Top 10 Kansas City Famous Food on the Scene

Kansas City is where you can always enjoy a delicious meal. There’s no denying that the city has one of the country’s most delicious and exciting food scenes. From barbeque to burgers, there is no shortage of tasty options for food enthusiasts. However, with so many dishes to choose from, it can be challenging to decide where to begin. In this blog, we have narrowed down the top 10 mouth-watering Kansas City famous foods that should be on every food lover’s list. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, these dishes are must-tries that deliver on both taste and experience. So, let’s take a culinary tour of the city and explore the top 10 Kansas City famous foods everyone should taste.

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #1 Barbeque

Ribs, hot and cold brisket, pork salad, and burned ends are well-known dishes known as Kansas City barbecue.

While ribs and brisket may be found in nearly every type of barbecue nationwide, burned ends are particularly popular in Kansas City. This dish was first offered as a complimentary appetizer while patrons waited for their meals at Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue. But gradually, this meal gained such a following that people started requesting it independently.

There are usually not enough burnt ends to serve on their own because they are merely the scorched margins of smoked brisket. So today, chunks of brisket are double-smoked and double-sauced to get the burnt end flavor. Everyone in Kansas and Missouri handles burnt ends better than anyone else. Therefore it’s clear that this is a regional tradition.

Looking for activities to do in Kansas? Click here.

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #2 Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Yes, you just accurately read that combo. One of the most well-known meals in the state, this incongruous pairing is served everywhere, from diners to schools in Kansas. This meal’s custom is said to have started when the Department of Agriculture gave a lot of beans to local schools.

Many districts in Kansas provided chili to the kids since they had no idea what to do with the leftover beans. When they didn’t like it, they served it with cinnamon rolls as a sweet treat. The combo became popular, and restaurants today frequently serve it.

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #3 Bierocks

While the typical ingredients for a Bierock are beef, sausage, cabbage, and onions, several restaurants in Kansas offer it with other fillings. Therefore, other choices exist if the conventional approach does not appeal to you.

Gella’s Diner is one place with a reputation for selling some of the best bierocks in the state. Their bierocks are made as normal with traditional fillings and covered in a decadent cheese sauce. If you wish to try other locally based foods, you may choose from a wide variety of options at this restaurant in Hays, also connected to a brewery.

Wanna make your trip memorable? Have your camera ready! If you don’t have one, get one here!

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #4 Hamburgers

Although many states in the US have their variations on hamburgers, Kansas is no exception and has its own distinctive hamburger. A big Kansas hamburger will often be topped with many grilled onions and other ingredients.

We really do mean enormous when we say it. For example, many eateries around the state offer burger-eating contests with meals weighing between two and five pounds.

The Pennant restaurant in Topeka is well known for its burger challenge. If you don’t finish the 5-pound burger in 30 minutes, your name will be put on their wall of shame, and you won’t earn any rewards or bragging rights. It’s a good time, but not for the weak of the heart.

Explore more of Kansas in these sightseeing tours!

Kansas City Famous Food Scene #5 Doughnuts

Due to Kansas’ central location and the numerous major highways that pass through it, there has always been a significant demand for convenient foods while driving. This demand is nicely met by doughnuts, which are hugely well-liked across the state.

Ladybird Diner is one place that is quite well-liked. Since opening in 2014, this establishment in Lawrence, Kansas, has been renowned for its unique doughnut varieties. In addition, traditional doughnut flavors and other pies and pastries are available at the Ladybird Diner.

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #6 Kansas Dirt Cake

For many years, this meal was served in homes nationwide under the names trifle or Mississippi mud cake. However, Kansas dirt cake, the earliest known recipe for dirt cake, appeared in an Arkansas newspaper in the 1980s.

Since this delicacy was initially intended for kids, many people top the cake with gummy worms today. However, both kids and adults will enjoy this adorable and tasty snack. The components for this recipe can be obtained at practically any grocery shop, so if you can’t find it while visiting Kansas, you can easily make it at home.

Looking for more things to do in Kansas City? Check them out here!

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #7 Brown Bread Custard

It only makes sense that Kansan cuisine incorporates wheat in as many different ways as possible, given that it is such a significant agricultural staple in “The Wheat State.” Although it might appear like a strange, avant-garde custard flavor, this has been a staple of the community’s culture for a long time.

The flavor itself is quite simple. Brown sugar and little chunks of brown bread are blended into the custard, which has merely a vanilla foundation. Baughman Ice Cream Company was one of the first companies to market this taste in 1920. And even though they are no longer in operation, this taste is still sold in a number of other places in Kansas.

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #8 Knoephla

This German dish is made with creamy broth and dumplings. It’s served with sausage, bacon, or sometimes diced fried potatoes. This savory meal has been a favorite in the state for many years and is now served in many restaurants around Kansas.

Knoephla can also be found in soup form. It is made with a light cream-based broth, dumplings usually made from mashed potatoes, and any variety of meats or vegetables you desire. Knoephla should be at the top of your list if you want to try something unique while visiting Kansas.

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #9 Fried Chicken

No list of Kansas cuisine would be complete without fried chicken. Kansans enjoy this dish in various forms, from crispy and crunchy to spicy and saucy. Whether served with mashed potatoes or more adventurous preparations such as Korean-style wings, fried chicken is always popular.

At the Red Zone in Wichita, they specialize in fried chicken. They offer various options, including their signature Big Red Chicken and traditional Southern fried chicken. So no matter how you like your chicken, this is the place to get it!

Learn about Kansas’ craft beer industry in this tour.

Kansas City Famous Food on Scene #10 Meat Pies

When it comes to comfort food, Kansans love their meat pies. Whether they have ground beef or pork, the crust is always filled with a light, flaky pastry, and flavorful seasonings.

The most popular version of this dish is made at the Paleteria Oasis restaurant in Garden City. They offer a variety of meat pies, such as their signature Oasis Burrito Pie filled with beef, cheese, and chili peppers. For those who want something a bit extra, the restaurant also offers sweet versions like apple-cinnamon pie!

These ten dishes will satisfy your cravings no matter where you visit Kansas. From savory to sweet, traditional to more adventurous flavors, there is something for everyone in the area. So try one or two and taste the state’s culinary culture!