Chowder Ted’s

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!

I dig this place! This is my third visit and I still got the same thing… chowder…duh! I was with Mr. Unilocal and he ordered the smoked fish dip (it was ok but not like crazy good over the moon good). I loved my chowdah, which honestly to this southern girl is like more of a stew!
It’s served in a cute pot which I just adore! The simplicity of this place is what makes it. I have had the shrimp po boy before and it was excellent! I have also had the grouper and it was also good!
It’s nestled in a quaint spot right off of Hecksher Drive on the northside of Jacksonville. It’s easy to miss! Not a ton of parking and that’s because they don’t have a ton of tables! Just can’t go wrong here but remember to bring CASH!!! That’s all they take!

Wow, I love this place. They make a unique chowder at a great price. They serve it well and with a genuine smile. The experience here is among the most authentic of any I’ve had in Jacksonville. It’s often the owners serving you their local fresh tomato based chowder. The location is right near the water on Hecksher Drive, so you feel like you are in the «real Florida» when you are here. Don’t expect anything fancy, but expect an excellent «hole in the wall» experience. Cash only!

I finally got there. And it was worth it.
After a good day at Huguenot Park beach, we stopped at chowder ted’s. Parking lot is full, walk in and there is a line to get a sit at the 10 tables or 6 stools at the bar. Waitress asked if we wanted a drink in the line while we waited.
Finally got a seat. First thing we got was the smoked fish spread and crackers. That was a good start. Good smoky flavor. it really isn’t a spread but a chunky smoked fish pieces in a flavor packed sauce. Good choice to start off.
I got the chowder. I got the full pot of chowder. Don’t waste your time getting the ½ pot of chowder unless you have an appetite of a gerbil. You’ll finish the ½ pot and want more. it is really really good. I can see why people rave about it. Loaded with veggies, fish, spotted some crawfish in it and couple of olives. yup, olives in chowder. Good touch, never seen that before. They also have garlic bread that comes with the full pot. Always good to dip into the chowder sauce. Loved every bit it. The spices in the chowder make it really good. Enough spicy heat to enjoy it without having it overwhelm you where you only taste the heat and nothing else.
I had 3 beers while I was there. I didn’t have to ask. Waitress saw the empty bottle sitting in front of me and presto, empty gone, icy cold beer in its place. Glad I wasn’t driving!!! I guess you have to tell her NOT to bring you a beer or drink while sitting there.
my wife had the fried shrimp which came with about 12 or so nice sized pieces of shrimp. She finished them off and I didn’t even get to try one.
I asked her if she would want to come back and she said, yup, this is pretty good. That’s worth a 5 star rating with that.
Make sure you find Chowder Ted’s. Tiny spot, packed with people, small menu but enough on it to satisfy anyone in the group you come there with.
Above all, try the chowder, well worth it.
Everyone always says, bring cash. they don’t have an ATM (didn’t see one there) and they don’t take cards.

Great chowder. Didn’t think I would like it, but it was recommended, and its good! Nice selection of fish and sandwiches. However… the place is really small and its really popular. Get there early or wait in line. Bring cash cuz they don’t take plastic.

I finally had my chance to eat here. This is a quant place with personality and what appears to be a croud of regulars. They were out of crab cakes so second choice was fried shrimp which were just OK. Small and breading had no flavor. My son had chowder which he said was just OK, but his oyster po boy was really good. This was topped with beautiful tomatoes. Onion rings were good. Waitress didn’t wipe after clearing table. Kinda gross, but kitchen appeared clean.

Okay, this is a very unique restaurant that you will either love or just put up with. I really loved it, while a few in my party were not as enthusiastic. Also remember it is CASH ONLY, so you don’t get caught unaware.
When you walk in you will notice five or so tables in the front room that sit two to four people each, with another four picnic tables in the back room that seat up to six each. It is not fancy, so if you want fancy head to Roy’s at the beach. However, if you give it a shot, you might like Chowder Ted’s just as much.
We were all sold on the chowder, because why would you not when it is what gives the restaurant its name. But wait, they are out of chowder? The waitress said it takes four hours to make six gallons of chowder and they do run out sometimes. So instead we ordered:
Conch Fritters — fantastic, and these the best.
Smoked Fish Dip — full of flavor, hard to eat
Tilapia Sandwich — grilled, easily my favorite
Oyster Po Boy — rich and flavorful.
Crab Cakes — delicious, full of crab
Served is a bit hurried, one waitress for both rooms, not rude but not exactly kind. Ambiance is rustic fish camp and sound is rather loud, but the food is incredible.

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 Unilocalers 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.

Had the blackened snapper & onion rings tonight… with a Corona or two. OUTSTANDING Ted’s is THE go-​to place for fresh fish.

Down home, greasy spoon. Ted’s has gotten too successful and the prices have gone up to keep the poor folks out. $ 10. for a farmed Tilapia filet sandwich is a bit much, considering the noisy and uncomfortable ambiance and the dirt parking lot full of potholes. The chowder tastes good, but you’re also getting a dose of Teflon flaking off the chowder pots — eeewwwww. Good and cheap? No thanks.
Ted: get some real bowls and hire a dishwasher and get rid of those flaking pots and ancient, heavy tube TV about to fall off the wall and hurt somebody!

Chowder Ted’s is a great spot to get a delicious seafood lunch. My companion and I both tried the fried tilapia sandwich with fries and onion rings. The sandwiches were perfect — the batter had a nice crunch, but was fairly light so the fresh fish stood out. They are served on a soft, very lightly toasted Kaiser roll, which is perfect to hold the filet. One of the best parts of the sandwich was the delicious Cajun sauce that’s spread on the roll. Our server, who was delightful, brought us some extra sauce to dip our fries and onion rings in — onion rings which were cooked to perfection and maybe the best I’ve ever had.
If my friend and I were smarter, we would have split the sandwich and some of their famous chowder, which looks and smells delicious. The fish spread appetizer looked pretty good too. Alas, those will have to wait for next time. Looking forward to going back!

Oh yeah!!! This is fo real great seafood. Had the oyster PO BOY and half pot. Wife had the snapper sandwich. Could not have asked for a better night out. Service was marvelous. Food came out quick, fresh and hot. Will make this a regular stop. Ted was cooking it up and was very friendly.

Places like this are what makes American food. You will never eat a better pot of stew. The recipe should be in the Smithsonian archive. Chowder ted s has been at this location for a long long time. Like a long time. One of the waitresses has been working there for over 20 years. If you fi. d a better bowl of chowder please tell me I want some. In the summer I get the half bowl half sandwich. In the winter I get a full pot of stew.
If you eat this stew you can work all day with superhuman strength. One man captured a 18 foot aligator with one hand after eating a bowl of ted s stew. Feed this to your children and they will be olimpians, Astronauts and plane ol ass kickers.
Puts led in your pencil.

While I’m hesitant to give a 5 star review to somewhere I’ve only been to once, I feel confident in this decision b/​c we had such a GREAT experience on our visit.
We have had Chowder Ted’s on our radar for a while now but the timing to get there just never worked out for us. Finally though we had an opening in the day on a day they were opened and made our way over there.
It was pretty busy for the middle of the afternoon but luckily there were 2 seats available at the counter/​bar, which was great since that’s where we prefer to sit anyways and you have a perfect view of everything going on in the kitchen.
Love that!
Also love that they carry some local brews!
We had to order the chowder (hello CHOWDER Ted’s lol) and it was AMAZING! It comes served in a pot right off the stove and I could have eaten the whole thing myself instead of sharing it with my husband :)
For my lunch I got the Fried Mayport Shrimp and my husband ordered the Blackened Fish Sandwich. Both were FANTASTIC and super fresh!
Next time I have my eye on something from the specials board because they all sounded so good.
**There’s not a lot of signage when trying to locate this place so know where you’re going ahead of time.

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.

If the dining area were bigger and used its fantastic location to take advantage of its spectacular view then Chowder Ted’s wouldn’t be a quaint shack dishing out fresh and good eats in an unpretentious way. It might be an overpriced restaurant with insufferable staff and a pedigreed wine list. Thank the stars Chowder Ted’s isn’t any of these things. The ahi tuna was perfection. The clam strips meaty and breaded and not dripping in grease. The snapper sandwich devoured before I could even ask for a nibble. But back to the ahi… seared to a delicate crisp on the outside, preserving the texture and taste of the tuna. A flourish of a wasabi sauce complimented both the fish and the ginger spring salad upon which it was nestled, flanked by a beefy red tomato slice. The special of Saturday night was pretty effing special. I should’ve washed it down with one of the local brews they had on tap but I’ll rectify that oversight on my next visit.
Limited tables, good service, fantastic food, cold beer. It’s a shack so don’t get glammed up. Bring your good attitude and taste buds. Honestly, if Ted took advantage of that view he could more than double his price easily. I’m glad he doesn’t cause if he did I’d only get to enjoy the view sitting in my car and be able to enjoy Chowder Ted’s dishes only a couple times a year on special occasions. In fact, I think I’ll head there right now as soon as I find my flip flops.

Drive by too fast and you’ll miss this blue painted gem tucked off in the cut! Sittin’ on the water by a bay, my mouth was already waterin’ cause I knew this fish was fidna be fresh. What I wasn’t ready for was that tasty chowder in a pot. Y’all, they serve it to you in. the. dern. pot. Like one of them old ones your grandma wouldn’t ever let you throw out.
Piping hot and so dang delicious. Like, I drank that roux with my straw when I was finished. And yes I held the damn pot to my face like it was a margarita glass. Yes there are pictures to prove it. I look drunk. And I was. Drunk in love with all them finely melded flavors. My favorite thing about this was the green olives. The brine those mugs added made me chair dance.
Then I went and ordered me a fried tilapia sammich. Whatever that special sauce is … finger lickin’, lettuce drippin’ gudt. Hot and fresh on a sturdy but cushy bun with plump juicy tomatoes. Huuuuuursh.
I ate it all. Save for a few fries. I was too ambitious.
Marvelous service by some super chill, mega amiable ladies. It’s worth gettin’ off the hard, beaten I-​95 path to sample real good hook-​to-​table cookin’.

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!

I get it. I understand why Bryan L. goes here multiple times every time he is in town. I’m not going to drive out of my way for it when I have several options at the beach, but this place deserves a Triple-​D nomination for sure.
Met a bunch of friends here for an early dinner. Was having a hard time figuring out what to order even though everyone was recommending the Daily Special. The special of the day was a Blackened Tuna with a ginger sesame salad. It looked good, but the Oyster Po’Boy was calling my name.
The oysters were plump, the sauce was plentiful (but not overwhelming) and the flavor just worked. It filled by belly on this overcast evening and made me a happy girl. I do look forward to trying a couple of things if/​when I make it back to Chowder Ted’s. Definitely wouldn’t be against scheduling in a lunch on my way to the airport, that’s for sure.

Everyone needs that little shack by the water, that is their go to for all things seafood.
Luckily for Jax, we have Chowder Teds!
First thing first: CASH ONLY.
When I typed in the address to Waze, I kept looking for the unpaved, obscure road, off the beaten track… and actually missed it smack dab in front of me because it was right there! (Look left right before the bridge.)
The place is super casual and funky, just how you hope a little seafood shack would be.
Next visit, I’ll order the special, but this trip, I was craving oysters somethin’ fierce, so opted for the Oyster Po Boy and onion rings. The Hoagie was soft and easy to bite in to, oysters were absolutely perfectly fried, and it was topped off by generous and leafy lettuce, tomato and a great sauce. Wouldn’t change a thing about it. And the onion rings?! You know, at some places, you take a bite and the all of the onion comes out in that one bite, all mushy? NOT HERE FRIENDS: each bite was perfect, and the onion stayed in tact to ensure each bite was the right amount of onion and batter. Nothing special or crazy about the batter, just a solid ring.
The chowder was warming and perfect for a cooler day, savory with a kick with nice seafood bites in the amazing broth.
And lucky for me, it’s only a quick 20 minute drive from Riverside… so I can’t wait to go back for whatever Ted offers up as the special that day! (Highly recommend by other Unilocalers!)
Keep it up Ted! Made me smile that our group gave him a standing ovation after our lovely and fun dinner!