Mi Armour
In the summer of 2018, North Kansas City installed a gateway sign welcoming visitors to their city that ensures nobody who drives by will ignore the Armour Road district, as I foolishly did in my first year or two in Kansas City.
Published February 18, 2022
I think what makes cities so special is the way that they have their own outward-facing identity and those things they are known for on a statewide, national, or even international scale. And yet, when you really dig in to any city, you find a collection of neighborhoods with their own heritages, histories, traditions, landmarks, and identities that contribute to that over-arching city identity but each of these enclaves has their own unique feel.
Kansas City is no different. Even living here the better part of a decade, I would be the first to admit there are hidden gems of neighborhoods that I have never been to or visited. That’s why I am on this constant journey to discover more. It’s a satisfying quest in that it can never be satisfied. There’s no 50th state to cross off and be done. There will always be new places to discover in this great city. Every single neighborhood or district that I rave about or frequent now, was once brand new to me. The first couple of years I lived here, I was blissfully unaware of places that I now can’t imagine life without.
Before moving to Kansas City in 2012, it was not yet my home. It was a place that I would visit while in college or fly into to visit friends when I lived on the East Coast. To me, the city of North Kansas City was barely on my radar. It was the place I rented cars from and a town I drove through on my way from the airport to downtown. Foolishly, I did not give it much attention beyond that.
Granted, North Kansas City has really grown and the future is bright for this Kansas City suburb. However, there were already a number of Kansas City area institutions in this area which were unknown to me. I never knew what gems were hidden there. I could never have imagined what it has grown into and what I believe it will be in another ten years. As a city, Northtown is definitely it’s own vibe but like any city, this suburb just over the Heart of America bridge has its own pockets, subsidiaries, and neighborhoods that contribute to its overall identity. No one can deny that the most prominent area, and the main tributary, of NKC is Armour Road.
Over the past decade, Armour Road has become a place that I frequent and adore. I am grateful for the historic institutions that continue to live on and the exciting injection of eclectic restaurants and businesses that breathe new life into this important district. As much as I personally love Armour Road, I am frequently astonished by how many Kansas Citians (especially those who live and work downtown) have never taken the time to explore Northtown.
In writing about Kansas City, my goal is always to share my own journey of discovery as it unfolds and also to share what I have discovered while being a tourist in this place I am proud to call home.
So if you have never driven through that “North Kansas City” arch, or just haven’t done so in a while, these are a few of the places that you can expect to discover as you make your way down Armour Road.
Hawaiian Bros.
101 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri
Hawaiian Bros. has turned the traditional Hawaiian plate meal into a Kansas City staple and is slowly spreading across the nation. Pictured here is the mixed plate with Honolulu Chicken (left) and the Huli Huli Chicken (right).
Right as you drive under the arch, you can’t miss it on your right hand side. The long-empty Allen Tire building on Armour Road is now home to a massive Hawaiian Bros. location that welcomes you to the district.
When one thinks of Kansas City’s food scene and what our city is known for, I doubt that the Hawaiian plate lunch immediately comes to mind but at this point, it probably should be one of the first staples you think of. When the McNie brothers opened their first Hawaiian Bros. location in Belton in 2018, it would have been hard for any of us to believe the degree to which this city would latch on to the concept. And yet, four years later, this Kansas City based restaurant is on the verge of operating 10 locations across the metro.
The franchise’s fourth location is an incredibly large space with the bright, island interior we have come to expect from this local franchise. The restaurant serves a straightforward menu of island comfort food with six available entrees served in a compartmented to-go box with a scoop of rice and a side of macaroni salad. As great as all the entrees are, it’s hard to beat the Honolulu Chicken. A teriyaki-style glazed chicken dish with ample notes of garlic and sesame and garnished with green onion. The macaroni salad is straight-to-the-point with a thick, savory dressing that has a hint of a peppery aftertaste. This delicious side is borderline addictive! The scrumptious spam musubi (a piece of griddled spam and a sushi rice patty wrapped in nori) is always an essential add-on.
Not only has Hawaiian Bros. become a destination for Kansas City diners, but the chain will be operating at least 20 more locations in Illinois, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas by the end of this year. Without any signs of slowing down, be sure to step out of your comfort zone and try the recent Kansas City institution that will soon take the nation by storm.
DD’s Pro Tip: Always go for the Mixed Plate so you can sample multiple meats in one meal. With the Hawaiian Bros.’ entrees being served on a bed of rice already, I find that the scoop of rice on the side can be a bit much. I would advise you to either double down on the macaroni salad or to pay the up-charge and sub out the scoop of rice for a side of seasoned vegetables.
Sail Away Wine
309 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri
I won’t lie. I’m a little obsessed with the flatbreads at Sail Away Wine - especially the BBQ Chicken.
Less than two blocks past Hawaiian Bros., one of the district’s newest entrants is already making waves.
The friendly confines at 309 Armour Road are the perfect setting to sail away for a couple hours.
If you have been reading disKCovery for any amount of time, you may recall that in December’s Fountain City Superlatives, I named Sail Away Wine the best new bar that I tried in 2021. Having been open for under eight months, Russ Johnson’s pour-your-own-wine concept on Armour Road has already built a solid following. Sail Away’s fun nautical theme, their passport system, and the ever-rotating cast of wines from around the world accomplishes Johnson’s goal of allowing Kansas Citians to take a mini vacation to a far-off destination without ever leaving home. As snow piles up around the city, what better time for an island getaway?
Utilizing a revolutionary tap wine system, customers are able to sample wines from around the world in pre-portioned pours of one, three, and five ounces. Unlike pour-your-own-beer bars where customers are often left throwing away money on foam due to a combination of tap and operator error, each of the 72 wines at Sail Away are kept at the prescribed temperature. This, along with the pre-portioned system, ensures that the customer always gets every drop that they’re paying for in the manner that it was intended to be served. While the bar’s focus is on the wines of the world, Sail Away also offers a variety of craft beers and spirits. Their menu of meats, cheeses, boozy desserts, and exquisite flatbread pizzas compliment their drink offerings quite well. Featuring a thin, crispy, but firm, crust that is brushed with garlic butter and piled high with fresh toppings and melty cheese, the flatbreads are especially noteworthy.
The next time that you are looking for a cool sport to catch up with friends, impress on a date, or perhaps, to just take a few hours of vacation from the worries of the world - Sail Away Wine might be just the place for you.
DD’s Pro Tip: Sail Away Wine offers 10% off all wine pours during their daily 4pm - 6pm Happy Hour. They also offer BOGO on their flatbread pizzas on Mondays so it’s hard to imagine a better destination for Monday Happy Hour. While the entire pizza lineup is fantastic, the tangy and tasty BBQ Chicken is my personal favorite.
Chappell’s Restaurant & Sports Museum
323 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri
In 2005, Sports Illustrated named Chappell’s Restaurant & Sports Museum on Armour Road one of the top ten sports bars in America. That’s what happens when the floors and ceilings are covered with over a million dollars in sports memorabilia.
Go a few doors down the same sidewalk and you’ll run into a storefront with a collection of Kansas City pro sport and college flags waving high.
Topped with bacon and served on a grilled, buttered Wolferman’s English muffin, adding a fried egg to the Chappell’s Burger just makes sense to me.
Kansas City is a sports-crazed town that is living in the midst of a Golden Age for professional sports. Not since the heyday of the Kansas City Monarchs, have fans in this city enjoyed so much success in such a short period of time. We have been spoiled with championships over the past decade. Since 1986, in times of feast and famine for Kansas City sports fans, one sports bar has always stood heads and shoulders above the rest - Chappell’s Restaurant & Sports Museum.
True to its name, Chappell’s really is a museum, claiming to have the largest collection of sports memorabilia of any restaurant in the nation. Whether you are a casual fan or a sports aficionado, one cannot help but marvel when they walk through the doors. With some collectibles that go back a century, every room of the restaurant is covered from floor-to-ceiling in memorabilia that spans all sports. And that includes the restrooms!* It is for good reason that in 2005, Sports Illustrated named Chappell’s one of the top ten sports bars in America. Where else in the country can you sit at the bar and find yourself face-to-face with one of the San Antonio Spurs’ Larry O’Brien Trophies, an Oakland A’s Commissioner’s Trophy, or one of Washington’s Lombardi Trophies?
After 32 years, Jim Chappell sold his namesake bar in 2018 to an ownership group committed to continuing that tradition. The bar has since been renovated but it still has the familiar feel, famed sports nostalgia, and familiar favorite menu items - such as the Chappell Burger served on a (Kansas City’s own!) Wolferman’s English muffin and the widely revered steak soup. A lot of that reason for the familiar feel is that it’s been rumored that Chappell insisted on the new ownership keeping the same staff in place. Many of the bartenders and servers have been with the restaurant for at least a decade. While Chappell no longer owns the restaurant that bears the name, his incredible collection of sports memorabilia, the amazing people he put in place, and the experience he created still lives on for a new generation of Kansas City sports fanatics.
DD’s Pro Tip: Especially if it’s your first time, make sure you have some time to linger and look around at the incredible collection - I always find something I haven’t noticed prior! Pull up a seat in the incredibly comfortable bar stools and if the bartender is not too busy, feel free to chat them up. Many of them, one in particular named Chris who has been there for YEARS, are very knowledgeable about the bar’s extensive memorabilia collection.
* In fact, thanks to a server that ensured the restroom was empty, after dozens of visits over the years, I learned in 2021 that the women’s restroom is adorned largely with memorabilia from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League - a fictionalized account of which is the subject of the hit 1992 movie A League of Their Own.
Screenland Armour Theatre
408 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri
While Screenland Armour is an amazing spot to catch the latest indie films and Hollywood blockbusters, it’s not uncommon to see some throwback movies or all-time classics on the marquis.
Across the way from Chappell’s, you’ll find another longtime Kansas City icon. While Northtown and its main thoroughfare have become a destination for dining and entertainment in recent years, the crown jewel of Armour Road - the Screenland Armour - has served generations of Kansas Citians since before Jim Chappell was even born.
Believed to be the longest continually running theater in the city, the Armour Theatre building showed it’s first movie, Warming Up starring Jean Arthur, on September 6, 1928. Over the decades, the theatre has changed names (perhaps most memorable are the Centre Theatre and Paradise Theatre) and ownership, but the Spanish style building has always been a place for entertainment and for the community to gather. In 2008, the Armour Theatre was purchased, renovated, and re-opened as the Screenland Armour. That same year, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the Screenland Armour, is a destination for Kansas City cinephiles. As one of the few independent and locally-owned theatres in the city, the Screenland is, in itself, a celebration of Kansas City. At no time is this on greater display than during the film festivals they host, such as Panic Fest, that showcase the films of local writers and directors.
Following an expansion in 2018 and seating renovations in 2021, the independent Screenland Armour has managed to persist in an uncertain time for movie theaters thanks to an incredibly loyal fanbase. The eclectic lobby décor, extensive craft beer selection, and food menu plays well to a modern audience seeking out the latest blockbusters and indie films. The arcade games in the lobby, theatre ambiance, and iconic marquis are appropriate for viewing the movies of yesteryear. Hopefully, that army of loyal customers will continue to grow and keep this unique movie-going experience alive for the next generation of Kansas Citians.
DD’s Pro Tip: Arrive early. The Screenland Armour features a solid food menu and a fantastic craft beer selection. Arriving at the last moment and robbing yourself of the opportunity to enjoy their menu, and to play a few arcade games, is a disservice to yourself. If you’re in the main theater, make a bee line for those black leather couches. While the Screenland recently renovated their seats, the deep, cushiony couches that allow you to pair the movie theater experience with the comfort of your living room are still there.
Tay’s Burger Shack
1019 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri
While the previous four places I have mentioned are easily walkable and within a few blocks of one another, I would not dare talk about the best of Armour Road and neglect the chance to mention Tay’s Burger Shack. About three-quarters of a mile from the rest of these spots, you won’t regret going a little farther down the road.
Even before I launched disKCovery, my affinity for Tay’s has been well-documented. In 2019, I named Tay’s the best burger joint in Kansas City and while there have been worthy challengers, I have not yet been convinced to back down from that stance. I am not the only Tay’s fanatic. Since opening in 2015, Tay’s Burger Shack has developed such a reputation that people come to Northtown from all over the metro to try this amazing burger. In 2020, Tay’s opened a second location in Overland Park.
The restaurant is called “Shack” for good reason. If you did not know what you were looking for, you might roll on by this unassuming small tan structure. The first thing you will notice when you approach the building is a large banner bragging about their usage of “organic, grass-fed beef” in their patties. This distinction puts Tay’s on the pricier side when it comes to Kansas City burger joints but absolutely worth every penny.
Like many great restaurants, Tay’s focuses on what they do best. The menu only features six food items - their famous burger (offered as the Single, Double, Triple, or quadruple-stacked Homerun), their hand-cut, house-seasoned fries, and Nathan’s Hot Dogs. A focus on local, Tay’s makes their burgers from Missouri farm-raised beef and the buns they use are baked locally. They offer a variety of fountain drinks, bottled sodas, and their own signature Tay’s orange drink that may take you back to the days of getting an orange Hi-C at McDonald’s. While you can customize the burger however you choose with a number of topping options, the Tay’s burger with a side of their amazing fries is perfect as is. In fact, the only question you really have to answer when choosing one of these juicy beef patties with perfectly melty cheese on a griddled white bread bun is - how hungry are you?
DD’s Pro Tip: When you order the burger and/or fries, forgo the traditional condiments and give their house-made Sriracha Ketchup or Sriracha Mayo a try! My dipping sauce of choice is a 50/50 mix of ketchup and the Sriracha Mayo. It’s the perfect complement to these addictive fries.
This is just the beginning. By no stretch of the imagination is this even half of the great, local spots you will find along Armour Road. There are so many great bars, restaurants, and other businesses - some of which I haven’t even had the chance to try yet. There are a few places that I really do enjoy that I did not get a chance to cover here. I am certain there are great places that even have yet to discover in this area. But you can rest assured that as you explore Armour Road, and hopefully the other parts of Northtown, that these places represent the best of the best along this thoroughfare.
Now come on, get out there, and as always, discover (North) KC!
What are your favorite places along Armour Road? Anywhere new that I need to discover for myself? Let me know in the comments.
