Gates Bar-B-Q

The staff greeted us, recognized we were newcomers, and gave clear instructions and answered all of our questions. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was fun! I had a turkey sandwich and it was hot and fresh as well as the steak fries.

Sauces were great, super kind folks, the burnt ends were the star of the show...but minced...not a typical burnt end. The ribs...not a fan...kinda dry even with sauce. Beef and bread was good. I wish there was a way to order separate portions as you like

We just arrived from Dallas for a funeral and wanted some good food. Sorry this wasn’t the place. BBQ was cold and the sauce. My fish was cold as well and they even had nerve to bring me another piece that was cold as well. Hush puppies were raw inside and the worse I’ve ever had. The only thing I enjoyed was the sprite. Please save your money and don’t eat here.

We haven't been to Gates BBQ since before Covid. We decided to try it. The ribs were dry , tough, not much meat on them. The bread was fresh and good. The baked beans were good too. The man that picked up our dishes was friendly and welcoming. We didn't have time to take the ribs back because we had to leave Kansas City. Gates BBQ was a big disappointment. What we paid for the ribs, they should have been fresh and tender.

Food was good, service was better! We failed to get the burnt end sandwich which was probably a big mistake. This place was not as good as Joes in my opinion. The employees had to be some of the best I’ve had wait on me in a good while! Expensive for the amount of food we got.

1st time here. It is a little pricey. They slice the turkey and brisket thin like deli meat. BEST ONION RINGS, EVER! Sauces are good. They know how to do spare ribs! They serve fries with everything, apperantly (no substitutions). They are good, but who needs em when ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.

Omgggg the bbq was the best. I had never had sausages like these....almost like a meatloaf texture and spicy! Woooohooooo! Met Mr Gates....classy guy!

Great food. Excellent place to take Kansas City visitors to get a taste of Kansas City BBQ.

The ribs were really good, the bbq sauce (mid), the fries and coleslaw (10). Would recommend putting the sauce on the side, takes away from the flavor of the food. The customer service was off the charts. Very friendly and patient attendant. Overall great experience. We had an opportunity to meet the OG which was nice.

Outstanding as always. Best barbecue in the world "how may I help you!?!?" this place is an experience. Every barbecue fan should have multiple times in my life.

There is a reason that Gates BBQ is one of the Big Four of Kansas City BBQ, and with so many locations to choose from, you're never far from grabbing a plate. While there are many things done very well on their menu, the Nooner at Gates or the Mixed Plate are what truly shines. But you can't skimp out on dessert here because the Yammer pie is delicious! There is a reason that thoughts of Gates creeps into my mind around lunch time whenever I'm craving BBQ! You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/DO0ySfx36Hg

If you grew up in the urban core of Kansas City then you know Gates BBQ is a staple to be savored. When come home this is usually my first stop, followed by a follow up trip or two while home. I bought a slab of a burnt end for travel and after a 2 hour flight everything was just like I remembered. When you walk in if the hostess does yell at you then turn around and walk out cause you're in the wrong place! HI MAY I HELP YOU?

Pretty enjoyable experience overall. Food was ordered quickly and served fast, even with a line. I like being able to see a well-run kitchen in action, always cool. Food was good. My burnt ends sandwich was tasty and filling, Mac and cheese was okay but not my favorite. Still solid though. Staff was helpful, especially to a guy like me who doesn't live in KC, hadn't been in before, and was not entirely sure of the process. Checked on me to make sure I was doing okay. Solid meal overall, glad I stopped in.

Wasted my money spent over $30.00 dollars and this is what I get. Didn't look at it till I got home. 47th and Paseo.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted by the extremely friendly shift manager. They took my order and I was served right away. The food was delicious as always and the shift manager continued to make sure everyone was taken care of and happy. I also got a to-go order that my wife also thought was delicious. We will definitely be back!

Normally we have no issues with this location but Saturday we had an issue. My husband's sausage and fries were great. My double decker beef "lean as possible" was terrible.

We stopped by gates while on our last night before continuing on with a cross country trip. Craving bbq, we looked around and this seemed pretty great, so it was worth heading a little out of our way to try it out. We were not mistaken.  My partner and I, not being heavy eaters, split the mix plate and a small side of beans. It fes us both very well, and we probably could have split with a third person while still getting full. The plate itself consisted of three meltingly soft ribs, a pile of equally melting beef, and some decent ham (I don't like ham, so I didn't try it) l. It also came with a pile of very good fries, and some white bread my poor PNW soul did not know what to do with. (Sorry, southern ancestors; I don't mean to disappoint you!) The sauce was great, nice and vinegar based, though only very mildly spicy. They do have a spicy sauce, but I forgot to ask about it. My stomach is probably happier this way, anyways. The beans were a little sweet for my taste, but sit well with the vinager-based bbq sauce, so I recommend getting a small just to try. The prices are a little on the high side, and don't include sides, so this might not be a great place to bring your four kids, unless you have a lot more money than I do, but for two people it is pretty great. Additionally, the noise level is tolerable for a person with sensitivities. The noise worst at the entrance and ordering counter, so if noise is a problem for you, let someone else do the ordering. While you grab one of their many, many tables. (You won't need to wait for seating!) Once seated, I did not need to use my noise cancelling ear plugs, which is a HUGE plus for me. The ambiance was pretty cool, actually. Ordering is done cafeteria style, which means you get your food fast, and there's all sorts of cool vintagey things stashed around, as well as old photos of the most notable musical innovators of the last century. I had fun looking at All the pics and picking the people I know :) There are no servers here, but there is staff assigned to keep an eye on guests. Our staff member was Michelle, and would someone please get that woman a rise and a thank you basket?! She was kind, funny, had great travel stories (we travel, so these were appreciated) as well as tips for enjoying the surrounding area. Thank you, Michelle! Even if you couldn't quite convince us our tummies could handle that very tasty looking sweet potato pie! If anyone reading this happens to stop by, give her a big hello, and let her know she's appreciated :)

Great people & service, burnt end sandwich and beans were topflight! Thank you all! Dan

Came here on our way through KC. It was Memorial Day and we were still able to get hot food quickly that was pretty great in flavor and quality! The ribs were my favorite mostly for the taste and less for the tenderness but they did have a good crunch to them. The burnt ends were just not great at all. Too much seasoning not enough girth to it. Felt like I was eating sloppy joes, just some mushy meat. I would come back for the ribs any day though and the service was so quick !

Historic looking building, if not a bit dated. Some friendly staff. I ordered the Burnt Ends sandwich. It was shredded burnt ends that were quite juicy and flavorful, but a bit salty for my taste. The BBQ sauce was pretty tomato-y. Overall, this BBQ restaurant ranks lower on my KC BBQ list, but glad I tried it.

Smok'n fun place to eat. This cafeteria style BBQ restaurant is a classic KC establishment. There is a toned down 'yell at the customer' order style compared to the downtown location. We had to wait a long but as usual worth it. I had the sausage and I would say that it is not my favorite sausage and Kansas City barbecue. My daughter had the short ribs and they were delicious. My husband had a beef and bone. My other daughter had a turkey and Ben barbecue and they definitely enjoyed their sandwiches as well. Great size portions. Flavorful service in the dining room and of course, delicious thick pickles.

Really good bbq...Reminds me of bbq one would have at the home of a good grill master! Also the portions were huge! Definitely would recommend!

We Stopped by on 4/20/24. Our first impression was that this was a nice bbq restaurant. The place itself is very well decorated, has lots of culture, and has a fun vibe. This presentation made us feel excited to try the food but after trying the food it seems this chain is more focused on presentation than serving delicious food. In summary: WE WILL NEVER COME BACK. PRIORITIES ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE. After looking at the menu we ended up ordering a slab and beef on bun. Service was loud and chaotic, this didn't fit in with what we were expecting. Additionally, We saw very unsanitary practices when it came to food handling which threw us off but did our best to just focus on the food. Things we saw included our cashier eating fries out of the fryer while checking us out, meat handlers were touching non cooking surfaces with dirty gloves and then person serving sides was handling food without gloves. Now For the food: the slab includes a slab of ribs and bbq sauce, with bread and pickles on the side. The ribs themselves were presented upside down which was weird. The meat itself was okay but nothing to rave about. It was actually rather dry and not at all tender. A real bummer. Next, the beef on bun was room temperature :(. The fries that came with the sandwich were piping hot but the sandwich was room temp if not cold. what's up with that? The meat in the toaster beef was VERY chewy. We took one bite and left it there. It just made us sad because it had such potential. The bbq sauce is nothing impressive.

Gates BBQ in Kansas City is the ABSOLUTE BEST barbecue I have ever had!!! Five Star service! The staff is SUPER friendly, fast and extremely hard workers. The bathrooms were very, very clean. The BEST experience I ever had at a restaurant!!!

Gates BBQ has several locations around Kansas City. This location is their Leawood one and has a spacious parking lot. You order at the counter, seat yourself, and a waiter will bring you your food. There's plenty of seating with one room featuring music and another that has TV screens with usually sports games on. My friends and I walked in and had no clue how to order, and the lady behind the counter made great recommendations and took great care of us. She constantly came by to check on our table too. The service was so friendly. I highly recommend the Burnt Ends Sandwich. It's a hefty portion and the meat was lathered in sauce and had a tasty smokiness to it. If you come during lunchtime, you can get this sandwich for a steal at $8 with fries. TLDR: Such friendly service and the sauce for their brisket is smoky and so flavorful.

It was ok. We were visiting. I've had wayyyy better & the staff are too loud. Not a big fan of the bbq sauce either. Maybe I didn't know what to get but I must say, thangs are just bigger & better in Texas!

I dined at the 1325 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64110 location on December 8, 2023. While the staff was friendly and helpful; the Beef on Bun plate was not satisfactory. The beef was full of fat that was difficult to chew. Gates has been a staple for KC BarBQ for decades and I am disappointed. To the manager/owners; please don't short change your many loyal patrons by delivering low quality products (food). Although there are many options for niche BarBQ, I chose your business to patronize. Please let me know if I should specify that I want easy to chew and lean beef when I place my order. Assuming that I revisit your restaurant.

Excellent Barbecue Food , large quantities , enough to share...Excellent Service , Excellent ambiance with the streetcar inside , and the employees belting out the orders , really enjoyable experience... Kudos to the Uber Driver that suggested this place , as we were at a convention and was looking for Great Barbecue... Very Pleased & cannot wait to go back...

Great service and food was very excellent. One of the best BBQ restaurants around in the KC area!

I'm not sure what was better, the service or the food. Everything was great. The portions are massive but don't skip the beans. I would baptize my first born in those beans if I could.

Zero customer service skills, burnt end plate was inedible. Chunks of gristle very little actual meat and very very salty. Huge disappointment. So loud you could not place your order correctly. No condiments. Just overall a huge let down for all the hype about the restaurant.

Truly one of my absolute favorite places to eat BBQ and first BBQ I ever ate !!!! Over 50 years enjoying Gates BBQ!! First stop family and friends want to make when they come to visit Kansas City!!!! Always a warm Hi! Can I Help YOU!!! Love it! Real Customer Service when you walk in the Door! My favorite a short end with Beans!

I come to Kansas City two to three times per year. I highly recommend this GATES location for Barbecue. It is run by the original owner and is not a "chain/fast-food" conglomerate. Here are my recommendations: The Sandwiches featuring pulled pork or brisket are not only wonderful, they are quite the lunch bargain for such a high quality product. The ribs: they are Marvelous. The sauce is quite unique. I cannot say that it is like any other's because it doesn't have extreme sweetness. The sauce is robust and can be purchased online, at the stores, and also at the MCI airport(KC Airport code). The beans were on point. The steak cut French fries and Onion rings are second to none. I eat out at home several times per week in California and also am a regular to the Midwest Foodie Town of Omaha (if you didn't know, now ya' know.) The weakest suggestion for the menu is the turkey. Turkey dries out really quickly and this is not something that you cannot cook and keep hot in a warming drawer or bin. So their turkey definitely is closer to a deli/lunch meat style turkey. And although I adore barbecue turkey when it's done properly, I can't recommend the barbecue turkey. If they dropped it from the menu I don't think it would hurt them a bit. The chicken is done well. I am not a sausage eater but the folks in my party thought they were very good. The pulled pork will change your life! I cannot remember very much about the sides. I think I could do the potato salad better, but they would have to ask me for my recipe- which l would gladly share. The beans were good, as are the burnt ends and the macaroni and cheese is very homemade- both creamy and satisfying.

Favorite Song by Toosi lyrics say. "Singing your favorite song-look in the crowd and you're no where to be found as they sing along," always also sounds like beef on bun. Where do I get my beef on bun? Gates BBQ has the beef on bun! Chiefs games and Gates BBQ was a tradition as a child. As I have become a woman I enjoy a beef on bun as a treat. Every time I go to Gates it's, How may I help you? I ordered a single beef on bun and you have to order extra pickles and jalapeños. Same consistency every time, loyalty to customers, and shook hands with the guy keeping the lights on. Thank you! God bless!

Wow--fantastic! Absolutely delicious food and friendly service in an amazing and unique environment. Loved it. The pitcher of KC Bier was only $9.50 and perfect.

We ordered the burnt end sandwich on a hoagie and it was wonderful. Meat was slight crunchy in parts and soft in others and covered in Gates delicious barbecue sauce. Beans were wonderful and the yammer pie was a perfect end to the meal. Highly recommended.

Ribs were good. Sides, not so much. Beans were cold and potato salad was bland. I was offered macaroni salad as an alternative but that wasn't much better. Hearing "Hi....may I help you" several times before we were seated was annoying. Liked the interior decor.

Not my cup of tea. I was not a fan of the bbq sauce. Too spicy. Had a cumin taste to it. It was too chaotic for me on the ordering. Not a fan of yelling. Everyone recommended the burnt ends. I was disappointed. I got a big chunk of meat and had to try and pull it apart. So hard to eat. Sides were pricey for what you got.

*** Yelp review #1000 *** I have been pondering for the past few weeks what business would be worthy of this small milestone of finally achieving my 1000th review on Yelp. I have reviewed another Gates location that I frequent more often and try not to make a habit of writing multiple reviews for the same chain, but I'm making an exception for several reasons. This Gates location is considered it's flagship store. The perfect location just a few blocks east of The Plaza and The Nelson Atkins between 4 iconic Kansas City street names: The Paseo, Troost Ave, Cleaver Blvd and the soon to be rebranded MLK Jr. Blvd. All street names that are indelibly tied to the rich African American heritage here in Kansas City; just like Gates BBQ. Gates can trace it's lineage all the way back to the godfather of KC BBQ - Henry Perry. Todays patriarch of Gates and all KC BBQ in general is Ollie Gates and Mr. Gates was finally inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame just this past week. A most worthy and long overdue recognition. This past Memorial Day me and my buddy stopped at this Gates on our way to Kaufmann Stadium for a Royals vs. Pirates game. A most perfect day. Spending and afternoon visiting graves of American Service men, an evening watching America's pastime and sandwiching in between, a perfect visit to Gates. I've said it many times - no one anywhere can best Gates in the BBQ Rib business. Perfectly smoked, seasoned, slathered and served. Get a slab, an order of fries and or rings and some beans a couple of cups of sauce for dipping and just soak it all in. The history, the culture, the cuisine and the camaraderie. This is where it all comes together. Congratulation Mr. Gates! Kansas City is lucky to call you our own.

Went to KC and got Gates Bbq to go. So disappointed. Rude cashier. Food wrapped in saran wrap on a very flimsy plate. They put the bread under the meat so it was very soggy. Service. Cleanliness and appearance terrible. Food taste about a 5 rank out of 10. Overall a 2 score Very Disappointing!

i've been going to Gates for about three decades now, and not much has changed. The food is solid and if you've been to Gates, you know what you're going to get the next time you go back. The sides are good. There's usually plenty of seating and plenty of parking. they have it changed their menu much if at all so if you're looking for creative barbecue with fancy sides or clever takes on barbecue, this isn't the place. This is a good solid choice for barbecue and the predictable sides of slaw baked beans , etc.

*** BLACK OWNED BUSINESS ALERT ** My absolute first stop in KC had to be at @gatesbbqkc , Ive been hearing that it is one of Kansas City's must try's. I walked in and was immediately hit with that smoked bbq meat smell and a hint of 1900's black culture. I tried to get a quick bite but ended up getting more than what I could drive and eat with. I had to literally go back in and seat down cause when I say THEY PILED THE MEAT ON THIS THING. This sandwich is called "The Nooner" with burnt ends and your choice of additional meat ( BRISKET) on that soft bun. Of course my absolute favorite , 5 choices of BBQ sauce .I just excited when I see that. This is something that you definitely won't be able to finish all in one sitting. If your ever in the Kansas City area please make sure to stop by @gatesbbqkc and make sure to tell them Timmy sent you! Follow me on Instagram @Timmyinthecity

They've lost it. Former locals returned to get some bbq brisket. Dry, inedible and total waste of our time and money. This has happened before to us, so this time we're done. Total disappointment. Go to Joe's or Bryant's or... Sorry Ollie, you've lost us as customers.

I came here for lunch and tried their Burnt End Sandwich. I was honestly overwhelmed by the amount of fat that was in the sandwich. I couldn't finish the whole thing because of how heavy it was - I think I could feel it slowly clogging my arteries with each bite I took. The flavor was fine, but it was too much. The menu isn't entirely intuitive - I didn't know what a short end or long end was - so if you're a KC BBQ noob like me, it may help to ask some questions. I was told the ribs didn't come with anything, and that I would have to order separate sides if I wanted something besides ribs. But then I saw someone after me order it, and it came on some bread with pickles. If I had known that, I would have ordered the ribs. Also, the nooner is probably a better deal for lunch than most anything else on the menu. I didn't learn that until after I ordered, too. Overall, I had an average experience at Gates. I was told misleading information, and the sandwich I ended up ordering tasted good, but was way too fatty for my liking.

The once, current and future king of Barbecue in the United States is Gates and Sons!!

I was visiting from out of state and always here about Gates BBQ. I was also told their customer service isn't that great, but I received exceptional customer service. I believe Tina was there that day and she continued to check in on us and make sure we have everything we needed. On to the food... -The fries are just fries. No seasoning and no flavor. -Brisket, it was sliced very thing like deli meat. This was different for me as we like our brisket thick. It also lacked flavor, but the bbq sauce definitely gave it some mix. -Burnt Ends, we don't have this in Texas and it was pretty good. -Ribs, they were actually my favorite of the day. If I visit again, I would probably only order the ribs.

Gates has went downhill. This location especially. My favorites were burnt ends and the sausage. Ordered both and burnt ends were barely burnt small portion and too much fat. Sausage was skimpy and dry tasted like was old and not freshly cut. There was no love in my order and I spent around $75. The beans and fries are the only consistent items. Ribs weren't outstanding either. If you are going to eat here, go on a weekend when they try to impress the white tourist.

Slave girl and I were told we should check out Gates BBQ while in KC, and since we were driving around for our BBQ crawl, we stopped by here. This restaurant was confusing for the first timer like me. There were two entrences, one of them said "To Go", and that was easy to follow. The other side said "To E. 19th St." There was no way I would know that would be the line to sit and dine in the restaurant. Since we were on the go, we didn't get to check the inside of the restaurant. On the to go side, it seemed like a good setup to just order then check out, but it was soooooo slow. There were only 8 people in front of us, but it took over 30 min just for us to get to the counter to order. On top of that, we still have to wait another 10 minutes for them to place the meat in a box. The staff did not act like they really want to be there and not interacting with customers at all. I kept hearing "hi may I help you" on the dine in side, but I didn't hear it once at our side. Oh well, we weren't there for the service I suppose. The menu had bunch of stuff and we like to try everything, so we ordered the mix plate to sample some of their best. The mix plate had ribs, brisket, ham, and fries. Ribs were good, tender and flavorful. Ham was also good, but it felt like the deli meat from a supermarket. The brisket was way dry, not loving it. While we were there, I saw them refried the fries from the heat lamp to keep the texture, but our fries ended up over cooked with old oil taste. They also didn't give enough BBQ sauce. I believe it was because they wanted to sell the sauce instead. The sauce was not bad but it didn't hit the spot like some other places I've been to. Overall, Gates was a disappointment. Aside from the service, the food was not impressive. I wouldn't mind to skip this place in the future.

The customer service is outstanding I love the smiles the happy greetings makes you feel like you were at home having a good sweet meal. Went out of town family dropping this is the spot we go to for good mutton, it's the only place in town The food is so good I didn't have nothing to take a picture of not even an empty plate

I am from Louisville Ky.. and just happened to be in KC for work.. I was told this place was good... But they lied.... It Was Delicious... Good is an understatement!! Very friendly and helpful staff... They are always asking "How can I help you" I was asked 3 times in 3 different situations which really gave a welcoming vibe to the place!.. I had the Burnt Ends sandwich, baked beans, roasted potatoes and for good measure, I threw in two rib bones... Yummy yummy yummy.. Did I eat it all???... of course not!!! But now I have some for lunch tomorrow.. win, win!!!

We went to Gates yesterday for lunch, Cleaver Blvd location. They have a large parking lot so there's plenty of places to park. If you go in the evening, they usually have a security guard. Let's talk about the culture here. They yell, "how may I help you?" I know this turns a lot of people off. I don't particularly like it, but that's Gates. Get over it! This is one of my favorite locations because the food is usually spot on! Some locations are hit and miss, but this one is usually really good. I think the employees are nice here too. They have a hostess in the dining area who is always checking to see if everything is good. When Gates is good, I don't think anyone can beat their barbecue. We love their original sauce, nice and spicy! We got a short end of ribs, beef sandwich, and fries. It was perfect. The ribs were very tender, just delicious. The beef sandwich was equally as good. I really like Gates fries too. I spied Ollie Gates and he was with his wife or daughter. Barbecue royalty. One of the employees was walking her to the car, since it was raining. She offered to share her umbrella with us. I thought this was very nice. If you like barbecue, check out the Gates on Cleaver Blvd. It won't disappoint.

Been a long term customer of Gates since 1962 when it wS OG's on Indiana. Went to the original location after that on 12th street. Caucasian clientele definitely catered to. Food basic & overpriced not the same quality as it once was. Ambiance non existence, down grade from what it used to be. Prices outrageous for what you get, small portions disappointing. Know the family personally but would not recommend to anyone one going forward Bences wobbly mine flew up on the otheside when i sat down. Used to see the owners in house not lately . My experience sucked.

Not good. Visiting form California where mostly we have pretty average BBQ and this was worse. Overly salty, BBQ sauce tasted like seasoned Catsup. At 7pm on a Saturday night they were out of ribs and cole slaw. We had sliced meat they called it wh in was thinly cit briquettes, weird. Sausage that was pretty bad and super salty burnt end sandwiches. None of us finished our meals l, left an entire burnt end sandwich untouched it was so gross and salty. Don't believe the reviews this place sucked and on top of it the line was 20 minutes long. Worst place we ate in KC in the red days we visited. There are way better places.

Gates has really gone down hill. Had the double beef and ribs. The beef was plentiful but extremely fatty. The sauce was also not very good. I had to go over to a table and get there sweet sauce to make it edible. Ribs were not crisp buwere actually soggy. I asked for a refill of Pepsi and was told no. I mean I might have expected to be charges but no? Anyway worst bbq I can remember.

Angels announcer , Denny Hocking, telling how much he misses the burnt ends at Gates BBQ Will have to try them next time in KC

This was rated relatively highly on yelp and was recommended by our hotel clerk. My friend and I split a rack of ribs and had a side each. We found the tase of the ribs satisfactory-not bad but not great. The ribs were cooked to the right state of tenderness, but we both found them less meaty than other places that we've frequented. The opinion on the baked beans was mixed - I disliked them, feeling they had an odd taste. My friend liked them. All in all I don't think this would make close to my top 10 list in Memphis. The staff was pleasant and helpful. The layout of the restaurant was nice having separate sections. Ours happened to have a couple TVs with sports programs

Personally, the style that they make this BBQ isn't for me but I can see how someone would like it. Service was okay. You order up front with your entree/meat first. Then when you get to the register you tell them what sides you want. It can be intimidating because the lady at the counter might yell at you, but it's just the culture of these places. I got the burnt ends sandwich with a side of onion rings. They stack the sandwich up with loads of meat. And some of them were actually burnt which is good. The meat itself is great. It's just the sauce I am not a fan of. Even their sweet sauce isn't that sweet at all. It's definitely a more salty sour BBQ sauce which lots of people like. Personally, I don't. The onion rings were pretty good though. Give this place a try though and see if you like the style.