Barbecue in Missouri carries a presence you can taste before you even step inside. Smoke drifts from chimneys in Kansas City and St. Louis, pulling crowds toward ribs that fall apart, brisket darkened with bark, and pulled pork stacked until the bun gives way.
Some places feel worn with history, their walls steeped in years of hickory and oak, while others bring a newer shine but stay faithful to slow fire and patience.
I’ve stood in those lines that wrap around corners, listening to regulars talk about favorite cuts, and found the wait only sharpened the appetite. Here are fourteen barbecue spots where Missouri’s flavor and tradition show up plate after plate.
1. Q39 Midtown, Kansas City
The dining room hums like a modern bistro, where high ceilings and polished wood give barbecue an unexpectedly sleek setting. It feels lively but not rushed, the kind of place where conversations stretch as long as the line outside…