Welcome to Kansas City, MO! KC is known for many things, but barbecue is tops on my list. Or is it bar-b-q? Maybe barbeque? BBQ? However you spell it, Kansas City has some excellent options. I am a huge fan of pork ribs, and I went to three places known for their pork spare ribs and sauces. It seems like everyone orders either the long or short end with fries to the point of just ordering a "long with fry" for your meal. The long end of the rack is the end with longer bones - more meat and less fat. The short end has more fat and is richer with shorter bones. I prefer the long end which helps since it is usually cheaper. There are many other smoked animal options, but ribs are my all-time favorite.
The least best was Oklahoma Joe's BBQ in Kansas. Fun fact: Kansas City, MO is right on the border with Kansas with State Line Rd splitting the city into the Kansas and Missouri parts of the Metropolitan area. Crossing the street puts you in another state which was beneficial back when bars were illegal in Kansas - like 1986! Back to the ribs. They were very meaty and did not fall off the bone, although they were very tender. The smoke was great, but the rub was way too salty and overpowering. The fries were well cooked, but also too salty with a Lawry's Seasoning Salt topping. The sauce was good, but not spectacular.
Their original facility is still located in a real gas station, but the BBQ has taken over the inside and lots of tourists stand in a very long line for a very long time for overrated meat. Most of these places have long lines and poor eating facilities, so calling in an order for takeout is highly recommended. It also saves a tip and drinks. If this was the only option in town, you would be thankful, but there are just too many other places with better ribs!
Also pictured is the 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer from Boulevard Brewing. This local craft brewery married a hefeweizen and IPA to make a wonderfully unique beer. This style should be on everyone's radar and copied coast-to-coast. The combination works much better than you think.
Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue is just awesome. This local institution serves authentic barbecue in a nice upscale restaurant perfect to impress clients or a special someone. The ribs are perfect with intense smoke, fall off the ribs tender and juicy, and paired with a great KC-style sauce. The beans are a work of art, cooked below the meats to catch all the drippings and served with chunks of meat - more of a stew than traditional beans, but amazingly good! The fries were not good. They were bland and not worthy of the plate. Choose anything else but the fries. Also pictured were lamb ribs. Who serves lamb ribs?!?! They do, and they are awesome. Great smoky lamb flavor and tender deliciousness. Jack Stack also serves nearly every other part of several animals, and I'm sure they are also good.
My favorite of the three was Q39. I want this place to move to Sacramento. These guys are simply amazing. The restaurant is still somewhat under the radar for visitors, but I searched and found the best. This is another upscale place, but the ribs are just amazing. If any place could give Pappy's Smokehouse a run for its money, these guys can do it. The ribs are perfect and glazed with a honey BBQ sauce that makes you want to keep licking your fingers until you hit bone! They serve a small army with takeout, and the fries are the best of the bunch. This place was packed with locals and is quickly becoming a spot. It is even on the way to Oklahoma Joe's, but is MUCH better in my opinion! They have only been open since April 2014, but this place will be on future travel guides. Absolutely amazing!
If you love BBQ, go to Kansas City. Go to St. Louis too. See some baseball in the Summer while you are in Missouri. Return home and be forever spoiled by real BBQ. Dream of those ribs.
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