KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As National Barbecue Month unfolds, Kansas City is solidifying its reputation as the barbecue capital of the world.
With over 100 restaurants serving up mouthwatering barbecue delights – plus a series of new eateries – both locals and visitors have a plethora of options to explore.
But it’s not just the restaurants making headlines. One organization is solidifying its roots with a new headquarters, primed to host the World Series of Barbecue.
Here are just a few of the new and upcoming developments on the Kansas City barbecue scene for 2024.
New Eats
Despite only opening a few years ago, long lines are already the norm at Chef J BBQ. Now this hotspot is ranked as one of the best barbecue restaurants in Kansas City. In 2024, Chef J will open another site in the highly anticipated Pennway Point development.
Westport favorite Char Bar headed north to Parkville, recently opening its second location. Guests can dine and play at this location—grab a Char Bar specialty like burnt ends or ribs then catch a match on one of six pickleball courts.
Coming Up
Q39, a favorite for local celebrities like actor Paul Rudd and Chiefs coach Andy Reid, is headed west for its third location. The popular KC-area barbecue restaurant is opening in Lawrence this fall.
Night Goat Barbecue started as a carryout special once a week; now it’s moving into its own permanent location in the basement of Fox and Pearl. This barbecue joint is coining itself as a “honky-tonk dive bar,” opening in 2024.
KC BBQ Experience
Trying to keep up? Track all your barbecue adventures across the Kansas City area with the KC BBQ Experience app!
Guests can check in at over 100 local restaurants, earn badges and post photos of their meals. The app even has themed barbecue trails, grouping restaurants into categories like old-school joints or location. It’s the ultimate resource for enjoying KC’s signature cuisine.
A New Headquarters
The progress doesn’t stop there. The American Royal is taking a major step toward the future with the construction of a state-of-the-art $350 million headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas.
Spanning nearly seven football fields, the headquarters will serve as the epicenter for the World Series of Barbecue, the world's largest barbecue competition, attracting over 400,000 visitors annually.
The American Royal’s new facility is expected to open in late 2025 or early 2026.
About Visit KC
Headquartered in Downtown Kansas City, Visit KC is the chief hospitality sales and marketing organization for the region. With a mission of creating global passion for Kansas City, Visit KC collaborates with nearly 1,000 community partners to drive the marketing, sales and service of the destination’s convention and tourism industry—a sector that supports more than 41,000 local jobs. For more information about Kansas City, go to news.visitkc.com.
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