Where should I get BBQ in KC?

July 16, 2012 8:13 AM

I will be in Kansas City for a short time on August 1st for the Sporting Kansas City/Stoke city soccer match. I want to get some of the famous barbecue. I'm staying near the stadium but I will not have a car. However, I'm not against taking a cab where I need to go. What are your suggestions, please?
posted by josher71 to Food & Drink (10 answers total)

Head on down to Arthur Bryant's at 1727 Brooklyn Avenue. It's somewhat close to the stadium - Kansas City is sprawltacular - and the food is great. I recommend the burnt ends.
posted by terrierhead at 8:27 AM on July 16, 2012

They actually should be serving some of our KC BBQ at the park, and since KC BBQ is primarily sauce-based, they've got all the big restaurants' brands.

If you don't have a car, KC is a hard town to navigate. We don't really have public transit, or a reliable cab service.
posted by RainyJay at 8:35 AM on July 16, 2012

The original Arthur Bryants on Brooklyn is nowhere near where you'll be staying, but there is an off-shoot location very close to you (within a mile of the stadium), in the Legends Mall area (http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/our_restaurants/index.htm). I've never been to that location, so I can't vouch for its awesomeness/authenticness, but at least you don't have to worry about a 40 minute round-trip cab ride.
posted by chara at 8:38 AM on July 16, 2012

And really, if you're going to spring for a cab anywhere, you're better off going to Oklahoma Joe's. From the stadium, you are basically equidistant from the original location (located in a gas station) and the newer location in Olathe.

Arthur Bryant's is for tourists. OK Joe's is the real deal.
posted by chara at 8:42 AM on July 16, 2012 [2 favorites]

Lived in KC for several years, but am elsewhere now. Oklahoma Joe's is where you need to go. The best joints, imo, are Oklahoma Joe's, Gates, and Arthur Bryant's, but Oklahoma Joe's is far and away the best. Fiorella's is good but overpriced and touristy. Personally, I prefer the OK Joe's at 47th and Mission.

If you only go once, I strongly recommend the Z-Man with fries. Their fries are amazing, and their brisket is just... words fail. Don't even bother to order the beans. How the best BBQ joint in the world can have mediocre beans is beyond me, but that's the way it is. If you go more than once, order whatever suits your fancy the second time.
posted by NathanBoy at 8:49 AM on July 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Heck! Sorry about that. I saw the word stadium and automatically thought of the Royals and Chiefs stadiums. Please disregard my suggestion of the original Arthur Bryants.

Oklahoma Joe's is delicious and worth the trip. I'm not sure about the newer, closer-to-you Arthur Bryants, but I go to the original one on a fairly regular basis and am not a tourist.
posted by terrierhead at 8:58 AM on July 16, 2012

It would be *easiest* to just get Arthur Bryant's near the stadium, but in my opinion the *best* BBQ in Kansas City is at LC's Bar-B-Q, 5800 Blue Parkway. Get the burnt ends.
posted by rocketman at 9:04 AM on July 16, 2012

Looking at the public transit (if you're the type to be adventurous and take public transit in the burbs), looks like there's a 101 bus that will get you downtown in an hour. If any of those spots are near that route, it will be a lot cheaper than cabbing. (renting a car for a couple days is cheaper than a long cab ride)
posted by sandmanwv at 9:07 AM on July 16, 2012

I don't ever visit KC without stopping at Gates BBQ, preferably twice.
posted by COD at 9:31 AM on July 16, 2012

Agreeing with everyone. Arthur Bryant's is overhyped. I actually found it kind of mediocre. Gates is solid and worth a stop. There's a ton of them so I'm sure you'll be close to one. But OK Joe's is just amazing and worth the cab ride over to Kansas. Anthony Bourdain listed it as one of the 13th greatest places to eat in the world.
posted by saul wright at 9:39 AM on July 16, 2012