Kansas City residents fight over the city’s best barbecue the way New Yorkers debate pizza, but everyone can agree that Arthur Bryant’s ranks toward the top. Located at 18th and Brooklyn, the popular joint is decidedly no-frills, though the vinyl chairs and Formica tabletops are easy enough to ignore once your food arrives. With everything from slow-smoked ribs to brisket and burnt ends—all slathered in Arthur Bryant’s signature sauce and served with simple slices of white bread—the menu here has drawn such big names as Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, and Barack Obama, along with loads of local fans.
