The Tendermaid

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The Tendermaid Come take a seat!
📍Austin MN Owned by Gary & Sara White of Austin. No, she means with the burger. But, really: Put the burger down and use the spoon. Why?
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Tiny diner serving loose meat burgers, malts and shakes in many flavors, SPAM dogs & more. 🍔🥤 Proudly serving our community and welcoming travelers near & far since 1938. Voted one of the 12 Best Burger Spots in Minnesota on Thrillist in 2015

You may have read a little something about “lose-meat” sandwiches in our round-up of the 21 best Midwestern foods, and while we’re not really sure if this constitutes a proper "burger", it’s close enough to mention here because people go bonkers for this thing, and if you give it a try, you’ll quickly understand why. --Thrillist

Voted #14 in the Minnesota Monthly Best Burgers of 2008

14 - Tender Maid Sandwich Shop
Inherent Awesomeness: 32
“You want a spoon with that?” asks the nice lady behind the counter at Tender Maid. If you’ve never been here before, you’ll think she’s asking if you want a spoon with your milk shake. It’s loose meat, meaning that it’s filled with steamed crumbles of beef, kind of like a Sloppy Joe without the sauce. Of course, you can pick up the whole burger in its wax-paper wrapper and shove it in your mouth without the spoon. If you do, you’ll experience the simple, unadorned taste that people have been wild about since 1938. When else in life are you going to get the chance to eat a burger with a spoon? --Minnesota Monthly

10/11/2026

Friends, we have a favor to ask! 📸

We’re looking for photos of the inside of the Tendermaid from the ’40s - ’80s!

Have any tucked away? We’d love a copy! Please share! ❤️

Thank you!

Send this to someone who's hangry 😡➡️🍔➡️😃
10/08/2026

Send this to someone who's hangry 😡➡️🍔➡️😃

10/06/2026

Catch her if you can 🏃‍♀️🍔

10/05/2026

Wherever your feet take you… we hope they lead you to Tendermaid. 👣🍔

10/03/2026

Go wherever the wind takes you. ♥️

The wind: Tendermaid. 🍔

Look at this beaut! 🤩A 1941 Ford Radical Custom by Todd Francis Here’s to two classics in one photo! ♥️
09/24/2026

Look at this beaut! 🤩

A 1941 Ford Radical Custom by Todd Francis

Here’s to two classics in one photo! ♥️

We’ve had a few people ask if indoor dining is open… and the answer is YES! 🙌 It has been since February! 😊So come on in...
09/17/2026

We’ve had a few people ask if indoor dining is open… and the answer is YES! 🙌 It has been since February! 😊

So come on in and take a seat on these newly refurbished 89-year-old stools. ❤️

We love seeing a new generation being introduced to an old tradition. ❤️And remember: The spoon isn't for the milkshake,...
06/17/2026

We love seeing a new generation being introduced to an old tradition. ❤️

And remember: The spoon isn't for the milkshake, it's for the burger. 😉

Address

217 4th Avenue NE
Austin, MN
55912

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 4pm
Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm

Telephone

+15074377907

Website

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