I’ve called Kansas City home for a while now and one of the things I love about the city is the diverse food options available. But, at its heart, Kansas City is a BBQ town. Everyone has their favorite…just ask and you’ll get countless opinions on who has the best barbeque in the city. But what’s a vegetarian to do? Somedays making a meal out of side dishes isn’t enough. Somedays you need the whole sweet, tangy, smoky BBQ experience. Thankfully there are a couple great locations in Kansas City that cater to everyone…omnivore and vegetarian alike.
Joe’s Kansas City
Previously known as ‘Oklahoma Joe’s,’ Joe’s KC is a Kansas City staple. Their BBQ team has racked up more awards than I could ever possibly begin to list here! One of the restaurant’s signature offerings is the Z-man sandwich…a combination of smoked meat, cheese, barbeque sauce, and onion rings. And it just so happens they offer a vegetarian version made with smoked Portobello mushrooms.
Char Bar
If you’re looking for something slightly more upscale, consider Char Bar. This restaurant specializes in elevating all your BBQ favorites and they offer several vegetarian options that feature smoked jackfruit. It’s even an option on their BBQ platter! They also have an amazing grilled cheese made with pimento cheese if you’re not in the mood for barbeque.
Peaceful Pig
Or go completely vegan! It’s not often that vegans and vegetarians have an entire BBQ menu written just for them, but the Peaceful Pig delivers exactly that. This food ‘truck’ serves up incredible vegan ‘cue out of a vintage VW bus. You can catch them set up at all sorts of events in the metro area. Make sure to get there early though…you don’t want to miss out! **Update 8/2020: It appears that Peaceful Pig has gone out of business. Here’s hoping that it’s only temporary!**
