Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue   

So how did a Kansas City barbecue place end up with a name like Oklahoma Joe's? Turns out that the owners started in the business by entering meat they'd prepared in their Oklahoma Joe's Smoker in local barbecue competitions. They were so successful in competition that the smoker company agreed to open a company restaurant with the team. Why the success? A trip to the KC restaurant answers that question: flavorful, well-smoked meat paired with a tangy, peppery sauce, great fries and thick, smoky baked beans. And since opening, the restaurant has built its own success, drawing in many barbecue lovers as regulars. First-timers should be ready for a little adventure. Joe's location is unique -- the restaurant is situated inside a gas station and adjacent to a company-owned liquor store. With food as good as Joe's, though, dinner itself is no risk at all. -- Anna Foote