If you’ve ever wondered what makes Minorcan Clam Chowder a Jacksonville staple, one local restaurant is about to give the rest of the country a taste.
Minorcan clam chowder is having a spotlight moment, and for Jacksonville, the dish is more than just a local favorite. The tomato-based chowder has long been associated with the First Coast’s fishing industry and the workers who make their living around the Port of Jacksonville.
Now, that distinctly Northeast Florida flavor is getting a much bigger audience. Chowder Ted’s, a longtime Jacksonville favorite, has been added to the lineup of restaurants featured on ‘Diners, Drive-Ins & DeSantis.’
Over the weekend, Gov. Ron DeSantis shared his visit to the restaurant on social media, highlighting his taste of the Floridian-style Minorcan Clam Chowder.
Here’s a look at the visit and where you can get your fix of the Minorcan Clam Chowder.
Located near the Jacksonville port, Chowder Ted’s has long been a favorite among people who work in and around the Port of Jacksonville. For port workers looking for a hearty meal, the restaurant has become a familiar stop known for generous portions, fresh seafood and its signature chowder.
For longtime customers, however, Chowder Ted’s is about more than a good meal. The owners say many customers have become like family over the years, helping turn the restaurant into a beloved part of Jacksonville’s waterfront food scene.
Chowder Ted’s serves a Florida-style Minorcan clam chowder made fresh every day with clams, fish and shrimp. The restaurant says the chowder frequently sells out, particularly during colder weather when demand for a hot bowl is at its peak.
Minorcan clam chowder stands apart from the better-known New England and Manhattan varieties. Instead of the creamy base associated with New England clam chowder or the tomato-based style found in Manhattan chowder, Minorcan chowder reflects Northeast Florida’s unique culinary history and Minorcan roots.
Unlike creamy New England-style clam chowder, Minorcan clam chowder is tomato-based and known for its signature heat from datil peppers.
The traditional soup typically combines fresh clams and clam juice with crushed or diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Bacon or salt pork adds richness, while onions, celery, green bell peppers, garlic and potatoes round out the hearty base.
The defining ingredient is the datil pepper, a small yellow-orange pepper with a fruity flavor and a noticeable kick. Bay leaves, thyme, oregano and rosemary are often added to bring depth and seasoning to the broth.
Together, the ingredients create the distinctive sweet, savory and spicy flavor that sets Minorcan clam chowder apart from other regional versions.
Minorcan clam chowder traces its roots to St. Augustine, where descendants of immigrants from Menorca, Spain, helped shape the dish after arriving in Florida in the 18th century.
The settlers adapted traditional Mediterranean fish soups to the ingredients available along Florida’s coast, using local seafood and the fiery datil pepper, which gives Minorcan chowder its distinctive kick. Over generations, the dish became deeply woven into St. Augustine’s food culture and remains a celebrated symbol of the city’s Spanish and Mediterranean heritage.
Today, Minorcan clam chowder has traveled well beyond St. Augustine, becoming a signature taste of Northeast Florida and a dish that locals often associate with the region’s fishing and waterfront communities.
While the chowder may be the signature dish, there are plenty of other seafood favorites to choose from.
The menu includes crab cakes, Brussels sprouts, Cajun shrimp po’boys and the restaurant’s famous royal red shrimp.
Diners can find Chowder Ted’s at 5215 Heckscher Dr #3051 Jacksonville, FL 32226.
Earlier this year, to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Gov. DeSantis and his family, shared a meal with the Culhane sisters at Culhane’s Irish Pub in March.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
DeSantis features Jacksonville clam chowder restaurant in video series – jacksonville.com
