The 15 Best Kansas City BBQ Restaurants | Eater

"There’s no secret to the success of Chef J, a next-gen barbecue destination in the city’s historic Stockyards District. Pitmaster Justin Easterwood’s 1,000-gallon offset smoker — which he calls “Big Mila”— is parked right outside. That smoker yields thick, fall-apart slices of beef brisket and tender ribs with a bold bark. The sandwiches are just as good. Try the Tennessee Dip, a pulled pork sandwich served with a cup of spicy, vinegary red sauce. Easterwood isn’t precious about mixing regional influences: His gold sauce, coarse with mustard, hints at South Carolina, while his signature sauce is vinegar-based and stippled with pepper and celery seed. Kansas Citians have embraced him all the same. A new, larger location (with four custom-built offset smokers) is in the works for KC’s Pennway Point district, with an opening tentatively slated for fall 2024." - Liz Cook