Kansas City is not shy on BBQ joints but also holds its own in the Vegetarian/Vegan cuisine Category. Whichever you crave you will want to check out the following restaurants based on your interests. If you find yourself in the Crossroads exploring exhibitions and hunger strikes check out Cafe Gratitude located at 333 Southwest Blvd. Their vegetarian and vegan menu is one of the best in KC. Serving raw food, salads, wraps and beautiful desserts with gluten free options, their menu is sure to please. Impower yourself with an “I am Magical”, one of Kansas City’s best veggie burgers served with LTO, pickles, hummus and a side salad. Their business practice is modeled after the term “Sacred Commerce”. They select the finest organic ingredients to honor the earth while supporting local farmers, sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly products. Lets just say their food is prepared with love to say the least. If you find yourself in mixed company and need restaurant options for for both vegetarian and non vegetarian parties the Mix should be the first in your list. Located at 1347 Main st in the Power and Light District, not far from the convention center, area hotels and area exhibitions, The Mix serves up some of the best salads and tasty sandwiches with gluten free options. The sheek environment is only good for lunch crowd as they are only open til 3:00 PM. If you find yourself staying in the Plaza or are visiting exhibitions near KCAI, Kemper Museum, or Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Eden Alley Vegetarian is a short drive away and also serves some of the best vegetarian food in KC with many vegan options.
The Mix located at 1347 Main
Edden Alley at 707W 47St
If the craving for piles of smoked meat appeals to your carnivorous side then you will want to stomp over to Jackstack located at 4747 Wyandotte st. just footsteps away from the Leedy Voulkos Art Center which is hosting the National Juried Student Exhibition, the Honors and Fellows exhibition, and the Emerging Artists Showcase. Their lunch specials won’t disappoint and Jackstack is a Kansas City favorite with their burnt ends, brisket, and other delicious smoked treats. The debate never ends in Kansas City as to what place serves up the best BBQ, and with so many scattered about convenience might be a deciding factor. Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque is located in the 18th and Vine Jazz District, not far from the The American Jazz Museum, which is hosting “50 Women: A Celebration of Women’s Contribution to Ceramics”. Belger Crane Yard Studios and Vine Street Studio Art Gallery are also hosting multiple Concurrent Exhibitions and are located near by Arthur Bryant’s. If you are looking for a great afternoon of Art and BBQ then planning an afternoon trip to the 18th & Vine Jazz District should be on your to do list.
If you have a car and can venture out into the midtown region or over to Kansas, then Q39 or Joe’s Kansas City Barbeque are two of my favorite BBQ places in Kansas City. Joes Kansas City Barbeque, located in an old gas station is known to have a line wrapping around the building but is well worth the wait.
Joes KC at 3002 W 47th St
Jackstack at 4747 Wyandotte St and 101 W 22nd St #300
For more listings on great BBQ, Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants check out the following links .
BBQ
Jackstack
4747 Wyandotte St (816) 531-7427
101 W 22nd St #300 (816) 472-7427
Gates BBQ
1325 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd (816) 531-7522
3205 Main St (816) 753-0828
1221 Brooklyn Ave (816) 483-3880
Q39
1000 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111 (816) 255-3753
Joe’s Kansas City Barbeque
3002 W 47th St, Kansas City, KS 66103 (913) 722-3366
Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque
1727 Brooklyn Ave, Kansas City, MO 64127 (816) 231-1123
Vegetarian/Vegan
Cafe Gratitude
333 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 474-5683
FUD
813 W 17 St, Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 214-5025
Eden Alley Vegetarian
707 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64112 (816) 561-5415
The Mixx
4855 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64112 (816) 756-2300
1347 Main St (816) 283-0300
11942 Roe Ave (913) 338-4000
Blue Bird Bistro
1700 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 221-7559
