I'm a Kansas boy raised on BBQ. And Kansas City boasts some of the BEST BBQ joints in the world! A bit of a problem though, I'm also diabetic. Eating right is always a challenge and that makes enjoying those sauces and sides even more challenging. I've compiled a list of 85 restaurants and food trucks in and around Kansas City that bill themselves as Kansas City BBQ. I am going to visit them all on this blog and do my best to stick to a diabetic-friendly diet (but I might cheat a little).
This is my quest!
They can't all be winners, but this one is!
Chickhoovenswine delivers a great upscale BBQ experience in a low-key space. Found on the second floor of The Parlor in the Crossroads district of downtown KCMO, this place gives off a trendy food court vibe. Follow the sign up the stairs and don't get distracted by the other food choices or full bar.
The menu is simple and to the point, focusing on what they do best. No reason to over-complicate it. They come from a food truck background, so the prices reflected that a little, but for the quality of what you get, it's in no way out of line.
There's plenty of seating in The Parlor, both upstairs and down, plus a covered open-air patio with some great views of one of the greatest cities in the world.
Of course we had to try the brisket and we got it two ways. First, one of the specialties: Trash Can Nachos. House made chips piled with your choice of pulled pork or brisket. Add a huge scoop of cheesy corn and drizzle it with warm queso! The brisket was tender and the corn could have been a meal by itself. We took it to the next level with the scratch made sauce - a little sweet, a little spicy.
For me, I went with Tex. A great portion of brisket and sausage served on a hearty bun. Every bite had flavor and the pickles and sauce only enhanced it. I felt like the choice of bun was a little distracting with its size. Overall a great sandwich!
My brother went with the burnt ends, instead of trying one of their other signature sandwiches. Apparently, this is a fan favorite. The no frills fries rounded out the meal. My brother appreciated the bun because it didn't fall apart, but even he didn't eat all of the bread.
I'm happy to see this little food truck has found a home. A little secret - of the three animals mentioned in the name, chicken is normally off-menu, but I suspect you would be pretty lucky to have it when it's available, so be sure to ask before you order. I will definitely be back!
Fairly certain the one and only guy behind the counter was the award winning pit master described on the Parlor website: Eric Westervelt, who started cooking Kansas City-style barbecue in 2005 on the competition circuit, started serving barbecue at fairs and festivals as ChickHoovenSwine in 2010. Now, the business has two food trucks, a robust catering business and its new location in Parlor. ChickHoovenSwine specializes in Kansas City-style burnt ends and ribs. Signature items include the MJ sandwich, made with both slow smoked pork and smoked sausage; and Trash Can nachos, where housemade chips come topped with cheese, a choice of pork or brisket and the restaurant’s from-scratch cheesy corn. The restaurant will smoke meat on site in a smoker installed just for the restaurant. Westervelt uses a homemade dry rub on all the meat, and all of the restaurant’s sauces and side dishes are made from scratch.
Visit them online to see everything happening here:
About the Foodie: After spending almost 15 years in Florida, Mark has returned home to Kansas. He has achieved some success as a Kindle Best Seller and having one of his short stories selected as a winner in the Florida Writer's Association Short Story Collection. Growing up in Kansas, Mark graduated from Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences and received his Bachelor's in Film from the University of Kansas. Mark has written numerous novels, screenplays, short stories and digital series. Inspirational stories with positive messages are his goal with everything he writes. Find Mark's books with keyword "MillerWords" on Amazon or other online book retailers and connect on Facebook.
This is not a paid review. I am an independent customer expressing a non-biased opinion.
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