Joes Kansas City Barbecue, (original location) Kansas City KS

Joes Kansas City Barbecue, Formally known as Oklahoma Joes is a Kansas institution. You can’t talk about the best BBQ in Kansas City without mentioning Joes. It has been voted one of the top barbecue restaurants in the county, and Joes Z-man sandwich is on many peoples must try list. Check the link to see some of their accolades, https://www.joeskc.com/pages/in-the-news

Like any good Barbecue restaurant there is always a line a Joes. The line moves fast but be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes in line. We arrived right when the opened on a Saturday morning and that meant for the first time I was going to be able to try Joes burnt ends. Orders of burnt ends are limited so don’t be surprised if you get there later in the day and they are sold out.

I got the burnt ends with a side of fries, it comes with a slice of bread and a few pickles as well. It has been said many times Joes has the best fries in Kansas City and I would agree. They season them with their barbecue rub and they are delicious. The burnt ends were also spectacular. They were moist, tender, with a good bark and they melted in your mouth. Joes bbq sauce pairs perfectly with their spice rub. It is one of my favorite barbecue sauces I have had at a restaurant. I do prefer the burnt ends over their sliced brisket.

To round out the meal we ordered a half slab ribs with red beans and rice and a chicken Z-man with corn. Joes ribs are among my favorites. They cook them perfectly, their rub flavor pops on the ribs and if you want to add a little sauce it takes them to another level. I always order ribs at Joes. The chicken Z-man was good, but not as good as the rest of the meal. The fries are definitely the best side but the red beans and rice, and the corn are both very good.

I have been to Joes other location and the original gas station spot is hands down the best. The atmosphere is unmatched, and the food always seems to be a touch better than at the other places. It is easy to see why many consider Joes the best in Kansas City. For me it is definitely in the top 5 of places I have tried. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to get out this year and has a meal with a loved one. Check out Joes Kansas City barbecue website: https://www.joeskc.com

travelingbbqer

January 12, 2023 0

Thee Pitts Again, Silverton CO

Located in the San Juan mountain range, right off the notorious million dollar highway lies Silverton Colorado. Silverton is a small town bustling with activity from tourist shopping and eating along Main Street. Sitting in the middle of Main Street is a bright pink building that is home to Thee Pitts Again BBQ, an award winning barbecue restaurant that has been featured on Diners, Drive-inns, and Dives.

We ordered a variety and shared between all of us at the table. We had chopped brisket, pulled pork, slab of ribs, corn, potato salad, corn bread, beans, and fried pickles.

I have never had much luck with barbecue in tourist towns, but Thee Pitts Again changed that. The food was very good. The pulled pork and brisket were tender, juicy, with good smoke flavor. The ribs were cooked perfectly with a good bark and that same smokey flavor that makes you want to come back for more. The corn was just a basic corn, the potato salad was good, corn bread was delicious, and the beans had good flavor that complimented the meats. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal on that rainy afternoon. I would definitely recommend Thee Pitts Again Barbecue if you are in Silverton. The scenery around town is definitely worth exploring while you are there.

LRR

travelingbbqer

September 19, 2022 0

BBQ Special Showdown

Almost every Barbecue restaurant does specials. Some run one special all week, others do different items on certain days of the week. These specials can be a big draw for the restaurant. A few weeks ago I happened to try two of these specials just days apart.

Pig In! Pig Out! started in Wichita in 1996 and has recently started serving BBQ pizza on Thursdays. I had driven past the sign for a few weeks before I got the opportunity to stop in for lunch. This was hands down the best BBQ pizza I have had. National pizza chains have tried BBQ pizza in the past but I promise you this beats all of them. Their smoked meats combined with a sweet sauce and perfectly proportioned cheese, this is as good as it gets. One pizza is big enough to split with two people. I had half leftover for lunch the next day. I hope this BBQ pizza is a Thursday staple at Pig in! Pig out! for a long time.

A few days later my in-laws came to town and wanted When pigs fly for dinner. When Pigs fly does weekly specials and this weeks was a BBQ burrito. The person taking our order said it was one of their most popular specials so I decided to give it a shot. It had pulled pork, crispy onion straws, Mac and cheese, bbq sauce, and came with a bag of chips. The burrito was good, meat was a little dry, but overall good flavor. I added a little more bbq sauce to the burrito, but overall I was satisfied with my choice. Every special I have had at When Pigs Fly has been good. They truly are one of the best spots in Wichita to eat.

So which one did I like better? This round has to go to the BBQ pizza at Pig in! Pig out! I was blown away by how good it was. It was one of the best pizzas I have had, and it was from a BBQ spot. Pig in! Pig out! knocked this one out of the park in my opinion. I hear they have added a second pizza to the Thursday lineup, a BBQ chicken pizza that I cannot wait to try. I may just block my calendar this Thursday to ensure I make it over there. Check out both restaurants, link to websites below. https://pipobbq.com https://www.whenpigsflywichita.com

L.R.R.

travelingbbqer

September 6, 2022 0

Franklin Barbecue, Austin Texas

Franklin Barbecue is one of the most talked about and celebrated barbecue restaurants in the country. Honestly if you are reading this you more than likely already know who Aaron Franklin is. He has long been the face of Texas barbecue, celebrated in Texas Monthly’s top 50 multiple times, and James Beard award winner. His book Franklin Barbecue a meat smoking manifesto spent 12 weeks on the New York Times best seller list, an absolute most read for anyone with a smoker.

Knowing the only chance I would have to try Franklins on this trip would be the day we were traveling home we opted to order ahead. Franklins opens preorders 42 days in advance. They require a minimum of 5 pounds for preorders, I got 3 pounds of brisket, a pound of sausage, and a pound turkey. Sauces and bread were provided. I really wanted ribs but I ordered a little to late in the day and they sold out of ribs for preorders. Also, I have no idea why but I didn’t order any sides. I cannot believe I did that, total fail on my part.

When preordering you choose a pickup time and upon arrival they slice and package your order, just like they would inside. Wanting to get out of downtown Austin, we drove about 20 minutes north before setting up lunch on the tailgate of the Jeep. Let’s talk about the turkey and sausage first. The turkey was still moist when we started eating. Franklins cooks whole turkey breast with the skin removed. It had good flavor, smokey, buttery, with a salt and pepper rub. The sausage was similar to the others we had in the Austin area. Both sauces that were provided paired well the turkey and sausage. I would give La Barbecues sausage the edge over Franklins but they are both very good. Now on to the brisket…

Franklins is world renowned for their brisket, and rightfully so. The pictures look good, but I promise it looks better in real life. That bark is a work of art. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The fat is perfectly rendered down and just melts when you touch it. The beef is the star of show, complimented by the salt and pepper based rub. We got a mixture of fatty and lean in our 3 pound order. I have eaten and cooked my fair share of barbecue and I can honestly say Franklins brisket is the best I have ever had. The barky, smokey, juicy, meaty flavor is absolute perfection. Perfectly tender on both the flat and the point meat. There is no need for sauce, it somehow takes away from the brisket.

The next time we are in Austin we will be going to Franklins and waiting in line to get the full Franklins experience. This place is special. The best meal my wife and I have ever had was Franklins barbecue that we ate on the tailgate in the parking lot of an outlet mall in north Austin. Get to Austin, wait in the line, and eat the best brisket around. There could not have been a better way to end our Texas adventure.

travelingbbqer

August 28, 2022 0

Kreuz Market, Lockhart TX

When planning our central Texas road trip we knew a stop in Lockhart needed to be on the agenda, and Kreuz Market was our destination. Kreuz is a staple of the central Texas barbecue scene. The name Kreuz Market first appeared in 1900 and has been operating in Lockhart in a couple of different buildings ever since.

The setup inside Kreuz is unlike anything this Kansas boy has witnessed.

We arrived in Lockhart right at 11 on a Monday. There were a few other patrons already there, but no line that early in the day. Walking in the smell surrounds you, and taking in a deep breath you know you are in the right place for BBQ. I had been in Texas for a few days and hadn’t had a beef rib yet, it was time for that to change.

We ordered at the counter and dug in. We got half a chicken, sausage, brisket, and a beef rib, along with a couple of sides. I dove into the beef rib first, and it was my favorite item on the tray. It was very tender, and moist with a good smokey flavor. It had that traditional central Texas bark. The half chicken had good crispy skin, moist on the inside. The overall flavor of the chicken was a bit salty for my taste, but overall it was good. The sausage was typical for what we had in Texas, good smokey flavor but I wanted something different in the texture. The brisket was a little disappointing if I am honest. It was overcooked slightly which made it dry and crumbly. It had more of a pot roast flavor than I like in brisket. Kreuz was my least favorite brisket of the trip. If I had not ordered the beef rib I would have been disappointed in their beef offerings that day.

For sides we got beans, Mac and cheese, and green beans. The Mac and cheese and green beans were both good. Nothing outstanding about either one, but solid options if you stop there for meal. The beans were by far and away the best side we had there. They had a Mexican flavor, with a hint of smoke, and were delicious. I would definitely recommend getting an order of them.

Overall Kreuz Market was a good meal, but my least favorite overall of the places we sampled while in Texas. They where competing with some of the best so being last on this particular list isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Would I eat there again? Probably, but if I was back in Lockhart I would want try some of the other places before making my way back to Kreuz. Check out their website here: https://www.kreuzmarket.com

Traveling BBQer

August 15, 2022 0

La Barbecue, Austin Texas

Our second stop on our central Texas road trip was La Barbecue. What started as a food truck in 2012 has found a home at 2401 E Cesar Chavez where they have created something special. We arrived on a Sunday morning about 10:45 and joined the line that had wrapped around the corner of the building already.

The smell of the smokers filled the air and everyone in line was eager to eat. It took about an hour from our place in line to the time we got our food. The atmosphere is fun, the Mrs. was digging the music selections, and the decor was unique.

We ordered at the counter, they cut the meat as you order (and pass out a bite of brisket or two while they prepare your order) and we went outside to eat. The weather was gorgeous that day. We ordered sausage, ribs, and brisket. With beans, onions, pickles, and bread to fill out the platter.

Lets start with the sausage. It is a German style sausage like most are in central Texas. It was smokey, flavorful, moist and very good. The ribs were absolutely dynamite. We got the end of the slab which tends to be not as good, but they were still fantastic. The seasoning was perfectly complimented by the glaze. It was a little sweet, a little tangy, with a little heat.

La Barbecue was my first real central Texas brisket experience. Just look at that bark! The bark on a brisket in Texas is sacred. Dark color, moist, and a little sticky to the touch. That bark lets you know the pitmaster put in the time and effort to cook it to perfection. The kind of bark I have only ever seen accomplished by a well ran offset pit. The flavor was outstanding, the fat was well rendered, and was very moist. There were a few sauces on the table to try, but the brisket didn’t need anything, it was great. The beans were different than what I am use to getting at BBQ restaurants, and they were delicious. I would say more of a Mexican style baked bean. We loved them.

It was easy to see why La Barbecue is considered one of the best in Austin by locals and barbecue tourist like myself. Waiting in line smelling the smoke and meat cooking while you anxiously wait your turn to order somehow adds to the experience. The food is incredible, the service was great and people were very friendly. I can see why people say Texas barbecue is the best. I like a lot of spots in my little hometown of Wichita KS, but La Barbecue is on another level. We have nothing that compares to it here. I cannot recommend enough adding La Barbecue to the top of your list of places to eat in Austin if you ever find yourself in central Texas.

June 1, 2022 0

Delano Barbecue Company, Wichita KS

I am no stranger to Delano Barbeque Company, I have eaten lunch there periodically over the last few years. Knowing I would be leaving for central Texas in a couple of days I switched up my order. I chose the two meat dinner with sweet heat pulled pork, and sloppy joe (chopped brisket). It comes with two sides, I selected smoked Mac and cheese and fries. It comes with a drink, and my total was around $13, not bad at all.

Food was ready quick, and I was ready to eat. Lets start with the sides. the fries are hand cut, and seasoned with what I am guess is some of their rub. That is a nice touch in my opinion, it is a great way to incorporate the bbq flavor into the sides. They crispy and were very good dipped in the mild sauce on the table. The smoked Mac and cheese was your typical Mac and cheese, nothing really stood out about it. There was no smoke taste to it, which was kind of disappointing.

Now lets get down to business, the meats. The sweet heat pulled pork had a unique flavor. There was a little heat in the pork, it was tender, and flavorful. Overall it was good, and nice change from the usual pulled pork. The mild sauce paired well with it, and balanced out the heat in the pork. The chopped brisket sloppy Joe mixture was good, but it belongs on a bun. The brisket was very finely ground and is hard to tell that is brisket. This would make a very good sloppy Joe, but it was a little much for me on its own. I will say this was an usual order for me, I would usually order sliced brisket so maybe that is why it really didn’t do it for me.

Overall I would give my meal that day a 3.5. Good overall, but nothing that made me think I have to get this again. If you find yourself in the Delano district shopping, or going to a game at riverfront stadium stop at Delano Barbeque Company and give it a try for yourselves and let me know your thoughts.

The Traveling BBQer

March 19, 2022 0

Station 8 BBQ, Wichita KS

Station 8 BBQ is new to the restaurant scene in Wichita, and a place I could not wait to try. They opened to the public a few weeks ago and have been receiving great reviews. Their hours are limited, 11-2 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

I had tried to coordinate a lunch date with my wife at Station 8 a few times so we could share the yeti platter, but it hasn’t worked out yet. Our busy schedules and their limited hours make it difficult. I decided since it was just me I better not get the yeti, but man I wanted to! I chose two meats and two sides which comes with bread, onion, and pickles.

Photo from Facebook, I love the interior decoration and atmosphere at Station 8

I had to try their brisket that they slice right as you order it, and hot links. Slicing brisket in front of you when ordered is unique in Wichita, and something I wish more places did. I chose smoked Mac and cheese and bbq beans as my two sides, and added a can of Diet Coke. I think my total was $22 for my meal. A little more expensive than other places in town, but with meat prices the way they are now it is understandable.

Station 8 offers two sauces, a sweet and hot when you order, none on the table. I chose the hot. The sauce was not a standout, and not anything that makes or breaks the barbecue. Maybe that is a good thing though, the meat should stand on its own. I think next time I will try the sweet just to give it a try. The brisket had good bark on some spots, and other spots it had fallen off. The brisket was tender, moist, and had good flavor. Overall a good brisket. The hot links were good as well, but seemed very similar to other links offered at spots in town. The beans were very good, had a good smokey flavor and what I think was some chopped brisket mixed in there. One of the better bbq beans in town. The Mac and cheese was good but I was wanting something more from it. Maybe another cheese thrown in the mix or something, but it is worth ordering it again. The sliced bread which we were told they make everyday was a good complement to all on the tray. Overall a good barbecue lunch. I wouldn’t put it as the top spot in Wichita yet, but it is up there. Station 8 has a bright future in Wichita. Overall I would give it a 4 out of 5. I have heard great things about the pulled pork so it is at the top of my list to try on my next visit, and I have got to give their ribs a try. Has anyone else tried Station 8 yet? What are your thoughts?

Traveling BBQer

March 15, 2022 0

Char Bar, KC

Char Bar is place I had been wanting to try for a few years, but never found time to work it in while we were in KC. That changed a couple of weeks ago, when the wife, myself, and my in laws stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night in KC. The ascetic of the building is unique, fun, and inviting. The staff was very friendly, and provided great service.

love this affect on the ceiling. As an electrician I am glad I didn’t have to make up all those J boxes though

We ordered a round of drinks, and the wifes smore martini was the star of the drink orders. She said it was probably the best drink she has ever ordered.

We chose the fried pickles as an appetizer, and I will say these were the most unique fried pickles I have ever seen. they were thick sliced pickle spears breaded with a tempura like batter served with ranch dressing. They were amazing, and that is coming from someone who doesn’t really like pickles. The ranch dressing was delicious and a perfect compliment to the pickles. They disappeared to quickly to get a picture of the full order.

These were delicious and a must try if you like fried pickles

On to the main course, the womp platter. The womp platter comes with burnt ends, half slab of ribs, pulled pork, pit ham, black Angus brisket, smoked turkey, hand cranked sausage, basket of fries, jar of pickles, and two “nice fixings”. You can also add crispy pork belly bites for $5, which of course we did. The womp platter says it serves two to three so this was perfect for sharing with everyone at the table. We chose to split fries between regular and sweet potato, and had beans and potato salad as the two fixins.

I have to admit we ate at Q39 the night before so I was a little worried the meal the night before would overshadow this one, but it did not. Everything on the platter was delicious. The burnt ends stood out to me the most. The were moist, tender, with great flavor. It is tough to see them in the pictures but I assure you they are there, and worth going for them first. The pork belly bites were most surprising to me. I am not one that likes a lot of a fat on anything so pork belly is not my favorite, but I really liked Char Bars. The only thing on the platter I did not get to try, but I am told it was very good. Char Bar is definitely a place we will be visiting again. It is hard to pin down a favorite BBQ restaurant in KC, but Char Bar is definitely worth being in the conversation. If you wanting a unique atmosphere in a fun part of KC, Char Bar is your spot. Check out their menu and make a reservation when you are in KC. https://charbarkc.com/menu/

January 3, 2022 0

Overland Park/Leawood BBQ throw-down

A few weeks ago I found myself tagging along with the wife for a short trip to Overland Park. She had a continuing education event, and I had an idea. Two Titans of Kansas City BBQ have locations in the Overland Park/Leawood area, I was going to try them both and compare. A little over three miles and few stop lights separate these two. We chose to do dinner at Q39 Friday night, and lunch at Joes Kansas City BBQ on Saturday. I had visited both of these establishments multiple times in the past at their original locations, but never at their Overland Park/Leawood spots. Not only did I want to compare the two head to head, but also to my experiences at their original locations. Were they just as good when compared to their original locations?

Q39 1051 Antioch Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210

As you can tell from the picture I got a full spread. Onion straws, brisket, Chicken, ribs, and chipotle sausage, baked beans, and white bean cassoulet. This the same judges platter and ribs that I got at their original locations a few months ago. I will say the platter I got a few months ago at the midtown location was just a bit better. Since I was in no threat of being called into work I also ordered a drink, a whiskey drink. I can’t remember the name but I do remember thinking two of those and the wife would be driving back to the hotel. I can always get behind a place that isn’t afraid of a strong pour. The food was very good overall. Beautiful presentation on the plate, and great service. Brisket was perfectly tender and well seasoned. Ribs were cooked well, and the chicken was juicy with bite through skin. The wife had a wood fired grilled salmon salad, and helped me eat some of mine. She liked her salad, salmon was not dry, and had good flavor. Overall a great meal on Friday night to start the weekend.

Q39 wood fired grilled salmon salad, and a beautiful date 😉

Joes Kansas City BBQ 11723 ROE AVE
LEAWOOD, KS 66211

Saturday afternoon lunch had to be taken back to the hotel to accommodate the wifes class. I placed my order online, and followed the curbside delivery instructions when I got there. The staff was very friendly and made sure I had everything I wanted before I drove off. Our hotel was about a mile away so it was roughly 10 minutes from receiving my order to unpacking it in the hotel room.

I ordered brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and ribs, with beans and dirty rice. That plate of ribs is probably the best looking plate of ribs I have received at a restaurant. They would get a perfect appearance score from me if it was a contest entry. The taste backed up the appearance, delicious! Tender, good seasoning, the sauce complimented the rub. I have to give ribs to Joes. The brisket was good, but sliced very thin. Shaved brisket is not as good as a properly sliced portion. So I have to give brisket to Q39. Their slice was the perfect thickness, and tenderness. The chicken was very good at both places, honestly there was no winner here. They both turn out a fantastic chicken. Joes pulled pork was good, good flavor, tenderness, and good moisture. Sausage at both places were very good. The sides I would say go to Joes this time. The wife tried Joes gumbo for the first time and enjoyed it. She spent some time in Louisiana so she is very particular when it comes to cajun food.

Overall both places are worth eating at. I will give the nod to the original locations for both places. Not necessarily because the food is so much better, but the mystic of their original locations. The line at Joes gas station location, the atmosphere of Q39 midtown somehow add to the meal. I am sure I will be back to all of them in the future, and will enjoy every bite. I will leave to the menus below, please check these places out when you are in the Overland Park/Leawood area and let me know your thoughts. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0818/5843/files/restaurant_menu_7.12.21.pdf?v=1626104554 https://q39kc.com/menus/#dinner

The Traveling BBQer

September 15, 2021 0