I haven't eaten here in 20 years or so, so it was nice to get in and see how much they've grown. The food was average by KC standards, I think the only negative was that the meat was cold, but the place was slammed, and let's face it, cold BBQ is like cold pizza. The service was great, especially considering that the restaurant was packed. I was impressed to say the least. The ambiance is somewhere between sports bar and an old school Pizza Hut, but that's a good thing. All in all, I was impressed with the service and the friendliness of the people at the counter. And that's enough to get me to come back. read more

Ordered the Variety plate - came with: * 3 large ribs, flavor okay - could not taste any rub, not the freshest. * Turkey, brisket and sausage - all good flavor, but sliced super thin 1/16", and no t much meat at all - extremely small portion. * chicken - overcooked and old. * burned ends - absolutely the worst I have ever eaten - they were small very hard chunks of old beef smothered in an orange bbq sauce. I should have returned them after the first bite. Quality was awful. * onion rings - good taste, some quit a bit darker than others. * slaw - very good. Overall very disappointing. read more

Solidly classic taste that is very consistent. Staff is friendly at the counter. Typical clean dinning area that turns em in and out fairly well at lunch time. read more

Zarda - #4. Large Sliced Sandwich Beef with side of onion rings - Barbeque Near Me - Lenexa, Kansas

I am completely clueless on how this place stayed in existence for so long. Meat felt like thinly sliced dehydrated meats. The brisket and turkey was dry. Sides were ok and the apple bbq sauce was good. Ambiance gave off a "I'm about to have some good food." Too bad that ball was dropped. read more

After not eating at a Zarda since the 90's I dropped in for dinner and, honestly, was pretty underwhelmed. I ordered ribs, burnt ends and a couple sides and none of it was particularly good but it wasn't horrible either. The burnt ends were very mediocre. Halfway decent flavor but the bark was soggy like it had been sitting in juice for hours. Ribs were pretty much the same. The Mac & Cheese tasted like something you get in a plastic tub from a deli. I ordered the mushrooms because it was listed as a signature side that you had to pay extra for so I thought there must be something special about them. Nope. Just typical breaded mushrooms like you would pay $3 for at In-A-Tub or some other fast food place. The price, however, was right up there with the best. Needless to say it became very apparent how this place fell from its status as being a KC icon to being one that no longer gets mentioned by locals. After looking in the back and seeing what appeared to be teenagers in the kitchen I suspect the reason for that is because they hired cheap labor rather than a true pit master. And all of that explains why at peak dining hours the place was only about 15% full. It's too bad. I'll always remember the days when eating at Zarda was a real treat. It's definitely not that anymore and I won't be back. read more

Zarda BBQ is a KC staple. The wings are NEW on thier menu ,and they are a hit . Try the turkey crunch sandwich it's delicious. I love how they give back to thier community with every bottle sold going back steps of faith foundation. The service is top tier . Old school vibe but very clean and nostalgic! read more

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After an appointment in the area, I spotted Zarda BBQ and their drive-thru. With a bit of a drive ahead and rush hour approaching, my mom and I figured the drive-thru would be the easiest option and a good chance to try a new restaurant and some ribs. We ordered the half slab of ribs with coleslaw and baked beans. Service was surprisingly quick for BBQ, which was a nice plus. Once we got home and unpacked the bag, we realized we'd been given potato salad instead of the coleslaw. The ribs were placed on a couple slices of bread and wrapped in foil, but unfortunately, they weren't very meaty, so it was hard to get a decent bite. I didn't care for the BBQ sauce or the beans. The potato salad, while not what we ordered, turned out to be pretty decent, so that was good. Loved the convenience of the drive-thru, but overall, the food just didn't hit the mark for me. read more

Zarda - Half slab of ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Lenexa, Kansas

We always have a wonderful time at Zarda barbecue. You order at the counter and this is one of the few places that doesn't automatically ask you to tip. However, the staff are friendly and efficient. We love their limited selection burn ends. There is an up charge for them, but it is so worth it. They have a great selection of sides. Besides the typical coleslaw, baked beans, French fries, and onion rings, they have corn nuggets, cheesy corn, potato salad, and a few other choices. They have a selection of sauces that is quite varied. I believe one is raspberry flavored and apple flavored. There is a sweet Carolina as well as a spicy and their regular sauce. Don't neglect the bakery items individually wrapped and by each cash register. We've tried different brownies, the peanut butter frosted one is wonderful as is their sugar cookie. read more

Zarda - Limited edition burnt end sandwhich and beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Lenexa, Kansas

Hello BBQ greatness. Amazing flavors. The burnt ends had me drooling. So many choices but favorites have to be the wingz and KC Royal with cheese. Great service. read more

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Went to check out Zarda and try their new wings and new sauce, Thunder Berry! Think chipotle meats raspberry. The dusted wins were my absolute fav! And I loved the sauce with my fries and burnt ends. Which burnt ends are always a yes. I also tried the KC Takeaway Sandwich & The KC Royale with cheese. Both start with Burnt Ends and end in goodness. Check out this location for some goodness and great service and the friendliest people including the owner! read more

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Pork burnt ends were well sauced but small, not particularly juicy but definitely not hard or dry. Just sort of meat chunks but not remarkable at all. Not sure why they sell these sort of diet version of the actually delicious BEEF burnt ends they sell. The beef burnt ends were actually juicy and sizeable. They had good flavor but were even better with the maple tasting sweet barbecue sauce. They also sent a non sweet sauce which was not spicy but had good spice flavor and was not bad at all. The cheesy corn was not bad but not great either. Just kinda there. The crispy brussel sprouts were fried and mushy to perfection. Tons of greasy flavor! Will update as we eat. The beef brisket was awful. It was super duper dry even though I specifically requested fatty brisket cuts. Seriously dried my mouth out and I couldn't eat more than a bite. It was just roast beef. read more

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Terrible. I got a 1/4lb of burnt ends and 1/4lb of brisket. I took a bite of each and threw it away.

I would consider Zarda fast food bbq. It's not the best in the area but it's also not terrible. If I wanted bbq but was in a hurry, this would be a good option. Plus they have a drive thru and lunch specials. Which is great for a quick midweek lunch break. I tried a large sliced meat sandwich with beef and sausage. It was good sized but it was definitely not as large as I expected. The meat was a bit dry but had good flavor. The Hogie roll held up well with all the meat. The sauce is definitely needed and I really liked theirs. It's classic KC. My boyfriend also got a sandwich but opted for ham so I tried that as well. I think it was my favorite of the three meats. We tried a variety of sides-fries, bbq beans, and mac and cheese. I'm super picky on my bbq beans and these weren't doing it for me. I wasn't a fan of the flavor but others really like it. Definitely personal preference here. The fries were good. They were thickly cut and not greasy. The portion size was a bit small. The Mac and cheese was my favorite of the sides we tried. It was creamy and not overcooked. Again, the portion size was dinky. I could have used a lot more of that! You can also get pickles, which I did! They are .35 a piece or $3.50 for 10. We took it to go but ordered inside. The cashier was helpful. The food was out quickly. The interior is kinda old school cowboy. It was clean. And they have a lot of parking. Or the drive thru. read more

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Four of us stopped in for dinner. Two ate pulled pork sandwiches, one ate a sausage sandwich, and one ate ribs. All were pleased with their selections. Service was prompt and the dining area comfortable. Recommended. read more

We love this place. Ordered online to take home. I struggle with serious allergies and textures, they followed every change I put in the notes. They did forget some sides and drinks but they got them to us before we left the parking lot and threw in a couple dessert. . read more

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Having grown up on KC BBQ, I expect not to have real burnt ends at BBQ joints outside the KC area. But when I'm in KC eating home grown BBQ that has been around for 50 years, I expect real KC burnt ends, especially when you call them LTD Reserve Burnt Ends. Imagine my shock and disappointment when I received a plate of cube brisket with zero bark. These are the kind cheap mass produced burnt ends that would I expect at chain BBQ restaurants, like Famous Dave's. I have been eating BBQ at Zardas first opened up in Blue Spring in 1976. And Zarda has been the place I always go when I in town visiting. I cant forgive what I was served today. I can't imagine Mike and Jerry would approve either. read more

Tasty, I usually get the kids meal. They don't give out wet napkins anymore. Guy in back of had his phone up way too loud. Kids were swinging on a rope barrier that didn't need to be there. Place needs a good cleaning. read more

I was craving some wedge fries and opted for the drive thru. The menu said $3.50 for the fries and the girl working the drive through never gave me a total. At the window she said it was $5.xx. I asked why not $3.50 and she explained that they are $4.99. No problem- we paid. The fries were fresh and hot, but they had no salt or seasoning. Because we were already out and about, we ate a few but just tossed most of them because they simply weren't good without a grain of salt. I did reach out on their website before posting here but didn't hear back. read more

Zarda BBQ is a great local eatery in the heart of Lenexa. They have an array of sauces that compliment their variety of meats. We are a fan of the sliced sausage and burnt ends. Their dining area is rustic and classic; a nice gathering place to enjoy Kansas City Barbecue. read more

Zarda - Barbeque Near Me - Lenexa, Kansas

I was here a couple of months ago and didn't even know about this place, but I am so glad I found it. I was craving bbq and usually hit another location but hadn't realized they closed early on Sundays. So I was honestly a whole lotta bummed that I wasn't getting my bbq, until I found this place. So happy with it and the manager was so kind - she even allowed me to try some samples of the sides. I ended up buying quite a few flavors of their BBQ sauce. Good place! read more

BBQ hit the spot! Staff was friendly and aimed to please. Boulevard on tap and the wings were great!

I called and placed an order Monday for their signature Royale w/ cheese and KC Takeaways and they were fantastic! Service was quick and the sandwiches and sides were delicious! Zarda's is a hidden gem in the KC area! read more

Zarda - KC Takeaway sandwich! - Barbeque Near Me - Lenexa, Kansas

This is my favorite barbecue restaurant in the city! The food is just the best. The smoke on the meat is exceptional. The fries are always piping hot and delicious. Absolutely the best potato salad anywhere. The employees are always so friendly and helpful. Eating in is fun because the ambiance is just a vibe. Catering is also the best! You simply cannot go wrong with Zarda. Oh! And the sauce is delicious too! read more

lunch special scam. 11 dollars and all i got was some goofy ass lookin sammwich wit no fries. no onion rings. NOTHIN no thank you mam yall can keep it read more

Food is always delicious. We are frequent flyers. We do the drive thru and dine in, always consistent. Great lunch special that is delicious and economical. read more

I would consider Zarda fast food bbq. It's not the best in the area but it's also not terrible. If I wanted BBQ but was in a hurry, this would be a good option. read more

Was excited to try the burnt ends, but they weren't very burnt at all. The man n cheese was good though. read more

Zarda - Burnt ends, green beans and mac n cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Lenexa, Kansas

Way overpriced and not very flavorful in my family's opinion. I do like the beans though!

Some of the best barbecue I've had in a long time thinking about stopping, I highly suggest you do amazing the people are great it's really clean place good people read more

Our table all got pulled pork but different sides. I preferred the Zarda Apple bbq or the original recipe bbq. But even the hot and spicy wasn't bad. The dining room was pretty empty so either we missed the dinner rush or they just weren't busy. The guy at the counter where we ordered was very knowledgeable and talked with us for a minute. We were in town for a weekend. read more

Great food. Beans and turkey are excellent. Staff and location are friendly and inviting. Love it.

Couldn't let national brisket Day go away without having a sandwich from Zarda! Zarda brisket is perfectly thin sliced, and the bold and spicy sauce is one of my favorites! It's got just the right amount of kick. It's order and pick up at the counter, and by the way fried cauliflower is back! If you're on the fence, try it it's delicious! read more

Zarda - Brisket sandwich and slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Lenexa, Kansas

FPO and I are continuing our quest to eat as much BBQ in the BBQ Capital of the World during our latest trip to Kansas City. Our latest stop was Zarda's. Like most of the reviews I read (people either seem to love or hate Zarda's) the suggestion from my sister that, we gotta try Zarda's was quickly negated by one of my sisters-in-law who said, don't bother, save your money. After trying Zarda's I have to say I'm in the middle. I really liked their smoked turkey, it had just enough smoke and was really moist. And FPO liked the burnt ends and sausage with the exception that she prefers her sausage cut thicker. The flavor was good enough that we would order it again. It's good the meats could stand on their own because neither of us cared for their BBQ sauce. Too sweet. The sides were also a split. I didn't like the fried okra but really liked the fried cauliflower. The sweet potato fries and fried corn were okay. According to FPO the slaw had an unexpected kick to it and the beans were good but the burnt ends inside the beans were a toss up ... some were really good, others a bit dry. On the whole it was a nice experience. read more

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Old school KC bbq. Counter style service. They don't scream at you for your order like some of the other KC bbq joints, so that's a plus (unless you like that, then you might be disappointed). The food is good. Pork spare ribs always the right consistency with good flavor. You wouldn't want to take a date here, at least not if you want to impress her. This is old-school, cafeteria-tray style bbq. Who said Bbq was supposed to be romantic? read more

I remember why now I haven't been here in 20 years. The meat portions were horrible for the price. The meats were dry and the burnt ends tasted like they were cooked in ketchup. Eat at Arthur Bryant's or gates. They are both much better. read more

Stopped for early lunch yesterday. Glad we came in early. By 12:10 the line was long and seating was getting tight. The service was friendly and fairly fast. I had the Burnt Ends sandwich, which was four stars out of five. Someone else had pulled pork and said it was a little dry but the sauce improved it greatly. We had a child with us and he ate for free. Don't know if that's an everyday thing or what. We will definitely be back. But will make sure it's an early or late lunch. read more

Free Wi-Fi, mon - Friday $10 lunch from 11 to 2 pm, sandwich and a side only , drove by Thursday at noon! Parking lot full, it has to tell u something about the food, first time here the young lady behind the counter was very nice and helpful since it was my first time here, she had to ask someone to pour for her,all this month the special is Turkey crunch, they deep fry with bacon and provolone and special sauce, if your beer drinker bottle and draft, special is $2 for fresh green beans with bacon and season, if u like country and western music they play it here, plenty of parking, sign up for free rewards, enter your phone number and save on points, wasn't a big fan of cards until now, I have driven by here so many times,you never know if u like the place until u try it read more

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What a big surprise! Zarda's is probably one of the closest BBQs to our home but we often went to the other more well known places such a as Jack Stack, Joe's, q39, etc and bypassed Zardas. The unassuming building & outdoor area never got our attention even if my hubby grew up in the area and had zardas as a kid many times. We had our niece in town and wanted to try a new BBQ place and Zardas is close by. Wow! Much to our surprise it was amazing! The indoor decor has such a cool old time charm. It was warm and inviting. The service was quick and easy. The food - we now think they have the best beans, think Jack S but more meaty. The Cole slaw was tasty and tangy but you must like onions! Beware of the onions. The burnt ends amazing! Tender and juicy. Ribs and brisket were also good. If you buy 2 or 3 lbs you get a free bottle of their sauce which is a sweet and mild KC style. They also have a spicy option. So keep this old time place in mind when looking for new KC BBQ! They also advertised a $10 as sandwich lunch special that looked good to try. We spent about $100 for 4 people and had a lot, alot of leftovers! Yum! read more

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This is a must. I get the Rib sampler and Fries. Best ribs in KC...The price is right KC is know for Bbq and Zarda is the best in my opinion... read more

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Using Zarda for our wedding reception was BRILLIANT! First of all, Suzanne Zarda was SO pleasant and easy to work with! Second, Zarda has been making great food all day, every day for a very long time. They have experience with large crowds, and nothing seems to phase them. Pricing is very reasonable, food is delicious, set up/clean up were unobtrusive, and leftovers were marvelous. If you want to provide your out-of-town wedding guests with a KC BBQ experience, talk to Suzanne Zarda! read more