Here are some of Topeka's best burger places to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day

Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal
·4 min read
Melted cheese oozes out of a double cheeseburger from Harold's Prize Package on Friday afternoon as seen in an order with French fries.
Melted cheese oozes out of a double cheeseburger from Harold's Prize Package on Friday afternoon as seen in an order with French fries.

The cheese seeps deliciously "all the way through the burger" in the cheeseburgers made by the Prize Package at 1420 S.E. 6th Ave., says Carrie Green.

The cheeseburger at The Pad, 1730 N.W. Topeka Blvd., uses shredded cheese, which "makes it so good," she adds.

The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th, makes Deborah Agnew's favorite cheeseburger in Topeka.

"For me it’s the quality of the beef, moisture and marriage between the bun and patty," she said. "It also depends on my mood as sometimes I’m up for more of a greasy, smashed burger."

Agnew and Green responded after The Capital-Journal asked Friday on the Topeka Experience Facebook page for input on who makes Topeka's best cheeseburger.

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The newspaper did that to highlight National Cheeseburger Day, which is Sunday.

'Melty perfection'

Garrett Taylor, a cook at The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th St., tosses burger patties on the grill for customers custom burger orders on May 5, 2021.
Garrett Taylor, a cook at The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th St., tosses burger patties on the grill for customers custom burger orders on May 5, 2021.

On Thursday, The Capital-Journal announced its readers had chosen the Burger Stand as having this community's "Best Burger" in its 2022 Best of the Best awards.

The other two finalists were the Prize Package and The Pad.

"The Burger Stand outshines all based on quality of products, creativity and consistency," Karen K. Streeter said Friday on the Topeka Experience page.

Menu items at The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th St., include a variety of burger options, sides, hot dogs and drinks.
Menu items at The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th St., include a variety of burger options, sides, hot dogs and drinks.

A Burger Stand burger is "cooked like you like it," Susan Christey said on that page. "Rare, medium rare, well done, etc."

Jensen Otte said he goes to Burger Stand when he wants a "fancy burger" but to Prize Package for a "classic, no-frills, grease-running-down-your-arm burger."

The Prize Package's double cheeseburger "just melts in your mouth," said Angie Mauk.

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"Get two double cheeseburgers and eat them on the trunk of your car, with a towel or plenty of napkins," said Bud Tyroler. "How they get that cheese to melty perfection is a trick I would love to know."

Quality, texture, taste — and love

The Pad owner Troy Mentzer serves up a deluxe burger Friday afternoon with all the fixings.
The Pad owner Troy Mentzer serves up a deluxe burger Friday afternoon with all the fixings.

Though the Best of Topeka list doesn't include Chuckburger Drive-Thru at 2318 S.E. 6th Ave., Aimee Copp-Hasty raved Friday about the taste of its double cheeseburger.

"Old-fashioned, grilled on a seasoned flat top, all the fixings and perfectly melted cheese," she said. "Delicious!"

Cyndi Desch Main spoke positively of the "shocker burger" made by Glazed Goose, 5630 S.W. 29th.

"Swiss and American cheese, fresh veggies, tomato, pickle, onion and lettuce," she said. "It’s a smaller burger — perfect with a side or alone."

Heather Berry said Topeka's best burgers can be found at Bobo's Drive In, 2300 S.W. 10th Ave., and Cook's American Grill, 1936 S.W. Gage Boulevard.

Those burgers are made great by their "quality, taste and texture and the love that's put in the cooking and atmosphere," she said.

The Burger Bus, a school bus-themed Topeka food trailer, was identified as making some of the best burgers in town by several people on the Topeka Experience site.

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"The absolute best burger in Topeka is from the Burger Bus," said Bill Reid. "Hands down. Fresh ingredients cooked with love."

Other great Topeka burgers

Multiple people on the Topeka Experience site also identified these restaurants as making great burgers:

• The Pennant, 915 S. Kansas Ave.

• Johnny's Topeka, 2821 S.W. Fairlawn Road.

• The Dugout, 1545 S.W. Fairlawn Road.

• Speck's Bar & Grill, 2105 S.W. Mission Ave.

• Larry's Shortstop, 3834 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

• Henry T's, 1521 S.W. 21st.

• Jeremiah Bullfrog's Bar and Grille, 2827 S.W. Wanamaker Road.

• The Shack Bar & Grill, 2842 S.E. 29th.

• Annie's Place, 4014 S.W. Gage Center Drive.

• Weller's Grill & Bar, 222 N.W. Independence Ave.

• Abigail's, 3701 S.W. Plaza Drive.

• Norsemen Brewing Co., 830 N. Kansas Ave.

• Skinny's, 4016 S.W. Huntoon.

• Sheridan's, 5937 S.W. 29th.

• Five Guys, 1191 S.W. Wanamaker Road.

• Culver's, 1035 S.W. Wanamaker Road.

• Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, 1050 S.W. Wanamaker Road and 2135 S.W. Gage Blvd.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here are some of the best Topeka restaurants to find cheeseburgers