Beef ribs, rib tips, smoke brisket? Slow roasting smoked meat evokes images of delicious barbecue. There are over 100 barbecue restaurants in Kansas City, and many will argue that Kansas City barbecue is the best in the world. If you want to take on the task of trying out all the barbecue joints, there’s even an app for the challenged, called the KC BBQ Experience. Or, you could tour our top three picks on your next trip there, because these must-visit barbecue joints are truly Kansas City barbecue’s best of the best, and some of our favorite barbecue.
As one of the most popular barbecue spots in Kansas City, it may surprise you to learn that the original Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is actually located inside of a gas station. But don’t be so quick to judge a book by its cover. The Travel Channel reported that “Anthony Bourdain deemed Joe’s worthy of a spot on his list of 13 Places to Eat Before You Die”. Though their ribs and burnt ends are both delicious, it’s their Z-Man Sandwich that’s their most popular item: a perfectly calculated balance of flavors: slow-smoked beef brisket, smoked provolone cheese, topped with two crispy onion rings, on a toasted Kaiser roll.
Q39 is a relative newcomer on the Kansas City barbecue scene, opening its doors in 2014, but it’s no doubt, a heavyweight barbecue contender. Led by the culinary prowess of Chef Rob Magee, what was once a side gig for this culinary executive, quickly became a barbecue reckoning at an array of national championships. Be prepared to make a reservation, and then grab a Competition BBQ Dinner Plate; choose from Q Pork Spare Ribs, Sliced Brisket, Pulled Pork, Smoked Chicken, or Chipotle Sausage to build your own meat-tacular delicious dinner.
Woodyard Bar-B-Que is homey barbecue joint that possesses an outdoor brick smoker that wafts smells of white oak and hickory wood as soon as you enter. Mixed with the delicious smells of meats, it’s no wonder that Woodyard Bar-B-Que was featured on the Food Network’s Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and The Black Keys are reportedly fans as well. Order their burnt ends or baby back ribs.
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