What’s the best barbecue in Kansas City?
Q39. I’ve eaten at several BBQ joints up there, but this one is my favorite.
I was waiting for a table their last year, watching the Auburn game on my phone, when the fumble/not fumble happened, Not sure I can go back! 
It is very good,
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We ate at Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue-Freight House for a late lunch today. We didn’t like where we were seated and should have asked to be moved, but we didn’t. I had a pulled pork baked potato and my husband had a pulled pork sandwich with fries. It was good, but expensive compared to BBQ in Little Rock or Fayetteville or Johnson. We plan on trying Joe’s Kansas City Bar-be-cue tomorrow or Tuesday. I need to look up Q39.
I myself am trying to get used to paying $20+ for a plate of BBQ. That’s what it is here in Dallas at the really good, high end BBQ places. In fact, I’m trying to get used to using “high-end” and BBQ in the same sentence. Cooking meat over smoke has been elevated to an artisan craft. It’s always been that, really. Cheap cuts of meat smoked to taste good. But we are really paying for it now, and not just in KC and Dallas.
Yep, the cuts of meat that was historically smoked was cheap stuff nobody wanted. And it had to be smoked low and slow to achieve something worth eating. Now, restaurants are smoking wagyu brisket. Competition teams spend thousands in meat alone to try to win. I love cooking it and usually don’t find restaurants to be as good as I can produce, except for places like Franklin’s, Pecan Lodge, etc.
As far as KC, I tried a few places up there and just didn’t find anything exceptional. I’m sure there is though. I guess I need to spend more time up there.
Oklahoma Joe’s is alright. KC que isn’t as good as Memphis. The original Arthur Bryant’s is OK, too.
Hogq, I’m with you on KC que. it’s just OK.
Can’t speak to KC BBQ, but the best Prime Rib I’ve ever had was at 801 Chophouse there
Q39 & Jack Stack are great. I would put Arthur Bryant’s up there as well but I haven’t been in quite a while. I’m a brisket fan and I def give Q39 the edge there. My wife is not a carnivore but I have no problem getting her to go to Jack Stack for their Blackberry Salmon–one of her favorite dishes anywhere.
I like the atmosphere and the whole vibe at OK Joes, but I don’t know that it lives up to the hype–their burnt ends definitely don’t. The best burnt ends I’ve had in a while were actually from a place called Burnt End BBQ in Crown Center (started by a former Jack Stack chef). I’m getting hungry typing this…
There’s a lot of great BBQ in KC if you know where to look, but also a lot of so-so BBQ that’s not any better than what you can find around here.
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We ate at 801 Chophouse tonight. Really close to T Mobile Arena. Really good Wagyu ribeye. Very pricey, but it was really good.
I have heard great things about slaps bbq and want tey that one on my next trip. Surprised no one has mentioned Gates. Love the beef nooner for lunch. Q39 is probably my favorite as well.
We tried Joe’s Kansas City Bar-be-cue yesterday. We waited over an hour at about 1:30. It was good, but I’m not sure I’d wait that long again.
Today, we went to Q39 in midtown. That was our favorite. I had chicken and my husband had the burnt ends hamburger. I don’t know what it is about us and table selection. First, they offered us the bar. Then, they took us to a table-for-2 that was about 8 inches from the table next to it. The space on the other side of the table and behind the table was constantly used by the staff. We declined that table and were seated at a very nice table for 4 in a great location.
The worst Q I’ve had was good. Same with pizza and Mexican food.
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