Kansas City, Missouri, is known for its local food and the importance of barbecue as a chapter in the region’s history. With around 100 barbecue restaurants in the neighborhood, the public enjoys examining the qualities of the greatest sauces. Weddings are served with Arthur Bryant’s barbeque and Gates on another, ensuring guest satisfaction. However, determining the best barbecue joint can spark disputes, as many operate out of trucks or convenience shops, and many come and go with the seasons.
Discover four Kansas City BBQ restaurants, both old and new, offering excellent cuisine and a great starting point for discovering your favorite. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags, reserve a flight from Detroit to Kansas City, and spend the weekend with your loved ones.
Kansas City’s barbecue heritage dates back to the early 1900s, when local stockyards and hickory were abundant. Black entrepreneurs smoked meat and sold lunches from street carts, leading to the establishment of restaurants near the city’s baseball field and jazz clubs. These establishments, listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, became safe havens for Black travelers seeking a place to eat, spreading the mystique of Kansas City barbecue.
Joe’s Kansas City Restaurant
Kansas City’s Joe’s is a staple in KC barbecue, known for its smoked meats and sweet barbecue sauce. The thinly cut beef brisket is eaten like a sandwich, and the Z Man sandwich, featuring brisket, smoked provolone cheese, and onion rings, is a favorite among actor and KC native Paul Rudd. The first Joe’s opened in 1996 at a petrol station and has since expanded to a second location in the Power & Light entertainment zone near the Country Road Ice House.
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Barbeque by Arthur Bryant
Arthur Bryant’s, a Kansas City barbecue tradition since the early 1900s, has been in operation since 1949. The original barbecue sauce, with vinegar and paprika, pairs well with bold flavors like savory sausage. The Rich & Spicy sauce offers milder flavors. Burnt ends, a staple of Kansas City barbecue menus, are prominently featured at Arthur Bryant’s, where cooks cut off the “burnt ends” of slabs of brisket and give them away for free.
LC’s Bar-B-Q
LC’s, a Kansas City restaurant, has devoted followers due to its centerpiece, a massive iron pit, which generates smoke when cooking delicate meats. The house sauce is smooth, citrusy, and slightly acidic, complementing the meat without overpowering the intense smokey flavor. LC’s is one of the few restaurants in the city that serves pork as a sliced sandwich, unlike traditional “pulled pork” chunks drenched in sauce.
Shawnee’s BBQ in Bates City
Shawnee’s Bates is a fraternity-designed BBQ restaurant with wood furnishings, Kansas City Chiefs paraphernalia, and neon beer signs. The crew consists of the owner’s sons, who serve thin, snappy meat and fries. The best value in town is the Bates Weekend Ribs, served on Thursdays and Sundays for around $15. The ribs have a smokey flavor and pair well with the savory spice rub. The brisket and pork sandwich is particularly delicious when drenched in smokey sauce. Explore Kansas City by DTW flight bookings to Kansas City and enjoy with your family.
