Photos of Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis, Missouri
Know Before You Go
To make the most of your visit to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis, Missouri, here are some things to know before you go.
What is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard?
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is one of the most famous frozen custard stands in America and a true Route 66 icon. Founded in 1929, the family-owned business has been serving rich frozen custard to generations of St. Louis residents and travelers. Today, it remains one of the most popular stops along the Mother Road.
Where is the Route 66 location?
The most famous location is the Chippewa stand at 6726 Chippewa Street in St. Louis, Missouri, directly on Historic Route 66. The stand has operated at this location since 1941 and is considered a must-stop destination for Route 66 travelers.
Find another location, off Route 66, at 4224 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63111.
What is frozen custard?
Frozen custard is similar to ice cream but contains egg yolks, giving it a richer, creamier texture. Ted Drewes serves vanilla frozen custard that can be enjoyed plain or mixed with dozens of toppings and flavors.
What is a Concrete? Why do they turn it upside down?
The Concrete is Ted Drewes’ signature creation. Introduced in 1959, it is an ultra-thick frozen custard blended with toppings and served so thick that employees famously turn it upside down before handing it to customers.
The tradition began to demonstrate just how thick the custard is. The upside-down presentation became so famous that it eventually inspired similar promotions elsewhere, including Dairy Queen’s Blizzard.
What is on the Ted Drewes Menu?
Ted Drewes is famous for its rich vanilla frozen custard, which serves as the foundation for a menu filled with Concretes, sundaes, shakes, malts, floats, ice cream sodas, cones, and dozens of mix-ins and specialty creations. The signature item is the Concrete, a thick frozen custard blended with toppings and served upside down to demonstrate its famous consistency. Popular specialties include the Cardinal Sin (hot fudge and tart cherries), Terramizzou (chocolate and pistachios), All Shook Up (Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and bananas), Fox Treat (hot fudge, raspberries, and macadamia nuts), and the Route 66 Concrete made with Ted Drewes’ homemade root beer and malt. Visitors can also customize their own treats with flavors ranging from Oreo cookies and cookie dough to hot fudge, butterscotch, pecans, strawberries, and peanut butter. Beyond custard, the menu features house-made root beer, floats, orange slushies, and seasonal favorites that have made Ted Drewes a St. Louis tradition for generations.
The Concrete is one of our picks of 66 Must-Eat Dishes on Route 66 and 15 Best Route 66 Foods to Eat in Missouri.
Ted Drewes Menu
Sample menu, subject to change.
Concretes
Ted Drewes vanilla frozen custard blended with your choice of mix-ins.
Sizes
- Micro Concrete
- Small Concrete
- Regular Concrete
- Large Concrete
Sundaes
Ted Drewes vanilla frozen custard topped with your choice of flavors.
Sizes
- Kiddie Sundae
- Small Sundae
- Jumbo Sundae
- Super Sundae
Signature Concretes & Sundaes
- Cardinal Sin (Hot fudge and tart cherries)
- Terra Mizzou (Chocolate and pistachios)
- Twisted Caramel (Salted caramel and pretzels)
- Lemon Crumb (Lemon and graham crackers)
- All Shook Up (Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cups and bananas)
- Fox Treat (Hot fudge, raspberries, and macadamia nuts)
- Dutchman Delight (Chocolate, butterscotch, and pecans)
- Blue Note (Blueberries, lemon, and graham crackers)
- The Mildred (Butterscotch and pecans)
- Muddy Mississippi (Chocolate chips, peanut butter, and cone pieces)
- Turtle (Hot fudge, caramel, and pecans)
- The Dottie (Chocolate, mint, and macadamia nuts)
- CITY Red (Dad’s Scotch Oatmeal Cookie, maraschino cherries, and coconut)
- Muny Mocha (Abaco Mocha and Heath Bar®)
- Brennan Blend (Abaco Mocha, hazelnuts, and caramel)
- The McGraw (Heath Bar® and Oreo®)
- Fragile Forest (Hot fudge and bananas)
- The Route 66 (Homemade root beer and malt)
- Johnny Rabbitt (Chocolate chips and maraschino cherries)
- TeDads (Dad’s Scotch Oatmeal Cookies)
- Lewis & Clark Trail Mix (Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cups, pretzels, and granola)
Specialty Sundaes
- Crater Copernicus (Devil’s food cake, custard, hot fudge, and whipped cream)
- Strawberry Shortcake (Shortcake, strawberries, custard, and whipped cream)
- The Christy (Brownie, custard, caramel, and hot fudge)
- Caramel Apple (Apple pie, custard, caramel, and almonds)
- Banana Split (Custard topped with hot fudge, strawberries, pineapple, pecans, and whipped cream)
- Hawaiian Delight (Pineapple, bananas, coconut, and macadamia nuts)
Seasonal Favorites
- Valentine’s Day (Strawberries, hard-shell chocolate, and whipped cream)
- Shamrock (Mint and Oreo®)
- Carrot Cake Concrete (Carrot cake, carrots, and toasted pecans)
- Uncle Sam (Shortcake, strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream)
- The Great Pumpkin (Pumpkin pie blended into vanilla custard with whipped cream)
- Cindermint (Peppermint sticks blended into vanilla custard)
Mix-Ins & Toppings
- Abaco Mocha*
- Almonds
- Banana
- Blueberry
- Brownie
- Butterscotch
- Caramel
- Cherry
- Chocolate Chip
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon*
- Coconut
- Cookie Dough
- Graham Cracker
- Hazelnuts
- Heath Bar®
- Hot Fudge
- Lemon
- Lime*
- M&M®
- Macadamias
- Marshmallow
- Mint
- Oreo®
- Peach
- Peanut Butter
- Pecans
- Peppermint
- Pineapple
- Pistachio
- Praline
- Pretzel
- Raspberry
- Reese’s®
- Root Beer*
- Strawberry
- Tart Cherry
- TeDad’s (Oatmeal Cookie)
- Whipped Cream
* Mix-in only flavors.
Other Frozen Treats
- Vanilla Custard Cone (Can be dipped in chocolate)
- Cookie Sandwich
- Orange Slushy
- Shake (Frozen custard blended with your favorite flavor)
- Malt (Frozen custard blended with flavor and malt)
- Float (House root beer or Coca-Cola products with vanilla custard)
- Coffee Float (Fresh coffee with frozen custard)
- Ice Cream Soda (Carbonated beverage with flavor, whipped cream, and cherry)
Beverages
House Favorites
- Homemade Root Beer
- Orange Slushy
- Coffee Float
Soft Drinks
- Coke
- Diet Coke
- Sprite
- Iced Tea
- Lemonade
- Coffee
- Hot Chocolate
Is parking available?
Yes. Parking is available in the attached lots.
What are the hours?
Ted Drewes is open daily from 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM. They are open until “at least 10:30 PM” so you may be in luck if you get there late.
The stop closes for about a month in the winter in January and February, dates vary.
Can you buy souvenirs?
Visit the Ted Drewes Gift Shop next door to browse the small museum and pick up a souvenir.
Where to Stay Near Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
Complete your travel itinerary and get a good night’s rest on your road trip with a stay at one of these St. Louis hotels near Route 66.
St. Louis Union Station Hotel
An icon since 1894, the St. Louis Union Station is a vintage gem wrapped in elegant archways and décor. Admire the famous Grand Hall, experience all the on-site attractions, enjoy 3D light shows and a 100-foot waterfall, and access the fitness center and seasonal outdoor pool. All just a mile from downtown St. Louis.
Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at The Arch
If you want to find a hotel close to the Gateway Arch, you can’t do any better than the Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at The Arch. This St. Louis hotel is located less than a five-minute walk to the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium, at the heart of downtown. Enjoy 37-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and hot tub, and a free hot breakfast.
Magnolia Hotel St. Louis
Listed on the National Historic Register, Magnolia St. Louis was originally built in 1924 as the Mayfair Hotel by Charles Heiss, with a hospitality and sophistication in mind. This hotel is known as the birthplace of “chocolates on a pillow,” a tradition influenced by actor Cary Grant’s tryst within his suite.
Related Tours
Enhance your visit to the St. Louis area with a tour! Whether you love family-friendly adventures, landmarks, or nature there are plenty of options for everyone.
Attractions Near Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Route 66
World’s Largest Amoco Sign in St. Louis, Missouri
Large Pink Elephant in Fenton, Missouri
Ted Drewes is a must-stop when driving through St. Louis! I’ve had a concrete and their strawberry shortcake and both were DELICIOUS! Portions are generous so plan accordingly to your hunger level. Perfect for a pit stop as you drive through Missouri or to top off the day if you’re spending the night in the city. Don’t forget to visit the souvenir shop and museum next door! I picked up a magnet for my collection.