Jason Kelce explains why he made a point of shining light on KC restaurant
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jason Kelce highlights one-of-a-kind local restaurants during city visits.
- He filmed a segment at Peter May’s House of Kielbasa during an August trip.
- Kelce aims to spotlight mom-and-pop landmarks that define local communities.
Former Philadelphia Eagles center turned ESPN analyst Jason Kelce has a newish goal of highlighting off-the-beaten-path restaurants around the country.
That explains why he ended up at Peter May’s House of Kielbasa in Kansas City and gave the eatery a shoutout on social media.
On the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce said he recorded a video at Peter May’s in August when in Kansas City to see his alma mater, Cincinnati, play Nebraska at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
“We filmed this without an idea of when we were going to release it or what we were going to do with the content,” Kelce said on the podcast. “But one of the things that we’re trying to do is highlight cool establishments in cities and areas that we go that are like one of ones, mom-and-pop shops that have been open for a long time, or are landmarks of specific communities that people just love.
“And we kind of heard through the grapevine that Peter May’s House of Kielbasa was a one of one, like, an interesting spot. It looks cool. It’s in a neighborhood that used to be very industrial within the city of Kansas City. I don’t even think you would have been to this place.”
That last comment was directed at Kelce’s little brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But Travis Kelce knew all about Peter May’s.
“I’ve been over there,” Travis Kelce said. ” I know what’s going on over there. I know what’s going on everywhere in Kansas City, man. I’ve put my foot in a lot of establishments, but not the sausage factory, though.”
Peter May’s indeed is a sausage factory, Jason Kelce said.
“It was awesome,” he added. “I think for me, I love going to spots like this. I love going to unique areas.”
On that, the Kelce brothers could agree.
“It’s pretty cool, because there’s so many unique spots like that, just in Kansas City, from what I’m thinking of,” Travis Kelce said.
The brothers talked a bit about the Food Network show, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” but Jason Kelce said his plan to highlight restaurants isn’t just about what’s being served.
That is one reason why he loved Peter May’s.
“To me, it’s not even as much about the food. I still love highlighting the food, because obviously that’s the main reason people are going,” Jason Kelce said. “A lot of the reasons I like places like this, it’s more about who’s working behind the counter, the waitress, the people that are there.
“It feels like there’s a spirit to establishments like this that feels like there’s a soul to them. I just very much vibe with the overall ethos of a lot of these establishments. And Peter May’s House of Kielbasa is tremendous. So if you get a chance, highly recommend it. Kielbasa is fantastic, Mike, Mama (May) who’s been working there ... for 76 years, at least, that’s what I’m calling her. You know, it was a very special place.”
A TikTok video showed Kelce meeting a woman who was eating at the restaurant and this was just a wonderful interaction.
“I met an awesome woman named Karen, who was from Belton,” Jason Kelce said, “(who) had driven all the way up there just to get some kielbasa, and she was not disappointed.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 9:15 AM.
