Food & Drink

Starting Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, 11 Black-owned restaurants will feature special deals in an effort to put their food on the map. Black Restaurant Week was recognized by Christal Watson, mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, to amplify Black-owned businesses. Many suffered economic losses in the recent severe storms.

The island-inspired chain — built around the Hawaiian plate lunch with grilled proteins, rice and macaroni salad — opened its first restaurant in Belton in 2018. Its latest franchise opened this week in Indianapolis, with more expansions on the way.

GreenHorn Bar & Grill took over the building formerly occupied by the Green Room at 4010 Pennsylvania Avenue, keeping the combination of bar, restaurant and live entertainment venue. Meanwhile, Chambre Coffee will continue to operate in the former Westport Coffeehouse space above.

Passing through parts of the Crossroads, the Westside and Rosedale neighborhoods, Southwest Boulevard hosts some of the best Hispanic food in the Kansas City area. Take a drive down the road with these restaurants, bars, stores and breweries.

Parlor, Kansas City’s first chef collective, announced abruptly this week that it would permanently close its seven-vendor space this Saturday. The news left kitchen owners reeling, and looking for spaces of their own.

Shades of red extracted from an ancient corn variety held up to heat and other conditions typical of food processing and storage. Researchers are exploring whether this natural dye alternative could open new markets for Midwest farmers.

Missouri's ban on hemp-derived THC drinks starts Nov. 12. But, if Congress gives final approval to a short-term funding bill and the president signs it, the beverages could stay on shelves longer.

From Café Cà Phê’, the city's first dedicated Vietnamese coffee shop, to the many restaurants slinging traditional phin drip, the beloved beverage can be found all around the Kansas City metro.

Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kansas, has perhaps the most concentrated collection of dive bars in the metro. But no matter what neighborhood you’re in, Kansas City has a place for drinkers and diners looking for a low-key hang with decent food and cheap drinks.

Brian Roberts' Social House, newly opened in midtown, aims to serve nearby residents who want to hang out someplace comfortable. “I really want this to be a neighborhood spot, somewhere to go with no frills," Roberts said.

Rulber De La Torre owns and operates eight restaurants in Kansas. His newest, Rulber's Restaurant Mas Cantina, just opened, filling out Prairie Village's Meadowbrook Shopping Center.

Kansas City's food scene is deeply influenced by Italian immigrants, and sandwiches are no exception. These local restaurants serve up hearty Italian subs that not only pay homage to tradition, but also try their own twist.