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I went here this past weekend for lunch. For as big as the line was, I think the hype was a bit overblown. I ordered a 4 meat plate with pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and pork burnt ends, and added two jalapeño cheddar sausages. For the sides, I got baked beans and Mac and cheese. The pork ribs were a bit overcooked to me, while the brisket was somewhat tender. I appreciated that the brisket was one bigger slice as opposed to really thin slices. The pulled pork was kind of dry to me. For me, the best items on the plate were the pork burnt ends and the jalapeño sausages. I initially ordered one, but had to grab one to go for later after I ate the rest of my lunch. As far as sides go, I think both the baked beans and the Mac and cheese were really good offerings. The Mac and cheese was really gooey and it had a nice crumble on the top. They had three different BBQ sauces to try which were the house bbq, sweet and spicy, and then the Carolina gold (which is a mustard). The sauces were a bit liquidy, but my absolute favorite was the Carolina gold, which added a nice burst of flavor to contrast the savory meats. The flavor on the other two were ok, but I felt the sweet and spicy could've been spicier. One frustration with this place is their limited inventory and hours. I visited this place on a Sunday, and their hours are only from 12-4. By the time I left, it may have been around 1 and they had already sold out of everything. Another frustration is their BBQ sauces are not self serve, and they only seem to give you more sauce if you order an extra item, which I ended up doing, and their to go sauces cups were extremely tiny. Overall, if you're close by and you show up early enough, it might be worth a visit, but I don't think it's worth its own special journey.
Well waited in line for this, I'm shocked. Line moved quickly. Arrived around noon on a Saturday. Saw the line out there fit and figured it must be good. Ambiance was nice warm woods surround the Resturant. Let's get to the food. The brisket was dry and tough, sausage casing was super tough, burnt ends extremely fatty but tasty, cooked slaw was chunky. (Needed to be cut thinner). The best item was the beans. Cooked to perfection! Wanted ribs and cucumber salad but sold out at noon. When we left around 1:00 everything was sold out except turkey. They close at four, maybe they should cook more food. Additionally, ice machine was broken and the soda was hot! Bathrooms old and dirty.
This was my biggest disappointment of BBQ cuisine ever: 1. Brisket was extremely dry and overcooked. 2. Bacon burnt ends were extremely fatty. 3. Sausage was undercooked. 4. Portion size small (@ allegedly 1/2 lb?). 5. Cole slaw lacked a firm consistency. 6. Provided sauces were very sharp / excessive vinegar. 7. Soda Machine internal ice machine dispenser was broken therefore no ice available and which resulted in warm soda. 8. Bathroom was badly in need of a cleaning. I graciously granted a one star rating to Chef J for their baked beans as they were very favorable / meaty (and the fact you cannot grant a zero rating!)
I was looking for the closest BBQ restaurant, we were checking out the Rock Bridge area. I googled bbq area by me and it directed me to Chef J's. We didn't have to drive too far, as it is located in the West Bottoms in the same building as The Beast(Halloween Haunted House) The restaurant is in an old building, to one side it had a wall of windows that made that seating area nice and bright. You order at the counter top, which we were greeted by a nice gentleman. We looked over the menu and he suggested the 2 meat combo which we ordered. I'm a big Ribs fan and I tell you what...these ribs were big, meaty and juicy!!! I didn't even need any bbq sauce for them. The sausage was great as well, along with the sides. I was full off of 2 ribs and my elote side. I did buy some banana pudding to go which was delicious too!!! As far as drinks go I didn't see any beer/cocktail drinks, just pop or tea. I highly recommend trying out Chef J's, I recently learned on their IG page they are putting one up in North KC that will be open 7 days a week. This location has limited hours/days.
We got two 4 meat platters to try a little bit of everything and the brisket was by far the favorite. The beans and potato salad were my favorite of the sides. We also loved the jalapeño sausage. We got there right when it opened and only waited about 15 minutes to order and there were plenty of seats. The restaurant is unassuming but clean. There is no signs on the door so just look for the big line!
Oh my, my...oh heck yes, Chef J got me wearing my BBQ dress. Best BBQ in KC, and I'm a 48 year old KC native, constant BBQ eater. Sadly KC BBQ has gone corporate and the old institutions are shadows of their former selves. They occasionally still deliver high quality, Q39 being top on that list where they do deliver about 1/4 times you eat there. Honestly Q39 would be me favorite if they delivered, but they don't. Went with 2 other connoisseurs and I think we all agreed Chef J is KC King now and all had our different favorite meat from the platter. The jalapeño cheddar sausage was the best I've ever had. Each tender bite with a snap was an explosion juicy smokey flavor. The brisket was a little dry but still very, very good. Love the bark and smokey fatty flavor. My favorite was the beef burnt ends. I'll be getting a pound of those next time. The bacon burnt ends were good but so decadent you feel like you better eat veggies the rest of the week. The ribs were rock solid. Tender, nice pepper, juicy, smokey. One person in our party said these were his favorite. The sides were lackluster but complimentary, and that's fine, it's not why one visits. I would say go with the mac and cheese. If you're from out of town, and not from Texas, this is the best BBQ in the city you need to try. If you're from Texas, I'd skip our BBQ TBH and try some other restaurants.
I visited Chef J BBQ with high expectations because of praise from others and anticipation after being turned away due to them selling out on a prior visit day. Unfortunately my experience fell short of the hype and expectations! The first strike was a big one for BBQ - the brisket was dry, tough, and pretty much inedible. It lacked seasoning and smoke, and was so chewy I ended up throwing it away. I moved on to the ribs and after trying two of them discovered they were inconsistently cooked. The meat from one rib came off the effortlessly and the meat was well textured, but another rib was dry to the point it broke in half when I took a bite. Beyond texture, both ribs also devoid of seasoning and flavor just like the brisket. The daily special for sausage was French Onion, which sounded good but turned out to be unremarkable. The bacon burn ends, which I believe was pork belly and not bacon, did not have the succulent, rich, melt in your mouth bite. Alas, I hoped the sides would provide positivity to my experience but the Chipotle slaw did not have a tinge of Chipotle flavor and the elote was a little chewy. I wondered if I had received a bad plate but I looked around and observed several others shake their heads in disappointment and even push away the food after a first or second bite. Twice after trying the brisket. One guy had had a puzzled look after biting into a brisket sandwich, then smothered it in sauce and had a begrudged expression as he continued to eat it. Sadly, and for the first time I threw away most of my food. Such a waste but I simply couldn't eat it. Chef J BBQ was a letdown across the board and I certainly won't be returning and cannot recommend it to others.
Chef J is located down in the West Bottoms near the Beast. They have the best BBQ. Turkey, Brisket, custom sausage made by staff. Sides are homemade like Mac n cheese, potato salad, beans, coleslaw, cucumber salad, and elotes. Desserts like banana pudding are amazing. Love the authentic atmosphere with KC Photos hanging in the restaurant.
We stopped in for the first time and they were almost sold out of most things but my husband got a brisket sandwich and he said it was excellent. The brisket was flavorful and moist and be liked the sauce selection. The place was pretty quiet and casual, it was clean and the service was good.
This place is GREAT! There's something for everyone on the menu. From sandwiches to meats to Frito pie!! Sides are delicious too. Service is fast and friendly and ambience is decent. Lots of tables - some tall tables, many various seating arrangements which is nice for different size groups. We will be back!
Fantastic end to a KC BBQ trail adventure! There was already a line at the opening time of 11:30, but the smoky meat smell had been permeating through West Bottoms since early morning. I was wandering around an hour earlier and the smell had my mouth watering, totally reminding me of the reason I came downtown. The line moves quickly and soon enough you will have to decide on your order. I decided, reluctantly, on the two meat plate...despite the idea for a sandwich on this visit...let me tell you I would not be disappointed. The potato salad was amazing. The bacon and bleu cheese had the perfect balance of traditional ingredients but then boom pow with blue cheese flavor and creaminess. Of course, the bacon makes it yummier. The hickory baked beans were thick with molasses-y flavor, smokey even. I like the beans, but maybe next time the chipotle helotes (spicy corn)...no, maybe not. I don't know that it would live up to the flavors of the real West or Southwest...but the cucumber salad looked interesting too. Don't miss out on that potato salad though. Now...the meats. I was super impressed with their burnt ends. If they were the best ones I had during the trip. They had a good balance of rich sweet smokiness. These ones are made with pork belly and you can tell as I sliced them up how rich in flavor and juiciness they were. Chef J's is my new KC burnt ends standard bearer. The pork ribs were also done very well. It was fall off the bone, full of flavor. The ribs of which you got three meaty costilles that were crispy yet melted in your mouth. The outer was caramelized like. I was happy with my meat choices. This was an amazing end to my visit to KC. I don't think you would be disappointed coming to West Bottoms and trying anything that is smoked at Chef J's. A must visit.
Chef J BBQ was my brother's number one choice to go to for BBQ based on the recommendation of someone who moved into Kansas City years ago. We made our first stop here for lunch about 1pm and the smell was making us full. We parked and got to the door. A handwritten "Sold Out" sign was taped to it. Not a good start to our vacation. We had to go somewhere else. Of course, we decided to make a return trip the next day. The restaurant opens at 11:30am and we got there this time at 10:45. This time, we were first in line! By the time the restaurant opened, the line was about 30 deep. Turned to be definitely worth the second trip as Chef J was so much better than the other BBQ place we went to (although that was also pretty good). You enter and walk straight to the ordering counter. The large chalkboard menu was hanging from the ceiling. Some written specials were posted on the front of the counter. Today's included a blueberry dessert. I ordered the Beastmode sandwich. This monster sandwich had multiple types of meat including turkey, house made sausage, brisket, pulled pork, and was topped with two ribs. You can also upgrade to a combo which has one side and a drink. They have Coke products here. Yea! My side was smoked elotes (corn). I also had the difficult decision to make for dessert - the everyday served banana pudding or the special blueberry. I went banana. My brother also got the Beastmode and my brother-in-law went with the MVP. This sandwich featured brisket, sausage, pulled pork, and burnt ends. We also ordered bacon burnt ends. The food was amazing. Smoked flavor came popping through, the ribs were tender and so calling my name. The bacon burnt ends were about 1/2 lb of one inch cubes of some of the best BBQ I've had. The banana pudding was good but I've had better. My family had the blueberry which was huge! It was like a smoked blueberry compote and muffin mashed into a pie and smoked again. So good when I tried one of theirs. My smoked elotes had some lime and cheese in there and was a nice complement to the sandwich. Had to have a veggie in there somehow besides the pickles and "slaw" that comes with every plate. All meals come with three small ramekins of three different sauces. One was vinegar based, one mustard based, and one more BBQ saucy. I asked and had the BBQ saucy for all three. I could've eaten at Chef J for every meal and not been disappointed. When we finally left, the line was still going strong. They stay open until sell-out or mid-afternoon, whichever comes first. As I already said, we found out the hard way the first time. We checked out the huge smokers on the side of the restaurant outside. Wish I had one of these bad boys at home! Total just for me was about $38 for the Beastmode with upgrade to a combo and the banana pudding. Definitely make the trip to Chef J for at least one of of your BBQ stops in Kansas City.
This is BBQ at its finest and pure form. The menu is staggering as you come in so for a 1st timer you need to step back and take it all in. The going is slow as your order and your tray makes its way towards the end. The ribs some of the best I have ever had. The brisket perfect and the sausage were good just not my thing but done really well. The Baked bean sides are overly sweet if you like that and complement the meat. The cucumber salad was interesting with a dill pickle kind of finish. You need to make the trek here you won't be disappointed unless you get there late and they run out. read more
6 months ago
I arrived eight minutes after opening on a Friday and waited approximately 40 minutes in line so you know it has to be good. My favorite was the bacon burnt ends. The meat was smoky and flavorful. Their sides were okay, nothing to write home about. They have ample indoor seating, but it does get busy. Inside is very casual. read more
15 days ago
I went here this past weekend for lunch. For as big as the line was, I think the hype was a bit overblown. I ordered a 4 meat plate with pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and pork burnt ends, and added two jalapeño cheddar sausages. For the sides, I got baked beans and Mac and cheese. The pork ribs were a bit overcooked to me, while the brisket was somewhat tender. I appreciated that the brisket was one bigger slice as opposed to really thin slices. The pulled pork was kind of dry to me. For me, the best items on the plate were the pork burnt ends and the jalapeño sausages. I initially ordered one, but had to grab one to go for later after I ate the rest of my lunch. As far as sides go, I think both the baked beans and the Mac and cheese were really good offerings. The Mac and cheese was really gooey and it had a nice crumble on the top. They had three different BBQ sauces to try which were the house bbq, sweet and spicy, and then the Carolina gold (which is a mustard). The sauces were a bit liquidy, but my absolute favorite was the Carolina gold, which added a nice burst of flavor to contrast the savory meats. The flavor on the other two were ok, but I felt the sweet and spicy could've been spicier. One frustration with this place is their limited inventory and hours. I visited this place on a Sunday, and their hours are only from 12-4. By the time I left, it may have been around 1 and they had already sold out of everything. Another frustration is their BBQ sauces are not self serve, and they only seem to give you more sauce if you order an extra item, which I ended up doing, and their to go sauces cups were extremely tiny. Overall, if you're close by and you show up early enough, it might be worth a visit, but I don't think it's worth its own special journey. read more
Well waited in line for this, I'm shocked. Line moved quickly. Arrived around noon on a Saturday. Saw the line out there fit and figured it must be good. Ambiance was nice warm woods surround the Resturant. Let's get to the food. The brisket was dry and tough, sausage casing was super tough, burnt ends extremely fatty but tasty, cooked slaw was chunky. (Needed to be cut thinner). The best item was the beans. Cooked to perfection! Wanted ribs and cucumber salad but sold out at noon. When we left around 1:00 everything was sold out except turkey. They close at four, maybe they should cook more food. Additionally, ice machine was broken and the soda was hot! Bathrooms old and dirty. read more
This was my biggest disappointment of BBQ cuisine ever: 1. Brisket was extremely dry and overcooked. 2. Bacon burnt ends were extremely fatty. 3. Sausage was undercooked. 4. Portion size small (@ allegedly 1/2 lb?). 5. Cole slaw lacked a firm consistency. 6. Provided sauces were very sharp / excessive vinegar. 7. Soda Machine internal ice machine dispenser was broken therefore no ice available and which resulted in warm soda. 8. Bathroom was badly in need of a cleaning. I graciously granted a one star rating to Chef J for their baked beans as they were very favorable / meaty (and the fact you cannot grant a zero rating!) read more
I was looking for the closest BBQ restaurant, we were checking out the Rock Bridge area. I googled bbq area by me and it directed me to Chef J's. We didn't have to drive too far, as it is located in the West Bottoms in the same building as The Beast(Halloween Haunted House) The restaurant is in an old building, to one side it had a wall of windows that made that seating area nice and bright. You order at the counter top, which we were greeted by a nice gentleman. We looked over the menu and he suggested the 2 meat combo which we ordered. I'm a big Ribs fan and I tell you what...these ribs were big, meaty and juicy!!! I didn't even need any bbq sauce for them. The sausage was great as well, along with the sides. I was full off of 2 ribs and my elote side. I did buy some banana pudding to go which was delicious too!!! As far as drinks go I didn't see any beer/cocktail drinks, just pop or tea. I highly recommend trying out Chef J's, I recently learned on their IG page they are putting one up in North KC that will be open 7 days a week. This location has limited hours/days. read more
We got two 4 meat platters to try a little bit of everything and the brisket was by far the favorite. The beans and potato salad were my favorite of the sides. We also loved the jalapeño sausage. We got there right when it opened and only waited about 15 minutes to order and there were plenty of seats. The restaurant is unassuming but clean. There is no signs on the door so just look for the big line! read more
Oh my, my...oh heck yes, Chef J got me wearing my BBQ dress. Best BBQ in KC, and I'm a 48 year old KC native, constant BBQ eater. Sadly KC BBQ has gone corporate and the old institutions are shadows of their former selves. They occasionally still deliver high quality, Q39 being top on that list where they do deliver about 1/4 times you eat there. Honestly Q39 would be me favorite if they delivered, but they don't. Went with 2 other connoisseurs and I think we all agreed Chef J is KC King now and all had our different favorite meat from the platter. The jalapeño cheddar sausage was the best I've ever had. Each tender bite with a snap was an explosion juicy smokey flavor. The brisket was a little dry but still very, very good. Love the bark and smokey fatty flavor. My favorite was the beef burnt ends. I'll be getting a pound of those next time. The bacon burnt ends were good but so decadent you feel like you better eat veggies the rest of the week. The ribs were rock solid. Tender, nice pepper, juicy, smokey. One person in our party said these were his favorite. The sides were lackluster but complimentary, and that's fine, it's not why one visits. I would say go with the mac and cheese. If you're from out of town, and not from Texas, this is the best BBQ in the city you need to try. If you're from Texas, I'd skip our BBQ TBH and try some other restaurants. read more
1 year ago
I visited Chef J BBQ with high expectations because of praise from others and anticipation after being turned away due to them selling out on a prior visit day. Unfortunately my experience fell short of the hype and expectations! The first strike was a big one for BBQ - the brisket was dry, tough, and pretty much inedible. It lacked seasoning and smoke, and was so chewy I ended up throwing it away. I moved on to the ribs and after trying two of them discovered they were inconsistently cooked. The meat from one rib came off the effortlessly and the meat was well textured, but another rib was dry to the point it broke in half when I took a bite. Beyond texture, both ribs also devoid of seasoning and flavor just like the brisket. The daily special for sausage was French Onion, which sounded good but turned out to be unremarkable. The bacon burn ends, which I believe was pork belly and not bacon, did not have the succulent, rich, melt in your mouth bite. Alas, I hoped the sides would provide positivity to my experience but the Chipotle slaw did not have a tinge of Chipotle flavor and the elote was a little chewy. I wondered if I had received a bad plate but I looked around and observed several others shake their heads in disappointment and even push away the food after a first or second bite. Twice after trying the brisket. One guy had had a puzzled look after biting into a brisket sandwich, then smothered it in sauce and had a begrudged expression as he continued to eat it. Sadly, and for the first time I threw away most of my food. Such a waste but I simply couldn't eat it. Chef J BBQ was a letdown across the board and I certainly won't be returning and cannot recommend it to others. read more
1 month ago
Chef J is located down in the West Bottoms near the Beast. They have the best BBQ. Turkey, Brisket, custom sausage made by staff. Sides are homemade like Mac n cheese, potato salad, beans, coleslaw, cucumber salad, and elotes. Desserts like banana pudding are amazing. Love the authentic atmosphere with KC Photos hanging in the restaurant. read more
11 months ago
We stopped in for the first time and they were almost sold out of most things but my husband got a brisket sandwich and he said it was excellent. The brisket was flavorful and moist and be liked the sauce selection. The place was pretty quiet and casual, it was clean and the service was good. read more
This place is GREAT! There's something for everyone on the menu. From sandwiches to meats to Frito pie!! Sides are delicious too. Service is fast and friendly and ambience is decent. Lots of tables - some tall tables, many various seating arrangements which is nice for different size groups. We will be back! read more
Fantastic end to a KC BBQ trail adventure! There was already a line at the opening time of 11:30, but the smoky meat smell had been permeating through West Bottoms since early morning. I was wandering around an hour earlier and the smell had my mouth watering, totally reminding me of the reason I came downtown. The line moves quickly and soon enough you will have to decide on your order. I decided, reluctantly, on the two meat plate...despite the idea for a sandwich on this visit...let me tell you I would not be disappointed. The potato salad was amazing. The bacon and bleu cheese had the perfect balance of traditional ingredients but then boom pow with blue cheese flavor and creaminess. Of course, the bacon makes it yummier. The hickory baked beans were thick with molasses-y flavor, smokey even. I like the beans, but maybe next time the chipotle helotes (spicy corn)...no, maybe not. I don't know that it would live up to the flavors of the real West or Southwest...but the cucumber salad looked interesting too. Don't miss out on that potato salad though. Now...the meats. I was super impressed with their burnt ends. If they were the best ones I had during the trip. They had a good balance of rich sweet smokiness. These ones are made with pork belly and you can tell as I sliced them up how rich in flavor and juiciness they were. Chef J's is my new KC burnt ends standard bearer. The pork ribs were also done very well. It was fall off the bone, full of flavor. The ribs of which you got three meaty costilles that were crispy yet melted in your mouth. The outer was caramelized like. I was happy with my meat choices. This was an amazing end to my visit to KC. I don't think you would be disappointed coming to West Bottoms and trying anything that is smoked at Chef J's. A must visit. read more
2 years ago
Chef J BBQ was my brother's number one choice to go to for BBQ based on the recommendation of someone who moved into Kansas City years ago. We made our first stop here for lunch about 1pm and the smell was making us full. We parked and got to the door. A handwritten "Sold Out" sign was taped to it. Not a good start to our vacation. We had to go somewhere else. Of course, we decided to make a return trip the next day. The restaurant opens at 11:30am and we got there this time at 10:45. This time, we were first in line! By the time the restaurant opened, the line was about 30 deep. Turned to be definitely worth the second trip as Chef J was so much better than the other BBQ place we went to (although that was also pretty good). You enter and walk straight to the ordering counter. The large chalkboard menu was hanging from the ceiling. Some written specials were posted on the front of the counter. Today's included a blueberry dessert. I ordered the Beastmode sandwich. This monster sandwich had multiple types of meat including turkey, house made sausage, brisket, pulled pork, and was topped with two ribs. You can also upgrade to a combo which has one side and a drink. They have Coke products here. Yea! My side was smoked elotes (corn). I also had the difficult decision to make for dessert - the everyday served banana pudding or the special blueberry. I went banana. My brother also got the Beastmode and my brother-in-law went with the MVP. This sandwich featured brisket, sausage, pulled pork, and burnt ends. We also ordered bacon burnt ends. The food was amazing. Smoked flavor came popping through, the ribs were tender and so calling my name. The bacon burnt ends were about 1/2 lb of one inch cubes of some of the best BBQ I've had. The banana pudding was good but I've had better. My family had the blueberry which was huge! It was like a smoked blueberry compote and muffin mashed into a pie and smoked again. So good when I tried one of theirs. My smoked elotes had some lime and cheese in there and was a nice complement to the sandwich. Had to have a veggie in there somehow besides the pickles and "slaw" that comes with every plate. All meals come with three small ramekins of three different sauces. One was vinegar based, one mustard based, and one more BBQ saucy. I asked and had the BBQ saucy for all three. I could've eaten at Chef J for every meal and not been disappointed. When we finally left, the line was still going strong. They stay open until sell-out or mid-afternoon, whichever comes first. As I already said, we found out the hard way the first time. We checked out the huge smokers on the side of the restaurant outside. Wish I had one of these bad boys at home! Total just for me was about $38 for the Beastmode with upgrade to a combo and the banana pudding. Definitely make the trip to Chef J for at least one of of your BBQ stops in Kansas City. read more
Tried Chef J BBQ today. The good...Brisket was great. Ribs were ok, nice rub on them but on the small side. Burnt ends were tender but had overwhelming smoke taste in a bad way. Potato salad excellent. Nice blue cheese background taste. read more
My wife and I took advantage of the Fourth of July and decided to continue our Kansas City BBQ tour by stopping by Chef J. We came expecting a long line and wait time to get served but we thankfully we arrived early enough and were able to pretty much walk straight up to the counter. The location is pretty no frills but it sits in a very aesthetically pleasing reclaimed warehouse in the West Bottoms. The man that served us at the counters was kind and knowledgeable and pointed us in the right direction for how to order and the lady who checked us out was very kind and talkative. We decided to split a four meat platter with sides of mac and cheese and smoked elote. We ordered the bacon burnt ends, pulled pork, cheddar jalapeño sausage, and brisket! We found that the four meat platter was plenty of food for two and we ordered the perfect amount and walked away full with no leftovers. We wish we could have gotten the Ribs but they were sold out when we arrived. The meal itself was absolutely to die for and I definitely get the hype! The pulled pork, sausage and bacon burnt ends were among the best I've had in KC if not THE best. I will say I wish the brisket was more moist, the mac and cheese had some salt and maybe some other cheeses, and they provided more generous cups for the sauces for dipping and pouring, but they are relatively minor complaints when the meal was near perfect as a while. Some more in depth notes on the meat and sides: - Bacon Burnt Ends: Near perfect and might be my favorite burnt end that I've had in the city, great bacon flavor, bark and seasoning profile were next level. Melted in my mouth. I would have gotten a double order and gotten more of this instead of the brisket they were that good -Pulled Pork: if the ribs were available we wouldn't have ordered this and swapped them out, but I am very glad we had it, because this is easily the best pulled pork I've ever had, well seasoned, cooked perfectly and made me wish we had more, this is definitely worth your time and I can't recommend it enough - Sausage: nearly perfect, good amounts of jalapeño and cheese and carried great seasoning and flavor, was a highlight for me and one of my favorite sausages that I've had in KC. - Brisket: not bad but also the pieces we were served were unfortunately dry and there wasn't a ton of fat content to make up for it. When everyone else says the brisket is perfectly moist and melts in your mouth when they ate there, I'll just write it off as us getting the end of a piece or it sat for a bit due to it being slower because of the holiday. Sides: - Elote: very good and had a good kick! - Mac and Cheese: Just ok, wish it had some more salt and maybe a more robust cheese mixed in to make the flavor pop, but it wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. All in all this is a must try, easily on my Mount Rushmore of BBQ that I've had and tried during my tour of the BBQ scene here in KC, this will absolutely be a must visit spot in the future and I'm already getting excited for it! read more
What a wonderful treat that I discovered today! Chef J BBQ is very nice! The star of the show is the brisket. The ribs were also very good. The bacon burnt ends were a little fatty and came sauced. I prefer to add my own sauce. Today's special side was collard greens, which were magnificent! I also enjoyed the hickory pit beans very much. so many places in KC make very sweet beans, which I do not care for, but these were right in the middle zone with some nice vinegar tang. There is usually a line here, and it moved quite slow slowly today. But certainly worth a visit. It's very loud inside, but the food is worth it. I will bring my wife back to try this place because it's really good. read more
This is the place I bring friends when they say they want to try BBQ in KC. The brisket and turkey are some of the best in town. The location is a wonderful space within walking distance of the beloved shops of Westbottoms and a fantastic distillery! Additionally the staff are super friendly. They'll happily give you recommendations or suggestions on pairings with the sauces! So helpful. read more
3 years ago
I finally got to check out Chef J this last weekend. I've had it via catering but I wanted to go and order to see for myself what the hype was about. They do tend to sell out early but we got lucky on this visit with the only sold out item being turkey (which I wasn't gonna get anyway). Ordering is a bit confusing. You walk up and order meats/entree with the first person, move through the line to order sides, then finally drink and paying at the last stop. I decided to go with the MVP 15: brisket, pulled pork, sausage, with a burnt end top on a Farm to Market Potato bun. I'm pretty sure that the burnt end top was missing...at least I didn't find it. The meat was really good. The brisket was a bit dry and needed sauce. The jalapeño sausage was also good but a bit overdone so again it was dry. The pulled pork was good with the mustard bbq sauce (the yellow one). I'd definitely order it again. We tried 3 sides-hickory pit bbq beans, Mac and cheese, and smoked elotes. I'm super picky on bbq beans and I tend not to like too many. The bbq beans here were good. I personally wouldn't get them again but I didn't hate them. The Mac and cheese was pretty average. Again not bad but not the best I've ever had and I'd probably pass on it in the future. My favorite was the smoked elotes. I really liked the flavors and would definitely get these again. Honestly I was a bit underwhelmed. I've seen and heard the hype and while it was good...top 5 is a meh from me. I'll definitely return and if you haven't I'd recommend you check it out. read more
Although it took a little while to wait, the food was worth it. The brisket was one of the best I had in Kansas City since it was tender. The ribs and bacon burnt ends were also delicious and tender. The sauces were also spot on since they served as great compliments to the meats, especially the Carolina-style mustard sauce. The beans and potato salad were also delicious. Overall, the experience was good and the only downside is that it's more expensive than many other BBQ places in Kansas City. This is worth trying at least once and worth going back. read more
I was able to finish work early today, so moved up my visit to Chef J to today instead of tomorrow. Even in the middle of a workday there was a line waiting outside for them to open. And the two strangers in front of me telling me every detail of their experience here. First of all, the place is located in the middle of the historic West Bottoms in KC. This area had many red brick buildings that transports you back to a forgotten era. Chef J BBQ is located in one of these buildings. The interior is also has beautiful brick walls with hard wood floors. If there was a speakeasy bbq joint, I would imagine looking like this. But how can keep such a delicious secret.The brisket was nice and tender and melted in my mouth. The bark was nice and crispy with a peppery bite. I love a peppy bark with a nice amount of smoke. The ribs also had a similar peppery bite, with the tenderness to bite through, but not pull away from the bone. Perfect. The pork belly burnt ends were covered in this wonderful sweet bbq sauce with a crispy exterior and a soft interior. Kinda the feeling of biting into a meat version of a peach. The jalapeño cheddar sausage oozed out each bite a flow of cheese. Of course the meats are great but what I enjoyed between each bite was the broccoli salad. Little pieces of bacon, cranberries, and cashews tossing a chili crisp dressing and was a refreshing bite between the fatty meats. I loved the food and the overall atmosphere created by the building and the interior. read more
Superb barbecue to add to your list of KC bbq spots! Chef J's BBQ is located in the West Bottoms area in an old warehouse. They opened at 12 PM and the line was already well formed. Waited maybe 20 min but does go fast. We couldn't decide what to order so we got the Full Monty which came with brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork and we subbed the turkey for the bacon burnt ends. Everything was heaven . Ribs were so good, sausage was incredible and the bacon burnt ends were as good as they sound. One person in our trio said the brisket was the best they have ever had in KC. Can't forget about the sides. We had the mac & cheese, beans, potato salad and cheesy elote (which was our favorite). Definitely recommend this spot for bbq lovers. Will be the place to bring your out-of-town friends and family when they request classic KC barbecue. read more
2 years ago
I finally made it to Chef J BBQ. I ordered the MVP sandwich which consisted of pulled pork, burnt end & a piece of sausage on a potato bun. I ordered the $5 combo which consisted of 1 small side & small drink. I added another side as well. My side choice's were hickory smoke beans and cheesy corn. The meats on the sandwich were moist and tender. The sausage had a bit of a kick. I added the sweet bbq sauce to the sandwich. The cheesy corn was awful, not sure what it tasted like, but after 2 bites I tossed it! The beans were Smokey and just ok, nothing to brag about. Overall I'll never return. The staff were very accommodating. The dining room could have used a wipe down of the tables after each use. read more
2 years ago
Got a recommendation for the cheesy corn here and they were right! You can really taste the wood, it was incredible! Not much else to say here, just great BBQ! +Nice thick cut brisket with crunchy bark -The sandwich bun was poor quality read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
We've been wanting to try this spot for a while and it lives up to the hype. We got the Frito boat which has pulled pork and brisket and one of the sandwiches. The only side we tried were the beans, and they're on par w jack stacks. Everything was delicious, they nailed the perfect KC BBQ flavor and their sauce selection is great. I particularly loved the spicy mustard. It's located right next door to The Beast and there are a lot of cool thirty stores in the area. There's plenty of parking under the overpass. This is on my top 5 BBQ places now, I need to come back and try the burnt ends. read more
2 years ago
I LOVE the location for Chef J. It's in the West Bottoms, which feels like an area that people often forget about until it's the time of year to visit the Beast or Edge of Hell again. I know there are other stores and such in the area as well, but it seems that they are often overlooked. With any luck, places like Chef J BBQ can drive more traffic to this historic area of Kansas City. The staff were extremely helpful as they offered recommendations for a first-time visitor to the restaurant. I got the MVP sandwich that comes with brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and a single burnt end to top it off. I will say that there were some very hard bits in the pulled pork that were missed when making my sandwich as these pieces shouldn't be served. However, the sausage and brisket were very good and the mustard-based sauce was AMAZING. If you get the street corn, make sure you mix it up before eating because they put all the spice right on top. I can't say this is the best BBQ I've ever had in Kansas City, but it made a good enough impression that I fully intend to visit again soon. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/PVGDpfXN4nU read more
1 year ago
Tried this for the first time... Never again! Spare Ribs on web site are way bigger than the little ones they give ya. Not much bigger than my middle finger. Burnt Ends are not burnt ends they are Pork Belly. If you know BarBQ, burnt ends are beef, there are pork burnt ends but people never order them. And the banana pudding is freaking horrible. A runny mess! Nough Said....Small ribs, the size of my finger. read more
1 year ago
Amazing. Highly recommend. Best burnt ends in KC. The banana pudding? Insane. The ribs? Insane. The POTATO SALAD?! INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE. Q39 has nothing on this place at ALL read more
I finally made it to Chef J and I have to say it does in fact live up to the hype! There's always a line, but we went on an off weekend (I'd recommend not going the first weekend of any month as the West Bottoms is always busier those days), and while there was a line it moved pretty fast and we found ample seating inside. Some of the sides were sold out, but luckily they still had their burnt ends which honestly are probably amongst some of the best in town. Seriously, they were insanely good. Everything else I enjoyed as well, though I found serving size to be a bit smaller than what you're used to at some other places, which isn't a bad thing at all, but something to know when ordering. We shared as usually serving sizes at bbq spots are typically massive but we found sharing here to be a bit trickier. Again, totally fine, just worth noting. All in all I'm looking forward to a return visit in the future and am sure Chef J will continue to gain notoriety on the KC bbq scene. read more
Not for me at all. I'm not from the area so finding this place was a pain to start with. The menu was decent looking and the only reason they get 2 vs 1 stars is the people working were really nice. That being said the food was gross. If people think this is the best BBQ they haven't gotten out much. Maybe I'm spoiled because we have one of the best BBQ joints up here (Smoking Barrel BBQ) outside of Texas, but man! We got a 3 meat plate with brisket, burnt ends, and turkey at the guys suggestion. Also had the beans and the mac n cheese. All the sauces on the side. The mac and cheese is a joke. They took soggy noodles mixed it with cold white cheese sauce and put it in a cup. It looked like something you'd see off Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay screaming at someone. The bbq beans taste like ketchup and not much else. The brisket was cold and had a weird flavor. The burnt ends were also cold and nasty. The turkey was in fact the best, but that isn't saying much. It was luke warm at best, and rather bland. The sauces weren't stand out. Also most of the tables on the right side seating area were dirty. We ended up wiping down our own table. I refused to eat it and my husband gagged it down just to avoid confrontation with anyone. Later before we left town I went to Joe's KC like I normally would. Got REAL mac n cheese (delicious) and the best ribs. Go to Joe's KC BBQ. The line is long, but the ribs can't be beat. Seriously, skip this place. I'm so sad y'all think this is the best BBQ KC offers. read more
Some of the best BBQ you will ever eat. It is similar to Pecan Lodge in Dallas. Get in line early and try as much as you can handle. The jalapeño cheese sausage, pulled pork, smoked elotes, chipotle slaw, potato salad, and sauces are incredible. It's worth the wait and I would go back any time. read more
2 years ago
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