Q39 Midtown: The original Kansas City BBQ spot

If you have not yet done the thing that is practically a rite of passage for anyone living in Kansas City, here is your sign: go to Q39. The original location sits at 1000 W 39th St., right in the middle of Midtown, tucked between historic Westport and the Crossroads arts district, and it is the place that put the whole brand on the map.

Rob and Kelly Magee started Q39 in 2014, and the pedigree behind the food is the real story here. Rob earned a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America in 1986 and spent years as an executive chef at Kansas City hotels before turning his attention to competition barbecue. Under the team name Munchin' Hogs, he entered more than 350 contests and walked away with 52 grand championships, including world champion titles from the Kansas City Barbeque Society in 2008 and 2011. After Rob passed away in December 2021, Kelly took over as CEO, and the restaurant has only grown since.

What sets Q39 apart from a lot of the barbecue you will find around town is how they handle the heat. The kitchens run industrial smokers for the traditional barbecue, but they keep separate wood-fired grills going for the steaks, salmon, and burgers. That means you can get a competition-style dinner plate and a wood-fired ribeye at the same table. Onsite butchers manage the meat cutting, and the menu fills out with specialty sandwiches, salads, desserts and sides like apple coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, orzo pasta salad and fire-roasted street corn. The starters are worth ordering, too: the wings have been recognized among the Best Wings in America, and there are crispy cauliflower bites, Canadian salmon and a certified Angus beef ribeye to round things out. A full bar pours beer, wine and craft cocktails.

The space itself leans into a rustic-urban vibe with an energetic dining room and a friendly full-service bar, and parking is one of the easier parts of the visit: there is plenty of free parking in the main lot and a marked overflow lot right next door. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 11 PM, so it works for lunch, dinner and everything in between. They also do carry out and delivery if you would rather have the spread at home.

If you are planning something bigger, the Midtown location has a private room called the Blue Ribbon Room that can hold up to 52 guests for a private event or up to 30 for something semi-private, with indoor AV and the choice of buffet or family-style service. Beyond that, the restaurant handles lunch and corporate catering for office meetings and graduation parties, and full party and wedding catering for larger receptions.

It is worth noting that the Midtown spot is no longer the only Q39 in the area. The brand has expanded to three other locations: Q39 South in Overland Park, Q39 Lawrence, and Q39 Lee's Summit. But for the full experience, the original 39th Street location is the place to start. With a 91% rating across nearly 300 Apple Maps reviews, it is hard to argue with the consensus.