Not sure I’ve ever given a 1-star review and with as popular a place this seems to be I was frankly surprised! First…almost walked out (and should have) after seeing the kitchen! It was awful! Grease and sauce everywhere. I’m not sure how it passes food safety and health inspections. The dining areas needing cleaning and updating but could look past that if everything else would have been ok. Service was meh at best. Then the food…unfortunately we threw over half of it away. The brisket looked like it was boiled, no flavor, but at least tender. The burnt ends were definitely burnt tasting and smothered in sauce that overwhelmed any flavor of the meat. The Cole slaw was extremely sloppy, tasted like mayo more than anything and the picture doesn’t even do justice to how unappetizing it looked. The potato salad wasn’t bad but nothing I can’t get from Walmart. And the BBQ sauces…tasted more like ketchup than anything else. Overall, id tell people to stay away. There’s definitely better in KC for BBQ. Way better.

In town from Houston for a vacation and had heard this was a bucket list restaurant. It was really good, but unfortunately not great. We got the burnt end sandwiches which were just too mushy for us. The pulled pork sandwich was a little bland as well. The stars were the pork ribs and the onion rings. The only knock on the ribs were that they were fairly fatty. I realize with the supply chain issues, u get what u get, so I am not holding that against them. The favor of the ribs were outstanding and I loved the BBQ sauces. I honestly could not pick 1 as my favorite because each time I tried a sauce, it was my favorite! The beer was good and cold too! Staff was efficient and friendly. The line moved quickly. It is obvious this is a well oiled process. I would definitely eat here again and recommend this to anyone ... and will happily buy the bbq sauces, but I would not call this a bucket list stop.

First time visit. It was after the tragic Chiefs parade and rally. Was looking for a BBQ place before we headed back to Oklahoma. Was looking for something comforting while we collected our thoughts of the chaotic event from earlier. It was like going through a cattle line. The staff didn't seem friendly at all. "Next," and then I a combination, but they were out of one of the meats, so instead of offering me another choice, he just added double of one meat. I slid over to pay and asked what I wanted to drink as she advised what was available. As I paused to think, she sighed loudly, I ordered sweet tea, was rang up, and I paid. I proceeded to find a seat for six. Some had reserved signs on them, so I asked the lady sweeping the floor. "How many people?" I said six, and she said, "Yeah, you can sit there. " The news, of course, was on, and we were watching more on the events that we had just witnessed. The food and sauces were ok. Service not so much.

We stopped here because we were hungry and wanted to experience the Kansas City barbecue. We walked in and we're a little disappointed on how it looked but when we arrived to the menu there were some very nice things on it. The things we wanted were unfortunately out but we got other things and they were so amazing. Highly recommend this place for a quick bite. Super fast service and the lady at the cashier was very friendly

Arthur Bryant's feels very real and the experience was great! Upon walking up to the front door you can already smell savory Barbeque in the air. Once you step inside you immediately come face-to-face with a great deal of history; it was hard not to get caught up in just studying each photograph or poster hanging on the wall. At Arthur Bryant's you order at the counter and pick up right away. The fries were fresh and they cut the brisket right in front of you. The gentleman behind the glass was very helpful in narrowing down what deliciousness I wanted; he explained the difference between some items that caught my eye but sounded similar. In the end, I selected the burnt end sandwhich sans bread which ended up giving me exactly what I was looking for without buying at the per pound price. The burnt ends were among the best I've had in KC although it came out looking more like chunky pulled pork in a way. I also ordered a half pound of brisket, but could not finish it in this sitting; it regeated nicely and tasted great with their special sauce the next day. The visit might have been slightly more enjoyable if it weren't so drafty inside. I was shivering practically the whole time and it really took away from enjoying the food. This is obviously a seasonal thing that would likely not impact my experience outside of the dead of winter. Definitely a spot to try and I'd recommend Arthur Bryant's based off the quality of food.

If you’re looking for fancy, this isn’t the place for you. The inside could definitely use an update. Floors are a little slick and the tables and chairs could use some love. In that aspect, it’s a 3/5. I will say it is very nostalgic, and the pictures and memerobilia show the history of the place. Very cool. The gentleman dishing up food was great. Very friendly and encouraging of our choices! He was a 5/5! We tried the brisket and the burnt ends. Both were very tasty. Brisket comes without sauce and the burnt ends are in the Rich and Spicy I believe. The burnt ends have a great tang but not overly spicy thanks to the sauce. Brisket was nice and sliced thin, only would have liked it a little warmer. Coleslaw is a must! Potato casserole is cheesy, but I would have liked a little more salt/pepper. Luckily those are easy to give a little sprinkle. Sauces are unique and delicious. Onion rings had a nice breading but were cold and falling apart. Food for me was a 4 and we had plenty to take home. Overall it’s a staple place in KC. Happy to have come and left with a full belly!

Just stopped here on our cross-country trip, and we were not disappointed! The brisket sandwich and fries were so yummy and HUGE! I had the turkey sandwich with sweet heat and pickles. The pickles really made the sandwich flavor pop. The slaw was great, and we all had enough leftover for dinner.

It’s a nah for me all around. Sorry folks, I know it’s supposed to be this great KC staple. But that sauce was weirdly flavored, thick, and granulated. My food looked and tasted like old dry lunchmeat. Peep the picture. Waste of $30. One redeeming value: the service was very prompt and kind. But yeah, never again. #yikes

Must visit for authentic KC barbecue in an iconic restaurant. Sandwich portions are large...the half brisket sandwich and onion rings at lunchtime made me skip supper. Enjoyed seeing pics of all the presidents, politicians and celebrities who have eaten here..

A Kansas City local was sharing some BBQ recommendations with me and asked if I was okay with “a brilliant hole in the wall.” And I immediately said yes. That brought me to Arthur’s and to their ribs, which are absolutely phenomenal. The seasoning of the meat is incredible, so tender and so much flavor. The pulled pork was also fantastic. Out of their three BBQ sauces, all were good and unique, but the Sweet Heat was my favorite. It was so perfectly balanced. Highly recommend!

Tasty barbecue, good sides, and friendly staff. Love the history on the walls and the relaxed atmosphere! We appreciate this Kansas City style even though we live in the Carolinas and I’m from Dallas.

My brother has traveled the world over and considers this restaurant the best he's ever visited anywhere so it's no surprise when I asked him to recommend something in Kansas City this is where I went. The review asked me to assess the atmosphere. Have you ever had the fireplace back up and have the smoke smell all over in the house? It was Smokey everywhere in this restaurant. The walls are tinted with the smoke and it's glorious. If you're looking for white napkins and 100% hygiene, maybe this isn't the place for your polite sensibilities...but that's not a complaint, but rather a kudo... I ordered two slabs, one to ship of course..and as I ate mine, I commented to myself that " I could now die. ". BTW note my pic from a now famous New Yorker animation of Arthur meeting St Peter at the Golden Gates bearing a to go bag of ribs saying "Did you remember the sauce?" wonderful images all over the dining areas are worth your time as the walls by the way are festooned with photographs of notables come here as a form of pilgrimage; you should too.

Food was decent, but they had barely any food. They only had fries and pulled pork. I do recommend the soda cups cause they’re huge. The staff all looked like they were high and extremely depressed. When I went to get utensils, there were a bunch of knives, but no forks and there was one spoon that looked like it was dirty. I will not be coming back.

KC BBQ that’s flavorful! Make sure to try the sauce, personally I’m a fan of the sweet heat sauce. I’ve been to a newer location of theirs in the past and while it was good, this location had a special charm. It’s a cozy location but we didn’t have any problem finding a spot to sit even though the line was out the door. One thing to be careful of is the greasy floors but thankfully they do have several rugs down to help.

I love KC BBQ and Arthur Bryant’s is one of my favorite- until today. I ordered a beef sandwich lean as possible. I repeated lean as possible two more times. The sandwich I got was 50% fat and cut with the grain of the meat. It was by far the worst, fatty, tough and gross sandwich I have ever been served in my life. I took 2 bites and threw it away. Every other BBQ restaurant will trim the meat and serve it lean if requested. This guy seemed determined to do the opposite. Good luck staying in business with that mentality.

Hole in the wall bbq with history! Don't judge this place by how it looks, realize this is the beauty of Americana! Pictures of presidents and famous actors who have eaten here on the wall, and locals trooping in after work to pick up supper. The brisket was better than the burnt ends, and the sauce was spicy and yummy! This piece of KC BBQ history should be part of any KC trip!

Good ribs. The fries were very good. Cold beer. The burnt ends were overly saucy. Best cole slaw around. Legendary place that met expectations.

Got a half slab with a pulled pork sandy. Really enjoyed it. Could’ve been a bit more tender, but no complaints. Also got a side of slaw. Overall a very good meal.

This was my first time having KC BBQ and I didn’t do a lot of research before coming. It is a very low key place, it’s a locals place. It’s a little rough around the edges. I read some reviews after I ate to see how my experience compared to others. First, when I ordered, everyone in the window was friendly and polite. The cashiers are efficient, and not there to be your friend and they aren’t making you feel warm and fuzzy while taking your money. They did a good job of keeping the line moving. They weren’t rude or aloof. They are working. I was surprised at the pricing in a good way. I ordered the 4 bone rib special for $11 and had a $2.Xx French fry. The fries are great. The ribs were average in my opinion, but definitely not great. The sauce is legendary. When the original sauce first hit my mouth it was one of the better sauces I’ve tried on most food. It was just that good. It’s bold. You might have better luck getting the whole rack, or a half rack. The ribs weren’t that big. The value is there though. It’s priced competitively with a value meal at most fast food restaurants. I took a bite of the bread, but I wouldn’t consider finishing it. I always considered bread on bbq for soaking up grease and sauce. I’m a huge bbq fan and made sure I came hungry. I’ve heard great things about burnt ends and saw the special sandwich. It was a huge portion, but I can’t say it was very good. After looking at other pictures of the burnt end sandwiches, I think I got the shaft on this one. Mine doesn’t look like the others. I strongly prefer traditional brisket, but I’m glad I tried it. The onion ring was perfect. Again, the sauce stole the show here and kind of saved the day. I tried a few bites in each sauce, settled on one I liked and put it down. I was having serious fomo at some of the other sandwiches I saw. By the time I finished my sandwich, went back to the window to order a sliced pork to go, they were out. So I got a pulled pork and it just didn’t have the same eye appeal the sliced meat sandwiches had on other tables. After 3-4 hours, I tried a bite. The flavor is there! I’ll eat it tomorrow From what I saw though, the sliced sandwiches are the definite way to go. If i lived in KC, I could definitely see myself stopping here once a week for a sandwich and fries. Huge portions, and fairly priced. I walked the half mile to Gates Bbq up the road. This might be a better choice for a family of tourists. Jazz music was playing outside, they had a few tables under umbrellas, a lounge and a larger seating area. There are a ton of BBQ options to choose, and if you can only try one, I would probably go with another choice. However, this is still a good choice with good food. No complaints.

It is a famous place. The barbecue is good to psych all the other barbecue in Kansas City. Nothing's special but it was fun to go to one of the original Kansas City barbecue spots. the line only lasted about 30 minutes so not too bad and the ribs are really good. The service behind the counter was a little lackluster, especially the girl at the cashier. She did not seem to pay attention to any of the customers at all and was in her own little world, laughing and joking with the guys in the back did not really appear tension to anyone of her customers..

A must-visit for those wanting to experience KC's full-depth of elite BBQ. --- My significant other and I came here for a Sunday lunch while visiting 18th and Vine, excited to check out one of KC's finest BBQ establishments. The line was almost out the door when we arrived, but service moved fast. You can see the working of the kitchen through the window, and all the butcher equipment and prep stations. I had read complaints regarding the quality of service on Yelp, but we had no issues. The ordering is direct, but not rude. Just be sure to be clear on what you want and be confident reminding them if they forgot something (they're quick to get for you). Note that the sauce is served on the side, either in cups to go or in bottles at the table. A lot of people took their food to go, but we stayed to eater in the dining room. The dining room is very casual, and reminiscent of cafeteria. However, all the fixings and things we needed were at the table. The walls are surrounded by past famous guests, old news articles, and recognition they have earned throughout the years. The two of us split a side order of fries to go with our sandwiches. My significant other got a Pulled Pork Sandwich, while I got the Burnt Ends Sandwich with Baked Beans. The meats were the stars of the show here. The meat is very well prepared and perfectly juicy, with so much flavor in each bite even without loading the sauce. Although the sauces are great, with the original being my favorite. The bread the sandwiches were served is apparently Wonderbread, but worked more than well enough fo me. The beans I had were smothered in sauce and absolutely delicious, I was using the bread and fries to eat more beans. My plate as a whole was so good that even though my plate overflowed, I nearly licked it clean and felt stuffed for the rest of the day. I liked the fries, fried in peanut oil, even though they weren't my favorite or a 'need to get' for next time. There are so many BBQ joints to try that it's hard to say 'I'm 100% coming back again next time I visit'. However, this was a phenomenal lunch and would recommend to all visitors to 18th and Vine. When I eventually do come again, I'd love to try the brisket, sliced pork, and some of the other sides to compliment the fantastic meats.

Ordered our meals like we were at a deli counter. Meats and side put together on a metal tray as our plate. The 1/2 size (1/2lb) brisket sandwich comes with a big pile of meat on it. Brisket had some good smoke rings on it and spot on taste. 3 sauces are available at tables to drench your meat with, at your own pace. Fries were good and tasted like the fry oil had added hearty flavor to the potatoes. You're going here for the food but don't expect any frills otherwise.

Historic to Kansas City's BBQ culture, Arthur Bryant's is like a time capsule with rich memories perfectly preserved in the layers of it's original building. The food has been perfected, and the service line out the door proves fantastic feast ahead is more than worth the wait. They have somehow managed to keep prices modest and affordable, while offering large portions that lack nothing in flavor. If you haven't been here, please add It to your bucket list.

Welcome to KC! Breathe deep, you smell that KC BBQ, it's the smell of Arrowhead. A lot about this place is rundown, but here that's part of the marinate. Its where it gets its authenticity. The sauce, the smells, my goodness you have found a gem!! I recommend the ribs, the turkey sandwich, burnt ends, or the brisket. The taste is just right, it doesn't need BBQ but it just feels right. Such a legendary KC place! ❤️💛 Enjoy!! 🍞 🍗🫕

Easily in contention for best BBQ in KC. These guys are doing it right - quality meat smoked to perfection. Sauce is a nice accent, and doesn't overpower the meal. Huge sides, quick service. What's not to love?

Sausage was the best. My son loved it. He had potato salad which was very good. We also had the burnt ends which where a different style then I'm used to but not a bad choice.