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Kitty's Cafe

4.5 (192 reviews)
InexpensiveSandwiches, American
Open • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Kitty's Cafe Photos

Business Info

KITTY'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Good for kids
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Kitty's Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Tenderloin sandwich
Natalie Z.

My partner and I swung by Kitty's to grab a quick lunch to eat on the Nelson-Atkins lawn before making the trek back to Bentonville. We knew this place was no-frills and cash only, so we came prepared. We got the famous pork tenderloin sandwich, a cheeseburger, and fries. There's no dining room or much of a waiting area, so we waited approximately 10-15 minutes outside. I was impressed by how well the pork tenderloin sandwich held up, because it took another 15-20 minutes to find free street parking by the Nelson. The tenderloin was amazingly crispy, and paired well with the hot sauce and fixings. Admittedly, we had eaten so much BBQ the past few days of our trip that I was not able to thoroughly enjoy it. As for the burger, it was fine--it tasted like your average, greasy spoon diner burger (we regretted not getting the catfish sandwich instead). The fries were standard, crinkle-cut fries that were nice and hot out of the fryer, but needed just a little bit of salt. I would still recommend this to folks visiting KC who want an affordable, tasty bite.

Josh P.

I read about this place on atlas obscura and was surprised its been around since the 50s and my in-laws who live in KCK have never heard of it. We went on a Friday around lunchtime and it was pretty busy. My fiance wanted to try the cheeseburger and I had to have the famed pork tenderloin sandwich. The wait was about 30 minutes and it is CASH ONLY so as long as you're prepared, neither is an issue. The pork tenderloin sandwich and the hot sauce on it were great and I'd love to have another. The cheeseburger wasn't bad but seemed pretty similar to Sonic or a run of the mill fast food cheeseburger. I had to have a mexican coke with it and it made for the perfect combo. Overall, a good visit.

What a perfect number! I brought my coffee.
Dustin E.

Believe the hype. This is the best pork tenderloin sandwich I've ever had. The fries were amazing too! The service was friendly. The cashier told us it would be about a 30-minute wait for our food. Soon after, she was telling people 45 minutes. Their delivery truck hadn't come and they were out of tots, fries, bacon and something else. No matter. People took it in stride. They were not there for any of those things. It's all about the hand-breaded tenderloin. They have pork, chicken and catfish. We also tried a cheeseburger, which was excellent. If I wanted a meal, I'd get a double or triple cheeseburger. A single is more of a snack. It seems like a melting pot there. We met and talked to folks from all over the metro while we were waiting. We drove in from Lee's Summit for lunch on a Friday. Prolly 60% of us were first timers. The veterans just smiled at us. They knew what goodness lay ahead. I won't have a tenderloin anywhere else. It won't be as good. I'm ruined.

Pork tenderloin sandwich
Dat T.

Went to Kitty's awhile back when it reopened. Super nice people working, very understanding with the long line because of the reopening. They gave me an estimated 1 hour wait for their pork tenderloin sandwich. I left and ran some errands and came back after an hour, so roughly accurate wait time. I expect that now the wait is a lot less. Pork tenderloin sandwich itself was solid. Very crispy, pork itself wasn't too thick. Tasted fresh, with good toppings. For what it was, I think it surpassed my expectations. I'd say the sandwich is a little bit dry for my personal taste, but overall it's a classic. For the price, I do think it's a little expensive, but where else can you get a pork tenderloin sandwich? Kitty's cafe itself doesn't have any real seating area. It's basically a walk in and order at the counter place. Expect to take your food to go. Overall, 4/5, and I'd probably return if I ever was craving another pork sandwich.

Annie B.

Finally got my hands on the famous pork tenderloin sandwich from Kitty's Cafe. And no, there are no cats there. The sandwich was delicious and crispy with hot sauce being the only condiment - which really allows you to focus on the flavor of the sandwich. + it was NOT greasy! I would definitely come back and try the catfish next time! Make some time to go check out this Kansas City classic! CASH ONLY!

Lou K.

Delicious classic Kansas City food. I have been waiting to try the famous Kitty's Cafe for a long time and was so excited to finally get to taste the tenderloin sandwich. This long anticipated sandwich did not let me down. It was more than just a tasty greasy sandwich. It filled my soul with joy. After parking on the street and a swift walk to the door, it was so packed we had to wait outside for a couple of minutes before ordering. While ordering we were notified that the wait would be about 30 min. We had time so we enjoyed the nice weather on the patio and walked over to the surrounding small businesses. There is no seating inside but there is a big covering outside. The food was ready almost exactly 30 minutes later. The pork tenderloin had a tasty spicy sauce on it which I loved. The cheesebuger was delicious but I should have opted for a double or triple. Overall worth the wait!!

Menu
Lauren A.

I was impressed and I will be back. You The prices were very affordable which is a plus during a time when everyone seems to be overpricing things including food. I ordered the breakfast sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. Beware, it comes with Mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and onion. I had it all removed and added bacon. Very good! Took about 10 minutes. So, very quick. In terms of ambiance, there isn't much. I mean the ceiling is cute and the place is clean. That's enough. This is a grab and go spot. No sitting and staying

Steven F.

Kitty's is an interesting place and a little tricky to find. We had the address and drove by it before realizing it. It is a very small place, carry out only. They key is to find the door. They focus on tenderloin sandwiches and burgers. They also have fries. We got the tenderloin sandwich. For the money it is a big sandwich. Loaded with battered pork tenderloin. Battered versus breaded. It was juicy and tender. All around good taste. However, with the meat being battered and given the thickness of the tenderloin it made for several layers of batter with several layers of tenderloin - the ratio of batter to meat was higher than I liked, which is why I only gave it 4 stars. With that said, it is a good sandwich and a good experience. You should give it a try, keeping in mind it is carry out only.

Chicken Tenderloin

Oh. My. GOODNESS. This place's location is a little sketchy but the food is we will definitely be going back! The sandwich packs a punch. So worth it

Tenderloin
Mary M.

Closed for Renovations right now (May 2024) Always outstanding! Tenderloin of legend and lives up to the hype! Cash only!

fun decorations inside too!
Claire F.

Quintessential hole-in-the-wall place! How did I find out about Kitty's? I was in class one day, looking at food places that were nearby and stumbled across Kitty's. I was confused as to how I live nearby but had never seen nor heard about it - yet there were so many reviews that were raving about it. So, I had to check it out! Why I would rate it 4 stars - given the location, there's basically no parking (good luck with street parking). It's also pretty small so you can't sit in - this is a takeout place. So it got pretty crowded and took a while for food to come out. However, service was nice, food is CHEAP, and you get a decent amount for how much you're paying! The tenderloin sandwich was FILLING and so good. It also definitely knocked me out for a good chunk of the afternoon, lol! If you're in the mood for a tenderloin sandwich, or a burger, I'd recommend trying this place out - it might become your new go-to!!

Yesenia M.

Double Cheeseburger-I can't believe I've been living in KC this long and had not tried this place. I ordered a double cheeseburger and tater tots and man...it was amazing. Can't wait to go back and try their famous pork tenderloin. FYI-it's cash only.

Keith A.

Excellent tenderloin unlike any other. Tempura style batter. Worth the wait. Make sure to get the hot sauce, dont tell em to hold it off. Its not that hot. Its what ties it all together. The burgers are really yummy too !

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3 months ago

great food! great service! love the tenderloin! great food! great service! love the tenderloin!

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1 year ago

The food is out of this world! Best pork tenderloin EVER. Well worth the wait. Just go and get it!

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Incredible service and great food every time I have gone. Wonderful burgers and great tenderloins.

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Yes!

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Yes

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Brgr Kitchen Plus Bar

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BRGR is a bar and restaurant located in the heart of Kansas City. The bar sits right in the center…read moreof the restaurant and is surrounded by about seven TVs, which makes it a solid place to catch a game. The overall vibe is pretty cool, and I really liked the lighting inside--it gives the place a nice atmosphere. I ordered the BRGR burger with a side of sweet potato fries. The burger itself was pretty good, and the sweet potato fries were fantastic. They came out hot and had great flavor, easily the highlight of the meal. The server was very good and nice. She noticed that we were getting low on waters fast and just gave us the pitcher which was super thoughtful. That being said, the burger is pretty expensive, and they don't include fries with it. You have to pay an extra $5-6 for a side, which definitely adds up and feels a bit steep for what you get. Overall, it's still a good place with solid food and a cool vibe, but the pricing does affect the overall rating.

Starters it looks like it came out of a box. Presentation is not existent …read more This is a mid burger. That's giving love. Staff was cool but they lied and said it was good. I don't think you can honestly say that unless you never had good. I have.. I'd say just go to McDonald's it's cheaper and it's better if you want a burger and this is your only choice Nice decor though Hailey said it was alright but she has no taste in food.

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We were staying at the Hotel Indigo next door and decided we wanted to grab a few drinks and an…read moreappetizer. We walked in and were immediately greeted warmly. The atmosphere was very chill and upscale looking. We told the hostess that we just wanted to sit at the bar she told us that we could sit anywhere and that it was full service. We had a seat and were greeted by the bartender. He was very attentive and fast to take our drink order and our food order. Everything was amazing! The drinks and app were amazing. The guy down the bar got a cheeseburger and it made me regret not getting one! We will definitely be going back.

Horrible service - likely the worst I have ever had. I had an expensive steak here and a glass of…read morewine with two friends. We were totally respectful and had not drank at all - one glass. I ended up getting a piece of steak lodged in my esophagus. It wouldn't digest. I could barely breath and had to run to the restroom. All of the bathrooms were taken and I was worried I was going to pass out. I had to try to perform the heimlich on myself. When I went back to the table, with the issue still unresolved, it was clear that the manager was informed that I was at the open sinks from the bathroom. The manager showed 0 concern. The waiter completely changed his disposition with us and acted as if we were an embarrassment. He offered no assistance, even after I explained it was a health issue. He offered no sympathy or even asked if I needed help. I was mortified and had only eaten two bites of the steak. I simply asked to have a to go box and left. I have never returned and never will.

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Inside
Inside
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What a great experience! From the moment we walked in, the service was outstanding and the food was…read moreexcellent. BJ, the bartender, was especially amazing! He was friendly, kind, and happy to answer all of our questions. He made us feel welcome and really added to the experience. The fish tacos were to die for, and the High On The Hog was amazing with the cheese on top! BJ brought us the Rangoon Fries to try, and wow. So goooood! The restaurant itself is such a neat place with a great atmosphere. We can't wait to come back and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for delicious food and exceptional service! (And sorry we left our debit card but gave us a reason to come back the same day ).

OMFG! Let's start with the staff. They shake your hand, they ask your name, they make sure you know…read moretheirs (I have to prepare for a pop quiz on names when I go here), and they wait on you using all the steps of service and they don't drop the ball. If the there is a blip in the flow, they know it, they address it and THEY FIX IT. if they tell you "NO" it's because they exhausted every avenue FIRST and narrowed "NO" down to the only answer. The service doesn't get better than here...unless you have a Stepford wife at home. The food the food the food! If you want a scratch kitchen pumping out a flavor flash mob in your face hole, THIS is the place. The chef is in-house. The food is presented like he oversaw every step of its creation. If you are brunch foodies, get the Breakfast Soup. I want to use this as tanning oil and rub it all over my blustery old-man body. It's that f-ing good. If you don't order this...IT'S YOUR FAULT! Great bar, great service, great staff and managed exactly the way it should be. I HIGHLY recommend Incline on 9th.

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Interior
Interior
Incline on 9th
Incline on 9th

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Kitty's Cafe - sandwiches - Updated July 2026

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