Kansas City-area barbecue guide: Restaurants from A (Arthur Bryant’s) to Z (Zarda)

Kansas City has its perennial, must-try barbecues, such as Arthur Bryant’s, Gates Bar-B-Q, Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que and LC’s Bar-B-Q. Then there’s the more recent wave that includes Q39 and Slap’s BBQ.

Let’s dig in with the A-to-Z list. Have you tried them all? The latest count shows the metro has about 100 barbecue options, from tiny joints tucked into strip malls and gas stations to sit-down restaurants with double-sided fireplaces and hickory-smoked prime rib.

This list was updated in October 2022.

Want some ideas of where to start? Check out our Barbecue Passport and Kansas City barbecue guide.

To add to the list, send an email to jsmith@kcstar.com.

Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, 1727 Brooklyn Ave. 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, Paola, Kansas-based food truck that travels throughout the metro. 913-634-1538

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, 6201 Blue Parkway. 816-923-2278

Bigg’s Barbeque, 2429 Iowa St., Lawrence. 785-856-2550

Blind Box BBQ, two locations:

▪ 13214 W. 62nd Terrace, Shawnee. 913-268-4227, Ext. 1

▪ Nebraska Furniture Mart, 1601 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. 913-268-4227, Ext. 2

Branding Iron BBQ, 2027 N. Commercial St., Harrisonville. 816-380-2214

Brobeck’s BBQ, 4615 Indian Creek Parkway, Overland Park. 913-901-9700

Buck Tui BBQ, 6737 W. 75th St., Overland Park. 913-283-8255

Burnt End BBQ & Catering, two locations:

▪ 11831 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. 913-451-8888

▪ Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., Suite 130. 816-601-0444

Char Bar Smoked Meats & Amusements, Westport, 4050 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 150. 816-389-8600

ChickHoovenSwine BBQ & Catering, Spring Hill-based food truck. 913-636-7607

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, 16695A W. 151st St., Olathe. 913-839-1774

Danny Edwards Blvd BBQ, 2900 Southwest Blvd. 816-283-0880

Depot Saloon & BBQ, 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. 816-429-6005

Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que, 1320 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. 913-334-8646

Fareway Meat Market, 1307 W. 79th St. Barbecue trailer offers barbecue to-go Monday through Saturday. It also sells barbecue in the prepared foods section inside. 816-444-4720

Filling Station BBQ Restaurant, 333 S.E. Douglas St., Lee’s Summit. 816-347-0794

Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, six locations:

▪ Country Club Plaza, 4747 Wyandotte St. 816-531-7427

▪ Freight House District, 101 W. 22nd St., No. 300. 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

▪ 8721 Ryckert St., Lenexa. 913-382-4227

Gates Bar-B-Q, five 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 Terrace, Leawood. 913-383-1752

Guy & Mae’s Tavern, 119 W. William St., Williamsburg, Kansas. 785-746-8830.

Harp Barbecue, 6515 Railroad St., Raytown. Limited hours but it will soon move into a new Raytown restaurant space.

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

Jazzy B’s BBQ, 316 S.E. Douglas St., Lee’s Summit. 816-272-0654

The Jiggy Pig, food truck. 816-812-2342

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, three 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

Jonathan’s Gourmet Wood-Fire BBQ & Seafood, 2111 E. Crossroads Lane, No. 106, Olathe. 913-777-6115

Jones Bar-B-Q, 6706 Kaw Drive, Kansas City, Kansas. 913-788-5005

Jousting Pigs BBQ, two locations:

▪ 110 E. Kansas St., Liberty. 816-702-7555

▪ Legends Outlets Kansas City, 1702 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.

KC Baby Back Ribs, 204 S. Broadway St., Oak Grove. 816-690-3300

Kingdom Bar & Grille, Antioch 127, 12655 Antioch Road, Overland Park. 913-283-7757

K&M Bar-B-Q & Catering, 603 N. Webster St., Spring Hill. 913-592-5145

LC’s Bar-B-Q, 5800 Blue Parkway. 816-923-4484

A Little BBQ Joint, 1101 W. U.S. 24, Independence. 816-252-2275

Lueck’s Barbecue & General Store, 506 Main St., Grandview. 816-599-2020

Meat Mitch Barbecue, Ranch Mart North, 3620 W. 95th St. Leawood. 913-363-6328

Moocho Authentic Mexican/BBQ & Cantina, 1704 S. Broadway St., Oak Grove. 816-690-7778

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, 3260 Broadway. 816-929-8299

Poio Mexican BBQ, 800 S. Seventh St., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-371-7646

Porky’s Blazin Bar-B-Q, 9512 S. Buckner Tarsney Road, Grain Valley. 816-566-0203

Q39, two locations:

▪ 1000 W. 39th St. 816-255-3753

▪ 11051 Antioch Road, Overland Park. 913-951-4500

Quentin’s BBQ & Sides, 611 W. Second St., Bonner Springs. It doesn’t have a phone number.

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 Barbeque, 9711 Kaw Drive, Edwardsville. 913-422-4600

Rosedale Bar-B-Q, 600 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-262-0343

The Rub Bar-B-Que & Catering, 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, three 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

Smoketown BBQ & Catering, 7702 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Overland Park. 913-544-1012

Smokin’ Guns BBQ Restaurant and Catering, 1218 Swift St., North Kansas City. 816-221-2535

Snead’s Bar-B-Q, 1001 E. 171st St , Belton. 816-331-7979

Tin Kitchen southern smokehouse, 509 Main St., Weston. 816-640-0100

Three Pigs BBQ & Catering, two food trucks, mostly at set locations, and catering operation:

▪ 3848 S. Noland Road, Independence. Tuesdays through Sundays. 816-813-2227

▪ 601 Missouri 291, Lee’s Summit. Wednesdays through Sundays. 816-813-2227

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 BBQ, two locations:

▪ 8441 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. 913-788-7554

▪ 7215 W. 75th St., Overland Park. 913-341-0609. Still temporarily closed after a fire in late 2021.

Zarda Bar-B-Q & Catering Co., two locations:

▪ 214 N. W. Missouri 7, Blue Springs. 816-229-9999

▪ 11931 W. 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa. 913-492-2330

This story was originally published August 13, 2021 at 12:00 AM.