Kansas City shuffle

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This article was published 06/07/2024 (443 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I was repeatedly asked the same question leading up to our road trip to Kansas City.

“Why the heck are you going there?”

And I would respond with the same three words each time: To eat barbecue.

For those that don’t know, Winnipeg is a 12-hour drive from the barbecue capital of the world. So, my girlfriend and I decided to hop in the car to investigate whether or not the Heart of America deserves such a title.

With over 100 barbecue restaurants in the area, there’s no shortage of options, but we wanted to make sure we tried the best of the best.

Following hours of research, we decided to do the smart thing and listen to Anthony Bourdain. The late, great chef and travel documentarian listed Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que as one of his “`13 Places to Eat Before You Die.”

Joe’s has expanded to three locations, but you must visit the original that’s famously located inside a gas station.

Fill up your tank then get in line to grab their legendary sandwich, The Z-Man, featuring slow-smoked beef brisket topped with BBQ sauce, melted provolone cheese, and two homemade crispy fried onion rings on a toasted kaiser bun.

It sounds simple, but the flavours are extraordinary.

Actor Paul Rudd grew up in Kansas City and loves Joe’s so much that he gets Z-Man sandwich kits shipped to him in New York at the end of every summer when he hosts his fantasy football draft.

The owners, Jeff and Joy Stehney, know their stuff as they were the founders of a BBQ competition team called Slaughterhouse Five that won over 30 championships at some of the most prestigious events in the world.

We certainly didn’t go for their fries, but they were sensational as well as they’re coated with an in-house seasoning. You’ll want to buy a spice jar or three to take home.

It’s not uncommon to see customers lined up outside the door so get there when they open at 11 a.m. to avoid the rush.

For a fancier sit-down experience, we headed to Jack Stack Barbecue for their hickory-smoked meats.

Jack Stack is a chain, but don’t be scared off by that word. They started out as a modest barbecue stand in 1957 and grew into the largest wood-fired cookery in the United States.

If you don’t want to take my word for it, Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Dalton Schoen — who hails from nearby Overland Park, Ks., — once told me Jack Stack is his go-to spot.

And I can see why.

We indulged on a platter of meats at their converted Freight House location — which has 25-foot ceilings, a fireplace lounge, and a large outdoor patio area — but the star of the show was their burnt ends.

These tender cubes of fatty meat with a crisp bark are mouthwatering and left us fighting for the last one in the bowl. Jack Stack also boasts arguably the best sides in town, so make sure you leave room for their hickory pit beans and cheesy corn bake.

But if you can only squeeze in one barbecue experience, make sure it’s at Q39.

When the Kansas City Chiefs arrived home from Miami after winning the Super Bowl in 2020, head coach Andy Reid made it his first stop.

Opened in 2014, Q39 might not have decades of history like some of the other legendary establishments, but it’s already in the conversation for the best BBQ in KC.

Rob Magee, a Culinary Institute of America grad who was an executive chef for Hilton Hotels, founded the restaurant after dominating the barbecue competition scene for a decade — highlighted by two national championships with his team called the Munchin’ Hogs. Q39’s meats are true to the competition style and their sauces, rubs, and recipes are all award-winning.

They have the hardware to back it up as they have a trophy case that takes up an entire wall at their original location in Midtown.

Coach Reid went for their burnt ends — and they’re darn good — but their honey-glazed spare ribs are what I daydream about as they’re the true definition of fall-off-the-bone.

We almost didn’t have room for them because their starters are main event level. No offence to Montreal, but Q39’s smoked beef brisket poutine outshines all the fries, gravy, and cheese curds I’ve tried in the La Belle Province. And their chipotle BBQ jumbo chicken wings — which are referred to as the ‘Best Wings on the Planet’ — live up to the hype.

The menu is loaded with unique twists — burnt end burger, pork belly tacos, wood-fire grilled salmon salad, just to name a few — that you’re not going to get at your standard barbeque joint.

Magee died in 2021 after a five-plus year battle with colon cancer. The torch has been passed to executive chef Philip Thompson, who has experience working in kitchens in England, Washington, Virginia, and Miami before taking his talents to Kansas City, and he’s kept Q39 true to their roots and elite taste.

The food is worth the drive alone, but Kansas City also has some of the highest rated museums in the country. Get your steps in at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, the Negro Leagues Baseball museum, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to burn off some calories in between meals.

For late-night entertainment, check out the Green Lady Lounge. You’ll feel like you stepped back in time at this iconic dimly lit jazz club with their vintage tin ceiling, 30-foot long marble bar, red leather booths, and classic cocktails.

WHERE TO STAY: We fell in love with Hotel Kansas City. Location wise it was perfect as we were only a few minutes away from most things on our itinerary. The rooms come with a great view of the city and are decorated with vintage-inspired custom furnishings.

The property was originally a premier social club that was established in 1882. The 15-story building has served several different purposes over the years but was renovated into a hotel in 2020 and has done an excellent job of preserving its history.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31