This Kansas City barbecue joint named one of the top must-visit spots in the U.S.
Kansas City continues to hold its legendary reputation as a culinary destination for some of the best barbecue cuisine in the U.S. Known for its various sauces, slow-smoked meats and barbecue techniques, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Q has once again gained national recognition, this time from Food & Wine magazine.
The magazine released its annual Global Tastemakers Awards, highlighting cultures and cuisines with various categories of food, drink, hospitality and travel, including its list of 10 must-visit barbecue spots in the U.S.
Kansas City’s Joe’s Bar-B-Q ranked No. 4 in U.S.
Representing the Midwest, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Q earned the No. 4 spot on the list, one of only two Midwestern restaurants to be featured. Also making the cut was Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Louis, Missouri, ranked at No. 6.
The rest of the list was dominated by barbecue hot spots from the American South, including restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
Joe’s Kansas City began in 1996 inside a gas station in Westwood, Kansas, when Jeff Stehney partnered with smoker business owner Joe Davidson to open what was then called Oklahoma Joe’s.
When Stehney and Davidson separated their businesses, Oklahoma Joe’s was renamed Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Q and has since opened three locations across Kansas with over 300 employees and an annual revenue of over $25 million.
With recognition from Food & Wine’s Global Tastemakers Awards, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Q continues to bring national attention to the city’s thriving food scene, reinstating the popular notion that Kansas City remains a must-visit destination for barbecue lovers.
Food & Wine 2025 Global Tastemakers Awards
Published in April 2025, this year’s Global Tastemakers list includes 165 extraordinary culinary experiences across the country. From restaurants and bars to cafes and hotels, the selections are based on insight from a wide range of professionals in the industries.
Polling “over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers, and wine pros from across the globe,” the 2025 Food and Wine Global Tastemakers Awards turned to professionals on their favorite culinary experiences.
The experts nominated their favorite destinations and experiences, which were then ranked and finalized by the Food & Wine’s Global Advisory Board, a select panel of editors, writers and industry insiders.
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 2:49 PM.
