Ted’s Hot Dogs, the longtime Buffalo, New York-based restaurant famous for its charcoal-grilled hot dogs, is expanding its Arizona presence with a second Valley location opening in Chandler. The new restaurant officially opens Saturday near Gilbert and Germann roads, bringing the company’s signature all-beef hot dogs, burgers, onion rings, and sauces to the East Valley.
The restaurant is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that has operated since 1927. Ted’s founder, Theodore Spiro Liaros, a Greek immigrant known as “Ted,” originally opened the first Ted’s Hot Dogs location in Buffalo nearly a century ago. Over time, the company expanded across western New York before eventually bringing the brand to Arizona with its first Valley restaurant in Tempe.
The Chandler opening generated major excitement among fans of the restaurant, with some customers reportedly lining up overnight and camping outside the building before the grand opening. David Ketring and Kaden Goeckeritz were among those waiting for the doors to open early Saturday morning.
Ketring told Arizona’s Family that Ted’s had long been a tradition for many Arizona State University fans and Valley residents who regularly visited the Tempe location before ASU sporting events. He praised the restaurant’s cheese sauce and all-beef hot dogs, calling them a longtime favorite.
Goeckeritz said he enjoys ordering a fully loaded hot dog from Ted’s because of the way the toppings are balanced and layered. He explained that the restaurant piles on toppings heavily while still allowing customers to taste all the different flavors together.
The new Chandler restaurant was designed to resemble one of the original Ted’s Hot Dogs locations located in Buffalo’s Front Park neighborhood. Fourth-generation owner Evan Ortolani said the company wanted the new Arizona restaurant to honor the chain’s long history while giving customers the same experience that helped make Ted’s famous in New York.
Inside the restaurant, customers will find wood-paneled walls, vintage-style white tile, old-school signage, and neon lighting inspired by classic American hot dog stands. Ted’s also continues using cast iron grills fueled by hardwood charcoal, which company leaders say helps create the restaurant’s signature flavor.
Ortolani said customers visiting the Chandler location can expect the same hospitality and food quality the restaurant has focused on for generations. He explained that Ted’s remains an à la carte restaurant where customers customize their meals with toppings like cheese, bacon, chili, caramelized onions, and other additions.
The Chandler restaurant also introduces some menu additions not previously available at other Arizona locations, including a steak sandwich. In addition to hot dogs, the menu features sausages, burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, corn dogs, chili cheese fries, onion rings, and other classic fast-casual items.
Customers can choose between three different styles of hot dogs along with more than two dozen topping options. The restaurant also offers multiple signature sauces, including barbecue sauce, spicy mustard, and Ted’s Hot Sauce.
Ted’s continues emphasizing made-to-order preparation, allowing customers to watch employees cook meals directly on the charcoal grills inside the restaurant. Company leaders say the visible cooking process has been part of the Ted’s experience since the company’s earliest days in Buffalo.
To celebrate the grand opening, Ted’s planned several giveaways for early customers. The very first customer in line was set to receive a special golden keychain granting buy-one-get-one-free hot dogs for life. Four additional golden keychains were also expected to be distributed throughout opening day. Other early guests were scheduled to receive Ted’s Hot Dogs merchandise, including branded T-shirts and promotional items.
The Chandler location is situated at 2700 E. Germann Road near the northwest corner of Gilbert and Germann roads. According to Chandler Chamber of Commerce information, the restaurant joins Ted’s growing list of locations, which now includes multiple western New York restaurants, a food truck operation, the Tempe restaurant, and the new Chandler expansion.
Ted’s Hot Dogs has increasingly built a loyal following in Arizona since opening its Tempe restaurant. Fans are drawn to the chain’s old-school preparation style, charcoal cooking method, and Buffalo-inspired menu. The company’s continued Arizona expansion reflects the Valley’s growing restaurant scene and rising demand for nostalgic regional restaurant brands entering the Phoenix metro area.
The Chandler restaurant officially opens at 11 a.m. and will operate daily until 9 p.m.
Source: AZFamily
