Welcome to The Westport Flea Market, aka: The Flea. We’re Kansas City’s quirky, funky, 30+ year old local-dining institution. Boasting some of the country’s best made-to-order eats served up with a healthy side of atmosphere, nostalgia, local history, and a stubborn resistance to change.

Welcome to The Westport Flea Market, aka: The Flea. We’re Kansas City’s quirky, funky, 30+ year old local-dining institution. Boasting some of the country’s best made-to-order eats served up with a healthy side of atmosphere, nostalgia, local history, and a stubborn resistance to change.

It’s all part of our master plan to make sure you get your food prepared exactly the way you want it. We employ seasoned “Orderologists” at The Flea – Just look for the fire-engine red “Order Here” sign. We’ll relay your order directly to our master cooks – working merely a few feet away. It’s a “From-your-lips-to-the-chef’s-ears” kind of thing. And don’t worry – once your meal is ready, we’ll call out to you – loudly. Pick up your order at the cook’s window, then make a pit stop at the condiment bar where you can dress your meal to perfection. At The Flea, you’ll always “have it your way.”

That’s right. Our servers are dedicated drink specialists. Burgers, fries, steaks and other edible delights don’t distract the servers of The Flea. Whether you desire one of our many cold brews, a cocktail, or even a soft drink (most anything that comes in a glass), our servers are on it. Go ahead, order one – or, order two or three and take the rest of the day off! But please be nice and tip your servers well, they like tips almost as much as they like drinks!

Yeah, it’s true…the burgers are freakin’ awesome! It goes to our commitment to quality, which is why we get all our beef from hometown legend McGonigle’s Market. Have you not heard of them? Let’s just say the McGonigle’s are essentially the prima ballerinas of beef. We add our own special seasoning and cook them up just right (did you see us on The Food Network? Oh yeah, our burgers are that good! But more on that later…) We also turn to McGonigle’s for our delicious steaks. Try a burger today – or come back on steak night…they’re both seriously good eating. Oh, and if you’re feelin’ exceptionally daring, take the Super Flea 5-Patty burger challenge – your server knows the drill.

Of course it’s not necessary, but it is downright American. Was sending a man to the moon necessary? Jumping the Snake River Canyon? Building a pumpkin catapult? The way we see it, sometimes you have to do it because it’s there. Are you up to the challenge? Do you have what it takes to become a Flea Legend among your friends? Eat it in 30 minutes and it’s FREE with t-shirt and picture on the wall.

You’ll find all types here at The Flea. We welcome white-collar, blue-collar and pink-collar workers. Our doors are open to folks with full tattoo sleeves and to book nerds with pocket protectors. That said, in these days of NSA/CIA/alphabet-soup “observation,” cash is the anonymous king. Cash is your friend. When you pay with cash at the Flea your dining secrets remain anonymous. Feels good doesn’t it? Yes, yes, we know the all cash thing can come as a surprise to the newbies and the forgetful. If you have no American currency in your pocket, no worries. The Flea has an ATM machine where you can stock up. Take all you like, they keep printing more!

Note the chain link cages at the front of The Flea. See the miscellaneous flotsam, jetsam and various garage-sale-ish items trapped inside? Over the years we’ve freed these and thousands of similar treasures from their captivity, releasing them into loving homes for less than a song. But beware; there was once a cage here called, “Bob’s Bazaar Bizarre.” (Enough said on that topic!) Now the assorted mélange in the stalls up front is all that remains of the namesake “Flea Market.” Breathe it in, friends. Relish the history. And enjoy the tastiest burgers in Kansas City!

Oh, you mean the “Burger-mobile”? Our owner, Joe, commissioned it from a vehicle artist he came across during a visit to New York City. Taking a morning run through Central Park, what turned out to be a “veggie mobile” caught his eye. By the time he got to Times Square, Joe decided a burger-mobile would be perfect for The Flea ­– hell, it was even featured (along with our oh-so-great Flea Burgers) on The Food Network’s “Meat and Potatoes.” At The Flea, it’s how we roll!

Visit The Westport Flea Market today – or any day. We’re kind of like an old pair of jeans: A little roughed up, but they fit so damn good you just can’t quit wearing ‘em. Thanks for checking us out.