TravelinFeet

Hello all. Am moving cross country on I 70. Hoping to reach Kansas City KS by tomorrow night or the following day at lunch time.

IDK what makes KC bbq “Kansas City” but as a bbq and ribs lover I’m hoping to find out! (However I cannot have spicy food. &#128553

Can anyone recommend a good place for my indulgence? Holes in the wall are greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!

TF

bachslunch

Not being able to have spicy food may be an issue with any style BBQ.

I’ve especially liked Joe’s, Fiorella Jack Stack’s, and Arthur Bryant’s for this.

J62

Are you specifically looking in Kansas City, KS or are you looking at the much larger Kansas City, MO area?

Bitter

"I’ve especially liked Joe’s, Fiorella Jack Stack’s, and Arthur Bryant’s for this."

That's a good list, though I've only had Fiorella's by mail order and/or Sam's club. I have only recently been to Joe's (last year) and the lunch crowd extended out the front door. I think Arthur Bryant's is maybe the granddaddy of those. When I went there decades ago it was at the downtown location. I believe there is or was a satellite location in KC Kansas at the Legends shopping area. FWIW, I've heard a lot of good things about Q39, but haven't been there. Again, many years back, I enjoyed Gates BBQ. Not sure if they are still around. I know BBQ folks are very opinionated so you may want to do some yelping to see which may be right for you.

sweetannie

Gates is still around. I would say Bryant’s would be the spiciest, so I’d recommend Joes KC or Q39.

TravelinFeet

Wow. Thanks so much!! It all sounds great. I would prefer to stick as close as possible to I 70. So is KC bbq sliced meat, or pork, or ribs? Or all of the above. I love them all lol just wondering... the problem with spice is that post chemo, my tongue breaks out in painful blisters which last quite a while from “hot” spicy food. A little heartburn I can live with lol. But the tongue thing is quite painful.

I dont really understand the relationship between between the two KCs and the map is not very helpful. Again, I’m just trying to get to VA but indulge a bit of gourmandise along the way! 😃

sweetannie

Bryant’s May be closest then. Just ask for the sauce on the side. They have several types of sauce. The location in Kansas is probably the easiest from I70. I can only assume the food tastes the same. The original is also near I70 maybe a bit more of a driving adventure. I’d go to the original if you have a few extra minutes.

sunbum1944

I live in Oregon and do I ever miss Kansas City BBQ. Nothing in this city to equal it. Joe's is a favorite for me- i even order their BBQ sauce shipped here. Good luck. Burnt ends are a favorite.

TravelinFeet

Oooh. I can buy sauce! What a great idea!

Still hoping for for an answer to what is the most original bbq, sliced meat or ribs (ribs being a great treat for me)? Thanks for the tip on sauce on the side. Wonder if they will sell extras with freezer packs lol. Is there any tip to chicken bbq? (For a second meal lol)

you all all are just terrific!!!

sludick

If you like ribs, you'll be happy to hear that you will most likely have more than one choice. Pork and beef, baby back and spare, some of each, etc. You'll also find chicken and sausage on the menu. Sampler platters may be the way to go. Even sandwiches usually have a choice of putting 2 or 3 different meats on it.

sweetannie

You’ll find all sorts of ribs, but pork ribs, sliced brisket, and burnt ends wouldn’t probably be considered the most “KC”style bbq.

TravelinFeet

Sampler platter and lots of sauce to go lol. Thanks again!

Bitter

Both cities are along I-70, at least in part. it's pretty simple, KCMO is on the MO side and is the more prominent city. It is what you usually hear about when referring to KC Royals and Chiefs. (MLS KC Sporting and the KS Speedway (nascar) are located in the same KCK shopping area I mentioned above.) KCMO has a ton of attractions and is a business center. KCK has had a resurgence in the last 10-20 years? I spent some time in downtown KCK 2+ decades ago, and it was pretty weird, with strip clubs, massage parlors and large pawn shops as some of the prominent downtown businesses. I haven't been downtown since but the Legends area (removed from downtown, and on i-70 has a lot to offer, though I thought it was overbuilt.

sweetannie

Downtown KCK is still in pretty sad shape.

bachslunch

The extremely simplified answer is that KC BBQ does pretty much everything, though as poster sweetannie rightly says, ribs and sliced brisket and burnt ends are especially common. Sauce is usual here, a red sauce that’s often molasses oriented, though places like Arthur Bryant’s tend towards a more vinegar focused red sauce.

I didn’t mention Gates’s. It’s very good and would be a godsend in most any other city, but I preferred Bryant’s, Joe’s, and Jack Stack the time I went. With several days in KC, would recommend them, though.

sunbum1944

OP asking about the most original KC BBQ- I would have to say Bryants. I remember first time I went- big vats of BBQ sauce in the window, they would paint the BBQ sauce on the meat with a big paint brush. I encouraged my uncle to share a sandwich, but oh no! he wanted his own. He took half of it home.
Bryants may be most original, but I like Jack Stack ( on the Plaza) or Joes the best.

sweetannie

Just to correct my misspelling above , brisket, pork ribs, and burnt ends ARE considered the most original kc bbq (not aren’t). There’s lots of good choice mentioned above but I think either Bryant’s location would be the closest to I70. Id recommend the one on Brooklyn for its “originalness”, though it will take a few minutes longer. Enjoy wherever you end up.

Bitter

I'm hungry now.

sweetannie

So did you make it through KC?