A Little BBQ Joint

If you’re anywhere near Kansas City and craving real-deal barbecue, A Little BBQ Joint is an absolute must. It’s a cool, laid-back spot where the food is phenomenal, the service is top-notch, and the vibe is pure fun. First off — the meats are smoked to perfection. The burnt ends are tender and flavorful, the brisket melts in your mouth, and even the sides (especially the hot potato salad and baked beans) deserve their own fan club. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and every bite tastes like it came straight from BBQ heaven. And let’s talk about that car bar — yep, the front end of an old Chevy turned into the actual bar! The whole place has a fun, nostalgic feel with license plates, neon signs, and plenty of personality. You can tell the owners love what they do — it’s not just a restaurant, it’s a whole experience. The staff are incredible — friendly, funny, and fast. You don’t just feel “served” here; you feel welcomed. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, they make you feel like part of the family. Don’t skip the sauces — the “Sweet Sister” and “Mean Mother-in-Law” are legendary.

I got the ribs with fries and the beans. 10/10 food and service. Best BBQ I have had in soo long. Can get better the some KC BBQ! The atmosphere so cool with the car as the bar! Kept my family talking.

In town for work and lucked out with this place’s delicious food and really attentive staff. I had the ENORMOUS meatloaf sandwich, which was bigger than any burger I usually have somewhere. I added 3 ribs to my meal and a side of perfect deli-style potato salad. Really great value for the price.

Absolutely horrible. The Friday special was supposed to be pulled pork with coleslaw. No coleslaw just a wad of greasy meat on a dry bun. The bbq beans tasted burnt. My girlfriend had brisket and sausage sandwich and the brisket was burned black. It was $40 and a 20% tip to boot and it all went straight into the trash. Bl3h. Oh and when I called to tell them about it, not wanting a refund or anything just to let them know, and the girl that answered the phone, after I said all I had to say, went "huh can you reheat that". No I can't thanks for ruining date night. Guess I'll open a can of spaghettios since I blew $50 on the trash can already tonight.

What a treat. This ex body repair shop combines a cozy atmosphere with awesome food. Enjoy the lovely details inside and the even better food. The peas salad is phenomenal and the smoked chicken & ribs are fantastic. Don’t forget to try their BBQ sauces.

Excellent BBQ with a cozy "hole-in-the-wall" atmosphere. Friendly staff, a delightful stop!

Food was good but took a long time to get our pick up order even though we ordered ahead of time. They missed some of our items and I didn't notice until I got home and they would have been closed/the rest of my food cold by the time I went back. They also charged for a door dash delivery fee even though I personally picked it up for myself. I love the old garage setting and the displays. Staff is also extremely friendly and keep the bar cleaned nicely.

Staff were very friendly and helpful, while the food was amazing! Thank you for the great recommendation of burnt ends.

I don't have a lot to say about the food other than what I had was very good. I've had their burnt ends and brisket which I liked. I also tried their beans and what they called "Hot Potato Salad." Don't let the name fool you it's really more like a loaded baked potato casserole, I highly recommend it, it was very good. They had several different flavors of sauce which were all tasty but the spicy sauce had more fizzle than sizzle. The place is cool with a lot of decor of classic car memorabilia and the dining room was comparable to eating in a garage with booths and a full bar. They have full table service and all are very nice. I'd say overall service is impeccable and I'll tell you why. My son went to a Super Bowl party where he said they featured smoked meatloaf from here. It perked up my ears and I looked on their website but didn't see it on the menu. So, I emailed them about it and they promptly got back to me and said "Yes, we've got it!" They told me it's a special item they bring out every so often and they have a dinner that includes it every day. I was thrilled to hear it because I'm a meatloaf lover and have never had "smoked" meatloaf. Thanks to management for getting back to me so fast! Great service. I do know other places that have smoked meatloaf too but they're not as exciting as A Little BBQ Joint. Try 'em, they're good!

Trying a new place near the Truman home in Independence. Great classic vibe. All the booths are actual bench seats from classic cars. Two thumbs up. Great service and food!

Me: Hey we're heading to A lil' BBQ Joint for dinner. Want to meet us? My friend: Sure, what's the name of the place? Me: A LIL' BBQ JOINT! A Little BBQ Joint displays decor that sets a down home tone for a barbecue outing. Don't come here looking for too many frills. The table tops were unique. Not something I had ever seen before, at least at our table. It was sort of a large shadow box with cars, sort of old school. The service was nice. Our servers were attentive and we didn't have to wait long for our order to be taken. While the food looked appetizing, flavors disappoint, save for standout fries. Overall, a mixed bag - with potential for improvement.

We stopped on a Sunday for dinner. Place is very neat with a kind of a garage feel in the bar. We elected to eat on the deck on a nice fall evening. We all ordered beers that were served with a cold glass I got the sausage and pulled pork. My wife got the brisket and our friend the burnt ends. We got the pea salad, hot potato salad, Cole slaw, corn, and Mac n cheese for sides. We all shared our sides. They had three homemade sauces on the table. I tried and enjoyed all three. I thought the burnt ends were a little dry along with the sausage. The pork and brisket were good. Our waitress was friendly and provided great service. Enjoy KC style BBQ.

I stopped in on a Thursday night. When I pulled in, I should have known what I was going to experience the parking lot was almost empty at 6:30. Typically I when go to a barbecue spot in the Kansas City area, if the barbeque is going to be good, the lot will be packed and there is a wait. There were a few people at the bar and only two tables had anyone sitting at them. The interior is great. Very comfortable and has the feel of a good restaurant. The music was a little loud, but not such that I could not think. The waitress greeted me quickly and was very pleasant. After reviewing the menu, I had a few questions and in the end ordered a two-meat dinner with brisket and burnt ends with spicy coleslaw and baked beans. The meal was disappointing. I have had great barbecue and average barbecue and I wished my meal had at least been average. The burnt ends were dry, tuff, and very salty. Strangely this is a common comment with several of the reviews for the restaurant. With burnt ends, I expect to be able to cut them with a fork. My knife got a workout on the burnt ends. The brisket was some of the most thinly sliced brisket I have ever had. If you told me it was reheated in a microwave, I would believe you as it was tuff and without flavor. Finally the baked beans were not even to the level of Bush's bake beans. I should have paid more attention to the other reviews. They are either very good or very bad, with little in between. Hopefully this was a one-off experience and A Little Barbecue is typically much better, but I will never find out as this was my first and last trip here.

The ladies were funny, and the service was solid. Thanks! The environment was clean and eye candy with the trucks, trains and cars! FUN! The BBQ was good, and the sauces were fun. I had the Tuesday special, which was pulled pork and sausage sandwich with fries! Fun stop! Thanks!

It's really easy to drive right past a little barbecue joint. But you shouldn't. On the east side of Kansas City. It's a family run barbecue restaurant with no frills no thrills just good barbecue situated in independence, Missouri. What you won't get is a lot of advertising a lot of bling and a lot of pizzazz. But what you will get is friendly service fantastic barbecue. The food is really good and the prices are more than reasonable. I flew in from Chattanooga tonight and drove to little barbecue joint because I think it's one of the best and undiscovered barbecue gems in Kansas City. If you want real Kansas City barbecue, and you want to go to place off the beaten path and undiscovered Jim, then a little barbecue joint is for you.

Never order burnt ends. Grizzly & fat. Brisket, sandwiches are great. Ribs are reported good. Patio bar, check their website. They accommodate my group of 10 to 12 at 1pm on a weekday. Fun place. Decor includes car parts. If you are an old car fan, you may give it a try. Prices are reasonable last time I was there.

We arrived at A Little BBQ Joint just after opening on Sunday. We were greeted and told to have a seat anywhere. My husband was a big fan of the dim dive ambience. One of the servers immediately brought our menus and another server brought our drinks. I read a recent review that was pretty harsh regarding the service but we did not experience that at all. The service we received was great. It was the perfect ratio of friendly and efficient. We ordered a full slab, a pound of burnt ends, fries, beans, and spicy slaw. Both meats were excellent. The ribs were just the right amount of tender, with a little bite and not fall-off-the-bone. Perfect. The burnt ends had great flavor and were not too fatty or too salty (as other reviews had indicated). Of the 3 sauces (sister, wife, MIL) wife is the best balance of sweet and spicy, to me. But they were all good! The beans were fine. I've had better but I've also had way worse. The spicy slaw is a vinegar based red cabbage slaw that could use a little oomph. Good base but just ok. The fries were crispy and therefore approved. We have to go back and try more of the menu because this was a satisfying meal. But for now, let's not forget the leftovers...I'm already looking forward to those for dinner tonight!

Cute little place, but the food was mediocre at best. The ribs tasted like they were braised, the beans came straight out of a can and the potato salad came straight out of a plastic tub.

Coming from out of town this was some great KC BBQ! It is very much a whole in the wall vibe with lots of vehicle themed decor, and a casual setting. The service was great--we ended up adding a table 30 minutes in when the rest of our party arrived which was much easier than expected and our server did so without batting an eye. Great service! The food was great as well with plenty of flavor and good sauces on the table. My group loved our meal and it was a great experience that could have been much more chaotic at other restaurants with less accommodating staff!

I expected good bar b q but was under whelmed. The beans and fries were very good but the brisket was tough and the sweet sauce was anything but sweet, almost tasted rancid. The staff was really friendly and service was good but would not try this bar b q again. The interior is pretty cool but not enough to over ride the poor bar b q.

Food was good. Maybe a tad salty on the burnt ends. The Sweet Sister sauce was my favorite out of their 3 they offer, Mad Mother On Law and Mean House Wife. Hopefully I nailed those right. There was a deck party so service was a little slow and they made an error on the order but gave a great deal. They have indoor and outdoor seating both booths and chairs. Not the greatest but it's not the worst. I'd eat there again so there ya go.

I have been here a few times and always had a good time. The food is good and the service is good. Usually they have sports on the TVs and if you would like a different game they will change it for you.

The food was amazing, the service quick and friendly, and the ambiance was fantastic. Got a private tour of their car memorabilia by the owner. Don't miss this place!

I love their baked beans! That's enough for a 5 review in my book. Oh, I also loved the interior decor (cars and stuff). Hubby liked his thick cut pork sandwich with thick pieces of bacon and the hot potato salad. I liked the Brisket and loved the baked beans. Neither of us could choose a favorite BBQ sauce so we used Sweet Sister BBQ, Mad Housewife and Mean Mother in Law. We took home some jerky which isn't super hot but it's well made.

Good but too salty for me. Great burnt ends. Lots of beef as well as pork. Cool car collector vibe and fairly comfortable.

This was a great place ... tasty food and delightful staff made this a pleasurable dining experience!

Good food, good serving sizes and good prices. Not my favorite BBQ spot in KC but still good

Wonderful little BBQ joint. Our waitress was so friendly and helpful. The food was very delicious and the ambience very cool. Since we were in the Kansas City area we had to stop for BBQ. Glad we chose this place as it didn't disappoint.

I walked in late on a Saturday afternoon to find this 'cue stop moderately busy. An appetizer of bacon chips, a tray of burnt ends with sides of cheesy corn and french fries, and a refillable soft drink (Coke products) came to $36.23 plus tip. Portions were large enough to warrant the price. Both sides had good flavor, but it is telling that the fries were less salty than the meat. Maple syrup did not overwhelm the bacon, but this served only to emphasize its saltiness. I discarded the burnt ends after a few bites heavily doused with one of the three sauces on the table, but this could not conceal the extreme saltiness of the meat. Given the time of day and the seasoning, it is not surprising that the cubes were so dry and tough that I was tempted to ask for a steak knife. Individuals on a salt restricted diet should tread warily here.

Went in today to eat. Told to sit anywhere. We ordered and the food came quickly. I ordered no jalepenos on my food, which came out with them all over it. I pointed it out to the waitress and she took it back. All they did was pick them off and send the food right back. I dont like the flavor of peppers and I could still taste them. When we finished eating and went to pay the bill we noticed there is now a transaction fee on the check. I paid it but will not ever go back. It is sad they are willing to drive away long time customers with things like this.

Great food nice and atmosphere Wonderful bloody marry with brisket Brisket is fantastic

Came here with my boyfriend after researching bbq spots in the area. First off, maybe 3-4 customers in total were there when we walked in so we thought service would be quick, but we were wrong. I got the daily Sunday special which was two ribs and four wings with fries. My boyfriend got the Turkey sandwich with pepper Jack cheese and coleslaw with a side of beans. My ribs were ok, the wings looked and tasted like they were deep fried a few times and dry as hell. The fries were super cold so I had the waitress get me new fries which came out hot, but tasted seafood like it was deep fried in fish oil. Just gross. Then my boyfriends sandwich came with no cheese and coleslaw just three thick pieces of Turkey on a plain bun! He went to the waitress at bar and told her all the ingredients were missing from sandwich and now he didn't want it. The beans tasted like straight out of the can like Busches baked beans. Waste of money, time, and just straight trash bbq.

The burnt ends were so dry. We couldn't even swallow them. We'll never so there again.

Great and abundant food. Really enjoyed everything that was a little cold inside. Definitely will go back again to the family for four.

Gooood BBQ! Decided to drop in for Chiefs football and BBQ today. Ordered the Turkey and Brisket dinner plate with tater salad and the baked beans. The baked beans are absolutely delish with chunks of brisket mixed in. Everything came out hot and steamy and tasty. I like the inside dining area- lots of artifacts from the good old days of the 50's, & 60's with NASCAR theme too. Melissa took good care of our table. I'll be back!

Leaving a review in hopes they will pay attention to this review and the numerous others that have mentioned their burnt ends taste like they're soaked in salt. Too much salt in your rub!!! Service was excellent. Appetizers of chili cheese fries, onion rings, pretzel bites were excellent. Smoke turkey was very good. But I'll never buy those burnt ends again until I see reviews saying they have changed their seasonings.

Small place with Neat decorations and the green beans and tea were the highlights for us. Our chicken was ok, pretty average, but the ribs were so dry and tough, they seemed to be from the day or two before our visit. We were excited to try this place from the reviews but was overall disappointed in the meal. A drink and our two plates were a little over $40.00. :)

Cool atmosphere, great specials, tasty bbq! Seated immediately and had great service. Food came out quick.

Definitely has the look of a cool bbq place! The ribs were amazing! The pulled pork was really good. But unfortunately the brisket was more like jerky than brisket. It was incredibly dry and tough - kind like old shoe leather. I kind of felt like I was chewing on my old baseball mitt. This three star review is riding on the ribs and the hot potato salad - which we call Dutch Oven Potatoes in the west and which were wonderful. If they could get the brisket issue worked out this would be a great place.

Came here on my way through town. The place absolutely did not live up to the hype. We walked in at 6:30 and were immediately told that they close at 7. I thought that was a strange greeting. We ordered burnt ends, a brisket sandwich, two pulled pork sandwiches, and ribs. The burnt ends were decent but I've had better at lesser rated places. The brisket was very dry; like inedible without sauce dry. The pulled pork was cold and dry. The mac & cheese, side dish was cold. The french fries were the only thing that was fresh. Our server was nice and the decor could entertain you for hours. I really wanted this place to be something special.

On my last visit to KC, while at a bbq joint, was chatting with the locals and was told I had to try this place. So made sure I stoped by on this visit and boy glad I did. Of all the bbq joints that I went to this weekend, this place had the best rib for sure. However, the meat is not smoked, did not taste that smoke flavor, looks like they cook their ribs over charcoal. I ordered the 4 rib meal with two sides - slaw and mac-n-cheese. I think they gave me the spicy slaw, I was expecting the creamy slaw, definitely skip the spicy slaw. The mac-n-cheese was ok, looked like kraft version, but a lot better. But their ribs was worth it and had this been my only meal, I would have gone with 1/2 slab. The ribs came out pipping hot, however you had to bite off the meat off the bones, but it was all worth it. I tried to use fork to eat them, yeah bad decision... that's when I dropped the fork and the knife and started to use my hands, a white decision. It's bit out of the KC area, but worth a visit if you are in town.

Sides were good. The bun was fresh. Counter service was cheerful and friendly. The chicken was OK.

My wife and I decided to eat here again, and the burnt ends were so salty we couldn't finish them. I'm hoping it was a one time deal. But, they were so salty my wife doesn't want to go back.

Listen Fam!!! The food was so good I forgot all about taking pictures! Once that bbq egg roll hit my mouth, I was lost in the food journey! But let me tell you about it anyway... cuz you got to try this place! If you're dieting- just skip this one, it ain't for ya! 1. BBQ Won Ton Wraps: bbq brisket in a wonton egg roll - with dipping sauce! Seriously a little bbq bomb from heaven. Get. It. 2. Sinnett Sister's Spicy Meatloaf Sandwich: (preface this by freely admitting I am a meatloaf snob - if it ain't mine, I ain't interested) This was hands down one of the best sandwiches I ever had at any bbq joint. Thick cut, bacon, smoky flavor, perfect texture - a mouthful of deliciousness. More than I could eat on my own but I gave it my best shot. Side of beans and cheesy corn. I rank a lot of my bbq spots by the quality of their sides. In my experience, it's a rare treat to find a location that has good sides and good meat. It's here. These tasted about as homemade as you can get without going to your grandma's kitchen. 3. Half slab plate - I would offer up a review but the boy ate so fast no one else could get a taste. He said they were good! 4. BBQ chicken plate - tender juicy smoky - on point. Had some leftover for lunch the next day. 5. Pulled pork sandwich loaded with meat!! Delicious and my husbands go to at all bbq spots. He was pleased as much with the meat as with the sauce assortment. We really liked the Mean Mother and the Sweet Sister. I've been inviting friends out to dinner here and this will be my new bbq home now that PB has deserted us. Make the trip...just save one of those automobile seat booths for me and my friends!

Very good food they should cook more to stay open longer. Had the BBQ brisket sandwich and beans superb food . I was glad we chose to eat here I was a great idea

Cool place with great Bbq and sides. Top it all off with the apple or cherry cobbler.

This is a solid little BBQ joint in Independence. We were on the next-to-last-day of a 5,100 mile road trip (!) and I said to The Beloved: "we are just outside of KC, you KNOW we have to have BBQ!". We'd just been in Texas, so she could have said "I've had my FILL of BBQ!!", but nice person that she is, she acquiesced. I'm glad she did. Great Burnt Tips for me, and ribs for her. Sides were excellent. This place is obviously loved by the locals. The way folks were treated makes that clear. When I got home I found out that this was the same place some friends stop at when THEY hit Independence! What could be better?

My husband and I had dinner at A Little BBQ Joint when we were in Independence. The ribs were really great. I liked the medium sauce called "housewife" best. I didn't love the hot potato salad, but the baked beans were really great.

Service Great, Appetizers Great, Meat was awesome. All three BBQ sauces were okay. The meat honestly was so good I did not need the sauce.

In town spending time with sister (lives here) and brother (drove down from ND). Fancy was our server and she gets 5 stars all be herself!! She recommended the Popper-like Wontons and they were AMAZING!! I'd come back just fur them. We also had the bacon chips abs onion rings - yummy too! A lot of us had the bunt ends - I loved mine. My SIL thought they were over-cooked while I thought they were perfect. My hubby had the chicken and pulled pork and it was delicious. Generous servings! Fun KC BBQ spot!

Hooray for this place. We happened to have to pull in to Kansas City to have our motor home looked at on our cross country vacation. My husband said, we are in Kansas City, shouldn't we get some real BBQ? Oh yeah. So I did a little Yelp checking and found this joint with some amazing ratings. Ordered online in the Yelp app and drove the 15 minutes from Kansas City to Independence. I have to admit the 3 mile drive down the main road (North Grand Ave) once you get off the highway makes you wonder where you are but all of the sudden there it is on the right. I pulled in to the spacious parking lot and since we are still in the middle of a pandemic, called them to let them know I had arrived. Within minutes a very nice woman came out, asked for my name and went back to get my food. I was in and out in under 5 minutes. Everything is curbside right now so I have no idea what the place looks like but it had a cool vibe outside (See the pic). From a food standpoint, I ordered the half rack ribs with two sides; mac and cheese and coleslaw. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with fries for my husband. We both got the sweet mild sauce. I also ordered the bacon chips because, well bacon :) The bacon chips were delicious with a tiny hint of spice but even with my stomach issues, I could eat nearly half of the serving! The ribs were cooked perfectly and the sweet sauce was yummy. I just wish we were given two containers instead of one. The mac and cheese was kind of bland and the coleslaw was the kind that is more vinegar and less mayo. So some may love, but I grew up on the more may kind so it was just ok for me. My husband's pulled pork sandwich was on a regular burger bun, grilled. He said everything was delicious. He was wishing for more sauce also. His came with fries and they were pretty tasty even if a little soggy by the time I made it back to him at the service center. Overall, this was a great lunch and I highly recommend you stop by and try it out yourself!

I'm not a BBQ expert but when in Kansas City, it seems like the thing to do. I ordered the 4 rib meal and husband had the 2 meat meal with pulled pork and brisket. My ribs were excellent. Meat falling off the bones. Crispy tops. The meal came with 2 sides so I tried baked beans and pea salad. Both were good but it was way more than any one person could or should eat. The place was fun. The bar looked like an old car. The booth seats were old car seats. Fun stuff to look at hanging from the ceiling and on the walls. Service was very good. I've never got a hot meal so fast. Glad we stopped.

I love the decor and Roadhouse Americana feel of A Little BBQ Joint. They have spent a lot of time and money in creating a visually stimulating environment. Make sure you check out the glass covered high-top tables and the dioramas they have created inside of them! In the past I have enjoyed the bacon chips and the brisket chili. Today I ordered the Mad Hog sandwich. Two smoked and grilled pork loins with smoked bacon, horseradish cheese, onion straws and aoili sauce. An awesome combination of flavors and textures that complimented the tender and smoky pork chops. Seasoned fries and a cup of baked beans that were extremely meaty and tasty for $11.79. A fabulous meal! I will be hard pressed not to re-order this sandwich on my next visit.

Don't confuse this with one of the giants of KC BBQ but this is a cute place with good food. I get the ham sandwich and fries, and it's very enjoyable. They have a good wait staff and COLD Beer! Considering this part of the city has turneded into a bit of a restaurant dessert, I try to give them as much support as I can.

Best BBQ in Kansas City. Get atmosphere, get service, and delicious food. 100% recommended. They also sometimes have live music.

Okay so first I would like to start off by saying- WOW! I'm a huge fan of bbq and am always very skeptical when trying a new place. I order the full slab of ribs with the sweet and spicy bbq sauce. The sauce is amazing! The ribs were very meaty, juicy and tender. I'm salivating as we speak! I order Mac n Cheese (nothing impressive but good), cheesy corn (so flavorful), and fries (good) for the sides. Our meal came with four slices of bread and four slices of pickles. It was all the perfect amount food and flavoring to satisfy our big appetites. There are definitely a couple of other spots that rank top in KC bbq, but this one is certainly up there for for me!

Came here while running some errands for lunch. We ordered a pulled pork sandwich, brisket sandwich, and additional ribs. Ordered fries and mac n cheese. Got a PBR to drink. Service was quick and friendly. The pulled pork and brisket sandwich was good. The ribs seemed a little tougher than I thought it was going to be but not dry. The Mac n cheese was not a thick cheese sauce but more watery and did not taste that great. The PBR was ice cold which is awesome. It came in a frosted glass. Overall, pretty decent experience and I would go back. I like the decor of the place as well. They have a sunroom porch towards the back as well so I could see myself hanging out with some friends out there when the weather is nice