Talk of the Town

The whole restaurant is the size of my bedroom. With no more than ten bar stools and a $4 hamburger on the menu, Town Topic is nestled in the Kansas City Crossroads. However what it lacks in decor, it makes up for in taste. The food left me wanting seconds.

The restaurant took me back to a different decade. A place where the cook waves at you as you walk in, where you pay your check on your way out the door, where people of all walks of life come to enjoy a good burger. It was cozy and quaint, the aroma of freshly grilled burgers put everyone that walked through the door in a good mood.

With three locations across the KC area, located on Baltimore, Broadway and Johnson Drive, Town Topic has created a brand for itself: the 75 year old burger joint that never fails to disappoint.

The Broadway location is the original, and the only one open 24 hours a day. The other two locations specialize in breakfast and lunch, closing at 3 p.m.

Walking in, I knew I would go for the classic cheeseburger with a side of fries and tater tots, not expecting it to taste much different than stereotypical stadium food. I was wrong. While the burger was simple, complete with cheese, onions, pickles and a little ketchup, it was the best $3 cheeseburger I had ever had. The fries were wonderfully crispy and the tater tots were perfectly battered, too.

The bun practically melted in my mouth, while the burger was crispy yet juicy. The pair balanced perfectly. The fries were sprinkled with salt and when dipped in ketchup they served as the perfect side to my meal. I usually prefer fries to tater tots, but the tots still had the perfect crunch to them.

I sat at the counter and enjoyed every bite of my food, not wanting it to end. It was one of those burgers where I finished it and strongly considered ordering another. However I decided against it after my stomach told me no.

My friend had the grilled cheese. It wasn’t made with fancy gluten free bread, nor did it have a $7 slice of cheese on it, but it was perfectly golden brown with the cheese oozing right off of it.

What makes a Town Topic burger unique is the way its grilled. The patty begins as a small meat-ball, which is then placed on the grill and smashed down with a spatula. The burger is flipped and the onions are pressed into the burger, with a little salt and some pickles added on top. The bun is perfectly soft, practically melting in your mouth.

Since the patty is pressed into the grill it gives a nice crisp taste on the outside, but still juicy on the inside. I had a single cheeseburger, but would recommend a double if you’re feeling hungry.

Town Topic is definitely one of Kansas City’s top destinations. They’ve been successful since 1937, and don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. With its unique charm, rock bottom prices and renowned food, Town Topic is a must-visit place.