4 Fun Food Finds in Winfield, Kansas

by Hannah Watkins on October 31, 2013

Moving from Emporia to Winfield in the summer of 2010 had me concerned–I was moving away from home for the first time to a town I had never heard of before. Winfield seemed great, but it also seemed tiny, especially considering Emporia has twice the population than Winfield. Where was I going to find food like I was used to in this new town?

I shouldn’t have been concerned, because here is certainly no shortage of great food to find in this small Kansas town.

4 Fun Food Finds in Winfield, Kansas

1) Burger Station (Open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Saturday. 620-221-9773.) “The Best Burger In Town”, as it has been crowned by many towners, Winfield’s Burger Station is a crowd-pleasing favorite. While there may be a lack of accommodations (carry-out only, no dine in), there is certainly no lack in flavor.

The Burger Station is easy to miss, as it looks like a small shack on the side of the road, but the station has been around for several decades, (it opened in 1952), a testament to its status among Winfield residents. Located at 113 East 7^th Avenue, the food is cooked fresh right in front of you, and the carry-out bag you take away will be start out white, but will eventually turn transparent by the time you get home.

There are only a few menu items, including burgers and fries, both of which you can get with chili. The station prides itself on its no-nonsense burgers – nothing fancy, not a bunch of choices, just straight to the point and delicious. It’s fairly cheap, and certainly well-known, as many people who come through Winfield make sure to stop at this locally famous burger joint, which definitely makes it a crowd pleaser for both Winfield natives and college students alike.

2) El Maguey’s (Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 620-221-4940.) El Mags, as it is affectionately called by Winfield residents, is the restaurant to stop at if you’re in the mood for delicious Mexican food. Authentic, friendly, and fun, Maguey’s offers not only excellent food but an exciting experience. The waiters and waitresses are all either related in some way, or are friends – which makes the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. Not only is all the food fresh, but the service and cooks are fast. My personal favorite menu items include the tamales and the taquitos – both of which are delicious choices.

At Maguey’s, the owners take pride in the fact that all meals are delivered hot, all meals are freshly prepared, and customers don’t wait a long time to receive their food. In Winfield, Maguey’s is definitely the place to go before the Southwestern football games on Saturday afternoon, or for a friendly dinner date any other day of the week. Dependable, reliable, and always a town favorite.

3) College Hill Coffee (Open Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) is not only one of my personal favorites in Winfield, but a favorite of many local Winfield residents as well. The coffee house boasts a comfortable atmosphere, and wonderful aromas of fresh ground coffee, and made from scratch breads and cookies. They have a vast variety of specialty drinks to order from (including the Tiger Spice Chai Tea Latte, a favorite of many), as well as light sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items like quiche and waffles.

All baked items are homemade, including the cakes, cheesecakes, cinnamon rolls, muffins, scones, and pies–just to name a few items! The coffee house is filled with comfortable chairs, local artwork, and of course the heavenly smell of coffee.

4) Hunter’s Café (Open 5:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., every day. 620-221-6222.) Located on 1020 Manning Street, Hunter’s is the place to be on Sunday morning. It is a local favorite of after-church goers, as well as college students looking for a large meal on a small budget. Serving pancakes larger than dinner plates, as well as a variety of home-style foods including burgers and fried chicken, Hunter’s offers an open and friendly atmosphere. The portion sizes are gigantic; for example, a full size omelet is made with a dozen eggs, and a side of bacon consists of 6 strips.

All menu items are available all day, which is convenient for those who enjoy a cheese burger and fries at 6 in the morning. While the wait is often long, and the food preparation can take longer than you may be used to, Winfield residents find the wait to be worth it. The waitresses are open and friendly, and the food is made to order. Definitely worth the stop!

While Winfield may not have as many options as a larger-sized town, it certainly has quality food that satisfies different people. Give some of the local cuisine a try if you’re ever in the area!

Have you ever visited any of these restaurants? What was your experience? Share in the comment section below!

This article is written by Hannah Watkins – writer, traveler, and grand-scale dreamer – as well as a senior studying communications at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.

She is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with her pug named Cookie.

Hannah is currently completing an internship with VentureTime Travel and she hopes to someday work in the Public Relations field.

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