A random collection of thoughts on the best and worst of Kansas City area restaurants:
Best Mexican A four way tie?
- Fish Tacos
- Mi Ranchito: One of the few places that doesn't insist on breading and frying up fish for tacos
- Mole
- Taqueria Mexico: This mole is so amazingly good, I would eat/drink it by the bucketful
- Tortas
- Tienda Casa Paloma: Massive sandwich, plan on taking half home or suffer a food coma in the afternoon. The Torta Casa Paloma is worth the $1.25 upgrade
- Everything else
- Vive Latino! We have eaten at Vive Latino every other week since the middle of December. I have not had a bad meal here, the staff is wonderful - especially Deanna, and I would be happy to do nothing but drink their horchata all day long
Best BBQ In this town there can be clear winners. For inexpensive BBQ, Snead's BBQ has my heart (attack) For upscale BBQ, Jack Stack - Kansas City combo with pork burnt ends and lamb ribs + half beans and fries has me drooling at the memory. Best Thai I can't get enough of the Thai House's Massuman Tofu curry. Best Indian I have been to many Indian restaurants in Kansas City. I am definitely a fan of the style, flavors and spices and the hands down winner for me remains Korma Sutra. Even if the food didn't kick as much ass as it does, the owner/front door man at the Overland Park location will make your visit worth the trip. My current favorite there is an off the menu item they whipped up for me consisting of paneer, garbanzos in a spicy tomato sauce. Also not to be missed is their coconut soup.
Best German Unfortunately for me, the by default winner is the Rhineland in Independence. Not because it's not good, but I don't live there anymore. A 30 minute drive to the Square through rush hour traffic just for some red cabbage isn't my idea of fun. Previous winner would have been The Berliner Bear.
Best Irish I have no winner here. It used to be WJ McBride's before they set sail. Waxy O'Shea's is bland trash. O'Dowd's has lost their way, their menu is just too much like the other Kansas City Hops spots. The food is good for pub food, but I want the taste of Ireland. Raglan Road? Their Orlando location rocks, KC one still sucks as of my last visit. Llywelyn's Pub, as I think about it, they're probably serving the best food for Irish joints but their food doesn't call to me.
It's getting late and I want to hit Publish Other awesome places to eat in KC in no particular order
- Room 39
- Potpie
- The Jazz - Mammou po'boy, stat! Also, best deal on dessert
- Blue Koi - Tofu ants on a tree with a mix-in of the firebird sauce + an almond bubble tea
- Classic Cookie - their specials are always awesome
- You say tomato - I can't even describe what this place is but go and have some of the best food of your life
- Latte Land - Italian Wedding cookies and nonfat green chai latte. That's all they should sell because that's all the soul needs
- Tasso's - Flaming cheese, so very very good. I would eat servings of that if I could
- Jerusalem Cafe - anything really but I do love their falafels
- Mediterranean Market - red pepper hummus could be injected straight into my veins and I would not complain
- The Gaf - Give me a gutbomb or give me another one
- Carmens - Give me many loaves of bread and their Italian butter and I'll be a fat and happy man
- Foos Fabulous Frozen Custard - Stickey Hickey = divine
- Cupinis - no bad meals here either but I love their club sandwich. The bacon is thick and goes so well with that garlic aioli. Their desserts are worth drooling over, in fact by the zuccoto. You'll thank me
- D'Bronx - J da bomb is a fantastic sandwich. 39th St location does it better than the Metcalf. And if they have them, pick up some of the chocolate and cranberry cookies for me
- HiBoy - burger, tots and an Oreo Cyclone, no lid. Best calories you'll ever taste
- Eden Alley - vegetarian heaven, current favorite is the Ruelke. Sweet potato burrito and their grilled cheese is also a solid choice
- Oklahoma Joes - ZMan
- Osteria il Centro - Walnut Chicken Pesto Pasta or something like that is the bee's knees
- Houlihans - Tuscan salad
- Taste - Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Mi Ranchito: 7148 W 80th St, Overland Park, KS 66204 Taqueria Mexico: 3300 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS Tienda Casa Paloma 8220 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 66204 Vive Latino! 99th & Holmes, Kansas City, MO
