EatKC
A guide to Kansas City
EatKC
The Westside district has come alive in the last several years. This small group of city blocks sits on a hilltop just west of I-35. The neighborhood overlooks downtown, with easy access to the Crossroads, Power & Light and the West Bottoms.
The small group of Westside Kansas City restaurants is among the most charming and delicious in the city. You can tell that this was not originally intended to be an entertainment district. Most of the buildings along the streets are houses, and even some of the Westside Kansas City restaurants are in old homes. There’s a community garden and a park. On a nice Saturday, it’s worth arriving early to walk around and look at the historic homes.
If you’re not sure where to go or what this community has to offer, our guide to Westside Kansas City restaurants will help you out. Here’s what you need to know in order to get the most out of this quaint and creative neighborhood.
You can find a variety of cuisine in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood. There are breakfast cafes and coffee shops, upscale American dining and authentic Mexican food. For those who work near downtown, it’s a good getaway for a nice lunch. For others, it is a perfect date-night destination or place to relax on the weekend.
These are several of the Westside Kansas City restaurants to try:
The Westside Local restaurant in Kansas City is consistently rated among the best restaurants in the whole city. Recipient of a 4.6 star Zagat rating, The Westside Local strives to bring its restaurant-goers the freshest ingredients and dining experience possible, farm-to-table, by supporting local farms and businesses
Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday and for Sunday “blunch,” this place has a wide array of food and drink options for anyone. A reservation is recommended for most dinner outings, just to be safe.
The menu has a focus on freshness and quality. Even when you are ordering something as straightforward as a burger, there’s a good chance it will be one of the best burgers you’ve had.
Right next door to The Westside Local you can find Los Alamos, a hidden gem amongst Westside Kansas City restaurants. This Hispanic grocery store is one of the best places to grab lunch near the downtown area. Aside from lunch hours, you can shop for authentic ingredients and other Mexican products. On a hot day, stop in and pick up an ice-cold Mexican soda before taking a stroll around the neighborhood.
Organic, all-natural, sustainable, local. Blue Bird Bistro is a foodie’s dream. This small café is a favorite of the Westside Kansas City restaurants. With a mood set by historic hardwood floors, exposed brick walls and natural light, Blue Bird Bistro serves MidAmerican artisan cuisine. Diners can find breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner alongside a hefty wine list.
A coffee boom is taking over cities across the country, but there’s an unfortunate similarity in many shops. An Instagram aesthetic makes cafes in New York look like cafes in Kansas City look like cafes in Los Angeles. Step in Chez Elle for a change of pace. Located in the converted historic Summit Theater Building, Chez Elle serves French cuisine and bold coffee.
This Midwestern Bistro is a newcomer to the Westside Kansas City restaurants’ scene, and its culinary offerings combined with its bar program have quickly made it one of Kansas City’s hottest restaurants. Owned by a husband and wife, the goal of Fox & Pearl is to be a local institution, not a “two-year place” that so frequently pops up amidst rapid development.
Located on the first few floors of a beautiful brick building that resembles the historic brownstones of Brooklyn, Goat Hill Coffee & Soda serves exactly what you think it does. For the coffee, Goat Hill partners with Lee’s-Summit-based Post Coffee Company, an excellent local roaster and café. The sodas are handmade in-house, including house-made syrups for flavoring, which rotate seasonally. You can bring a book or laptop and sit at the window bar in the small café, or take a drink to-go and explore the Westside.
There you have it — your guide to Westside Kansas City restaurants. The Westside still isn’t as popular as the neighboring Crossroads or River Market, so head over before things get to busy. No matter the occasion, we’re sure you’ll have a good time and tasty meal.