Kansas Restaurant and Dining Guide

Welcome to Kansas, where amber waves of grain meet a feast of flavors! Our expedition across this flat, fabulous frontier, dubbed the 'Breadbasket of America,' will transport you from the bustling metropolises to charming small towns, each boasting unique gastronomic gems and captivating attractions. So, grab your virtual passport as we delve into the local cuisine of Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Salina, weaving through their culinary tales and historical trails. Ready to go on a smorgasbord sojourn in the Sunflower State? Great! You're in for a hearty helping of Kansas culture, one bite and one site at a time.

Wichita - A Whirlwind of Wheat and Wonder

Wichita, lovingly known as 'Cowtown,' touts a colorful history deeply rooted in cattle trade and aviation. Today, it's a vibrant city where the past meets present in its eclectic dining scene.

Tucked away in the heart of Wichita is Bella Luna Café, an oasis of Middle Eastern cuisine. Their beef kabobs and Chicken Du Chateau are as charismatic as the city itself, and don't get us started on their Barramundi Meuniere. Just a 15-minute drive away, Bocatto Eatery and Pasta serves Italian fare that'd make nonna proud. The Lemon Chicken Picatta is a must-try, and their Swordfish in mango cream? Delizioso!

For comfort food, Doo-Dah Diner is your go-to spot. Their biscuit and gravy dish is a heartwarming nod to Kansas' southern influences, while their Banana Bread French Toast is a sweet surrender. Meanwhile, The Kitchen is whipping up some homegrown goodness with their Triple Grilled Cheese sandwich and Chicken Parmesan Pasta.

After a hearty meal, it's time to take a bite out of Wichita's culture. Head to the iconic Keeper of the Plains, a towering tribute to the Native American heritage, or dive into the world of science at Exploration Place. The Sedgwick County Zoo, just a stone's throw away, promises a day of wild adventure.

Kansas City – BBQ, Barbacoa, and Beyond

Kansas City, not to be confused with its namesake over in Missouri, is a kaleidoscope of culture, jazz, and of course, barbecue.

Savor authentic Mexican cuisine at GG’s Birria Barbacoa Cafe, where the Breakfast Quezabirria Beef Barbacoa is a stuff of legends. Indulge in a marine feast at Jarocho with their chili butter oysters and seared scallops. Hop over to Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio for a torta-tastic adventure. And no visit to Kansas City is complete without a pit stop at Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que. Their beef brisket sandwich and smoked chicken dinner will have you tapping your feet to the rhythm of this Jazz City.

Kansas City's local attractions echo its eclectic gastronomy. Feel the adrenaline rush at the Kansas Speedway or take a leisurely stroll at Kaw Point Park. Bookworms can delve into medical history at the Clendening Medical Library & Museum.

Topeka - Brewing Traditions and Tasty Innovations

Say hello to Topeka, Kansas' capital city, where Midwestern charm blends seamlessly with a progressive culinary scene.

Iron Rail Brewing is a toast to Topeka's rich history and love for craft beers. Try their Top City Cheese Steak paired with a side of fried pickles for a culinary ride as thrilling as a steam engine. Blue Moose, another Topeka institution, is known for its Spinach & Artichoke Dip and Monterey Chicken Salad - all about classic comfort with a creative twist. For an Oriental experience, visit Yuki Restaurant of Japan. Their Teriyaki Steak & Crabmeat blend, JoJo Roll, and Sweet & Sour Roll are local favorites.

Wandering through Topeka, you'll find landmarks standing tall in Kansas history. The awe-inspiring Kansas State Capitol is a testament to the state's political history. Learn about the landmark civil rights case at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, or travel back in time at Ward-Meade Park.

Lawrence - A Love Letter to Global Gastronomy

Lawrence, an eclectic college town, is a melting pot of world cuisine. At the Mad Greek, you'll feel teleported to Athens with their Falafel Salad and Mousaka. Limestone Pizza•Kitchen•Bar will woo you with their artisanal pizzas, the Bianco e Nocci being a crowd favorite. On the other hand, Bigg's BBQ's slow-smoked pulled pork and Burnt End Mac 'n' Cheese offer a taste of Southern hospitality. For an Asian fusion fix, Zen Zero's Thukpa and Kha Pao will transport you to the bustling streets of Bangkok.

Don't forget to soak in some culture at the Lawrence Arts Center or take a leisurely stroll at South Park.

Manhattan - Culinary Elegance Meets Midwestern Charm

Manhattan, also known as 'The Little Apple,' packs a mighty culinary punch. At the top of the list is Nico's Little Italy. The ambiance here whispers of Italy, the flavors shout. Their Creamy Shrimp Pesto pasta is comfort redefined and the Shrimp Fra Diavolo, a spicy Italian classic, will have you humming 'That's Amore.'

For a spicy, tangy twist, head over to Taco Lucha. Their Portobello Quesadilla will make your taste buds dance, and the Chipotle Raspberry & Black Bean Dip is a stellar opener. Guilty Biscuit, with their Biscuit & Gravy and Yogurt & Granola Parfait, offers a breakfast experience that's downright sinful yet heavenly. It's an intimate place to start your day, reminiscent of old Manhattan’s coziness.

After you've feasted, you'll need to walk it off, and Manhattan offers the beautiful Kansas State University Gardens for just that. For the more adventurous, the Flint Hills Discovery Center and the Konza Prairie Biological Station offer rich, interactive experiences of the area's natural history and beauty.

Salina - Savoring History and High-End Eats

The quaint town of Salina, steeped in history, rounds off our food tour. YaYa's Euro Bistro invites you on a European culinary journey. The Gnocchi is light and flavorful, while the Shrimp a la Plancha and Beef Carpaccio hint at seaside indulgences.

Hickory Hut BBQ offers a taste of Kansas's rich barbecue tradition. Their Slammer, loaded with Polish sausage topped with beef, pork and secret sauce, is a testament to their mastery of meat. The Texas Stacker is another testament, where brisket, provolone cheese, and onion rings come together on a toasted Kaiser bun, creating a meat lover’s paradise.

830 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, KS 66105

First time here after hearing all about it and I was amazed..I haven't gone to the larger store across the street from it but the smaller market sti...

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Good171 Reviews4.2

Iron Rail Brewing

705 S Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66603

Good food and service. Haven't had a chance to try their beer but it is on the list. I have heard they have some flavors that don't sound appea...

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Superb174 Reviews4.6

Jarocho

719 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, KS 66105

Went for our anniversary, it happened to be a Tuesday so we had a dozen $1.50 oysters (available on Tuesdays only!). They also had a red snapper special ...

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Superb88 Reviews4.4

Yukis Restaurant of Japan

5632 SW 29th St, Topeka, KS 66614

Best hibachi/sushi restaurant in town. 10/10 way better than the other location. Would definitely recommend trying it out. Great portions that will fill ...

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Superb87 Reviews4.3

Blue Moose

3030 SW Wanamaker Rd, Topeka, KS 66614

The Blue Moose USED to be a fancy place to go get a great meal in Topeka... Those days are sadly gone. I had a friend in from out of town and tried to ta...

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Good114 Reviews4.1

Taco Lucha

1130 Moro St, Manhattan, KS 66502

This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Manhattan, no questions asked!! I love coming here for all occasions. Their sangria and summer beer is incre...

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Superb80 Reviews4.3

Hickory Hut BBQ

1617 W Crawford St, Salina, KS 67401

Passing through on travel. Stayed in Salina overnight. The young lady at the hotel front desk highly recommended this place. She provided her life stor...

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Superb172 Reviews4.5

Tucson's Steakhouse Saloon & Grill

2750 S 9th St, Salina, KS 67401

Great food! My daughter was excited to get a kids sized steak! Stephanie was an awesome server. We’ll be back again

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Good157 Reviews4.2

Zen Zero

811 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044

We've enjoyed everything we've ordered, including different curry, kha pow, and gluten-free sweet and sour. Great service and the staff is very...

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Good86 Reviews3.8

Bigg's BBQ

2429 Iowa St, Lawrence, KS 66046

Best barbecue from Lawrence to Lenexa. Brisket is great. Very thinly sliced. Tender and juicy. All the sides we have tried are fantastic. Highly recommen...

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Superb170 Reviews4.6

The Mad Greek

907 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044

The flaming cheese was a great show and even more delicious appetizer. I thought it would be more melted but it was firm with a flavorful crispy breadin...

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Good210 Reviews4.1

Limestone Pizza•Kitchen•Bar

814 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044

Lovely place on mass, with some great happy hour specials. Gf crust is not on happy hour, it's for full pizzas only. We got the full size fries and ...

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Good83 Reviews4.2

The Kitchen

725 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67202

Wonderful, fresh, made from scratch meals. Excellent, accommodating servers. They are passionate and care about the quality of their food.

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Good150 Reviews4.2

Doo-Dah Diner

206 E Kellogg St, Wichita, KS 67202

Sooooo good, my parents always ask to go there when they're in town. They have call ahead seating and you should absolutely do that because they are...

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Superb301 Reviews4.6

Bella Luna Cafe

2132 N Rock Rd #107, Wichita, KS 67206

Really tasty Greek salad and added Chicken for protein. Dressing was a tasty vinaigrette. For size of salad thought there should be more protein included.

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Good114 Reviews4.2

Joe's KC BBQ

3002 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103

Walk up service, decent sized meals at good prices. Excellent BBQ and friendly staff! The ribs and brisket are tender and delicious. One of my top 3 BBQ,...

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Superb1090 Reviews4.7

Recently Opened Restaurants

Sierra BBQ

11099 Lackman Rd, Lenexa, KS 66215

I like the BBQ @ Sierra. It is different I compare it to Carolina BBQ. The yellow sauce has a bit too much mustard ,for my taste, but everything else is ...

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Good10 Reviews4.1

Spice of Bombay

9940 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210

Came here in a Saturday night at 530, plenty of parking and plenty of tables even for a party of 8. There was some lost in translation when it came to or...

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Superb11 Reviews4.6

Cortadito Cuban Cafe

400 N 18 St, Kansas City, KS 66102

A nice little cafe/sandwich shop. The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. The cubano sandwich I had was great. My wife enjoyed her bisteck sandwi...

Superb25 Reviews5

Com Ga Houston - KANSAS

15204 W 119th St, Olathe, KS 66062

I really wanted to like this place. Service was great but the food options are limited, if you're used to having Vietnamese food in Houston where th...

Good17 Reviews3.7

Snack Bar

7789 Quivira Rd, Lenexa, KS 66216

The Elote, Agua Fresca and ice cream were amazing. Awesome place to stop in and get a quick bite!

Superb2 Reviews5

Tacos Borrachos

10049 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212

First time here and loved it! Got the 4-pack of Birria tacos for $11! Came today and was super nice and chill. Love the interior design/unique layout of ...

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Good55 Reviews4.2

Viva Tacos & Tequila - Olathe

11935 S Black Bob Rd, Olathe, KS 66062

The food is always great! Service if iffy it depends on when you go and if they're busy or not.

Good82 Reviews3.5

Chettinad's

8018 W 151st St, Overland Park, KS 66223

Food was very try good. Chettinad mushroom pepper fry and their vegetarian meals during the weekends are a must try. Good service and food quality. Filte...

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Superb46 Reviews4.3

Holy Moly Doughnuts

3072 SW 29th St, Topeka, KS 66614

Amazing. I haven’t had donuts this good in a loooonnng time. Friendly employees too! No wait for service.

Good21 Reviews4.2

Layali

236 W Greenway St, Derby, KS 67037

Service was great, cocktails outstanding, and service was wonderful !! I would definitely suggest trying them!

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Superb56 Reviews4.8

Corporate Caterers of Wichita

135 N Waco Ave, Wichita, KS 67202

Recently used Corporate Caterers for our wedding and could not recommend more! They were so flexible in everything we wanted in our meal, not to mention ...

Superb6 Reviews4.3

TenderFix by Noah Schnapp

15410 W 119th St, Olathe, KS 66062

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The Flingin Penguin Shaved Ice

703 E 30th Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67502

Poor0 Reviews0

Uncle Scottie BBQ LLC

3851 S Seneca St, Wichita, KS 67217

Went by on 11/22/24 for lunch and it was closed. Called the number on the sign and they confirmed they were out of business.

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Superb25 Reviews4.5

The Envision Bistro at NICHE

124 S Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202

Bacon smash burger with fries! Great burger, and they have found a way to make the fries interesting with the way they're cut. Good seasoning and gr...

Superb29 Reviews4.8

Recent Reviews

La Curva

550 S Ohio St, Salina, KS 67401

Great food, good service and atmosphere. Warm yummy chips! We’re so glad we decided to try here instead of Subway! Will definitely come again

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Superb84 Reviews4.5

Cattleman's II Cafe

744 E Pancake Blvd #4327, Liberal, KS 67901

Stopped for lunch on Jan 24th. Everything was great including the Wizard of Oz theme.

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Good110 Reviews4.1

Holy Moly Doughnuts

3072 SW 29th St, Topeka, KS 66614

Amazing. I haven’t had donuts this good in a loooonnng time. Friendly employees too! No wait for service.

Superb22 Reviews4.3

Grammies Sandwiches

1103 Main St, Winfield, KS 67156

This is a great place to go for a quick lunch or a leisurely meal with friends. The food is fresh and delicious and the service is fast and friendly.

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Superb31 Reviews4.9

Ballers sports bar and grill

2007 Belmont Ave, Parsons, KS 67357

Gem of place, good food with friendly speedy service. We are from out of town and were warmly welcomed and had a great time. They have the best big old f...

Superb60 Reviews4.7

Dialogue Coffee House

4009 SW 29th St, Topeka, KS 66614

I tried the shop for the first time today. I had forgotten my hearing aides & had to read lips. Their card was down & because I was out of town, ...

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Superb38 Reviews4.8

Boones Pickins

213 W Central Ave, Andover, KS 67002

First time there and was impressed with the lay out as well as the friendly staff! The food was really good and the overall quality was excellent!

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Superb40 Reviews4.6

Tequilas North Mexican Restaurant & Bar

520 NW Elm Row Ave, Topeka, KS 66608

Server had to be new. Terrible service. Had to ask 3 times for plates, silverware. Waiter asked what sides I wanted.. Menu says, rice, quac, lettuce,...

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Good44 Reviews3.9

Sarpino's Pizzeria Shawnee

6232 Nieman Rd, Shawnee, KS 66203

I called on the telephone to place an order. I confirmed the address.of.my hotel to Sarpinos employee on the phone. Almost two hours later my order sho...

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Good66 Reviews4

Donut palace

123 S Washington St, Junction City, KS 66441

The last two times I have gone there the guy with the puffy hair has not said a word to me. The first time I thought maybe he had laryngitis. But it i...

Good31 Reviews3.3

Riverside Cafe

824 N Baltimore Ave, Derby, KS 67037

A+ rating from their atmosphere which is welcoming hometown diner with friendly service to their heaping helpings of good food. Their old fashion hamburg...

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Superb101 Reviews4.4

Culver’s

529 McCall Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502

The employees I would like to recognize is the one with the blueish green in her hair and a younger taller kid w glasses on night crew, She has been ther...

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Good149 Reviews3.7

Firehouse Subs Derby Rock

2901 N Rock Rd Suite 100, Derby, KS 67037

ordered the turkey bacon ranch and 2 bags of lays potato chips. sandwich was skimpy and they only put 1 bag of chips in the sack.

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Good67 Reviews3.5

Carnitas San Juan

2247 N Broadway St, Wichita, KS 67219

The best food I have tried and the service for my grandparents and excellent daughters. [Original] Lo mejor comida que he probado y el servicio para mis ...