Chef J BBQ

I am a BBQ dork, and love KC and Texas que. Have been to the name places here, and a few others, but this was our first time at Chef J's. My buddy who lives here swears by it. I'm glad he took is here. First off, the staff is amazing, very friendly and helpful. We ordered 3 double meat plates and the sausage plate for 5 of us. So much food. The brisket and pork belly ends were my favorite, closely followed by the turkey, sausage (lemon-pepper and jalapeno cheddar), and ribs were close behind. I loved the Mac and cheese and beans. I will hit this up again next trip.

I was able to finish work early today, so moved up my visit to Chef J to today instead of tomorrow. Even in the middle of a workday there was a line waiting outside for them to open. And the two strangers in front of me telling me every detail of their experience here. First of all, the place is located in the middle of the historic West Bottoms in KC. This area had many red brick buildings that transports you back to a forgotten era. Chef J BBQ is located in one of these buildings. The interior is also has beautiful brick walls with hard wood floors. If there was a speakeasy bbq joint, I would imagine looking like this. But how can keep such a delicious secret.The brisket was nice and tender and melted in my mouth. The bark was nice and crispy with a peppery bite. I love a peppy bark with a nice amount of smoke. The ribs also had a similar peppery bite, with the tenderness to bite through, but not pull away from the bone. Perfect. The pork belly burnt ends were covered in this wonderful sweet bbq sauce with a crispy exterior and a soft interior. Kinda the feeling of biting into a meat version of a peach. The jalapeño cheddar sausage oozed out each bite a flow of cheese. Of course the meats are great but what I enjoyed between each bite was the broccoli salad. Little pieces of bacon, cranberries, and cashews tossing a chili crisp dressing and was a refreshing bite between the fatty meats. I loved the food and the overall atmosphere created by the building and the interior.

Best ribs I have ever had. The brisket and jalapeno sausage were just as good. Went ahead and ordered all the sides just to try them. The beans, potato salad we my favorite the rest we ok and the coleslaw well just missing something. This place has times listed from 11:30 to 4:30 or Sold Out. We waited too long the first time we tried this place and sure enough it was closed because they were "sold out" . This time, we got there early and still had people ahead and behind us. So do yourself a favor, get there early. If you're from out of town, you might wanna grab a rack of ribs to go.

Tried this for the first time… Never again! Spare Ribs on web site are way bigger than the little ones they give ya. Not much bigger than my middle finger. Burnt Ends are not burnt ends they are Pork Belly. If you know BarBQ, burnt ends are beef, there are pork burnt ends but people never order them. And the banana pudding is freaking horrible. A runny mess! Nough Said….Small ribs, the size of my finger.

Chef J serves the best BBQ I've had in KC! The brisket is truly extraordinary - juicy, tender, beefy and cut very thick. The pulled pork was a definite cut above others I have had and the ribs were tender with great flavor and "pull". The sauces add intrigue but aren't necessary for flavor or juiciness. Even the sides we had were outstanding. If they have the collards, get them. Nice people and a fun, funky location. My #1 recommendation for anyone seeking BBQ in KC.

Wow!! This place is amazing. Great food great atmosphere and service. The brisket, sausage, beans and cheesy corn are incredible. Will definitely be going back. Do not be scared off by the line, it’s worth the wait!

It’s a vibe. Dimly lit room where you can get lost with the q in the corner. Best bbq we have found on our tour of the city. Don’t sleep on the burnt ends, they taste like teriyaki heaven. The 4 plate sampler is a hefty plate two people can easily share.

Had the three meat platter with brisket, sausage, and pastrami. I think the latter may be seasonal. The brisket and pastrami were tender and perfectly smoked. The sausage was tasty but the casings were not easy to cut or chew. Had some baked beans and potato salad which were both tasty. Enjoyed the pickled fixins. The three different sauces were good also. Will be back for sure.

Got a recommendation for the cheesy corn here and they were right! You can really taste the wood, it was incredible! Not much else to say here, just great BBQ! +Nice thick cut brisket with crunchy bark -The sandwich bun was poor quality

Phenomenal. Best BBQ in the city and it isn't particularly close... If you like moist brisket this is the only place in town that I have found it as most BBQ places use the fattier ends of the brisket for burnt ends. Jalapeño sausage also very solid and the Banana Pudding is to die for. Their BBQ sauces are also all fantastic. Highly recommend!

Chef J BBQ might just be the best BBQ in KC! From the thick-cut brisket to the amazing sides and desserts, this place has everything. The brisket was perfectly tender with just the right amount of smoky flavor, but what really surprised us were the sides and desserts. The banana pudding was unreal--definitely save room for it! The staff is super friendly and easygoing, making the atmosphere laid-back and fun. Seating is comfortable, but heads up: be prepared to wait in line at peak times, especially on weekends. It's totally worth it, though! We can't wait to come back and work our way through the rest of the menu!

Fantastic end to a KC BBQ trail adventure! There was already a line at the opening time of 11:30, but the smoky meat smell had been permeating through West Bottoms since early morning. I was wandering around an hour earlier and the smell had my mouth watering, totally reminding me of the reason I came downtown. The line moves quickly and soon enough you will have to decide on your order. I decided, reluctantly, on the two meat plate...despite the idea for a sandwich on this visit...let me tell you I would not be disappointed. The potato salad was amazing. The bacon and bleu cheese had the perfect balance of traditional ingredients but then boom pow with blue cheese flavor and creaminess. Of course, the bacon makes it yummier. The hickory baked beans were thick with molasses-y flavor, smokey even. I like the beans, but maybe next time the chipotle helotes (spicy corn)...no, maybe not. I don't know that it would live up to the flavors of the real West or Southwest...but the cucumber salad looked interesting too. Don't miss out on that potato salad though. Now...the meats. I was super impressed with their burnt ends. If they were the best ones I had during the trip. They had a good balance of rich sweet smokiness. These ones are made with pork belly and you can tell as I sliced them up how rich in flavor and juiciness they were. Chef J's is my new KC burnt ends standard bearer. The pork ribs were also done very well. It was fall off the bone, full of flavor. The ribs of which you got three meaty costilles that were crispy yet melted in your mouth. The outer was caramelized like. I was happy with my meat choices. This was an amazing end to my visit to KC. I don't think you would be disappointed coming to West Bottoms and trying anything that is smoked at Chef J's. A must visit.

Chef J BBQ was my brother's number one choice to go to for BBQ based on the recommendation of someone who moved into Kansas City years ago. We made our first stop here for lunch about 1pm and the smell was making us full. We parked and got to the door. A handwritten "Sold Out" sign was taped to it. Not a good start to our vacation. We had to go somewhere else. Of course, we decided to make a return trip the next day. The restaurant opens at 11:30am and we got there this time at 10:45. This time, we were first in line! By the time the restaurant opened, the line was about 30 deep. Turned to be definitely worth the second trip as Chef J was so much better than the other BBQ place we went to (although that was also pretty good). You enter and walk straight to the ordering counter. The large chalkboard menu was hanging from the ceiling. Some written specials were posted on the front of the counter. Today's included a blueberry dessert. I ordered the Beastmode sandwich. This monster sandwich had multiple types of meat including turkey, house made sausage, brisket, pulled pork, and was topped with two ribs. You can also upgrade to a combo which has one side and a drink. They have Coke products here. Yea! My side was smoked elotes (corn). I also had the difficult decision to make for dessert - the everyday served banana pudding or the special blueberry. I went banana. My brother also got the Beastmode and my brother-in-law went with the MVP. This sandwich featured brisket, sausage, pulled pork, and burnt ends. We also ordered bacon burnt ends. The food was amazing. Smoked flavor came popping through, the ribs were tender and so calling my name. The bacon burnt ends were about 1/2 lb of one inch cubes of some of the best BBQ I've had. The banana pudding was good but I've had better. My family had the blueberry which was huge! It was like a smoked blueberry compote and muffin mashed into a pie and smoked again. So good when I tried one of theirs. My smoked elotes had some lime and cheese in there and was a nice complement to the sandwich. Had to have a veggie in there somehow besides the pickles and "slaw" that comes with every plate. All meals come with three small ramekins of three different sauces. One was vinegar based, one mustard based, and one more BBQ saucy. I asked and had the BBQ saucy for all three. I could've eaten at Chef J for every meal and not been disappointed. When we finally left, the line was still going strong. They stay open until sell-out or mid-afternoon, whichever comes first. As I already said, we found out the hard way the first time. We checked out the huge smokers on the side of the restaurant outside. Wish I had one of these bad boys at home! Total just for me was about $38 for the Beastmode with upgrade to a combo and the banana pudding. Definitely make the trip to Chef J for at least one of of your BBQ stops in Kansas City.

My wife and I took advantage of the Fourth of July and decided to continue our Kansas City BBQ tour by stopping by Chef J. We came expecting a long line and wait time to get served but we thankfully we arrived early enough and were able to pretty much walk straight up to the counter. The location is pretty no frills but it sits in a very aesthetically pleasing reclaimed warehouse in the West Bottoms. The man that served us at the counters was kind and knowledgeable and pointed us in the right direction for how to order and the lady who checked us out was very kind and talkative. We decided to split a four meat platter with sides of mac and cheese and smoked elote. We ordered the bacon burnt ends, pulled pork, cheddar jalapeño sausage, and brisket! We found that the four meat platter was plenty of food for two and we ordered the perfect amount and walked away full with no leftovers. We wish we could have gotten the Ribs but they were sold out when we arrived. The meal itself was absolutely to die for and I definitely get the hype! The pulled pork, sausage and bacon burnt ends were among the best I've had in KC if not THE best. I will say I wish the brisket was more moist, the mac and cheese had some salt and maybe some other cheeses, and they provided more generous cups for the sauces for dipping and pouring, but they are relatively minor complaints when the meal was near perfect as a while. Some more in depth notes on the meat and sides: - Bacon Burnt Ends: Near perfect and might be my favorite burnt end that I've had in the city, great bacon flavor, bark and seasoning profile were next level. Melted in my mouth. I would have gotten a double order and gotten more of this instead of the brisket they were that good -Pulled Pork: if the ribs were available we wouldn't have ordered this and swapped them out, but I am very glad we had it, because this is easily the best pulled pork I've ever had, well seasoned, cooked perfectly and made me wish we had more, this is definitely worth your time and I can't recommend it enough - Sausage: nearly perfect, good amounts of jalapeño and cheese and carried great seasoning and flavor, was a highlight for me and one of my favorite sausages that I've had in KC. - Brisket: not bad but also the pieces we were served were unfortunately dry and there wasn't a ton of fat content to make up for it. When everyone else says the brisket is perfectly moist and melts in your mouth when they ate there, I'll just write it off as us getting the end of a piece or it sat for a bit due to it being slower because of the holiday. Sides: - Elote: very good and had a good kick! - Mac and Cheese: Just ok, wish it had some more salt and maybe a more robust cheese mixed in to make the flavor pop, but it wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. All in all this is a must try, easily on my Mount Rushmore of BBQ that I've had and tried during my tour of the BBQ scene here in KC, this will absolutely be a must visit spot in the future and I'm already getting excited for it!

Although it took a little while to wait, the food was worth it. The brisket was one of the best I had in Kansas City since it was tender. The ribs and bacon burnt ends were also delicious and tender. The sauces were also spot on since they served as great compliments to the meats, especially the Carolina-style mustard sauce. The beans and potato salad were also delicious. Overall, the experience was good and the only downside is that it's more expensive than many other BBQ places in Kansas City. This is worth trying at least once and worth going back.

We've been wanting to try this spot for a while and it lives up to the hype. We got the Frito boat which has pulled pork and brisket and one of the sandwiches. The only side we tried were the beans, and they're on par w jack stacks. Everything was delicious, they nailed the perfect KC BBQ flavor and their sauce selection is great. I particularly loved the spicy mustard. It's located right next door to The Beast and there are a lot of cool thirty stores in the area. There's plenty of parking under the overpass. This is on my top 5 BBQ places now, I need to come back and try the burnt ends.

I LOVE the location for Chef J. It's in the West Bottoms, which feels like an area that people often forget about until it's the time of year to visit the Beast or Edge of Hell again. I know there are other stores and such in the area as well, but it seems that they are often overlooked. With any luck, places like Chef J BBQ can drive more traffic to this historic area of Kansas City. The staff were extremely helpful as they offered recommendations for a first-time visitor to the restaurant. I got the MVP sandwich that comes with brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and a single burnt end to top it off. I will say that there were some very hard bits in the pulled pork that were missed when making my sandwich as these pieces shouldn't be served. However, the sausage and brisket were very good and the mustard-based sauce was AMAZING. If you get the street corn, make sure you mix it up before eating because they put all the spice right on top. I can't say this is the best BBQ I've ever had in Kansas City, but it made a good enough impression that I fully intend to visit again soon. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/PVGDpfXN4nU

I finally made it to Chef J and I have to say it does in fact live up to the hype! There's always a line, but we went on an off weekend (I'd recommend not going the first weekend of any month as the West Bottoms is always busier those days), and while there was a line it moved pretty fast and we found ample seating inside. Some of the sides were sold out, but luckily they still had their burnt ends which honestly are probably amongst some of the best in town. Seriously, they were insanely good. Everything else I enjoyed as well, though I found serving size to be a bit smaller than what you're used to at some other places, which isn't a bad thing at all, but something to know when ordering. We shared as usually serving sizes at bbq spots are typically massive but we found sharing here to be a bit trickier. Again, totally fine, just worth noting. All in all I'm looking forward to a return visit in the future and am sure Chef J will continue to gain notoriety on the KC bbq scene.

Brisket was moist and didn't need any sauce, but as it cooled down the fat was inedible. The place is too dark for my preference. Beans were really good too. Getting in the door on a cold and windy day was not optimal, especially when we were bullied by a big ol' boy about our place in line.

This is the place I bring friends when they say they want to try BBQ in KC. The brisket and turkey are some of the best in town. The location is a wonderful space within walking distance of the beloved shops of Westbottoms and a fantastic distillery! Additionally the staff are super friendly. They'll happily give you recommendations or suggestions on pairings with the sauces! So helpful.

I finally got to check out Chef J this last weekend. I've had it via catering but I wanted to go and order to see for myself what the hype was about. They do tend to sell out early but we got lucky on this visit with the only sold out item being turkey (which I wasn't gonna get anyway). Ordering is a bit confusing. You walk up and order meats/entree with the first person, move through the line to order sides, then finally drink and paying at the last stop. I decided to go with the MVP 15: brisket, pulled pork, sausage, with a burnt end top on a Farm to Market Potato bun. I'm pretty sure that the burnt end top was missing...at least I didn't find it. The meat was really good. The brisket was a bit dry and needed sauce. The jalapeño sausage was also good but a bit overdone so again it was dry. The pulled pork was good with the mustard bbq sauce (the yellow one). I'd definitely order it again. We tried 3 sides-hickory pit bbq beans, Mac and cheese, and smoked elotes. I'm super picky on bbq beans and I tend not to like too many. The bbq beans here were good. I personally wouldn't get them again but I didn't hate them. The Mac and cheese was pretty average. Again not bad but not the best I've ever had and I'd probably pass on it in the future. My favorite was the smoked elotes. I really liked the flavors and would definitely get these again. Honestly I was a bit underwhelmed. I've seen and heard the hype and while it was good...top 5 is a meh from me. I'll definitely return and if you haven't I'd recommend you check it out.

Superb barbecue to add to your list of KC bbq spots! Chef J's BBQ is located in the West Bottoms area in an old warehouse. They opened at 12 PM and the line was already well formed. Waited maybe 20 min but does go fast. We couldn't decide what to order so we got the Full Monty which came with brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork and we subbed the turkey for the bacon burnt ends. Everything was heaven . Ribs were so good, sausage was incredible and the bacon burnt ends were as good as they sound. One person in our trio said the brisket was the best they have ever had in KC. Can't forget about the sides. We had the mac & cheese, beans, potato salad and cheesy elote (which was our favorite). Definitely recommend this spot for bbq lovers. Will be the place to bring your out-of-town friends and family when they request classic KC barbecue.

What a wonderful treat that I discovered today! Chef J BBQ is very nice! The star of the show is the brisket. The ribs were also very good. The bacon burnt ends were a little fatty and came sauced. I prefer to add my own sauce. Today's special side was collard greens, which were magnificent! I also enjoyed the hickory pit beans very much. so many places in KC make very sweet beans, which I do not care for, but these were right in the middle zone with some nice vinegar tang. There is usually a line here, and it moved quite slow slowly today. But certainly worth a visit. It's very loud inside, but the food is worth it. I will bring my wife back to try this place because it's really good.

Best barbecue! Got the pulled pork sandwich with Mac and cheese and corn. Must say the corn was absolutely amazing. The smell of bbq hits you in the face right when you open the door. Must check out if you are in Kansas City.

Went to a shopping event at West Bottoms and saw a line for Chef Js so my Spidey sense was telling me I should eat here. The line wasn't too bad and we even made a new friend while waiting. It was my first time experiencing KC BBQ, and I wasn't disappointed in the least. I got the two-meat plate (burnt ends and sausage) and it was heavenly. The sides were really nice too, especially their sweet hickory smoked beans. The counter service was polite and efficient as most good bbq places seem to have that vibe. There was even a place for us to sit (it was about noon when we visited) so or experience really couldn't have been better. My next visit to KC will again include an obligatory stop at Chef J's!

I was hungry for bbq but didn't wanna deal wh the ridiculous line at slaps....my savior? Chef J Bbq in the west bottoms! First timer so trying a little of everything...brisket, pulled pork, bacon and bleu potato salad and cucumber salad. I opted to dine in at this great west bottoms space vs take to go. They've got a dozen 4-top tables inside and a couple of picnic tables outside if you're feeling it. Bonus: Dinner comes with a sauce assortment and picked things, too. Ruling? Yummy!! Worth the stop! Easy to find next door to the Beast! Come hit you some!

I may have a new favorite BBQ joint! First time coming here as part of a Q crawl, we were the first ones in line when they opened at 11am on Saturday morning during the "Blooms in the Bottoms" event. Every new place I like to try the ribs, brisket, and burnt ends to get a feel for what they do well. I have my favorite spots around town for all three, but Chef J hit it over the fence with all of them. The bones just slid out of the ribs - super moist and easy to eat. The brisket was the softest, juiciest brisket I think I've ever experienced - a lot of places serve tough "roast beef" for brisket, but this was amazing. Great smoke ring and great flavor. The bacon burnt ends were fattier than I'm used to, but they have BACON right in the name, so sort of expected. Love that they have multiple sauces including a mustard/vinegar based sauce for that southern touch. I got the baked beans and cucumber salad for sides, based on what I saw others ordering. It think next time I'll try the bacon & blue potato salad as I heard it was EXCELLENT and I didn't care much for the cucumber salad. The beans were great; adding the pickled jalapenos they served on the side of the tray took them up a notch though so I recommend giving that a try - adds just a tiny bit of heat to the beans and an interesting texture. They're not really that spicy. I'll be back to try the rest of the fare here, 100%.

Heard great things about bbq. Finally made it in for lunch Ordered the 2 meat platter- 2 pieces of brisket and 4- burnt ends. Cheesy corn snd bbq beans for sides. Meat was ok. If i am coming to the bottoms it had better be outstanding. Corn lacked salt and a cheesy flavor. At $27 for this platter it us now worth the drive or $$$$.

Now this place has amazing bbq. Very tasty! Hot and fresh. The wait time was well worth it. Very friendly knowledgeable staff. The dining room was clean and well maintained. The brisket was phenomenal and the ribs were fantastic as well. The only downside was the peanut butter desert we got. Kinda dry and salty tasting. Not "bad" but wouldn't order it again.

4.1 Super job here the food was close to flawless with every dish being high quality. The Brisket was just a tiny bit dry and the rips just slightly overcooked. But still, for Texas style bbq in Kansas City? This is the one !

Chef J is a real contender for best BBQ in KC. It is a definite top 3 spot for me. Right now my top 3 spots in KC for BBQ are Harp, Chef J, and Slaps. On my last visit, our party got the brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and sausage. Each would stand up against the best of the best in KC. The sides were also all really good. I really liked the beans and cheesy corn. The slaw was good, but needed more dressing on it. I was a big big fan of the meat being served dry with sauce on the side. The meat absolutely does not need to be sauced. Everything I tried was juicy and had such good flavor. Chef J has some super good BBQ sauces - a sweet, a spicy, and a mustard style. The mustard isn't something I see a lot of around here, but I love the kick it gives. I thought it was the best sauce they had. The sweet and spicy were both good, but the mustard was next level.

Finally got some food , usually the lines are too long or they run out took awhile to finally get some food togo ordered the beast which has chopped brisket , pulled pork , sausage and turkey but they were out of turkey slab of ribs NOW first off we are sweet bbq people the sauces nope none are for us too tangy like gates blah tangist sauce we have ever tasted the bbq beans were the same except it felt like they put jalapeno in it or something it was spicy and tangy blah! the ribs were perfect the beast could taste some heat and tangy in it , it was all chopped together so couldnt tell who was what in the sandwich

My wife son and I went there for lunch after hearing good things about the place. First off I did not expect to spend $90 on lunch for three people. The portion sizes were very small... One serving of brisket was one slice of brisket so by the time you had a Second or third choice to actually make a meal you're over $30 per person. Brisket was flavorful but a little dry and the pulled pork was pretty good. We also had the jerk sausage and that had a nice jerk spice. The cucumber salad and the corn were excellent. Overall, it was OK barbecue but I just couldn't get over the price. Sorry to say that I won't be back.

Not for me at all. I'm not from the area so finding this place was a pain to start with. The menu was decent looking and the only reason they get 2 vs 1 stars is the people working were really nice. That being said the food was gross. If people think this is the best BBQ they haven't gotten out much. Maybe I'm spoiled because we have one of the best BBQ joints up here (Smoking Barrel BBQ) outside of Texas, but man! We got a 3 meat plate with brisket, burnt ends, and turkey at the guys suggestion. Also had the beans and the mac n cheese. All the sauces on the side. The mac and cheese is a joke. They took soggy noodles mixed it with cold white cheese sauce and put it in a cup. It looked like something you'd see off Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay screaming at someone. The bbq beans taste like ketchup and not much else. The brisket was cold and had a weird flavor. The burnt ends were also cold and nasty. The turkey was in fact the best, but that isn't saying much. It was luke warm at best, and rather bland. The sauces weren't stand out. Also most of the tables on the right side seating area were dirty. We ended up wiping down our own table. I refused to eat it and my husband gagged it down just to avoid confrontation with anyone. Later before we left town I went to Joe's KC like I normally would. Got REAL mac n cheese (delicious) and the best ribs. Go to Joe's KC BBQ. The line is long, but the ribs can't be beat. Seriously, skip this place. I'm so sad y'all think this is the best BBQ KC offers.

Food and service was amazing, I loved the brisket and jalapeño sausage even the sides were wonderful. Definitely coming back

Finally got over to Chef J and got to try it and was impressed! The bacon burnt ends were so unique from anything else you'll get in town. The bark on the brisket was fantastic, but overall it was a little too dry for my liking. The sides were very solid, but nothing to write home about. The inside was very clean and well laid out and the staff were super friendly and helpful. Chef J is a fun change of pace from other BBQ in KC, but it's tough to see my choosing them over other local favorites.

Some of the best BBQ you will ever eat. It is similar to Pecan Lodge in Dallas. Get in line early and try as much as you can handle. The jalapeño cheese sausage, pulled pork, smoked elotes, chipotle slaw, potato salad, and sauces are incredible. It's worth the wait and I would go back any time.

We stopped aT Chef J as part of our KC barbecue safari. It was well worth it. We ordered ribs, brisket, pork belly burnt ends, and 2 sausages--jalapeño and cheese and chorizo with Mexico seasonings. All of the meat was well prepared, some of the best we've had after visiting 11 barbecue joints. They do not sauce the meat (yay) and gave us 3 different sauces to try--KC sweat, KC spicy, and North Carolina mustard. This may be the only BBQ joint in KC where someone can order moist brisket, like in Texas. The cut their brisket on the spot in thick, juicy slices. No other place we tried does that, and it make a huge difference in taste and quality. The staff is very friendly.

Came from out of town, and my wife and I sat in silence as we ate the ribs, brisket and burnt ends. Absolutely delicious and mind blowing BBQ.

Disappointed because we came down here and they were closed Feb 15-19. Maybe next time.

Fantastic food, fun atmosphere, can't wait to come back again. We came with multiple families and had a great time. I think we ordered everything on the menu and it all delivered.

This is a definite must try!! We went here last month and have talked about it constantly since we did. I even posted on Instagram how much I love this place! We had heard you needed to get there early to get in line. We went about 30 minutes before they opened thinking we'd pop into some stores beforehand. The line had already started forming so we got in line as well. It was so cool talking to people in line, some loyal customers and others excited to try to the first time. They were out of several things when they opened due to supply chain issues but that's ok because everything we ordered was fantastic. Chef J is definitely making a name for himself during the BBQ Renaissance, KC is having. If you go to a Royals game, you can also get some Chef J at KCQ! This place is delicious and I can't wait to come back again and again!

Made my top 3 Kc bbq spots. Everything was amazing. We had a little wait but it was worth it. Make sure you get there early before everything sells out. Highly recommend just about everything. The burnt ends, sausage, and sides were amazing. Would definitely recommend

Fast service, delicious food. Had burnt ends, brisket, corn, beans, mac. All great, highly recommend!

This is not your typical Kansas City BBQ. Here the meat is served dry with small cups of three different kinds of sauces on the side. The chef wants the meat to do the talking. It sure does. I had the two meat combo for $22. It came with two sides. I came late and options were limited. I picked the pulled pork and got the last order of brisket. I had mac and cheese and beans. Great bark and flavor from the brisket. It needed no or little sauce. The pulled pork was a traditional pulled pork. The beans were sweet and flavorful. Instead of pickles a pickled side of beets and home made pickles was good. I would like some brisket in the beans. The mac and cheese could be creamier. There is not distinct sign where to order. Nice art work too. If you like flavor, great tasting BBQ that is a little different. This is the place to go.

Top places in KC! Ribs, brisket and bbq are fantastic! Get there fast since they sell out quick

Wow! Geeze where to start? Can't quite remember when we stumbled up on this fine eatery, especially since we are from Los Angeles, Ca... but, I'll tell you one thing , CHEF Js have forever made eating BBQ anywhere else impossible. Their meats, and I mean all their meats... brisket 10/10... burnt ends 10/10... sausage 10/10.... Pulled pork 10/10.... Ribs 10/10... AND THE TURKEY 15/10... the juiciest, tender, flavored gobbler I've ever had. Thank you Chef Js for ruining thanksgiving for me, my moms Turkey will never compare , sorry mom, my heart belongs to chef Js. Oh, and before I forget the sides are equally delicious & deserts are delectable. Much love from sunny Ca.

Place is great! Ambience we as super cool. All that meat was great, but the pork belly burnt ends were amazing! It's one of my favorite BBQ meats. Most places don't make em' they nailed it. I will be back, the fellas behind the counter were super helpful and great.

Arrived around 145pm. Most meats sold out. Good sign. Ordered 1/2 slab ribs. Delicious. Also ordered Tennessee dip sandwich - subbed brisket since they were out of pulled pork. Brisket was a bit dry. Slaw with Sammie was good but not impressive. Sauces were all good. Take it or leave it. Ribs yes. Everything else. TBD.

This place is, wow. I don't think I have ever had such seasoned BBQ in my life. No barely seasoned meat you are expected to douse in sauce to get flavor here. A recommendation: get here early. We came on a Saturday after First Friday, and they were out of several things: burnt ends (super bummed), & banana pudding. That being said, was still phenomenal. Hubby had MVP 15 with all brisket, delicious. I kept stealing bites. Potato bun was fluffy and not stale. I had pulled pork, & it didn't require tons of sauce to flavor up dry meat. Explains why they give thimblefuls of sauce when asked, & not have large bottles sitting on the table. The pickles that come with are delicious. I had the spicy coleslaw & cucumber salad, tons of seasoning both. Very peppery, & complex. Had enough for a full meal of leftovers. Stood in line a bit, but was able to snag a table. Meat is cut when orders, so never has a chance to dry out. It's a bit dark inside. Bathroom left a bit to be desired, toilet seat was falling off. Bonus: your hubby will be thrilled with a BBQ lunch when you drag them antiquing in the Bottoms! Will 100% be back.

Honestly kc has a new king off bbq there brisket is by far the best in kc there staff was super friendly and was worth being there a hour before open to get this amazing texas style bbq we got there largest sampler at 75 dollars which includes 1 pound of brisket 1/2 of turkey pulled pork sausage and half a rack of ribs and man those ribs are good you could taste the hickory off that smoker and it was incredibly a totall package of flavors they give you huge portions of sides well worth the trip to the west bottoms get there early they run out by 2 of food this place is perfect and soon will be not only a staple of kc bbq but bbq in the United states it's that good best bbq in the country and giving franklin's in Texas a run for there money

Fire brisket, I like the juiciness of Chef Js brisket better than q39 but it's a hard toss up. I think if it was fresher I would say chef Js was better but it did seem like maybe I got the last of it. But I'd have to come back again. Top 3 bbq so far I've been to in KC though. I think once they get things rolling alittle smoother they'll be a hard place to beat.

Chef J BBQ is a must try! I believe they will soon be a staple BBQ joint in KC before you know it. One of the best slices of brisket I have had at a KC restaurant. You can tell the love that was put into smoking the flat.

We were driving through town and wanted BBQ. We looked up a handful of BBQ restaurants, looking at menus and reviews, and this one looked great. We were so happy after eating here, glad we chose this restaurant! Everything was great, my favorite was the Blue Cheese Potato Salad, it was amazing! It is in a cool part of town and inside an old building. Overall, a neat place we will definitely eat at again the next time we are driving through.

Holy hot damnnnnn ... Chef J's brisket and burnt ends make every other places' offerings taste like cardboard in comparison. Other BBQ joints, you *need* the sauce. At Chef J's, the meat is just that good on its own. I'm looking forward to trying some of their other meats next time. Brisket: The only one I've had in KC that is juicy, melt-in-your-mouth thick slabs, with a beautiful thick bark on the outside. I don't want to hate on classic thin-cut KC brisket, but it just feels like dry, thin roast beef a lot of the time. They instantly sold me on "Texas style" with this. Burnt Ends: supplanted Slaps's burnt ends as my favorite now. Just a really good fatty/juicy interior (in a good way) and same crackly bark exterior. Doesn't just taste like a thick chunk of brisket cut into a square shape, this is the real deal. Edit: OK, I realized that they actually mean these are pork, cut from slab bacon. It totally makes sense now, why they taste like the best part of pork ribs lol. You can see in my second photo that the meats on their own left a beautiful pool of juice (that's not the sauce or anything). Legit! Sauces: Again, the meat shines just on its own but I really like the thinner base of the sauce here, nice tanginess and complexity. Sides: My only wish for improvement would be that the cheesy corn had a baked, crackly top, but I understand how that'd be tricky in a "to go" place. I don't see that around here very much anyway. Other: - More interior seating than I expected with the hopping business, a nice plus. - There was already a line around 11:30am (opening) when I got there, so don't be in a rush.

10/10 absolutely best BBQ in Kansas City. Get here on time because they sell out fast. I recommend the burnt ends, brisket and sausage. Ribs are also amazing. Sides in the pic are cucumber salad, Mac and cheese and potato salad. All are superb. Burnt ends and brisket were SO GOOD. Staff is super friendly and the location is easy to get to, plenty of parking. Definitely go here if you are interested in some great KC BBQ!!

I almost don't want to review Chef J so it stays the best hidden gem in KC, but that would be a disservice to EVERYONE! The meats are delicious -- the rubs are crunchy and exploding with flavor. Plus they are cooked to perfection. The sides are amazing, too! I cannot overstate how cheesy and delish the Mac and cheese is. The corn is unique and worth coming back for. And you can never go wrong with BBQ baked beans full of meat. YUM!!! Definitely check the hours before you go but don't wait!! This is a top BBQ spot in KC -- and they run out of meat, so go early, especially on first weekends in west bottoms.