Kirby's — Restaurant in Wichita

I was shocked to find that there wasn’t a cover here! They make up for this with their entertainment, cold beer, ice-cold jelly (Thinky Flesh), and solid personal pizza menu. Please throw your excess cash into the provided bucket located on the picnic table in front of the stage so the artists can eat. I wasn’t too fond of the way the picnic table took up so much real estate right in front of the stage, but it makes for a great platform to jump from when wearing 6 inch platform boots. (Looking at you, Thinky Flesh👀)

The arcade next door is solid filled wall to wall with pinball machines that are maintained by a veteran pinhead who knows his stuff. I was excited to find there was a vintage Ice Cold Beer game, but disappointed to find that it was out of service for the night. They had all the hits. Harry Potter, Ghost Busters, and even an emulator with Street Fighter. I was not disappointed one bit. For how small this place and Kirby’s next door looked from the outside, they pack a larger than life personality inside for an intimate setting to enjoy beer and pizza without a pesky cover charge. PAY WHAT YOU CAN AND BE SURE TO TIP YOUR BARTENDER!!! When you’re done over indulging at either of these places, head on down to the halal market and deli on the end of the humble strip mall and feast on some legitimately authentic and delicious gyros and kebobs. As an out-of-towner, this gave me a new respect for Wichita, and I would definitely make the drive to come here for another...

Kirby’s has been a staple since 1972, and it’s not for the weak of heart who wanna listen to commercial radio and drink bland domestic beer. It’s for leftists and weirdos and goths and shoe gazers. All races, religions, sexual orientations… punks and drunks, artists and professors. I’ve been going there since the 90s and it’s the only bar in town I will go to alone as a woman of Mexican/indigenous descent. I didn’t know the first owner but I knew the second. Months prior to his death we made arrangements for him to come tutor some of my students but unfortunately it never came to pass. TWO of the soon to be EX owners unfortunately came out with some abhorrent views on politics and sexual orientation. And guess what? They’re OUT. Take your fake outrage elsewhere (Kirby’s isn’t even an eating establishment your reviews are ✨silly✨). I’ll be going to shows and playing pinball and getting/giving hugs as long as I have breath...

This Gem is one of the very best dive bars in the US!!! I love love love Kirbys. Ive been going here since the early 90s, and this was my dads main hangout from 72' thru 75' before he passed. Jim Kirby the original owner held a wake for my Dad Glenn "Trip" "Trippy" Dunne. And its been a place of comfort for many of us when we have lost people who were dear to us over the years. Its full of fond happy memories as well as sorrowful ones and Kirbys will always be near to my heart. You can always find talented, or in the least interesting, local and not local muscians and artist of all kinds either hanging out or performing here. And I've never seen a fight here. I know there probably have been, but Ive never seen it. And depending on how busy it is the bartenders will make me my...