We serve Kansas City Craft BBQ and cut fresh to order. Nothing is ever warmed up; everything is served fresh. Our style of cooking barbecue is Texas Inspired with a Flare of Kansas City. We source the best proteins available and pay a premium cost to provide our customers with the best. We provide a genuine farm to table approach and by all means not a typical BBQ restaurant. We cook over a live fire using Hickory smoked wood and spending up to 18 hours a day cooking our product giving each protein individual attention. Our sauces and side dishes are no different. Everything is house made from our sauces to each of our sides. Thank you for supporting our business and we look forward to serving you our style of Kansas City BBQ!
BBQ meat by the pound, plus sandwiches & sides, in an unfussy dining room with vintage furnishings. Based on 334 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.6 stars. Price
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Curbside pickup ✔️ No delivery
Address:
1401 W 13th St Suite G, Kansas City, MO 64102
Phone: (816) 805-8283
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Sunday | 12–4 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–4 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM–4 PM |
| Saturday | 11:30 AM–4 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
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Reviews
Chris Flanigan
We waited in line in the rain and it was worth it. The food was fantastic – all of it. However, what will keep me coming back are the ribs.
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Brittany Strohm
Well, if the people waiting for Chef J’s to open & the line out the door & around the corner don’t convince you, let me. Pulled pork was super good. Staff was friendly & the atmosphere was cool too. Plenty of space to sit & enjoy some good bbq.
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Todd Russell
Holy smokes, that was some damned fine BBQ!! I’ve been missing real BBQ since moving up here from TX. We absolutely love it up here, but the BBQ style and quality has left us scratching our heads…sorry. We were in KC for our anniversary and first went to another supposedly legendary, bucket list name that I won’t mention and it was frankly insulting to call it BBQ. Chef J, on the other hand, was spectacular!! I’ve had a fair amount of TX Top 50 BBQ (including Franklin’s) and I’d put him right in the mix with the big boys.
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Just Sturgis
Phenomenal BBQ! This place is off-the-charts good! And there are lines daily to prove it!
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Chris Gilkerson
I got the 4 meat tray and got plenty of meat. The ribs, brisket, and bacon burnt ends were incredible. Weeks after being there I’m still thinking about the amazing taste of those ribs and I already want to go back and have the Bacon Burnt Ends again. Nothing really to say about the pulled pork, it’s pulled pork. Cheesy corn is definitely the side to get it was delicious. I thought the atmosphere was really cool as well. Being in an old building located in the West Bottoms I feel like it gave the BBQ joint a lot of character. Pretty disappointed with their lack of sauce (it was almost laughable how much they gave you), and their Mac & Cheese was wildly mediocre. Not even the added brisket on top could help that. Points off as well for not serving beer. Overall though a great experience with delicious food. Is Chef J just my new shiny toy or is it the real deal? Only time will tell.
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Brendan Vogel
KC is home to some great BBQ. Chef J redefined the KC BBQ experience for me. There’s a reason there’s a line out the door when this place is open. The only comparable BBQ meal in my life to this was Terry Black’s in Austin, Texas. The cookie cutter recommendations like Q39, Jack Stack, etc are good but if you want life changing BBQ this is the place!
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Nick McGee
First time there, and Chef J knocked it out of the park. The ribs were fall off the bone tender while maintaining the right texture and amazing flavor. The brisket was a delightful deviation from the KC brisket norm, it reminded me much more of Texas brisket and had an amazing bark. The star of the show, however, was the bacon burnt ends. I’ve had many burnt ends, but nothing like this. Definitely will be back when in KC.
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Darren Shafer
Been to Chef J many times now, and Justin is doing a fantastic job down there. Such a great vibe too in that old rustic building. Looking forward to our next visit already! I always get the platters, but I gotta try that MVP 15 sandwich or the BBQ Frito Pie. Enjoy the pics!
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Jeremy Johnson
We stopped by Chef J BBQ in the middle of shopping in West Bottoms during First Friday in March. It was nearly 1:30 when we were there but they were already out of burnt ends, sausage, and elote. We both ordered a brisket meat plate which comes with two sides. She chose black and blue potato salad and cucumber salad for sides. I chose black and blue potato salad and mac and cheese for my sides. The brisket was moist and the bark was amazing. The smoke ring on the brisket was very noticeable. The sauces we were given are the best sauces I’ve had since we moved to Kansas City from Memphis. I also think the brisket is the best brisket I’ve had since we moved here too. Overall this was a great experience and we will surely be back for more.
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Mike Willis
Had a very good experience at Chef J’s. Love the laid-back vibe and a great excuse to explore the bottoms (ahem, I’m talking about the neighborhood ). Staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Portions are very generous too. I thought the brisket wasn’t as good as some other KC institutions – it was tender, but lacked the smoky/salty punch. The pulled pork was great and the sides are off the hook — highly recommend the Mexican corn! The desserts are delicious too — the peanut butter pie was the perfect end to our meal. Recommend!
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