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Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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There is no way in hell this place is what they say it is. Hell it is inside of a gas station I told my wife as we pulled up to this place. So we proceeded inside and the damn line was at the door and then I knew I was in for a real treat. I have been all over eating BBQ and going to all the competitions and trying all of the different BBQ there are. I have been to KC many times and have been to Bryant's and Gates and a few of the other places they say have it going on but for the overall smokiness and goodness of BBQ this place hands down kick ass on the rest as far as I am concerned. Ribs were out of this world and the brisket and pulled pork as well. Side were great and I especially love listening to the football fans of Missouri and Kansas go at each other. Me being from another big 12 school I kept my mouth shut and ate all the smoky goodness on my plate. Cannot go wrong here at all with anything on the menu and the service was the same way. Oklahoma Joes thank you for the great meal and we will be back soon for some more of that great KC BBQ.
Big Love
I was visiting Kansas City from Columbus, Ohio and my friends insisted that I have some real Kansas City BBQ. I was so glad that they did! This place was amazing!
I was a bit leery at first when I saw that the restaurant was basically inside a gas station. That typically doesn't bode well for the quality of food. But in this case, it must have been a good sign because there was a line out the door. I was a bit confused by the ordering system, but I'm glad that I had some seasoned veteran's there to help me out.
I got the pulled pork, one of my standard BBQ choices. It was a massive amount of meat! Miraculously, we were able to find a table and we all started to dig into the piled high platters we were given. We only got about 1/2 way through.
A woman was walking around clearing up plates, wiping down tables, and asking people how their food was. When she asked us, she also volunteered to go back up to the front and get us boxes so that we could take home our food for later. That was a wonderful idea because it made a delicious lunch the next day!
When we left, the line was still out the door. Gas station or no gas station, that can only be a good sign!
I really don't want to write something long about how good this place is, or tell you how the long the lines are going to be.
Stop waisting valuable time destiny awaits you...follow the white light to heaven!
The best BBQ I have ever had in my life....
NOTE: Have a pulled pork sandwich ohh I almost forgot the FRENCH FRIES
Pork sammich, Carolina Style +
Onion Rings +
5 gallons of BBQ sauce +
Boulevard Wheat =
Food-induced ecstasy
Wow. That is pretty much the only word to describe this place. Being from out of town I ALWAYS make a stop at Oklahoma Joes. I've tried multiple items but always come back to the Carolina Style Pulled Pork sandwich with a side of fries. The Carolina style pulled pork sandwich is topped with coleslaw deliciousness. The fries require no ketchup because of the "special" seasoning. The BBQ sauce is also out of this world.
One of the best parts of the whole trip.. It's in a gas station! Don't worry there is plenty of seating. Do worry about the line you will encounter as you enter the gas station (it is often out the door). However, the food is well worth the wait.
This cheap eats place truly is "one of the places to eat before you die"!
When should you go? 7 pm on a Thursday in the winter. NO LINE!
Ordered beef brisket jumbo sandwich, fries, onion rings, chili and a drink.
The beef brisket sandwich was amazing. The meat is so tender and done so right. It's just so smooth. Also love both sauces (there is a hot and a sweeter one). I had enough for dinner and then for lunch the next day.
Fries. Who needs ketchup (yes I'm a ketchup freak)? It's spiced and salted up so well, no condiments are needed. AMAZING.
Onion rings. The best I've ever had in my life. There just have that fried salty taste without being greasy. MMM GOOD.
Chili was OK, but not amazing. I won't order it again.
Soda-Mix diet coke and red cream soda to have a heavenly mix. WOW!
They also come around to your table taking away spare dishes, etc. and leaving wetnaps.
I just have to add a few things from my latest trip:
Onion rings are to DIE FOR
Sauces are mmm good…
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You don't forget your first time. In my 20 something years of existence (primarily spent in Midwest BBQ land, mind you) I have completely dodged the carnivorous bullet. No bovine or swine. Words to live by.
I felt a little like I was gearing up for my first sexual encounter standing in the line at Oklahoma Joes. Nervousness. A desire to just get it over with so I could finally say it happened. No expectation of enjoyment or satisfaction. A little bit of nausea bubbling up looking at the meat.
The beau convinced me to do this. Eat at Oklahoma Joes that is. We kept steady banter through the 20 minute wait in line so I could divert my attention from what was about to happen. He orders for us, opting for the Z Man, Carolina Style Pork and a slab of chicken just in case I am not as satisfied with my first carnivorous encounter as he assures me I will be. (*Note to self, be weary of someone with these powers of coercion. What the hell am I doing here with sloppy meat sandwiches in front of me? Have I been drugged?)
I start with the Carolina Pork. I'm staring it down. Hesitant.
Internal dialogue despite my brave face for the boy: "You can do this. You can put it in your mouth. Chew. Swallow. It will be over. You can say you did it and happily chow on some chicken. Don't be such a pussy. Anthony Bourdain says this is something you have to eat before you die. This food. In this gas station. Don't be such a pussy, just put it in your mouth. Its just meat. Everyone else looks like they enjoy it."
Holy hell. This changes everything. This sandwich is good. No. Actually this sandwich deserves the use of an expletive. This sandwich is fucking good. (and on that note way better than my first sexual encounter, I should not have put the two in the same category)
I probably won't start ordering bacon cheeseburgers or medium rare steaks but hot damn I could certainly do some damage to another Z Man. Thanks, oh persuasive one for making me try new things. Like Oklahoma Joes. My mouth is watering a little at the thought, can't decide whether to be grossed out of jovial over that....
YUM.
Pulled pork sandwich...YUM
Ribs...YUM
Price...reasonable. YUM
It's incredibly busy here so take it to go. It'll still be YUM.
Like everyone else says, it's quite the wait, so call ahead if you are short on time.
I had the Carolina and the gumbo. Both were great! Don't know if I would say the best I've ever had, but definitely still delicious. I would go back, if I was in the area. Easy on the pocketbook as well.
I'm new to the phenomenon of love surrounding Anthony Bourdain. I've never paid a gram of attention to this guy but suddenly I'm hearing his name everywhere. That simple fact lead me to instantly believe he may be a bit over hyped, so when I arrived in KC and everyone and their mother told me to go to Oklahoma Joe's, just as Bourdain had recommended, I was skeptical. See, Bourdain has Oklahoma Joe's BBQ on some list of ten restaurants you have to visit before you die. I'm used to such lists being proclaimed by drunk friends and people who really don't have a clue what they're talking about to make such a bold statement.
Then I visited and saw for myself why it's on such an elite list.
Oklahoma Joe's flat out rules. This food is touched by the gods above. This is mindblowing BBQ on all levels. Unfortunately, because of Bourdain, everyone of his little followers knows this. (Plus the entire population of Kansas City). As a result, the lines are long. Reviews on here mention 40 minute+ waits just to order. Thankfully the food comes out quickly after ordering, or this place may have made it onto my own list. The "Wish I had but, wasn't worth the wait" list that I'll be compiling when I leave here Saturday.
Looking at the plates in the room, and smelling everything, I was glad the wait was lengthy - I couldn't make a decision. Brisket sandwich? Half rack of ribs for $11.99? Carolina style specialty sandwich? Pulled pork dinner?
CHRIST I WANT IT ALL.
I ended up with the Carolina style sandwich which was comprised of the best pulled pork I've ever made out with, topped with some spicy slaw that was not runny in the slightest. I added a little bit of bbq sauce to one of the bites at the table but realized instantly that this meal didn't require it. In fact, adding bbq sauce on my own took away from the overall flavor of what I already had. Imagine that. BBQ shunned in a bbq place because the meat is so good. I guess that's far better than drowning it because it's dry or whatever else.
The staff is super nice and efficient. A gent takes your order on the far side of the counter, asking how many and what is on the ticket and calling out meals to his crew. The cashiers are lively and there's a lady who maintains the tables as people leave, who comes over to ask how your meal is. And it's not just "How's things?" from ten feet away. She puts her head right up in your business, takes a look at your food, smiles at it, says, "How's your sandwich? What kind of sandwich is that? Oh... that's a good one. One of my favorites." smiles at you again, and walks away. It's decidedly Southern, the mannerisms and such, which might not be a surprise to folks out here, but for a west coaster, it's a nice touch.
If you leave Kansas City without coming here, you are a fool.
An absolute, fool.
I went to high school just down the street from this place. As seniors we would go there all the time for lunch. Where else can you get barbeque from the back of a gas-station after all.
Also, the best collection of frisbee golf discs in the city.
Wow, just wow! BBQ in a gas station = Genius. The line was out the door and took over an hour, but let me tell you, it was sooooo worth it. Shared a slab of ribs with two others, fries and a pulled pork sandwich. Can you say meat coma?! The ribs were: buttery...moist...amazing. Pulled pork wasn't dry and extremely tasty. Fries, seasoned to perfection. It was worth it, and I hate waiting in lines.
OMG.
This place is awesome! Waited in line for close to 30 mins just so that we can get a little piece of heaven. Now, that's saying a lot for someone who tried 3 different BBQ spots in 24 hours!
Did a comparo between Ok Joes, Jack Stack, and Gates... and this is the best spot... You gotta be ready to wait for the goods or call in and make it a take out... either way... when visiting KC... gotta go to this place... Great sauce , but, sweet Jesus, fall off the bone meats
When you get there be brave and order it up... the chalk board is full of different types of meats, but my fav is still the baby backs.
Now remember that this place is also a (green) gas station... so you might just drive pass it the first time getting there. Def. worth driving back!
Today we catered lunch from here, we ordered in 2 trays of their very Beefy Chili ! This is the best I have ever eaten, just the right amount of heat (spice not temperature) and huge chunks of beef. I'll be there this week to try their BBQ with other Yelpers, review to follow.
It's o.k. The place is overrated in my opinion.
The lines are always very long. For some reason I don't have a problem with that. It's an unwritten rule, a quality local BBQ joint has to have some level of inefficiency in its serving. if you want fast-service guarantees, McDonald's is nearby.
But I really think if Okla Joe's is going to overtake the BBQ legends of KC (Bryants, Jackstack, Gates, etc.) a restaurant has to have a better quality BBQ beans dish. The beans are different and that's a good thing. But in terms of flavor and texture it almost seems like the beans are a brunswisk stew similar to what they serve in North Carolina. The beans don't compete with the others and in KC that's a problem.
I'll freely admit, as a Kansas Citian it has always bothered me they had a neighboring state's name too.
A client and I split a pork and a beef sandwich.
We added fries and the large end of a rack-o-ribs.
I tried spicy slaw.
I must take a deep breath, which is difficult after BBQ, but easier 24 hours later!
Wow. Smokey. Tender. Crispy. Sticky. Tangy. Soft.
Smokey-tender meats on soft buns with tangy BBQ sauce that was much better than most. [we used the small bottle of spicy sauce]. So good, in fact, the fries were dipped in it soon after. I like crispy fries... these were ALL crisp. Good Lord! My sticky fingers got into my three bones from the half-rack. Very high quality of texture and taste. Something tells me the pork did not come from Sysco, and that a local pig farmer has a good stream of business from this place. Astonishing meats... really.
The only "meh" was the spicy slaw. Slaw has to be super-fresh or it is not good. I should have skipped it.
The real problem at OKJoe'sBBQ is the line/wait. We only waited 15 minutes or so. Take out might be the way to go. However, if you drive by and nobody is outside waiting in line, drop in for a treat if you like BBQ. It is the best I have had in KC so far.
Okie Joe's is another very popular BBQ place in the metro.
I really like it. It's very good BBQ. One of the best places to get a sandwich. BBQ purists will scoff at the sandwiches with cheese, onion rings, cole slaw, etc. on it. But they taste good.
I give it only 4 stars though b/c i feel okie joe's does everything very well, but they don't do anything great. LC's has their burnt ends, Gates has its sauce, Brobeck's has their ribs. Jack Stack has their cheesy corn dip etc.
Okie Joe's fries are also very popular. A little salty for my taste but still very good.
Okie Joe's is a must-stop on a KC BBQ tour.
I've been to both locations and food quality-wise they are the same. the one in the gas station is obviously a better BBQ atmosphere.
Yum, Yum, Yum!!!! This has definitely won my vote for best pulled pork sandwich and favorite BBQ joint in KC. It's definitely worth the wait, so be patient! I just wish they were open Sundays because that day always seems to be my day that I crave OK Joes.
Lived in KC for 5 years and have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. Ribs are great, good sides and awesome sandwiches. Not sure if its on the menu but the Chicken Z-Man is delicious.
Disguised as a gas station for the unsuspecting, if you came to this place to pump gas and left, you made a grave mistake. Why pump gas when you can pump BBQ pork into your stomach instead. This place rocks! We purposely drove an extra 300 miles on our cross country road trip to eat at this place. You don't know the number of corn fields we had to go through to get to this place. But learning about this place from Anthony Bourdain's "13 Places to Eat Before You Die, " we had to try it.
Coming at night, the only thing that clues you in on the wonders inside the gas station is the full parking lot. The 30 minute wait allows you to figure out what you want to eat. Seating is only for those who wait in line, so you can't order over the phone for pick up and sit at a table to gorge yourself.
Picking the Full Slap dinner, a Brisket sandwich, and a side of beans, we're engulfed in a BBQ pork bliss. Laying pieces of bread under the slab picks up all the juices and made me want to horde the bread for myself. I like combining the regular tangy BBQ sauce with the spicy BBQ sauce for dipping the pork that falls off the bones. We laid waste to as much as we could in one sitting, only to take the left overs and the BBQ sauce for the road. In the end we had enough food for two meals, and wished we could get more.
There wasn't any other reason to go to Kansas City. However we know better now. The BBQ is a darn good reason to go. Sure there's a lot of nothing to get there, but it was worth every bite of Oklahoma Joe's BBQ to get there.
This is one restaurant/gas station I did not mind getting dirty in. I meant getting my face dirty, wait that sounds bad too.
The fact is this BBQ at Oklahoma Joe's is simply great. I am a southern BBQ fanatic and was raised on the Carolina and Georgia mustard and vinegar based sauce.
KC bbq might top them all and maybe even tops Corky's Ribs in Memphis, which is really tough to do.
This place is unassuming, out of the way, crowded, and it's awesome. The Long End and Short End Ribs are perfectly cooked and the pulled pork has such a great smoke ring around it.
Service was lighting fast and this is a meat coma I wouldn't mind not waking up from.
If you are in the area, google it, map it, rand mcnally it. Ok Joe's is superb.
As for the dirty part, I had sauce all over my face and it actually made me more approachable.
If I had a list of Best Gas Stations, this would be at the top. Of course, this review is about the BBQ inside, and boy is it damn good... I mean DAMN good. I had the pulled pork, which was very flavorful... .I mean, who doesn't like pork? I like mine dry, so sometimes it can get dry. Not here... moist and succulent. The ribs were also finger-licking good. Aside from that, the onion rings are a good side, should you go that route.
Sure, the line is long, but it moves relatively fast, and it's worth the wait regardless. Just get a web phone and entertain yourself on Yelp while you're waiting.
Z-Man and fries is hard to deviate from at this great barbecue joint. Onion rings and fries are both great. Best BBQ stop in Kansas City in my opinion.
The only negative is it can be pretty crowded, and you'll be waiting in line for a while, or looking for a table. This location is part of a gas station, and definitely a unique atmosphere. Definitely worth the try if you haven't before, but if you're looking for a quick lunch stop, you may be pushing your lunch hour.
Best ribs I've ever had.
Best sandwich I've ever had (Z-man).
Best pulled pork sandwich I've ever had.
Best onion rings I've ever had.
I am not exaggerating on any of this.
Mmmm mmmm good.
I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of red beans and rice. I made the mistake of going to OK Joe's during lunch. The line stretched out of the building and into the parking lot (which was very hot).
Here are my notes on the BBQ (the pulled pork sandwich that I had):
I sampled the meat without the bread to get a good appraisal. The meat was extremely tender and moist. Without sauce, the pork was a bit bland (I couldn't taste any of the rub nor very much smoke). The sauce (Night of the living BBQ (hot)) was outstanding, though - not too sweet, not too mustardy - just the right amount of heat. After putting on the sauce and the buttered bun, it was a very good sandwich. The red beans and rice were OK. I've had more flavorful red beans and rice in Oklahoma and further south. As a side note, I saw many people getting the french fries. They looked very good and man, they give you about a half gallon of them.
Anyway - the food was good and I bought a gallon of the hot bbq sauce.
I was recently in town for a wedding, and was looking for an excuse to cross over State Line road in order to check Kansas off of my "states I've visited list". A quick search for restaurants near the Westport area, where my hotel was, quickly pulled Oklahoma Joe's to the top. It being located in a gas station quickly intrigued me, and I decide that this had to be my excuse to cross state lines. This decision was revalidated to me the night I arrived, when my local friend told me that it was where they usually told out of towners to go for BBQ.
I brought one of my friends who was also in town for the wedding here for lunch. We arrived a bit before noon, and the line was only about 20 people deep, not so bad (when we left it was out the door, into the parking lot). My friend, who is normally a vegetarian, but willing to "when in Rome", ordered the sm'okie sandwich, as its description mentioned lots of sauce. I, after much deliberation, decided to go for a 2 meat dinner with the specialty pulled pork, and brisket, with fries as my side.
The pulled pork was deliciously moist, and the brisket was tender and succulent. I just wish they had thicker slices of it for the dinner as opposed to the sandwich (which is really my only nitpick). Their sauces are great, particularly the spicy "Night of the Living BBQ" hot sauce. I would have bought some to take home if I was doing carryon only. The fries were good too, but to be honest I don't think my friend needed to order his own side of fries - we both ended up with almost half a bag left over.
So my vegetarian friend liked it, and ate his whole sandwich, but he said afterward that he would have preferred seitan to the meat.
Oklahoma Joe, if you were there I would shake your hand and bow at your feet! Recommended by a friend, this BBQ joint attached to a Shamrock gas station is the definition of the saying, "you can't judge a book by its cover." Gas station on the outside, heaven on earth on the inside.
- 1/2 slab rib dinner: This was more like a full slab at many other places. Meat was SO tender and fell right off the bone. Pair this with the spicy BBQ and you've got a match made in heaven.
- Hog Heaven: Pulled pork with the best smoked sausage I've ever tasted!
- Onion rings: A little greasy towards the bottom but still good
- French fries: Just the way I like them!
- Spicy Slaw: A great way to improve on one of my favorite side dishes
This is a MUST STOP in Kansas City!!! Hands down the best BBQ in the midwest, if not the US!!!
so first off...for those of you who are thinking of visiting, recognize a few things:
1. this place is part of a gas station. we were surprised and thought that we had the wrong address. so yes, look for a gas station, and head toward the convenience store section, which is really more 1/4 convenience store, and 3/4 restaurant.
2. this place opens at 11AM (at least on weekdays). unless you like to wait in a long line that winds from the food counter all the way around toward the exit, I recommend heading there close to 11. if you're not there for lunch, that's a totally different story. we got in at 11:04AM, saw 2 people ahead of us, 4 tables served, and decided to survey the menu. by the time we are done, man, the line just automatically extended...by the time we left, the line elongated all the way to the parking lot. from the look of things and people's faces, this is quite normal.
3. don't be deterred by the plain looking ambiance. you're here for the foods, and the foods are quite worth the effort. just remember that. plus, the table, though plain, are quite clean.
4. the food here rocks! the ribs fall off the bone, the smokie joe sandwich (beef & pork BBQ) has the right spice combo that dances on your lips in a friendly and savory way, the baked beans comes in three colors (who would think that a shop like this would be so colorful) and is yummie, and the chili is beefie...beefie good that is...
All in all, highly recommend for those visiting KC. Would I go back...probably not. but that's not because of the foods or restaurant. I'm not from Kansas City and don't plan on heading back anytime soon. But if I did, heck yeah, I would go back. it's quite an experience. plus, the people who work there are quite friendly.
Haven't visited any other KC bbq, so it wouldn't be fair to compare. But I do like the food here, period. At the end, isn't that all that matters!
The anticipation is killing me, the line is so long so it must be great. We finally get to order and you can smell the fresh cut BBQ meat. Everybody looks at your plate with jealousy as you walk by but they won't be waiting too much longer for the absolute best BBQ in KC.
I went for the Z-Man. A delicious sandwich of brisket, provolone cheese, and two onion rings on a fresh kaiser roll. There is just enough sauce on it to appease your pallet. It was mind blowing this sandwich.
The fries are dubbed the best in KC. There are enough fries for two in the bag they give you. They're pretty damn good to.
Now I know why Anthony Bourdain put this gas station BBQ joint on one of his list of 13 places to eat before you die. I just wish I had found this place sooner. I'm leaving soon so I'll have to get my fill . I'll be back for sure...like Bourdain says...this is the best BBQ in KC, so this makes it the best BBQ in the world.
"I'm so hungry I could eat a sandwich from a gas station"...now I know what Clark W. Griswold meant in Vacation.
The brisket here is the best you will ever eat (period). I have seen many techniques on cooking brisket one of which takes a dry rub, 15 hours of smoking and sous-vide for another 72 hours and nothing can compare the flavor and texture of Oklahoma Joes Brisket. The BBQ sauce is perfect. Flavor with just the right amount of heat that keeps you wanting more, but never gets to hot. The Pulled pork is amazing and I recommend the 'hog heaven' sandwich (pulled pork and pork sausage).
If there was one thing that was disappointing it would be the ribs. They were average and a bit dry. I am guessing that I just had a 'bad batch' and that normally they are much better. The burnt ends in the beans make them very good.
Oh, Oklahoma Joe's, I miss you so much, but am so proud to see you recognized on my favorite food celeb Anthony Bourdain's list of top 13 places to eat before you die. http://www.menshealth....
Hip hip hooray for Oklahoma Joe's, superior to Bryant's, Gates, or Jack Stack. OK Joe's FOR EVA!
Oklahoma Joe's is amazing. Lines are long, but worth the wait. Everything on the menu is… Read more »
Yay, I'm the 100th reviewer of Oklahoma Joe's! That makes me special. Ok, maybe not. But you know what reviewing OK Joe's will make me? Hungry!
Yes sirree. Thinking about the food there makes me yearn for good BBQ. I'm not a pork eater, so apparently I'm missing out. The brisket, though, is phenomenal. So tender and tasty. I loved the sauce. It has just the right tang to it. The best is mixing the regular and spicy, and you get the perfect blend of what sauce should be.
As for the sides, that's what really rocks the house, or gas station in this case. If you're going to have the balls to claim the best fries around, you'd better live up to it. OK Joes' did, and then some. And the onion rings were fantastic. I'm not usually an onion ring person but my friend got them and I enjoyed them. The boy really enjoyed them and ended up devouring her onion rings like they were his own.
All in all, a great place to visit. If you want to avoid the lines, go really early or really late.
The best BBQ in the BBQ capitol of the world. That about sums up Oklahoma Joe's. I love the G-Man and the Carolina style pulled pork sammy.
I have been to the new location down south twice now and am extremely underwhelmed. I'm sure it's the same recipe and all but for whatever reason the food doesn't taste quite as good as the original. There's just something that's not right about eating Joe's and not being able to gas up your car all in the same place.
With all of the national accolades lately this place is constantly packed. The line is out the door every time I drive by so if you can you should try to eat here during the week. Your wait will be much less.
Most great BBQ places are not freestanding establishments. Most are connected to a bait shop, a barber shop, or in the case of Oklahoma Joe's, a gas station. The room is festooned with banners proclaiming the favorable attributes of Joe's BBQ.
The line started at the door. It took us 30+ minutes to place our order. After we sat down to eat and after an hour had gone by, the line was still in the same position as when we had entered. This place is POPULAR...and for good reason...
I had the half pork rib rack with a side of potato salad. I really enjoyed the ribs even more without the extra sauce. This is excellent BBQ. It was my first consumption of BBQ in the Kansas City style. It's good. But I reserve 5 stars for Memphis style out of stubbornness and patriotism to my childhood BBQ. Excellent BBQ.
After eating at 3 other bbq places earlier in the day you'd think we'd be tired of ribs. But no, these were some of the best ribs ever with great flavor and the right amount of fat. The Hog Heaven was nice too. The sauce was decent but not the best in KC. The beans are different and I'm sure they are good in their own way but they didn't meet our definition of beans for bbq. They were more like chili.
It was fun eating in a gas station - kind of a different environment and you can pay for your gas and buy extra sauce the bring home. The line was long but it moved quickly so don't leave if you find the line to the door. I like that you can't save a table until after you order though D didn't like that.
I have to confess. I love all things BBQ, but I don't eat moo or oink. I know, I know - how can one love BBQ and not like the main parts of it that people eat?
Well, I eat chicken and turkey, and whaddaya know - they have that here at Okie Joe's. So on my last evening in KC, what better way to end it than to pull up to a gas station and have me some gut-busting BBQ.
I ordered a 1/4 chicken, with a side of onion rings and a drink. All for under $9. The chicken was perfectly seasoned, smoky and juicy and once I added that super-spicy BBQ sauce on it, well I think that must have been the best piece of chicken I've ever eaten. Thank god neither Susan or Dave wanted any because I don't think I would have been able to keep the snarls in.
Now, the chicken was pretty good, but what won me over was the onion rings. Holy sh*t, they were the best goddamn onion rings I have ever eaten.
Whenever I go to a place that serves onion rings, I have to try them. Normally, I'm not a fan of onions unless they are fully cooked and indistinguishable from whatever they are used in. However, onion rings are the anomaly. These were cornmeal crusted, fried to perfection, not greasy at all and seasoned so well there was no need for anything else on them. I crunched away until I literally couldn't put another piece in my mouth. Dave ate the rest.
So if you are in KC, go to the Kansas side and get some BBQ. I've heard the brisket is amazing. :P
After eating here, I had serious food coma. Not a good thing given I still needed to drive to STL, and it was already 9:00.
This place was awesome. It's in a freaking gas station. How cool is that? Had the half slab of ribs with baked beans and french fries. The meat fell right off the bone. So tender, juice, and tasty. Ribs were already sauced up pretty well, but I still slathered the meat with the hot BBQ sauce at the table. Couldn't have been good for my health but definitely was good for the taste buds.
Baked beans were also good.
Fries, beyond belief. Perfectly crisped and delightfully seasoned.
Top it all off with a Diet Coke, and I was in hog heaven. If I had better presence of mind, I should've gotten the sweet tea, but I defaulted to Diet Coke.
Kinda off the Interstate and in a random area, but it's well worth the detour.
Showed up at closing (8:30 p.m.) on a Tuesday and the place was full.
OK Joe's be more than OK.
This place is in my top 5 of BBQ places in the Kansas City Area. Over the years I have ate there probably 15-20 times and each time I have had a great meal. The BBQ is great, but the french fries have to be the best around.
The only downside is most of the time you have to stand in a long line because they are packed EVERY lunch hour and most dinner services.
Good, but OVERRATED!
Went here for lunch on a Saturday, couln't wait, i've heard so much about this place for years. Boy, was I disapointed. Waited in 45 minute line for decent BBQ on a dried out bun with OK sauce. I've eaten at many BBQ places, and this is no better than most. The onion rings looked good, but were just OK.
I'd say if you could get in quick, it's worth the stop so you can say you've eaten there,,,, but if the line is approaching the door, better to pass and come back another day.
Will I go back? Yeah i'd give them another shot, but I wont wait in line to do it.
Damage: Two sandwiches, two bottled waters, and an order of rings was $ 19.00
This place had the best pulled pork I've ever tasted bar none. I never knew it could be that good. 5 1/2 stars for the pulled pork!
I went with my folks after they picked me up from KCI airport. We were debating between BBQ places and this one got the highest on the Zagat guide, so we decided to try it out. I knew it was in a gas station from doing previous research on KC BBQ, but my folks were surprised. Where is it? It's in that gas station, dad!
He ordered a full slab of ribs to share with his lady and I ordered the cowboy dinner which was the Friday night special - 12$ for 2 ribs, some sausage, and some brisket + 2 sides. The guy behind the counter gave me a small sample of the pulled pork, and I am forever grateful for that sample. Like I said before, the pulled was the best I ever had.....ever. The brisket was a little thin and I thought that Memphis Minnie's in San Francisco had better brisket and guess what!?!? The best KC fries there taste identical to the BBQ fries at Memphis Minnie's in SF. I think Bob Kantor stole the spices...has to be. The ribs and sausage were pretty unbeatable, but my dad zoned in on my potato salad. It was yellow colored, like some mustard had been added. Great creamy potato salad! I was filled and happy for about 15$ there....Bourdain was right. this is a place to try before you die...you've never had pulled pork like this!
On top of the great food, the people were particularly nice. Gates is surly for effect and jack stack is a little more upscale from what i heard. These were the soil of the earth kinda people that were happy to talk to me about the gas price differences between California and Kansas and other meaningless subjects...very polite and talkative.
Kansas City, MO
Category: Barbeque
Kansas City, MO
Category: Barbeque
Neighborhood: Greater Downtown
Category: Barbeque
Mission, KS
Category: Barbeque
Olathe, KS
Category: Barbeque
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