Ted's Cafe Escondido

[~~*DarlingDiva*~~]

Well folks call me sheltered or just stuck in a rut with the same out to dinner locations as always.But Anyways The family and I ventured out to this restaurant tonight and it was GREAT!It was totally worth the 30 minute wait and I must say I see why all my friends are Raving about it and the parking lot was jam packed.The food is unbelieveable!I highly recommend this for your dates or just for a treat for yourself If you like Mexican food you will LOVE teds!

[Midtowner]

It's overrated IMHO. Pepe's of Edmond or Laredo's around 63rd & Western are almost exactly the same for a much better price. The only place I think Ted's has a slight edge on the other two are their salsa selection.

Ted's is definitely not worth the wait though.

Neither location.

[Patrick]

Hey DarlingDiva....I do agree with you. Teds is excellent. It's one of my top 5 favorite Mexican restaurants in town. But as Midtowner suggests I don't think it's worth waiting 2 hours for. Maybe 30 minutes like you did though. 30 minutes is actually pretty good for Teds. I had a friend at UCO that worked there and he said the average wait was 1 hour on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends. I've waited up to an hour, but probably won't do it again. I try to do take out now if I do Ted's. That seems to work best.

Anyways, I know Ted's has other locations now, but I still like the original off N. May.

Midtowner......I've actually been wanting to go to Laredo's for sometime now. We always drive by there, and my fiancee always comments on how cute it looks! I guess we'll have to check it out.

We've also been wanting to check out Mamasitas, just down the street from Laredo's. Have you ever been there?

When Keith and I usually go to Bricktown we usually go to Chelino's. With Chelino's it all kind of depends on the location and time. I've always had a good meal at the Bricktown location, but I ate at the N. May and NW 59th location recently and it was horrible. I won't go back to that location.

Generally, I try to stay away from chain Mexican restaurants like On the Border, El Chico, Don Pablos, etc. I prefer the authentic. San Marcos has no atmosphere but they have some of the better Mexican food I've ever eaten. Definitely not a place to take a first date, but good food anyways.

[kevinpate]

Yea. The more places there are for the masses to go to a Ted's, the more seats will remain open in places with better chow.

God bless America

[Jeepnokc]

Yea. The more places there are for the masses to go to a Ted's, the more seats will remain open in places with better chow.

God bless America

Comments like this make me miss the "like" button

[Midtowner]

Chelino's is greasy and uses too much cheese in my opinion.

Pepe's and Laredo's are owned by the same two guys.

As for Mamasita's, I ate there once, probably about 15 years ago. Didn't stack up.

Pepe's/Laredo's have great margaritas by the pitcher (strong).

[Patrick]

Thanks for the info. Midtowner. We'll definitely check out Laredos.

[mranderson]

If Laredo's is like the one in Dallas I visited a few years ago, then you might get a bit of practise with your medical studies.

I ate some ribs that gave me food poisining. To top that, the waiter had the perfect name. Rudy. He was quite rude. I will not go back to any of their locations.

[Midtowner]

Completely different.

I've been eating at both since I was very, very young.

I've never heard of anyone having trouble there.

[Patrick]

Are they both owned by the same person???

[Midtowner]

Same people. Pepe and Manuel. Not sure what their last names are.

They're two of the hardest working people I've ever seen.

[MasterWolf]

Went out to Ted's with my wife.. It was great. Don't have a whole lot to say about it besides that it was great. lol.

[Patrick]

Which location did you go to? I don't think they matter much. I've been to all of them, but of course I still have a special liking for the original.

[~~*DarlingDiva*~~]

Hey Patrick,
We went to the one on the south side.On south Western I guess its where Hollies used to be but they tore it down and buit the restaurant.Again I will add with the parking lot being as packed as it was and the time we got there probably 6:30 or so I was Very surprised when they said 30 mins ,By God we were seated in 30 mins.I loved it I still cant shut up abou the place.In fact after our Passion Parties meeting at Hooters tonight in Bricktown,I suggested that we hold next months meeting at Teds,Everyone jumped on my band wagon so I was a happy girl!
Talk to you soon,DD

[tc4542@cox.net]

Hi all,

I'm new here. Thanks for all the comments. I will say since we have 3-restaurants now it's much easier to get in. The old "2-hour wait" story is a myth. Usually it's only 30 minutes except maybe during the holidays. If you ever want to have the meeting there just let me know and I'll get it setup for you, we'd love to have you. If you ever have any food or service issues get a hold of me too. I will definately take care of you.

I'm glad to be a board!

Thanks,

Ted Curtis
Ted's Cafe Escondido.

[downtownguy]

Welcome to the board! You have an excellent reputation in this town, and it can't be too bad if you're suffering from the old saying "they're so busy nobody goes there anymore."

[tc4542@cox.net]

Thanks,

We've tried very hard to maintain the quality. I really hated to make people wait like that for those several years but I wasn't about to expand until I had my ducks in a row. You have to be ready or you will ruin it when you expand. Hopefully now it's a lot easier for everyone. South has taken quite a bit of pressure off 68th street. It's actually pretty easy to get into now. Thanks for allowing me on the forums. If you have any questions, comments, etc.., fire away.

Thanks,
Ted.

[metro]

mmmmmmmmm ted's

[soonerguru]

Ted,

Thank you so much for the immediate and overwhelming response. I'm extremely impressed.

My girlfriend and I visited your south location and were treated to a wonderful meal with exceptional service. The quality of everything: chips, salsa, quac, entrees, was twice as good as our ill-fated last visit. We dined in the Annex that time, if that has any relevance.

Your hospitality and attention to detail and world-class customer service have literally blown me away. You do things the right way and I guess I just was unlucky and hit you on a freak night the last time I visited.

We really enjoyed the layout of your new location. Great staff, clean, comfortable dining room. Convivial atmosphere, music, etc.

The food was very, very good tonight as well.

I would recommend to anyone who has not done so yet to visit the new Ted's on South Western.

[Patrick]

Ted, I suppose any restaurant can have its "issues" if you go at the wrong time, but I know you're always a pure perfectionist when it comes to running your restaurants, and I applaud you for that. If there is a problem, I know it doesn't take you long to get on it. I'm sure the experiences soonerguru had were purely a mishap, but as always, I appreciate you for getting on top of the issues.

DarlingDiva is right...the mods (myself included) had our meeting at your northside restaurant again this past month, and the food was great. Even moreso though, I must say the service is second to none. Never have I been somewhere and the cheese, salsa, chips, and tortillas keep coming out like at Ted's. Other restaurants tend to skimp on those offerings.

I don't deny anything soonerguru said....I'm just saying the way you typically run your business, it was probably merely a mishap.

By the way, I've also noticed that your prices are higher than other restaurants. For example, a plate of enchiladas at your restaurant runs $11-12 whereas you can get the same thing at Pablano or Chelinos for $7-8. But, I really don't think their service compares to yours. Also, as I said, you don't skimp on the extras, whereas other restaurants do. I think the extra price is worth it for what you're getting.

Keep up the great work.

[Patrick]

I'd also recommend the Edmond location. The northside location seems more casual, and quaint, (great after along day) whereas the Edmond location seems more upscale. I've never been to the southside location, so I can't comment there.

Seems like all 3 Ted's restaurants offer a sligtly different atmosphere.

[mranderson]

I am glad there are still some business owners who address complaints.

It seems whenever I lodge a complaint, I get the brush off. All this causes is for me to never return. When I complain, be it about the fact some rude person hogged the parking lane, stalling traffic for 15 minutes (it has happened more than once) just to get that space ten feet closer to the building, or a rude employee, or the time I got food poisining at a Dallas area restaurant, I want to be heard, and I want proof of the action taken. I do not accept a person saying "I'm sorry, I'll take care of it." Show me. Prove it. Earn my return. However, by all means DO NOT IGNORE ME! I will never be back if you do. And if the problem reoccurs within a short time, I will not be back.

I applaud you Ted. I usually do not do Mexican because I do not like cheese, but if you serve something without, I will certainly try your place with the confidence that if I run into a problem, it will be addressed... And I proudly boast about the people on this board. I have told people of Ted's membership to OKC Talk on more than one occasion.

[workman45]

I remember some friends at church bragging about how good Ted's was and then after reading the forum, I decided to give it a try. The decor was nice and everything about the food was top rate. The most pleasing surprise was the service, the last time I had service that good was at Mickey Mantle's. This was at the north resturant and now I can fully understand all the praise everyone is giving them. I'll definitely be back.

[Patrick]

I remember some friends at church bragging about how good Ted's was and then after reading the forum, I decided to give it a try. The decor was nice and everything about the food was top rate. The most pleasing surprise was the service, the last time I had service that good was at Mickey Mantle's. This was at the north resturant and now I can fully understand all the praise everyone is giving them. I'll definitely be back.

I think what makes Ted's so good is that Ted is a pure perfectionist. If you ever have a complaint with one his restaurants, simply tell him, and you'll not only get a free meal, the problem will be dealt with immediately. You can't say that about a lot of restaurant owners.

I'll admit, Ted's isn't the only Mexican restaurant I eat at....I like several. But, the service at Ted's and the quality of food offered there is always superb.

Keep the cheese, salsa, chips, and tortillas coming please!

[Patrick]

Since I split the thread, here's the post mydalmationis8 made on Ted's and mexican restaurants:

There are a number of decent Mexican restaurants in OKC. Ted's Escondido, Abuelo's, the south side Chelino's, etc. If you want a variety of salsas, try the Iguana Lounge on North Western (north of 63rd). OKC's best undiscovered Mexican restaurant is, IMHO, The Adobe Grill at 51st & N. Shartel (in the Shartel Shopping Center).
Although Ted has not replied to the question, I suspect he has serious reservations about opening a Ted's in Norman. You can't swing a stick in Norman without hitting a Mexican restaurant. The numerous competitors for dining dollars may make Ted's not as competitive, pricewise, as the other restaurants even if the quality is better.