Brits tried these Kansas City restaurants — and loved them: ‘Unbelievably good’
The World Cup has brought an onslaught of international soccer fans, and consequently, taste buds.
Many travelers are tasting Kansas City cuisine for the first time, with some broadcasting their positive reviews on social media. British podcasters Ali Maxwell and George Elek recently visited Kansas City for the World Cup and shared comments on several restaurants, both with The Star and on Instagram.
In a video posted to The England Pod’s social media pages a little over a week ago, the pair chowed down on burnt ends, brisket, ribs and several sides at Joe’s Kansas City ahead of the World Cup games in the city.
“If I have a son, he will be called Joe,” remarked English podcaster Ali Maxwell after finishing his meal.
“It was unbelievably good,” Elek agreed, sitting in front of his finished plate at the Kansas City, Kansas, gas station location.
On Tuesday, Maxwell said he received several Kansas City restaurant recommendations from listeners, and Joe’s was the top of the list.
“We were keen to try some barbecue straight up,” he said. “We literally went straight there from our flight.”
Right when Maxwell and Elek arrived late that Sunday morning, the duo took note of the long lines. It being Maxwell’s birthday, the servers brought out free desserts for him to try: bread pudding and banana pudding. The ribs were the best they’d had up until that point, Maxwell said.
“One thing that was really special for us ... was how friendly everyone in KC was,” Maxwell said. “Instantly having just arrived in KC, we just felt really welcomed.”
The British podcasters posted a series of videos over the next few days inside Tacos El Gallo, The Peanut, Joe’s and McLain’s, all of which received praises from the visitors.
In another post, the pair posed in front of a sizable plate of The Peanut’s famous wings.
“Waking up still thinking about last night’s sensational wings at The Peanut,” the caption reads.
The Peanut, as many Kansas City natives know, has been a staple in the city since 1933.
In yet another video, the two sat under a yellow umbrella at McLain’s in Waldo and munched on a guacamole bacon burrito and a pepper jack burrito. To wash it down, the pair toasted their two cups of the pint: a cold brew topped with “plenty” of dulce de leche.
“It feels naughty, it feels nice,” Maxwell remarked in the video. “It is surely the only place to eat breakfast in Kansas City. England fans to boot.”
McLain’s, which now has five locations across the metro, has been a Kansas City classic since 1945. It serves pastries, breakfast and lunch items, and coffee.
Maxwell said they also visited Johnnie’s on 7th in KCK and were blown away by the owners’ friendliness. While in the city, they received dozens of DMs and comments recommending they try different spots in the metro.
“We went there with really no expectations, and we left there having fallen in love with Kansas City,” Maxwell said.
The British podcasters’ clips added to a growing number of videos on social media that feature international visitors praising American food. Videos of Japanese fans enjoying Texas BBQ have gone viral, with one in particular showing international fans raving about Terry Black’s BBQ in Dallas.
In another video, Dutch fans marvel at the “cheese pull” as they devour mozzarella sticks at Chili’s.
American staples like Buc-ee’s, Costco, Taco Bell and Waffle House have also been popular spots for travelers, according to widely shared videos on social media.
In a video posted by KCTV5 last week, an Argentine fan inside the FIFA Fan Fest shared his thoughts on Kansas City and its cuisine.
“The barbecue is perfect,” he told reporter Claire Decatur. “The price is cheaper. It’s not too much.”
While businesses across the city are sharing mixed results of the World Cup profitability, several barbecue restaurants said last week that sales have been up.
Jack Stack, Q39, Joe’s, Arthur Bryant’s, Wolfpack and Scott’s Kitchen all said that FIFA festivities have resulted in more business.
“We’re selling a massive amount of burnt ends,” Arthur Bryant’s general manager Taylor Tobin said.
One Argentine fan inside Q39 praised the barbecue in an interview with The Star last Wednesday.
“It’s quite similar to Argentine barbecue, which is great for us,” Gustavo Sosa said. “It’s amazing.”