In Kansas City, there is so much BBQ, it’s ridiculous.
However, you should go to Gate’s, just because when you go up to place your order, they yell “CAN I HELP YOU!” It’s not a question. It’s a tradition.
Lou beat me to it. Lou always beats me to all things Gainesville. But another vote for Sonny’s. Their sweet barbeque sauce is absolutely incredible.
Shorty’s is also pretty good, though I haven’t been there in years. That’s the one with the long rows of wooden tables and benches, right Lou?
I’ll definitely second Moonlite.
If you’re a little closer to the far western end of Kentucky, I’d recommend Hill’s BBQ in Mayfield.
I’ve noticed that Lexington generally has a dearth of really good BBQ joints, although Billy’s is highly recommended. We have 2 Corky’s, if you want chain BBQ, but other than that it’s kinda sparse.
Yes Sir, that’s the one. Great Texas-style BBQ brisket at Shorty’s, and your choice of sweet or vinegary sauces.
But nothing compares to Sonny’s sweet sauce. We used to go there on Tuesday nights for the all-you-can-eat special back in my dorm days around 1996-97, groups of 10-20 guys who purposely hadn’t eaten all day. My friend Renda was hilarious–one day he got the chicken, and it came back pretty damn close to raw. We implored him to send it back to the kitchen, but he said “Nah, nothing a little Sonny’s sweet sauce won’t cure!” and happily ate all the practically-bloody chicken, slathered with sweet sauce. That stuff makes anything taste better, and it’s pretty scary how delicious it is by itself. Sonny’s onion rings, sweet fried corn nuggets, beans, and garlic bread are all top-notch as well.
It can be a little bit scary for some people the first time they visit Gate’s because they yell at you, really YELL at you as soon as you walk in the door. But, the BBQ there is pretty tasty.
Also in KC, check out Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ. I like Jack Stack bbq more than Gate’s, but gates is a more casual dining atmosphere, if that is what you are looking for.
At Sam’s club, you can buy massive jugs of the sweet stuff. I’ll use it in favor of any and all condiments, regardless of the meal.
And if you ask, they’ll warm some of it up for you in the kitchen. Heaven.
Well, there is a little bit of pretty good BBQ in and around the Bay Area, but you gotta hunt for it. In SF, Memphis Minnie’s is really good. The guy takes it seriously. His vinegar and mustard sauces are great. His red sauce sucks so bad. His ribs need no sauce, his pulled pork is great with the other two sauces, but beef brisket needs the sweetish ketchup-based KC-style sauce, and he won’t make it. He did tell me I could bring my own.
In Oakland/Berkeley, KC’s and Everette and Jones can be very good. Their consistency needs work. Flint’s used to be king, but they have mysteriously closed again. I know Stuffy lives in Oaktown and Maureen lives in San Pablo I think, maybe they have some recs for the Bay Area.
On a down note, I can’t eat barbecue any more. I think it has to do with the nitrates in the smoke, but it kicks my ass so hard when I eat it; my stomach kills me for hours and hours. I’ve given up. Wah. If I ever go to Memphis et al, I will have to suffer, though. Can’t pass that up. I want to also try mutton in KY.
Well, there is a little bit of pretty good BBQ in and around the Bay Area, but you gotta hunt for it. In SF, Memphis Minnie’s is really good. The guy takes it seriously. His vinegar and mustard sauces are great. His red sauce sucks so bad. His ribs need no sauce, his pulled pork is great with the other two sauces, but beef brisket needs the sweetish ketchup-based KC-style sauce, and he won’t make it. He did tell me I could bring my own.
In Oakland/Berkeley, KC’s and Everette and Jones can be very good. Their consistency needs work. Flint’s used to be king, but they have mysteriously closed again. I know Stuffy lives in Oaktown and Maureen lives in San Pablo I think, maybe they have some recs for the Bay Area.
On a down note, I can’t eat barbecue any more. I think it has to do with the nitrates in the smoke, but it kicks my ass so hard when I eat it; my stomach kills me for hours and hours. I’ve given up. Wah. If I ever go to Memphis et al, I will have to suffer, though. Can’t pass that up. I want to also try mutton in KY.
I you’re in Minneapolis, you can…
Hell. You can drive to Chicago.
And in New York, there’s … a lot of great pizza places.
But if you insist on BBQ, you can try the Dinosaur Grill in Rochester or Syracuse. Definitely not world-class BBQ but relatively good by local standards.
Much as I hate to concede it, there’s nothing in St. Louis that compares with Gates or Arthur Bryant’s in Kansas City.
Some of the locals will swear by Phil’s, but the best barbecue is from little hole-in-the-wall places in bad neighborhoods.
However, I recommend you stop at Biffle’s – about an hour east of Kansas City, right on I-70, and you can fill your face clear through to Indianapolis.
For barbeque, Kansas City is king. That’s not to belittle Austin, Memphis, North Carolina, and other places that have fine barbeque and are justly proud of it. But as Mirror Image mentioned, there are tons of BBQ joints, some fancy, some plain, some big, some small, but almost all of them good. About half the BBQ contests in the nation are sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (also here ). By all means, include KC on your trip.
Cousin’s BBQ in Fort Worth, TX. Family owned and super yummy! It’s a sentimental favorite because my grandfather would buy me lunch there most Saturdays. After my grandfather died about five years ago, we didn’t make it out there as often, but just a few months ago I went with my dad, and damned if they didn’t greet us by name. Sentiment aside, best BBQ I’ve ever had!
KC folks: many years ago, I ate in some place right near the stockyards. I can’t remember the name of it (some colleagues took me there), but it was a fancy place on top of a regular old joint. Apparently the fancy folks went to the place upstairs, and they served the same (or similar) stuff underneath. Went through a screen door, and was surrounded by cowboys (the real kind, the guys who work with cattle) with weather worn faces, mostly over 50, wearing denim overalls and what not. I order the beef tip sandwhich. They took a plate, put a little hamburger bun in the middle, then covered the entire plate with bbq beef tips, then put a little hamburger bun on top. IIRC it was about $1.99. This would have been roughly 15 years ago.
Any idea the place I’m thinking about? Is it still there?
Hmm… not sure. Sounds like a Gates or Zarda BBQ, but I don’t think either one of those joints ever had a location so close to the stockyards.
By the way, here’s a list of KC BBQ places. I’d suggest Jack Stack, KC Masterpiece, Gates, Zarda, Smokestack and Smokehouse. All pretty damn good.
Sorry Shibb, never heard of the place, but I’ll ask around.
Also, as a lifelong KC resident, who has traveled the country quite a bit:
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If you want BBQ, you won’t get it unless you come to KC, and I don’t give a rats ass what any fairy from Texas (or anywhere else) tells you.
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Most people seem to like Bryants, and it’s famous… .but I never much cared for it.
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Had gates last night, been eating at the same gates in Leawood my whole life, and it’s still my favorite, but Smokestack is a close 2nd.
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KC Masterpiece is crap.
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The poster who commented about Minnesota above… ROFL. It IS VERY SAD to see what passes as BBQ in Minnesota.
KC dopers: Smokestack (in Martin City) isn’t Smokestack anymore, it’s Fiorella’s Jack Stack, too, like the location in Overland Park.
Jack’s Stack is my favorite place for food, Gates (not gate’s) for atmosphere (Hi, can I hep you?) Arthur Bryant’s is meh (I don’t like vinegary sauce, give me molasses or give me death).
I’m going to miss barbecue more than anything else in KC.
There’s one good place in Lawrence called “Quick’s”. They put cinnamon in their sauce and it’s fantastic. They also have one of those spinning lighted pie display things and all the waitresses call you ‘hon’.
It’s different, but it sure isn’t crap. They cook some very delicious, tender meats there–although I tend to like the Plaza location more so than their Overland Park restaurant.
Another fun (and tasty) place to try is Rosedale off of Southwest Boulevard, which I believe is KC’s oldest BBQ joint. (Or maybe oldest and still active.) They used to sell beer in buckets there.
I think Rosedale is the oldest/oldest still operating. They survived prohibition, iirc. I never get down to that part of town, so I always forget about it.
KC Masterpiece isn’t crap, but it’s not as good as Jack’s Stack.
Hey all -
Sorry, meant to say: KC Masterpiece SAUCE is crap. The stuff they sell in the stores, anyway. As far as the restaraunt goes, I’ve only ate at the OP one; the meat is OK, but a bit too tough for my liking.