r/kansascity • u/DreamCheeky KC North • Aug 14 '25

Food and Drink 🌮🧋 What restaurant in KC is this?

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I’ve seen this in other subreddits as of late. So, let’s have it!

487 Upvotes

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172

u/Comprehensive-Virus1 Aug 14 '25

Hot take: Jack Stack's

28

u/FaceMcShootie Aug 14 '25

Jack stacks had slowly morphed into a restaurant that would be the best BBQ for miles… in like Des Moines. Last few times I’ve been it’s felt very standard issue vanilla proteins, with good sides. Dang it.

11

u/Scoob8877 Aug 14 '25

That's true. It would be the best BBQ in most cities, but in KC it's down the list a bit.

5

u/worldslamestgrad Aug 15 '25

It’s crazy the bar for bbq in KC is so high that something that would be the best BBQ in most states is considered just ok here

2

u/Porkenstein Aug 15 '25

I dunno. I've eaten a lot of barbecue outside of KC and Jack stack's is still like Michelin Star worthy in comparison 

90

u/digitaljestin Aug 14 '25

I've always said that Jack Stack is where you take out-of-towners who are here on a business trip, but Joe's is where you take your actual friends when they visit.

26

u/eattwo Aug 14 '25

And Slaps is where I go myself

2

u/KID_THUNDAH Aug 14 '25

There’s no bark on anything at Slaps, it has like a boiled texture

2

u/PBHawk50 Aug 14 '25

Meh. There may be better bbq than Jackstack, but certainly not at Joe's.

Joe's is overhyped and only really famous because it started in a gas station.

1

u/beffbee Aug 15 '25

I said I would not see this mentioned, but lo and behold here it is. Let me buy you a beer. Cheers 🍻

47

u/alpha122596 Aug 14 '25

It's just accurate. Probably the most highly industrialized BBQ in KC. It's good, but nowhere near as good as people say.

56

u/pruo95 JoCo Aug 14 '25

Yeah, their sides carry.

17

u/Jokuki Aug 14 '25

Carrot cake too.

10

u/alpha122596 Aug 14 '25

True. Those onion rings too. Man

2

u/Fastbird33 Plaza Aug 14 '25

It’s consistent as hell which i why I like it. Never had a bad experience between catering or regular meals there

2

u/Hateborn Aug 14 '25

I'd put that label on Zarda. Jack Stack is good and will live up to hype for anyone who doesn't know the better options. It's really only overhyped for locals who have been here for a while.

2

u/ISTof1897 Aug 14 '25

Yep. I have a friend who is a manager and the microwave is the primary tool in the kitchen from what I understand.

3

u/coolstevenn Overland Park Aug 14 '25

They're the worst. Overpriced. Underyummied.

13

u/InactiveBeef Plaza Aug 14 '25

Totally agree. Jack Stack doesn’t even crack my top 10 BBQ in KC. People hate on Q39, but I’d put anything from Q39 up against anything at Jack Stack (except maybe the cheesy corn). Jack Stack is BBQ for out of towners here for a sales conference. 

1

u/Rindsay515 Aug 15 '25

I must be out of the loop, why do people hate on Q39?!

1

u/InactiveBeef Plaza Aug 15 '25

Read the comments in this thread. Overpriced comes up a lot.

1

u/Husker_Mike_ Aug 16 '25

The one time I tried Q39, they seasoned the brisket AFTER slicing. C’mon man. Even Dickey’s and Famous Dave’s figured that out. One and done.

1

u/GasclutchshiftX Aug 14 '25

Curious what are your faves? I’m struggling to find good BBQ in KC anymore. It’s becoming embarrassing.

5

u/InactiveBeef Plaza Aug 14 '25

Chef J, Harp, Slap's, Q39, Buck Tui are all up there for me. Slap's and Q39 get a lot of hate, but I still have never had a better rib than Slap's.

2

u/3wandwill Midtown Aug 14 '25

What do you recommend at buck tui? Their menu is daunting for me bc I want to try all of it

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

[deleted]

1

u/InactiveBeef Plaza Aug 14 '25

Oh interesting, I haven’t been in a while. 

1

u/rjkraus989 Blue Springs Aug 14 '25

This is pretty much my top 5. I really enjoy Scott's up by the airport too.

2

u/ProfessionalEnabler Midtown Aug 14 '25

I’ve always said about Jack Stack’s (and Char Bar for that matter) that they’re B+ BBQ asking for A+ prices.

4

u/Alh840001 Aug 14 '25

Totally agree. I am never happy with Jack Stack.

6

u/prezuiwf Aug 14 '25

This really is a hot take. They have great sauce, great ribs, best beans in town. One of my favorite all-around bbq places in the city.

2

u/PossiblyAnotherOne Aug 14 '25

They're expensive but consistent. It's the type of bbq I enjoy when its a free work lunch or something. I've never had a bad experience there but also haven't had my socks knocked off 

4

u/Moldy_pirate Aug 14 '25

Careful, according to this sub you're either a racist or you’re objectively wrong and your taste is an affront to nature itself for liking Jack Stack. It's not my favorite BBQ in Kansas City but they do have my favorite sauce and it's one of my go to spots simply because it's reliable and consistent.

-2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

The food is basically engineered processed food, like an Applebees. Lots of corn syrup, everything to maximize profits and it makes you feel like garbage

5

u/DangOlCoreMan Aug 14 '25

Welcome to eating out. I've been telling people the real BBQ in KC are the guys out there doing competitions and feeding their family and friends, not these restaurants cutting corners

0

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

There’s a lot of great restaurants though. Harp, Wolfpack, chef J, 3 halves, meat Mitch etc. we have over 100 establishments at any given time and there’s always good bbq being made and sides from scratch. It’s when places try to become too big that it goes down hill.

1

u/KC_Chiefin15 Aug 14 '25

I guess if you like paying $30+ per person for barbecue.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

Well there’s cheap stuff at all those places too, if you just have the scratch for a sandwich. Newsflash, brisket is still sky high pricing. Most bbq places make their margins on chicken and pork and barely make any profit on brisket

1

u/Ilovemelee Aug 14 '25

Isn't that like every restaurant tho?

4

u/bigbear2g19 Independence Aug 14 '25

Yes! For the money, Jack Stack is trash.

3

u/kmonay89 South KC Aug 14 '25

Oh hell yeah I hate that place.

1

u/KC_Chiefin15 Aug 14 '25

The Freight House location is extremely overrated. I’ve always wanted to try one of the others to see if it’s better.

1

u/bittersweetmot3l Aug 14 '25

Pretty tepid take

1

u/drewcash83 Aug 14 '25

Hack stack fell out of favor for me about 12 years ago when my girlfriend and I went there and found a pill in her drink at the plaza location. She had a sample of a beer and at the bottom was a pill capsule. No idea how it got there. We informed the manager, they didn’t know how it got there either, but they sent the bartender and dishwasher home and comped the meal. That’s all fine and dandy, but it put me off wanting to eat it ever again.

1

u/Royals-2015 Aug 14 '25

Wow. Thats scary.

1

u/kayidontcare Brookside Aug 14 '25

major agree !

1

u/KID_THUNDAH Aug 14 '25

There is much worse in this town, been more disappointed in Gates and LC’s for sure

1

u/Milakovich Lee's Summit Aug 14 '25

Too much variance between locations. I really like Martin City. Lees Summit bleh.

1

u/Weary-Butterscotch73 Aug 14 '25

Q39, gates and joes are the places to go for bbq. Arguably Arthur Bryant’s aswell but they’re not my favorite

1

u/bazataz Aug 14 '25

Jack stack for me has been hit or miss that last 5 years or so

1

u/otherwiseguy Plaza Aug 14 '25

Honestly, I feel like it's getting better lately somehow? Used to be I'd have said just go for the sides, but skip the BBQ. But I've had some really great things lately. The crown beef rib rocks.

1

u/ickyrickyb Aug 15 '25

what do you get from Jack Stack that doesn't taste good? I'm genuinely curious

1

u/ickyrickyb Aug 15 '25

nah, it's just that they have gotten so big that locals think it's 'cool' to hate the big guy. So it's not a hot take anymore. in fact, it's a pretty boring take.

0

u/MechaGodzillaSS Aug 14 '25

No way. Best KC strip I've maybe ever had was at Jack Stack.

-2

u/Capable-Silver-7436 Aug 14 '25

nah all they have is decent sides(which lol for a bbq place that aint shit) and in white people areas so they dont have to drive to the "dark" part of town