Kansas > Kansas City: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (formerly Oklahoma Joe's)

[Scott Wheeler]

Finally made it to OK Joes yesterday before the football game. We showed up at 2:30 and the line was awfully long. Thought we'd beat the lunch and dinner crowd lol.

My buddy tried the Z-man and loved it. I had the ribs and they were cooked to perfection. The sauce is awesome. However, I did not like the beans. Way too much cayenne and some beans were under cooked.

This moved into my #1 spot in KC. I'm baffled how that small place can have the quality with the quantity of people eating.

 

[Tim Y]

OK Joe's has awesome chicken! The brisket is outstanding & they're sause is great! I wasn't impressed with the sausage, but oh well. One of the top 2 places in KC to go...the other is LC's.

 

[Grant]

Okie Joes is our go to standard. Never had a bad eat there. At either of the locations. We frequent the Olathe joint. The Z-man is the bomb!

 

[Chris Allingham]

We visited Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, the original gas station location on 47th and Mission in Kansas City, KS on May 9, 2022 while passing through the area. Definitely the highlight of our visit! Stopped in shortly after opening at 11:00 am, not too crowded yet, just a short line. We both had brisket sandwiches, a sharable order of some of the best fries imaginable, BBQ beans, and spicy slaw. Wife liked the beans more than I did. The sandwich was great, washed down with sweet tea. When finished, we let the meal settle, did some people watching, then went back for a Smokie Joe sandwich (chopped smoked beef and pork, in barbecue sauce, on a bun) that we shared. Then rolled over to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum to walk off our meal.

You must visit the original gas station location when in KC!

 

[Dave in KC]

We visited Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, the original gas station location on 47th and Mission in Kansas City, KS on May 9, 2022 while passing through the area. Definitely the highlight of our visit! Stopped in shortly after opening at 11:00 am, not too crowded yet, just a short line. We both had brisket sandwiches, a sharable order of some of the best fries imaginable, BBQ beans, and spicy slaw. Wife liked the beans more than I did. The sandwich was great, washed down with sweet tea. When finished, we let the meal settle, did some people watching, then went back for a Smokie Joe sandwich (chopped smoked beef and pork, in barbecue sauce, on a bun) that we shared. Then rolled over to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum to walk off our meal.

You must visit the original gas station location when in KC!

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Chris, I am glad you enjoyed your visit. Next time you are in town, give me a shout.

 

[Chris Allingham]

Next time you are in town, give me a shout.

Would love to do that!

 

[Chris Allingham]

Mrs. TVWB and I were driving through KC on November 8, 2025 and hit Joe's Kansas City again. Just as good as our last visit in May 2022 and way busier this time on a Saturday than on our previous Monday visit. In fact, the line got really long right after we arrived.

The brisket sandwich was +$2.20 over the 2022 price. It's a darned good sammie, the ribs were just about perfect, and the fries are about as good as it gets...the fry seasoning they apply is really good.

During busy times like this, the dining room staff does a great job of clearing tables the moment someone leaves, and they help you find an open table as you are placing your order at the register.

I also noticed a new piece of artwork featuring a favorite customer and his girlfriend. He's quoted as saying, "I go in there, get a half slab, a couple Z-Mans, a big old order fries, and I just get that fountain drink." The happy couple is shown standing on a Z-Man...for those who don't know, the standard Z-Man sandwich is brisket, smoked provolone cheese, topped with two crispy onion rings, on a toasted Kaiser roll. There are also chicken, pork, and portobello mushroom versions of the Z-Man.

 

[Jon Tofte]

Ever since @Bruce and I did our Kansas City BBQ Adventure last spring (meeting up with TVWBB local member and friend @Dave in KC) I get asked about my favorites. While we enjoyed all our meals, I tell people that if I ever get to go back for just one day, it will be this Joe’s for lunch and Q39 for the evening. Both were excellent even though not at all alike in style and presentation.