Downtown BurgersJoplin, MOBurgersMust Order: The Classic Single CheeseburgerA Route 66 downtown Joplin classic griddling fresh burgers and hand-done fries, with creative weekly specials that keep regulars coming back.
All Reviews
Every spot we've put to the test. 30 reviews and counting across Missouri.
30 reviews
82WORTH THE DRIVEGarbo's PizzeriaSpringfield, MOPizzaMust Order: New York-Style Build-Your-Own PizzaBeloved Springfield pizzeria crafting New York-inspired pies with fresh house-made dough, generous toppings, and the kind of fold-in-half slice that locals rave about.
Pizza HouseSpringfield, MOPizzaMust Order: Hand-Rolled Thin-Crust PizzaSpringfield's oldest pizzeria, hand-rolling thin-crust pies since 1958 in a historic building on Commercial Street, a no-frills local institution for classic pub-style pizza.
81WORTH THE DRIVEGusano's PizzaJoplin, MOPizzaMust Order: Chicago Deep-Dish PizzaChicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pizza chain with deep Ozarks roots, serving loaded pies with a generous patio and family-friendly atmosphere in east Joplin.
81WORTH THE DRIVEWoody's SmokehouseJoplin, MOBBQMust Order: Texas-Style Oak-Smoked BrisketTexas-style BBQ in a gas-station smokehouse atmosphere on Route 66, famous for dry-rubbed brisket smoked over oak, a regional pit-stop legend.
78Woody's Woodfire PizzaJoplin, MOPizzaMust Order: Wood-Fired Artisan PizzaJoplin's beloved wood-fired pizza bar on Route 66, crafting blistered artisan pies in a wood-burning oven for perfectly charred crusts with a casual bar atmosphere.
84WORTH THE DRIVEMr. Clark's Barbecue & CateringJoplin, MOBBQMust Order: Slow-Smoked Brisket PlateChef Mike Clark's new home on historic Route 66, serving slow-smoked BBQ comfort food with chef-inspired technique, fall-apart brisket and hand-held smoked indulgence.
Hackett Hot WingsJoplin, MOWingsMust Order: Classic Hot WingsDowntown Joplin's wing institution since 2003, serving fiery house-battered hot wings in a sports-bar atmosphere that's been a local game-day staple for over 20 years.
80WORTH THE DRIVEHabaneros Mexican GrillJoplin, MOTacosMust Order: Sizzling Fajita TacosJoplin's go-to Mexican cantina for loaded street tacos, chile-marinated meats, and a sizzling fajita platter that arrives at the table with maximum theatrical smoke.
80WORTH THE DRIVERed Onion CafeJoplin, MOComfortMust Order: Loaded Comfort Plate SpecialDowntown Joplin's beloved American comfort-food cafe, dishing up hearty scratch-made plates of loaded comfort classics that have made it a local lunch institution for years.
78Social BTBJoplin, MOBurgersMust Order: Bring The Blend Double Bacon CheeseburgerJoplin's premier craft-burger bar, stacking custom-blended 'Bring the Blend' fresh patties with unlimited free add-ons and indulgent loaded-burger combinations.
82WORTH THE DRIVEBlackstone GastropubJoplin, MOComfortMust Order: Blackstone Smash BurgerFeatured on Guy Fieri's 'Best Bite in Town' and helmed by a Feast magazine Chef of the Year, serving elevated comfort pub fare like loaded smash burgers and indulgent craft sandwiches.
79Tacos El GordoSpringfield, MOTacosMust Order: Trio of Pork Tacos (Trompo, Chicharones, Guisado)Authentic Mexican taqueria celebrated for its trio of pork taco preparations, trompo, chicharones in salsa verde, and guisado de puerco rojo, plus handmade pupusas.
78Team TacoSpringfield, MOTacosMust Order: Smoked Pork Belly Globetrotter TacoBeloved indie taco spot known for 'small but mighty' corn tortilla tacos loaded with indulgent proteins like smoked pork belly with salsa verde and cotija cheese.
83WORTH THE DRIVECesar's Old MexicoSpringfield, MOTacosMust Order: Cesar's Pork Street TacosA Springfield taco institution beloved for its slow-cooked Cesar's pork, juicy, tender shredded meat on street-style tortillas topped with fresh onion, cilantro, and guacamole.
Arthur Bryant's BarbequeKansas City, MOBBQMust Order: Burnt Ends SandwichThe granddaddy of KC BBQ since 1908, famous for its thick, vinegary 'Original' sauce slathered over hand-cut brisket piled high on white bread.
79KC Smoke BurgersKansas City, MOBurgersMust Order: Classic Smoke BurgerFamous for its mini-smoker table gimmick and genuinely smoky halal beef burgers, piled with fresh toppings and branded buns on one of KC's most eclectic burger menus.
82WORTH THE DRIVEWestport Flea Market Bar & GrillKansas City, MOBurgersMust Order: Flea Market BurgerCash-only Westport institution praised by Food Network for its house-ground beef patty on a toasted bun, no frills, just one of the city's all-time great burgers.
83WORTH THE DRIVEChef J BBQKansas City, MOBBQMust Order: Texas-Style BrisketAward-winning West Bottoms pit master Justin Easterwood smokes buttery Texas-style brisket and inventive weekly sausage specials like French onion soup sausage.
89WORTH THE DRIVETown Topic HamburgersKansas City, MOBurgersMust Order: Classic KC CheeseburgerOpen 24/7 since 1937, KC's most iconic greasy-spoon diner smashes thin beef patties with grilled onions pressed right into the meat, blanketed in melted American cheese.
82WORTH THE DRIVELC's Bar-B-QKansas City, MOBBQMust Order: Combo Sandwich (Pork & Beef)A legendary hole-in-the-wall open since 1986, where smoky thin-cut pork and beef are stacked three slices of bread high, with the smoker visible right behind the counter.
80WORTH THE DRIVEJack Stack Barbecue (Freight House)Kansas City, MOComfortMust Order: Crown Prime Beef RibKC's most lavish BBQ comfort experience in a soaring converted 1800s freight house, where the crown prime beef rib and lamb ribs make every visit a special occasion.
89WORTH THE DRIVEGates Bar-B-QKansas City, MOBBQMust Order: Sliced Beef & Burnt End Mac and CheeseA KC institution since 1946 famous for the booming greeting 'Hi, may I help you!?' and slow-smoked sliced beef and burnt-end mac and cheese.
82WORTH THE DRIVEQ39Kansas City, MOWingsMust Order: Chipotle BBQ Wings ('Best Wings on the Planet')Chef-driven KC BBQ icon voted best in the city, equally famous for its chipotle-glazed 'Best Wings on the Planet', smoked, grilled, and sauced in sweet-spicy perfection.
81WORTH THE DRIVEBuckingham's BBQSpringfield, MOBBQMust Order: Burnt Ends PlateAward-winning pit operation since 1996 known for award-circuit ribs, burnt ends, brisket, and its legendary 'Barry White' horseradish slaw, a must-order side.
82WORTH THE DRIVECrosstown BarbecueSpringfield, MOBBQMust Order: Baby Back RibsA Springfield staple since 1970 smoking juicy meats over green hickory, where the baby back and spare ribs have kept locals coming back for over 50 years.
82WORTH THE DRIVEPappy's PlaceSpringfield, MOComfortMust Order: Pulled Pork NachosSpringfield neighborhood gem operating on this historic site since 1903, dishing up pull-apart hickory-smoked pulled pork nachos and ribs that define Ozarks comfort eating.
81WORTH THE DRIVECity Butcher and BarbecueSpringfield, MOBBQMust Order: Texas-Style Smoked BrisketSpringfield's top Texas-style BBQ destination since 2014, famous for hickory-and-oak-smoked brisket sold by the pound and hand-crafted sausage varieties like Jalapeño Cheddar.
81WORTH THE DRIVEBubba's BBQSpringfield, MOBBQMust Order: The Cowboy Brisket SandwichTexas-meets-Kansas City hickory-smoked BBQ from a competitive pitmaster, famous for baby back ribs, burnt ends, and the loaded Cowboy sandwich with fried onion petals.
81WORTH THE DRIVEThe PeanutKansas City, MOWingsMust Order: Whole Buffalo Chicken WingsKC's most beloved dive bar since the 1940s, celebrated for massive whole Buffalo wings served with legendary house-made blue cheese dressing that locals swear is unmatched anywhere.