If you are in Kansas City and the craving for barbecue hits, Taste of Kansas City BBQ & Grill is the kind of neighborhood spot that rewards a little curiosity. Tucked away at 7935 Prospect Ave, it is a small, unpretentious place that leans heavily on carryout, which is exactly how a lot of the best local BBQ ends up. The dining area is cozy and clean, and the staff has earned a reputation for being genuinely friendly, which goes a long way when you are standing in line on a busy Saturday afternoon.
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The menu is built around the classics, and it is hard to go wrong with any of them. The combos are the obvious place to start, and they are priced to keep you coming back. A Beef On Bun Meal, with chopped brisket on a potato bun and a side of fries, runs about $15.50, and the Pulled Pork Combo sits at the same price. If you want to lean into the grilled cheese side of things, the Brisket Grilled Cheese Meal puts brisket between two slices of Texas toast with American cheese and fries for $15.50. For something a bit more substantial, the Two Meat Sandwich Meal comes in at $21.50, and the Burnt Ends Combo is $21.50 as well. If you are just looking for a quick lunch, the Today Meal Deal is $12.99.
Beyond the combos, the a la carte options give you a lot of room to customize. A pound of brisket is $25, a pound of burnt ends is $30, and a pound of pulled pork is $25, so you can build your own feast at home. The smoked wings are another draw, with ten wings for $20, and the rib tips combo comes in at $15.50 with fries and pickles. For the sides, you have the usual suspects: coleslaw, potato salad, and baked beans, all around $5 for a regular portion, with larger sizes available if you are feeding a crowd. The drinks are simple and cheap, with soda at $2 and water at $1.
One thing worth knowing before you head over is that the hours are not the usual nine-to-five. Taste of Kansas City BBQ & Grill is closed on Mondays and Sundays, so your window is Tuesday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Carryout hours line up with the opening hours, so you can order ahead and swing by to pick it up. Online ordering is available for both carryout and delivery, and the restaurant takes Google Pay and Venmo, which is handy if you do not want to carry cash.
If you are planning something bigger, the catering is where the menu really opens up. You can order a wide selection of meats, from brisket and burnt ends to smoked wings and ribs, and pair them with homestyle potato salad, creamy coleslaw, broccoli and rice casserole, and a whole list of other sides. There is even a food truck menu for when the BBQ travels, with its own set of entrees and sides.
The reviews tell the story of a place that people keep coming back to. With a 4.7-star rating from 457 reviews, the consensus is high on the food and the service. People rave about the dry rub on the ribs, the fall-off-the-bone meat, and the friendly staff, with more than a few visitors saying it was the best barbecue they have ever had. Whether you are a local or just passing through, it is a solid, affordable spot that does exactly what it sets out to do.
