When you mention frozen custard in St. Louis, the first thing that probably comes to mind is Ted Drewes. The famous custard shop has been serving treats for over 80 years. And while there are plenty of great ice cream spots in St. Louis, there is nothing quite like Ted Drewes.
Ted Drewes locations and hours
Ted Drewes has two locations in St. Louis. The largest store is located on part of old Route 66 in South St. Louis. It is at 6726 Chippewa, just east of the intersection with Jamieson. The Chippewa location is open from February to December at 11am. It is closed during the month of January.
The second location is also in South St. Louis at 4224 South Grand Boulevard, just past Meramec. The Grand location opens at 11am, but only during the summer months. It is closed the rest of the year.
How custard differs from ice cream
Frozen custard is a little different than soft serve ice cream, but still delicious. By Ted Drewes definition, frozen custard has at least 10% butterfat and 1.4% egg yolk. That makes for a thick, creamy treat that’s easy to mix with other ingredients in malts, smoothies, ice cream, and concretes.
Ted Drewes Favorites Menu
Ted Drewes only serves frosting. The flan is mixed with your choice of more than three dozen toppings including fudge, caramel, candies, fruits, and nuts. The most popular way to eat custard is on concrete, which is a thick mixture of custard and toppings (think a Dairy Queen storm, but much better). You can create your own combinations or try one of dozens of special concretes. . Special favorites include Terramizzou, a mix of chocolate sauce and pistachios, and Hawaiian, a combination of banana, coconut, pineapple, and macadamia nuts.
Most people sit in their cars or in the parking lot to eat their custard, but you can get your order. Ted Drewes workers will even pack your candy in dry ice to keep it cold on the go.
Christmas trees
Custard is the main attraction at Ted Drewes, but the Chippewa location is also known for its Christmas trees. Each year, Ted Drewes brings a selection of Canadian balsam firs and other pre-cut trees to sell at the Chippewa location’s parking lot. The trees are available every day from Thanksgiving until a few days before Christmas. And of course, you can get your favorite frozen custard dessert while choosing your tree.
Other St. Louis sweets
Ted Drewes is a great place to go when you have a sweet tooth, but there are some other St. Louis stores worth checking out as well. Crown Candy Kitchen is an old-time soda fountain that makes great smoothies and malts, plus a wide variety of chocolate candies. You’ll also find great treats at Bissinger’s, Kakao, Lake Forest Confections, and other fine chocolate shops in St. Louis.
