This place! Always tasty, this spot never disappoints. Went in today to try a few other new items on the menu. We had a burnt ends bowl and The Royal sandwich with tots. Easy parking, into a spacious and clean room...you can't miss at Haywards. Be sure to try their ribs, sausage, and burnt ends. The sides are all solid, sweet potato fries and tots always get me. Their own Bree...the Haywards Amber ale is delicious and easy beer to pair with the menu. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Burnt ends bowl with Cole slaw and beans - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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My boyfriend likes to get the rib special here. A slab for $19 I think. He said they are pretty good especially for that price! We picked up to go but the restaurant looked clean. They had our order ready when we arrived. Ordering online was easy! I've gotten the salad which comes with ham and Turkey - $13. I added some brisket for an extra $3 making my salad $16. It was good and I got a large portion of meats. This will probably sound like a weird complaint but the turkey tasted very strong. It almost overpowered everything else in the salad. I usually like turkey but this was borderline for me. Everything else was very good. I think we will be back for the rib special! read more

I've eaten KC bbq all over. I have my usuals so wanted to try a non tourist spot. It was not very good! The star of the show was the service for sure. I got the brisket, pulled pork and smoked ham. All the meat was pretty dry. The sauce was very good though! Sides were okay. Again, service was phenomenal and they have a lovely patio too. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

My friend, who grew up in KCK told me that Hayward's was his favorite barbecue spot. So of course I had to check it out. I took another friend and treated him for lunch here. The staff at Hayward's was super cool and friendly. They were so kind. Jinger was amazing! That makes this next part difficult. The meats were not good. We went in at about 3 PM on a Sunday. We ordered the variety platter for two with ribs, brisket and burnt ends. Also some beans and potato salad. When Jinger brought out the meat platter with lovely serving tongs and bread we were hopeful, but then my buddy remarked that the brisket was gray and I said "Oh boy." The beans and potato salad were very good. The bread was old and crusty and seemed stale. The gray brisket was nearly inedible. It tasted old and almost like it had been held way too long perhaps from a few days ago. The ribs had decent flavor, but they were dried out and chewy. I held out hope for the burnt ends, which were very burnt. Some of them were slightly fatty and moist and juicy like they're supposed to be, and some of them were like super hard, crunchy and dried out. Not much consistency here except for consistently bad meat. I so very much wanted to love this place, but we will not return. It started raining right before we left and there was a big group of about 10 people standing under the awning out front and as we walked by I heard one of them say "Well I made sure my last bite was potato salad so I ended on a good note." I feel the same. Dang it. read more

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This review covers two visits to Hayward's Pit BBQ. The first time FPO and I went, we dined inside, and the reason we noticed Hayward's on 75th and stopped in, is because we saw dogs are welcome in the outdoor patio area in front of the restaurant. Our first visit, the service was as amazing as the food. We went on a Sunday around 4:30, a little before peak dinner time. Our waitress, who said she primarily works during lunch, was very patient with how long it took us to go over the menus and make our decisions. She was also very knowledgeable about the foods (that their fried food is so yummy because they use a very high quality oil), the beer (Boulevard is the best), what was good (burnt ends, potato salad), what was available (some items are on the happy hour menu, but not the regular one, but can still be ordered if you know how). Get the Burnt Ends Mac and Cheese. Trust me. And the house made Sangria. Iced wine and fresh fruit drunk through a straw, where has this been all my life? (The sangria might only be on weekends, I'm not sure, but maybe.) I went back recently for a second time for a take out order. The food still top notch, service seemed to be a little slow. Note: Hayward's has Happy Hour on The weekend for drinks; Monday thru Friday 3-6 pm for food and drink. read more

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Stopped in for lunch and got the lunch special with the Pulled Pork Sandwich and Cheesy corn. It was a good size portion and came out quickly. I also got a full rack of Ribs to go. Ribs are cooked to perfection and are very meaty. Was able to eat on them for a few meals. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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Haywards was a pleasant surprise! I was not expecting anything but what I got was a decent tasting BBQ. 1. The pricing is steep for what I can get. I paid $20 for 1/4lb burnt ends and 1/4lb of brisket. While this isn't super expensive it is expensive for the taste and quality. 2. The burnt ends complimented the brisket and the burnt ends were better than the brisket. I didn't use BBQ sauce (which I never do) but the the meat alone was satisfying, rich and bold, not too peppery, but its profile didn't seem very unique and didn't stand out to me as far different from other fairly decent BBQ joints. I give higher ratings the more unique the flavors are because that's what draws my attention and what reflects a standout BBQ joint. 3. All in all I was well pleased and would return. I would like to see how consistent they are and maybe that would increase my rating to a 4 star but I don't see me raising Haywards to 5 stars. If you want a good, safe, bbq meal choice where you won't be utterly upset I'd say Haywards is a safe bet, but I wouldn't expect to have your top blown...but from what I experienced you shouldn't be let down. Again the pricing is a downside. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Burnt ends - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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First time eating here. We were enticed to go for the Thursday full slab of ribs for $19.99. Walked in. Immediately greeted and taken to a table. Very clean. The atmosphere was like walking back in time to the family cafe. Loved our waitress, she was so fast and cheery! I'm glad we tried it! read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - The end!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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Stopped here on our way back home. A friend told us they really enjoyed the food. We ordered the platter for two so that we could taste a variety. This included the Ribs, Brisket, and Habanero Cheddar Sausage, Mac and Cheese, Smoked Beans. The ribs had good flavor and were very tender. The brisket was an utter failure. Taste was very bland and sliced paper thin. Not what I would expect for sliced brisket. I ended up making some Aujois and made a French dip sandwich the next day with it. The sausage was essentially a Habanero Summer sausage. Definitely not something you would expect when ordering sausage at a BBQ place. Tasted good the next day on some crackers, but would have made a terrible sandwich. Both sides pretty good. I would recommend getting the ribs if visiting and maybe the wings but I didn't try them. read more

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How has this place not become more widely known across the greater Kansas City area? Hidden on 75th Street near Nieman Rd in Johnson County, I'm sad to say that I'd driven past Hayward's numerous times and never really noticed it. It wasn't until a subscriber recommended this spot that I realized my mistake. Hayward's brings some delicious BBQ that should get more recognition than it currently receives. While they have some great ribs and burnt-ends, I feel like they truly shine with their dry-rub wings because they were fantastic. And adding in that you can act like a kid by ordering a grilled cheese sandwich with burnt-ends on the sandwich...talk about some good eating. This spot along with its great customer experience you'll get and the super friendly staff need to be on your list of places to try because you won't be sorry. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/3_aIHHmWDak read more

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The service was great , everyone is super happy, took orders quickly and the drinks were good as well. The restaurant was your typical barbecue spot when it came to decore. Now in regards to food they hype up the Mac and cheese and burnt ends. They were not great , not much flavor and no bark. Just very tender. I got the ribs and they didn't taste like the hit the grill at all. I like the barbeque sauce. It's not a place I would recommend as a go to spot but it's in the neighborhood. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Burnt ends and Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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It has been over 6 years since the last time I have been to Haywards. This is a new location but the same great food and service. Their interior feels like a BBQ restaurant. They make their own bbq sauce and have a spicy option. It's a little different than the traditional KC BBQ sauce. It was more tomato based with less sugar which I really enjoyed. My wife and daughter had the BBQ bowl and I had the Big Piggy. There was more than enough to eat and everyone enjoyed their meals. This continues to be one of my favorite restaurants when we visit Kansas City. Give it a try, in my opinion you won't be disappointed. read more

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Classic KC BBQ place with excellent ribs , brisket. We get the rib special for Chiefs games

I don't know that I can expound upon my 2018 review all that much! This place is still amazing with good and solid ribs and other BBQ! The best update I can give is this! Food still gets 5 stars! The staff is still amazing and extremely friendly with that downhome feel. The restaurant hasn't changed much so still plenty of atmosphere for that picnic lunch feel! "But Rob... what should I order?" I hear you! if it is lunch time snag one of their amazing sandwiches. The Hayward's Hash sandwich will be my go to. Is it Sunday? Enjoy the Ends to Ends deal? Is it game day? Discounted ribs! Is it Thursday? Well you will find me there for the Rib special! With the two sides please. I'll take the fried mushrooms and the fried mushrooms! read more

The vibes here are spot on. Classic old-school BBQ joint: picnic-style table covers, a big bar right in the middle, sports on a few TVs, beer signs on the walls, and that unmistakable smoked-meat aroma wrapping around you the second you walk in. Comfortable, nostalgic, and hungry-making in the best way. Andrea was our server, and she nailed it. We weren't greeted right away, but she made eye contact, let us know she'd be back, and when she returned, she owned the table. Calm, confident, and full of recommendations that ended up being dead-on. There's an art to that kind of service -- not pushy, not rushed, just someone who clearly knows the food and trusts it to speak for itself. We kicked things off with the dry rub wings and a side of their Helga sauce (Andrea's call). Perfection. The wings were crispy on the outside, smoky and juicy on the inside. The rub was salty-sweet heaven, and dipping into Helga -- a spicy-sweet mustard sauce -- made them my new favorite wings from a BBQ joint. Cocktail highlight: the Peach Please. Balanced, boozy, just sweet enough -- exactly what you want while digesting smoky meats. For mains, we split a platter: beef burnt ends, ribs, cheddar jalapeño sausage, mac n' cheese, and baked beans, with a side of sweet potato fries. Everything delivered: the sausage was a knockout, the ribs had great bark and juicy bite, the mac was creamy and seasoned with BBQ spice, and the beans? Let's just say they were good enough to make me question my faith, my family, and my life choices. But the star? The beef burnt ends. Outstanding. Juicy, tender, hearty yet delicate. The sweet-and-spicy BBQ sauce elevated them into time-machine territory -- instantly transporting me back to my first unforgettable burnt ends experience. Their regular BBQ sauce? perfection. Andrea even told us to dip the sweet potato fries in the Helga sauce, and if she ran for mayor, I'd not only vote for her but join her campaign. We finished with banana cream pie, locally made -- KC small business supporting small business, which is the KC way. I wanted more flavor from the crust, but still, a sweet note to end an excellent meal. Bottom line: Hayward's is one of the most slept-on BBQ spots in KC. From the nostalgic vibes to Andrea's top-tier service and food that feels both timeless and surprising, it's a place that transports you back to a safer, slower, more delicious time. read more

Thursday & full rack of delicious ribs for $19.00. What could be better? I know: Great service and great advice from Toby at the bar. Baked beans, amber beer and desert. I could eat haywards ribs every day of the week. Great food, great service and great prices. 5 stars. read more

This spot has excellent choices for lunch. The customer service is wonderful. They have a signature beer that is very smooth and tasty. I had the bowl with cheesy corn, burnt ends and cucumber and tomatoes which was bright and delicious. The sauce has a tou h of sweet but adds great flavor without overtaking the smokiness of the meat. Highly recommend read more

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Haywards is one of the original BBQ places and their BBQ has well smoked meats. The sauce is not too sweet and just tangy enough. Service is spot on and friendly. Also , I like they have fried okra. :-) read more

The food was spot on, the burnt ends were a favorite and although they were getting ready to close, they still accommodated our party and there was no rush and their service was impeccable read more

Hayward's Pit BBQ demands R.E.S.P.E.C.T! For its flavorful sandwiches and sides, summer stationery feel, and lovely staff. Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations fill the open concept room, reminding diners that Hayward's has Something To Say. You're not here to work remotely or talk business, but to relax and enjoy your lunch. In terms of meat, my choice is the beef brisket. Done correctly, on a warm Roma bun with two sides to boot and a squeeze bottle full of balanced BBQ sauce ready to assist. It's not hard to find BBQ that stands out, but BBQ that stands strong? That's uncommon. Luckily, Hayward's breaks the curve, offering meats that rival any Kansas pit master's creation. If you're looking for a shaded summer picnic setting, surrounded by good people and better food, Hayward's doors are OPEN! read more

Fantastic food EVERY TIME! Also, I order meat by the pound to go quite often as it is wonderfully smoky and great for recipes such as brisket tacos, burnt ends in chili, sandwiches (toast a brioche bun), etc. I'm not fond of the sauce. The service is consistently good. The ambiance is nice with various table sizes and some booths. No carry-out drink cups, but you're welcome to bring your own for one to go. Highly recommend! read more

In town for a wedding and eating here was wonderful. The food was excellent, owner Eric was so friendly and our waitress Tracy was a hoot. The whole experience was just wonderful. So sorry we are so far away in Illinois. Nancy read more

Usually a good place to go. good barbecue friendly Service. On the other hand, don't be in a hurry if you plan to go there for dinner. Unless you enjoy being treated as if you were invisible by the way, at the bar "I'll take care of you in two seconds" really means five minutes. Bartender should stick with drinks and beers and skip trying to be a server. Plan B was Zarda barbecue they were quick in and out less than five minutes with my carry out order. I haven't given up on Haywards but they lost out on $40 dinner tonight. Upon follow up visit we had a very good lunch. I dined with a regular and he brought me up to speed on which servers to avoid. read more

Grew up with this place as a favorite. Those days are gone! Food quality has gone way down and the place is filthy. read more

...and here we are a year later, in town and back at Hayward's. Still lovin' it! We ordered a variety platter plate for one. It was enough for three people! Our choice of three meats was brisket, burnt ends, and pulled pork. All moist, lightly smoky, tender. Our choice fit two sides was fries and fried okra. Both were fresh, hot, and spot on. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Fries and fried okra. - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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I previously was so happy with the slabs of bar b que that comes in a Styrofoam container to go,sent my daughter to pickup to slabs of ribs on Saturday, on Sunday when I saw the ribs I was so disappointed, these look like baby back ribs wrapped in clear food wrap and put in a black sack 60.00 plus shaking my head I was furious, I've been a faithful customer for years...after that not so sure going forward and I've spreaded the word in the past about how awesome they were,that was a change that was not good for me read more

I can sum up Haywards in one word, "ribs!" Their sauce is unique and unlike most sweet KC sauces, it's tangy. My understanding is, and I could be wrong, is the founder, Hayward Spears once worked for Gates BBQ before branching off on his own. His sauce is similar to Gates but better imo. I can't say I've been to the current location but used to go to the old College & Antioch location. It was always a treat. The place was clean and had full table service if I remember right. Put them on your list for "must try." You won't regret it. read more

Haywards is always a great KC BBQ option. I like to get carry out and then head across the street to Pathlight Brewing for a brew to wash it down with. But they also carry a good selection of draft beers if you decide to eat it there. I always have to get the portabella 'shrooms. They are lightly breaded and sliced thin so you don't end up burning your mouth with exploding mushroom liquid. Plus the horseradish sauce is I normally get DJ's mushroom and Swiss but this trip I opted to try the new QUE-Bano-Pulled Pork, Smoked Ham, sliced pickles and housemade ancho chile mustard spread on toasted bolillo roll. It was ginormous and so good. If it becomes a permanent fixture, I'll be going between the two sandwiches. I decided on the thick cut fries for a side. They're crisp, golden, not overly seasoned, and generous portions. This was made into two meals so it's pretty cost effective too. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Thick-Cut Fries The QUE-Bano Portabella Mushrooms - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Saturday evening we arrived around 8pm. Plenty of parking. Nice building with outdoor patio seating. We were seated right away and had to order pretty quickly. Comes to find out they close at 8:30pm which is quite early on a Saturday night. We both ordered a sandwich with a side. Food came out pretty quickly and it was good. We practically had the whole place to ourselves. I did a check in on Yelp and received a 10% off on our meal. Good food. Nice atmosphere. Service was good. Decent price. read more

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Decent place. Good sauces. Friendly staff, great service. Smaller portions. Clean i had the crispy pork belly and brisket. I would go back and try some other items. read more

I've been here so many times, so it's high time that I wrote an actual review. Here's the short version: it's phenomenal. The BBQ is done just right across the board. Hayward's daily specials are great, their pulled pork is tender with just the right smoke, and their burnt ends are the best I've found in the city. Hayward's has moved around the JoCo area, but now it is anchored on the southern border of Shawnee. Indoor and outdoor seating, along with seating at a great bar, with simple accents, makes for a great place to enjoy amazing barbecue. The menu is not overcrowded but has plenty of variety. Pork or beef, beast or bird, everything is done with spectacular smokepit skill. The KC BBQ market is fairly saturated, so it takes a pitmaster to set a place apart and give it a signature flavor. Hayward's uses real hickory and while that can sometimes be a strong smoke flavor, they are tempering it perfectly and allowing that low-and-slow approach to do all the talking. I recommend their St. Louis-style ribs (a lunch special gives you 5 ribs) with meat done so right that all you have left is bone. Their sandwiches are always piled high and finished perfectly, like the Royal, and their platters are loaded with smoked meats and sides. Even the wings are a signature item, smoked and finished with your choice of Buffalo or Hayward's BBQ sauces. Friendly staff, tremendous value, and an always-leave-you-wanting-more menu. That's what Hayward's brings to the BBQ scene, and us denizens of western JoCo can be ecstatic about this place! read more

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First time trying Hayward's. Our table each tried something different, all along the sandwich side of the menu. It solved the craving for delicious bbq. I totally loved the sauce that had a nice kick to it and covered my sandwich in extra sauce. The onion rings were tasty. The fries were ok, but needed some seasoning. Service was awesome. All in all, it was a great choice. Will definitely keep this on our list. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - Pepper heaven - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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I recently started going to this restaurant in June of 2025 because of their Thursday rib special. The ribs were great but customer wasn't so great. I had a free appetizer that was one of their amenities and when I asked the employee that served me he decided not to give it to me and made an excuse and walked away as if I wasn't still standing there to finish addressing this matter. I emailed them the next day hoping to resolve it that way but there hasn't been any response or communication, I'm will never go to this restaurant ever again. read more

Terrible! The reviews must not be for the chicken or brisket..... I don't do sides and love a good brisket, however the was so bad the entire half pound I ordered ended up in the trash. Zero flavor! And it was cut like it was a Philly.... Nasty thin, plus the texture of lunch meat.... Something was very wrong about this brisket. The chicken seemed odd too, lunch meat texture. Color looked very off.... I know what smoke color is and this was not that.... An odd yellow color. And to say dry was an understatement. If you want good smoked meat WITHOUT sauce.... Because let's be real good smoked meat shouldn't need any sauce to cover it up. Zero stars... read more

I love the food and the location. I really enjoyed a cheesecake someone had made a couple of years ago but, they don't have it anymore. My husband and I go here when we are craving BBQ and you should too. It is great and affordable. The staff are fantastic also. read more

Thursday is 20$ slabs day and they are good. That's all I've had there besides fries and onion rings and the are really good also. If you enjoy bbq ribs give Hayward's a try. Haven't had a bad server yet read more

Great BBQ!! Definitely going back when in Shawnee! Service was fantastic! Ambiance was rugged and well maintained, exactly what you would expect for a BBQ restaurant. read more

Ribs were amazing! Meat fell off the bone. I selected Mac-n-cheese which was so creamy and cheesy. My second choice for a side was the fried okra which were crispy and tasty. I will definitely try this place out again! read more

Typically my first meal when I land in Kansas City is barbecue. There are so many great choices for barbecue here that it's hard to pick. I strolled into Hayward's on a Sunday afternoon around 4 PM, sat at the bar, was greeted by a terrific server and ordered a local beer while I looked at the menu. They claimed to have "the best burnt ends ever". It's quite a claim in this town! So I ordered the burnt ends and ribs dinner with a side of beans and tots. The ribs were meaty, cooked perfectly, not over seasoned and had a gorgeous pink smoke ring. Absolutely perfect. The burnt ends were spectacular. They really were the best I've ever eaten. The serving size was just right so I had a couple of bones to take with me for a midnight snack. My experience defines why barbecue in Kansas City is so popular and so yummy. I will be back many times. read more

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Before I start my update, I just want to write a quick Haywards BBQ historical recap. Back in the day, the restaurant was one of the more popular local restaurants. Over the years, the food quality and service fell off leading to its sale. The new owners came in and injected new life into the business and its recipes. They also moved it from it's spacious south Johnson County location to a small and cramped Lenexa location, which just didn't fit. Now, present day (as of this writing,) Haywards has moved yet again, to a spot just east of 75th and Nieman. I hope this is a permanent move. My biggest criticism of the restaurant's previous location was how small and cramped it was. This isn't an issue in the new space. There's a nice space at the entrance, where your party can wait while the staff clears a table. Once you're inside, there are plenty of high tops and booths to choose from. They're spaced well, so you're not encroaching on anybody dining nearby. You can even belly up at the bar and not have to worry about people reaching over you for their drinks. There are tvs too, just in case you want to see how well your favorite team is playing, and a large patio, in case you want to dine outside when the weather is right. The menu is full of high quality Kansas City barbecue. I like the Burnt Ends and Wings platter, which is served with two sides (I chose onion rings and beans,) however I don't think you can make a bad choice. Be prepared for full serving sizes. Please don't feel bad if you ask for a container to go. Of note, like other barbecue restaurant, I found the base sauce to be a little thick and sweet so I graduated to the hot sauce. You know what you like better than anybody. Please feel free to trust your instincts. Service was prompt, polite and knowledgeable. They made a great experience even better. read more

Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que - This is the Burnt Ends and Wings Platter. - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas