Oklahoma Joe's BBQ - Kansas City

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