Scott R.
Yelp
For those who aren't familiar with it, Prize Package is a tiny take-away hole-in-the-wall burger place that isn't really like anywhere else.
I first read about Harold's Prize Package on Yelp! when trying to find places to eat in Topeka. My first attempt to go there was thwarted when they were closed for the Memorial Day weekend. When I made a second effort to go back, they were open, and I got my taste.
I had originally asked around the office about Harold's Prize Package and no one seemed to know what I was talking about, though one guy at work did say he was familiar and that delivery is sometimes available. Regardless, I was finally going to get the burgers I had read about at the place.
First, Harold's Prize Package is a tiny place. The whole of the area inside is about 25 square feet, just enough space for a handful of people to stand around, but it gets crowded fast. Second, they take your order and write it on your take-away bag, and that's their system for making sure you get what you ordered. Third, unless you like standing around waiting, I recommend you call in your order and come pick it up in 10-15 minutes. It's also a small convenience store, so if you need lottery tickets, cigarettes, or some other small things, they have some of them.
After waiting in for my order to come up, I took my whole bag and headed back to the office -- no place to eat inside Prize Package, and it was a hot enough day that I was not going to eat in my car. When I got back to work, I was generally happy with what I got. The double cheeseburger was tasty and juicy. I'm not sure if it came off the line like this or if it had the extra benefit from being packaged up while I was headed back to the office, but the bun ended up super soft and a little greasy, and the cheese melted and melded with the burger patties. It was really good. I'm always a sucker for fried okra, and this was about how I expected it to be -- a fried but commercially-prepared product. I also got a hot pickle, which ended up being a little spicy, but not anything that I would feel the need to have again.
I will probably go back to Prize Package, but I will see if I can call the order in ahead of time. Also, it might be worth it to get two of those double cheeseburgers.