Q39

Food is outstanding. I was here for lunch, joined by 7 hungry men. We shared the pork belly, Mac n cheese and onion rings to start. All were delicious. I had the Southern Pride sandwich. Pulled pork, their Cole slaw, light sauce on a toasted bun. The pork literally melted in my mouth it was so tender. I’m not big on BBQ sauce so the fact that the smokey meat took center stage was awesome. Basic sandwich with way above average taste and quality. The guys had a little of everything — burnt ends, brisket, ribs etc. They all left stuffed and happy. Only thing that could improve is the speed of service. The service is great, just a little short-​handed it seemed.

Awesome lunch, got here at 11am when they opened, play was packed by 11:30
Ordered the «Judges Plate» (did the brisket, sausage and pulled pork) with beans.
Location is very nice, extremely friendly, good place to bring the family!

Had high hopes for this place. Had it on my watch list for weeks while traveling from state to state.
Wanted to get as much taste as I could so ordered 3 meat plate (ribs, sausage, Brisket, and added pulled pork) sides were potato and baked beans, burnt end burger, and the pork belly appetizer (which was told after a few min they were out but didn’t inform our server haha.)
Where do I start… Really it was just ok. Nothing stood out to me that warranted 1000 reviews of 4 ½ stars. Brisket was actually the best part juicy moist tender, sausage was too strong on the ground beef taco seasoning, pulled pork was decent but anyone with heavy duty foil an oven set at 225 and 7 hrs could do that, ribs pretty standard for any bbq establishment. Baked beans on the sweet side, potato salad Oh my well just skip them altogether.
Burnt end burger was awarded something I guess, so here run down. Burnt ends themselves good, meat cooked med rare flavorless although texture lends me to believe it came from a quality place, coleslaw was just crunchy ok and that’s about it after u sandwich that in between bread it fell flat flavor wise very flat dang I told myself I was so hyped but so very disappointed in this culinary adventure!

First visit to Q39, it did not disappoint and won’t be the last! Everything was delicious! I got the pick 2 dinner pulled pork and brisket with baked beans and seasonal veggies, they brought out some cornbread also which was amazing! BUT, my girlfriend ordered the Pit Master, brisket sandwich, holy taste explosions!!! That bread they use on their sandwiches is stupid good, and topped with those tasty fried onion straws and provolone cheese, just amazing and it was so big she couldn’t finish it so I had to step up and help out, best girlfriend EVER! I have had tons of BBQ, I have never had something this amazing before, I will be back, I’m already having withdrawals!

Fact: Q39 has the best chicken wings, smoked chicken, and potato salad in Kansas City.
When anyone from out of town comes to KC to visit, one of our first stops is always Q39. Joe’s is a classic (and delicious!), but there’s a reason KC is struggling to answer who has the best barbecue in town: Because Q39 is doing a hell of a job.
I’ve never been to Q39 and had anything less than delicious food, fantastic service, and been painfully full still wanting more. If you’re not going to Q39, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Also, get a reservation.

Out of Towner here — if I lived close by I would frequent this place all the time!
I tried the chicken wings — AHHHMAZZZING!!!
I also had the burnt ends burger, which was great. Next time I’ll probably go for a plate of brisket burnt ends because I don’t need the bread from the burger! I just wanna keep eating that delicious brisket!!!
I’ll definitely be back and will probably pick up some bottles of their BBQ sauce because it was delicious!
Good service, great food makes me a happy camper!

This place is awesome! Barbecue is obviously a huge part of KC life and this joint tops all others in town! I had the brisket and pulled pork plate and it was delicious! The chipotle sauce was excellent as well!
Get here now!

I’ve heard all the hype about this place but maintained my reservations. First of all, most of my die-​hard KC friends don’t think it lives up to the hype (though they still enjoy it), and secondly it’s just hard to beat the classics: Joes, Gates, Arthur Bryants — I mean how can you improve? Well I have to say I was blown away. I had a sandwich that had burnt ends, pepper jack cheese, bbq sauce and onion straws on it and all I could think is that it was the perfect bbq sandwich. Yes, perfect. I think the best way to do Q 39 is probably take out as the wait is alway horrendous. We had been trying to go here for months on end and always gave up as the wait was so long. We managed to get in last week on a Friday afternoon for lunch and the wait was only 20 minutes. Anyone who loves BBQ deserves to give this one a solid try, you won’t be disappointed.

Been to 100’s of Bbq joints in every city in the country — top3 and best in KC (that’s a huge statement)
Tender smoke kissed meats — ribs and Brent ends have such a perfect taste and texture — sides were so fresh — big fan

Still my favorite restaurant in Kansas City. Number one BBQ ribs in Kansas City sorry Joe’s. Today I tried the beans that someone recommended… well I’ll be… not your traditional BBQ beans but they were fabulous!
My only complaint is if Q39 has the best burnt ends in Kansas City why can you not get them as an appetizer when it’s listed on your menu? If the brisket and burnt end meal at lunch is $ 15 and the burnt ends appetizers $ 10 it would make more sense to me that you would sell the appetizer. I’m off my soapbox now A+

I was very impressed with this restaurant. I wasn’t sure it would be able to compare to Jack Stack or Gates bbq, but I was pleasantly surprised! The brisket sandwich was probably the most tender brisket I’ve ever had. I was nervous to try it because they cut their brisket so thick and I expected it to be hard to chew and somewhat tough, but not at all! It almost melted in your mouth! The bread was very fresh and soft and the fries were good also. I tried all three of their sauces, but was only a fan of the original/​basic sauce. My husband ordered the trio meat plate and he liked everything… except the baked beans were a little weird.
The service was great, and the restaurant had a nice laid back atmosphere. We didn’t have to wait long to be seated and our food came out pretty quickly but was still hot and fresh. I’ll definitely be coming back and trying other things on their menu!

Everyone in our Kansas City office talked about what they heard of Q39, but no one has been. It’s time to make them jealous. This was worth the 45 minute wait. Be warned service will be a little abrupt at peak times, out of sheer necessity. This place gets packed. And loud. Atmosphere is a little too open and unpadded for meaningful conversation.
But for those drawbacks, the food has every answer. I’ll start with the Q because that’s where everything starts here. The ribs are perfection. Slow smoked to a deep pink, fall-​off-​the-​bone, juicy, meaty perfection. They’re done in the perfect amount of the perfect sauce. I’m using that word a lot and you’ll see more of it. I chose beans as my side and glad I did. Don’t bother with anything else. They are even perfecter than the meat. The burnt ends and the smokiness and something entirely indescribable create a mystical aura. Ask for a spoon or just lick the bowl. The apple cole slaw is an amazing taste experience. You don’t even realize that the word «apple» refers to actual apples, that’s how well the taste blends. Not that I need to say more, but for reference the weakest part of the meal was the cornbread, and I have not a negative word to say about it.
Get the picture? Good. See you here.

Lots of bad reviews lately for poor service and now I’m going to add mine after the last three experiences here. Rude and arrogant bartender who told me they never do burnt ends to go, even though I’ve had them 3 times prior to that (picture below proves it). I’ve sent people here telling them of the burnt ends and they experienced the same attitude and were even told they couldn’t have burnt ends. Not that they didn’t have them, they couldn’t have them because they were saving them for later.
I’ve also tried calling in for a to go order the last 2 times and no one ever picked up the phone. Tonight when they didn’t pick up I decided there are way too many BBQ joints in KC to put up with this. I placed a large order at Jack Stack instead… and it was delicious!
Second star because when they decide you’re worthy of their food, it is good.

In a city full of BBW joints, the unassuming façade of Q39, set in a strip mall on 39^th Street, does not reflect the taste explosion awaiting you on the inside.
My companion and I timed our dinner just right, arriving before 6pm, and were immediately shown to a table. Throughout dinner, the restaurant became progressively busy, and by the time we left, at around 6:30, there was quite a wait. Make a reservation, if you don’t want to sirens done tying in the bar, waiting for a table. Service was great; even though our server had several other tables she was very attentive.
For the meal we started with the burnt ends and onion straws. The menu brags that they are sized for sharing, and this is very accurate. A large portion of burnt ends, which were very tender and had a great smoke to them, were the perfect opportunity to try their sauces– original, tangy (vinegar based) and the soutwestern (a little spice with subtle cilantro). The onion straws were crispy and served with yet another delicious sauce. We also shared the smoked half chicken, with apple slaw and the baked beans. Pkrnty of food fir two, edoevislly after the large appetizers. The chicken was smokey, moist, and so delicious. The slaw was creamy and sweet. The beans were studded with meat and a complex spice blend. Top this off with the tender corn-​laced corn bread and you have a meal that will remain in your memory for some time.

Wow! What a rush! What an experience! This place is a rush from moment #1!!!
So, walking on the door on Friday at 7pm… maybe not the smartest idea but we did it!
Heartbroken to find it was a 1hr 15min wait. Grrrr… our tummies were already grumbling but LUCK! The bar is open seating! A short 10 minute wait and VIOLA! We were front-​and-​center at the bar.
William, one of the four barkeeps, immediately greeted us. Despite the hectic bar and restaurant, he made good effort to take immediate drink orders… I had my first sip of wine 10 minutes after walking in — SCORE!
Within 15 minutes of walking in, we had scored two bar seats, received our wine and submitted our dinner orders. Couldn’t be happier! It kept getting better!!!
Food was served in 13 prompt minutes. AMAZING! DELICIOUS! HOT! O-​M-​G! So FREAKING GOOD!
We seriously forgot to take pictures before digging in (sorry!). We are both pretty «paced eaters» — not tonight — we inhaled our food! Holy heavens it was good! The chicken sandwich was delightfully moist and nothing near greasy. Barbecue sauce was perfectly flavored — WATCH OUT KC — THE COMPETITION HAS ARRIVED!!! Fries were piping hot and perfectly crisp. MAC AND CHEEZE IS THE BOMB DIGGITY!
It was so stinking good we actually ordered MORE food! Whaaaaat? Oh yes! Self control flew out the window and down our throats!
Need I say more? Why are you still reading this review??? What are you doing! Get to Q39 now!!! The choice has been made!!! Q39 is the place to go for an awesome dinner! Talk about a KC treasure!
Thanks again to Dan and Williams (barkeeps) for an AWESOME FIRST EXPERIENCE!

Oh my. Is it possible that there is a BBQ joint in KC that can displace Joe’s as the best? I don’t know, but if there is a new place that can it’d be Q39.
The sandwiches are simple but the choices meld so well. Sourdough, when the world of BBQ likes a simple piece of white bread, with the pulled pork and jack cheese in the No Jackin’ Around sandwich works so well, while Mr. Burns’ pretzel roll with the burnt ends and fried onion was perfect. Switch the breads and you get a totally different sandwich.
The ribs, sans sauce, are some of the best. Succulent and smoky, but not overpowering, fantastic porky flavor. To be honest, I didn’t notice that much if a difference between the sauces, but we also didn’t need them to enjoy the ribs.
Service is professional, but servers are still fun and not snobby. I love the casual atmosphere yet it isn’t in, say, a gas station (sorry, Joe’s).
In the end, though, Joe’s Kansas City still rules Kansas City barbeque (sorry Gates and Arthur Bryant fans). However, Q39 is a fantastic addition to the city’s food scene and differentiates itself from all the other joints in town by elevating the standard BBQ fare and experience.

First thing that came to mind when my coworkers said «We’re opening an office in Kansas City» was BARBECUE!!! A lot of people suggested the older spots like Joe’s but I really wanted something in the city. Q39 was great. The environment reminded me of a place back home (Houston, Tx). Mind you, everyone I met in KC was super friendly, but the staff here was awesome! They were quick, tentative and fun!
We happened to visit KC during «restaurant week» and if you’re not sure what that means, it’s a set menu of 2 – 3 apps, 3 – 4 mains and 2 – 3 desserts (normally 3 courses) for a set price. You get to choose 1 from each section. I think $ 3-​$ 5 goes to charity.
I started with the shrimp wrapped bacon… OMG. Dip that in one of their homemade sauces and you’re mouth will be forever grateful. Second course most of us got the «pick three» since we really just wanted to try their BBQ. Sausage, pulled pork, ribs, brisket — you pick two sides too! They had 2 different sauces to choose from (both were tasty in their own way). Ended the night with brownie a la mode! To be honest I was wayyyy too full at this point to eat it. Had two bites bc I was full, not bc it was bad.
They have a great selection of craft beer and wines. Waiter was knowledgable and even let us try stuff!
Great crew and food, Q39! Can’t complain.

Kansas City is not only the birthplace of Royals, KU and Chiefs. It’s the birthplace of Q39 which by far has the most delicious BBQ I ever had so far. It’s totally worth a trip to Kansas City. It just opened 2 years ago and stole the thunder of all other BBQ restaurants in KC. The atmosphere and the stylish urban-​rustic design are just too lovely.
If Frank Underwood tasted the rrhibs here, he would divorce Freddy’s instantly.
Came here visiting from Maine, stopping by in KC to see my bestest old friends and attending a wedding later. One of my best friends brought me here. For apps, we had «best wings on the planet» and freshly baked pretzel bread with apple and cheese sauce. Those wings were totally Martian! They were the tastiest, most tender, most perfectly seasoned wings I ever had! They’re comparable if not better than the legendary San Tung wings in Sunset, San Francisco.
Q39 secret is very deep, but that uproariously tasty BBQ sauce is their darkest secret! It’s so fresh, so pleasantly tangy, absolutely scrumptious and being made at the kitchen counter in front of you. Our waitress was the most hospitable lady. People are famous for being friendly in the Midwest and it’s true.
Had the beef Angus brisket and burnt ends with veggies. I’m sorry I ran out of adjectives to describe these atrociously sinful burnt ends! But I would’ve used some like perfect, awesome, delicious, tender, juicy, wonderfully smoky etc.
Every city has popular great venues, and KC venue is Q39.

This is by far the best BBQ I’ve had in KC. The wait was understandably long and crowded, but it’s in an area where other bars are easily walkable. Once I got a table the waitress was very nice and the food came out very quickly… less than 20 minutes. I tried an interesting cider/​mimosa beer paired with The Pit Master.
Well deserving of its name, was so delicious with the most tender brisket I’ve ever had. I also tried it with their super smokey baked beans… also the best. I can’t wait to come back as it will definitely be my go-​to place.

Serious BBQ in a rustic/​industrial/​trendy setting. We were early for our reservation and lucky enough to squeeze in and find a seat at the bar. We got to chatting with some other folks who are in the BBQ industry. They were telling us about Rob McGee’s who is a straight up award winning PitMaster! So, yeah, this is serious BBQ! Add that to all the talk from friends about how good this place is and it seems like we were setting ourselves up for disappointment.
There are a few things that I am not a fan of hearing. One of them is «I will have to check but I think we are out of (insert food I want here)». In this instance it was the burnt ends appetizer. Geeez! What time do KC patrons start eating dinner? We were up in this place at 5:00 like early birds! Maybe our server saw us chatting up the BBQ industry peeps and thought we were important or maybe he pulled a favor from the cook because he made the Burnt End appetizer happen! Which, by the way, is about the size of a full meal.
We also had the judges platter and chose the Q spare ribs, sliced brisket, and pulled pork. Sides for this platter were baked beans and apple slaw.
The first bite into my burnt ends made me a Hype Believer! I didn’t add any more sauce that what already came with my meal. The food here is just outstanding and this was the best BBQ I have had… probably ever. The ribs and burnt ends… phenomenal. Even the sides here were good.
Tip: get a reservation. Using Unilocal to do it was easy. Trust that you don’t want to be waiting for an hour plus smelling and seeing that delicious BBQ!