Cafe$$brookside
You Say Tomato on Holmes Street near Brookside in Kansas City is a 25-seat morning cafe open Wed to Sat with daily specials that change constantly.
Why locals love it: Tiny neighborhood cafe near Brookside, open Wed to Sat mornings only. The daily specials change constantly, the room seats 25, the wait list is the experience.
Tip: Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. Arrive at 08:00 to skip the wait Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
Cafe$$midtown
Oddly Correct Coffee on Troost Avenue in midtown Kansas City is a small-batch roastery with precise espresso and house-made buttermilk biscuits, daily.
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.
Soul food$$south-kcDaily 05:30-19:00
Niecie's Restaurant in Kansas City: soul food room. On Troost Avenue, Kansas City's historical Black main street. Soul food from Denise and Perry Ward.
Why locals love it: On Troost Avenue, Kansas City's historical Black main street. Soul food from Denise and Perry Ward since 1985 (current Troost address since 2009), deeply local.
Tip: Sunday gospel brunch is the event; the lunch buffet is the value.
American BBQ$$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.
Mediterranean$$longfellow
The Antler Room on Holmes Street in Kansas City Longfellow runs Persian, Mediterranean and East Asian small plates from Nick Goellner, Beard semifinalist.
Why locals love it: Sits in the residential Longfellow streets between Crossroads and the Plaza, not on any tourist route. Three-time James Beard semifinalist quietly serving Kansas City.
Tip: Reservations open online weeks out; book the chef's counter for the tasting.
Modern Australian$$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.