Kansas City is known for barbecue, jazz and a varied restaurant scene. This guide covers restaurants across the Kansas City area, including the original Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que in Kansas and a deli in nearby Gladstone. It now contains 13 dining tips and a closure notice for the former Parlor food hall.
Tip #1: Arthur Bryant’s BBQ Restaurant
Arthur Bryant is a BBQ legend, and so is his restaurant, Arthur Bryant’s BBQ in Kansas City. It’s considered one of the most famous BBQ places in the entire country. History in short: Arthur took over the BBQ restaurant from his brother Charlie and moved it to where it stands today, at 18th & Brooklyn.
This location sparked the restaurant’s real popularity. Famous visitors, including presidents Truman, Clinton, and Obama, but also movie folks like Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, and Jack Nicholson, have all been outspoken Arthur Bryant’s BBQ fans.
Today, new owners Chris Stuewe and Andrew Miller still feature slow-smoked meat prepared with a combination of hickory and oak woods and splashed with the secret recipe sauces of Arthur Bryant. The BBQ sandwiches, with all kinds of meat variations (beef, ham, pork, turkey), go well with Arthur’s fries or onion rings, baked beans, and coleslaw.
Sauces and rubs are available for purchase and, of course, swag too. A Kansas City visit is only complete with a visit to Arthur Bryant’s famous BBQ spot!
- Monday–Friday: 10 am–8 pm; Saturday: 11 am–8 pm; Sunday: 11 am–7 pm.
- 1727 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64127
Closure update: Parlor
Parlor has closed. Its operator announced the closure on the official website on 23 August 2026. The former food hall is no longer a current dining recommendation.
The former Crossroads food hall brought several independent food concepts and bars together under one roof.
The operator’s closure announcement is available through the More Info link below.
Permanently closed.
- Former location: 1707 Locust Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Tip #2: Joe’s Kansas City BBQ
In a list of the best restaurants in Kansas City, one BBQ place is not enough. The second truly famous BBQ spot in the BBQ capital of the United States is Joe’s Kansas City BBQ. Born out of a gas station, owners Jeff and Joy Stehney started out small and now operate two more locations.
Jeff and Joy Stehney developed their love of barbecue through competitions before opening the original gas-station restaurant.
Today, tourists and locals crowd the place to try their famous BBQ sandwiches. Try the pulled pork house specialty, smoked turkey and ham, beef brisket, and combo sandwiches. Smokie Joe features chopped smoked beef and pork in BBQ sauce, alongside various other specialty sandwiches.
One of their famous offerings, The Z-Man — slow-smoked beef brisket and smoked provolone cheese topped with a crispy onion ring on a Kaiser roll — is a bestseller.
- Monday–Thursday: 11 am–9 pm; Friday–Saturday: 11 am–10 pm; Sunday: closed. Holiday closures are listed on the restaurant website.
- 3002 West 47th Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66103
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Tip #3: The Italian Sausage Company
The Italian Sausage Company is worth the 15-minute drive to Gladstone, north of Kansas City. This small, family-operated business is a gem. It includes an Italian sausage-making facility, a mini Italian grocery store, and a deli with hot and cold sandwiches. The scratch kitchen uses recipes passed down through generations.
Joe and Michelle Brancato offer way more than sandwiches: deli meats, cheeses, olives, artisan breads, and more. But their specialty is definitely the house-made Italian sausage. Making sausage has been a tradition in their family for over 30 years.
The sausage is made fresh weekly by owner Joe Brancato Jr. The Brancato sandwiches are „Serious Sandwiches“ — that’s how they call them. Some are stuffed with their sausage, others with deli meats or meatballs.
- Mon, Tue: Closed
Wed – Sat: 11 am – 7 pm
Sun: 11 am – 4 pm - 7315 North Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO 64118, United States
Tip #4: Mildred’s
Mildred’s has served the local café scene since the mid-1990s. The family-run business now lists three Kansas City locations: Crossroads, South Plaza and the Historic 9th Street District. The details below are for Crossroads.
Scratch-baked goods, sandwiches, and specialty coffees make folks line up, and not only on the weekends. Wraps, sandwiches, biscuits & gravy, quiche, and bagels are what guests enjoy for breakfast.
Lunch sandwiches like the Portobello Panini, with grilled marinated portobello, artichoke spread, roasted tomatoes, arugula, and balsamic glaze, are served on artisan bread. A Bloody Milly, a Mimosa, or the House Michelada makes every breakfast and brunch visit at Mildred’s a fun adventure.
- Monday–Friday: 7 am–4 pm; Saturday–Sunday: 8 am–3 pm.
- 1901 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Tip #5: The Town Company
‘Trés chic’ is the first thought when it comes to The Town Company, the fine dining restaurant in the four-star Hotel Kansas City. The kitchen of this fancy and stylish restaurant is led by chef Johnny Leach, teamed up with his wife Helen Jo Leach, who is responsible for the dessert section.
Enjoy midwestern cuisine with produce from local farmers and ranchers, prepared over an open fire. No matter if it’s meat or vegetables, the oak burn is the heart of the dining experience.
The menu changes with the seasons and local produce. Check the hotel’s current dinner and dessert menus before your visit.
Dinner: Wednesday–Saturday, 5–10 pm. Please contact the restaurant to confirm Sunday service or any special opening dates.
- 1228 Baltimore Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64105
For reservations and current menus, please use the hotel’s dining website or call the restaurant.
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Tip #6: Town Topic
Similar name, totally different topic. No fine dining experience, but some of the most iconic burgers in town. Town Topic is a traditional piece of Kansas City’s foodie culture, celebrating burger-making for over 85 years.
Town Topic began in 1937, when Claude Sparks opened a small diner selling hamburgers. Today, the Broadway location serves guests through different daytime, evening and overnight service options.
Besides the traditional burgers, Town Topic is serving Coneys (hot dogs with chili and cheese) and grilled cheese sandwiches. The breakfast experience is truly authentic and is served with toast and fresh hash browns.
The Truckstop Omelet, with four eggs, hash browns, meat, and cheese scrambled together, is a perfect start to the day. From 5:00 am to 10:30 am, freshly baked biscuits with homemade gravy are a customer favorite.
Broadway service: lobby 5 am–7.30 pm; window service 7.30–10 pm; delivery and online ordering 10 pm–5 am. Please check the website before visiting overnight.
- 2021 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
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Tip #7: The Peanut
The Peanut is a Kansas City landmark. It’s the oldest bar and grill in the city and was the first to receive a liquor license. It’s worth a visit! If not for the drinks, then at least for a burger or their famous Reuben.
Everything started in the early ’30s as a speakeasy and evolved into a legitimate bar. In the ’40s and ’50s, The Peanut became a BBQ restaurant and later a run-down joint, which was saved years later by Rich and Melinda Kenny.
The couple opened two additional locations and licensed the name. Rich Kenny passed away, but Melinda Kenny still continues to run the Peanut empire.
Today, the Peanut locations on Main Street and Downtown serve all the American comfort food folks are looking for: chili dogs, burgers, pork tenderloin sandwiches, cheese fries, onion rings, and BBQ beef brisket.
The Downtown location lists Sunday brunch from 10 am to noon. Check the branch website for current dishes and any changes to service.
- Monday–Saturday: 11 am–1.30 am; Sunday: 10 am–12 midnight. Sunday brunch: 10 am–12 noon.
- 418 W 9th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105
Tip #8: Fox and Pearl
A cozy atmosphere and good food – every restaurant wants to combine these, yet only a few succeed. At Fox and Pearl, the chef not only uses a fire stove but also enjoys using a smoker to create breathtaking tastes.
High-quality and seasonal ingredients are the most important elements in executing the menu. The chef draws his inspiration from French cuisine and combines it with regional, traditional influences, resulting in a world-class creation. Let yourself be amazed and enjoy a special dinner.
- Mon – Sat: 5 – 10 pm
Sun: 10 am – 2 pm and 5 – 10 pm - 2143 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
Tip #9: Succotash
Crowded, hip, and delicious – this is Succotash, in the Longfellow Heights community of Kansas City. This very beloved brunch spot, established in 2001, has been featured in quite a few TV shows. The quirky little spot with personality has its own fresh juice bar and calls itself a community-based neighborhood staple.
Leaning on the artsy walls and deciding on your personalized burrito, omelet, or scramble is amongst the best ideas for a real Succotash breakfast.
The sweet tooth will be satisfied by the big, fluffy buttermilk pancakes, the Vegan Shortstack Platter, or the Modern Elvis. But don’t forget to order the ‘Cake & A Smile’ — a buttermilk pancake with two sunny-side-up eggs and a bacon smile.
Breakfast sandwiches served with home fries, the tomato bisque, and the biscuits and gravy can only be topped by the famous eight-layer rainbow cake.
- Mon: 8 am – 2 pm
Tue – Wed: Closed
Thu – Sun: 8 am – 3 pm - 2601 Holmes Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Tip #10: Kata Nori
An innovative sushi restaurant, not an ordinary one — that is Kata Nori! The chefs specialize in handmade sushi rolls prepared right before the guests‘ eyes. Each roll is served individually so it can be eaten immediately. This means no long waits and instant enjoyment.
The passion for Japanese culinary art is reflected in every dish, and the reviews leave nothing to be desired: fresh ingredients, creativity, and a welcoming atmosphere are highly praised.
The modern interior transports you to another world, promising not only a culinary experience but also a visual one! As the saying goes, we eat with our eyes.
- Monday: 5–9.30 pm; Tuesday–Wednesday: 11 am–3 pm and 5–9.30 pm; Thursday: 11 am–12 midnight; Friday–Saturday: 11 am–10.30 pm; Sunday: closed.
- 404 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
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Tip #11: Farina
Every city needs a good Italian restaurant, and in Kansas City, that is Farina. The chef places great emphasis on a modern interpretation of classic Italian delicacies — magic happens here!
Depending on the season, the menu changes and delights both the eyes and the palate — for example, with a tiramisu made with chocolate and hazelnuts; it warms the heart! The quality of the ingredients is consistently praised by guests and critics.
In addition to the chef and his menu, the wine selection is award-winning. The cocktail menu leaves nothing to be desired either — here, every evening can only be a success.
- Sun, Mon: closed
Tue – Thu: 5 – 9 pm
Fri, Sat: 5 – 10 pm - 19 West 19th Street, corner of 19th & Baltimore, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
Private events: nancy@michaelsmithkc.com. For table reservations, use the restaurant website or phone number above.
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Tip #12: Grünauer
At Grünauer, classics and specialties from Austria and Central Europe are served. Quite „zünftig“ — which means rustic and characterized by coziness in German — the kitchen team led by Executive Chef Matthias Seyferth prepares Wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten, and mushroom goulash.
The menu is adapted to the seasons, as great importance is placed on the seasonality of fresh ingredients. However, not only typical European classics are served on the plate, but the best from abroad is also offered in the glass.
Wine lovers should definitely try a Grüner Veltliner, but traditional beers are, of course, also on tap here.
This culinary journey is enjoyable, tastes excellent, and should definitely be undertaken when visiting Kansas City.
- Monday–Tuesday: 4–9 pm; Wednesday–Thursday: 11.30 am–9 pm; Friday: 11.30 am–11 pm; Saturday: 11 am–11 pm; Sunday: 11 am–9 pm.
- 101 W 22nd St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
Tip #13: Garozzo’s Downtown
For over 30 years, Garozzo’s has opened its doors to lovers of Italian cuisine. The first restaurant opened in 1989 in the historic Columbus Park Italian neighborhood in Downtown Kansas City. Since then, a second location has opened, as well as a successful catering business.
Garozzo’s serves Italian-American classics and is particularly known for Chicken Spiedini: marinated chicken, breaded, skewered and grilled. Check the current menu for the available preparations.
At this place, dreams have come true and continue to come true, and we can benefit from this culinary experience. A must-visit in Kansas City!
- Mon – Thu: 11:00 – 9:00 pm
Fri: 11:00 – 10:00pm
Sat: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun: 3:00 – 9:00 pm - 526 Harrison St, Kansas City, MO 64106, United States
