History

Winstead's opened in 1940 just east of the Country Club Plaza near 47th and Main as a Streamline Moderne drive-in, with the steakburger built from in-house steak trimmings. The pressed-patty method spread through other Kansas City drive-ins; Town Topic on Broadway has run a similar burger since 1937. The steakburger is the city's pre-McDonald's, pre-fast-food fast food.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 15 minTotal 25 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground sirloin, 85/15
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 soft white buns
  • 4 slices American cheese (optional)
  • Yellow mustard
  • Dill pickle chips
  • Diced white onion
  • Butter for the buns

Method

  1. Divide the beef into 4 equal balls. Heat a heavy cast-iron pan over high heat.
  2. Place each ball in the pan, press with a spatula to about 1/4 inch thick, season with salt and pepper.
  3. Cook 90 seconds per side. Add cheese if using during the last 30 seconds.
  4. Butter and toast the buns on the same pan.
  5. Assemble with mustard on the bottom, patty, pickles, onion, top bun.

Tip from the editors. Press the patties hard enough to render the edges crispy. Keep the bun soft, not crusty; that's the steakburger format.

Where to eat kansas city steakburger

Kansas City steakburger in Kansas City

Winstead's Steakburger Plaza ★ 4.0

$$ BurgersPlazaUntil Daily until 23:00

Winstead's on the Plaza runs daily until 23:00 with curb-service from the 1940 drive-in. The steakburger and Frosty malt are the canonical late Kansas City.

TrySteakburger, Frosty malt

TipCurb service still operates in the parking lot; the kitchen keeps later hours on weekends.

Directions

Town Topic Hamburgers ★ 4.1

$ BurgersCrossroads

Town Topic on Broadway in Kansas City's Crossroads has run a stainless-steel diner since 1937. Closes at 20:00 now; cash works fastest. At 2021 Broadway St.

TrySmashed burger and chili

TipCloses at 20:00 now; cash works fastest.

Directions

Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill ★ 4.0

$$ BurgersWestportUntil Daily until 24:00

Westport Flea Market in Kansas City's Westport keeps the kitchen and bar open until midnight, serving the city's most-cited burger with a build-your-own.

Try10-ounce burger

TipPatio runs later than kitchen; the bar takes walk-ins on Saturdays.

Directions

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