Don’t get it twisted. Even with the new wave of clean and unfussy craft-style barbecue permeating the scene, KC ’cue runs on sauce.
It’s controversial, really, with naysayers and those with, ahem, Texas-sized attitudes claiming the use of sauce is to hide imperfections in the meat. But anyone who has tasted a hint of Gates’ renowned bottled gold knows the truth: You don’t add sauce to KC ’cue because it needs it. You add it because you want it.
Kansas City barbecue is considered a melting pot of regional influences. We have vinegar from the Carolina states, spice from Texas and sweet molasses flavor from the deep South. Gates, a Kansas City institution for nearly 80 years, has managed to capture all of this in their Original flavor—but with a little Kansas City soul.
For nearly 50 years, Gates’ owner, Ollie Gates, has been serving his tomato-based sauce. In all its dark-red, slightly gritty glory, it is the perfect balance between tangy, spicy and sweet. To say that it has contributed to KC’s barbecue history would be an understatement. Sure, Arthur Bryant’s can be credited for making sauce a famous element to our regional style, and KC Masterpiece can be credited for commercializing it. But Gates—whether you choose mild, original, extra-hot or sweet and mild—continues to reign supreme.
Maybe we’re being nostalgic, but there’s something to be said about Gates’ ability to run as a family-owned institution all these years (it opened in 1946). While other notable historic institutions have had multiple owners, Gates still has Ollie. And as long as Kansas City still has Gates, there will be no debate. Gates’ sauce, whether you’re eating it smothered on burnt ends, in a hoagie or bringing it to the family cookout, is the quintessential ingredient to KC ’cue.
Runners-Up
Arthur Bryant’s
We can thank Arthur Bryant’s for giving KC’s signature ingredient a hint of sweetness, but it still has a peppery kick from the original recipe created by Henry Perry, the father of Kansas City BBQ.
Joe’s Kansas City BBQ
joeskc.com, various locations
Joe’s is rightfully known for delivering consistency, which isn’t easy in the world of barbecue. Their sauce is no different. It hits all the notes—sweet, tangy, peppery and bold.
Zarda
11931 W. 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa
We can’t deny Zarda’s bean, or its sauce. With 27 spices, it delivers an unbeatable full-bodied zest.
KC Masterpiece
KC Masterpiece showed the nation what KC barbecue is all about. The thick, molasses-rich flavor is its signature flavor profile, and while it can be pretty thick, it’s undeniably iconic.
