Exploring Kansas City's barbecue evolution

This collection of stories explores how Kansas City's barbecue culture continues to adapt, innovate and maintain its local traditions.

One story details how Barbacoa merges Kansas City barbecue with Mexican flavors, while another introduces Char Bar's expansion to Parkville and adds pickleball alongside the traditional barbecue menu. Chiefs players share their favorite barbecue spots, highlighting places like Jack Stack and Q39, showing the deep connections between food and sports figures in the city.

Other articles report on the opening of the new Museum of BBQ at Crown Center and feature breakfast ribs at Los Alamos Cocina, reflecting both the evolving landscape and respect for classic dishes. The closure and revival of classic locations such as Johnny's BBQ in Olathe and the rise of competitions like Qlathe BBQ also demonstrate the community’s response to changes in the barbecue scene.

Read the stories below.

We asked some Kansas City Chiefs players, including center Creed Humphrey — seen here snapping the ball to quarterback Patrick Mahomes — to name their favorite restaurants and meals in Kansas City. They like barbecue.

NO. 1: WE ASKED THE CHIEFS TO NAME FAVORITE KANSAS CITY RESTAURANTS. BBQ, OF COURSE, AND MORE

“Barbecue, I love barbecue. You know, that’s been probably my favorite type of food my whole life.” | Published January 25, 2023 | Read Full Story by Lisa Gutierrez

Kansas City Star reporter Jonathan Shorman chooses The Burnt Heaven Sandwich from the Char Bar in Westport as his Let’s Dish favorite.

NO. 2: THIS BIG BBQ SANDWICH PRACTICALLY FALLS APART WHEN YOU EAT IT. THAT’S HALF THE FUN

It’s the best-selling sandwich at this Westport restaurant with good reason. | Published February 23, 2023 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman

No image found

NO. 3: ‘IT’S LIKE DAVID AND GOLIATH.’ A LITTLE TEAM COULD TRIUMPH AT QLATHE BBQ COMPETITION

Slaps BBQ and Fergolicious are returning, but up to 30 new teams will be in the mix, too. | Published March 15, 2023 | Read Full Story by Beth Lipoff

No image found

NO. 4: THEY LOVE KANSAS CITY BBQ AND MEXICAN FOOD. THEY COMBINED THEM IN THIS NEW RESTAURANT

The menu includes brisket taquitos, ceviche, smoked carnitas, shrimp diablo, and smoked turkey breast and mole with Yoli flour tortillas. The drink menu includes a Mexican mule and an agave martini. | Published April 11, 2023 | Read Full Story by Joyce Smith

Logan Gaspard, a pitmaster at Jack Stack Barbecue’s Freight House location, divides beans into serving trays. Edley’s Bar-B-Que in Nashville, where Taylor Swift has homes, took a shot at Kansas City barbecue.

NO. 5: NASHVILLE JOINT INVITES TAYLOR SWIFT TO SHOW TRAVIS KELCE ‘REAL BBQ.’ KC IS HORRIFIED

One of the 3,000 commenters has visited this Nashville restaurant: “Might be ‘awesome’ for TN, but it’s only average in KC.” | Published September 28, 2023 | Read Full Story by Lisa Gutierrez

No image found

NO. 6: SORRY, JOSH HAWLEY, YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT THE BEST BBQ RIBS IN KC. THESE ARE THE GREATEST

Opinion editor Yvette Walker says it’s the smoke and the cut of meat that take these barbecue ribs to a higher level. | Published December 5, 2023 | Read Full Story by Yvette Walker

No image found

NO. 7: KANSAS CITY BARBECUE RESTAURANT OPENS SECOND LOCATION, ADDS PICKLEBALL TO THE PLATTER

Check out the happy hour specials: $4 barbecue pork rinds, $5 local draft beers, $6 house wines and $7 pulled rib sliders, among other items. | Published December 5, 2023 | Read Full Story by David Hudnall

No image found

NO. 8: RIBS FOR BREAKFAST? ABSOLUTELY, AT THIS MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN KANSAS CITY. SO TENDER

This KC market turned restaurant knows just how to make a great Mexican breakfast, heavy on the nostalgia. | Published December 19, 2023 | Read Full Story by Lisa Lopez

No image found

Burnt End BBQ’s burnt ends bowl.

NO. 9: BARBECUE RESTAURANT CLOSES JOHNSON COUNTY LOCATION AFTER 10 YEARS. ALL IS NOT LOST

This restaurant is known for its brisket and burnt ends sandwich, smoked ribs and barbecue bowls. | Published July 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

No image found

A mixed plate of barbecue at J’s BBQ in Olathe on Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2025. The location recently switched ownership after the departure of longtime favorite, Johnny’s, closed up shop. The owner, Josh Deal, claims to have “the best burnt ends in Kansas City.” By Dominick Williams

NO. 10: JOHNSON COUNTY BBQ RESTAURANT CLOSES, ANOTHER REPLACES IT. ‘THE BEST BURNT ENDS IN KC’

The KC institution is gone after almost 50 years. But don’t fear BBQ fans, something else is here. | Published March 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

The Rub & Spice Room at the Museum of BBQ.

NO. 11: KANSAS CITY’S NEW BARBECUE MUSEUM, THE WORLD’S FIRST, HAS SET AN OPENING DATE

The Museum of BBQ will feature nearly a dozen different exhibits and interactive activities. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Hudnall

No image found

The Museum of BBQ is located on the second floor of the Crown Center Shops. it will open to the public on Saturday, April 12, 2025. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 12: WE TOURED THE NEW MUSEUM OF BBQ. SEE PHOTOS FROM INSIDE KC’S LATEST ATTRACTION

The Museum of BBQ, opening April 12, in Kansas City, is being called the world’s first barbecue museum. | Published April 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tammy Ljungblad

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.