Is This Kansas City's Best Burger?

The Daily Meal recently published our 101 Best Burgers in America for 2014, and in order to compile our ranking, we assembled a list of nearly 200 burgers from all across the country, from Spruce Pine, North Carolina to Hillsboro, Oregon. We then divided these burgers by region, and compiled a survey that was taken by a panel of 50 noted food writers, journalists, bloggers, and culinary authorities from across the country, asking them to vote for their favorites; limited, of course, to the ones that they'd tried. We tallied the results, and published the 101 stellar American burgers with the most votes.

Winstead's is a household name in the Kansas City area, serving diner staples and "steakburgers" for over 70 years. These burgers are what the locals crave when they're far from home: fresh-ground Choice beef served with mustard, ketchup, pickles, and a thick slice of onion — diners have the choice to add cheese, lettuce, tomato, and bacon if they want to — served on a soft white bun. The double is the way to go, comprised of two 2-ounce patties that have been smashed down on the griddle until they're essentially just crust, but somehow they retain moisture. If this is your preferred type of burger, then you probably agree with food writer and Kansas City native Calvin Trillin, who proclaimed it one of the best burgers in the world. Add on cheese, order a limeade and fries while taking in your surroundings, and enjoy what Hamburger America's George Motz calls "the perfect diner eating experience." The Double Winstead is so good, it ranked #51 on our list, beating out the cheeseburger at Town Topic (#92) for the city's best burger.

Kate Kolenda is the Restaurant/City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @BeefWerky and @theconversant.