For this month’s date, fill your tummy at one of these locally-owned “oldies but goodies.”
Sometimes, you just need a good greasy burger. And one of our favorite places for that is Hayes Hamburgers. Since 1955, this place has been dishing up burgers, fries, pancakes, biscuits and gravy and more! Their breakfast menu is available all day, as is their lunch/dinner menu. Wanna triple cheeseburger for breakfast? Hayes has your back. Want pancakes at 3:00 in the afternoon? They can do that too. We really enjoy their burgers. They also typically offer about 15 types of pie, thanks to local company Golden Boy. Think strawberry rhubarb, butterscotch, Dutch apple, blackberry and chocolate peanut butter, among others. It’s worth paying a visit to this legendary burger joint. For the food of course, but also to check out one of the few remaining places in town that have the old-school barstools.
Did you know that the oldest Irish business outside of Ireland is right here in KC? Browne’s Irish Marketplace, located at 33rd & Pennsylvania, opened in 1887 and has been in its current location since 1901. They have a large selection of food and drink items imported from Ireland, including tea, jam, whiskey, chips, scone and bread mixes and chocolate. Plus, a freezer full of bangers, rashers, black and white pudding, potatoes and various types of bread. They also offer home decor, dinnerware, barware, jewelry, clothes and gift items, among other things. Basically, it’s a little bit of everything! On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, you can get delicious deli sandwiches with Irish chips, like we recently did. This place is definitely a hidden gem in KC.
Located at 40 Highway and Blue Ridge Cutoff is Dixon’s Chili Parlor, home to arguably the best chili in KC. They are currently in their 104th year of business, having opened in 1919. So they are obviously doing something right! The menu is small and concise with just a few choices. But it works. Rarely is their parking lot not busy. Though they have burgers, hot dogs, tacos, burritos and nachos, we always get their chili. I mean, you can’t go to Dixon’s and not have chili. You can get just that (with or without beans), or you can have it served over a tamale or spaghetti. I love it served over spaghetti. My husband is more of a purist, getting just chili with beans. The chili is served in three different styles (juicy, soupy or dry), and there are a number of fixins to choose from (ketchup, onion, cheese, etc.). You can’t go wrong with Dixon’s, especially on a cold winter day.
Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities. Check out her Facebook page, Out & About in KC.