American Way Smokehouse - Kansas City BBQ

Reviews

• TP

  Terry Pumphrey

  Nov 15, 2025
  4.0
  We came in because of the great reviews and were excited to try the barbecue. Ordering was smooth, the food came out fast, and when we mentioned a missing item, our server corrected it right away. The confusion started when I asked the counter staff about another item I thought might be missing. The girl behind the counter couldn’t explain clearly, and I walked away not knowing whether we were supposed to have it or not. Later, when we went up to buy cookies, there was no line, but the two employees at the counter ignored us completely while they talked. We waited a few minutes just to see if anyone would acknowledge us. They didn’t, so we finally asked for help. The girl left, and a different worker—who wasn’t even on counter duty—ended up helping us. It felt really awkward. The barbecue itself was excellent, but the counter service was confusing and disappointing. The cookies were okay, but not worth $17 for four.
• MG

  Michelle Gennings

  Nov 15, 2025
  3.0
  You go to the counter to order your food. The staff was very friendly. I order a two meat platter. The two meats I had were the burnt ends and sausage, my two sides were mac and cheese and fries. They have a station set up for drinks and another for all the sauces, along with silverware. The burnt ends were ok. They didnt really didn't have any smoke flavor and was a little dry. The sausage on the other hand was amazing. Very flavorful and juicy. The Mac and cheese was really good. The fries were good. I tried the original BBQ sauce and it is a sweet sauce, but they had several sauces there that I didn't try. The price is pretty much the same as as other BBQ places around Independence. The place itself is good and employees are great. However, the food itself is good but not great. Nothing's spectacular, nothing to write home about.
• CS

  Carey Stambaugh

  Nov 15, 2025
  4.0
  The food was great - generous portions, great little condiment bar. The only reason it isn’t a five is due to really bizarre, substandard service. When questioning why the dip wasn’t included with the sandwich we ordered (that was supposed to come with dip) we were told the dip would be in a side cup. There was no side cup, but it wasn’t worth arguing about. After our meal we decided to get a cookie for dessert. We waited while the young boy and girl had conversations, stood in front of us, turned their backs on us, and the girl looked at us and turned around and walked off, and the boy was intent on the counter. I finally spoke up and asked for help, then he attempted to take our order like he couldn’t understand words. Lots more little things like that service wise that don’t really convey in a review like this. Not enough to keep us from giving it another try, but definitely enough to mention and sully the experience for us. Edited to reply to owner: we ordered two sandwiches. One brisket, and one market dip. Our confusion came in that both sandwiches we received were identical. When questioning the fact that they were identical is when we received the circular and bizarre lack of explanation or service. It wasn’t worth arguing over - but just added to the bizarre and less than stellar customer service. Again, food was great, and we weren’t disgruntled, but it was worth noting.
• DZ

  Daniella Zelaya

  Nov 11, 2025
  3.0
  We went for a quick bite. This was my first time here first experience and it didn’t sit well with me. When we got in the blonde girl behind the counter was talking to the customer in front of us. An employee came to ask a question ( mind you the workers in the back are all of color) this girl gets defensive her whole demeanor changes with this employee talking to him like he’s dumb for asking a question of something that wasn’t discussed with him. The food was decent that girl seems very entitled or this was the unfortunate circumstance of racism.
• ML

  Maria Lopez

  Nov 9, 2025
  3.0
  Food I was given was pretty good. However I ordered my food with a gluten free bun due to an allergy. After ordering and paying. An employee told me that they were out of gluten free buns. So I got my sandwich without any bun at all. Later at home when viewing my receipt I was charged extra for the gluten free bun but was never reimbursed the charge. My companions food came out about 10 minutes before my and the employee told me that the kitchen was still making my sweet potato fries. I am old school and think the meals at a table should come out together with the kitchen holding the all ready prepared food under a warmer until all food is ready. My companion had onion rings that were cold even though they came out first. We sat at one of the few tables that were not dirty the paper towel roll on the table only had 2 towels left. The regular barbeque sauce bottle at their sauce island was empty. The barbeque meat was the tasty but that was about it.

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