I have had ribs from here for my past 3 birthdays. I absolutely LOVE Bates! I love it more than Oklahoma Joe's! Even the sandwiches are amazing. Great and fun atmosphere as well. Prices for one person are between around $8 - $13 read more

Worst beef on bun. Heard a microwave ding and my order was up. Dry and soaked in sauce to hide it!! Won't ever be back!! read more

Shawnee's Bates City BBQ - My beef sandwich was so DRY, they drowned it in sauce to cover it up. See the dark dry piece of beef on top the bun? Microwaved? - Barbeque Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Best ribs in town, falls off the bone as promised , ribs and fries with there baked beans

I've been coming here for about 15 years! It's reliable and delicious. The staff is always nice and the owner is taking my order about 75% of the time. I always get the brisket and fries. I think KC has pretty much the same tasting meat at anywhere you go, but it's the fries and sauce that I love about Bates. Seriously, the fries!! This place is just a cool looking "hole in the wall" that is totally underrated. Only thing is that I'd wish they'd bring back red cream soda :) read more

Had the Tommy boy and fries. the sandwich had a good sized portion of beef, if you want quantity they hit the mark for the price, no complaints about portion size. The meat itself was dry, sauce doesn't make up for dried out beef. the bread was soggy, almost like it was microwaved, to go along with the dried out beef the sauce was poured into the container it was put in so the bottom bun was completely saturated. (it's the lunch menu during the work week.....no shocker that our group was eating lunch and at work, not very bright for a bbq place to not know the difference between lunch menu / workweek vs dine in) Bottom line, large portion of meat but dried out. every other complaint is excusable and no bid deal, the dry meat is the bottom line. this is based off of 1 trip, maybe it was just a bad day for the beef? read more

This place is just down the street from our house, and while we have never heard rave reviews about it like many other KC BBQ joints, we decided to give it a try for the closeness factor. The decor reminds me of an old hole-in-the-wall bar Willie Nelson would play at with hundreds of license plates lining the walls and many metal signs with funny sayings or quotes and a few awards for the BBQ and notes to the obviously well-loved owner. Since it was our first time, it was kind of awkward figuring out the menu/order/tray system while the high schoolers behind the counter stared at us, but we mastered it. ;) I tried the Southern Sandwich "combo," which was a pulled pork sandwich topped with cole slaw and a side (I chose baked beans) but no drink! How is it a combo without a drink? My husband got a brisket sandwich and fries. The sandwiches were both good, but I wouldn't necessarily come back for it. The baked beans were a great "slop" consistency and delicious and the fries were skin-on, crispy, and tasty! However since we had to buy our drinks separately, we ended up spending $30 for lunch for two, which I feel is kind of high. Not writing it off, but we have quite a few other BBQ places to try before we'll ever be back. read more

Bates is a great neighborhood BBQ place. My favorite is their full slab of ribs for $14.99, it's very tender and smoky. The sandwiches meat portion are very generous, but on the bland side so extra BBQ sauce is a must. The fries are amazing, probably one of my favorite fries in KC. The people are very friendly, the atmosphere is inviting, and there are lots of parking. The best part is there is no lines for good BBQ. Come by, you won't regret the trip. Cheers. read more

I guess if you run a BBQ Restaurant in KC, you've just got to put Burnt Ends on your menu.....but chopped meat drenched in sauce doesn't really qualify as burnt ends. Loved the county atmosphere, the fries were delicious and a generous portion. The beans however were only average. If I try Bates again I'd stick with a sandwich, cause the burnt end plate was an overpriced disappointment. read more

If you live in Shawnee and don't wanna drive across town to get some great BBQ, hit up Bates! And say what's up to my little brother Jimmy. He and the crew there are great!!! read more

Came here before a Royals game. My older brother said it was really good and the owner was super friendly, but we did not get that experience. The pork was not seasoned, no rub at all. I had the brisket sand which was quite overlooked so it was really chewy. The BBQ sauce was nothing special, literally does not hold. The burnt tips were not chard well. Overall, a really disappointing experience. I don't eat pork at all and was hoping to get great BBQ. Never met the owner, he wasn't there, but there were a lot of kids working the store. Perhaps he should have a serious chat with them about flavor and rubs. read more

This used to be the best BBQ in Johnson County, but the quality obviously has tanked. Our meats were dry/tiny portioned for the price, the ribs were bare and the bread on our sandwich was too tough to eat (most likely due to an extended stay in a microwave). Ten years ago Bates catered our wedding rehearsal dinner and our out of town guests raved, now I would have been embarrassed by the food. Shame to see a once landmark shawnee restaurant go downhill this way. Two stars instead of one because the fries are still fantastic. read more

Pretty good place to eat. KC is a BBQ town so it's competitive for sure. Bates City holds their own. I like their ribs and brisket. Good sized portions. Like eating here. read more

My husband picked up Bates City BBQ for the first time today. The ribs were fall off the bone delicious! The BBQ sauce was great. We also had potato salad and BBQ beans were very good! The price was very reasonable and the staff was friendly! Couldn't ask for more. Thanks for a great experience!! We will be back. Kathy and David Huntington. read more

Gross bbq. Food was dry tasted old and customer service was worse. Instead of asking me really? When i tell sandwich was horrible and offer me a refund you might of impressed a first time customer instead never going again and i recommend not eating here read more

Been looking forward to going to this classic KC BBQ joint for a while, and I was disappointed. Cool atmosphere and we were optimistic, and the sauce is very good, but the food let us down. Ribs were fall off the bone, but skimpy on meat and heavy on fat and cartilage. Fries were good but very greasy. Potato salad tasted store bought. It was telling that on a Sunday, when half the BBQ places are closed, we were the only ones at Bates. Normally I prefer to give places a couple shots before passing judgement, trying different items, but given how many great places there are in KC it will be tough to go back. read more

Today was our first time to eat at Bates City BBQ. My son was craving ribs. My son ordered the rib plate and I ordered the mixed plate. My son loved the ribs. The meat was falling off of the bone. My mix plate had a few ribs, I choose ham and beef for my meats. The meat was tasty and moist. Next time, I will order my meal DRY and put on my own sauce. I can't stand BBQ that is drowning in sauce. My bad for not ordering it that way this time. The BBQ sauce is sweet and pretty tasty. The beans are generic and lack flavor. I saw a sign advertising several different beers for $1/bottle. I plan to take advantage of that the next time. Some previous reviewers have commented about the decor. I found it to be OVERKILL. IMO the signs, sayings, sports stuff, license plates, and celebrity cutouts just made it look a mess. I didn't choose to eat here for the atmosphere, so it really is irrelevant. My biggest complaint is that they charge .30 if you want one of your "sides" to be fries. I have never been to a place that deemed it necessary to up-charge if you want fries as a side. Some meals come with 2 sides. Why should I be charged extra if I choose beans and fries. WEIRD....Granted it is only .30 but it is annoying. The fries are nothing special. They were thin, crumbly, and just so-so. Bottom line - I prefer Zarda. I prefer Zarda's fries, combo options (w/ a drink), and sauce. Bates City is a good BBQ place. They have good prices, and good portions. read more

I've been a fan of Bates for over 12 years. The ribs were awesome and I would travel across town just to get them. But recently I've noticed a decline in quality of the food. Service is still the same. A lot of dry pieces and not as generous portions. Just this week I purchased over $20 worth of food & asked for extra sauce, the person at the counter reluctantly gave me a tiny container that could hold about 3 tablespoons of sauce. When I asked for more he said he had to charge me for extra. I don't mind paying more for the same quality but when quality goes down the price goes up that's a non negotiable. read more

Awesome service, great food, beans just like my grandma used to make! I had the burnt ends platter and found the meat top notch, the spices and sauces had just the right amount of heat and the portions were plenty good sized. I loved the fries but my buddy didn't care for them. Personal opinion I guess. But really, beans just like grandma used to make. A little sweet and a little spicy perfect. read more

Very disappointed. Bates has always been a solid go to when I'm in town but the last experience was bad. Called in an order and was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. I showed up and went to the register. First thing I noticed was no employee was wearing masks and there wasn't any social distancing. I'm in town visiting a sick relative and was shocked. Since I placed an order I had hoped I'd be in an out quick. I asked the guy at the counter if I could pick up my order. He seemed upset and told me he guessed he might be able to. I asked if he'd prefer I stand in line, he said yes. So I went to the end of a long line and waited in a slow moving line. After 20 minutes and seeing other people head to the cashier to pick up orders, a young lady asks what the name on my order was. I tell her, she looks through and says she can't find it and walks away. I then stand there at the counter for about 10 minutes as they proceed to put orders together. Finally I ask if they've found my order and am told they haven't. I don't believe I wasted so much time to leave empty handed. In a town with many BBQ choices, I made my way to a nearby one, where my order was taken, I was treated like a normal customer, and all employees were wearing masks. Damn fine food too... I won't be back to Bates read more

Worst BBQ ribs...flavor not at all impressed with and in fact my son and I actually got sick the next day. I've lived in Shawnee for 15 years and never heard anything positive about this place and now I know why!!! Try blind box BBQ instead!!! read more

The ambience of this place is awesome. It is how I expect a BBQ joint in KC to look. I came in expecting great fries and was not disappointed. They are super good. The BBQ however, was not so good. My wife and I got a full slab of ribs and were not impressed. I could not even pick up a rib without it all falling apart from the bone. The ribs were not very well seasoned and didn't have any sauce on them. I had to smother them in the house sauce (which is good) to give them flavor. I was a little disappointed in the lack of smoke flavor as well. Maybe it was an off day or something or ribs are not their thing, but they tasted and looked like they were cooked in a crockpot. I will go back and try their other stuff sometime, but probably will not get ribs again. read more

Great friendly service. I ordered a large fountain drink, it was a vat! The hot thin and crispy fries were great. I decided on the Shawnee Southern sandwich. The pork was a bit dry, but it tasted good. I guess the only real complaint about the sandwich was that there was WAY TOO MUCH slaw on it. The bun actually held up fantastic under the load! For me the bun made the sandwich. I think the Shawnee was more like a salad with pork on a bun. All in all I think BC BBQ was good for lunch and I will be back to try some more of their Que. read more

I tried to place an online order for carryout today. When I got to the end, there was a FIFTEEN PERCENT convenience charge added. For whose convenience? I've gotten carryout from here before & wasn't charge extra for the privilege of carryout. I'll go somewhere else. read more

Really cool atmosphere, love the layout and the look on the inside. The fries are pretty good and they give you a gazillion. I had bbq briscuit which wasn't bad, my wife had the pulled pork which she wasn't a fan of. My beans were so-so, however my potato salad had a dead, itty bitty gnat in it. Up until that point, the potato salad was very mediocre as well. I brought it to their attention and they offered me a new one which I declined. I did not ask for any kind of refund either, just wanted to bring it to their attention, and just thought everyone else should know as well - so watch out and look for bugs in your food. I won't be coming back to this place unless someone else is buying lol and I WON'T be getting the potato salad. read more

Please amend my review for the Shawnee Bates City BBQ. My negative review was for the BC BBQ in Bates City, Mo. I am sure the one in Shawnee is fine. Same owners but likely much better management in Shawnee. My Apologies Shawnee BC BBQ. Bates City, Mo - your place was a 1 star at best read more

Yummmmm! Love the ribs, the fries, the sauce is the bomb and so are the $1 miller high life's.

KC is famous for great BBQ joints and Bates is required stop on your tour of the top places. Nice ambiance and friendly staff. Believe it or not, the portion size is probably too large. Be prepared to take a nap after going to Bates read more

The staff is excellent. Always friendly, straight up guys. the bbq is consistent and good. You also get tons of fries. Eat me!

MMMM barbequed meat. I love their Turkey Tom lunch special. Delicious fries cooked in a different kind of oil that makes them have super crunch. Plus, this is a locally owned business so hooray! read more

Not sure why there are so many bad reviews unless they have inconsistency. Came here in a Thursday night around 6:00 pm and there were several large parties and several smaller parties. I ordered the cluster fluck that was a bowl of fries topped with baked beams, cole slaw, and meat of your choice for about $7. My boyfriend got the burnt ends plate with fries for about $10. Both meals were good. The fries were better than the ones at ok joe's (minus the seasoning). This place is great if your are in the area and looking for some local flair. Prices are reasonable and there is a super friendly staff. read more

My dad and I stopped in here on our way back to Texas for lunch. We each got a burnt end plate with fries. They had our order up in just 2 or 3 minutes. The fries were fresh and piping hot and quite delicious! The burnt ends were also quite delicious, although I felt mine were a bit over sauced, while dad only said the sauce was a bit sweet for him. The counter staff were very friendly when pops asked for directions back to the highway, asking us where we were from and about our trip. All in all, a great little spot with good food and atmosphere. read more

I've never had a bad meal here and I always leave full. If you order fries (and you should), be prepared for a HUGE order. The rib sandwich is really good. The sauce is sweet. My only complaint is the country music is too loud. read more

This place rocks, especially the burnt ends and fries. Who needs chains? (talking to YOU, "Famous Dave's") read more

Do your self a favor and find another BBQ place to eat. Very mediocre food for the high price they charge. Greasy fries and I couldn't even eat the Cole slaw. I know I'll never go back. read more

Really good bbq - kind of a well kept secret in Kansas City. Burnt ends are really good! Recommend!

Ok, time to get the debate rolling.. This is the best BBQ in Kansas City!! (I haven't had Joes yet, but I have had Jack stack,) beats Jack Stack, hands down and smacks it around! The meat just falls off the ribs so cleanly and effortlessly. The beef has a beautiful smoke ring to it and not overbearing. Oh!! The potato salad!! This is absolutely the best potato salad anywhere and everywhere!! The store was very clean, and the employees were actually active cleaning it. The cashier was polite; patient and knowledgable, couldn't ask for more. read more

I see a lot of variation in reviews here, with some recent poor ones, so I have to say we ate here on our last KC trip in Aug 2013. We have eaten here several times in the past, and always enjoyed it. It's a little tough to find for a non-local, since it's pretty much invisible if you're going the wrong way down the street, but we think it's definitely worth the effort. In fact, last trip we were kind of randomly vectoring into town and I half-remembered Quivira and headed up there and we wound up having a great lunch. We thought the food was really good and the portions generous. I hope the recent negative reviews were just Bates having a bad day. read more

This was my first visit to Bates City and will probably be my last. I ordered the Tommy Boy with beef, and while it did have probably a half pound of thinly sliced beef on it, some of it was room temperature. The hoagie bun was soft, that was a plus. The sauce was average and could have come from a jar, with nothing unique about it and the "famous" fries, were FAR too crunchy. You know the "ends" of fries you get at McDonald's? That was what my whole basket was filled with, hard and crunchy fries. Give me some soft ones primarily please! read more

I wanted so bad to like this place because I love the one in Bates city. This place would qualify for some folks rudest of KC lists. Food was mediocre, Service was awful. This is not worth your BBQ money in KC. read more

A previous commenter noted a suspicion that their sandwich had been microwaved. That's the first thing I saw when I approached the counter, the very pleasant fellow throwing a sandwich in the microwave for another customer. Not promising. Went with a half slab of ribs and fries. "Fall off the bone" doesn't do it justice. The meat disintegrated off the bone. And that's not a good thing. Meat isn't supposed to fall off the bone. The meat was okay, could taste the hickory smoke. They were served covered in sauce, which I don't usually appreciate, though the sauce was really good. A bit spicy and peppery. Fries were termed "famous" on the menu, and they were pretty darn good. Won't go back though. Too many other choices in KC. read more