Kansas City means one thing when it comes time for some eating -- Barbecue! There are more than 100 barbecue restaurants in the Kansas City metropolitan area and the city if often considered the "world's barbecue capital."
Kansas City barbecue involves a wide variety of meats – pulled pork, pork ribs, smoked sausage, beef brisket, beef ribs, smoked chicken and turkey. Also there are burnt ends – pieces of meat cut from the end of a smoked beef or pork brisket.
The meat is slowly smoked in pits over a variety of woods then covered with sweet and tangy sauces.
And, there are the popular side dishes including baked bean, french fries, cole slaw and other soul food staples depending on the restaurant. Here are a couple of recommendations:
LC’s
LC’s BBQ is an old-fashioned small barbecue place on the east side of Kansas City. It’s a little rough and very small, but the service is extremely friendly and the food and portion size are outstanding.
The burnt end sandwich is very popular as is the beef sandwich; but not sure if anything slow cooked in the LC’s smoker could come out bad. And, the french fries get rave reviews from everyone.
Address: 5800 Blue Parkway, Kansas City Mo.
Phone: 816-923-4484
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Oklahoma Joe’s
Where does NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver sneak off to when in the mood for Kansas City BBQ? The answer: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wheels over to Oklahoma Joe’s when in Kansas.
Founded in 1995 by a Lithuanian lamp maker (Jeff Stehney) based on early memories from the American Royal BBQ contest, who’s first smoker was a Oklahoma Joe’s 24” smoker for their competition team: Slaughterhouse Five. The team scored countless victories yielding the first Kansas City restaurant.
Oklahoma Joe’s features brisket, pulled pork, chicken, ribs, sausage, ham and turkey all served with their famous Cowtown BBQ sauce that received this review from judges in the 2001 American Royal BBQ contes:
“It’s a BBQ Restaurant in a gas station that happens to have the ‘best sauce on the planet’”
Address: 3002 W. 47th Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66103 or
11950 South Strang Line Rd, Olathe, KS 66062
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Arthur Bryant’s
Arthur Bryant’s is possibly the most popular barbecue restaurant in the United States. Presidents, actors, sports stars and barbecue aficionados come from all corners of the globe for Arthur Bryant’s.
Everything is good a Bryant’s and service in large portions with slices of white bread. Service is cafeteria style and a strong appetite is suggested.
Bryant and his brother learned the trade from Herny Perry, the “father of Kansas City barbecue” and in 1940 upon Perry’s death took over the business. They moved to their current location in 1958 and have been going strong since.
While the original location is rustic and authentic, the new location outside turn three of the speedway is convenient and serves the same great food in a more upscale environment.
Address: Original: 1727 Brooklyn Ave., Kansas City Mo.
Speedway: 1702 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kan.
Phone: Original (816) 231-1123/Speedway (913) 788-7500
Hours: Very per day and location
Jack Stack Barbecue
On the opposite end of the barbecue spectrum from LC’s is Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue. With four upscale locations, a huge mail-order business and large catering service; this is barbecue for people who want a wonderful “dining experience”. Elegant features like stone fireplaces and wine bars are part of the experience at Jack Stack.
Where LC’s and Jack Stack are similar is in the large variety of outstanding meats that are perfectly hickory smoked. For more than 50 years Jack Stack has been taking care of the palates of barbecue lovers from across the country.
Locations:
Martin City: 135th and Holmes, Kansas City Mo.
Overland Park: 95th and Metcalf, Overland Park, Kan.
Downtown: 22nd and Wyandotte (At the Freight House), Kansas City, Mo.
Country Club Plaza: Wyandotte and Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo.
Phone: (877) 419-7427
Hours: Vary Per Location
Something Different:
Grinder’s
This eclectic restaurant serves pizza, burgers, and authentic Philly cheese steaks in the arts district of Kansas City. It’s described as both “seedy” and “trendy” in reviews, but everyone agrees the food is very good.
It’s been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives where show host Guy Fieri described the Bengal Tiger Pizza as: “a calypso-jazz band-festival-funkalicious rock concert”. Nuff said!
Address: 417 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Phone: (816) 472-5454
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.
YJ’s Snack Bar
They call themselves at “third world snack” bar with food from across the world – depending on the day and the food supply. Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean food is the most popular at YJ’s.
Also in the art district, owner David Ford lived above the local diner and when it became available he decided to share his passion for cooking food from around the world. YJ’s also has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Address: 128 W. 18th St., Kansas City, Mo. 64121
Phone: (816) 472-5522
Hours: Thursday-Saturday: Open 24 Hours
Sunday: 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Monday-Wednesday: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.