Sarah & Nick’s Guide to KCMO
Food scene
KIN LIN
314 E 51st StOur favorite cheap Chinese food in KC, we love dining in as much as getting takeout.
Simple, New York-style pie. Get a pitcher of beer and dine in, or take it to go.
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Pizza 51
5060 Oak StSimple, New York-style pie. Get a pitcher of beer and dine in, or take it to go.
This Black owned restaurant has some great takes on southern soul food, and it’s all vegan!
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Mattie's Foods:
633 East 63rd StreetThis Black owned restaurant has some great takes on southern soul food, and it’s all vegan!
Great lunch spot for salads, sandwiches, and more - take it to go and head to Loose Park!
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The Mixx
4855 Main StGreat lunch spot for salads, sandwiches, and more - take it to go and head to Loose Park!
A bit upscale, this is one of the few local spots on the Plaza - sit on their patio and order the Smoking Dun, a super delicious twist on the Manhattan.
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Gram & Dun
600 Ward PkwyA bit upscale, this is one of the few local spots on the Plaza - sit on their patio and order the Smoking Dun, a super delicious twist on the Manhattan.
Not exactly on the Plaza, but a short drive, this is arguably the best BBQ in KC. Wait in a long line to eat there, or use our hack and phone in your order. You bypass the line, and your fries are still fresh!
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Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
3002 W 47th AveNot exactly on the Plaza, but a short drive, this is arguably the best BBQ in KC. Wait in a long line to eat there, or use our hack and phone in your order. You bypass the line, and your fries are still fresh!
Super fun atmosphere with a great patio and really good BBQ - plenty of meat options, but their Jackknife sandwich is the best veggie BBQ in town!
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Char Bar
4050 Pennsylvania AveSuper fun atmosphere with a great patio and really good BBQ - plenty of meat options, but their Jackknife sandwich is the best veggie BBQ in town!
Always a great tap selection and good food choices for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
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Beer Kitchen
435 Westport RdAlways a great tap selection and good food choices for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
French bistro and a lovely spot for a fancy cocktail. Their happy hour and reverse happy hours are great!
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Westport Cafe
419 Westport RdFrench bistro and a lovely spot for a fancy cocktail. Their happy hour and reverse happy hours are great!
Chinese food with amazing dumplings and homemade noodles.
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Blue Koi Noodles & Dumplings
1803 W 39th StChinese food with amazing dumplings and homemade noodles.
No joke, we eat here about once a week. Best Mediterranean food in town. Check out the falafel and baba ganoush sandwich with lentil soup.
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Aladdin Cafe
3903 Wyoming StNo joke, we eat here about once a week. Best Mediterranean food in town. Check out the falafel and baba ganoush sandwich with lentil soup.
This is a great spot if you’re looking for super delicious vegan comfort food.
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The Fix!
600 E 31st StThis is a great spot if you’re looking for super delicious vegan comfort food.
This is a yummy BBQ spot that is one of the best in KC. Parking can be a bit of a bear, but they always have spots for cars that are doing take-out.
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Q39 - Midtown
1000 W 39th StThis is a yummy BBQ spot that is one of the best in KC. Parking can be a bit of a bear, but they always have spots for cars that are doing take-out.
Many options to make it affordable or fancy, we love this spot for a nice dinner in a laid back atmosphere.
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The Westside Local
1663 Summit StMany options to make it affordable or fancy, we love this spot for a nice dinner in a laid back atmosphere.
A great affordable brunch/lunch spot with huge portions and kooky art.
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Succotash
2601 Holmes StA great affordable brunch/lunch spot with huge portions and kooky art.
Everything is plant-based and gluten free. Try their milkshakes and desserts!
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Cafe Gratitude Kansas City
333 Southwest BlvdEverything is plant-based and gluten free. Try their milkshakes and desserts!
Vietnam Cafe
522 Campbell StThis hole-in-the-wall has the best pho, and it’s very cheap.
Il Lazzarone Pizza
412 Delaware StNeapolitan-style pizza and great drinks to go with it.
Great atmosphere, delicious Thai food, and a great patio when the weather is nice.
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Baramee Thai Bistro
1810 Baltimore AveGreat atmosphere, delicious Thai food, and a great patio when the weather is nice.
This Black owned shop has great juices, smoothies and sandwiches.
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Ruby Jean's Kitchen & Juicery
3000 Troost AveThis Black owned shop has great juices, smoothies and sandwiches.
This is our current fave for BBQ in KC. It’s technically in KCK, but it’s only a 3 minute drive from downtown. We love the Mike Johnson sandwich.
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Slap's BBQ
553 Central AveThis is our current fave for BBQ in KC. It’s technically in KCK, but it’s only a 3 minute drive from downtown. We love the Mike Johnson sandwich.
Tiki Taco
Best food within walking distance and a great patio!
High Hopes Ice Cream
Walkable ice cream shop, and it’s delicious!
We love this spot. Affordable, delicious and fun decor. Just a short drive from the hideaway!
Baba's Pantry
1019 E 63rd StWe love this spot. Affordable, delicious and fun decor. Just a short drive from the hideaway!
Drinks scene
One of the coziest and most romantic cafés, this is a great choice for bubbles and a snack.
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Ça Va
4149 Pennsylvania AveOne of the coziest and most romantic cafés, this is a great choice for bubbles and a snack.
Coffee and Sweets
Absolutely beautiful and great coffee. Our friends own it, and they know what they are doing.
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Monarch Coffee
3550 Broadway BlvdAbsolutely beautiful and great coffee. Our friends own it, and they know what they are doing.
Great vibes at this bakery. Perfect if you like something sweet with your coffee.
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Heirloom Bakery & Hearth
401 E 63rd StGreat vibes at this bakery. Perfect if you like something sweet with your coffee.
Beautiful space with coffee, fresh juice, and raw and gluten free goodies.
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Unbakery and Juicery
634 E 63rd StBeautiful space with coffee, fresh juice, and raw and gluten free goodies.
If you are looking for gluten free vegan treats, this is your place. If you are lucky enough to snag one of her fresh cinnamon rolls, you won’t be disappointed.
The Littlest Bake Shop
5511 Troost AvenueIf you are looking for gluten free vegan treats, this is your place. If you are lucky enough to snag one of her fresh cinnamon rolls, you won’t be disappointed.
We have only one thing to say about this place: MOCHI DONUTS. Seriously, you have to try them. They are probably our favorite donuts in town.
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Blackhole Bakery
5531 Troost AveWe have only one thing to say about this place: MOCHI DONUTS. Seriously, you have to try them. They are probably our favorite donuts in town.
You NEED to try their bread and killer croissants.
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Messenger Coffee Co. + Ibis Bakery
1624 Grand BlvdYou NEED to try their bread and killer croissants.
We almost always have some of this in our freezer, so we highly recommend it. They have all of the traditional flavors, but we recommend the more adventurous ones.
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Betty Rae's Ice Cream
7140 Wornall RdWe almost always have some of this in our freezer, so we highly recommend it. They have all of the traditional flavors, but we recommend the more adventurous ones.
We almost always have some of this in our freezer, so we highly recommend it. They have all of the traditional flavors, but we recommend the more adventurous ones.
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Betty Rae's Ice Cream
7140 Wornall RdWe almost always have some of this in our freezer, so we highly recommend it. They have all of the traditional flavors, but we recommend the more adventurous ones.
Museums
Both free and basically across the street from one another. We recommend a picnic on the Nelson’s front lawn if weather permits.
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I-Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak StBoth free and basically across the street from one another. We recommend a picnic on the Nelson’s front lawn if weather permits.
A relatively hidden gem, but this is a great museum full of impressive miniatures & toys that will make you feel nostalgic. You can easily walk here!
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Toy and Miniature Museum
A relatively hidden gem, but this is a great museum full of impressive miniatures & toys that will make you feel nostalgic. You can easily walk here!
Beautifully done and very moving. This is also our favorite view of the city, especially at sunset!
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National WWI Museum and Memorial
2 Memorial DrBeautifully done and very moving. This is also our favorite view of the city, especially at sunset!
Not exactly a museum, but this a fun historical building to explore. It is particularly magical around the holidays!
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I-Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing RdNot exactly a museum, but this a fun historical building to explore. It is particularly magical around the holidays!
Parks and Picnics
A KC native favorite, you will find lots of green space and adorable dogs here. If you have some time, ask us about how Nick got stuck in a tree here once. It is pretty hilarious.
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Jacob L. Loose Park
5200 Wornall RdA KC native favorite, you will find lots of green space and adorable dogs here. If you have some time, ask us about how Nick got stuck in a tree here once. It is pretty hilarious.
A little bit of a drive, but some of our favorite hiking along the Missouri River. The town is pretty adorable, especially around the holidays.
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I-Weston Bend State Park
16600 MO-45A little bit of a drive, but some of our favorite hiking along the Missouri River. The town is pretty adorable, especially around the holidays.
The same place where you will find the WWI Museum, but also just a great place to go for a walk or picnic.
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National WWI Museum and Memorial
2 Memorial DrThe same place where you will find the WWI Museum, but also just a great place to go for a walk or picnic.
Lots of great hiking trails throughout and also home to our favorite public pool in town. We recommend parking at the Lakeside Nature Center to catch a trailhead.
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Swope Park
3999 E Meyer BlvdLots of great hiking trails throughout and also home to our favorite public pool in town. We recommend parking at the Lakeside Nature Center to catch a trailhead.
Neighborhoods
Lots of creative local shops, and so much fun on First Fridays for gallery shows, live music, and food trucks.
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Crossroads
Lots of creative local shops, and so much fun on First Fridays for gallery shows, live music, and food trucks.
These old warehouses have been turned into vintage markets. Most are only open on the weekends, & the architecture is just a fun as what they sell.
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West Bottoms
These old warehouses have been turned into vintage markets. Most are only open on the weekends, & the architecture is just a fun as what they sell.
We love the farmers market on the weekends, but it is also great during the week for an array of ethnic grocers & restaurants.
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River Market
We love the farmers market on the weekends, but it is also great during the week for an array of ethnic grocers & restaurants.
Mostly chain retail stores, but still great for shopping, walking, and people watching. We come here regularly to go to the Cinemark movie theatre where the tickets are still pretty cheap!
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Country Club Plaza
Mostly chain retail stores, but still great for shopping, walking, and people watching. We come here regularly to go to the Cinemark movie theatre where the tickets are still pretty cheap!
Shopping
Lots of local, funky shops and fun spots for lunch. There are skywalks that connect Crown Center all the way to Union Station!
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Crown Center
2450 Grand BlvdLots of local, funky shops and fun spots for lunch. There are skywalks that connect Crown Center all the way to Union Station!