CuisineCafe
Price$$
Neighborhoodmidtown
Last verified

Why locals love it: Small-batch roastery on Troost, the city's lesser-traveled corridor. Some of the most precise espresso in Kansas City, paired with house-made buttermilk biscuits.

Tip: Mon-Fri 7:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 8:00-15:00. Bourbon vanilla latte is the move.

Location

Address: 4141 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110

More hidden gems in Kansas City

Niecie's Restaurant ★ 4.4

Soul food$$south-kcDaily 05:30-19:00

Niecie's Restaurant in Kansas City: soul food room. On Troost Avenue, Kansas City's historical Black main street. Soul food from Denise and Perry Ward.

Why locals love it: On Troost Avenue, Kansas City's historical Black main street. Soul food from Denise and Perry Ward since 1985 (current Troost address since 2009), deeply local.

Tip: Sunday gospel brunch is the event; the lunch buffet is the value.

L.C.'s Bar-B-Q ★ 4.5

American BBQ$$east-kc

L.C.'s Bar-B-Q on Blue Parkway in East Kansas City is an East Side dive that pitmasters quietly cite as the city's best smoke for the dollar, cash only.

Why locals love it: Tourist routes flow through Arthur Bryant's and Joe's KC; L.C.'s is the East Side dive that Kansas City pitmasters quietly cite as the city's best smoke for the dollar.

Tip: Cash and the time to wait; meat sells out by late afternoon.

The Antler Room ★ 4.7

Mediterranean$$longfellow

The Antler Room on Holmes Street in Kansas City Longfellow runs Persian, Mediterranean and East Asian small plates from Nick Goellner, Beard semifinalist.

Why locals love it: Sits in the residential Longfellow streets between Crossroads and the Plaza, not on any tourist route. Three-time James Beard semifinalist quietly serving Kansas City.

Tip: Reservations open online weeks out; book the chef's counter for the tasting.

Banksia Bakehouse ★ 4.5

Modern Australian$$downtown

Banksia Bakehouse in Kansas City: modern australian room. Kansas City's only Australian-style bakehouse, tucked into a downtown Main Street storefront..

Why locals love it: Kansas City's only Australian-style bakehouse, tucked into a downtown Main Street storefront.

Tip: Order the pork and fennel sausage roll plus a Lamington. Wed to Sat the kitchen runs to 21:00, longer than most KC bakeries.

Vietnam Cafe ★ 4.5

Cafe$$river-marketMon 09:00-20:00, Wed-Sat 09:00-20:00, Sun 09:00-18:00

Vietnam Cafe in Kansas City: a pint-size pho counter on a quiet columbus park block, with the city's most-praised broth and a steady local lunch crowd.

Why locals love it: A pint-size pho counter on a quiet Columbus Park block, with the city's most-praised broth and a steady local lunch crowd. Easy to miss on a tourist itinerary.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays. The pho is the move; the room seats maybe 30.

Wolfepack BBQ ★ 4.5

American BBQ$$columbus-park

Wolfepack BBQ is a american bbq room in Columbus Park. Arrive at opening; brisket and burnt ends sell out by mid-afternoon. Cash and card both fine.

Why locals love it: Tucked in historic Columbus Park, far off the BBQ tourist circuit; tin-ceiling room with Creekstone Farms brisket and Duroc ribs in an all-wood smoker.

Tip: Arrive at opening; brisket and burnt ends sell out by mid-afternoon. Cash and card both fine.

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