FCS: BBQ Sides
A NOTE FROM THE WRITER: disKCovery has declared this year to be “The Year of the Pit”. This is the latest installment of a wide selection of articles, essays, and rankings devoted to a year-long deep dive into Kansas City barbeque. To see the rest of the 2Q23 series, click HERE. This particular article is the second half of this year’s Fountain City Superlatives for excellence in KC barbeque. To read Part I, which covered Kansas City’s smoked meats and entrées, please click HERE.
Jack Stack Barbecue has long been seen as a haven for barbeque sides. Their cheesy corn, pit beans, and onion rings all get their due love in these rankings. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Fountain City Superlatives (2023), Part II:
Kansas City Barbeque Sides Edition
Published November 30, 2023
After a year that took me to every barbeque joint, stand, truck, trailer, pop-up, and restaurant worth visiting, I decided to think back on the year that has been 2Q23 and finally rank barbeque joints in the same way many of them are used to competing: by specific categories of what they do best.
After all, when someone asks me about which barbeque joint they should go to, one of my first questions is, “What do you like?” Understanding someone’s own preferences allows me to make a recommendation that they are certain to enjoy. My recommendation for a person who wants a pulled pork sandwich is not going to be the same as someone looking for a slab or ribs or a pound of burnt ends. Having a better understanding of who does what best is key when traversing the World Capital of BBQ.
So, a few weeks ago, in that spirit, I detailed the best of the best in 23 smoked meat categories. That was only the first part of the conversation. Readers had to know the other shoe was going to fall. It was only just a matter of time before the same discussion began around sides. While I would never disparage or look down on someone who wants to have a meal comprised entirely of smoked meats, barbeque is best when you have a delicious homestyle side to compliment the meat.
I would even go as far as to say that the diversity of side dish offerings within our scene is just as stellar as our meats. It may be where pits show the most creativity and the thing that sets Kansas City aside from other so-called barbeque cities. To be considered elite in this town, the side dishes have to be just as exceptional as the meats. Sometimes a stellar line-up of sides or sauces can even make up for average entrées.
So this edition of Fountain City Superlatives will focus on the city’s most outstanding barbeque sides. In opening this box, I understand exactly what I am getting into. It was one thing to rank the meats but for many? Side dishes are sacred. Personal preferences reign supreme. Some prefer a spicy bean while others want a sweet one. Many like a thick and gooey mac but a soupy macaroni ‘n cheese may be the desire of others. And don’t even get me started on the holiest of deep-fried potato sticks that we call the fry. When it comes to the sides, everyone has an opinion and ahead, lie mine.
Given the diversity of local offerings, this does open up the possibility of a hundred categories so this edition did its best to acknowledge that variety and a number of categories while focusing on the real staples found regularly across the metro.
Nearly every BBQ joint in town serves potato salad but nobody’s is better than the stuff at Woodyard. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
The Classics!
Depending on the city, there’s a number of things that could be considered a “classic” side but there are just those things that a diner expects to find when they go to a barbeque restaurant. There are those things that Kansas City would consider classic sides versus what the greater barbeque community as a whole would consider. If you feel like something is missing (cheesy corn lovers of the world unite!), take a deep breath and scroll on. It is likely covered in another segment of this same article. Truly no stone was left unturned.
BBQ Beans
Best In Town: Branding Iron BBQ
2027 N. Commercial Street, Harrisonville, Missouri
We kick things off with, perhaps, the most difficult decision of these rankings. It is hard to imagine barbeque without the beans. A proper pit bean, packed with discarded smoky meat bits, is such a natural conveyor of a restaurant’s sauce(s) and an amazing usage of scrumptious scraps. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Branding Iron BBQ in Harrisonville. The fusion of savory, smoky, peppery, with just a hint of sweetness makes for a well-balanced bean that manages to stand out in a scene where excellent beans are quite the norm.
Worth A Mention* : 3Halves, Danny Edwards BLVD BBQ (Spicy Rancher Beans), Jack Stack, K & M Bar-B-Q
Potato Salad
Best In Town: Woodyard Bar-B-Que
3001 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kansas
For Woodyard Bar-B-Que, it’s the commitment to using fresh, full-flavored ingredients that continues to make their potato salad the gold standard among Kansas City barbeque joints. The firm chunks of red-skinned potato are tossed in a thick dressing with a nice Dijon mustard flavor and packed with bits of hard boiled egg, chewy smoked bacon, green onion, and a signature blend of seasonings and spices. Bold but refreshing, this is a must-order side when you visit Woodyard.
Worth A Mention: Aunt Mildred’s #10, Chef J BBQ, Jones Bar-B-Q, Night Goat
The pasta salad from Porky’s Blazin in Grain Valley is a closely-guarded family secret that owner Scott Roberts credits to his grandmother. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Pasta Salad
Best In Town: Porky’s Blazin Bar-B-Q
9512 S. Buckner-Tarsney, Grain Valley, Missouri
For Scott Roberts of Porky’s Blazin Bar-B-Q, the make-up of his incredible pasta salad is a closely guarded secret. “It’s my grandmother’s recipe. I make that myself every week.” A deviation from other midwestern counterparts that often rely on a mayonnaise base, Porky’s version is a little lighter. Elbow macaroni is tossed in a house-made dressing which Roberts modestly describes as “just vinegar and sugar and spices” and combined with fresh chunks of white onion, tomato, and cucumber to create a pasta salad that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Worth A Mention: Big Q BBQ, Holy Smoke, Q39, Quentin’s BBQ
Coleslaw
Best In Town: Q39 ^
1000 W. 39th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
For many, the Apple Slaw from Q39 is as much a reason to visit the highly-decorated barbeque restaurant as their delicious smoked meats. In passing, one could make the mistake of seeing this as just another coleslaw. What makes this slaw so special is the crunch. The crunch of the freshly chopped cabbage and green onion have their say but its the namesake ingredient that really sets it apart - the Granny Smith apples. Combined with a little apple cider vinegar and the aioli-adjacent dressing, Q39’s slaw is a delightful mix of contrasts that must be tasted to be believed.
Worth A Mention: Char Bar / Meat Mitch (Bacon Broccoli Slaw), Hickory Log BBQ, Jazzy B’s (Apple Jicama Slaw), Tin Kitchen
The Apple Slaw at Q39 sets the bar for coleslaws in Kansas City ‘que. The bits of Granny Smith Apple are what makes this slaw so special. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Bread / Toast
Best In Town: Smoketown BBQ & Catering
7702 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Overland Park, Kansas
Even though bread is never really thought about as a barbeque side, there is an expectation that bread will accompany any barbeque meal whether it’s the framework of a sandwich or a complement to any platter. Earlier this year, this site even told the story of how the majority of Kansas City barbeque joints use the same bakery. The first time I ate at Smoketown BBQ, I wrote that, “this Texas Toast is the best version in town. It is nicely griddled. Buttery. Crisp. Doughy. Amazing. This is what Texas Toast is supposed to be. Every sandwich they serve should come on this.” And in two years, that opinion has never wavered.
Worth A Mention: Branding Iron BBQ, Hawg Jaw, Jack Stack, Louisburg BBQ
Cornbread
Best In Town: The Rub Bar-B-Que
10512 S. Ridgeview Road, Olathe, Kansas
I for one am thankful that Southern cuisine continues to be a growing influence in Kansas City’s barbeque scene and that cornbread and corn muffins are becoming much more common. While there’s a tremendous array of cornbreads in the metro, the Sugar Crusted Corn Bread at The Rub in Olathe is the cream of the crop. It’s the right mix of dry, crumbly, and moist but the upper crust of crunchy sugar puts it over the top. Available as a side or the foundation of their loaded Hillbilly Bowls, the corn bread at The Rub needs to be part of every meal there.
Worth A Mention: Burnt End BBQ (Fried Cornbread Bites), Char Bar, County Road Ice House, Woodyard Bar-B-Que
Assorted Vegetable Sides
Best In Town: F325 BBQ
1825 Buchanan Street, North Kansas City, Missouri
There are so many unique comfort food and vegetable-based sides in this metro’s barbeque scene that merit recognition. These comfort food staples or twists are classic parts of barbeque fare but none of them on their own are ubiquitous enough to justify their own category. When it comes to all these, there is just something way too special about the Whiskey Sweet Potato Casserole at F325 BBQ to ignore. The stiffly whipped concoction of sweet potato and crunchy brown sugar seems more of a dessert than a side. Whatever category it fits, nobody would ever hesitate to eat their vegetables if they all tasted this good.
Worth A Mention: Chef J BBQ (Spicy Elotes), County Road Ice House (Spicy Street Corn), Harp Barbecue (Mashed Sweet Potato), Jonathan’s (Sweet Potato Rounds)
“Sweet dreams are made of this… “ I am inclined to believe The Eurythmics were singing about F325’s Whiskey Sweet Potato Casserole. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Let’s Get Fried!
After World War I, French fries boomed in popularity in the United States after soldiers who had the Belgian creation mistook them for being “French” based on the primary language spoken in Belgium. Since then, they have become one of the most popular sides in American cuisine. It is not certain exactly what year Arthur Bryant added French fries to his menu, but it is widely agreed that Bryant was the one to make fries a part of barbeque, much like they are a part of everything else. With fryers being standard in the majority of KC barbeque joints, potatoes are not the only thing being deep-fried and served alongside smoked meats, but that is definitely where we will begin.
French Fries
TIE - Best In Town: Bates City Bar-B-Que
201 E. Market Street, Bates City, Missouri
TIE - Best In Town: Shawnee’s Bates City Bar-B-Que
6493 Quivira Road, Shawnee, Kansas
I know that people have strong opinions on French fries, especially when it comes to barbeque. So, choosing two winners may seem like a bit of a cop-out, but then it may appear that I have just chosen to list two different locations of the same restaurant. That would be a correct assumption, and also a very wrong one. While there is some crossover between the two restaurants, and the Shawnee restaurant does borrow some things from the original location, these are two Bates City Bar-B-Ques are different restaurants with different menus and ownership groups. However, one place where these barbeque joints are similar is their famous fries. Whether served on a yellow tray in Bates City, Missouri or a red one in Shawnee, Kansas, these hand-cut beauties are the best fries in town. The crisp, shoestring-style fries have such a lovely crunch that gives way to a fluffy potato innards followed by such an idyllic light pinch of salt. Both simple and immaculate, these fries need no gimmick. However, if a diner chooses to (at the Shawnee location), the fully loaded barbeque fries, known as “The Clusterfluck”, makes for a fine meal.
Worth A Mention: Hawg Jaw, Joe’s / County Road Ice House, Meat Mitch (Sticky Fries), Wolfepack BBQ
Fried Potatoes
Best In Town: B.B.’s Lawnside Blues & BBQ
1205 E. 85th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
The reality is, that it would be possible to segment out every style of French fry and make this an article in its own right. However, it seemed best to include all styles of traditional (russet potato) French fries within the same superlative. So seasoned, crinkle-cut, shoestring, waffle, steak, curly, battered, and traditional were all considered within the previous category. Where the fried potato differs is that there are fried potato sides offered in barbeque that are different enough from French fries, or anything else, to be considered their own category. Potato wedges, country fries, Jojos, tator tots, and the like are a better fit here. Of the different fried potatoes around the metro, the Battered Fries from B.B.’s Lawnside get to claim top marks. These giant, country-seasoned and battered potato wedges, look more like chicken tenders at first glance than a potato side. Crunchy, dense, and delicious, there is nothing else quite like a B.B.’s battered fry.
Worth A Mention: Burn Theory Kitchen (Taylor Tots), Char Bar (Crispy Jo-Jo Potatoes), Jazzy B’s (Tots), The Rub (Hash)
Those giant pieces in the top left may appear to be chicken tenders but they are in fact the battered fries from B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ. Only two or three come in an order but really, that’s all you need. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Sweet Potato Fries
Best In Town: Danny Edwards BLVD BBQ
2900 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri
The seemingly exotic and flamboyant cousin of the French fry, sweet potato fries are about as Southern as it gets and a perfect compliment for barbeque. At Danny Edwards’ BLVD BBQ, the sweet potato fries are hand-cut and always perfectly fried. Boasting an ideal crispness on the outside and a soft, stringy, fluffy center, Danny Edwards finishes off their take on the dish by tossing them in a savory BBQ seasoning. They are the perfect complement to any sandwich or smoked meat that the traditional joint has to offer.
Worth A Mention: Blind Box BBQ, Chop’s BBQ, Hayward’s, SLAP’s
Chips (Housemade)
Best In Town: Red Shanty BBQ & Roadside Café
2201 Highway 13, Higginsville, Missouri
There are a number of the older barbeque joints who will include a scoop or bag of Lay’s or Guy’s with their plates. That is definitely not what this category is about! This is some much needed love for those places who serve chips with their barbeque, and make them in-house. Nobody else’s chips compare to those being fried up and served at Red Shanty BBQ & Roadside Café off of Exit 49. The humongous piles of crispy, thick-sliced potatoes are tossed in your choice of salt or the house barbeque, parmesan, or voodoo seasoning. This is the must-order side on the Red Shanty menu.
Worth A Mention: Brobecks, Oink & Moo BBQ, Moocho Restaurant & Cantina (Tortilla Chips)
No plate at Higginsville’s Red Shanty Café is complete without a mountain of their house-made chips. Shown here with a dusting of the Voodoo seasoning. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Onion Rings
Best In Town: Jack Stack Barbecue ^
13441 Holmes Road, Martin City, Missouri
Bigger is not always better, unless of course you are talking about the onion rings at Jack Stack Barbecue. Towers of 3, 6, or even 9 of these bulbous behemoths are a common sight at the famed local barbecue chain. These oversized, hand-breaded rings are truly more of a fork-and-knife endeavor. The combination of sweet onion breaded in a dense cornmeal batter gives these such a full flavor. Always prepared to the perfect texture, the onion perfectly binds to the breading. A bite of hollow breading at the end of the ring should never be a concern at Jack Stack because these rings are flawless.
Worth A Mention: B.B.’s Lawnside, Johnny’s, K & M Bar-B-Q, Waverly Apple
Onion Straws / Petals
Best In Town: Q39 ^
1000 W. 39th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
Is it even possible to visit Q39 without ordering a towering plate of the spiced onion straws for the table? The heap of crispy fried onion strings are well-seasoned and have the right balance of flavors from the onions and the breading. They are well-fried without retaining much in the way of grease and oil. Offered as an appetizer or a topper on select sandwiches, the onion straws are always a highlight of a visit to Q39. For as great as the straws are, the BBQ Aioli that comes on the side for dipping may be the real treat.
Worth A Mention: Branding Iron BBQ (Texas Toothpicks), Dempsey’s BBQ (Onion Petals), McGonigle’s (Onion Straws), Quentin’s BBQ (Crispy Onions)
Corn Nuggets
Best In Town: Wabash BBQ and Blues Garden
646 Kansas City Ave S, Excelsior Springs, Missouri
This may be the first dish of these Superlatives that one does not expect to see on a list of Kansas City barbeque sides. However, Kansas City barbeque is marked by its diversity and that truly shows in the side dishes. In the past ten years, corn nuggets are one of several sides that have become common enough on the scene to merit inclusion. There are plenty of great examples but the best are clearly found in Excelsior Springs at Wabash BBQ and Blues Garden. Offered as both a regular and a spicy option, with a Cajun flair, a basket of one of these varieties with a side of ranch is a no-brainer at Wabash.
Worth A Mention: Chop’s BBQ, Dempsey’s BBQ, Rosedale, Smokehouse
The Bates City fries are perfect as-is but the fully-loaded Clusterfluck from the Shawnee location is never a bad idea. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Fried Mushrooms
Best In Town: Jack Stack Barbecue ^
13441 Holmes Road, Martin City, Missouri
Like many of the fried items in this article, some places offer them as a starter while others make them available as a side dish. The former is true of the jumbo fried mushrooms at Jack Stack. The massive mushrooms are coated in the same breading as the award-winning onion rings and served on skewers of five with a creamy horseradish sauce on the side, perfectly complementing the mushroom caps. Difficult to choose between these and the Fountain City Superlative-winning onion rings, it may just be best to get the table a plate of both!
Worth A Mention: Big Q BBQ, LC’s BBQ, Rosedale, Smokehouse
Fried Pickles
Best In Town: Hawg Jaw Que & Brew
900 Swift Avenue, North Kansas City, Missouri
Why resort to a handful of pickles on the side or a few on bun when you can have them deep-fried and piping hot? The fried pickle chips at Hawg Jaw Que & Brew have been a staple side order ever since they first opened their doors over a decade ago. The batter fried dill pickle slices are thick, well-seasoned, and have a crunchy thick breading. What makes these so special is the texture and the saltiness on the end of each bite. Best enjoyed with a side of ranch, these are the best fried pickles being served in KC’s BBQ scene.
Worth A Mention: B.B.’s Lawnside, F325 BBQ (Kickin’ Pickles), Smokehouse (Pickle Fries), Waverly Apple
There’s a lot of good fried okra in Kansas City, but none compare to the version served up at Lansing’s Low-N-Slow Midwest BBQ. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Fried Okra
Best In Town: Low-N-Slow Midwest BBQ
106 S. Main Street, Lansing, Kansas
Fried okra is a southern side that does not feature nearly enough in Kansas City’s barbeque scene but it is, thankfully, starting to make its presence felt. While there are some quality options across the metro, the best example in Kansas City’s barbeque scene is actually being served in Lansing, Kansas. The uneven hand-cut chunks at Low-N-Slow Midwest BBQ are battered and fried to a perfect golden-brown. The result is a crispy, delightful bead of fried okra with an ideal crunch, saltiness, and texture.
Worth A Mention: Chop’s BBQ, Jonathan’s, Rosedale
Assorted Fried Veggies
Best In Town: Jonathan’s Wood-Fire BBQ & Seafood
11228 W. 135th Street, Overland Park, Kansas
Bound by no constraints beyond some hot oil and plentiful batter, some barbeque joints are not satisfied to stick with the traditional options of onions, potatoes, or okra when there are SO MANY other plants to be fried! At Jonathan’s Wood-Fire BBQ, it’s the deep-fried corn on the cob that is sure to turn a few heads. The ear is dipped in a batter that has a tasty Cajun seasoning. The buttery corn is perfectly crunchy on the outside without jeopardizing the ideal soft but firm texture for the kernels. This is the best version of this dish I have ever had and one of the very few versions to be found in Kansas City’s restaurant scene.
Worth A Mention: LC’s (Fried Green Beans), Rosedale (Fried Green Tomatoes), SLAP’s (Jalapeño Bottle Caps), Smokehouse (Fried Zucchini AND Cheddar Dipped Cauliflower)
The deep-fried corn-on-the-cob from Jonathan’s may not look like much but I assure you, Cajun-spiced buttery goodness lies within. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Cheese, Please!
We’re in the cheese now! Much like the beef burnt end is the well-known cut of Kansas City barbeque, the cheesy corn bake is Kansas City’s signature barbeque side. It is most often associated with the Fiorellas, and Jack Stack Barbecue, who first introduced the dish decades ago. Since then, due to the popularity, a number of Kansas City barbeque joints have created their own versions and made it a part of their rotation. Here in the Midwest we do love our cheese, so it is not surprise that it would feature in a few of our signature sides, not just the cheesy corn.
Cheesy Corn
Best In Town: Blind Box BBQ ^
13214 W. 62nd Terrace, Shawnee, Kansas
If it wasn’t for Jack Stack Barbecue, cheesy corn would not even exist, at least on the level we know it now. For that reason alone, it may seem blasphemous not to give them the top spot. However, in the decades since their innovation, dozens of excellent versions have popped up around Kansas City. The best there is can be found is at Blind Box BBQ. A divine symphony of maize and cheddar baked to perfection with a flaky breadcrumb topping, Blind Box’s take on the iconic Kansas City side is truly inspired.
Worth A Mention: Jack Stack, Jazzy B’s, RJ’s Bob-Be-Que Shack, The Rub
Mac ‘n Cheese
Best In Town: Smoke Brewing Company
209 SE Main Street, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
It was not that long ago that macaroni and cheese was hardly found in Kansas City’s barbeque scene. Nowadays, it’s regularly featured on the majority of the city’s menus. While there is a lot of amazing mac ‘n cheese to be found here, the place that gets top marks is the one that has an entire menu section dedicated to the mac. Smoke Brewing Company takes curvy cavatappi tossed in their house beer cheese to create a macaroni that is rich, without being overly so, and gooey, without overdoing it. The hearty balance makes it perfect as a side dish or as the foundation to some amazing fully-loaded entrées.
Worth A Mention: 3Halves, Char Bar, Chef J BBQ, Quentin’s BBQ
As a side dish, or a fully-loaded bowl, no visit to Smoke Brewing is complete without the best mac ‘n cheese in town. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Cheesy Potatoes
Best In Town: SLAP’s BBQ
553 Central Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas
SLAP’s BBQ has long been a place known for their side dish line-up. It should come as no surprise to those versed in the local barbeque scene that this Superlative is the first of two won by SLAP’s in this edition. In all fairness, SLAP’s is the reason that this dish became a Fountain City Superlative category. Their Baked Potato Casserole was the one that opened my eyes to the bounty of cheesy potato sides present in the scene. SLAP’s version is so cheesy, hearty, and overall comforting that it transports me back to the small-town church potluck dinners of my childhood. Kansas City barbeque is known for the cheesy corn, but don’t be so quick to overlook its potato cousin.
Worth A Mention: Crazy Good Eats, Jack Stack, A Little BBQ Joint, Off the Hook BBQ
Chili
Best In Town: SLAP’s BBQ
553 Central Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas
Ok, so chili does not necessarily constitute a “cheesy side dish” but let’s be real. Every single barbeque place that offers chili is doing so with a hefty garnish of shredded cheese. And, the vast majority of Kansas City diners are enjoying chili exactly that way. It just felt like more of a fit here than anywhere else. At SLAP’s BBQ, a generous pinch of shredded cheddar and a jalapeño topper are the best way to enjoy their chili. Offered only during the fall and winter months, SLAP’s chili is packed with kidney beans and chunks of their incredible burnt ends. The use of seasonings and their sweet barbeque sauce gives this particular chili a complexity beyond definition.
Worth A Mention: B.B.’s Lawnside, Hawg Jaw, Joe’s, Woodyard Bar-B-Que
On a cold day, there are few things that can warm you up like a cup of SLAP’s chili or their Baked Potato Casserole (pictured). PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Everything Else!
BBQ Sauce
Best In Town: Meat Mitch ^
3620 W. 95th Street, Leawood, Kansas
Barbeque sauce could have just as easily featured as a “classic”. After all, no conversation about barbeque, especially Kansas City barbeque, is complete without the sauce. While Kansas City’s signature sweet sauces are the gold standard nationally, the truth is that within Kansas City, there is an entire spectrum of styles and bases that make this overall scene what it is. Typically, quantity does not equal quality but nothing about Meat Mitch is typical. The line-up of six “WHOMP!” sauces show that a BBQ joint can offer a diversity of styles without sacrificing quality. The Char Bar Table Sauce, Naked, Competition, and Stay Hot! sauces are the style and diversity that many expect from a KC BBQ joint. What puts Meat Mitch over the top, beyond these four decorated sauces, is the foray into options not regularly found here. The Alabama-style White Sauce is a wonderful balance of sweet, heat, savory, and tart that works well for chicken or as a dip for deep-fried sides. The Yellow Brick Road mustard-based sauce is sweet, tangy, smoky and perfect for pork and poultry dishes alike.
Worth A Mention: Chop’s BBQ, Gates, Joe’s, Zarda
Appetizers
Best In Town: Char Bar ^
4050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
My affinity for the cheesy hushpuppies from Char Bar is well-documented and even still, I feel the need to talk about them some more. The crisp fritters have a sturdy crust that oozes with an otherworldly custard of stone-ground grinds and gooey Tillamook cheddar. The grainy texture of the grits and the bold creaminess of the cheddar work in concert to make this truly special. The candied chunks of pepper and drizzle of jalapeño jam is the coup de grace that makes this appetizer nearly uncatchable in the Superlative race. Char Bar has an amazing appetizer line-up that is unmatched in Kansas City barbeque, but the cheesy hushpuppy has long been the star of the show and that ain’t changing anytime soon.
Worth A Mention: B.B.’s Lawnside (Louisiana Swampman Boudin Balls), The BBQ Shack (A.B.T.) , Brobecks (Smoked Ham Salad), Buck Tui (Brisket Rangoons)
The variety of quality sauces from Meat Mitch is simply astounding. The WHOMP! line-up is KC’s best. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Rice
Best In Town: Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que ^
3002 W. 47th Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas
It is hard to squeeze rice into any of the aforementioned categories. It’s not cheesy or fried, and while classic-adjacent, is not quite there. In fact, it may seem an afterthought in Kansas City barbeque but different rice dishes have become quite prevalent. This has a lot to do with the continued blurring of lines between Kansas City barbeque and multiple global cuisines where rice is a staple. The fusion of barbeque with Cajun, Latin, and even Asian influences brings rice dishes into play. Of all of these, it is one of the longest-offered rices that is also the best. For all the love that the fries from Joe’s get, the Dirty Rice is the sleeper on the menu. The Louisiana-inspired side is flavored with a blend of Cajun seasonings and Joe’s sausage. It is a welcome and unique offering in KCQ.
Worth A Mention: B.B.’s Lawnside (Red Beans and Rice), Buck Tui (Jasmine Rice), Fuego’s BBQ Mexican Cocina (Mexican Rice), Moocho Restaurant & Cantina (Rice and Beans)
Desserts
Best In Town: Red Shanty BBQ & Roadside Cafe
2201 Highway 13, Higginsville, Missouri
Nobody goes to a BBQ joint with the intention of eating dessert. I would argue that if you’re doing it correctly, there should be no thought of eating anything else. Portion sizes at KC BBQ joints are notoriously large! However, there are a growing number of BBQ establishments where even if you do not save room for dessert, you should consider getting something to go. There’s a lot of great line-ups out there but everything pales in comparison to what Red Shanty BBQ & Roadside Café has to offer! Their line-up of pies, crisps, cakes, and bread puddings is enough to fill a Cheesecake Factory menu! Of course where they really shine is their rotation of over a dozen varieties of Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes. Higginsville is about as close as you can get to St. Louis while still being in the metro so it comes as no surprise that their butter cake variety is as great as any found there. It’s inventive, warm, melty, decadent, and altogether wonderful.
Worth A Mention: Blind Box, Chef J, Jack Stack, Snead’s
Drinks
Best In Town: Char Bar ^
4050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
So many of the great barbeque joints in this city were built on Danny Edwards’ famed “eat it and beat it” model. But sometimes, you just want a place where you can hang out and have a drink while you enjoy your barbeque. There are a growing number of places that not only smoke their own meats, but brew their own beers. Some of the best are given honorable mentions here. But when it comes to quality barbeque that has a great all-around drink program, it’s not surprising that this accolade goes to the top-notch BBQ joint that doubles as a bar. Char Bar boasts a robust draft line-up of craft, domestic, and local beers in addition to a wide selection of bottles, cans, seltzers, ciders, wines, and a cocktail menu that rivals many of the city’s top restaurants. Their barbeque-inspired Bloody Mary’s are an especially nice offering during their weekend barbeque brunch.
Worth A Mention: 3Halves, Burn Theory (Diametric Brewing Company), Hawg Jaw (Big Rip Brewing Company) **, Smoke Brewing Company
If world peace is attainable, I am fairly certain that Char Bar’s Cheesy Hushpuppies are the answer. PHOTO CREDIT - disKCovery
Scoreboard!
With this edition of Fountain City Superlatives in the books, below is a recap of how your favorite Kansas City BBQ spots did in 2023:
Fountain City Superlative Winners:
Char Bar (2)
Jack Stack Barbecue (2)
Q39 (2)
Red Shanty BBQ & Roadside Cafe (2)
SLAP’s BBQ (2)
Bates City Bar-B-Que (1)
B.B.’s Lawnside Blues & BBQ (1)
Blind Box BBQ (1)
Branding Iron BBQ (1)
Danny Edwards BLVD BBQ (1)
F325 BBQ (1)
Hawg Jaw Que & Brew (1)
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (1)
Jonathan’s Wood-Fire BBQ & Seafood (1)
Low-N-Slow Midwest BBQ (1)
Meat Mitch (1)
Porky’s Blazin Bar-B-Q (1)
The Rub Bar-B-Que (1)
Shawnee’s Bates City Bar-B-Que (1)
Smoke Brewing Company (1)
Smoketown BBQ & Catering (1)
Wabash BBQ and Blues Garden (1)
Woodyard Bar-B-Que (1)
Honorable Mentions:
B.B.’s Lawnside Blues & BBQ (5)
Char Bar (5)
Chef J BBQ (4)
Chop’s BBQ & Catering (4)
Hawg Jaw Que & Brew (4)
Jack Stack Barbecue (4)
Rosedale Bar-B-Q (4)
Smokehouse Barbecue (4)
3Halves Brewpub & BBQ (3)
County Road Ice House (3)
Jazzy B’s (3)
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (3)
Quentin’s BBQ & Sides (3)
Blind Box BBQ (2)
Big Q Bar-B-Q (2)
Branding Iron BBQ (2)
Buck Tui BBQ (2)
Burn Theory Fire Kitchen (2)
Dempsey’s BBQ (2)
Jonathan’s Wood-Fire BBQ & Seafood (2)
K & M Bar-B-Q (2)
LC’s Bar-B-Q (2)
The Rub Bar-B-Que (2)
SLAP’s BBQ (2)
Waverly Apple BBQ (2)
Woodyard Bar-B-Que (2)
Aunt Mildred’s #10
The BBQ Shack
Burnt End BBQ
Crazy Good Barbeque - Bar & Eats
Danny Edwards BLVD BBQ
F325 BBQ
Fuego’s BBQ Mexican Cocina
Gates Bar-B-Q
Harp Barbecue
Hayward’s Pit Bar B Que
Hickory Log Bar-B-Q
Holy Smoke BBQ
Johnny’s BBQ
Jones Bar-B-Q
A Little BBQ Joint
Louisburg BBQ & Brews
McGonigle’s KC BBQ
Meat Mitch (2)
Moocho Restaurant & Cantina (2)
Night Goat Barbecue
Off the Hook BBQ
Oink & Moo BBQ & Taproom
Q39
RJ’s Bob-Be-Que Shack
Smoke Brewing Company
Snead’s Bar-B-Q
Tin Kitchen Southern Smokehouse
Wolfepack BBQ
Zarda Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q
This is the end. There ain’t no more. Congratulations to all of this year’s Fountain City Superlative winners in Kansas City BBQ from both editions!
Those Pesky Endnotes That I Often Insist Upon
*In this process, understanding how just missed the cut is very important. A restaurant not being here doesn’t mean I don’t think they’re great at <INSERT BBQ SIDE HERE>. I specifically limited myself to listing no more than four “Worth A Mentions” per category. While these are in alphabetical order, if a restaurant wants to look at Worth A Mention as a way of saying, “disKCovery said we were Top 5 at ______ in 2023”, they would be accurate in that statement.
^ Denotes barbeque joints that have multiple locations. The address given is for the original / flagship / suggested location.
** This is a bit of a misnomer. While Hawg Jaw does serve canned and bottled beer, the real treat is next door at Big Rip Brewing Company. Luckily, the brewery has a relationship with Hawg Jaw so you can either order your food to be delivered to the brewery or take it to-go and enjoy one of KC’s best breweries. Although, don’t sleep on Big Rip’s homemade sarsaparilla with a shot of vanilla vodka!
^^ Complimentary food was not accepted in regard to making these ranking decisions. Personal relationships were not considered in the awarding of these superlatives.
Alright fellow Fountain City Foodies, what did I nail? Where did I go horribly wrong? Tell me in the comments!
