Gates BBQ is all that & a brisket+ burnt ends on a roll.😋 Very inviting atmosphere. Lounge area is platinum setting for any occasion.👍🏿 Being down with the 🦅 is my only BEEF with Kansas City 😉
We came after the Chiefs game-THEY WON. There was line and folks chatting it up. It made time fun and cool.
The chopped brisket and the meat plate was delicious and filled us up.
Good BBQ! I had the mixed plate which had 3 different types of meats on it, brisket, ham, and ribs. The ribs were by far the best part, absolutely delicious. The brisket was good too but the ham was alright. Thick french fries and some bread for the sides. Jazz music was played and the atmosphere was pretty chill. It is pretty pricey but good to try. 4 stars!
Great food!! Try the turkey that was our favorite. We got a small platter plate and it was huge! 4 kids and two adults and left overs for sure. Great welcoming service!
It was Smokey though so just prepare for that if you eat inside. Your eyes may burn a little bit worth it!
On my visit to KC wife's family toke us to Gates on first day. We heard so much about them. We was not disappointed. I'm so sorry I didn't take pictures of of food, it smell and look so good We couldn't wait to try. Believe it was A1.
I heard this was the place to get good bbq so I checked it out. Good variety of food. I tried the bbq beef on bun sandwich with chili cheese fries. Very hearty sandwich and the chili cheese fries had good flavor. It’s a black owned business so I was happy to support.
We were looking for good Bar-B-Q and Gates did not disappoint. We loved everything except the coleslaw. There was a wait, but not as long as the line at Arthur Bryant’s. The layout of the restaurant was a little awkward to navigate. There might have been 2 lines, or maybe the line split into 2 at the register. We weren’t sure, but we were able to order and get our food. We also had a waitress arrive to the table after ordering at the counter.
![5]( "Recensione")
I'm an amateur barbecue lover, so I went to the top three bbq places in Kansas City according to my research, so I could compare them. Here are the results:
Q39: The overall best barbecue in Kansas City. The baby back ribs were tender, as I prefer, and great sauce flavor. The burnt ends were also very good, with the desired smoke flavor. To be honest though, I've had just as good bbq in random other cities so I was disappointed that given the hype of Kansas City bbq this wasn't a cut above all other bbq cities. Ambiance wise, it's the weakest of the bunch as it's in a newer building so doesn't have the feel of history like the other spots below.
Gates: I didn't care much for the ribs. The sauce was a bit salty and the meat was tougher than I prefer. The burnt ends are equally as good as the Q39 though in a different way. They are shredded and have crispiness to them in parts. If you're just looking to taste, just order the burnt ends sandwich which comes with a lot of meat for the price, and skip the bread part like I did. I went to the original Gates location at 1221 Brooklyn Ave, which has this wonderful stuck in the 70s look and feel, inside and out. The wait staff there is fantastic and very nice.
Joe's Kansas City (formerly named Oklahoma Joe's): This was the weakest of the three, food wise. The ribs in terms of meat and flavor were better than that of Gates but not nearly as good as Q39. The burnt ends didn't have much smoky flavor and mostly just tasted like cubed brisket. The ambiance is interesting and fun, being attached to a gas station (they make it work).
Overall, if you only have time for one place and the food is your priority, go to Q39. If you have some extra time, stop by the original Gates and get the burnt end sandwich and sit in the dining room and enjoy the trip back to the 70s.
We got the mixed plate and it was so good and a ton of food. The brisket was my favorite and the ham and ribs were good as well. Will definitely come back here next time I’m in Kansas City. We went to the main street location.
Got the mutton plate and it was really good. Lamb was fattier than I would’ve liked but it was good. Friendly staff and found out the Gates family was actually there.
First-time visiting this location and the hospitality and staff were top notch. I ordered the variety plate with smoked beef, turkey and 3 ribs with pickles and fries. Everything was very good especially with their awesome sauce mixed with it. I had more than enough on my plate to take back home with me. I will definitely return when I am in the area.
This is my hands down favorite place to eat in Kansas City. If you asked me to summarize the taste of the city in one bite, it's a burnt end sandwich...and fries...and strawberry soda.
I don't come here for pleasant service or speedy food. I don't come here for a squeaky clean atmosphere.
This is not craft BBQ such as Q39. This is good old fashioned down and dirty KC style bbq. This is where you should be taking people who want the authentic KC BBQ experience.
Get the burnt ends.
Get your fries seasoned with the gates seasoning.
Pair with a strawberry soda.
Get 1 extra sauce. Pour on sandwich immediately.
Great food, fast and friendly service in an iconic location. I like the coleslaw because it's not too sweet, but nothing beats the beans in my opinion!
Try the Nooner! It's a great, filling, and relatively inexpensive meal.
Gates is a Kansas City institution. They are well organized and the bar-b-que is very tasty. We went to the one on 12th Street and service was great. We dined in. They also have a small bar attached to the venue. In addition they have a parking lot.
Good experience and if in the area again, will be visiting.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes