Discover Kansas City BBQ: Restaurant Tours and More

Written by Teresa Bitler

August 1, 2017
Home >> Destinations >> North America >> United States >> Kansas >> Discover Kansas City BBQ: Restaurant Tours and More

No trip to Kansas City is complete without a stop at one of the city’s more than 100 barbecue joints to taste Kansas City BBQ.

A Kansas City BBQ tour is an ideal foodie foray into the barbecue world. For carnivores, no trip to Kansas City is complete without a stop at one of the city’s more than 100 barbecue joints.



Instead of randomly picking one place for lunch or dinner, I boarded a bus for a 4-hour tour with KC Barbecue Tours. We stopped at four local favorites, sampling at least one generous serving of meat, plus a side dish. (I was stuffed by the end of the tour.)

Here’s where we went, what we sampled, and what I learned about Kansas City BBQ.

Kansas City BBQ Birthplace: Arthur Bryant’s

Our first stop was Arthur Bryant’s, the birthplace of Kansas City barbecue. As we approached, we learned how Henry Perry moved from the Memphis area to Kansas City and, in 1908, began selling slow-smoked ribs drenched in a peppery sauce from a cart. Soon, he could purchase a small restaurant that became a favorite with musicians during the Jazz Age.


As is common in the travel industry, Wander With Wonder sometimes receives complimentary products and services. However, you can always count on Wander With Wonder to report with honesty and integrity on those places we believe offer wonderful opportunities for our readers. Wander earns income from ads and affiliate links on our site. Some of those links are for Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Wander earns from qualifying purchases. None of these practices influence our reporting, but we believe in full disclosure. For further information please visit our legal page.

Kansas City BBQ

The sign outside Arthur Bryant’s BBQ. Photo by Teresa Bitler



He also hired an assistant, Charlie Bryant, whose brother, Arthur Bryant, followed him into the business. When Perry died in 1940, Charlie took over, and six years later, the company passed to Arthur, who renamed the restaurant Arthur Bryant’s.

The restaurant became a local institution and in 1974 gained national when Kansas City native Calvin Trillin wrote an article in the New Yorker proclaiming Arthur Bryant’s the best restaurant on the planet.

Kansas City BBQ - Arthur Bryant's

Arthur Bryant’s is known for its ribs. Photo by Teresa Bitler

Some barbecue aficionados will debate that (more on that later). Still, over the years, presidents including Harry Truman, Ronald Regan, and Barack Obama have enjoyed ribs at Arthur Bryant’s, as have celebrities such as Steven Spielberg and Jack Nicholson.

We were treated to a platter of smoked ribs, sliced ham, coleslaw, pickles, and white bread served with several sauces. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and the ham tasty, but I admit I wasn’t a fan of the peppery sauce at first. It wasn’t until I bought a bottle in my local grocery store so my husband could try it that I came to appreciate it.

LC’s Bar-B-Q

Next was LC’s Bar-B-Q, a labor of love for L. C. Richardson, who worked as a corporate chef for years. After taking an early retirement, he perfected the techniques he watched relatives using growing up in Mississippi. When he had the recipe right, he began selling his meats from a counter in a gas station.

LC's Bar-B-Q

Meats smoking at LC’s Bar-B-Q. Photo by Teresa Bitler

Even though LC’s Bar-B-Q has expanded to take over the entire building, it’s still a small restaurant with only eight tables, including L. C.’s favorite in the corner. (He was there briefly the day we visited.)

LC's Bar-B-Q

Burnt ends with French fries. Photo by Teresa Bitler

I’m told the ribs, sliced pork, beef brisket, and other meats here are excellent, but we sampled the burnt ends with a stack of hot, thick-cut fries. The burnt ends were my favorite meat of the day, flavorful with the right amount of smokiness. If I could only visit one barbecue joint on my next visit to Kansas City, it would be LC’s Bar-B-Q for the burnt ends.

Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue

Our third stop was Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, the offshoot of a barbecue joint opened by Russ Fiorella in 1957. Russ expanded to four restaurants, and in 1974, his eldest son, Jack, took over one of them, the Smoke Stack.



He renamed it Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue and, to set it apart, expanded the menu to include lamb ribs, crown prime beef short ribs, and other meats that are usually not smoked. He also began grilling Angus steak and fresh seafood over a hickory wood fire and began serving wine and cocktails.

Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue

Beef short ribs at Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue. Photo by Teresa Bitler

We skipped the wine and cocktails (alcohol is not included in the Original Tour, although you can purchase it directly from the restaurants you visit) and dug into the crown prime beef short ribs, sliced brisket, cheesy corn, and hickory pit beans.

Although I was already getting full, I couldn’t help devouring the short rib. Beefy and fork tender it was my second favorite meat of the day (second only to LC’s burnt ends).

Gates Bar-B-Q

In Kansas City, you fall into one of two camps: Arthur Bryant’s or Gates Bar-B-Q. The rivalry goes back to Perry, who had more than one cook. In addition to Charlie Bryant, Perry hired Arthur Pinkard, who eventually left to work for George and Arzelia Gates when they opened a barbecue restaurant.

Gates Bar-B-Q

A platter of barbecue from Gates Bar-B-Q. Photo by Teresa Bitler

Gates Bar-B-Q gained a steady following, and soon, Kansas City residents declared their allegiance to one or the other of the two restaurants.

Gates Bar-B-Q

Lining up for barbecue at Gates Bar-B-Q. Photo by Teresa Bitler

Here, we served ourselves from platters filled with ribs, brisket, and sliced chicken. I have to admit, I was pretty full at this point, but I made room for a bite of each.

The verdict? Since I don’t live in Kansas City, I think I can get away without deciding between Team Arthur Bryant’s and Team Gates, which is a good thing because I liked them both: Arthur Bryant’s for their ribs and Gates Bar-B-Q for their sauce.

Articles Related to Visiting Kansas

Other Things to Do in Kansas City

Kansas City has a lot more to offer than barbecue. When you’re not working your way through a saucy slab, tour the National World War I Museum, the only national museum dedicated to interpreting and understanding the First World War.

Or, spend a few hours perusing the impressive collection of American, European, and Asian art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. It’s free, so don’t feel you need to see everything in one visit.

If you want to explore the historic African-American neighborhood where Arthur Bryant’s and Gates Bar-B-Q started, head to the American Jazz Museum to explore the beats that rocked the area during the 1920s. Next door, visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

And, of course, after all this touring, you’re sure to be hungry for some good ol’ Kansas City BBQ. We invite you to learn more about Kansas and the Midwest on Wander With Wonder. Save

Save



Written by Teresa Bitler

Teresa Bitler is an award-winning travel writer whose work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, American Way, Wine Enthusiast, and AAA publications. She’s also the author of two guidebooks (Great Escapes Arizona and Backroads and Byways of Indian Country) and a contributor to Fodors Arizona & The Grand Canyon. While Teresa would never miss a must-see attraction, such as the Statue of Liberty in New York City, her favorite travel experiences are the unexpected ones: KoolAid with a Hopi medicine man, lobster prepared by a local on a Belizean beach, or a ride in a World War II-era bomber.

You May Also Like…

3 Comments

  1. Jason Brum

    Kansas City does inded have a wonderful BBQ tradition. I am glad that you mentioned Arthur Bryant’s, because i consider it to be the essential Kansas BBQ restaurant. I have been a frequent client at both Arthur Bryant’s restaurants – at 1702 Village and at 1727 Brooklyn Ave and can attest to the quality and the taste
    https://restaurantguru.com/Arthur-Bryants-Kansas-City-Missouri
    https://restaurantguru.com/Arthur-Bryants-Barbeque-Kansas-City-Missouri
    Bryant deserves every bit of acknowledgement people are willing to spare.

  2. Gary Lile

    I really loved Aurther Bryants BBQ.

  3. Gary Lile

    I really loved Aurther Bryants BBQ.



Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest food, wine & travel updates! We look forward to having you Wander with us.

You have Successfully Subscribed!