How Kansas City barbecue ranks for out-of-town BBQ lovers (plus top news & events)
This week’s guest introduction looks at Kansas City barbecue through the lens of Phoenix-based meat experts Dylan and Andrea Wright of @Carnivoresq (formerly known as The BBQ Diet). You might remember the previous article they wrote for us where they wrote about how to . We look forward to presenting other great original articles in The Smoke Sheet and if you’d like to write for us, please shoot us a note.
Generally speaking, there are four major regional styles of American barbecue — Carolina, Memphis, Texas, and last but not least, Kansas City. Kansas City was the last major regional barbecue style we had yet to try in our travels around the country, so we decided to take a trip there for the Fourth of July. We tried seven Kansas City BBQ joints in four days.
Arthur Bryant's burnt ends and ribs.
Our KC BBQ tour started with one of the joints that started it all. Walking into Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque in downtown Kansas City is like taking a step back into history. The restaurant looks unchanged from when it opened decades ago and it feels like an extension of what Henry Perry, the father of Kansas City barbecue, did when he opened his joint 1908. Arthur Bryant’s helped solidify Kansas City as a distinct style by inventing Kansas City’s signature barbecue dish — burnt ends.
Today’s burnt ends have morphed into large cubes of brisket point (or sometimes pork belly). But the original burnt ends, still served at Arthur Bryant’s counter, are coarsely chopped from the brisket and then mixed with spicy, tangy barbecue sauce. The result is texturally reminiscent of BBQ hash in South Carolina, a rich, fatty, beefy dish. It sounds like it would be mushy, but the burnt ends had a satisfying bite and texture from the tender brisket and pockets of fatty goodness.
A selection of meats from Gates Bar-B-Q.
We also visited another historic joint, Gates Bar-B-Q. Gates has been selling barbecue in Kansas City since 1946. They serve up traditional burnt ends, chopped and mixed with a distinctively tangy KC BBQ sauce. The sausage was another high point of the meal and unlike any sausage we’ve had before. It had no casing and an interesting texture. It all worked together to create a delicious product. We also recommend the pork ribs and yammer pie.
Jack Stack Barbecue is known for being a bit fancier and is a true sit-down restaurant. It also has an extensive menu with a dizzying amount of options (we went twice and still didn’t try all their meats). They showed us great hospitality, and even showed us their original brick pits
We tried many meats at Jack Stack, and they were all perfectly cooked. The highlight was hands down the lamb ribs. In addition to getting points for novelty, the lamb ribs were one of the most delicious things we had on our whole trip. They were tender, fatty, and full of flavor. We also recommend their Crown Prime Beef Short Rib, which was divine.
It was amazing to experience these historic joints and get a sense of KC BBQ culture. However, we wanted to try out some of the newcomers on the Kansas City scene as well.
The platter at Joe's was great to look at but not to taste.
Kansas City has the most barbecue restaurants per capita of any city in America (small towns such as Lexington, North Carolina have more per capita). With over 100 restaurants to choose from, not all of them can be a winner. We tried a couple of the highest-rated BBQ restaurants in Kansas City, thinking we would be safe. Joe’s KC and Q39 are often ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on rating sites like Yelp and in barbecue ranking articles. However, we were unfortunately disappointed in both.
We received a beautiful platter of meats at Joe’s and had high expectations based on appearance. However, even though we got there right at opening, the meat was all room temperature and felt as if it had been sitting. Barbecue is best when hot and fresh, so we wish we had experienced it as it was meant to be eaten. As a disclaimer, we did not go to the original gas station location and we have been told that was a mistake. On our next visit, we will be sure to hit the original.
The platter at Q39.
Q39 opened in 2014 and describes itself as “chef-driven barbecue.” It is often ranked No. 1 in the city. However, the food was highly disappointing. While Q39 would be a fun place to grab dinner on a weekend (they have fancy cocktails and craft beers), the barbecue when we visited was just not up to par.
On the other hand, we had an amazing experience at another newcomer on the Kansas City scene. Slap’s BBQ has only been open for about five years, but it’s quickly becoming one of the highest rated joints in town. We had to wait in a bit of a line, which is not the norm in Kansas City. But the barbecue was more than worth the wait.
The delicious platter at Slap's.
Everything on our plate at Slap’s was amazing. The burnt ends were modern style, with huge cubes of fatty, decadent, melt-in-your mouth brisket with a flavorful bark. All of their meats were excellent. Extra points for having creative and delicious sides like baked potato casserole and fried cheese curds made with sharp cheddar.
The smoked and fried wings from Jazzy B's.
Finally, our favorite meal in Kansas City came from Jazzy B’s Diner, where owner Brandon Simpson is staying true to the style of KC while putting his own spin on things. Every meat we tried was outstanding. We especially enjoyed the smoked and fried chicken wings.
Many barbecue places outside of the South have disappointing pulled pork, but Jazzy B’s pork was excellent. In addition to perfectly smoked meats, the joint also had amazing sides. The baked beans had generous hunks of meat and a surprising twist of black beans alongside the pintos. The jicama apple slaw was probably in the top three barbecue slaws we have ever eaten. Overall, the meal was outstanding and the establishment was unique, bright, and welcoming while still feeling authentic.
Dylan and Andrea pose in front of the line at Slap's.
At the end of our trip, we felt as though Kansas City barbecue had won us over. We fell in love with the stories, history, unique vibe, and of course, the burnt ends. It is easy to see why Kansas City is one of the top barbecue destinations and one of the top regional barbecue styles. Kansas City has so many barbecue joints to try, we will definitely be back soon to try some more.
Dylan and Andrea Wright
Co-Founders, Carnivoresq
Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:
Brisket prices are getting very expensive, but it's often still worth it. Check out this perfect brisket from Juicy Lucy BBQ from New York. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
One Texas A&M livestock economist has suggested that brisket prices have reached an all-time high due to ever-increasing demand. The Houston Chronicle’s J.C. Reid tackles the complex issues surrounding the fluctuating costs of this beloved Texas barbecue staple.
As America celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, a lunar mission project director from Missouri recalls how Kansas City barbecue made it all possible.
John Stage, founder of the popular New York-based chain Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, spoke to Entrepreneur to discuss how he recently bought back majority control of his business and the hard lessons he learned in the process.
The Post and Courier recently visited with three South Carolina pitmasters who put their own unique spin on the craft of barbecue in the Midlands.
The fifth annual Southern Smoke festival on has announced an incredible lineup of pitmasters and chefs for 2019, including Aaron Franklin, Sam Jones, Pat Martin, Adam Perry Lang, Patrick and Erin Feges, and more.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently reported that according to analysis from reviews.org, Fox Bros Bar-B-Q is the best reviewed restaurant in the state of Georgia, despite recently being dethroned as Atlanta’s favorite barbecue joint.
NASA scientist and pitmaster Dr. Howard Conyers made a trip to Jones Bar B Que Diner in Marianna, Arkansas to learn more about the history of the oldest black-owned barbecue restaurant in the country.
Despite missing out on the brisket, Texas Monthly's Daniel Vaughn raved about the double cut pork chop from his recent visit to Fort Worth’s Cowtown Brewing Co.
Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:
Zagat explores the signature cuisine of Kansas City in the documentary short, The Heartland of BBQ.
Watch: Kansas City: The Heartland of BBQ - Zagat Docs
Kansas City is the epicenter of American barbecue culture. For this short documentary, Zagat spoke with two of Kansas City's beloved barbecue joints (Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que and Smoking Guns BBQ) - as well as Ardie Davis, a founding member of the esteemed Kansas City Barbecue Society. They delve into the story of Kansas City barbecue to find out what made this midwestern city so famous for its smoked meats. Watch it here.
Listen: Blake Stoker of Blake’s BBQ in Martin, Tennessee - Kevin’s BBQ Joints
In this episode, Kevin chats with Blake Stoker from Blake's BBQ in Martin, Tennessee. This is a great interview because not only is Blake a humble, introspective, and engaging person, he also has a passion for barbecue like no other. They discuss his complete story, including how he caught the barbecue bug, his smokers, how he opened his trailer, his food and specials, and especially his forthcoming brick and mortar location. Listen to the episode here.
Read: Smokehouse Handbook: Comprehensive Techniques & Specialty Recipes for Smoking Meat, Fish & Vegetables - by Jake Levin
Butcher and charcuterie expert Jake Levin’s comprehensive guide, Smokehouse Handbook, guarantees mouthwatering results for producing everything from the perfect smoked salmon to a gorgeous smoked brisket. Levin demystifies the process of selecting the right combination of meat, temperature, and wood to achieve the ultimate flavor and texture. Detailed step-by-step photos show the various techniques, including cold-smoking, hot-smoking, and pit roasting. Featured recipes include specialty brines and rubs along with preparation guidelines for all the classic cuts of meat, including ham, brisket, ribs, bacon, and sausage, as well as fish and vegetables. With in-depth troubleshooting and safety guidelines, this is the one-stop reference for smoking success. Order it here.
The Harpoon BBQ Festival in Vermont will feature lots of brews and ‘cue.
July 27-28: Harpoon BBQ Festival - Windsor, Vermont
Harpoon Brewery will soon be celebrating summer in Windsor, Vermont with beer, friends, live music, and BBQ. Competitive BBQ teams from all over New England will compete to be crowned the Grand Champion and one lucky team wins a ticket to the Jack. More info here.
August 18: Turf & Surf BBQ State Championship 2019 - Del Mar, California
Sanctioned by The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), the Turf & Surf BBQ State Championship will showcase hot competition from some of the biggest names in the West Coast BBQ movement. All-you-can-eat barbecue, seafood, and dessert samples are included with your ticket. More info here.
August 9: 16th Annual Up In Smoke BBQ Bash - Mason City, Iowa
The Up In Smoke BBQ Bash will feature a KCBS-sanctioned barbecue competition, an SCA steak cookoff, public food vendors, live music, an open darts tournament, and much more. More info here.
August 17: Stumptown Beer Revival and BBQ Cook Off 2019 - Monte Rio, California
This event, which is also called the “Russian River Beer Revival & BBQ Cookoff,” features copious amounts of beer and barbecue. An entry fee includes beer, cider, and barbecue tastings for the duration of the day, along with live music and activities. More than 40 breweries and 30 barbecue teams will participate. More info here.
August 29-30: Sister Cities Smokeout - Moorhead, Minnesota
The Sister Cities Smokeout festival takes place on August 29-30 at Bluestem Meadow in Moorehead, Minnesota. This two day festival will include music from a variety of national and local artists, and award-winning pitmasters from Sugarfire Smokehouse, Ubon’s Barbeque, and Pappy’s Smokehouse will serve delicious mouth-watering barbecue. More info here.
September 6-8: Kentucky BBQ Festival - Danville, Kentucky
The Kentucky BBQ Festival will feature great food, live music, and a backyard barbecue competition. Top pitmasters that will be serving barbecue there include Leslie Roark, Amy and Mike Mills, Moe Cason, Carey Bringle, and Shelly Hunt. More info here.
September 7: Pig Island NYC - Brooklyn, New York
For those that love all things pork, the 10th annual Pig Island NYC in Brooklyn will be a can’t-miss affair. Held outdoors at beautiful Erie Basin Park in Red Hook, this all-inclusive event will feature great food from top Northeastern pitmasters, plus a ton of beer, cider, and liquor. More info here.
September 12-15: American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Kansas City, Missouri
The American Royal is celebrating 40 years of competition barbecue in 2019. On top of a huge KCBS competition with teams from around the country, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including incredible live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a full line up of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. More info here.
September 19-21: 2019 Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off - Murphysboro, Illinois
The Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off is a unique dual cook contest sanctioned by the Memphis Barbecue Network and the Kansas City Barbeque Society. The event will also include a steak cookoff and a bloody mary contest as well as a kids Que competition. More info here.
September 21: Smoked Dallas - Dallas, Texas
Join us for a Texas-sized food fest and backyard BBQ party in the heart of downtown Dallas at this event. Enjoy tastings from 20 of the most celebrated BBQ joints from all across Texas at the event, along with live music from Dale Watson, Straight Tequila Night, and The 40 Acre Mule. More info here.
September 27-29: Q In The Lou - St. Louis, Missouri
Get ready to go hog wild and get your BBQ fix at another great year of Q in the Lou. Many of the country’s biggest names in BBQ are back once again, including Peg Leg Porker, Ubons BBQ, The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint, Sugarfire Smokehouse, and more. There will also be live music all three days. More info here.
October 5: Brew N’ Que - Perth, Western Australia
On Saturday, October 5th, the Brew N’ Que Festival will take place in Perth, Australia at the Ascot Racecourse. Experience the best in craft brew and barbecue. The event includes barbecue food vendors, craft beer, live music, cooking demos, competitions with national and international teams, Kids Q competition, classes from “BBQ Pitmasters” television celebrity Harry Soo, and the headline event with pitmaster Bill Dumas of The Switch in Dripping Springs, Texas. More info here.
October 6: Southern Smoke - Houston, Texas
An impressive lineup of pitmasters and chefs have been announced for the fifth annual Southern Smoke festival, which takes place on October 6 in Houston, Texas. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund and the National MS Society. Tickets go on sale on August 6 at noon CT. More info here.
See the full Smoke Sheet events calendar online here.
Five Sauces You Should Know
For our Recipe of the Week, we chose this Southern Living video for five barbecue sauces you can use as templates for your own creations. They start with a Worcestershire sauce-based black barbecue sauce or “dip” often used with mutton in Kentucky. Then they show you how to make a South Carolina style mustard-based sauce. Next, they chose a sweet and spicy Kansas City or Memphis style sauce. They also show you how to make an Eastern Carolina vinegar-based sauce but add a few extra ingredients to change things up. Finally, they show you the basics for creating an Alabama white sauce. Which of these is your favorite? View the recipe here.
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