Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que

Always awesome food. Biggest downside is the wait. My two suggestions: save your time and money and skip the ribs (they are good, but better elsewhere — this is KC, so not an insult) and just go for the z man or sausage and pork sandwich and 2) ALWAYS order your z man on toast (extra $ 0.50-$ 0.75 or something). You’ll never have it any other way.
Oh yeah, the French fries are like crack — you’ll eat the bag before you know it.

Classic KC BBQ. No corn bread, though. Happy with the local beer selection. I got the pulled pork and wasn’t disappointed!

CLOSED SUNDAYS. BUMMER, I came from Cali and Unilocal didn’t say they were closed. Oh well I will wait till Monday

Best BBQ in KC. Be prepared to wait in line for 30 – 45 minutes, just like the gas station location.

Always good! Had the Carolina Pork Sandwich with fries. Could only eat a ¹⁄₃ of the fries. Order one and share

My favorite BBQ. No one beats their mouth watering and tender brisket! My husbands loves their ribs and Z-​man.

I really wish I hadn’t visited KC by myself. As someone with «big eyes, small stomach syndrome,» Joe’s was a bit much for me to handle. But delicious, nonetheless.
Before deciding where to go to get my BBQ fix, I made sure to ask every local and über driver I came across where they recommended that I go. Literally ⁸⁄₁₀ people listed Joe’s as their top choice. So naturally, I had to come here.
I only had time to go late at night, right before closing, so I knew that going to the original gas station location was not going to fly, since that location is typically packed with people.
When I got there, I decided to grab take out instead of sit awkwardly by myself at a table. I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat a whole plate of BBQ, and to waste the food would be a travesty. So I browsed the reviews, and came across the Z-​Man Sandwich.
I ordered one sandwich, a side of onion rings, and a soda to wash it all down, and returned to my hotel to devour my feast in peace. I do not typically drink soda at all, but I am so glad I ordered a soda. Water would not have done anything to wash down the grease of those onion rings and bbq.
The sandwich itself was great. I would come back and order it again. Good combination of flavors, and just the right amount of meat and sauce. They tossed pickles into the box of the sandwich, but not in the sandwich, which I appreciated because I do not like pickles. Nowhere on the menu did it say the Z-​Man would have pickles. So FYI for you fellow not-​pickle-​people out there.
The order of onion rings was absolutely massive. I thought paying $ 5 for onion rings was a bit steep at first, but once I actually looked at my rings, I realized that I probably could have just ordered just that, and have been absolutely stuffed. Unfortunately I was not able to finish even half of the rings, but it was so worth it to order them. They are seasoned to perfection, and are not sad or floppy in any way. They hold up well, and have a good crunch to them.
KC if I’m ever back to visit, I’m going to Joe’s.

3 stars for the BBQ sause: spicey & sweet is what they have
2 stars for the food
Brisket: ok
ribs: barely ok, dip in sause, be ok
chicken: dry nothing special about it, had a ¼ piece
sausage: hummm somewhat ok
salad caviar: OMG do not even order it!
potato salad: good
No dessert menu!!!
**Even though the service is fast, you can tell the food is pre-​cut & ready before you order.

This place was such a great place to get great quality take out Barbecue! I had dinner here two nights in a row, one night I got the «SLAB», which consisted of a whole rack of KC ribs. It was as huge as it was delicious! They also had a great smoked gumbo that went great with the ribs. My second meal consisted of a combo containing Burnt Ends, Brisket, and Ribs. All three selections were great! I also purchased their signature BBQ sauce and brought it home to share! This place is a must when looking for BBQ in KC…

The Asian in me generally doesn’t like American BBQ, but this place is just soooooooooo good. The meats are so tender and moist, the sauce is sweet and smokey, and the vibe in here has a very midwest feel. Sides weren’t that good, but who cares when you are downing ounces and ounces of delicious meat!

— ribs were still good, but not as great as I remembered, would also recommend the pulled pork
— tried the smoked chicken (nothing to write home about), brisket (overcooked), kansas city caviar (new side) was strange… lighter than their other sides but wouldn’t order again

How can you go to Kansas City and not eat barbecue? That was my wife’s question after I told her where I had eaten the night before. (See my review of Lone Star Steakhouse.) In any case, she was right so I headed over to Joe’s Kansas City BBQ and ordered the two meat platter with two sides.
I asked for brisket and sausage. Although both meats were smoked perfectly, I thought the BBQ sauce was a bit sweet. As always, just like everywhere else in the world, the potato salad was more sweet than tangy. I guess I’m just never going to get over my love for San Antonio’s Bill Miller’s potato salad. In any case, the pinto beans were very good. The plate also came with bread. And what can I say? Bread is bread — it was not stale, but soft and fresh.
It is assembly-​line service and they call you when your plate is ready. There are no wait staff and everything is pretty much get it on your own. That was kind of nice but call me a snob, I still like someone filling my empty glass when I’m seated in a restaurant.
Overall, I would take my wife to eat here should we ever pass through Kansas City again.

This place is AMAZING. I grew up in Kansas City but unfortunately never ate here before I moved away. Luckily I am visiting my parents from NYC and we went to Joe’s for some KC bbq and tried the following:
–Long end ribs (dry rub)
–brisket
–fries (I think they put Old Bay on them)
–Onion Rings
–Spicy slaw
–Red beans and rice (spicy!)
All of this for $ 50. My boyfriend also had a Z-​Man sandwich which he was pretty impressed with.
The meats were tender, perfectly spiced and ribs were falling off the bone. Spicy slaw was perfect – not too much mayo and not sweet. Just the way I like it.
If the owners are reading this PLEASE COME TO NYC!!!
CHEERS!

One of the best things hands down about Kansas is their barbecue, and Joe’s is one of my favorite place to go to when I’m in town.
First off, this place gets packed, so I tend to always do carryout. But if you chose to dine in, the line moves quickly and it’s worth the wait.
What makes Joe’s worth a mandatory story when in town:
— the menu if full of favorites
— I can pretty much get anything, wth a few minors exceptions. Most of their menu is gluten free, including the fries as they use a separate fryer
— the staff is friendly and was attentive to change their gloves when playing my food
— the prices are greater for the amount of food you get. They won’t break the expense account, plus a half rack of ribs is more than enough for two people with the chance of possible leftovers
Overall a safe dining experience for those with gluten issues, this coming from a Celiac

I’ve been to Kansas City Joe’s before and this was a much better experience. The crowd was really light and only had a few minutes to wait and place an order. The ribs were hot and very good. I would definitely eat here again.

I have been to the gas station location about five times, before this entity dropped the «Oklahoma» name. I must have never ordered the right food like everyone else because although I gave this place another chance tonight, it was subpar, just as I remembered before. I am used to being a nonconformist, but I am sure there will be some people who think I’m off my rocker by giving this place two stars despite a high overall rating.
The fact is, I have experienced better, and therefore, I have no choice but to give two stars. I ordered the sausage and pulled pork tonight. Both were extremely fatty. The sausage is no better than grocery store sausage that I can get back in Texas. The pulled pork was also very fatty, to the point where I was unable to eat some of the strands. I am not against fat (because you need some in order to create flavor), but pulled pork shouldn’t be so fatty that some of the strands are white. In addition, both meats were very dry. Had it not been for the BBQ sauce, there would have been virtually no moisture. In the past, I’ve had the ribs and also have had the same problem. Let’s face it, nobody can beat Memphis’ ribs!
Furthermore, the menu confuses me when it comes to the sides. Red beans and rice and dirty rice at a BBQ joint? Um, last I checked, this is Kansas and not Louisiana. I really wanted mashed potatoes, but the only potato-​based side available is potato salad. There’s two different kinds of coleslaws, and that’s it. There’s nothing like green beans, corn, etc that you would find at your usual BBQ place. The red beans and rice are spicy, but they really don’t have much flavor other than jalapeño. There’s no depth to this side, in contrast to places in Louisiana.
And finally, the price. It’s expensive. For a two meat plate, you only get one side included, whereas most places give you two meats, two sides, and bread. Since this is what I am used to, I decided to add a side. A two meat dinner ($ 11.99), additional side ($ 2.65), and a fountain drink ($ 2.45) cost $ 18.77. That’s expensive compared to the BBQ places I have visited in the past. I think I am better off at Burnt End BBQ, about 5 minutes away. Not only is it cheaper, but MUCH tastier!

I was introduced to Joe’s Kansas City Bar-​B-​Que when we came out to look for an apartment. I had heard about Kansas City BBQ and asked the hotel clerk where we should go… They suggested Joe’s Kansas City Bar-​B-​Que (Oklahoma Joe’s at the time)… Although it was the location in the gas station.
Perhaps because it was my first Kansas City BBQ, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-​B-​Que has become my favorite BBQ place, although the distance from our house means we don’t get to go as often as I’d like. There is not anything on the menu that is bad… Although I wish they would offer macaroni & cheese as a side. I typically enjoy the brisket with cole slaw or potato salad.
You know this is a great restaurant, because there is almost always a line. On our last visit, the line wrapped around the inside of the restaurant and then snaked outdoors. Don’t let the line fool you, however, the staff is really efficient and tables always seem to magically appear just when you need them.
In addition to the great flavors Joe’s Kansas City BBQ offers, they are priced very reasonably. They are comparable to other casual BBQ restaurants and cheaper than the nicer sit down restaurants. If you haven’t been yet, you owe it to yourself to give Joe’s Kansas City a try… You just may find your new favorite BBQ!

It’s hard to complain about Joe’s — rated #1 bbq place anywhere.
And I won’t complain — not at all. I love it when I come. I enjoy the food here. Always very enjoyable.
Still — it IS like a cafeteria lunch counter. It IS usually crowded and hard to find a table. Some may call that ambience. I tend to call it «I’ll come around 3pm on a Wednesday because I only live 2 miles away».
Absolutely great — come here and enjoy. Just realize if you come at «regular hours», there is a price to pay to experience the greatness.

Excellent half rack pork ribs and baked beans here. The brisket was tender and good (though I prefer Jack Stack’s which has more flavor) and the place is huge which is nice as they request patrons to order before finding a seat to keep the traffic flowing. I liked it all and will come back… It’s very comfy with the booths, flat screens and yummy food. I can see why it’s so popular!
One personal pet peeve: at self-​serve places like this where one orders at a counter, pays at the counter, gets one’s own drinks, silverware, has to pick up own food when it is called at the counter, bus own table, and wrap up own food… I don’t think patrons should feel obliged to tip — yes, there is a tip line on the receipt. After all, one doesn’t tip at fast food places where we self serve the same way. It just confuses me where the environment seems like there will be table service, but it really is an upscale fast food BBQ place. Now, I have nothing against self serve establishments; I just don’t enjoy feeling tricked into pre-​paying for a service gratuity I won’t receive– hence I felt Unilocal-​karma bound to share the sentiment… But now I know for next time (and so do you!)

Joe’s KC BBQ, formerly Oklahoma Joe’s, has the best vegetarian offering for BBQ lovers. As in, no other KC BBQ house has a vegetarian offering outside of salad and sides. Regardless, the portobello Z-​Man, a vegetarian version of their trademark Z-​Man, could stand on its own. It originated from a meatless Monday tradition. Now permanently on the menu, this is a sandwich I always eat anytime I visit home in KC.
Joe’s has amazing BBQ sauce. I prefer the normal sauce over the spicy sauce, but both are amazing with fries, onion rings, slaw, etc. The most recent visit for me was with a high school friend. Fries and onion rings are always enough to share between two people. The portobello Z-​Man is delicious, and I’m not even a big mushroom guy. Onion ring, cheese, and grilled mushroom on a crispy yet soft bun with a trademark sauce that Air Force One stops in KC for? What more is there to ask for?
I still have not figured out the difference between portobella and portobello. It’s something that could easily be Google’d, but I’m old-​fashioned and enjoy the wonders of not knowing. Yes, Barack Obama is a huge KC BBQ fan.
This location is in the wealthier burbs of KC. It has a faster line than the original KC location (the one in a gas station), but the food is of the same quality. Full disclosure: I shamelessly own a Joe’s t-​shirt, but never wear it.