Championship Quality Barbecue

Once known for its stockyards, Kansas City is still famous for its incredibly diverse barbecue scene. It’s a true melting pot of meat, with barbecue restaurants incorporating styles and traditions from all of the country, and doing it exceptionally well. One of the city’s newer establishments, Q39 was opened by CIA graduate and national barbecue champion chef Rob Magee and his wife Kelly. As far as barbecue joints go, it’s on the upscale side—sporting an industrial-chic vibe with concrete floors, rustic wooden tables and a bustling open kitchen—with a focus on fresh ingredients and from-scratch dishes. Every rib, chicken or piece of brisket has to meet a precise standard of taste and tenderness; it’s this strict quality control that produces prize winning barbecue on every plate. Order Q39’s Judges Plate and get a sampling of smoked meats with a couple updated sides like fresh apple coleslaw or white bean cassoulet with housemade sausage. Or go for the burnt end burger: a juicy ground brisket patty topped with perfectly charred sliced burnt ends, spicy pickle slaw and their classic sauce.

Contact

1000 West 39th Street
Kansas City, MO
816.255.3753
q39kc.com

Photographs by Landon Vonderschmidt Photography.