Kansas City Restaurant Week 2026 starts soon. Here’s what you need to know
Foodies, get your stomachs and wallets ready. Restaurant Week is officially back.
For the 17th straight year, Kansas City Restaurant Week will highlight the flavors of the metro, with over 240 establishments participating. With a wide range of food options, as well as some places with carryout and delivery options, this year’s Restaurant Week has something for everybody.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is Kansas City Restaurant Week?
It’s a 10-day event designed to increase traffic to local restaurants during what is typically a slow month, and to encourage diners to try restaurants where they might not otherwise eat. Restaurants usually create “prix fixe” menus that offer multiple courses, allowing diners to try a variety of dishes at a discounted price point.
Do you have to pay a fee or join a group to participate?
No, you can just show up to the restaurant and order. You will have to pay for your meal, of course.
When is it?
Kansas City’s Restaurant Week runs from Friday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 18.
Which restaurants are participating?
The full list is at kcrestaurantweek.com/restaurants. You can search by cuisine, neighborhood and menu type (brunch, lunch, dinner).
There’s also a digital map of the participating restaurants that can be found at kcrestaurantweek.com/map.
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Do you have to dine in to get the Restaurant Week deals?
It depends on the restaurant. Some restaurants are offering delivery and carryout. You can search for those on the site as well, under “Service Options.”
How do you find out what a restaurant is serving during Restaurant Week?
In theory, just go to either the KC Restaurant Week website or download the KC Restaurant Week app on the App Store or Google Play. In practice, not every restaurant has posted its menu on the site yet (though many have).
If you’re thinking about going to a restaurant on the list and the menu isn’t posted there yet, call or email the restaurant to ask what they’re serving, or check their social media pages to see if they’ve shared any information there.
How much are the meals?
Meal prices vary by restaurant. Lunch can be around $20, while dinners can range from $40-$55. Some of the lunch and dinner options can be the same items and prices. Here are some examples.
- Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches on the Country Club Plaza (4706 Holly Street St.) offers the same deal for lunch and dinner. A three-course meal is available for $20, which includes a seasonal salad, a sandwich and banana pudding. Carryout is available for this establishment.
- North Italia in Overland Park (4579 W. 119th St.) has a $20 three-course meal for lunch, and a $40 four-course meal for lunch. Both options include an optional cocktail pairing as the final course of the meal, which will come with an upcharge. The Italian restaurant will also offer additional sides on the select menu, which will also come with an upcharge. Carryout and delivery will not be available for this restaurant.
- Charleston’s Restaurant in the Southeast neighborhood (8817 State Line Road) offers a $20 two-course meal for lunch, but also three separate three-course meals for dinner, which will cost $40, $50 and $65, respectively. Lunch is simple, you get a cup of baked potato soup, and then your choice of a select entrée. For dinner, the appetizer and desert options remain the same for each course, but the entrées ranging from a chicken tender platter, to a Hawaiian rib eye. Takeout and delivery will not be available for this restaurant.
Do you have to tip?
You should. Considering you are getting meals at a discounted rate, and because it’ll be a hectic 10 days, it’s worth being generous to staff during Restaurant Week.
Does this benefit a charity?
Yes. Participating restaurants pledge 10% of Restaurant Week menu sales to three charities: the Greater KC Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the Visit KC Foundation (which teamed up to start KC Restaurant Week in 2010) and a rotating community recipient. This year’s is reStart Inc., which supports individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Kansas City. Last year’s recipient was House of Hope, which received over $125,000 from KC Restaurant Week.
