Ted’s Burgers Staple Fills Customer Craving in Carson
Guests finishing their meals will hear a distant and familiar sound, an innocent phrase, “thank you, baby. ” Rossmary Palatos, 52, strides across the diner floors holding a classic diner dish ready to be eaten by a loyal customer. Her blonde highlights over her Ted’s Burgers visor and dark blue-collar shirt sets her apart from the rest of the staff.
Ted’s Burgers, or Ted’s to locals, is one of the oldest and last authentic diners in Carson. Located a few blocks south of the main intersection at Main and Carson streets, for more than 60 years, it has served priests, World War II veterans and generations of high school students. The diner has changed ownership many times over the years, but today’s customers know of only one, Rossmary Palatos. She owns the establishment with her husband, but regulars view Palatos as the only boss.
“I don’t sit in the office,’’ Palatos said. “I come here to chat with my guests, to serve their needs.”
Palatos makes herself clear, the most important thing is making sure her guests leave the restaurant satisfied. Her approach to running a business is not put in a formulaic way; it’s simple; it’s about care.
“I don’t want them to see it as a restaurant, but as if they were coming to a relative’s house,” she said.
Cindy Mairena, 26, and her three siblings are third-generation clients. Their father began eating at the restaurant as a teenager attending Carson High School. He introduced Ted’s to his parents and then to his children. Now Mairena’s one-year-old son will continue the family tradition. When it comes to Palatos, asking Mairena and her siblings if they know her comes with a straightforward response. “Claro que si, of course we know Marie,” Mairena said.
“She is very welcoming,” Mariena added. “I’ve noticed that when we come and eat here, and it’s busy, she is always checking on everyone. ‘Is everything okay? Do you need anything?’ It all comes back to the customer service, plus the food is delicious. We have tried almost everything —it’s all great.”
The kitchen has become an oasis for Carsonites. Ted’s serves the diner classics; burgers, fries, and club sandwiches; then there’s the authentic Mexican dishes, huevos con chorizo, and chilaquiles. On Saturdays and Sundays, customers can ask for Menudo, a traditional Mexican soup.
The sunset diner booths and old-style tile flooring transport you back to the ’70s. With the open kitchen floor plan, you can watch the fanfavorite chili-cheese fries and the flavor-filled cheeseburger get assembled. Palatos developed a loyal customer following, some of whom began eating at the restaurant in the early ’70s. For one customer who joined the army shortly after World War II ended in 1945, Ted’s has become his daily dose of good breakfast food, which he orders at any time of the hour. The french toast is moist and delicate; the eggs are buttery and perfectly whisked.
Palatos will deliver the same warmth and food quality. She has perfected the art of conversation and diner cuisine. You cannot help but think Palatos has developed an obsession with the atmosphere of the place. She will call you by your name, remember conversations from weeks ago and have your favorite sitting spot ready. You will think her personal life is hypothetical, but she has managed to master both.
“I feel like the customers are my family, so I want to treat them as such,” she said.
Palatos first stepped foot in Ted’s asking for work in 2002. She got the job waitressing and spent the next 12 years cultivating relationships with the clientele. When the restaurant went up for sale in 2012, Palatos and her husband saw the opportunity to take over the reins of Ted’s. Nine years later, Palatos is still running in and out of the kitchen with the same joy as the day she started. It’s safe to say you will feel like you made a new friend after eating at Ted’s.
“I feel happy coming to work,” she said. “I’ve made many friends who reciprocate the same love that I give them.”
Born in Peru, Palatos migrated to the United States when she was 19-years-old. Along with one sibling, she traveled to the United States for opportunity, leaving behind eight other siblings. After arriving, she enrolled in Englishspeaking courses at El Camino College. Today, she employs 10 workers whom she ingrained the same customer service values as she picked up.
But when the coronavirus pandemic forced restaurants to close their dine-in services in March 2020, Palatos had to make difficult decisions to keep her restaurant open. While she focused on providing food to her hungry guests, her husband focused on the numbers. Thanks to her loyal customers and the drive-thru, Palatos managed to keep her diner running.
“I love everything about the job,” she said. “My favorite part is talking to my guests, attending to their needs. I want them to feel comfortable.”
Details: 310-872-3903
Location: 22000 S. Main St., Carson