Gates Bar.B.Q – American

The air at this legendary Kansas City institution is thick with the intoxicating perfume of hickory smoke and the spirited, rhythmic greeting that has welcomed generations of barbecue devotees. Diners move through a bustling, high-energy line to claim plates of tender, slow-smoked meats lacquered in a signature sweet-and-spicy sauce that captures the very soul of the city’s pit-master traditions. It is a sensory-rich pilgrimage where the heat of the pits and the deep, savory flavors of the wood fire create an atmosphere of pure, unpretentious Americana.

Cuisine: American

Price range: $

Currently open