Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in Kansas City

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Cooking meat low and slow over an indirect heat source—the only real qualifications for barbecue—is a truly American tradition, going back to indigenous cultures and picked up by early Spanish colonizers who also gave it the name the cooking style goes by now: barbacoa.

Today, barbecue is a wildly popular staple across the U.S., with many cities and regions boasting their own take (and all claiming to have the best). Because barbecue meat spends hours upon hours cooking, restaurants are a go-to source for many Americans who would rather not spend all day and all night tending to their flames.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated barbecue restaurants in Kansas City on Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Some restaurants on the list may have recently closed.

Tripadvisor

#29. Big T’s Bar B Q

– Rating: 3.5 / 5 (25 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Barbecue, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 6201 Blue Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64129-1906
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#28. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

– Rating: 3.5 / 5 (41 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 9000 N Skyview Ave, Kansas City, MO 64154
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#27. Back Porch Bar-B-q

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (26 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 8500 E US Highway 40 Inside Adam’s Mark Hotel, 9103 E 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64129-1640
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#26. Big T’s Barbecue

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (45 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (3.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 9409 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64138-3847
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#25. Gates Bar-B-Q

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (110 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (3.5/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (3.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1026 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102-4409
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#24. Gates Bar-B-Q

– Rating: 3.5 / 5 (163 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (3.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1325 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64110
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#23. Plowboys Barbeque

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (94 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1111 Main St Suite 115, Kansas City, MO 64105-2116
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#22. Hawg Jaw Que & Brew

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (22 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 900 Swift Street, North Kansas City, MO 64116
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#21. Woodyard Bar-B-Que

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (393 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 3001 Merriam Ln, Kansas City, KS 66106-4613
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#20. Smokehouse BBQ

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (200 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 104 NE 72nd St Ste J, Kansas City, MO 64118-1830
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#19. Rosedale Bar-B-Q

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (202 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 600 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103-1921
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#18. Gates Bar-B-Q

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (354 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (3.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1221 Brooklyn Ave, Kansas City, MO 64127-1913
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#17. Gates Bar-B-Q

– Rating: 3.5 / 5 (578 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 3205 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111-1902
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#16. Smokin’ Guns BBQ

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (312 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1218 Swift Ave, Kansas City, MO 64116-4012
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#15. Smokebox BBQ Cafe

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (202 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 10020 N Ambassador Dr, Kansas City, MO 64153-1362
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#14. L.C.’s BBQ

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (354 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 5800 Blue Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64129-1903
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#13. Danny Edwards BBQ

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (149 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 2900 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108-3615
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#12. Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (1,812 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1727 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64127
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#11. Smokehouse Barbecue – Kansas City, MO (Zona Rosa)

– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (272 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 8451 NW Prairie View Rd, Kansas City, MO 64153
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#10. County Road Ice House

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (95 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Bar
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 100 E 14th St Power & Light, Kansas City, MO 64106-2919
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#9. Scott’s Kitchen and Catering at Hangar 29

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (90 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 11920 N Ambassador Dr, Kansas City, MO 64153
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#8. B B’s Lawnside Bar-b-que

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (386 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Bar
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1205 E 85th St, Kansas City, MO 64131-2556
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#7. Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (2,953 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 3002 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103-3244
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#6. SLAP’s BBQ

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (407 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 533 Central Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101-3549
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#5. Jack Stack Barbecue – Plaza

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (2,000 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 4747 Wyandotte St, Kansas City, MO 64112-1612
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#4. Char Bar

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (525 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Bar
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 4050 Pennsylvania Ave #150, Kansas City, MO 64111-3024
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#3. Jack Stack Barbecue – Martin City

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (936 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 13441 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO 64145-1445
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#2. Jack Stack Barbecue Freight House

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (3,882 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 101 W 22nd St Ste 300 Freight House, Kansas City, MO 64108-1954
– Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#1. Q39 – Midtown

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (3,289 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Bar
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: 1000 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111-3859
– Read more on Tripadvisor