By Kristin Hashimoto

Teddy's Burgers in Lahaina

Does Maui finally have bigger and better burgers? Teddy’s Bigger Burgers in Lahaina opened for business last week and offers a better fast food-esque type burger experience. The price for a typical burger and fries combo is a little more than what you’d pay at those golden arches, or those kingly “flame broiled,” fast food chains.

For around $10, a “bigger burger” made from 100 percent ground chuck beef, comes with fries and a drink.

Rootbeer Shake, photo by Kristin Hashimoto

Upgrade to an ice cream shake in rootbeer, dreamsicle, pineapple, strawberry, peanut butter, vanilla or chocolate. These are the kind of shakes that can be turned upside down and the drink won’t move for a while. No amount of straw suction will make this shake flow into your mouth, before it melts a bit. These are seriously thick shakes. Or, if you can’t wait for a sweet treat to melt its way into your mouth, have a cool ice cream float in a favored soda.

Delayed gratification is definitely part of the process here at Teddy’s. Once you order up, your customized burger experience will be made to your specifications. So instead of a quickie hand-over of devourable items for cash, customers receive a handy dandy light up plastic square. It feels like you’re winning the jackpot at some arcade, when the blue lights go off in quickly ticking succession around the square.

On the menu are Teddy’s original burgers and sweet and spicy specials for Hawaii. Burgers come in five, seven, and nine-ounce patties, cooked medium. Fries can be made cheesy, garlic, chili, or spicy. Have onion rings, or go with the jalapeno poppers.

The Kilauea Burger, photo by Kristin Hashimoto

It seems like this joint has a lot of customizable burger and drink options. If beef eating isn’t your “thing,” then try their fish and chips, or fish, chicken and garden burger varieties. Apparently, the crispy chicken sandwich is more than “finger lickin’ good.”

Prices are very reasonable if patrons stick with the standard menu options. However, people pay for the extras and the individualization of every burger, fry and drink.

Teddy’s is a small burger chain with restaurants in Washington, Oahu and Japan. They are open everyday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. They are located at 335 Keawe Street at the Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center.