Teddy's Bigger Burgers Express
Update: April 2005
Teddy's Bigger Burgers Express has closed.
Normally, I bring lunch from home during the week, saving my dining out days for Fridays. Well, today, a friend of mine who used to work with me invited me out to lunch. Since I haven't seen her in a while, I said OK. So here I am, buying my lunch from Teddy's Bigger Burgers Express.
Teddy's is a small shop and is located about 5 minutes away from the office. The bright yellow space, calls to mind a 50's diner theme. The shop has a limited amount of seating, 4 stools near the window and 3 along the side wall, so we order ours to go.
The menu is quite short, which in my opinion is good. When you focus on a specific product, and not try to offer something for everyone, you're bound to be good at it. (Think In-N-Out Burger.)
I decided on the #1 Big Combo (US$6.75) with cheese (additional, US$.40). The combo consists of a 5 ounce burger topped with super sauce, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles, an order of thick cut fries and a 16 ounce drink.
When the burger arrived, it was hot and freshly prepared. The cheese had just started to melt by the time I was ready to bite into the burger. The super sauce is what made this burger delicious. To me, it tasted like a combination of mustard and mayonaisse and also other flavors, that I couldn't put my finger on. The burger was nice and juicy, although still a bit pink in some places, even though I had ordered it well done. The fries were cut thick, and done just right. Hot and fresh, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. And, I was able to order them no salt!
In my opinion, Teddy's has one of the better burgers in the state. Although this one wasn't cooked to order like it should have been, it won't stop me from coming here again. While it's certainly not cheap, it is better than most "fast food" burgers, which makes this a pretty good value.
Teddy's Bigger Burgers Express
801 Alakea Street
Telephone: 808.599.8770
Reid,
How does this place compare to Kua Aina's in your opinion? Looks kinda more like an In-N-Out burger from the picture. We have several 50's retro places here in LA like Rocky Cola's and Ruby's Diner here in Redondo Beach. Good hamburgers and nostalgic ambience.
Posted by: Clinton | October 26, 2004 at 03:57 AM
Hi Clinton,
I would say that these are up there with In-N-Out, but In-N-Out still has them beat. I do know that they use fresh ground chuck for their burgers and that each is cooked to order. As for a comparison between this and Kua Aina, I would probably give the nod to Kua Aina only because this is more like fast food, in terms of taste and quality. Hope that helps.
Posted by: Reid | October 26, 2004 at 06:45 PM
If your eyes are twitching right now, it's because I'm swearing in silence. Those pics just made Mr. Stomach go grr-grr. Beats the crap out of my USD5.00 Big Macs and Whoppers.
I've heard a lot about this "In-N-Out" burgers. You have them over there too? If you do, I look forward to your coverage soon.
Posted by: FatMan Seoul | October 26, 2004 at 10:35 PM
Hi FatMan,
We don't have In-N-Out Burger here in Hawaii, but I did a post a while back on the one I visited when I was in Las Vegas. It was around the time that you were MIA. In-N-Out is my favorite fast food burger hands down. McD's has nothing on In-N-Out or Teddy's!
Posted by: Reid | October 26, 2004 at 11:35 PM
Reid - I read that post on In 'n' Out - never heard of them before, never been to the US... But they look unlike any burgers in my experience. i.e. they look quality. I went and tried a place in Saigon today, but it paled compared to Teddy's and InO.
Posted by: pieman | October 27, 2004 at 04:21 PM
Hi pieman,
In-N-Out is by far the best fast food burger, in my opinion. The stores are located only in the Western US (Arizona, California and Nevada). The burgers are fresh and super tasty...and a real bargain considering the prices of today's fast food burgers. The other thing to consider is that In-N-Out doesn't franchise any of its restaurants...no fear of it becoming a McD's, Burger King or Jack-In-The-Box.
As far as Teddy's, I would say that it's up there in terms of "fast food" burgers. Not quite as good as the gourmet burgers from Kua Aina or Big City Diner, but much better than McD's any day.
Sorry you don't have much luck with burgers in Vietnam. How are the burgers in the UK?
Posted by: Reid | October 27, 2004 at 07:29 PM
Yea after reading Reid's In-N-Out post last night, I went out and drowned myself in 1 Big Mac, 1 McWest (which is McD's equivalent to BK's Whopper) and a tub of fries. *sigh* no comfort.
No one needs to remind me - I've watched "Supersize Me". Now get off my back! :o)
Posted by: FatMan Seoul | October 28, 2004 at 08:58 PM
Hi FatMan,
We don't have the McWest here. How does it compare to the Big Mac? Is it just a bigger burger without the special sauce?
Posted by: Reid | October 28, 2004 at 09:41 PM
There's a pic of it here:
http://www.mcdonalds.co.kr/html/product/set.html
Top row, middle pic - that's the one!
Posted by: FatMan Seoul | October 29, 2004 at 12:03 AM
Hi FatMan,
You're right...I looks like a Whopper! It's interesting to see what's actually offered by American fast food restaurants overseas. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Reid | October 29, 2004 at 06:30 PM
you people are retarded. how can kua'aina, big city diner, or even in-n-out compare to the juiciness and special sauce of teddy's. these burgers are far superior and more scrumptous than anything yet on the market. you people must not have taste buds.
Posted by: matt | March 24, 2005 at 08:57 AM
I will have to say that IMHO, Teddy's is much better than Kua Aina. The burger itself is tastier. Take off a piece of just the meat and compare the two. The sauce is really good too. The fries are medium sized-between the thin McD fries and those big dinner fries. I love them! Iv'e been to Teddy's across the Honolulu Zoo (used to be on Monsarrat nest to Diamond Head crater)and the newer one in Koko Marina Shopping Center. I haven't tried the Express. The Waikiki and Hawaii Kai ones are much bigger in size and is not as cramped.
Posted by: Trisha | March 24, 2005 at 03:01 PM
Hi Matt,
Thanks for dropping by and expressing your opinion. =)
Hi Trisha,
I actually think that the burgers at Teddy's are in a different class than the burgers are Kua 'Aina or Big City diner. It's more fast food than gourmet.
That said, this is probably one of the better "fast food" burgers being served here. I still prefer In-N-Out to Teddy's, but prefer Big City Diner to Kua 'Aina.
Posted by: Reid | March 25, 2005 at 02:52 AM
Reid
the "No Rules Burger" at Outback Steakhouse is pretty good! better than Kua Aina & Teddys IMO
have you tried Outback's burger's yet?
Posted by: John | February 03, 2007 at 12:16 PM