The Foodies Guide to Kansas City

The Foodies Guide to Kansas City

Travel these days is about more than visiting monuments or attractions. When picking a new destination to visit, travelers are now looking for ways to enjoy the local food scene. If you’re planning a trip to Kansas City, Missouri, check out my foodie’s guide to the city. Once you finish drooling over tasty food, visit IHG’s Kansas City Hotels City Guide to book a room.

Image via Flickr by Laura Gilchrist

Barbecue

It’s Kansas City. You can’t make a foodie list and not include BBQ, so starting with it seemed like the best way to go. While most people think of pork and beef dishes when BBQ comes to mind, Jack Stack Barbecue offers a few non-traditional options. The BBQ Shrimp, Atlantic Salmon, and Lamb Ribs are favorites among diners. Serving Kansas City since 1957, Jack Stack even offers online shopping so you can ship some food right to your door. Another local favorite is Arthur Bryant’s, which was featured on Food Network’s Food Wars.

Breakfast/Brunch

According to online reviews, Succotash is a must when visiting Kansas City and you’re looking for breakfast or brunch. If anyone in your party has food allergies, Succotash is a great option due to their Vegan and Vegetarian dishes on the menu. It stays busy according to locals, so be prepared for a wait, especially if you have a larger party. Beer Kitchen is another local favorite for brunch. Its signature Dutch Babies have received tons of praise online, and according to reviewers, the beer is just as great.

Image via Flickr by Adam Kuban

Lunch

Stroud’s Fried Chicken has earned the title of the “Best Fried Chicken in Kansas City” by its customers. Known for pan-fried chicken, Stroud’s has been serving hungry diners since 1933. If you do visit and order the chicken, expect for it to take a bit longer to prepare due to the pan frying. But know that it’s worth the wait. If you’re not full after lunch, grab a few of their sixty cents cinnamon rolls.

Dinner

The Rieger approach food with the goal to create beautiful meals for people. The restaurant still has the original bathroom fixtures and tile flooring from the hotel that opened in 1915. Aside from its classic dishes, The Rieger offers up handcrafted cocktails, making it the perfect spot for dinner and drinks. Be sure to check their daily specials and season cocktail menus when dining, as they change frequently. Justus Drugstore is also a foodie’s dream. The restaurant sources all of its produce from local farmers to create its menu and has won a few awards for the best farm-to-table restaurant. 

Honorary Mentions

With so many options for foodies in Kansas City, I wanted to include a few honorary mentions. All these restaurants are highly rated by past diners, and they should definitely be on your list. Gram and Dun has an outdoor patio and happy hour menu, making it perfect for starting off your night. El Patrón Cocina & Bar serves up affordable Mexican food and killer mojitos.

If you find yourself in Kansas City, go hungry to one of these places and create beautiful food memories. If you’ve been to Kansas City, leave a comment with a favorite that’s not on the list.