Kansas City, MO
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In season through February 15part of Game Day in Kansas City
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Be the first local to put BBQ in Kansas City on the map. Your Top 5 anchors the City Consensus for everyone who comes next.
Start a Top 5 for BBQEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Kansas City Magazine, KCUR 89.3, and The Pitch. Updated September 2026.
Joe's KC BBQ · KCK — 47th & Mission
The original gas-station location at 47th and Mission serves the Z-Man, a brisket sandwich with smoked provolone, onion rings and sauce. The kitchen turns out more than a thousand Z-Mans on busy days.
Jack Stack Barbecue - Freight House · Crossroads
The Freight House location serves hickory-smoked barbecue in a dining room near Union Station. The Poor Russ burnt-end sandwich is a reason to start here.
Q39 - Midtown · Midtown / Westport
The Mr. Burns sandwich piles burnt ends and frizzled onion straws onto the barbecue menu.
Gates Bar-B-Q · Rockhill
The greeting is “Hi, may I help you?” Gates serves chopped brisket sandwiches and barbecue sauce with a long Kansas City history.