American BBQ$$westportUntil Mon-Thu 22:00, Fri 24:00, Sat 24:00, Sun 22:00
Char Bar in Kansas City's Westport keeps the bar open until midnight on Fri and Sat with smoked-meat snacks and Boulevard drafts. At 4050 Pennsylvania Ave.
Try: Burnt ends, charred cauliflower
Tip: Kitchen runs until 22:00; the beer garden runs later. The fire pit is the survival seat on cold nights.
Winstead's on the Plaza runs daily until 23:00 with curb-service from the 1940 drive-in. The steakburger and Frosty malt are the canonical late Kansas City.
Try: Steakburger, Frosty malt
Tip: Curb service still operates in the parking lot; the kitchen keeps later hours on weekends.
Westport Flea Market in Kansas City's Westport keeps the kitchen and bar open until midnight, serving the city's most-cited burger with a build-your-own.
Try: 10-ounce burger
Tip: Patio runs later than kitchen; the bar takes walk-ins on Saturdays.