Food was amazing! Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely have to go for Sunday brunch. Smoked prime rib is all I need to say!!!

Another great slab for dinner! Onion rings and beans are so good, treated my parents to dinner and they loved it!

Fantastic clusterfluck!!! Great people and ambiance! Highly recommend! Our portion was enough for 2 of us to share! read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - The clusterfluck is fantastic! Great people and food! - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Amazing service and better bbq! Love to see a family owned restaurant thrive. Will be back soon

We bought a slab of ribs from them Sunday for the game. The ribs were fall off the bone excellent!

A Carolina BBQ guy in Kansas working and looking for some good BBQ. After trying a couple of "famous" locations in Kansas City I was starting to get a bit disappointed. I was staying in Shawnee and working in a local manufacturing plant for the week. So I asked the locals where I should go. This was the popular vote; but I admitted I didn't want to drive back into Kansas City. Normal for me is to try as many different meats as I can if I am at a location that might not get to return to. So I tried Ribs and Sausage. First my complaint... too many fries. The plate was loaded with fries, more than I could possibly eat. I let them put them on the plate because the kid behind the counter said it was "one of their things". The fries were good but certainly not outstanding or worth the space they occupied on my plate. Ok that is past me... Pickle, I like pickles. Check. Peppers, yes I love peppers check. Now to the meats. I am a big fan of sausage and their sausage was awesome. I was very pleased with them and believe they were better than ribs. So yes, if you like sausage then do not pass this by. The Ribs were very good too. The ribs were recommended by the locals that suggested the place. I was not disappointed with them and would have left pleased if all I had eaten were ribs. So if you are a rib fan, I think you'll like these ribs. March 16, 2014 read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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Been going to this BBQ spot for almost 15 years and always looked forward to my visit. This last time I ordered Burnt Ends and got WAY OVER COOKED, try BURNT Brisket. The female cousin of Mike (the Owner it was Sunday) gave me a plate of fresh out of the oven burnt ends (sorry, but we were slammed and I'm out of good brisket was her answer to my concern.) The second batch was not as bad, but when I remarked that it was not her Uncle Mikes quality, she just blew me off. Result a 2 star and when my daughter came thru from Durango last week she and I pasted up a $80 order of BBQ and Ribs. AND yes the fries here are the very good. Sorry, but I had to try the next BBQ down the road at Concorde (mile marker 59) Dempsey's BBQ, which was great not as good as Mike's place (Bates City BBQ owner.) read more

Friendly staff is where the compliments stop. I was the only person here at 5pm, which is maybe a sign. I just ordered a sandwich they had on the chalkboard since the menu is barely legible behind all the decorations. It was Shawnee...something or other... pork with slaw and a side. I got a couple cans of soda and potato salad as a side since fries are extra. A lot of things seemed to be extra charge... why not adjust the portion size for pricing? Anyway, it came to about $12. I went home to find a slaw sandwich with a few bites of pork. It was swimming in sauce and just barely edible. The bun had turned to absolute mush (I only live a few blocks away, so it's not like it was a long time before I ate it. The potato salad was fine, but I'm not sure they make it. It tastes and looks like the kind you buy in the tub at the grocery store. When the soda is the highlight of the meal, you're doing something wrong. read more

It's KC, you have to have great BBQ to play in the BBQ game. This is just so-so. The fries, however, are amazing. My sandwich with turkey and sausage had 1/2 a sausage link and virtually no turkey to speak of. The sauce has a weird undertone that I couldn't place but didn't like. My husband thought his burnt ends were good and my kids like the ribs but again, in KC there is much better bbq so I won't be back. Unless I get a hankering for those fries! read more

BBQ is such a complex enigma it's had to even define the term. Is it anything over fire? Must there be smoke? Long and show, or does grilling count too? With that in mind, when you eat KC BBQ you know your getting a distinct meal usually heavily sauced and a vinegary sweet bite. So how can we distinguish all these BBQ joints from one another? What makes Bates City BBQ stand out? Not a lot. Burnt ends are my go to comparison, because in KC if you can't make great burnt ends you're not making great BBQ. The burnt ends at Bates City was served on a bun or sliced bread. The meat itself was tiny, dry, little cubes no bigger than a half inch may even smaller. Heavily sauced in a traditional KC sauce. The meat was intensely smoked. The sauce had a smokey taste too. None of the items really stood out. Very friendly staff. The cliche BBQ environment to make the place feel down home like a corner BBQ joint, lots of wood and old licensed places covered the one wall where you order. Clean environment. Nothing really stood out and in KC something needs to really stand out to justify the drive. read more

Tried to support this place because is local. Surprised it's still in business. Crap food and service. Must have a good neighborhood following. Owner called a guy in line an ass hole. Few people walked out. I would have but we had already paid online. read more

I don't know what they do to their fries, but I am addicted to them. They are so good! Tried the burnt ends & pulled pork, both of which are delicious. Definitely in my top 5 BBQ in KC. read more

great family atmosphere, but the bbq and the fries they say are amazing are soooooo bad if not fresh. the brag about how good they have improved every month but the bbq is exactly what you pay for when it comes to bbq. Quick and easy. they will win awards in Shawnee due to lack of competition but honestly, there is a reason they sell cheap meat and don't sell items like chicken. because they most likely don't know how to! read more

This is a working man's BBQ. Prices, presentation and offerings are basic, and you aren't encouraged to linger. Clean and functional. Ambiance comes from a lot of visuals from past decades while country/folk/rock music soundtrack unfolds. Two sauces are offered. One is the basic sauce, and if you want it hotter ask for the hot one. It's not significantly hotter than the basic one. I had the burnt ends (served with white bread slices) and a side of beans. The ends are lean and well cooked with a nice smoke flavor. I'd go again! The beans are unremarkable and while prepared from non canned bean basics are in a sauce not dissimilar from the basic BBQ sauce offered on the tables, I enjoyed encountering the occasional cooked onion slice and green pepper slice in the beans but would have loved some meat in there too. Only bottled beers are offered along with sodas. read more

Solid BBQ. Quick service. Good portions. Baked beans had an interesting flavor quite different than other BBQ beans. We had the Teddy Sandwiches. Turkey was excellent. I personally prefer adding BBQ sauce(s) at the table, but their house sauce was good. I hadn't eaten there in a few years, but it was better than I remembered. Highly recommended for good, quick BBQ!! read more

My husband & I have decided to try every BBQ joint in KC. Yes I said every one. This may take a while so please be patient as I review them. We started with Zarda, Wyandot and Bates BBQ tonight. I ordered one mixed platter from each joint & I will share in the reviews what each joint has on their mixed plate. I brought them home put a little of each item on our plates and the tasting began. We scored each item and then tallied up to see which one won. I will go into details about each item in the reviews. This is my review of Bates City BBQ of Shawnee if my husband wants his opinion heard he can get a Yelp account. Bates was the least expensice. I ordered the mixed plate plus that has two meats that comes with bread, fries, two sides and 2 ribs. I ordered the beef, pulled pork, beans and potato salad. This order came to $11.23. Of the three places we tried Bates had the least amount of food, but it had the best tasting ribs. The pork & beef had too sweet of a sauce that killed the smoke, it was sliced nice and thin and it was juicy. The beans were also to sweet but they did have a nice onion flavor. The potato salad was really bad, it tasted like coleslaw that someone had thrown potatoes in and gave it a quick mix. The fries were over cooked, cold and oily. They were nasty. I did like the ribs. The ribs were perfectly cooked and fell right off the bone. The super sweet sauce actually worked well with the smoke on the ribs and made for a very mellow undertone with the smoke. Of the 3 we tasted today Bates was 2nd best because of the ribs. So for now they rank #2, this will change as we eat at more places. Now we have eaten at these 3 places before but to be fair we will eat at all the places we have eaten at before plus new ones so they are on a fair standing. read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - Mixed Plate Plus - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Delicious ribs and great prices! First time in Kansas and first bbq ribs I had here! Beats LA ribs!

The brisket tastes like dried out leather. Way too much sauce on the burnt ends. Fries are above average.

I may be biased because my grandmother always got meat by the lb for family functions but I think Bates is great! It's the cheapest bbq joint I know around and the food taste like how old fashioned bbq should taste! The fries are greasy but worth it. They also have $1 beers, I believe on Friday and Saturday. read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

In the land of Kansas City BBQ, Bates City just isn't up there with the greats. I'm sure if this place was anywhere else, it would rate pretty high. But here, where we hold our BBQ to the highest of standards, it's just okay. We live near Bates and one big plus about the place is they are super fast. You can call in an order and it will be ready for you when you arrive, even if arriving from just around the corner. So bonus marks for speed. They also give you a ton of fries, I felt like. We ordered two orders for two people and we got a giant container full of fries. It was absurd. Their fries were sort of delightfully greasy and salty. I enjoyed them. The meats we've gotten from here have always been fine. Again, nothing special but also not bad. I don't think you'd really ever leave this place hungry or unhappy. I just think you can get more bang for your buck other places. In a pinch, it is decent BBQ in a hurry in Shawnee, a place that lacks a ton of BBQ in the immediate area. But if you want high quality BBQ in Shawnee, Blind Box is your better bet. Or you can drive a bit further to Joe's or Gates or whatever moves ya... But if you are in a hurry, this will do the trick. read more

I have been eating here since I was just 6 year old kid. This was my grandpas favorite place to get bbq. I came in today with my old man and had a full rack so ribs, beans, and obviously the fries. I love this place it is a Kansas City classic. The new hot sauces are very good, I was using the emoji one and it was very tasty. I love bates and I love the owners they are great people I used to play against their minor league sponsernd baseball team as a kid and I respect them for supporting the community. Ribs are still fall off the bone delicious!! read more

As BBQ joints in the KC metro go, well... they do wear a cool t-shirt. If you like fries, they're tasty. If you like BBQ, go somewhere else. Maybe the one in Bates City, MO is actually as good as I've always heard. This location(Shawnee, KS) is hopefully just not a great reflection on the original. My daughters said give at least two stars. (Fries) read more

Not great BBQ. Ribs are overcooked. Not sure the brisket is made each day. Sauces are passable at best. Beans taste like they came out of a can. Prices are reasonable at least. read more

I got a weird vibe from this place. There's a big sign on the door that reads, "No shirt, no shoes, no MONEY, no service!" This is an oddly hostile tone for a restaurant where you pay at the counter before receiving your food. Next came the sign that said 50¢ for tray rental if eating in. What? The sandwich I ordered did not come with any sides, so I shelled out more money for a big thing of fries that there was no way I could eat half of. The fries are not your frozen crinkle cut. They're almost like a less processed version of Arby's curly fries with seasoning. Then came the sandwich itself. I was surprised they sauced it for me, because most places in KC serve it "dry" and have you sauce it yourself. It wouldn't have been a big deal, but it was definitely over sauced. For the price, the flavor, and the service I wasn't impressed. I do hear they have great ribs; I would only go back if someone else organized a group trip there, and then I would order the ribs. read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - French fries - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

First, the BBQ is awesome! But what really makes this place stand out is the staff. Every time I have been here, the staff has a smile when they take your order as they ask you about your day. Really makes a difference going to a friendly environment after working a 12 hour shift. This is my Tommy Boy pulled pork sandwich with a side of homemade fries. read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Around thirty years ago my parents used to take me to the original Bates City BBQ in Bates City, MO. I never liked it, but I'd later come to learn that it was because I was eating what they ordered for me instead of me figuring out for myself what I liked in terms of BBQ. Tonight I was visiting a friend's house and he decided we'd go out for BBQ. He took me to a place he'd found just a few blocks from his home. I was shocked to see that it was Bates City BBQ -- I had no idea they had branched out and opened a JoCo location. From the outside it looks like it should be a run down liquor store, but inside is a surprisingly well-kept and nicely decorated environment. I ordered a combo platter of burnt ends and ribs. The ribs were nice and smokey and the meat fell off the bone. There were only two on the platter, I'd have preferred three. I would probably have liked the ribs to have been rubbed with something to give them a little more flavor but they were still better than ribs I've had at several other places. Not the best I've had, but still above average. The burnt end were very good. Genuinely burnt chunks of meat that were crunchy yet tender enough to break apart with the plastic forks. These were among the top burnt ends I've had. The regular sauce was good, the hot sauce was very good and rivaled the hot sauce at Oklahoma Joe's. I have not tried the Extra Hot yet, that will be saved for my next visit. The fries were very good overall, deliciously greasy with just the right amount of salt. This was good enough that I'm now going to have to make a road trip out to Bates City to find out how good the original is compared to my cloudy 30-year-old memories. read more

Stop #4 on the KC BBQ quest and highly recommended - I can see why. Bates City is located in a semi-abandoned strip mall, from the outside it is not really trendy and it proclaims that it is "hometown owned". Inside it was somewhat smaller and pretty crowded, it looked like there was a high school group judging from the shirts. I walked up to the counter and said I had never been there and what would he recommend - "a slab of ribs". Well I have a healthy appetite but a full slab is even a bit for me. So I ordered the 1/2 slab special - a half slab with a side - I ordered the "slaw". I got it to go and headed back to the hotel. Another winner, the meat was tender and fell off the bones and the sauce was TASTY!! The slaw tasted like they just made it right before they handed it to me, fresh and crunchy. I really liked the sauce on it as well, slightly sweet and just enough (i.e. they didn't try to drown the cabbage). The prices are Very reasonable! This place is destined to be a KC favorite for me. read more

Good ribs and good atmosphere! We moved nearby and had to add this to the list or BBQ joints we've tried. When you first walk in, you'll immediately notice all the neat signs and nostalgia on the walls. The music is great too...apparently the owner picks the playlist's and hardly ever plays the same song twice. I've had a few different things here, but the ribs are usually what I stick with. Good smoke flavor, good sauce, and fall off the bone tender. I wasn't a fan of the pulled pork (I go to Okie Joes for that), but my lady always gets the smoked turkey sandwich and she loves it. Not a fan of their slaw, but the potato salad and the fries are pretty friggin good. read more

The place smells delicious and is quite affordable. I purchased a nice sized sandwich, fries and soft drink for 7 bucks and change. The beef was very well flavored, featuring a mighty impressive smoke ring. I could have done without the sesame roll it came on. Despite a drab exterior, the place has tremendous character on the inside. You order from a counter, pay, serve yourself drinks and seat yourself. Very informal like a BBQ place should be. read more

Thought I'd give it a try since it's much closer than going to Kansas City. Let's just say, it's worth the drive to Kansas City. Tried the burnt ends and was most disappointed. They were not only cold but also tough as nails. After drowning them in sauce they were at least edible. Definitely will not be back. read more

Was going to see the Mustang Club Cruise Night on June 9, 2012, the 2nd Saturday of each month in the summer in the parking lot of Bates City BBQ, so decided to try Bates City for the first time. We arrive just after 6pm and the line was just out the door. The line moved rather quickly, and the seats at the tables and booths were filled when we got inside. There were two of us and my spouse ordered the regular beef sandwich. I ordered the half slab + 1 side special. My wife really like the beef sandwich, and the bit I tried was good. No fat, tender, and just the right amount of sauce. My 1/2 slab was pork spare ribs, not baby backs, and had 5 bones. They had the consistency of pork ribs with a lot of fat and cartilage, which is common with spare ribs. The meat itself was flavorful and tender, with just the right amount of sauce. The side was their "world famous" fries, which were good for both of us with a very generous portion. While not the best in KC area, A-OK, and we'll be back during another cruise night, just will go earlier. The line at the door stayed consistently the same, so on this night Bates City BBQ of Shawnee had a lot of fans. read more

This place is 2nd only to OK Joe's in KC. This is my favorite place to eat! Great BBQ! Great Fries! Cheap Beer! And no long line like Joe's. The sauce is excellent. The meat is very smoky, and there is an awesome ambiance in the restaurant. One of the most precious hidden gems in town. read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - 2nd best BBQ in kc. - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Solid BBQ close to my work. Pulled pork and rib meat sandwiches are good as are the burnt ends. Fries are meh (and they charge a premium for them for some unknown reason). Catching whatever the lunch special is where the value is at, otherwise you could easily spend $12. But getting a slab of ribs and a couple sides will feed 3 people for $20 for dinner. Very decent place. read more

Nice people, below average bbq. Got their Tommy Boy sandwich with beef and pork. Second time I've eaten here but figured I'd give them another shot. Their beef is dry and doesn't taste fresh, the pork is dry too. I really really want this place to be good because it is so close to where I live but it sucks. I don't mean to be a dick about it, it's just not good- and I'm not a picky person so it says a lot if I don't like a place. Sorry Bates City but you gotta do bbq better- this is Kansas City for God's sake! read more

The ribs were nice and smokey and the meat fell off the bone. They were better than ribs I've had at several other places around town. Not the best I've had, but above average. The regular sauce was a pretty good sweet red sauce. I didn't look for any hot sauce. I had my kids with me and couldn't muster the strength to deal with that and getting them settled. Next time I shall look for any hot sauce. The fries were very good overall and remind me of a crispier version of the fries being served at the Shake Shack I recently reviewed. For this part of town I would say this may be your best choice for BBQ. Oklahoma Joes and Woodyard are at least 10 minutes away in opposite directions. Not ready to give them 4 stars just yet. I think they are a solid 3.5 stars. read more

Yeah, it's convenient for me. But so is Zarda. and Bates City beats Zarda on all counts. Esp the pulled pork. Ribs are good, too. Beef brisket is alright--a bit thinly sliced for me--therefor rapidly drying. Good sauce. Real good people there. Worth a shot, esp if you're in Shawnee or Lenexa and would rather not trek to OK Joe's to stand in line. read more

I enjoy this place a lot. It is right in my neighborhood. The ribs are plenty good and fall right off the bone when you eat them. While they aren't the best ribs that I have ever had they are very good. This rating may go up as I try different BBQ places rib and am more able to compare. The sides are very good I usually get fries and baked beans both of which are both great. The real selling point that I always mention to people is $1.00 Miller High Life's. Always nice to be able to have a few drinks with dinner without breaking the bank. read more

Stopped here on our travels from Minnesota. We wanted some Kansas City BBQ and this was it. The ribs were the best we have ever tried.

My SO and I went here last weekend, my first time and omg let me tell you the bbq is amazing! This is hands down my new favorite bbq place in the city. The ribs were so moist and the burnt end sandwich had such an amazing Smokey flavor. The serving sizes are huge. They handcut the fries and then fry them to order so they are a huge pile of perfect, fresh and hot right then and there. I haven't tried the other sides but I'm guessing they are amazing. I won't lie I have been craving the $15 ribs all week. They ask if you want then sauces or not. We had them sauced. So moist. I'm definitely going back! This is counter service and it is so fast. Everyone we so friendly and beer was only $1! Honestly I couldn't find one thing wrong with this place. Highly recommend. It is also family friendly. We were there on a Sunday and it wasn't packed but a very steady flow of people/families. This is a very easy place for take out since it is counter service and so fast. We ate everything so fast we weren't able to take a picture. read more

This place is just ok... not memorable. Cafeteria line style ordering, styrofoam plates, country music, cool decor. Burnt ends come sauced, which I'm not a fan of, and they are smaller and harder pieces than i like. Potato salad is vinegery (is that a word?) and lacks flavor. Beans were actually pretty good, but definitely out of a can. Ribs were good, meaty, soft, flavorful. They don't have cheesy corn or mac n cheese?!?!?! Fries are the highlight, very yummy thin hand cut, fresh fried and large portion. read more