Top Food & Restaurants Picks in Kansas City | Best of KC 2025

Check out our readers’ top picks for feasting and drinking around the metro.

Editor’s Pick

Family Farming: Five Mile Farms

Five Mile Farms isn’t just another Kansas farm way south in who-knows-where. It’s family-owned, with Lucas and Ileana Price helming the ship—er, tractor. The husband-and-wife team’s focus is maximizing carbon sequestration, otherwise referred to as regenerative agriculture, to grow grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and forest-raised pigs.

The couple farms in a way that helps rebuild the soil, which is beneficial for both the animals and the Earth they roam as well. You won’t find any antibiotics or hormones in anything you purchase from their Overland Park Farmers Market vendor booth or from their online shop at fivemilefarms.com. If you need proof or just want to see how it’s done, the Price family is more than happy to take you on a farm tour. If you’re lucky, you can even attend a whole hog workshop like I did, where participants slaughter and butcher a pig and use every part for food. 

Visit their booth at the farmers market and you’ll be greeted by Lucas, Ileana or one of their three bright and sturdy young children, each of whom can give you the thorough breakdown of how they butcher their chickens, what animal parts are best for making a stock (chicken feet and marrow bones, they’ll say) and the difference between a skirt and a flank steak. When you come back to buy from them again, it’s no doubt they’ll ask for an update on your cooking ventures.

This family farm isn’t only about building a healthy relationship with the Earth’s soil. It’s also about building community. 

Readers’ Choice: Dining

Best Barbecue Sauce
Jack Stack

Best Barbecue
Joe’s KC

Best Chef
Michael Smith

Best Burrito
Ponak’s

Best Burnt Ends
Jack Stack

Best Burger
The Big Biscuit

Best Brunch Spot
The Big Biscuit

Best Barbecue Sandwich
Joe’s KC

Best Bakery
McLain’s Bakery & Market

Best BBQ Rub
Q39

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant
Whole Harvest Kitchen

Best Thai
Waldo Thai

Best Tacos
Taco Naco KC

Best Sushi
Blue Sushi

Best Steak House
J. Gilbert’s

Best Smoothie/Juice Bar
Ruby Jean’s

Best Seafood Spot
Bristol

Best Sandwich Shop
Bay Boy

Best Ribs
Jack Stack

Best Restaurant When Someone Else Is Paying
Capital Grille

Best Restaurant
Red Door Woodfired Grill

Best Ramen
KC Craft Ramen

Best Pub Food
The Peanut

Best Pizza
Minsky’s

Best Pie
The Upper Crust

Best Pho
Vietnam Cafe

Best Patio
Char Bar Westport

Best New Restaurant
Green Dirt on Oak

Best Mexican Restaurant
Ponak’s

Best Korean
Kobi Q

Best Italian
Garozzo’s

Best Indian
Taj Mahal

Best Ice Cream
Betty Rae’s Ice Cream

Best Hot Dog
Costco

Best Gyro
Mr. Gyros

Best Greek
Mr. Gyros

Best Local Doughnut Shop
LaMar’s

Best Gluten-Free Restaurant
Billie’s Grocery

Best Gelato
Spin Pizza

Best French Fries
Joe’s KC

Best Food Truck
Taco Naco KC

Best Food Pop-Up
Slow Rise Donuts

Best Food Bargain
Red Door Woodfired Grill

Best Farmers Market
City Market

Best Diner
The Big Biscuit

Best Coffee Shop
The Roasterie

Best Cinnamon Rolls
Corner Cafe

Best Cupcakes
McLain’s Bakery & Market

Best Chocolatier
Christopher Elbow

Best Breakfast
The Big Biscuit

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