DISH

A CUT ABOVE THE BEST ARTHUR BRYANT'S BARBEQUE

WRITTEN BY TE CUNNINGHAM / PHOTOS BY JENNY WHEAT

There are a lot of topics Kansas Citians debate, and at the forefront is “Who has the best barbeque in KC?” You will hear many mouth-watering venues listed, but you can almost always count on one name being brought up in every discussion: Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque.

Featuring delicious fare—meat that’s slow-smoked with a combination of hickory and oak woods, mellowed to the peak of flavor and then topped off with your choice of three mouth-watering choices for barbeque sauce—this eatery is a mainstay in KC dining culture.

Located in the 18th and Vine area on Brooklyn Street, the place still pays homage to its creator, Arthur Bryant, the legendary king of ribs and one of the most renowned barbequers in history.

Photos of famous celebs, athletes, and more adorn the plain white walls of this non-pretentious joint. Famous names that top the list? Try three former presidents, including Harry S. Truman, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama. There’s also plenty of historical info with articles, awards, and other confirmation of how great the impact of this restaurant has been. Calvin Trillin knew it. He wrote the famous Playboy article that labeled Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque as “The best restaurant in the world.”

We sat down with pitmaster Wayne Garrett and owner Jerry Rauschelbach to ask a few questions—over a plate of delicious ribs, of course!

How do you keep Arthur Bryant’s legacy alive?

First and foremost, by hiring the

right team of folks to prepare and serve the best barbeque in the country. Our people have a passion and pride in what we do.

How have you modernized without compromising that legacy?

We have updated our website, and the restaurant can be found on all social media. That said, the look and feel of our online presence is very much a tribute to Mr. Bryant.

What’s next on the modernization front?

COVID-19 was a game changer for all of us in the restaurant industry, and one thing it clearly showed us was that people want more ways to get our barbeque. By the time this article comes out we should be in the barbeque meat shipping business with three of our customer faves: ribs, pulled pork, and burnt ends. We have added more merchandise options to our website for our fans around the country, and we have even kicked around the idea of a carryout window or drive-through. We will always strive to deliver customer service, but we will never compromise the quality of our fare.

Why is Arthur Bryant’s the best barbeque in KC?

We are really proud of our barbeque, and we will happily stand by it in any comparison of barbeque restaurants—not only in Kansas City but also across the country. Remember, there are places that really excel at barbeque like the Carolinas and Texas. That said, we are proud to be located in Kansas City, and we support and cheer on all of our fellow barbeque restaurants in KC—they all serve great food and have helped put KC on the map as a barbeque destination.