With the Maui Invitational bouncing into West Maui Nov. 21 to 23, hungry basketball fans will want to make a pit stop at Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center.
Teddy's Bigger Burgers is located there on the ground level. Residents and visitors are raving about the quality and the size of the burgers as well as the crispy fries, in spicy, garlic and cheese flavors, and the creamy milkshakes.
"The Maui Invitational is the biggest event coming up on our horizon," says Teddy's owner Henry Telles, who opened the first Teddy's outlet on Maui in May with his wife, Lisa. "We're hoping that a lot of sports fans stop and eat a big burger here."
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The Lahaina-style burger is a beefy masterpiece packed with pineapple, bacon, Swiss cheese and jalapenos.
Teddy’s Bigger Burger photo
The original and teri burgers all come in 5-, 7- and 9-ounce portions. You may double everything as well as pile on toppings such as avocado, blue cheese, bacon and onion rings.
The hamburger patties are made by hand from 100-percent ground chuck. Cooked to a medium doneness, they are stacked with special sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles.
Henry, who has been with Teddy's since 2002 at the Monserrat store in Waikiki, knows what a popular franchise it is. He is in charge of operations and the grill. Lisa runs the register and is chief financial officer and marketing director. The couple's Lahaina-style burger is only available on Maui.
"It's fun. We really complement each other, help each other out," says Henry. "Right now, 95 percent of our business is local. So we really try to do well for kamaaina, offering 10 percent discount on food and beverage. Of course, we're a family-style store, so we don't serve any alcohol in here."
The weekday "happy hours" offer $1 off combos for everyone from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.
"We're trying to be really community-oriented," says Lisa. "We're open to giving donations for fund- raisers. We also try to keep it seasonal. This month's ice cream flavor is haupia, and we might do an eggnog for the holidays. Maui's own Roselani ice cream is used to make the shakes."
For more details, call Teddy's at 661-9111.
