Hayward's Pit Bar B Que & Catering

We are visiting from Houston so we wanted to try the local BBQ to see how it compared to ours. We ordered the Family variety dinner. We ordered burnt ends, brisket, ribs, potato salad, coleslaw, thick cut fries and an order of their famous onion rings. Unfortunately, I didn't think about taking a picture before we devoured most of it! The burnt ends and ribs were cooked to perfection! The brisket was sliced thin, so it was what we're accustomed to. Brisket in Texas is cut thicker with a smoke ring. Their brisket was tasted good, but was sliced to be served as a BBQ sandwich. The homemade slaw and potato salad were excellent. We loved the onion rings, they lived up to their reputation. Homemade spicy BBQ Sauce had just the right amount of kick. Our server was fantastic and the ambience was family friendly. The price was very reasonable considering the amount of food we were given. Even if you don't live nearby, its worth the drive! Highly recommend, 10 out of 10!!! Pictures are of our leftovers.

8/10 Brisket: pretty good, not as melt in your mouth as others and has a little chewyness. Not as flavorful as others and not as well seasoned. Really good otherwise and tasty with honey mustard. $31 per pound. 8/10 Spare Ribs: nice tasty ribs that aren’t too burnt and have good flavor. Pretty great! $20 special 9/10 BBQ Beans: Delicious rich flavor with great meat inside, hint of spicy but otherwise fabulous 9/10 Honey Mustard: Delicious and perfect, not as good as Joe’s but fabulous 4/10 BBQ sauce: To spicy and dark in flavor, not my favorite and original Haywards had sweeter flavor. This one is like a ketchup with spice. Would probably go for honey mustard instead Nice crunchy toast and pretty good service! But the toast needed butter! Was misquoted a price but they made it right! Meat was a little greasier than preferred and I would love to have another option for BBQ sauce as the sauce here was not my thing, but I enjoyed my meal here and liked the service and atmosphere! The Original Hayward’s memorabilia was fantastic I’ll be back!

First time trying for us and pleasantly surprised. Service was great and helpful. We had onion rings for the appetizer and they were crisp and delicious. I had a pulled pork sandwich with slaw and two onion rings on it. It was pretty good. We had a choice of two sauces the mild was more like ketchup the spicy was better. My Mac n cheese was very good but my wife's baked beans were the star. Overall every one was satisfied. We'll be back.

My friend, who grew up in KCK told me that Hayward’s was his favorite barbecue spot. So of course I had to check it out. I took another friend and treated him for lunch here. The staff at Hayward’s was super cool and friendly. They were so kind. Jinger was amazing! That makes this next part difficult. The meats were not good. We went in at about 3 PM on a Sunday. We ordered the variety platter for two with ribs, brisket and burnt ends. Also some beans and potato salad. When Jinger brought out the meat platter with lovely serving tongs and bread we were hopeful, but then my buddy remarked that the brisket was gray and I said “Oh boy.” The beans and potato salad were very good. The bread was old and crusty and seemed stale. The gray brisket was nearly inedible. It tasted old and almost like it had been held way too long perhaps from a few days ago. The ribs had decent flavor, but they were dried out and chewy. I held out hope for the burnt ends, which were very burnt. Some of them were slightly fatty and moist and juicy like they’re supposed to be, and some of them were like super hard, crunchy and dried out. Not much consistency here except for consistently bad meat. I so very much wanted to love this place, but we will not return. It started raining right before we left and there was a big group of about 10 people standing under the awning out front and as we walked by I heard one of them say “Well I made sure my last bite was potato salad so I ended on a good note.” I feel the same. Dang it.

Finally made it over to Hayward's Pit BBQ to try their Breaded Pork Tenderloin that they have only on Wednesdays! Definitely one I regret not having sooner! This thing was magical. Probably one of the best if not THE best BPT I've ever had due to the exceptional flavor. They marinate them in Helga's Sweet Heat Gourmet Mustard before they bread and fry them! That extra step is top notch! A tad thin but still super moist with an exceptional crunch! They serve them sliced in half and stacked and makes for quite a mouthful! Their BBQ is really great as well. My wife ordered the Hash Sandwich and was also very pleased with her order! It had been years since I had been to Hayward's; last time was their old College Blvd. location but will definitely be returning often now that we have found them again! Our server, Dominique if I recall, was outstanding and really knew her stuff! Thanks for making our experience great!

Had a great lunch at Haywards. We were fans back at the old location in Corporate Woods, and it was good to see the old signs in this location. Love the garage doors onto the patio! Portions were generous, the meat was smoked perfectly, and I loved the fried okra as a treat. Service was so friendly. Give it a try!

Hands down my favorite KC BBQ spot. I could smell the smoke from the pits when I walked in. The hot BBQ sauce was spicy. The fried pickles were my favorite appetizer. All the meat was well seasoned and smoked to perfection. The beans are my favorite side dish they are out of this world.

Great service from the waitress, real nice lady. The music they're playing fits the atmosphere great, unlike some other places I've been. Great kansas food !!

Thursday is 20$ slabs day and they are good. That's all I've had there besides fries and onion rings and the are really good also. If you enjoy bbq ribs give Hayward's a try. Haven't had a bad server yet

First time eating here. We were enticed to go for the Thursday full slab of ribs for $19.99. Walked in. Immediately greeted and taken to a table. Very clean. The atmosphere was like walking back in time to the family cafe. Loved our waitress, she was so fast and cheery! I'm glad we tried it!

This review covers two visits to Hayward's Pit BBQ. The first time FPO and I went, we dined inside, and the reason we noticed Hayward's on 75th and stopped in, is because we saw dogs are welcome in the outdoor patio area in front of the restaurant. Our first visit, the service was as amazing as the food. We went on a Sunday around 4:30, a little before peak dinner time. Our waitress, who said she primarily works during lunch, was very patient with how long it took us to go over the menus and make our decisions. She was also very knowledgeable about the foods (that their fried food is so yummy because they use a very high quality oil), the beer (Boulevard is the best), what was good (burnt ends, potato salad), what was available (some items are on the happy hour menu, but not the regular one, but can still be ordered if you know how). Get the Burnt Ends Mac and Cheese. Trust me. And the house made Sangria. Iced wine and fresh fruit drunk through a straw, where has this been all my life? (The sangria might only be on weekends, I'm not sure, but maybe.) I went back recently for a second time for a take out order. The food still top notch, service seemed to be a little slow. Note: Hayward's has Happy Hour on The weekend for drinks; Monday thru Friday 3-6 pm for food and drink.

My friend, who grew up in KCK told me that Hayward's was his favorite barbecue spot. So of course I had to check it out. I took another friend and treated him for lunch here. The staff at Hayward's was super cool and friendly. They were so kind. Jinger was amazing! That makes this next part difficult. The meats were not good. We went in at about 3 PM on a Sunday. We ordered the variety platter for two with ribs, brisket and burnt ends. Also some beans and potato salad. When Jinger brought out the meat platter with lovely serving tongs and bread we were hopeful, but then my buddy remarked that the brisket was gray and I said "Oh boy." The beans and potato salad were very good. The bread was old and crusty and seemed stale. The gray brisket was nearly inedible. It tasted old and almost like it had been held way too long perhaps from a few days ago. The ribs had decent flavor, but they were dried out and chewy. I held out hope for the burnt ends, which were very burnt. Some of them were slightly fatty and moist and juicy like they're supposed to be, and some of them were like super hard, crunchy and dried out. Not much consistency here except for consistently bad meat. I so very much wanted to love this place, but we will not return. It started raining right before we left and there was a big group of about 10 people standing under the awning out front and as we walked by I heard one of them say "Well I made sure my last bite was potato salad so I ended on a good note." I feel the same. Dang it.

Hayward's Pit BBQ demands R.E.S.P.E.C.T! For its flavorful sandwiches and sides, summer stationery feel, and lovely staff. Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations fill the open concept room, reminding diners that Hayward's has Something To Say. You're not here to work remotely or talk business, but to relax and enjoy your lunch. In terms of meat, my choice is the beef brisket. Done correctly, on a warm Roma bun with two sides to boot and a squeeze bottle full of balanced BBQ sauce ready to assist. It's not hard to find BBQ that stands out, but BBQ that stands strong? That's uncommon. Luckily, Hayward's breaks the curve, offering meats that rival any Kansas pit master's creation. If you're looking for a shaded summer picnic setting, surrounded by good people and better food, Hayward's doors are OPEN!

How has this place not become more widely known across the greater Kansas City area? Hidden on 75th Street near Nieman Rd in Johnson County, I'm sad to say that I'd driven past Hayward's numerous times and never really noticed it. It wasn't until a subscriber recommended this spot that I realized my mistake. Hayward's brings some delicious BBQ that should get more recognition than it currently receives. While they have some great ribs and burnt-ends, I feel like they truly shine with their dry-rub wings because they were fantastic. And adding in that you can act like a kid by ordering a grilled cheese sandwich with burnt-ends on the sandwich...talk about some good eating. This spot along with its great customer experience you'll get and the super friendly staff need to be on your list of places to try because you won't be sorry. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/3_aIHHmWDak

I don't know that I can expound upon my 2018 review all that much! This place is still amazing with good and solid ribs and other BBQ! The best update I can give is this! Food still gets 5 stars! The staff is still amazing and extremely friendly with that downhome feel. The restaurant hasn't changed much so still plenty of atmosphere for that picnic lunch feel! "But Rob... what should I order?" I hear you! if it is lunch time snag one of their amazing sandwiches. The Hayward's Hash sandwich will be my go to. Is it Sunday? Enjoy the Ends to Ends deal? Is it game day? Discounted ribs! Is it Thursday? Well you will find me there for the Rib special! With the two sides please. I'll take the fried mushrooms and the fried mushrooms!

I recently started going to this restaurant in June of 2025 because of their Thursday rib special. The ribs were great but customer wasn't so great. I had a free appetizer that was one of their amenities and when I asked the employee that served me he decided not to give it to me and made an excuse and walked away as if I wasn't still standing there to finish addressing this matter. I emailed them the next day hoping to resolve it that way but there hasn't been any response or communication, I'm will never go to this restaurant ever again.

I previously was so happy with the slabs of bar b que that comes in a Styrofoam container to go,sent my daughter to pickup to slabs of ribs on Saturday, on Sunday when I saw the ribs I was so disappointed, these look like baby back ribs wrapped in clear food wrap and put in a black sack 60.00 plus shaking my head I was furious, I've been a faithful customer for years...after that not so sure going forward and I've spreaded the word in the past about how awesome they were,that was a change that was not good for me

Great BBQ!! Definitely going back when in Shawnee! Service was fantastic! Ambiance was rugged and well maintained, exactly what you would expect for a BBQ restaurant.

Decent place. Good sauces. Friendly staff, great service. Smaller portions. Clean i had the crispy pork belly and brisket. I would go back and try some other items.

...and here we are a year later, in town and back at Hayward's. Still lovin' it! We ordered a variety platter plate for one. It was enough for three people! Our choice of three meats was brisket, burnt ends, and pulled pork. All moist, lightly smoky, tender. Our choice fit two sides was fries and fried okra. Both were fresh, hot, and spot on.

Terrible! The reviews must not be for the chicken or brisket..... I don't do sides and love a good brisket, however the was so bad the entire half pound I ordered ended up in the trash. Zero flavor! And it was cut like it was a Philly.... Nasty thin, plus the texture of lunch meat.... Something was very wrong about this brisket. The chicken seemed odd too, lunch meat texture. Color looked very off.... I know what smoke color is and this was not that.... An odd yellow color. And to say dry was an understatement. If you want good smoked meat WITHOUT sauce.... Because let's be real good smoked meat shouldn't need any sauce to cover it up. Zero stars...

Cockroach palace, seeing one in the resraunt is one thing but finding a half eaten one on your plate is another. Went outside and threw up in parking lot. Owner refused to take meal off bill. Real dirt-ball.

Ribs were amazing! Meat fell off the bone. I selected Mac-n-cheese which was so creamy and cheesy. My second choice for a side was the fried okra which were crispy and tasty. I will definitely try this place out again!

I enjoy coming here when working close by to get their rib lunch. The service is always fast and friendly whether I'm at a table or the bar. The atmosphere has a sports bar feel but without the overwhelming loudness of a sports bar.

Haywards is always a great KC BBQ option. I like to get carry out and then head across the street to Pathlight Brewing for a brew to wash it down with. But they also carry a good selection of draft beers if you decide to eat it there. I always have to get the portabella 'shrooms. They are lightly breaded and sliced thin so you don't end up burning your mouth with exploding mushroom liquid. Plus the horseradish sauce is I normally get DJ's mushroom and Swiss but this trip I opted to try the new QUE-Bano-Pulled Pork, Smoked Ham, sliced pickles and housemade ancho chile mustard spread on toasted bolillo roll. It was ginormous and so good. If it becomes a permanent fixture, I'll be going between the two sandwiches. I decided on the thick cut fries for a side. They're crisp, golden, not overly seasoned, and generous portions. This was made into two meals so it's pretty cost effective too.

Saturday evening we arrived around 8pm. Plenty of parking. Nice building with outdoor patio seating. We were seated right away and had to order pretty quickly. Comes to find out they close at 8:30pm which is quite early on a Saturday night. We both ordered a sandwich with a side. Food came out pretty quickly and it was good. We practically had the whole place to ourselves. I did a check in on Yelp and received a 10% off on our meal. Good food. Nice atmosphere. Service was good. Decent price.

I love the food and the location. I really enjoyed a cheesecake someone had made a couple of years ago but, they don't have it anymore. My husband and I go here when we are craving BBQ and you should too. It is great and affordable. The staff are fantastic also.

Typically my first meal when I land in Kansas City is barbecue. There are so many great choices for barbecue here that it's hard to pick. I strolled into Hayward's on a Sunday afternoon around 4 PM, sat at the bar, was greeted by a terrific server and ordered a local beer while I looked at the menu. They claimed to have "the best burnt ends ever". It's quite a claim in this town! So I ordered the burnt ends and ribs dinner with a side of beans and tots. The ribs were meaty, cooked perfectly, not over seasoned and had a gorgeous pink smoke ring. Absolutely perfect. The burnt ends were spectacular. They really were the best I've ever eaten. The serving size was just right so I had a couple of bones to take with me for a midnight snack. My experience defines why barbecue in Kansas City is so popular and so yummy. I will be back many times.

Had the lunch special pork tenderloin and it was really good. Service was exceptional. Highly recommended.

Are good tasted good and the sweet and sour slaw was great! But, sadly nothing was very hot. Luke warm at best. Great service.

Terrific. The ribs, burnt ends and beans were all spot on. Great service. It was our first visit but we will definitely be back.

I've been here so many times, so it's high time that I wrote an actual review. Here's the short version: it's phenomenal. The BBQ is done just right across the board. Hayward's daily specials are great, their pulled pork is tender with just the right smoke, and their burnt ends are the best I've found in the city. Hayward's has moved around the JoCo area, but now it is anchored on the southern border of Shawnee. Indoor and outdoor seating, along with seating at a great bar, with simple accents, makes for a great place to enjoy amazing barbecue. The menu is not overcrowded but has plenty of variety. Pork or beef, beast or bird, everything is done with spectacular smokepit skill. The KC BBQ market is fairly saturated, so it takes a pitmaster to set a place apart and give it a signature flavor. Hayward's uses real hickory and while that can sometimes be a strong smoke flavor, they are tempering it perfectly and allowing that low-and-slow approach to do all the talking. I recommend their St. Louis-style ribs (a lunch special gives you 5 ribs) with meat done so right that all you have left is bone. Their sandwiches are always piled high and finished perfectly, like the Royal, and their platters are loaded with smoked meats and sides. Even the wings are a signature item, smoked and finished with your choice of Buffalo or Hayward's BBQ sauces. Friendly staff, tremendous value, and an always-leave-you-wanting-more menu. That's what Hayward's brings to the BBQ scene, and us denizens of western JoCo can be ecstatic about this place!

GREAT SERVICE! Fast friendly service and huge portions. The okra was my favorite. The wings were fall off the bone. We all enjoyed everything. Use the coupon.

First time trying Hayward's. Our table each tried something different, all along the sandwich side of the menu. It solved the craving for delicious bbq. I totally loved the sauce that had a nice kick to it and covered my sandwich in extra sauce. The onion rings were tasty. The fries were ok, but needed some seasoning. Service was awesome. All in all, it was a great choice. Will definitely keep this on our list.

Hayward's is one of the venerable que joints in town. It still has amazing ribs and smoked meats. Sides are not as A list as other places. Still good, but they could use some work.

Visited Shawnee, Kansas on a recent trip from Arizona for a family reunion. Had to have some BBQ immediately, i of course went back to a place I remembered from the late 70's, early 80's. Hayward's Pit didn't let me down, still turning out the best bbq that brought back a lot of memories of eating ribs with my mom and dad. If you haven't tried it before, please try it, you will be hooked like I am.

Got 6 slabs on Thursday. Taking them to Salina KS for my Mother-in-laws 81st Birthday. Oh they look sooo good!Oh did I say we were taking 6. I meant 5. ( taste test had to be performed ). Passed with flying colors Thanks again for great BBQ

My Wife and I came here because this was My Dads favorite when he was in town , it was good ! The burnt ends and rib platter was yummy , the bbq sauce is one of the beast I've had . Met the (new) Owner Erik, nice guy . The only reason for only 3 stars was my wife's beer was flat and both the coleslaws we tried were not to our liking, did however loved the beans .

Of course if your in Kansas City you have to have some KC BBQ! Excellent food, everything was excellent the only thing I would change is the Ham is thinly sliced, I prefer thicker sliced and we did mt get the smoked Turkey, our Waiter Tony was awesome!!

Some of the best bbq that I've had in the Johnson County. The portions were very generous for what I paid for.

Hayward's We have been going to Hayward's since 1978. The management change twice but the current management is excellent. Our favorite meat items are the burnt ends, sausage and ribs.Our favorite sides are fried okra and baked beans. The servers are attentive and friendly. Great place to get carry out for game day!

I am on a mission looking for great and delicious bbq. Hayward's did not disappoint. The atmosphere is like you stepped into a cozy and relaxed environment. I absolutely love how being here felt like the days before we had technology in a great way. Looking around you did not see anyone on their phones. People were enjoying the food and their company. The service was great and the food is so good. I had the rib and burnt end platter. It is a generous portion of a half slab and a nice portion of burnt ends. It comes with 2 sides. I opted for the smokehouse beans and tater tots, The ribs were so delicious they didn't need any sauce. They fell off the bone. So tender and flavorful. The burnt ends were equally as good. The beans are super good and even the tater tots were nice and crisp. And not greasy. My husband had a delicious lean brisket sandwich and he throughly enjoyed it. We will definitely come back.

Before I start my update, I just want to write a quick Haywards BBQ historical recap. Back in the day, the restaurant was one of the more popular local restaurants. Over the years, the food quality and service fell off leading to its sale. The new owners came in and injected new life into the business and its recipes. They also moved it from it's spacious south Johnson County location to a small and cramped Lenexa location, which just didn't fit. Now, present day (as of this writing,) Haywards has moved yet again, to a spot just east of 75th and Nieman. I hope this is a permanent move. My biggest criticism of the restaurant's previous location was how small and cramped it was. This isn't an issue in the new space. There's a nice space at the entrance, where your party can wait while the staff clears a table. Once you're inside, there are plenty of high tops and booths to choose from. They're spaced well, so you're not encroaching on anybody dining nearby. You can even belly up at the bar and not have to worry about people reaching over you for their drinks. There are tvs too, just in case you want to see how well your favorite team is playing, and a large patio, in case you want to dine outside when the weather is right. The menu is full of high quality Kansas City barbecue. I like the Burnt Ends and Wings platter, which is served with two sides (I chose onion rings and beans,) however I don't think you can make a bad choice. Be prepared for full serving sizes. Please don't feel bad if you ask for a container to go. Of note, like other barbecue restaurant, I found the base sauce to be a little thick and sweet so I graduated to the hot sauce. You know what you like better than anybody. Please feel free to trust your instincts. Service was prompt, polite and knowledgeable. They made a great experience even better.

Not sure why this place is never spoken of as one of the great KC BBQ places up with the others. The food is definitely a top 5 bbq in KC and the sauce is easily a top 3. It is a super casual place that just makes great food. I have been here several times, and the only downside is that the they are occasionally understaffed with waiters/waitresses which can make paying your bill a little slow. Other than that this place is great.

I'm writing this during the 2020 quarantine. I ordered my meal online which was easy and pain free. The website is well organized and easy to navigate. Once my order was complete I was given a time the my food would be ready. Upon arrival even with a line around the parking lot the staff was great at seeing who was there and ready for pickup. My food arrived at my car on time was given to me by a very friendly staff member. The ribs were spectacular as always. Being the first time I got the jalapeño cheesy corn they do have a bit of heat but we're delicious and the portion was huge!! If you are looking for BBQ in the area this is your far my favorite and I am glad to see that their service and quality is not slacked during the quarantine!

Food was amazing. Been to many different BBQ joints and this was by far the best. Would definitely recommend getting there burnt ends or the ribs. Amazing! Service is also great too. Very underrated in my opinion.

Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy! So, earlier this week I saw a post about a very delicious looking plate of burnt ends. In the post it stated that these burnt ends would be served all through the Labor Day weekend. Thinking to myself that I should probably go and taste these savory looking little morsels of deliciousness, I made my plans! As I walk in, Kyle comes up, gives my hand a big old shake, and then we start talking about corned beef burnt ends. I make the enquiry, " might these corned beef burnt ends be served in the format of a Reuben sandwich?" " yes, they are," came to reply. So, I place my order, a corned beef burnt end Reuben sandwich with a side of onion rings and a nice, dark, Black Butte Porter! So, I sit back and enjoy the beer as I wait for a basket of delicious food. Soon, it arrives! In the basket that they brought to me, were some crispy fried onion rings and a sandwich that can only be described as Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy! Between two pieces of marble rye, they pile high, corned beef brisket, smoked to perfection, sauerkraut, cheese, and on the side Thousand Island dressing. Heaven on Earth! This sandwich was a perfect meld of flavors, you had the deliciousness of the corned beef, along with the real salty bark from the smoking process, the bite of the sauerkraut, and the creaminess of the cheese, and the sweetness of the Thousand Island dressing brought the whole thing together in an explosion of flavors. That along with some extremely crunchy and delicious onion rings made this a meal to remember. Desert was a nice taste of Rieger's whiskey. Well Done Haywards! Well Done Indeed!

The bbq is delicious so are the sides! My husband loves the ham and I love the ribs. We both enjoy the Mac n cheese, potato salad and bbq beans. We will be back soon!

First, HAYWARD'S IS MOVING!! As of Saturday, June 1, 2019, they will no longer be in the Santa Fe Trail Dr location. I believe they're opening on Thursday, June 6th at 10901 W 75th St. (See my attached picture for the flyer details they're giving out to customers). Since they're moving locations, I'll largely just comment on the food. First off, I seriously considered giving Hayward's a 5-star review, because I'm a sucker for kind service, but a few minor details kept me from doing so. PROS: weekly specials are just fun and we happened to come on RIB THURSDAYS. They were so tender and juicy. The Pit Master Salad had a ton of meat on it. The food came out super fast (Like - 10 minutes!!). And the service was so fun and friendly. Even when my littlest toddler got a little crazy. They smiled and laughed with us. CONS: I thought the ribs, pulled pork and event the burnt ends, lacked the intensity of the smokey flavor I love finding. My husband thought the brisket was a bit dry. And my salad had 6-7 pieces of slimy greens in the mix. Overall, I'd totally go again. It'll be interesting to see how they work with the new space!

Hayward's is in good hands. We hadn't been to Hayward's since they were sold and moved a couple of times. So we finally made the trek from Raytown and we are glad we did. We went for a late lunch and found a discounted lunch menu. Lunches include 2 sides and a drink. My wife said the burnt ends were as good as any in KC. I enjoyed the brisket on a bun mixing their regular and spicy sauces. Not as good as my favorite, Gates, but a close 2nd. The sides - fries, tots, beans, and slaw were good. The service was friendly. Mr. Hayward Spears' photo was on a wall. He passed away the next day.

Food is fantastic but we all know that. Let me speak on the dining experience. I had a woman (I will not name drop her since this is a public page) who did not seem happy to serve me nor did her one word responses and tone of voice make me feel welcome and even discouraged me from asking further about the menu. I simply wanted her to leave my table and bring my food because she made me that uncomfortable. I will however shout out those who saved my dining experience. Another server, 'Michelle', took over and immediately made things better with her warm smile and welcoming body language that made me confident in voicing my discrepancies. 'Reilly', a part of upper management came and allowed me the floor to say what I was feeling and he made adjustments that did not leave me as disappointed. Overall I will not allow a single person to leave me with a negative look on this restaurant. HOWEVER, I do believe that one server has all the power in giving me an experience to write about. And if it wasn't for the other 2 this would've been a much different review. hopefully the staff is aware that if a single server is that unpleasant they'll make adjustments accordingly. Thank you for reading.

We love this place. Falling off the bone good, but great sandwiches as well. Love the ribs. Sauces are yummy. And one day a week they have pork tenderloin sandwich that is the best. I hope they keep that up. We eat here often. The atmosphere isn't great at the new place but who cares. The food is wonderful.

Unbelievable food and unbelievably short staffed. I felt so bad for the manager/owner who had to close the doors shortly after I arrived because they didn't have enough help. Even with limited staff, my food and drinks came out super fast. They have a very solid draft beer list with some local options I hadn't tried. The person who recommended Hayward's to me was raving about the pit smoked wings, and they were spot on! The wings appeared to be overly charred on the outside but after taking a bite, they were cooked to perfection. Some of the best wings I've had in KC!

We throughly enjoyed our meal from Hayward's! We were in KC for a soccer tournament and Hayward's was on our way home from the game. We were planning to go to another (award winning) establishment ....... But when we were told it was at least. 2 hour wait for a to-go order we went to Yelp for advice!! Sooo thankful we did. The search feature helped us find this little gem! We order the special (burnt ends and sausage, wings and brisket, the tater tot appetizer that had pork and burnt ends. Everything. Was amazing! The brisket was moist and flavorful. The smell as you walk in was mouthed watering. The gentleman at the register was helpful with menu suggestions. And bonus.... We had plenty of leftovers to bring him for dinner the next night! Thanks Yelp and thanks Hayward's for a fantastic dinner. We will be back!

Ribs and burnt ends were fantastic. The staff were very attentive. Will definitely go back.

The ends and ends special was PERFECT. We couldn't believe how delicious the pork belly was! It was a smokey, crunchy, meaty, melt in your mouth experience all by itself but when you dipped each piece in bbq sauce it just went over the top!! The burnt ends were super good too! They weren't too fatty or too lean like some places. Macaroni and cheese and beans were spot on too. We can't believe we've never been here before now but we're definitely going back soon and will be telling everybody to try you guys out!

Went for dinner Saturday and got the platter for 2 with smoked chicken, ribs and corned beef burnt ends! Onion rings, baked beans and creamy cole slaw on the side. Absolutely delicious! The meats were cooked to perfection with a nice infusion of hickory smoke flavor. Really didn't need to use any sauce with the rub that coated the meat. Great service and plenty of leftovers for next few days. Not overpriced like some of the competition that I won't mention.