Food & Drink

The grant money will help 20 Kansas City restaurants improve their outdoor dining spaces ahead of the World Cup.

For 35 years, NourishKC has fed Kansas City’s unhoused population, people down on their luck or anyone who has needed a hot meal — and they're especially busy during the holiday season. Through that work, the nonprofit is also helping to develop a culinary workforce.

After several relocations for their P. Moore & Moore BBQ brand over the past few years, Gary Paul and Patricia Moore landed a new kingdom at 5932 Prospect Ave. And they’ve now fully embraced their nicknames by calling the restaurant The King & Queen of Barbecue.

The family-run establishment began as a food truck in 2021 and just celebrated its one year anniversary at its brick-and-mortar location at 1196 Douglas Street. The restaurant specializes in traditional homestyle dishes from the state of Guerrero, Mexico.

Just a few years ago, Tiki Taco was a humble spot on 39th Street with a few seats and a walk-up window, specializing Southern California-style tacos and burritos. Now it has shops on Troost and in Overland Park, too, and several more in the works.

The culinary scene just east of Kansas City proper is full of hidden gems, neighborhood mom-and-pop shops and iconic old-school joints. Here’s where to eat like a local in Independence, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit and elsewhere.

Over the past 22 years, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has become one of the most successful restaurant concepts to ever come out of Wichita, with 540 restaurants in 36 states — and counting.

Smack in the middle of the country, Kansas City is a melting pot of different cultures and cuisines — especially soul food. At these restaurants, there's plenty to enjoy with the big flavor, and portions, of Southern comfort cooking.

Local Pig chef Alex Pope and food writer Jonathan Bender are planning the world's first Museum of BBQ inside the Crown Center Shops. It plans to tour visitors around the barbecue regions of America, including Kansas City

Soup is maybe the quintessential comfort food, especially when the weather gets colder. At these Kansas City restaurants, you’ll find hearty pozole, flavor-packed ramen, creamy New England clam chowder and more.

The Kansas City Defender organized the celebration from Oct. 1-14 to bring awareness to Black-owned restaurants, with the hope of helping their long-term sustainability. “We are in a crisis for Black restaurants right now," says founder Ryan Sorrell.

Famous for its triple-decker pork tenderloin sandwich, the Kansas City restaurant closed unexpectedly this spring when its planned renovation hit roadblocks with contractors and the city. Jinna Soulivong says she didn't expect to see so much community support — or a line down the block when they reopened.