BBQ

If Kansas City has an official cuisine, it’s undoubtedly barbecue. The saucy, smoky tradition dates back to the 1920s, when the enterprising Henry Perry sold barbecued ribs that he grilled in an outdoor pit and wrapped in newspaper. In the following decades, local barbecue legends like Charlie and Arthur Bryant, George Gates, Otis Boyd, Russ Fiorella and Jack Fiorella, among others, put their own spin on the cuisine, mastering sauces, rubs and grilling techniques that elevated their food and restaurants to legend status. 

All of us at Visit Kansas City Kansas recommend adding some local barbecue to your travel agenda, see below for a few options in Kansas City, Kansas to get you started. Just don’t forget your appetite—and extra napkins!