Road Trip Oklahoma Joe's BBQ - Kansas City
Jan 3, 2012 On the day after Christmas, we decided on a whim to drive down to Kansas City. What a good decision! We tried a couple of new BBQ places and the food was awesome. One of the places was Oklahoma Joe's BBQ - they have two locations, but we went to the original "Gas Station" location at 47th & Mission in KC.
Two things - this place really is located in a gas station, and when you hear people say you'll have to stand in line, let me tell 'ya, they're not kidding. We got in line at 12:45pm on a Tuesday and only a short HOUR later, we were placing our order. Crazy. Like many a great BBQ restaurant, Oklahoma Joe's got their start in competition BBQ and they have the ribbons and awards to prove it.
I think 'controlled chaos' best describes this BBQ joint.
The menu features all of the usual BBQ favorites - ribs, brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken - but they also have some outstanding sandwiches, salads and smoked chicken gumbo. Sides include BBQ beans, potato salad, both creamy and spicy coleslaw, and red beans and rice.
My true measure of any BBQ place is their ribs, so I ordered up a half slab with creamy coleslaw. They were served with just a drizzle of their sauce and were perfectly smoked. The texture was spot on and the smokey flavor was fabulous. Seriously, really good ribs.
Grant had a 2 meat BBQ dinner with brisket and pulled pork. He also had some spicy slaw and we shared an order of the BBQ beans. They slice their brisket thin, and both meats were excellent. Tender and moist, nicely smoked, they've got it going on at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ. The beans had a little brown sugar sweetness, very flavorful.
Was it worth the hour wait? Definitely, but I think next time we might just order from the 'To-Go' counter - I mean, you're in a gas station, you're not really there for the ambiance. But Oklahoma Joe's BBQ comes highly recommended from these Iowa Foodies. Just make sure you have plenty of time to wait in line or plan on getting it to go.
Let us know if you've been to Oklahoma Joe's BBQ!
Oklahoma Joe's BBQ
47th & Mission
3002 West 47th Ave.
Kansas City, Kansas 66103
913.722.3366
Hours
Monday - Thursday 11am - 8:30pm
Friday - Saturday 11am - 9:30pm
Closed Sundays
Olathe
11950 S. Strangline Road
Olathe, Kansas 66062
913.782.6858
Hours
Monday - Thursday 11am - 9pm
Friday - Saturday 11am - 10pm
Closed Sundays
Menus and more information at www.oklahomajoesbbq.com
bbq, brisket, pulled pork, ribs
Reader Comments (4)
We've been loving Oklahoma Joe's for years! Thanks for reviewing it.
We really liked it too, awesome BBQ. But we're getting it to go next time!
In a city that has some of the most outstanding barbecue known to mankind, Oklahoma Joe's stands out for their across the board flavor and consistency. I'm a big fan of Jack Stack BBQ, but I've found that I really like Woodyard BBQ's pulled pork on a recent trip. Johnny's in Mission is very good, as well. But both Oklahoma Joe's that I've been to - in the gas station/convenience store and the new one out in Olathe - have just been outstanding on each visit.
Will, we've been to Jack Stack several times too, it's always good, if a little pricey for BBQ. I actually miss the KC Masterpiece restaurant that used to be there!