Opinions Wanted: Arthur Bryant's and Gates BBQ


 
M

Mark Etheridge

TVWBB Super Fan
I orginally posted this under the "Favorite BBQ Restaurants" forum but have gooten zero response so I'll try it here...

I am taking my first ever trip to KC for a conference next week and I want to go to KC's two famous BBQ joints.

Does anyone have any recommendations for what to order??

I know at one of the places I'm gonna try some Burnt Ends. I'm thinking Arthur Bryant's is the place for that. However, I'm open to suggestions for both.

Thanks!!
 
I get spme of everything in both places. Then compare. Try Smokin' Funs in N. KC as well, if you've time.
 
I live in KC, and I'll tell you what. Both places are good, but not great for KC BBQ. AB's isn't KC style BBQ, it's a hybrid NC-KC style. Gates is fun for the experience. Of course, the historical aspect of both cannot be beat.

If you really want the best quality BBQ in KC, there are only two places you really need to go.
1. Oklahoma Joe's
2. Jack Stack BBQ
 
I liked AB's above Gates, but it wasn't like there was anything wrong with either. The atmosphere at AB's was more to my liking.

Order what you like; it's all good.
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When I visited, those were the places I was taken to. I wished I had tried more. There's also a place called Fritz's (non-BBQ) that has a mechanical train that delivers the food. You place the order from your booth via a telephone. Fun stuff!
 
Originally posted by Kyle Fisher:
I live in KC, and I'll tell you what. Both places are good, but not great for KC BBQ. AB's isn't KC style BBQ, it's a hybrid NC-KC style. Gates is fun for the experience. Of course, the historical aspect of both cannot be beat.

If you really want the best quality BBQ in KC, there are only two places you really need to go.
1. Oklahoma Joe's
2. Jack Stack BBQ
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree here. Oklahoma Joes is great, just a darn dive with terrific food. Jack Stack is also great....easily the top 2 in my opinion.
 
Went to KC last year, went to AB's, Gates, and Oklahoma Joes. Gates and Okl Joes tied for first in my mind, AB's I liked less than the other 2. Gates BBQ sauce is my favorite, we got the sampler there that is around $80 but comes on a garbage can lid and has a little of everything. The ribs were good, but the sausage is fantastic. Joe's had better pulled pork than gates.
 
I live in the KC metro.

1. Jack Stack for everything but a pulled pork sandwich.
2. Oklahoma Joes for a pulled pork sandwich.

Gates and Arthur Bryant's are overrated in my ever so humble opinion.

Edit: Zarda BBQ makes a pretty good sliced brisket sandwich.
 
I went to KC this Feb, and went to Arthur Bryant's... For me, it was perfect. I love sliced pork and beef. I think their sliced bbq sandwich is a real specialty. The soft white bread, great fast service, tangy sauce, fresh cut fries, and awesome atmosphere all combined to make it an unforgettable bbq experience... I loved it.
To me, you can't judge old bbq places the same as new ones. They have done it this way long before the food network, internet recipes, bbq forums, food magazine reviews, etc. All I know is... I went crazy on a delicious sandwich consisting of a piece of white bread topped with sliced brisket, another slice of bread, a mound of sliced pork, and a top slice of bread. My favorite bbq sandwich of all time.
 
Thank you all so much!!! The response was wonderful and exactly what I was looking for.

A co-worker of mine who is going with me had a friend who also mentioned Jack Stack BBQ so I may add that to the list.

I fly out tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to going to one of the BBQ Mecas.
 
I was in KC two weeks ago and had BBQ at Jack Stack and Winslow's.

Jack Stack was incredible!!! I had a platter with a crown beef rib, burnt ends and baby backs. The baby backs were good, the burnt ends and crown rib were exceptional!!! I will definitely go back on my next visit.

Winslow's was average. I had a platter with brisket and sausage. The sausage was very good and the brisket was just OK.

Jim
 
I've been to Jack Stack's in Overland Park once, AB in downtown KC once and Gates in Leawood, KS once.

1) AB was very good, BUT overall cleanliness was disgusting!!!!!! I couldn't believe how disgusting the bathrooms were, and the line to get food, the utensils, etc! I drove from Denver directly to AB in downtown KC. Would I go there again? Yes but that's because I'm a pig! But I can't stress enough how dirty I noticed EVERYTHING was.

2) On the same trip I went to Jack Stack in Overland Park, KS. (I don't know if there are other locations this second.) To me it was a very high end bbq joint. Probably the nicest bbq joint Ive ever been to, especially since I just was at disgusting AB! I ordered beef ribs and they were the best tasting, largest Flintstones beef ribs I've ever seen. I can't say enough good things about it from just 1 visit there.

3) Last month I was at Gates in Leawood, KS. It was very good, and to me and what little I know about authentic KC bbq, it seemed like the real deal. The food came out fast, it was very good old school bbq, and the restrooms you were much cleaner than AB. I'm not saying I'd eat off the floor from the restrooms at Gates, but it was just that AB was sooooo dirty, that an outhouse at a local construction site would be cleaner.

I hope this helps. Again, AB was very good, but I'd have to give it an F on cleanliness.
 
When going to Bryant's, be sure to go to the original at 18th & Brooklyn. The casino and racetrack stores are a waste of time.
 
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