restaurants

Dozens of restaurants open in Kansas City every year. But which stand out in the region’s growing food scene? Here are the metro’s best new restaurants and bars for diners of all tastes.

During Kansas City Restaurant Week, from Jan. 9-18, 2026, diners can eat at more than 250 participating restaurants offering special menus. But while bigger-than-normal crowds are welcome for struggling businesses, there are some things diners can do to make the best possible experience.

Watts had a long stint serving up treats with her sisters under Big Momma’s Bakery-Cafe and then as a home-based business. This past May, she opened her own brick and mortar on E. 12th Street.

Brodric Carson's catering company B-On-Meatz offers all the traditional foods: ribs, wings, brisket and greens. But the former comedian is also adding foods for people with other dietary needs, like salmon and vegan patties.

Winter is the perfect season to dive headfirst into the wide world of tea. Luckily, you can find loose leaf shops and tea houses around Kansas City that will help you develop your taste — from historic downtown Liberty to the middle of Crown Center.

A restaurant in Westport and two Crossroads cocktail bars had to navigate death, loss and grief in 2025. KCUR spoke with their family, coworkers, and friends to remember their commitment to the Kansas City hospitality scene, and to memorialize what was lost.

Slow Rise's sourdough doughnuts nearly always sell out at the Lawrence and Overland Park farmers markets. Owner Jessica Dunkel says she hopes to open her Overland Park brick-and-mortar location within a month.

Kansas City already knows it's a barbecue destination, but the number of restaurants and food trucks keeps growing every year. Next time you're craving burnt ends, ribs or something even more creative, try these spots that opened in the past year and a half.

Tap Ins at the Greenhouse debuted to the public Tuesday, with a 19-hole mini golf course dotted with palm trees and cacti. It also includes a sports bar, restaurant, ice cream shop and private event spaces.

Cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy caused by tick bites, in Missouri means more people are looking for a mammal-free way to eat out. Some restaurants in the southern part of the state are adapting their menus for patrons.

First opened in 2018, the Kansas City cocktail bar will shut its doors at the end of January. The new landlord plans to convert the space into a new lounge concept — to the dismay of many longtime customers. But Afterword's leaders are hunting for a new home.

The Strips Chicken and Brewing location in Lenexa boasts a garden where the restaurant's founder grows heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, red onions, spinach, kale and more. He uses much of the produce in his menu.