Welcome to A Better Big Apple! Since this upcoming Monday, Sept.  7 is Labor Day, which marks the unofficial end to summer and prime burger season, I decided to make my first blog about burger joints in K.C. I have also just been craving them a ridiculous amount lately, so this is also an outlet to satisfy those cravings.

The Snack Shack on Santa Fe

The first time I heard about The Snack Shack on Santa Fe, located on- you guessed it- Santa Fe Dr. in Overland Park, was when my family and I went to a Kansas University vs. Oklahoma University football game a couple years ago. We were eating at The Burger Stand at The Casbah in Lawrence, KS when we started talking to the couple next to us. They mentioned that the best burger they ever had in their entire life was from The Snack Shack on Santa Fe.

When I went to The Snack Shack on Santa Fa, I ordered the only burger combo available: the Snack Attack. For $9.25 I got a burger, fries and a refillable soft drink. Honestly, I think $9 is a little pricy, but in the end it was worth it. The burger was of course amazing, but the fries were what did it for me.

I am here to say The Snack Shack on Santa Fa has the best fries I have ever had in my entire life. This is a testimony and I want it written on my tombstone. The fries were obviously homemade. Crispy, but not overly done. Just enough salt. Devouring those fries was bliss.

Town Topic Hamburgers

Out of all of the burger places on my list, Town Topic Hamburgers located off of Broadway St in Kansas City, Missouri has the coolest history. It was opened in 1937 and the establishment just celebrated it’s 75th anniversary. As one of the only remaining real-deal diners in Kansas City, it’s earned a reputation as a staple eatery in K.C.

And get this. Not only does its menu include burgers, sandwiches, pie and milkshakes – but it also includes BREAKFAST and it’s open 24 HOURS A DAY. This restaurant is an answer to all of my wishes and it has been hiding under my nose for the past 75 years.

When I went for the first time last Saturday, Aug. 29, senior Michaela Jackson and I ordered the single cheeseburger, fries and a slice of banana cream pie. I wont talk too much about the pie, but you might hear about it in the future *wink wink*. The burger was good, especially when we added grilled onions on top, and the fries weren’t stellar, but we ate them nonetheless.

Overall, Town Topic is a historical and adorable little dive every Kansas City resident should visit at least once! I know I’ll be back.

Grandstand Burgers

Grandstand Burgers on Merriam Dr. in Shawnee is the smallest establishment out of any on this list. Which is ironic since it also has the largest serving size and thickest burger. I typically like thin patty burgers, but the thick patty burger served to Jackson and it blew my mind.

We ordered the Kelly Burger Combo, but I failed to read the fine print. When I took my first bite, I was pleasantly surprised to find not only bacon hidden under the bun but also a thick slice of ham. It was beautiful. The person, I assume their name is Kelly, who invented this burger certainly went ham on it. Ha. The fries were also nice and thick, but not as good as the delicacy served to me at The Snack Shack on Santa Fe.

Well there you have it. The top Burger Joints in Kansas City. I highly encourage all of you to go and try at least one, if not all, of the places on this list sometime soon before the weather turns cold. In fact I am making this a homework assignment. So do your homework and dine on some really amazing Kansas City burgers!

Senior Elizabeth Fleming loves and supports all things Kansas City — from the barbecue to the sports teams to the small businesses that make it the best city in the world. She spends her weekends exploring and discovering the best of Kansas City.