How new restaurants are boosting Kansas City dining culture

New and old restaurants are elevating Kansas City’s dining culture by offering inventive menus and unique experiences. At HomeGrown, diners can enjoy creative savory-sweet combinations like the West Coast Wake Up omelet and Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, served with locally sourced ingredients. Urban Restaurant reimagines classics with bold twists, such as shrimp and grits with southern-cooked collard greens and lobster grilled cheese.

McLain’s Market satisfies both healthy and indulgent cravings, thanks to dishes like the Market Wrap and signature baked goods. Modern cafes and bistros popping up across the metro, from Overland Park to Troost Avenue, are expanding options and fueling the city’s enthusiasm for brunch.

The Market Wrap is filled with sweet potato quinoa falafel, spring mix, tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumber dressing, red onions and hummus inside a whole wheat tortilla.

NO. 1: I LOVE EVERYTHING AT THIS GROWING KC CAFE AND BAKERY. HERE’S THE DISH I ORDER THE MOST

Get something savory, like this incredible wrap. AND get something sweet, like a cookie, a house-made doughnut or blueberry danish. You can’t go wrong. | Published November 21, 2023 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

A great combo at HomeGrown: the West Coast Wake Up omelet, paired with the Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, at right. But you can’t go wrong if you swap in the coffee cake with caramel sauce, top. By Emily Curiel

NO. 2: AT BRUNCH I WANT SAVORY AND SWEET. THIS GROWING RESTAURANT IN KC GIVES THE BEST OF BOTH

This omelet stuffed with gooey cheese, mmmm bacon and veggies, paired with French toast that radiates cinnamon: my perfect brunch. | Published June 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sharon Hoffmann

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The crab cakes at Prima Facie. By David Hudnall

NO. 3: IS THIS NEW KC AREA RESTAURANT JUST WHAT MY HOMETOWN NEEDED? I TRIED IT TO FIND OUT

The new bistro recently opened its doors in Parkville, a historic town 15 minutes from downtown Kansas City. | Published December 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Noelle Alviz-Gransee

Chef Justin Clark preparing a dish at Urban on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Located at Armour Road and Troost Avenue, Urban is a full service restaurant from Chef Clark, a spinoff of his first restaurant, Urban Café. By Dominick Williams

NO. 4: FOOD AT THIS KANSAS CITY RESTAURANT TASTES SO GOOD I WAS TEMPTED TO DRINK THE SAUCE

The revamped Urban Restaurant at East Armour Boulevard and Troost Avenue serves up a great atmosphere and the best darn shrimp and grits, with a twist. | Published January 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mará Rose Williams

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.