Best BBQ in Kansas City: 15 Top BBQ Joints
In a city known for phenomenal BBQ, finding the best BBQ in Kansas City, MO, can be a tricky business. Where else can you dine at over 100 BBQ joints, each with its own special recipe to add to the mix? If you’re going to locate the best BBQ restaurants in Kansas City, be prepared to sample a lot of brisket, chicken, ribs and sauce!
So what is the best BBQ restaurant in Kansas City? It may be impossible to choose just one, so we chose our favorite 15 instead. Check into our options for the best BBQ places in Kansas City to help with your search.
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15 Best BBQ Joints in Kansas City
1. Jones BBQ
This family-run joint has been serving up the best BBQ in Kansas City since opening in 1970. Their sauce is a family secret, but you can pick up a bottle or two in sweet and tangy and coconut pineapple flavors for home cookouts.
The Vibe
Outdoor picnic table seating and a walk-up window keep things cool and casual.
What to Order
Homemade sausage served by the link is a Jones BBQ specialty. Order up a sample platter to truly experience the best BBQ in Kansas City. It features ham, turkey, beef, ribs and sausage, plus a little bread on the side for soaking up extra sauce.
Jones BBQ | 6706 Kaw Dr. Kansas City, KS 66111| $
2. Porky's Blazin’ Bar-B-Q
If you smell sweet, delicious smoke coming from a big red barn, you know you’re at Porky’s. Their daily wood-smoked meats make mouths water all around town, winning their chefs several first-place prizes as some of the best BBQ in Kansas City, MO.
The Vibe
Bright, cheerful dining room, with old-fashioned open seating for friendly lunches and dinners.
What to Order
A beef brisket sandwich with beans and salad on the side serves up a slice of saucy BBQ to whet your appetite and introduce you to the best BBQ in Kansas City.
Porky's Blazin’ BBQ | 9512 S. Buckner-Tarsney, Grain Valley, MO 64029 | $$
3. Slap's
“Slap” is an acronym for “Squeal Like a Pig”, the original name of this award-worthy provider of the best BBQ in Kansas City. Slap’s has won contest after contest, including a final-round run in season five of TLC’s Pitmasters.
The Vibe
Rustic charm is the order of the day at this joint for the best BBQ in Kansas City. Featuring picnic table seating in front of a little red shed storefront, you'll feel like you've escaped the city.
What to Order
Locally sourced meats make Slap’s burnt-end combo an unforgettable meal for KC BBQ fans. Slap’s sauce and rubs are also available for use back at the homestead.
Slap’s | 553 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas 66101 | $$
4. Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue
Jack Fiorella started Jack Stack as a storefront BBQ stand in 1957. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Jack Stack isn’t just among the best BBQ in downtown Kansas City; it’s also the largest wood-fired cookery in the U.S.
The Vibe
Upscale and inviting, with an emphasis on casual modern elegance.
What to Order
The pitmaster provides pork spareribs, fire-kissed wings, burnt ends and sausages, all on the same plate. If you want to try the best BBQ in Kansas City, this dish can't be missed at Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue!
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue | Multiple Locations | $$
5. Plowboys
Competition-style BBQ is the Plowboys claim to fame. The owners traveled around the U.S. for six years learning the ins and outs of the BBQ business. The results are low and slow-cooked meats that help define the best local BBQ in Kansas City.
The Vibe
Uptown style serving sweet Southern sizzle in a fast-food counter layout, with a case full of awards to back up the reputation.
What to Order
BBQ nachos are a must. They’re made with in-house tortilla chips, queso sauce from scratch and your choice of tender, seasoned meat.
Plowboys | Multiple Locations | $$
6. Danny Edwards BLVD
Danny Edwards grew up surrounded by the best BBQ in downtown Kansas City, so he knows his way around a brisket. His slow-cooked meats have been satisfying locals and visitors for more than 30 years.
The Vibe
This unfussy diner is so laid back, you can practically eat lying down!
What to Order
The Burnt Ends Plate will give you smoky brisket edges and a side with bread. And of course, there’s the famous Danny Edwards sauce.
Danny Edwards BLVD | 2900 SW Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri 64108 | $$
7. Q39
Another excellent BBQ place in Kansas City is Q39. Classically trained chef Rob Magee brought his BBQ skills to town in 2014. In the years that have followed, Q39 has developed a reputation as some of the best BBQ in Kansas City. Quality yields results!
The Vibe
Stylish without being stuffy, a fully 21st-century version of a BBQ eatery.
What to Order
The chipotle pork sausage, warmed up with fiery spices, is some of the best BBQ in Kansas City.
Q39 | Multiple Locations | $$
8. Woodyard BBQ
Woodyard BBQ is one of the best KC BBQ places that presents itself as a fun outdoor cookout, even with indoor seating. Affordable lunch and dinner dishes are also accompanied by live musical entertainment.
The Vibe
Smokestacks, brick walls and metal roofs give Woodyard a cozy roadside cabin feel. It’s also dog-friendly, meaning you can sneak some of the best BBQ in Kansas City under the table and have a very happy pooch.
What to Order
The Triple “P” sandwich piles on pulled pork and provolone, plus ham and smoked bacon. The best BBQ in Kansas City doesn’t play small!
Woodyard BBQ | 3001 Merriam Ln. Kansas City, KS 66106 | $$
9. BB's Lawnside BarB-Q
BB’s is made from granite stones that originally created crosswalks in Downtown Kansas City. When a BBQ joint in Kansas City wears its history on its sleeve, you know you’re in for authentic flavor.
The Vibe
Funky and eclectic, with long table seating and live blues tunes from the stage.
What to Order
BBQ Meatloaf blends beef brisket with ground beef and sweet BBQ sauce for a Kansas City barbeque take on an American classic.
BB's Lawnside | Multiple Locations | $$
10. Arthur Bryant's
Food experts have declared this Kansas City BBQ diner one of the best restaurants in the U.S. Having the name of an inductee to the Barbeque Hall of Fame on the sign means the best BBQ in Kansas City, MO, is waiting in the kitchen!
The Vibe
The red awning and red brick front at Arthur Bryant’s signal a vintage diner feel that continues inside.
What to Order
The 18th and Vine sandwich, named for the address of the original KC BBQ restaurant, is a top pick.
Arthur Bryant's | 1727 Brooklyn Ave., Kansas City, Missouri 64127 | $$
11. LC's Bar-B-Q
If straightforward BBQ is what you’re after, then LC’s is the best Kansas City BBQ joint for you. Tangy sauce with moderate heat and tempting brisket with fries on the side is their time-honored formula. It equals the best BBQ in Kansas City every time.
The Vibe
The gritty, no-nonsense feel of a real old-time Kansas City, MO, BBQ joint, inside and out.
What to Order
This top BBQ in Kansas City spot has no shortage of menu options. If you can't decide, check out the combo sandwich, loaded with two meats and served with your choice of savory side.
LC's Bar-B-Q | 5800 Blue Pkwy., Kansas City, MO 64129 | $$
12. Char Bar
This airy bar and grill is not only one of the best BBQ in Kansas City locations. It's also a top destination for BBQ fans looking for a friendly place to hang out before and after they eat. Char Bar’s smoke blends hickory and pecan for a unique smoky-sweet flavor you’d expect to find only in the best BBQ Kansas City, MO, has to offer.
The Vibe
Mixing and mingling are highly encouraged in this cavernous, community-oriented KC BBQ restaurant.
What to Order
The Holy Trinity brings together three ribs, black Angus brisket and burnt ends for a tasty plate, served with toast and pickles to tickle your tastebuds.
Char Bar | 4050 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111 | $$
13. Gates Bar-B-Q
The Gates family has been on the Kansas City scene since 1946. This historic joint may be as famous for shouts of “HI, MAY I HELP YOU?” from their waitstaff as for some of the best BBQ in Kansas City.
The Vibe
Traditional family-friendly dining under the iconic red roof and strutting man sign.
What to Order
Mutton is a rare find on a KC BBQ menu. The appearance on Gates’ menu makes it a must-try and is a reason why this spot is named one of the best Kansas City, MO, BBQ joints.
Gates Bar-B-Q | Multiple Locations | $
14. Smokehouse
Smokehouse's contribution to the best BBQ in Kansas City is their specialty: hickory-smoked chicken and brisket, their hallmark dishes since opening in 1987.
The Vibe
Steakhouse chic with upmarket sports bar aspirations.
What to Order
With Pickin’ Chickin,’ happy eaters can enjoy a 12-ounce chicken breast topped with pulled pork and two sides.
Smokehouse | Multiple Locations | $$
15. Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Joe’s originated as a catering company before setting up shop in a gas station in 1996. The diner gradually expanded to offer the best BBQ in Kansas City to more hungry diners.
The Vibe
The original KC BBQ location is a step back in time to a true roadside diner experience. Newer locations of this KC BBQ restaurant offer a more contemporary BBQ dining atmosphere.
What to Order
You can’t pass up a sandwich called the Rocket Pig when trying the best BBQ in Kansas City. It’s loaded with pulled pork slathered in spicy-sweet sauce and topped with pepper jack cheese.
Joe’s Kansas City BBQ | Multiple Locations | $$
Learn to Make Your Own Kansas City BBQ
Homemade BBQ can be just as spectacular as what the best Kansas City BBQ restaurants serve, especially when you learn with cooking classes in Kansas City. You’ll discover authentic recipes that make it easy to recreate the best BBQ in Kansas City.
Join 200,000+ Culinary Enthusiasts
If you’re a foodie with a taste for smoky-sweet goodness, enjoying the best local BBQ in Kansas City is bound to be a peak experience. The only way to find out what is the best BBQ restaurant in Kansas City by your own standards is to sample a little something from as many of the best BBQ joints in Kansas City as possible. It may take a while, but your research is bound to be delicious!
For even more fun ways to explore Kansas City and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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