Best BBQ in Kansas City, MO: 8 Smokehouses, Ranked

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que leads this guide. Its original joint was established in 1996. The menu lists ribs, brisket, and burnt ends. The restaurant is closed Sundays. Rankings follow how many independent local roundups list each joint - tie-broken by verified fact count - and every listing is checked against the joint's own published information.

The ranking

1. 01

   Joe S Kansas City Bbq

   Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que started in 1996. Its menu lists ribs, brisket, and burnt ends. Its best sellers include the Z-Man. The ribs, brisket, and burnt ends kit is $169.99. A Z-Man brisket kit is $111.99. The restaurant is closed Sundays.

2. 02

   Arthur Bryant S

   Arthur Bryant's is at 1727 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64127. Its menu lists brisket, ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, turkey, and sides. Arthur Bryant was called the King of Ribs. Charlie Bryant started the Kansas City barbeque tradition. Hours are Monday-Friday 10 AM-8 PM, Saturday 11 AM-8 PM, and Sunday 11 AM-7 PM.

3. 03

   Lc S

   LC's Bar-B-Q is open Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm. The menu covers ribs, sausage, chicken, turkey, burnt ends, and sides. A slab is $29.02. Sausage is $14.54. A pound of sliced beef or beef burnt ends is $21.88. Pork burnt ends are $15.06.

4. 04

   Q39

   Q39 opened in 2014. Founder Chef Rob Magee is named as a founder. The restaurant features wood-fired grills and craft cocktails at four locations. Its style is sliced-to-order brisket straight from the smoker. Q39 Midtown is at 1000 W 39th St., Kansas City, MO 64111. Q39 South is at 11051 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, KS 66210.

5. 05

   Slap S Bbq

   Slap's BBQ opened in June 2014. It smokes with hickory. Brisket is $18.95. The most popular plate, Three Ribs and Burnt Ends, is $22.95. The most popular daily special is Taco Tuesday Burnt End Street Tacos. The restaurant sells out every day and is open daily 11-7 or sold out.

6. 06

   Chef J

   Chef J BBQ is at 1401 W. 13th Street, Suite G., Kansas City, Mo 64102. All meats are hickory smoked using real wood fire. The menu covers brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, ribs, sausage, and turkey. House-made sides are available. Hours are Thursday-Saturday 11:30am-4pm or Sold Out and Sunday Noon-4pm or Sold Out.

7. 07

   Scott S Kitchen

   Scott's Kitchen is at 11920 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153. The style list includes brisket, ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, turkey, seafood, and sides. Burnt ends are a signature item. The Pilot's pulled pork sandwich is also a signature item. Scott Umscheid entered his first KCBS competition on May 8, 2009. Hours are Monday-Saturday 7:00 AM-6:30 PM and closed Sunday.

8. 08

   Buck Tui

   Buck Tui BBQ is led by pit masters and executive chefs Ted Liberda and Pam Liberda. The menu lists pulled pork, Issan Thai sausage, brisket, ribs, and burnt ends. Brisket is $6 for 4 oz. The signature Phad Thai Brisket is a fusion of Thai flavor and KC BBQ. The brisket is house-brined for 72 hours.

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