Is Kansas City the barbecue capital of the world? You judge after seeing this list
Kansas City has more than 100 restaurants across the metro specializing in barbecue — from tiny, smoky joints tucked into strip malls and working gas stations to constantly on-the-move food trucks to sit-down restaurants with double-sided fireplaces — where the burnt ends can come with an order of hickory-smoked prime rib.
And that the number is growing. In fact, Visit KC — the city’s non-profit whose mission is to ignite passion for KC — proudly calls the metro the “barbecue capital of the world.”
Ask for recommendations and locals will mostly likely rave about one of the decades-old mainstays — Arthur Bryant’s, Gates, Fiorella’s Jack Stack and LC’s Bar-B-Q. But then they often want to offer up a couple more: newcomers who are not only garnering a loyal following, they also are earning national accolades, such as Jones Bar-B-Q, Q39 and Slap’s BBQ.
So let’s dig in with the A-to-Z list. How many have you tried?
To add to the list, send an email to jsmith@kcstar.com.
All Slabbed Up Bar-B-Q Restaurant & Bar, 405 Muncie Road, Leavenworth. 913-727-5227
Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, 1727 Brooklyn. 816-231-1123
Back Porch Bar-B-Q, 1620 S.E. Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit. 816-349-2880
Bates City Bar-B-Que, 6493 Quivira Road, Shawnee. 913-962-7447
Bates City BBQ, 201 E. Market St., Bates City. 816-625-4961
B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St. 816-822-7427
The BBQ Shack, food truck.
Biemer’s BBQ, 2120 W. Ninth St., Lawrence. 785-842-0800
Big Q Barbecue, 2117 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-362-6980
Big T’s Bar-B-Q, 2 locations:
▪ 6201 Blue Parkway. 816-923-2278
▪ 9409 Blue Ridge Blvd. 816-767-0905
Bigg’s Barbeque, 2429 Iowa St., Lawrence. 785-856-2550
Blind Box BBQ. 2 locations:
▪ 13214 W. 62nd St., Shawnee. 913-268-4227
▪ Nebraska Furniture Mart, 1601 Village West Parkway, Kansas City. 913-268-4227
Branding Iron BBQ, 2027 N. Commercial St., Harrisonville. 816-380-2214
Brobeck’s BBQ, 4615 Indian Creek Parkway, Overland Park. 913-901-9700
Buffet at Harrah’s, One Riverboat Drive, North Kansas City. 816-472-7777
The Burnt End BBQ & Catering, 2 locations:
▪ 11831 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. 913-451-8888
▪ Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., Suite 130. 816-601-0444
C. Frogs BBQ Steak Whiskey, Prairie Village Shopping Center, 3935 W. 69th Terrace, Prairie Village. 913-601-5250
Char Bar Smoked Meats & Amusements, Westport, 4050 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 150. 816-389-8600
ChickHoovenSwine BBQ, Spring Hill, Kansas-based food truck and in the Parlor food hall at 1707 Locust St. 816-875-4813
Chops BBQ & Catering, 109 E. Main St., Smithville. 816-866-4337
County Road Ice House BBQ & Bar, Power & Light District, 100 E. 14th St. By the founders of Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. 816-399-4967
Crazy Good Eats, 16695 A W. 151st St., Olathe. 913-905-2744
Danny Edwards Blvd BBQ, 2900 Southwest Blvd. 816-283-0880
Depot Saloon, 2702 N. Bell St., Avondale, Missouri. 816-452-2100
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, two area locations:
▪ 9000 N.W. Skyview Ave. 816-505-3900
▪ 600 S. Missouri 291, Liberty. 816-407-7427
Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que, 1320 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. 913-334-8646
Filling Station BBQ, 333 S.E. Douglas St., Lee’s Summit. 816-347-0794
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, 5 locations:
▪Country Club Plaza, 4747 Wyandotte St. 816-531-7427
▪ Freight House District, 101 W. 22nd St. 816-472-7427
▪ 1840 N.W. Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit. 816-621-7427
▪ 9520 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. 913-385-7427
▪ 13441 Holmes Road. 816-942-9141
Fireside BBQ & Bar, 10400 Mastin St., Overland Park. 913-766-9499
Gates Bar-B-Q, 6 locations:
▪ 3205 Main St. 816-753-0828
▪ 1221 Brooklyn. 816-483-3880
▪ 1325 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. 816-531-7522
▪ 10440 E. U.S. 40, Independence. 816-353-5880
▪2001 W. 103rd St., Leawood.
▪ 1026 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-621-1134
Harp Barbecue, 6515 Railroad St., Raytown. It has a pop-up from 11 a.m. to sellout (about 1:30 to 2 p.m.) Saturdays in Crane Brewing Co.
Hawg Jaw Que & Brew, 900 Swift St., North Kansas City. 816-741-4294
Hayward’s Pit BBQ, 10901 W. 75th St., Shawnee. 913-451-8080
Hickory Log Bar-B-Q, 5047 Welborn Lane, Kansas City, Kansas. 913-287-9560
Iron Horse BBQ, 2405 N.W. Prairie View Road. 816-858-6020
Jazzy B’s BBQ, 1803 B N.E. Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit. 816-272-0654
The Jiggy Pig, food truck. 816-812-2342
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, 3 locations:
▪ 3002 W. 47th Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-722-3366
▪ 11723 Roe Ave. , Leawood. 913-338-5151
▪ 11950 S. Strang Line Road, Olathe. 913-782-6858
Johnny’s Hickory House Bar-B-Q, 1375 W. Old U.S. 56, Olathe. 913-768-0777
Jones Bar-B-Q, 6706 Kaw Drive, Kansas City, Kansas. 913-788-5005
Jousting Pigs BBQ, 110 E. Kansas St., Liberty. 816-429-6886
KC Baby Back Ribs, 204 S. Broadway, Oak Grove. 816-690-3300
K&M Bar-B-Q & Catering, 603 N. Webster St., Spring Hill. 913-592-5145
LC’s BBQ, 5800 Blue Parkway. 816-923-4484
A Little BBQ Joint, 1101 W. U.S. 24, Independence. 816-252-2275
Mad Mans KC BBQ, Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Lane, Lenexa. 844-623-6267
McGonigle’s KC BBQ, Fareway Meat Market, barbecue to-go daily, 1307 W. 79th St. 816-444-4720
Moose’s BBQ & Catering, food truck, 213 E. Main St., Gardner. 785-691-6757
Oden’s Family BBQ, 1302 N. Scott St., Belton. 816-322-3072
P Moore & Moore BBQ, 13912 E. Noland Court, Independence. 816-313-5986
Peaceful Pig Vegan BBQ, food truck. 816-752-0144
Pigwich, City Market, 20 E. Fifth St. 816-200-1639
Plowboys Barbeque, 3 locations:
▪ 3111 S. Missouri 7, Blue Springs. 816-228-7569
▪ Town Pavilion, 1111 Main St., Suite 120. 816-221-7569
▪ 6737 W. 75th St., Overland Park. 913-914-7569
Porky’s Blazin Bar-B-Q, 9512 S. Buckner Tarsney Road, Grain Valley. 816-566-0203
Q39, 2 locations:
▪ 1000 W. 39th St. 816-255-3753
▪ 11051 Antioch Road, Overland Park. 913-951-4500
Ray Rae’s Rib Shack, 20301 S. Missouri 291, Pleasant Hill, Missouri. 816-540-4742
RJ’s Bob-Be-Que Shack, 5835 Lamar Ave., Mission. 913-262-7300
Roscoe’s BBQ, 9711 Kaw Drive, Edwardsville. 913-422-4600
Rosedale BBQ, 600 Southwest Blvd. 913-262-0343
The Rub Bar-B-Que, 10512 S. Ridgeview Road, Olathe. 913-894-1820
Scott’s Kitchen and Catering at Hangar 29, 11920 N. Ambassador Drive. 816-270-0505
Scout’s BBQ, food trailer. 913-238-9471
Slap’s BBQ, 553 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-213-3736
Smoke Brewing Co., 209 S.E. Main St., Lee’s Summit. 816-525-2337
Smokebox BBQ, 10020 N. Ambassador Drive. 816-891-8011
Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, 3 locations:
▪ 6304 N. Oak Trafficway, Gladstone. 816-454-4500
▪ 19000 E. 39th St., Independence. 816-795-5555
▪ Zona Rosa, 8451 N.W. Prairie View Road. 816-587-3337
Smokey’s BBQ & Catering, 510 Main St., Wellsville. 785-883-4119
Smokeys on the Boulevard, 8669 W. 135th St., Overland Park. 913-897-7427
Smokin’ Guns BBQ Restaurant and Catering, 1218 Swift St., North Kansas City. 816-221-2535
Smokin’ Joe’s BBQ, 519 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe. 913-780-5511
Snead’s Bar-B-Q, 1001 E. 171st St. 816-331-7979
Summit Hickory Pit BBQ, 1012 S.E. Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit. 816-246-4434
T&T BBQ & Catering, 2632 Moundview Drive, Lawrence. 785-331-8349
Three Little Pigs Barbeque & Catering, Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd. 816-421-7447
Three Pigs BBQ, two food trucks, mostly at set locations Tuesday through Saturday:
3848 S. Noland Road, Independence. 816-813-2227
890 E. Langsford Road, Lee’s Summit. 816-813-2227
Tin Kitchen, 509 Main St., Weston. 816-640-0100
VigsKC, 100 S. Second St., Odessa. 816-892-0844
Wabash BBQ & Blues Garden, 646 S. Kansas City Ave., Excelsior Springs. 816-630-7700
We B Smokin, 32580 Airport Road, Paola. 913-256-6802
Woodyard Bar-B-Que, 3001 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kansas. 913-362-8000
Wyandot B-B-Q, 2 locations:
▪ 8441 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-788-7554
▪ 7215 W. 75th St., Overland Park. 913-341-0609
Zarda Bar-B-Q & Catering Co., 2 locations:
▪ 214 N. Missouri 7, Blue Springs. 816-229-9999
▪ 11931 W. 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa. 913-492-2330