Kitty’s Cafe

Pork tenderloin sandwich and tater tots were delicious. First time trying a sandwich like this and I really enjoyed it. Would definitely return again if in the area.

Best tenderloin sandwich, ever. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Plus, this place has a fascinating story — Evidently, Miss Kitty was a Japanese woman whose family was interred during WWII and when the war ended, she and her family ended up in Kansas City and they opened this tiny place.
I look forward to trying the cheeseburgers and other sandwiches. They only take cash, so be prepared.

The best pork tenderloin in the city! Kitty’s café is legendary in Kansas City!
A small building in a not so nice area. An Asian couple has been working there/​owning the place for decades!
Pork tenderloin has an interesting breading, the sandwiches come with multiple thinly fried tenderloins, along with a pretty spicy hot sauce that really makes it. Not the healthiest or the fanciest, but tradition.

This place is a hole in the wall and that’s quite fine with the work-​a-​day lunch crowd they serve. Most orders are «to-​go» and that may be because there literally is almost no place to sit down. Six stools at a counter, to be exact.
My friends and I had heard about the delicious pork tenderloin sandwiches so we decided to try them. They’re tasty, but not delicious. The meat is much too thick and stacked three on a bun which makes the sandwich too tall to fit into my mouth; I had to disassemble it, leaving only one thick tenderloin on the bun. The meat is also dipped in tempura batter instead of being breaded in panko bread crumbs. That makes the meat go soggy quickly on the bed of mayo, lettuce, onion & tomato.
Kitty’s has some scrumptious-​looking egg, bacon & sausage sandwiches which I may go back to try, but I’ll leave those pork tenderloins for someone else.

I can’t comment on the actual restaurant because I’ve never been to their location, but I can certainly confirm that the pork tenderloin sandwich is delicious and unique. This is not a run of the mill pork tenderloin and I don’t know of any other sandwich like it in Kansas City. Get it with the hot sauce and you won’t be sorry.

This place has been my go to place for hamburgers for quite sometime now. The food is continually exceptional. Thank you Kitty’s Café and thank you Charlie!

Best chicken sandwich around got to try Charlie home made hot sauce freaking amazing!!! There’s a reason there’s all ways busy much try

I drive all the way in from Olathe for a tenderloin and fries. I have left work early to make sure I’d get there before they closed. The only improvement would be if fountain drinks and milk shakes were added to the menu. But you can always go to the nearby McDonald’s for drinks and stuff. Fresh, hot and delicious every time! Kitty’s Café is a real treat!!!

If you are searching for a place with:
Ambiance
Group Seating
Table Service
Super Friendly Staff
Squeaky Clean
Vegetarian Options
Credit Cards Accepted
Stop reading this review immediately! But if you are looking for a fantastic greasy spoon sandwich to-​go on the cheap… Hit Kitty’s Café!
Their rendition of a pork tenderloin sandwich is very unique, with light and crisp tempura batter in lieu of the heavy breading seen traditionally. Then, sliced up into three pieces that they stack on a Kaiser bun. They also serve it with onions, pickles, lettuce and diced tomatoes. Adding another twist of a spicy chili pepper sauce that is very good! Now throw a side of tater tots on your order and it is less than $ 9! Best lunch under $ 10 I have had in a longtime.

Lived a couple blocks from here for the last 3 years and never tried it. Finally made the leap and glad we did! The burgers are awesome!
They are very small place with only six bar stool. So it’s best to grab and go.

I have been going to Kitty’s for 15 years now. I have never been disappointed.
The only menu item I have ever had is the pork tenderloin sandwich and it is AWESOME! It comes on a bun with 3 thinly sliced tempura battered pork tenderloin patties, lettuce, onion, pickles, diced tomatoes and the BEST RED HOT SAUCE YOU HAVE EVER HAD!!!
The building is approx 12×12′ so don’t plan on bringing the whole crew. There are approx 6 chairs for dining in, but they are typically occupied.
Kitty’s is a cash only establishment, so hit the ATM on your way. I do believe they are closed on Sundays.

Kitty’s… Oh how I love you so.
I am one of those people that are fortunate to live a block away from Kitty’s. Let me first give everyone a warning: The tater tots are like crack. Once you have had a tater tot there, you will be hooked.
I usually order either the double cheeseburger or the sausage and egg sandwich (with everything on it of course). Both these dishes are fantastic and I have never had a bad experience. Not once and I have been there easily over 15 times.
This is most likely because every time I go there it is always Charlie and his wife that prepares the food. Kitty’s has a strong consistency of high level of quality, because of the daily dedication given by these two chefs.
A lot of people complain about the wait time, but I really don’t mind. Half of the time it is only Charlie in the back cooking every single meal. At least I know when my tots and sandwiches come out it is not only fresh, but made by the best.
Also, the people that complain about how they were surprised that there were so many *gasp* black customers should really try to reevaluate and diversify their lifestyle. A restaurant is not shady or dangerous just because a lot of black people eat there. In my opinion, Kitty’s is as American as it gets: Good food, hard work, and greasy (in the good way).

I’ve eaten pork tenderloins all over the country, and I have NEVER had anything so spectacularly delicious as the one from Kitty’s. I got mine with a little extra mayo. Light tempura batter, flavorful pork… just remarkable. Had mine with the crinkle-​cut fries: crisp, nutty-​tasting, and delicious.
There’s a very small counter at which you could eat, but if it’s more than just you, plan to take out, or eat al fresco in the little breezway next to the shop. It has a carport over the top, so you’ll be sheltered.
Be sure to bring cash, because they don’t accept credit cards. The staff was polite, and the food was out-​of-​this-​world good. This was our first time, and we’ll be back.
If you’re craving the best tenderloin sandwich you’ve ever had, you’ll find it here, no question about it!

I think about Kitty’s sandwiches when I’ve been away for too long.
The pork tenderloin is the best sandwich I’ve eaten in Kansas City. I love it. It’s fantastic fresh off the grill, and it’s still amazing after sitting in your fridge for 12 hours. Trust me. And the tots are perfect and crispy without dripping in grease.
Kitty’s is true, classic KC. It’s been around forever and it’s not going anywhere. If you’re in a hurry you should call ahead, local love for this food means Kitty’s will always be at least a little busy.

Yes their burgers are really that good, yes you must leave those pesky credit cards at home and bring those greens, but trust me its well worth it! And don’t forget those golden nuggets of goodness (tater tots) to round out your heavenly experience. I promise you its worth it!

Justifiably busy at lunch with great value, awesome quality, and big portions! We had pork tenderloins with tater tots which was fabulously cooked with tempura batter that was gently fried to perfection! I’m looking forward to coming back for a burger!

I have been wanting to try a pork tenderloin sandwich for a while, as part of my quest to experience some Midwestern delicacies. I will say I am glad I tried Kitty’s, but my search for an awesome pork tenderloin sandwich will continue.
I was visiting the UMKC Hospital Hill campus and needed to grab lunch. Kitty’s was bookmarked and close-​by, so I decided today was the day! My GPS took me there fairly easily, and I recognized the exterior from the Unilocal pictures. I was lucky to find parking right across the street, but it might have been tricky if the street parking started to run out.
I entered Kitty’s, and it was a lot smaller inside than I anticipated. The inside can hold about 10 people before it gets really cramped. There were only 4 – 5 stools if you want to dine inside. I ordered the porkloin sandwich right away, but the cashier said there would be a wait. The man in front of me ordered a box full of goodies, so there was a bit of a holdup. I waited about 10 minutes and was on my way.
I ate my sandwich in my car to avoid the awkward inside seating. My first bite was good, and it was spicier than I thought it would be. The sandwich was piled high with 3 stacks of meat. Around $ 6 including tax is a great deal for this sandwich. The lettuce added a nice crunch. When the cashier asked, «Everything hot?» I kind of thought she meant temperature, but she actually meant spicy-​hot. The sauce was like spicy ketchup. My mouth was definitely burning by the end of the sandwich… in a good way. Unfortunately, the meat tasted either old or previously frozen (or maybe both). The flavor mostly came from the hot sauce. If the meat was fresher and seasoned better, and the breading was a bit crispier, this would be a 4 or 5 star sandwich. It was a good experience, but I will not be rushing back anytime soon.

Unassuming place, but damn good burgers on the cheap!
Check it out!

My favorite question to ask other Unilocal elites is, «what is your favorite Kansas city gem (your favorite little spot not on the radar)?»
Over and over again I heard I had to try this place!
It has been on my list for awhile now and yesterday, by complete randomness, I went.
6 of my friends & I packed in the little spot, ordered our food and waited not very long.
It was organized, efficient and the lady behind the counter was very, very friendly. We all got our correct orders and were able to go home and enjoy our yummy food.
I was incredibly impressed on all fronts.
The food was reasonably priced and it is definitely a delicious burger/​pork tenderloin+ fry joint!

I’m not quite sure what my expectations were before heading into Kitty’s Café, but I can just say that they didn’t meet them. Everything was OK, I guess, but I don’t much see a reason to return.
I felt like it was my obligation to go with the pork tenderloin sandwich, seeing as that’s what everybody rages over. Rounding out my order was a side of fries and a can of soda, and it came out to around $ 8.00 (cash only). It was pretty dead when I ordered, so I was surprised that I ended up waiting 15 minutes for fast food, but whatever.
The tenderloin is unlike any other sandwich I’d had before, with the pork hammered very thin and then fried tempura style. It gave the sandwich a nice crunch, but I definitely tasted the breading more than the pork. I enjoyed it well enough, I guess, but I was expecting a truly awesome pork tenderloin sandwich, and I definitely didn’t get one.
The fries were a disappointment, basically those baked fries that you can buy at the grocery store in the freezer section. I can’t imagine why any restaurant would serve these, as there are so many other options available to restaurant owners, most of which are vastly superior.
I think my major issue was sitting outside. Normally I love patios, but this one was home to a number of very aggressive flies. Seriously, I had to pack up and leave because they kept trying to dive-​bomb my food and were climbing all over my legs. Gross.
Hey, it’s a dive and an institution. Some people will love it for that, but it’s not a love that I share.