The Barbecue Trail: Discovering Savory Delights Across Ten Cities

Try authentic barbecue in the Heart of the County

Start your journey in the largest tourist destination in Kansas – Wichita. With nearly two dozen barbecue locations, try many sweet and savory flavors. At Delano Barbeque Company you can order a Big Bad Wolf with Smoky Joe and hot links on a bun. If you ask a local Wichitan, B&C Barbeque Pub and Grill will always be in the top 3 favorite local barbecue joints in the region if not the state. When you stop in Station 8 BBQ, order the pork belly burnt ends, sauteed green beans with smoked ham and onion and finished it with a freshly baked hand Blueberry Lemon Pie. For a full list and to make your own top 3 list, click here.

About 20 minutes from Wichita, you can find mouthwatering St. Louis-style ribs from RibCrib in Derby. RibCrib has fun dishes like The Motherlode and the Pigman Sandwich. Head to Cheney after your Derby trip for Hank is Wiser Brewery. This brewery is worth the 45-minute drive for beer and barbecue.

Experience rich pit barbecue flavors in Reno County

Since the 1980s, the towns of Hutchinson and Buhler have been serving amazing barbecue. “This review hurts to write,” Eddy the blogger behind Wichita by E.B., wrote. “Not because I had a bad meal but because I’m so incredibly full right now and I’m suffering from the meat sweats.” Hog heaven is waiting for you at Roy’s Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q in Hutchinson.

Come with an empty stomach to LaVon’s Bakery & BBQ in Buhler. Known as the “little shop with good food,” an assortment of fruit, cream and meringue pies are waiting to be devoured, alongside smoked turkey, brisket and pork. 

Walk into side dish heaven in Wellington and Marion

Now let's talk about the tasty sides that everyone craves to go along with the rich flavors of barbecue. Travelin’ Smoke BBQ in Wellington offers a wide selection of tasty, fresh sides, from crispy fried okra and pickles to broccoli salad and two types of potato salad that road trippers say are worth the detour off the highway. Did you think those side dishes were good? Try street corn salad, pickle salad and coleslaw at Bill and Essie’s BBQ in Marion. 

Explore other barbecue joints in South Central Kansas

We hope by now your stomach is growling. We have a few more places that we think are worth a trip. Check out Billy Sims Barbecue in Newton, Arkansas City and Andover. They have delicious Mac Bowls with mac-n-cheese, your choice of meat and barbecue sauce. Try Bear-B-Cue sauce from Knackies Meats & Sweets in McPherson. They serve barbecue and other homestyle meals and are known for their house sauce that is nationally distributed in bear bottles. The final stop is Trinity’s Smokehouse BBQ in Pratt. In a small city that has a big appetite, try the Frito Pork Pie with Fritos, pulled pork, cheddar cheese, sour cream and Smokehouse sauce.

No matter where you are, if you’re craving a savory lunch or dinner, we’ve got you covered. Check out a complete list of barbecue restaurants in South Central Kansas.  

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