Photo via Google, Joe's KC BBQJoe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
- Hours
- Today: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Getting there
- A working Shell station in Kansas City, Kansas — the barbecue counter is inside
Why it’s in the log
Anthony Bourdain filmed this spot for A Cook's Tour back in 2003 — when it still traded as Oklahoma Joe's — calling it some of the finest barbecue in the country and later naming it to Men's Health's "13 Places to Eat Before You Die." It's still run out of the same working Amoco/Shell station in Kansas City, Kansas, where it opened in 1996.
The name changed in 2014, not the food: when founder Jeff Stehney's former partner opened his own Oklahoma Joe's in Oklahoma, this location rebranded to Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que to settle the naming dispute and better reflect where it actually is. The burnt ends and the Z-Man sandwich — brisket, provolone, two onion rings — are the same reason Bourdain came in the first place.
Lines form early and stay long; go for a late lunch rather than the noon rush if you want to actually sit down while the brisket's still hot.
“You're ordering brisket over a gas station counter and it's still one of the best plates in the country.”
What people said recently
From Google reviews · see all 18,106 ↗
“Joe’s BBQ was a great place to stop and try some Kansas City barbecue. The food was tasty, and you can tell they put care into their flavors and preparation. The BBQ had a good smoky taste and the overall experience was enjoyable. While it…”
“This is arguably the most legendary barbecue restaurant in Kansas City. What's it like to wait in line for almost half an hour on a Wednesday afternoon at 3 pm? Burnt Ends: The best dish of the day, truly a representative of Kansas City…”
“We went to the original "gas station" version, 30 minutes or so in line. Every staff interaction was great, as were other customers. Best baked beans and cornbread I think I've had. Ribs were bland, brisket was bland. Both had great…”
