Fox and Pearl
To outsiders, Kansas City might not seem like much more than a cow town. The city’s culinary scene was once largely defined by the Black pitmasters who established its barbecue traditions, the cattle ranchers who thronged the Kansas City Stockyards (the second-largest in the country after Chicago), and the Mexican immigrants who sustained the meatpacking industry. Barbecue and butchery are still critical parts of the restaurants here, but the city’s palate has broadened thanks to an influx of creative chefs, who are always expanding ideas of Midwestern food. Walking around Kansas City today, you’re as likely to stumble across a hand-pulled noodle shop or vegan lunch counter as you are a brisket sandwich.
As I’ve watched the city’s dining landscape evolve over the last decade, I’ve found a common thread: It isn’t a single ingredient or style of service, but an inclusive Midwestern hospitality that infuses even the most expensive dining rooms with a casual warmth. White collars aren’t common here — they’re too vulnerable to barbecue sauce stains. Whether you’re touring the high-end tasting rooms in downtown KCMO or the casual carnicerias in KCK, every restaurant on this list works hard to make you feel right at home.
The only tourist sin we locals won’t forgive? Forgetting which side of the state line you’re on.
In this latest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to include even more relevant info for diners, including a rough range of pricing for each destination — ranging from $ for quick, inexpensive meals with dishes largely under $10, to $$$$ for places where entrees exceed $30.
Liz Cook is an award-winning food writer, recipe developer, and former restaurant critic who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She is also the creator of the experimental food newsletter, Haterade.
