Wolfpack BBQ & Burgers — Restaurant in Kansas City

24 hours later, I sit in solitude and quiet reverence remembering the single best plate of barbecue I've had in Kansas City. Wolfepack BBQ is the REAL DEAL. This is the Q I have been looking for.

I went in for lunch on a Saturday about 3 PM. I wanted to catch the sweet spot between the lunch, rush and dinner. They frequently run out of food at dinner. That can be frustrating, as the first time we came we were turned away because they had just run out of everything after a large party came in with no notice and cleaned them out.

However, that was actually encouraging to me because it tells me they don't hold food over from day to day and they make everything fresh daily, which the manager confirmed with me. That's how you have barbecue at this astronomical level consistently. It is the only way. So go early in the day if you want more selection.

However, on this particular Saturday, they had everything I wanted, which was beef burnt ends (only available on Friday and Saturday), pork ribs, and brisket. I always have to try the beans and I asked the server whether he would recommend the lemon pepper coleslaw or country style potato salad. He said probably the coleslaw so that's what I got. He suggested it might be lighter with a three meat dinner.

Well, I tried the beans first because that's one of my favorite things and beans have to be good for it to be a decent barbecue restaurant. These beans were slightly sweeter than I wanted them to be but otherwise perfect. They are the best beans I've had in Kansas City. (Joe's and Zarda are spots 2 & 3)

The coleslaw was very nice and very different. I usually have to keep coleslaw for the end of the meal like a dessert because it's so sweet. But this one has lovely pepper and some vinegar so the acid is wonderful to cut the sweetness of the beans and the barbecue sauce. This is really special.

I started off with a taste of the brisket, which was cut thicker as I prefer. It was very tender, but a little bit dry. Also, it wasn't cooked quite long enough because it was a little tough due to the fact that the muscle fibers weren't separating when you pulled on the brisket. So it just needs to be finished at a little bit higher temperature, like 205. The flavor was excellent and it had a really good mouth feel.

I can't say this is the best brisket in town, but it's certainly among the top five.

Next, I tried the spare ribs. I was blown away by these! When I was trying to decide which three meats to have the server piped up and said oh, you have to try the ribs. I found them to be perfectly cooked with great crust on both sides not cooked so long that they shrink away from the end of the bone. The pull of the bite was absolutely perfect. They had just a tiny bit of sauce on them at the end. So they weren't cloyingly sweet or any kind of burnt sauce flavor. They were really perfection. I would put them 1st or 2nd in town with Chef J being the other.

Now to the real star of the show! Kansas City is known for burnt ends and you can get them lots of places here in town and they're usually just okay or even not that great. Slaps, Joe's, Q39 and even LC usually have pretty good burnt ends. Wolfepack BBQ is the GOAT. These burnt ends were perfectly crispy. The fat to meat ratio was spot on, and they were cooked absolutely perfectly. I never got any bite that was crunchy like an almond. Or mushy like baked eggplant. These were perfectly in the zone and perfectly flavored. As if touched by the finger of God Himself. If you're there on a Friday or Saturday, this should be your go to. Please leave some for me.

The service here is excellent! You are greeted as soon as you walk in and told to sit anywhere you like. I love that. There's a great bar and the bartender was spot on the day. I was there. He was very friendly and kind. Great stories!

When my friends come to town, I now have a new place to take them for great barbecue. Just make sure it's not too late for dinner.

UPDATE: I returned a week later and the brisket was perfection. Absolutely...

This restaurant has been a few other types of restaurants in the past, an old Italian sandwich place and a bar and grill afterwards.

Wolfpack was a plesant surprise doesn't look like much outside and has limited parking.

Lunch on a Thursday wasn't packed and plenty of seating.

Lets start out BBQ is expensive and costs way too much almost to eat out. Brisket is $35 a pound and pulled pork is $22 a pound, so be prepared to pay around $20-$40 depending on how hungry you are.

I ordered the 3 meat plate combo and got brisket, pulled pork, and pork belly burnt ends (yea you read that right). The waitress told us they didn't have any beef burnt ends (disappointment) and only serve them really on Saturday, but the menu doesn't say that so i wasn't too thrilled. The pork belly burnt ends were fatty as expected and just not to my liking. Also, the waitress informed us if we ordered two meats of the same in the 3 meat plate combo we would be charged a surcharge but didn't say how much so I didn't pursue that option. The brisket was thick and fatty along the edges ( you can trim this off prior to serving in my opinion as I don't eat fat off brisket edges), but it was good. The pulled pork I ate later for dinner and it was good as well.

What really threw me for a loop was their fries and their Mexican Street Corn (menu doesn't reflect this online) both were outstanding. Fries were crispy and the seasoning was perfect and the Mexican Street Corn was also seasoned and perfect.

Is it the best BBQ in town, I say It is up in my top 3 but not number 1. Joes and Wolfpack are both in my top 1-2 but I won't say who is first cause it depends on where I am in the City and what kind of BBQ sauce I want. I say WolfPack is great on the brisket, but wait for the burnt ends rather than the pork belly burnt ends, not a fan of pork burnt ends.

Lastly you can't go wrong eating here, but it isn't cheap like I said unless you get like a brisket sandwich for around $14 or $15 and I am unsure if a side comes with that or not.

Waitress was really nice and came around a lot to see if we needed anything and she took our order correct and it came out correct. I say she is probably one of the best waitresses I have had in awhile. Owner/Manager if you are not paying her decent she needs a raise cause she will keep customers coming back just for the customer service alone.

I will be back, but not that often because I don't live that close, maybe I will if the...

Now… I’m going to try not to sound too biased here and I’m sorry in advance if you don’t feel the same way as me… but this place is a VIBE. This is THE spot.

I tried other places around town, and I’m shocked this isn’t on anyone list of “got to try”…. This place was 5 miles from my hotel and I WILL be back….

Let’s start off with the service.. you walk in and Ryan gives you a warm welcome followed by a sit anywhere you like. I chose the bar, cause it was a long day of work.

I started with a beer and Ryan offered tasters to see if I liked anything. Nailed it.

I was undecided between the three meat plate or three meat sandwich… so Ryan offered a bun with my three meat plate.. PERFECT.

I thought the star of the show was the jalepeno sausage… until I tried the brisket… and then the pulled pork… let’s start with the sausage.. big chunks of cheese inside, which is amazing! The flavor and snap of the skin… was perfect…. Next, the brisket… literally fell apart.. the flavor, texture and overall visual appeal was on point…. Let’s not forget the pulled pork… the best I’ve ever had… I thought I had ate a piece of fat because it me Ted in my mouth… but bite after bite, I realized that it was that tender… juicy… melt in your mouth… just wow….

So next i moved to the cowboy baked beans… and I have to say… I’ve never had beans with so much Smokey flavor… I’m in love. They are incredible.

Last but not least, the atmosphere… I’m an older fella… 43….. and the feel of this place was just perfect… from the music to the vibe, I loved it. All kinds of great music playing and you can still hear your conversations.

I really love this place, and I know you will too. Wow. I’ll be back.. thanks for one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time.

EDIT: Came back again… because let’s be honest… this place is the BEST.

Had to come back and try the beef burnt ends… and I was NOT disappointed…. This place is fantastic. If I live here, this would be a weekly MUST. Great service, great food and...