I love BBQ. My family loves BBQ. In fact when they come down to visit KC, that's always something they expect. But where is all the good BBQ?
It is not Arthur Bryant's. As I write this, I'm recovering from my lunch there. I remember the first time I tried that place, I wasn't very impressed. But I decided to give it another try. Today I tried the Burnt Ends and they were terrible. It tasted like stewed meat, covered in mustard BBQ sause. The fries were cold and rather bland. I can't understand the popularity of this place. It was way over priced, and I didn't even want to take the left overs home.
Then there is Gates which isn't too bad, if you like being yelled at when you walk in the front door. "May I Help You!?" is yelled everytime when I walked in. Once you get past that, the food isn't so bad. Probably not for everyone.
Wyandott BBQ isn't too bad either, as long as you get it in Wyandott (which I happen to work down the street from) The meat is usually juicy and fries are nice and salty.
Hayward's is pretty bad. I remember their ribs are really fatty.
Zarda's is pretty good. Usually their BBQ is pretty safe (meaning it's not too mustardy or oily). I think anyone who enjoys BBQ would enjoy Zarda's. I haven't tried Rosedale or Johnny's recently to give it a fair review. Overall, I didn't think they were the best.
So what is my favorite? Oklahama Joe's. I usually get the Z-man sandwich. It's hard to want to try anything else when you have "sandwich perfection" like the Z-man. That onion ring they add makes all the difference. Their fries portion is huge and zesty. Some of the best fries around. You can't beat that gas station atmosphere either.
Right up there, would be Jack's Stack- if you want nice-sit down BBQ. I may get in trouble for this, especially with loyal KC BBQ people, but I've always liked "Famous Daves". Their meat is not too gristly and sause is good too. At least at Famous Dave's, I don't leave regretting I ate there.
12 comments:
cool! Are we making a blogger out of you yet?! Noticed you've upped your posts and are actually commenting more too. COOL. Keep it up.
I LOVE BBQ! :)
Zarda's is one of my favorites with one exception. I love anything that they make that comes from a cow, but their pulled pork sandwiches leave much to be desired.
I think that is how a lot of the KC BBQ places are. If you like something specific and that specific locale does it well, then you will like that place.
For me, the two best BBQ places I have been to in town have been KC Masterpiece (best sauce) and Zarda's (best smoked beef).
A lot of the others are fine, but I don't have to go there. Oklahoma Joe's has good fries, but I don't care one way or the other about fries in the first place. LC's made a good beef sandwich, but it didn't compare to Zarda's.
My only complaint about Oklahoma Joes is the long lines. Have you ever been there when the line hasn't been almost to the door? I guess that is an indicator that the food is good.
I had some Jack Stack for lunch today and it was yummy.
If you want to know where the good bbq is I can show you, but you have to promise that you will be fun and not complain, because no one likes to eat with a complaining picky eater.
Thanks alot, now my mouth is salivating at the thought of Arthur Bryants. I want some!
I really enjoy the smell of KC Masterpiece and am always really thrilled to sit down and order ... but then the food is usually a little disapointing (except for the BBQ sausage wich I almost always forget to order).
I really enjoyed my Z-Man at Oklahoma Joes, but the lines are a bit of a put off. My favorite BBQ place in KC is still the first one I ever tried - the original Smokestack in Martin City. Now they call it Jack's Stack, but it really is different from the Stack at 95 and Metcalf (I'm told the downtown location is jsut like 95th).
you guys are killing me over here...
clearing, I am a lazy person. I do not like to stand up in a line. I would rather go to a sit down restaurant like masterpiece or jack stack.
Not cool, making those without suffer. I'm living in cowboy (and indian) country, but there is no BBQ to be found (somehow that attempt at a sandwich from DQ or Arby's doesn't quite qualify). When I'm back I'll definitely be hitting the sauce (BBQ sauce that is.) LC's anyone?
I could go for some smoked meet and sweet sauce, yum. Sigh. Not here. I've heard that Arthur Bryants doesn't live up to what it was when Arthur was alive and it isn't my favorite either. My family are big Jack Stack fans. They also won several national award for their sauce and meet - top BBQ nationally in Zagat's dining guide - so we aren't alone in liking them. We got my friends in Boston hooked on Jack Stack and they order sauces and rubs online now.
I agree with golden on the lines at Joe's. The first time we went there we left because we were way in the back of the line and hadn't moved in 20 minutes. That plus someone close by was smoking and it was blowing right in our faces.
It is different then sitting, but I don't sit and wait either. We go out on Tues, Thursday or Sunday typically. This is because there are no lines. Friday night is an eat at home night typically, unless we have family in town, then we'll go sit and wait with them somewhere. We'd just be visiting anyway.
I did like it when I finally went to OK joes and ate, but it's not my favorite. I like Jack's stack for the atmosphere, and KC Masterpiece for the taste. Yummy! I like sweet BBQ better then tangy.
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