Squeamish? These are 77 of KC’s cleanest restaurants, from the health department
With scrubbed kitchens, untainted food and trained employees, these restaurants have been recognized by the Kansas City Health Department as some of the safest in the city.
While many of Kansas City’s approximately 3,500 eateries struggle with restaurant inspections, these 536 kitchens excelled in 2024.
The 2025 Food Safety Excellence Award winners included drive-thrus, school cafeterias, hospitals, catering companies and grocery stores across the city.
According to a city press release, the award “reflects the cumulative results of inspections throughout 2024.” The release did not include the specific criteria for the award.
You can read the full inspection reports for Kansas City restaurants at inspectionsonline.us/foodsafety/mousakansascity/search.htm. For those interested in Kansas restaurants, the state’s Department of Agriculture handles inspections.
Here is a selection of the restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops and cafes that received the 2025 food safety award, cut down from the full list of 536 establishments:
Downtown, River Market and West Bottoms
- Fortunati Pizza, 1623 Genessee St.
- Fountain City Scoops and Floats, 419 Main St.
- Hien Vuong Restaurant, 417 Main St.
- Java Garage, 1323 W. 13th St.
- KC Hooley House Live Bar, 170 E. 14th St.
- The Ship, 1221Union Ave.
- Wrap It Up - A Tex Mex Grill, 104 W. 9th St.
Crossroads, Crown Center and West Side
- Anton’s Butcher’s Shop, 1610 Main St.
- Bar Medici, 1800 Walnut St. (now closed)
- Boulevard Brewing Co Beer Hall, 2534 Madison Ave.
- Chartreuse Saloon, 1627 Oak St.
- Christopher Elbow Chocolates, 1819 McGee St.
- Crown Center - Pak Ling Express, 2450 Grand Blvd.
- Crown Center - Shang Tea, 2450 Grand Blvd.
- Crown Center - Sheridan’s Lattes and Frozen Custard, 2450 Grand Blvd.
- Curry In A Hurry, 1103 Grand Blvd.
- Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand Blvd.
- Grinders West, 415 E. 18th St.
- Los Alamos Market, 1667 Summit St.
- Novel Restaurant, 1927 McGee St.
- Pokesan, 1513 Grand Blvd.
- Torn Label Brewing Company, 1708 Campbell St.
- Town Topic Hamburgers, 2021 Broadway Blvd.
- Union Station - Parisi Cafe, 30 W. Pershing Road
- Yoli Tortilleria, 1668 Jefferson St.
Midtown and Westport
- Brewer’s Kitchen, 3107 Gillham Road (now closed at that location)
- Dave’s Hot Chicken, 4121 Broadway Blvd.
- Dodson’s Bar, 7438 Wornall Road
- First Watch, 1022 Westport Road
- Miami Ice, 1624 W. 39th St.
- Nelson-Atkins Museum (Thou Mayest), 4525 Oak St.
- Sister Anne’s, 901 E. 31st St.
- The Fix, 600 E. 31st St.
- Whiskers Cat Cafe & Coffeehouse, 3705-3707 Southwest Trafficway
East Side
- Black Wall Street, 5908 Prospect Ave.
- El Rey Del Taco, 6450 Truman Road
- J’s Fish and Chicken Market, 5412 Prospect Ave.
- Johnny’s Donuts, 4424 Prospect Ave.
- La Cubana Cuban Restaurant, 5402 Winner Road
- Las Marias, 4010 E. Truman Road
- M&M Bakery, 1721 E. 31st St.
- Sankofa Cafe, 4240 Indiana Ave.
South Kansas City
- Andre’s Confiserie Suisse, 5018 Main St.
- Andy’s Frozen Custard, 10641 State Line Road
- Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches, 1201 W. 47th St.
- Crow’s Coffee, 535 E. Red Bridge Road
- Fox and Bull Baking Co, 10510 Grandview Road
- French Custard, 5905 Main St.
- Governor Stumpy’s Grill House, 321 E. Gregory Blvd.
- Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, 8805 State Line Road
- Jarocho, 13145 State Line Road
- Kokoro Maki House, 340 W. 75th St.
- Martin City Pizza and Tap, 410 E. 135th St.
- McGonigle’s Kitchen and BBQ Catering, 1307 W. 79th St.
- McLain’s Bakery, 201 E. Gregory Blvd.
- Sayachi Sushi Restaurant, 6322 Brookside Plaza
- Tropical Sno, 222 W. 85th St.
- Vita’s Place, 5514 Oak St.
Northland
- 54th Street Bar & Grill, 303 N.E. Englewood Road
- Andy’s Frozen Custard, 6000 N.W. 88th St.
- BC Bistro, 7749 N.W. Praire View Road
- Burek And Cake, 3605 N.E. Antioch Road
- Crumbl Cookies, 9008 N.W. Sky View Ave.
- Dannys Burger Shack, 8002 N. Oak Trafficway
- Dutch Bros Coffee, 350 N.W. Barry Road
- Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, 6206 N.W. Barry Road
- First Watch, 9021 N Ambassador Drive
- Fitti’s Espresso, 7612 N.W. Prairie View Road
- Fresh Donuts, 5557 N.W. Barry Road
- Hayes Hamburger and Chili, 2502 N.E. Vivion Road
- Hot Rocks Pizza Kitchen, 102S5 N. Oak Trafficway
- Jalapeno Tacos KC, 6951 83rd Terrace
- One More Scoop, 3522 N.E. Vivion Road
- Renegade Cofffee, 8708 N. Oak Trafficway
- Scooters Coffee, 8401 N.W. Prairie View Road
- Taco Rico, 8238 N. Oak Trafficway
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 6320 N. Chatham Ave.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
