Kansas City, KS offers an array of dining options to satisfy quite possibly any appetite. Here are some local restaurants you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Kansas City, KS!
Famous Faces
Brothers Mike and Joe Pearce saw plenty of success in their barbeque competition team, Squeal Like a Pig, before they decided to take their passion one step further and open a restaurant. They even competed on the 5th season of Destination America’s BBQ Pitmasters where they took 2nd place in a competition of top teams and restaurants in the nation.
Mike and Joe opened Slap’s BBQ (a shortened version of Squeal Like a Pig) in June 2014 and have happily sold out of meat just about every day since. Each morning hundreds of pounds of meat are put through the smoker producing only the freshest, finger-licking good food for barbeque’s toughest critics, the people of Kansas City. Crowd pleasers include Slap’s award-winning ribs, burnt ends, and their Friday sandwich special known simply as “The Sandwich.”
More recently, the Pearce brothers have teamed up with Heinz BBQ to create a Kansas City inspired sauce for the company’s new “Made with the Masters” line of barbecue sauces.
Family Favorites
Legend’s Outlets Kansas City is filled with a variety of restaurants to appease anyone in your party, but Chiusano’s Brick Oven Pizzeria is a step above the rest. Chiusano's prides itself on being a locally owned, mom and pop establishment. It produces mouth-watering Neapolitan style pizzas unlike anything you can find in Kansas City. Pizzas are made with the freshest ingredients and come out piping hot from the giant Remco Millennium 2000 (in other words, a very fancy oven). Sure you can order pepperoni, but you can also try a Nancy’s Favorite – fresh pesto, thick Roma tomatoes and local Italian sausage, or a French – hunks of brie cheese, caramelized onions and prosciutto. Dinner at Chiusano’s puts a delicious twist on the classic family pizza night.
Ask any Kansas City, KS local what their favorite childhood restaurant was and you are guaranteed to hear Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant more than a few times. The old school diner has been a part of Kansas City for more than 50 years. Fritz’s is known for its over head miniature trains that deliver orders, and also for its greasy, crinkle-cut fries and juicy burgers topped with grilled onions. The look of the Kansas City, KS location is rustic, especially compared to the newer locations. However it’s worth it to stop, see and taste what has kept Kansas Citians coming back from generation to generation.
Hidden Gems
If you’re a foodie looking for something more off the beaten path, but still want to experience Kansas City barbeque then look no further than Woodyard Bar-B-Que. While Woodyard may not get as much media attention as its contenders, Guy Fieri had plenty of nice things to say about it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Woodyard Bar-B-Que is a very “no frills” barbeque joint with a whole lot of flavor. As you walk in you’re immediately immersed in the smell of meat smoked in white oak and hickory wood. Woodyard Bar-B-Que stands out from the rest of Kansas City’s ‘que with its burnt-end chili and specialty sandwich, The Carolina – smoked pulled pork topped with creamy slaw.
Barbecue is big, but more recently Kansas City, KS has been praised for its authentic street tacos. You probably haven’t considered checking out our downtown, but El Camino Real might change your mind. The house made corn tortillas and savory, sweet pastor can be smelled from about a mile away. Forget the cheese and sour cream. Authentic taco lovers can dress their tacos with fresh cilantro, onion and pico de gallo. Lunch time is usually booming for El Camino Real, but it’s worth the wait to try this genuine taste of Kansas City, KS.
