Hamburger King — Restaurant in Shawnee

The cheeseburger was great. Very solid, worth the visit. The prices are very affordable and a burger and potato wedges is more than enough food for me and my toddler, I was super full afterwards. The restaurant itself is charming, especially the phones in every booth to call in your order. One gets the impression the decor hasn't changed much since the 50s, down to the branded rack of Lifesavers, gum, and chocolate bars at the cash register. I sat in a front booth looking out at Main Street, so I didn't get a chance to view the historical ephemera on the walls of the restaurant beyond what I could see from my booth. An amateur oil painting of the original owner is a nice touch.

I wish I'd had room to try a slice of pie, they had seven different kinds and they all sounded yummy. If you don't eat beef, they have chicken, ham or turkey sandwiches, and catfish baskets or a catfish sandwich for pescetarians. No vegetarian options except for sides (various potatoes (wedges, tots, mashed), green beans, hush puppies, jalepeno cornbread. So, a vegetarian could not starve, but I definitely wouldn't try to make a meal there. I also didn't check to see if the green beans were cooked with meat, but I'm guessing they might be. I gave Hamburger King three stars because I liked it, but I expected to be wowed by a burger from a place that has had 70 years perfecting it. As far as comparisons, the mustard and onions and obvious grill flavor make it most similar to a Whataburger burger. (Which is a compliment. Whataburger has a devoted following and all burgers are cooked to order, not warmed.)

The toppings at Hamburger King are lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles and mustard. Chopped onions are nice; pulling out a whole ring of raw onion with a bite is a nuisance. However, the iceberg lettuce is also chopped (but not shredded). This ensures it just falls out of your burger. If you're going to use iceberg lettuce, a lettuce leaf would be preferable, but then I suppose you wouldn't be able to use all the inner white bits. It probably helps keep the burgers at their low prices (seriously, some fast food combos are more expensive!)

My one serious complaint is the ketchup. It was so awful I'd suggest bringing a packet of Heinz leftover in the console of your car. Any fast food brand "fancy ketchup" would have been better. I'm not sure what you're given with to go orders, but the tables are topped with a food service brand "Monarch fancy ketchup." It's awful, and aside from the red color, barely resembles ketchup. Blindfolded, you might guess it's watered down sweet and sour sauce or even applesauce. It's far too sweet, with none of the vinegar tang of real ketchup. The tomato flavor is masked by sweetness, and a flavor that I swear tastes like cinnamon. I should have read the ingredients; I wouldn't have been surprised if high fructose corn syrup and water we're the first two ingredients, ahead of tomato puree. It was so bad I just stopped using it and ate my potato wedges dry. If they'd replace the ketchup with something better, it would make such a difference that I'd award them a whole 'nother star. It marred the meal that much. But a good ketchup with a stellar, fresh burger and crisp potato wedges for under 6 bucks? That would've been something to write home about.

In short, I really liked the place and it's definitely worth eating there. I'd definitely go back, armed with ketchup packets, and this time I'd save room for pie. The quaint eccentricities and charm make it a Shawnee treasure, and I can see...

Ordered burger baskets that came on a plate. Burgers look like they have been run over by a forklift.Patties are wafer thin. Buns all smashed. Cheese wasn't melted on cheeseburgers. Burgers lukewarm and not tasty at all, like eating a piece of cardboard. Tasteless battered Onion rings were like eating small oil filled sponges. condiments not fresh. Didn't get any silverware. Third time here in 15 years, no change. Never again. Every time I've ate here, I'm amazed that this establishment has the nerve to call itself "Hamburger King". Comparable to Sonic burger that has been stomped on. They may have been in business for decades with lots of customers, but I was not impressed enough to ever give any redemption for this eatery coasting on it's longevity instead of quality food and service. They were out of chili too at dinnertime eliminating at least 4 menu items. Reminds me of that "kitchens Nightmares" show on tv. Go to Brown Derby or the local vending machine before you delve out self torture at this slopped together yukburger joint. It is clean, but...

Truly a local’s favorite! You have to fall into the classification of one of two types of people when you eat here, those that have never picked up a phone on the wall inside a restaurant to order their food and those that have, but it was a long, long time ago. It is an old time burger dive that puts out the classic hamburger and fries. I recommend the “The Kicker” and potato wedges (hold the Miracle Whip “please!”). We ordered the onion rings too, they were good, but I liked the crispy coated potato wedges better. There is nothing fancy here, no gourmet specialty whatever burgers, just good honest hamburgers that has kept this restaurant in business since 1927. I understand why the local continue to vote this little place a one of the top places to eat in Shawnee! Oh! Their pies seem to be a big favorite too. I am not sure where folks were stuffing them after the hamburger and fries, but there were a bunch of slices of chocolate pie being delivered to the...