We propose a top-down algorithm for extracting k-best lists from a parser. Our algorithm, TKA∗ is a variant of the kbest A∗ (KA∗ ) algorithm of Pauls and Klein (2009). In contrast to KA∗ , which performs an inside and outside pass before performing k-best extraction bottom up, TKA∗ performs only the inside pass before extracting k-best lists top down. TKA∗ maintains the same optimality and efficiency guarantees of KA∗ , but is simpler to both specify and implement.