recommend. Service was great, only downside is that it's a small restaurant, but they do have outdoor seating. read more

The most bland and tasteless burger I've ever had. I don't understand how or why people think this place is so wonderful.

I am an absolute diehard fan of Adam Richmond. After seeing Ted's on Man vs. Food I've been trying for years to get up here. Luckily I had some training for work in Connecticut so I figured I would schedule this in. Unfortunately it just did not live up to the hype of being world famous. My favorite part was the home fries with cheese, which are really just french fries slow roasted. The burger however was juicy but had zero flavor to it. It tasted like someone took a hamburger right out of the store package and through it in boiling water and put it on a bun. Absolutely tasteless. I tried the double cheeseburger, loaded french fries and home fries with just cheese. Problem with the cheese is it's 100 % like mozzarella. Once it gets a little cold, you have to rip it apart. It's not like a runny cheese at all. It took me years to get up here and I'm sorry, but I will never return. Just not my type of burger. I prefer flavor to my food. read more

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Teds Yum! Not like other steamed burgers. The best steamed cheeseburgers I have ever had! There has never been a burger that I craved until having one from Ted's. Nothing fancy here but there doesn't need to be when the food is this good. Try it you won't be disappointed. read more

My fiancé and I stopped by Ted's this past weekend for a burger and fries. The food came out lightning quick and everything was fantastic. Unfortunately for the staff, a not so gentleman was berating his son for what we believe was a bad day of little league baseball. The man then berated the staff exclaiming that the food portions were "too small" and that he had been coming there since he was a kid and that they were never like that before. The gentlemen instructed his son to stop eating, paid for the food, and left. The staff handled this person with class when they had just about no reason to. Whenever my fiancé and I stop in, we're met with happy faces and great food. Ted's is the best and their staff is masterclass. read more

My stepfather lives and dies by this place and they definitely have a loyal following. For me, I didn't get it. The burger reminded me of a scab that falls off in the pool. I'll stick to grilled stuff from now on read more

Fantastic burgers!!! Quick stop after Middle School basketball game this place is amazing!!!! read more

Teds burgers are amazing best burgers in Meriden I go nowhere else my go to burger at Ted's is the chipotle burger with onion strings it's amazing like any place. You have to wait a few minutes to get rewarded with good tasting food although it's really not that long of a wait, I recommend this place highly I take my food seriously being that I am Hawaiian and Hawaiian's love to eat. I am a cook myself these burgers are so good Aloha. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Hawaiian loves teds burgers - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Visited Ted's a long time ago and came back to the area and enjoyed the food. We had gotten some burgers, parm fries and chx fingers. All were very good and very easy ordering online. . Good burgers w Soft hamburger rolls, fries were good as well and chx fingers were yummy and very large. Loved the outdoor picnic tables and curbside window for pick up. Definitely will come by again when visiting in the area. read more

If you are in Connecticut and you are a burger fanatic then you have to have a steamed cheeseburger and of course you get it at the place where they have been serving it since 1959!!! It's a tiny house but the food is made fresh to order and tastes great! I'm not gonna lie to you and tell you it's the greatest burger I've had... I like a bit more meat and I love the char on my burgers! And I do like my buns warmed up and buttered on the grille... but each to his own! I wish they would serve a softer bread... I think it would complement the burger better... But you cannot get better cheese melted on top of your burger than what I had here! It's melted and gooey and just enough chew to make it not a secondary add on but probably the main attraction! The regular fries are served crisp and complements the soft burger well! I didn't enjoy the home fries with chili and cheese as much (except for the cheese)... But if you're ever in CT... you have to come and try it for yourself... especially if you are a burger nut! read more

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I'm not sure where I read up on this "steamed" burgers thing but when I did, I bookmarked Ted's and here I am. Slow on a weeknight at around 8pm but a few take out orders were picked up while I enjoyed my meal so they're doing good business. They have a pretty good list of burger toppings already thought up, including bacon, barbecue sauce, various vegetables, different cheese and such. Home fries and french fries also available topped. I ordered the "everything" cheeseburger (LTO, pickles, mayo, ketchip) with small fries. The burger didn't take too long to be prepared and brought to my table as ordered. Stil super hot from the steamer and the cheese on top was almost a liquid when I bit into it and some of the juicy goodness poured onto my hands. Delicious. A completely different flavor than grilled or fire cooked burgers. Much meatier and certainly juicier. Well worth the stop that is just off the highway anyway! read more

Ted's Restaurant - Steamed burger at Ted's in Meriden, CT - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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We visited Ted's during the pandemic so we weren't able to go inside however we placed an order online and it was done a few minutes early and delivered to our car. My husband has wanted to try this place since he was a kid and they did not disappoint! My husband had the Hot and Spicy Cheeseburger and I had the California Steamin' and they were both amazing. We also ordered the fries with steamed cheese and it was delicious. The ingredients were high quality and if we are back in this area we would definitely come back. My only small complaint is that I paid extra for the fried onion strings but my burger didn't have them. read more

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Got a hamburger from Ted's food truck at a festival and it was good but nothing crazy. If you're feeling hungry and want a quick bite then this is it! read more

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

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Quite possibly the best burger I've ever had! My fiancé lived in CT at one point in his career, and he mandated that we stop here while traveling through the area. Due to COVID there is no inside service available, and all orders must be placed at the exterior walk-up window. The restaurant does have a few outdoor tables available, but based on the amount of patron traffic we observed while visiting I wouldn't recommend planning on having a place to sit and eat. But it doesn't matter -- these burgers are so good that I would be okay with sitting on the curb to eat. They're steamed (not grilled) so the meat is an amazing combination of soft, juicy, flavorful perfection encased in a puffy kaiser bun. The cheese is chewy perfection, but it's not your typical cheeseburger cheese since it doesn't over melt from the steaming process. This burger needs no condiments, veggies, or other toppings -- like a great steak, it stands alone. Did I mention the fries? Also some of the best I've ever had! They approach potato wedge size (but not quite), and they're dusted in a coating before being cooked which makes them very crispy on the outsize with plenty of soft potato on the inside. They also have an assortment of local soft drinks in addition to the regular big-brand sodas. There's a plethora of other items on the menu for the non-burger crowd, but I don't think I could order anything else from here now that I've had my first "steamed ham" (as my fiancé refers to them). 100% delish! read more

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

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I came all the way from Detroit to experience steamed cheeseburgers and I didn't leave disappointed. Service was quick and to be honest that was the best burger I've ever eaten. My Cajun fries were cooked and seasoned perfectly. If you're in the New England area, give this place a shot. If you don't like spicy, there is a huge list of special burgers, or you can build your own from scratch. Somewhat typical New England situation regarding parking. You guy are used to it but, but you will need to parallel park to access this restaurant. Price was $21 for both items and the burger is essentially two servings, so I'll be eating the other half for dinner. Great shake selection. Lactose intolerant, sorry. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Hot and Spicy steamed cheeseburger. Very generous portion sizes. - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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One of the those must try restaurants when in Connecticut. The stream burgers are good but that steamed cheese takes it over the top. My suggestion is in addition to the burger try the chicken sandwich with cheese... amazing! read more

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A CT Staple. Steamed Cheeseburgers And Ooooooh that Gooey Cheese I came with a group of 3 and 2 of us got burgers the other chicken. We split cheese & bacon fries and all really enjoyed the meal Not many tables but we were able to snag one. Street parking is not an issue in this area. We will definitely be back for another round soon read more

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I'm having a tough time reviewing this place however I did a quick search for "nearest restaurant" with the most reviews to my hotel and this place came up so I went. I'd say this is hangover food. After eating here I didn't understand the nostalgia behind the steamed burger it tasted pretty bland and soggy. I'll stick with a seasoned burger with sear marks for texture or chargrilled. Price-$ inexpensive Value- the portion was inline with the cost Service- the server that took my order - didn't get it right. I asked for a double cheeseburger with bacon and pickle (not complicated) I got a single patty. Ambiance- I actually liked the mom and pop vibe but the server made me just want to eat and leave, no small talk just "here's your check". read more

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

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I've been coming to Teds for at least 2/3 (i'm 31) of my life and that alone should speak to how amazing their burgers are. Their original location in Meriden is a small and quaint restaurant with some indoor seating. It gives a small town diner feel. I've watched them expand over the years and it's one of the best little businesses in Connecticut. I generally get the "everything" burger, loaded home fries and a cream soda. The star of the burgers in my opinion is the cheese. No one and nothing can replicate how good the cheese mixture is on a Teds burger. Their home fries have always been my favorite home fries and putting the cheese over them is perfection. If you're looking for a hearty filling burger from super friendly staff this is the place to go to. read more

This place is all hype ... the burger and fries are okay. Nothing better than a Five Guys or Red Robin and you really can't tell the difference between a steamed burger and a grilled one, except I found the steamed burger to be a little too well done (meat was grey throughout) and a bit dry. The best part of the burger was the melty American cheese which draped all over the oddly shaped and kind of small burger. It looked more like a 'burger clump' than a flat burger. The thing which was the best would be the buffalo French fries. A bit on the expensive side for a side dish, but they were the part of the meal I most enjoyed. They were tossed in buffalo sauce with blue cheese crumbles and I topped them with melted gooey American cheese. Not the easiest thing to eat as the cheese is more of a one piece thing but they were tasty and the fries were freshly made vs. bagged. Back to the burger ... I just don't get it. If I had to choose between steamed and grilled, I'd take grilled every time based on the flavor and the level of cooking. The steaming seems like a bit of a gimmick, which works, because Ted's was packed when I was there on a Weds. The burger had fresh lettuce and tomato. The bun was a big chewy and took away from the burger's taste ... I'd have preferred a brioche bun. The location is tough when it comes to parking. They have a lot with 3 spaces and there is street parking as well, but only about 4 spaces in front of the restaurant (most require the knowledge of tight parallel parking) and a handful of spaces across the street. Other than that, there really isn't anywhere to park in the vicinity so I guess you just circle until something opens up. The restaurant itself is always crowded and there is a diner style counter and then a few tables. There are a couple tables outside as well. For the most part, when I arrived at around 1 p.m. on a Wednesday, it was packed and there was nowhere to sit. Luckily, just before my food was ready, a single seat opened at the counter. I sat down and they put my food down without wiping the counter where the previous person had eaten. Gross. Overall, I can now say I've had a Ted's steamed burger but I most likely would not be back unless I was getting an order of fries to go. It's just a gimmick basically and you'd be much better at a place with a grill. The prices aren't terrible ... but they are no bargain either. Sorry to say it but there's just nothing special here and the crowds are not worth the wait time and parking issues. read more

Dont compare this with other burgers. Steamed Burger is something else. It taste so good with that melted cheese. I want to be back and have this three times a day. Amazing! read more

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

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It's been over 40 years since I've had a steamed cheeseburger. Didn't like them at all when I was a kid, so that impression was stuck in my head all this time. Today on the way home from work, I stopped at Ted's in Meriden. Ordered a steamed cheeseburger with pickles and mushrooms. Burger was prepared and given to me in less than 2 minutes. Honestly, the burger wasn't as horrible as my childhood memories. But it wasn't really that great either. Maybe it's an "acquired taste" ? It might not be another 40 years before I have my next steamed cheeseburger, but I won't be exactly running back for one either. read more

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

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Seems like steamed burger is a specialty of Meriden. I never saw it anywhere else. It is something everybody should try. Instead of grilling the patty, it is steamed. Cheese is also steamed and melted. Cheese is really delicious. I even went for a home fries with melted cheese and chilli. That was also really good. I loved everything, mostly because of the cheese. Steaming is slightly healthier than frying or grilling. read more

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Ted's is supposedly where the steamed cheeseburger was invented, and Ted's customized steamer trays certainly create some gooey, cheesy deliciousness on a bun. My only complaint with the burger is that I wondered if the steaming process might not blanch a bit of the meat's flavor out of the burger. However, it was fairly juicy and the oozing slab of white cheese more than compensated for any concerns that I may have had about flavor sacrifice. I was less impressed with Ted's fries which I felt were fairly basic, but to be fair, it was only after I had wolfed down my meal that I noticed Ted's huge selection of sauces. I'm certain that these would have made my burger and fries really pop. What I certain about Ted's is that they serve up a uniquely yummy cheeseburger and that, unlike other burgers, it microwaves up very well the next morning (yes, we had several burgers too many). read more

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I had seen this place on TV and wanted to check it out for awhile now. We took the drive and I'm so glad we weren't disappointed. The place isn't big but lucky for us it was busy so we got a table right away. The waitress was nice and brought us water and menus right away. I decided to go with the everything burger (minus the onions),some chili cheese fries and a cookies and cream milkshake. Our order came out super fast which I was happy about since I was starving. I have to say the burger was super juicy and had a great flavor. The fries had the same melted cheese and the chili was excellent. The milkshake was a little thin but it did the trick. I came with three friends and all four of us were very satisfied and enjoyed our lunch. The prices are also very cheap at least for this New Yorker. read more

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The best steamed cheeseburgers around!! The wait is fast and the staff is always friendly

My best friend works here and brought us home dinner-- The Buffalo chicken sandwich is to die for-- Like literally the best one I've ever had! The sweet potato fries were perfect too. Definitely a must have!!! read more

Came about an hour and 45min away to experience these famous burgers and man was it worth the drive !! They were very fresh, piping hot and moist with a nice crumble. I got the southwest and hubby got a steamed cheeseburger with a few of the free toppings. We got the large garlic parm fries to split and they were absolute perfection. Adding the steamed block of cheese to the fries was an excellent choice too. Feels like you're eating the best quality Wisconsin lol. SO GOOD. The girl running the front was nice and doing a great job. Just be mindful that if u wanna dine in its only 3 booths and then some counter seating and an outside patio. It seemed like most people got takeout. My husband declared that his reeses PB cup shake was the best he's ever had and I concur. WOWWWWWW. I wish it wasn't so far away cause we'd definitely be repeat customers. read more

Been going here for years! Never had a bad meal! The bison steak and bison chili is really good. Last time we stopped in we had the short ribs. Soooo yummy. The bar serves great drinks too! read more

I was hoping to have something special but instead I had a good burger that needed the help of condiments. The meat itself didn't have much taste and he gooey cheese was a little bland. I loved the place itself. I took a seat at the counter and watched them cook the burgers in their special steamer. I am not sure if it is worth a special trip but there is a novelty to getting a burger cooked in a way that no where else really does. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burger with ketchup, pickles and onions. - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Came across a youtube video a couple months ago that talked about regional burgers across the US of A, and this place was mentioned for their unique steamed burgers. Had it bookmarked since! Bf was craving burgers and since we'll be moving out of New Haven soon, I wanted to cross off Ted's from my NH bucketlist before the move. Another yelper compared it to White Castle, and I was pretty happy that he thought Ted's was a whole 'nother level (**I actually gagged after my first bite of White Castle slider and haven't touched it since.) ORDER - Fries: came out first. Perfectly fried and crisped. Super salty which went well with the ketchup and spicy mustard. - "The Everything" steamed cheeseburger (single- $6): bf ordered and loved this. The beefy flavor of the patty really shines through with the steamed technique bc all the juices are kept and then slid onto a kaiser-like roll that's thick enough to soak up the juices. - Steamed cheeseburger ($6): I ordered mine with lettuce, tomato, sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms, salt and pepper. Loved the gooey cheese. Super juicy and messy to eat, so I had to fork and knife it towards the end. Menu is pretty extensive ranging from burgers to chicken sandwiches and shakes, etc. The guys working behind the counter are hard working and super friendly. They efficiently took orders and delivered them to customers sitting inside and outside on the patio. I loved watching them slide the steamed cheese over the patty. Drool worthy!!Parking is a bit weird bc it's street. There's a loyalty program where after your 10th visit, you get a free burger. If we ever do come back, we definitely want to add the onion strings! read more

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We stopped while traveling between NYC & Boston. We enjoyed it so much! Me- got the Everything Burger. My friend - got the black & blue. Both burgers were satiating and tasty. We ordered the chili cheese homefries and French fries too. We could hardly make a dent in them but loved the flavors and the freshness. read more

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

Took a small detour that added two hours to our trip to try this place out. My wife and I were very impressed. It's a burger joint that does not have easy access or a lot of space. We took it out on a busy lunch day and parked on a neighborhood street to enjoy our burger and cheese fries. It was so good we drove back and ordered some more for the road. One of the most memorable burgers and fries I have had in my life. I do not have a favorite or place foods as they are unique in their own way. Teds will always be in the top 5. I would detour an extra three hours to hit this spot again. read more

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

Steamed Cheeseburger? Do you fuckers No know what a grill or flattop is? They don't cost that much. It's worth it to get one and cook your meat properly and not serve people some nondescript Grey hunk of ground beef. Jesus, you Yankees need southern friends to tell you when shit is a terrible idea. read more