Jan 29, 2026 - Food and Drink

Joe's makes Yelp's top 100 list for 2026

Hand holding a fried sandwich with barbecue sauce and onions inside a white takeout container, in front of a green building sign reading "Joe's Kansas City BAR-B-QUE" with parked cars nearby. — It's the Z-Man, man. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is one of the highest-reviewed restaurants in the country, according to Yelp's list of top U.S. restaurants for 2026.

The big picture: This comes as no surprise for Kansas Citians and barbecue aficionados. In a town known for its meat pits, this gas station restaurant is consistently ranked among the top.

But we still like hearing our name called.

What they're saying: Yelp's list calls out "elevated comfort food" as a top trend, with places like Joe's that specialize in "destination-worthy" sandwiches taking nearly 10% of the list.

Joe's is known for its Z-Man — otherwise known as Paul Rudd's favorite sandwich in the world.

💭 Travis' thought bubble: I went to Joe's for lunch. For journalism, of course. The Z-Man's succulent brisket, crispy onion rings, and dunkable barbecue sauce are pretty much perfection.

But the real dark horse is Joe's fry seasoning. You'll thank me later.

If you go: The line here is often out the door. Skip the wait by ordering online and hitting the drive-thru.

Keep reading: Axios Kansas City's barbecue beat

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Joe's makes Yelp's top 100 list for 2026

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