Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is a local favorite. Here’s what a KC BBQ legend says to order
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Editor’s note: This is Part 4 of How to Eat Kansas City Barbecue Like an Expert, a series that follows food and travel journalist, Kae Lani Palmisano, as she applies Barbecue Hall of Famer Ardie A. Davis’ barbecue judging criteria to Arthur Bryant’s, Gates, and Joe’s. Click here to watch Part 1, here to watch Part 2 and here to watch Part 3.
It was a sauce-filled day in early August when I rolled into the charming gas station barbecue joint known as Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. Despite having crushed burnt ends and beef and fries at Arthur Bryant’s and a Gates’ brisket sandwich (don’t hold the pickles), I still had room for Barbecue Hall of Famer Ardie A. Davis’ pick: the Z-Man.
And what a note to end this barbecue blitz on! The Z-Man is a smoke-tinged brisket sandwich topped with provolone cheese, crispy onion rings and a modest drizzle of thick and tangy barbecue sauce.
Taking Davis’ barbecue judging criteria of appearance, tenderness and taste, the appearance of the Z-Man it was, by far, the most artfully constructed brisket sandwich of the day. The brisket was arranged neatly on the bun and was covered in a melted blanket of provolone cheese, topped with three perfectly fried onion rings. Even the application of the sauce was aesthetically pleasing. As the Z-Man came through the pass, the sauce shimmered under the restaurant lights. I audibly gasp at this brisket’s beauty.
As for the tenderness and taste, the brisket itself was deceptively flavorful with strong but enjoyable notes of smoke, the provolone’s sharp pungency really made the sauce pop, and onion rings added a bit of crunchy texture to the sandwich.
Arthur Bryant’s, Gates, and Joe’s are all incredible in their own unique ways. Each sandwich was distinct with its own signature flavors, and everything from the ambiance of the restaurants to the way the barbecue was served proved that Kansas City truly is about variety.
But whose barbecue was the best barbecue? According to Davis, only you can be the judge.
Comparing barbecue to wine, Davis shared an anecdote about how an expert once said that the best wine is the wine you like.
“Same goes for Kansas City barbecue,” he said. “The best Kansas City barbecue is the barbecue you like.”
Kansas City’s Best Barbecue According to Readers
Kansas City has spoken! After weeks of voting for your favorite barbecue spots in The Star’s Barbecue Bracket, the winners are in. Congrats to Joe’s for being our readers’ choice!
With the top 10 best barbecue restaurants that readers of The Kansas City Star voted on, we created a Barbecue Passport. These are the essential spots you need to visit in order to become a Kansas City barbecue expert.
Click here to get The Kansas City Star’s Barbecue Passport and take it with you on your saucy journey as you eat your way through Kansas City!
How to Eat Kansas City Like an Expert is part of our Guide to the City of Fountains. If you or someone you know is new to Kansas City or you want to get to know more about your hometown, sign up below for the City of Fountains newsletter!
This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
