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The Kansas City Star

partner publisher · 145.9K followers
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Johnson County café closes ‘with a heavy heart' after a year in business

After a year and a few months in business, a Johnson County international café has closed. Taiwanese-based chain 85°C Bakery Cafe , which has locations across the world, closed its Overland Park location on Halloween. The former bakery and coffee shop had signs on its door Monday morning that alerted fans to its exit. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our bakery …” the notice read in part. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our customers for your loyalty, trust, and support over the years.” The lights were off and product had been moved out of the store. In June 2025, the location opened at 12061 Metcalf Ave., serving individually packaged pastries: jumbo guava cheese strudels, milk butter puff pastries, cocoa-dipped Danishes, pineapple cake and more. The opening day was received with long lines and excitement from fans who had been to 85°C’s locations in Hawaii, Texas and beyond. Around that same time, international chain Paris Baguette opened its first area location at 11137 W. 95th St. near Oak Park Mall. That chain, based in South Korea, now also has locations at 15895 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park and 1360

Johnson County, KS · 7d

travelmag.com

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The Kansas Mexican Restaurant That Rolls Its Tortillas By Hand Every Morning

Your meal here starts with a warm flour tortilla, a blue bottle of squeeze margarine, and fresh salsa. No chips. No basket. Just a tortilla made that same day. I love how simple that sounds. This family brought its tortilla recipe from central Texas and has been rolling dough in Kansas since 1988.

Kansas City, KS · 7d
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The Kansas City Beacon

partner publisher · 3.0K followers
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Contrasting recent closures, a new KC neighborhood grocery store is finding ways to thrive

Deborah Phillips walked up to the automatic sliding glass doors of the Sun Fresh in the Blue Parkway Shops on Oct. 26, only to be disappointed. The grocery store had closed for good the night before, citing “declining sales and rising operating costs.” Phillips works down the street and would often come by the store […] The post Contrasting recent closures, a new KC neighborhood grocery store is finding ways to thrive appeared first on The Beacon .

Kansas City, KS · 4d

hoodline.com

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Meddys Locks In Olathe Spot Near 119th and Ridgeview, Eyes Bluhawk Next

Meddys, the Mediterranean chain that got its start in Wichita, has finalized a new restaurant in Olathe and is working to land a second Johnson County spot in south Overland Park. The Olathe location is set for 17943 W. 119th St., with an opening targeted for February or March 2027.

Olathe, KS · 6d
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Only In Your State

partner publisher · 18.1K followers

Why Kansas's Best Wings Spend 24 Hours in a Salt Bath Before Touching the Grill

Brined overnight, baked, fried, sauced, then seared over live oak. That is what happens to a single jumbo chicken wing at Q39 in Overland Park before it lands in front of you, and it explains why the restaurant felt comfortable printing the words “Best Wings on the Planet” directly on its appetizer menu. Most barbecue […]

Overland Park, KS · 17d

University Daily Kansan

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Mass Street Morsels: The Roost is Lawrence's brunch destination

With warm cozy lighting, smiling employees and regular customers of all ages, the positive energy inside the Roost is almost contagious. Located at 920 Massachusetts St., the brunch restaurant opened in July of 2013 with a focus on creating an inviting atmosphere, providing great service and serving quality food. “The...

Lawrence, KS · 7d

kcparent.com

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Best Hot Chocolate and Coffee Shops in Kansas City for Families

SWEATER WEATHER IS HERE, AND WARM DRINKS ARE NEAR. Well, folks, it’s officially hot chocolate and coffee season! You might think I’m talking about Thanksgiving or Christmas, but you’re wrong. That’s right, it’s the time of year when you and your loved ones brave the cold weather to warm up with delicious, warm drinks. Kansas City has some of the best coffee and hot chocolate spots, and if you ask me, that is something to be thankful for.

Kansas City, MO · 6d

The Kansas City Star

partner publisher · 145.9K followers

The ‘barbecue guru' is coming to Kansas City. Here's his food itinerary

When you’re a barbecue expert, Kansas City would indisputably become a repeated stop for research and dining. Steven Raichlen has spent decades teaching people how to better grill their meats, through cookbooks and food writing (most famously “The Barbecue Bible”), and he’s also studied barbecue through reading and traveling. He’s been called the “barbecue guru” and his personal favorite, the “Shakespeare of barbecue.” Raichlen is also a Barbecue Hall of Fame inductee, which took place right here in Kansas City and where he was honored the same year as KC BBQ legend Paul Kirk. His barbecue work — a dream job for any Kansas Citian — has taken this Martha’s Vineyard resident to Japan’s yakitori parlors and even France, where they cook mussels using dry pine needles and live fire. The job has also taken him back and again to the “Big Four” of barbecue in the U.S., also part of the “barbecue belt”: Texas, the Carolinas, Memphis and Kansas City. “(Kansas City) is the most ecumenical of all the great barbecue cities,” Raichlen said. “Brisket is a big deal in Kansas City. Ribs are a big deal in Kansas City. Barbecued chicken is a big deal in Kansas City.”

Kansas City, MO · 18d

The Kansas City Star

partner publisher · 145.9K followers

Popular Mediterranean restaurant looks to open two more Johnson County spots

A favorite Mediterranean chain is officially adding another location in Johnson County — and is working through details on yet another. Meddys , a chain born in Wichita, is looking to open a location in Olathe at 17943 W. 119th St. Additionally, owner Alex Harb told The Star he’s in the process of landing a spot in south Overland Park development Bluhawk, which is off 159th Street and Highway 69. The specifics on that location are less concrete. The ink is dry on the Olathe location, however, and it aims to open in February or March. Harb said it’ll be comparable to the Prairie Village location (4105 W. 83rd St.) in size. All Meddys restaurants follow the same general aesthetic and offer typical menu favorites, like falafel, shawarma, succulent chicken and a hummus plate. “We’re very grateful for all the love we’ve had from the Kansas City market,” Harb said. “We like neighborhood-y locations.” His newest spot will overtake an undeveloped plot of land and neighbor The Bar Ridgeview : the newest installment for The Bar that will feature a mini golf course. Meddys has six other locations across the metro and is expanding in other states. It has two

Johnson County, KS · 7d

hoodline.com

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Overland Park's 85°C Bakery Cafe Shuts Down After Just 16 Months

85°C Bakery Cafe has closed its Overland Park location at 12061 Metcalf Ave., shutting its doors on Halloween after operating for just a year and a few months. The Taiwanese bakery chain, which opened in June 2025 to long lines and excited fans, gave no reason for the closure in the notice it posted announcing the news.

Overland Park, KS · 7d

The Kansas City Star

partner publisher · 145.9K followers

Johnson County's newest Yemeni café opens, with a vibe ‘like no other'

It was a quiet, dreary afternoon in Mission, where rustling leaves were the most prominent noise. Inside Moka & Co. , however, just a few open tables remain. The chorus of a few dozen voices filled the café. Ahmad Aly, owner of the franchise location, stood at the register Monday afternoon and battled the crowd by taking orders. “It’s been good. It’s been really busy, honestly,” he said of the first few days. “But can’t complain.” His Yemeni coffee shop opened over the weekend at 5922 Barkley St. in the heart of Mission, marking the first KC-area location for the franchise. It bears some similarities to the other Yemeni coffee shops — primarily in its flavors and drinks — but like each of the other shops, it has its own style. One notable difference is its drive-thru. All the other Yemeni and Arabic cafés in the metro require someone to walk in to grab their drink. It has some traditional decor, but the space feels intentionally modern, with white granite and light-wood accents. At Moka & Co., a New York-based coffee chain, both traditional Yemeni drinks and Americanized versions are available. For example, customers can order mufawar ($5 for a

Mission, KS · 5d

johnsoncountypost.com

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Yemeni coffee shop Moka & Co now open in Mission

At the beginning of 2026, you couldn’t find Yemeni coffee in Johnson County. Known for flavors like cinnamon, cardamom and clove, Yemeni coffee has now landed with a splash, with multiple coffee shops now serving it in the Kansas City metro area. Last weekend, one northeastern Johnson County city...

Mission, KS · 6d

The Kansas City Star

partner publisher · 145.9K followers

Fruit flies, mold on surfaces: Latest Kansas City-area restaurant inspections

From items being stored in handwashing sinks to employees not knowing how to prevent foodborne diseases, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City-area restaurants last week. Dining establishments such as sit-down restaurants, drive-thrus, gas stations and grocery stores are required to get food inspections, and governments have to release those inspections to the public. In Kansas City and Independence, each city’s health department enforces the food code while in Kansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture handles inspections. The lower the number of violations, the better. Most restaurants correct violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly after. The full inspections show how each establishment has corrected or is working to correct any remaining violations. They are available for Kansas City at inspectionsonline.us/foodsafety/mousakansascity/search.htm and Johnson and Wyandotte counties at portal.kda.ks.gov/Food/FoodInspectionSearch . Here are the restaurants in Kansas City and Johnson County that received seven or more critical or priority and priority foundation ​violations from Oct. 12-18. No restaurants in Wyandotte County met the criteria during this timeframe. Jose Pepper’s 13770 S. Black Bob Road, Olathe 13 priority and priority foundation violations found during a joint inspection on Oct. 13 The regional Mexican chain restaurant

Kansas City, MO · 18d

travelmag.com

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These 13 Kansas Restaurants Are Serving Freshwater Fish Worth Trying In 2026

Freshwater fish is one of those meals that exposes a kitchen fast. Too heavy and the fish disappears. Too bland and the plate never recovers. When it is cooked right, though, the whole table notices. That is why the best versions around Kansas deserve more attention. Good catfish, trout, walleye,...

Kansas · 10d

johnsoncountypost.com

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Taco Republic closes its last Kansas City area location in Prairie Village

A Prairie Village taco eatery has officially closed its doors and exited the Kansas City area. On Thursday, Taco Republic closed at the Corinth Square shopping center, after roughly five years there. Taco Republic was at 4100 W. 83rd St. The restaurant occupied a space on the west side of...

Prairie Village, KS · 8d

gotodestinations.com

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Why This HICKORY-SMOKED Barbecue Destination Deserves a Spot on Your Food List in Overland Park, KS

Open Mon–Thu, 11 AM–9 PM | Fri–Sat, 11 AM–10 PM | Sun, 11 AM–8:30 PM. Some restaurants win you over with one plate; Jack Stack Barbecue in Overland Park makes its case with hickory smoke, burnt ends, and sides that demand attention. Since 1997, this...

Overland Park, KS · 8d

travelmag.com

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This Kansas Donut Shop Serves Giant Fritters In Both Apple And Peach Flavors

The donut dough here takes three full days to make. It starts with a sourdough starter, which is not how most donut shops do things. That slow process leads to a hefty apple fritter packed with real fruit pieces. The glaze has a light crackle on top. Other fruit fritters...

Lawrence, KS · 9d

fastfoodclub.com

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Kansas City’s Corner Restaurant In Westport Is Where Locals Go For Huge Pancakes After A Long Night

Some nights run long, and some mornings need a plate big enough to fix them. In the Kansas City area, one corner restaurant has spent years earning a loyal crowd that shows up at 6 AM for pancakes, hearty country breakfasts, and baked goods that often leave the building in a to-go box.

Kansas City, MO · 9d

The Topeka Capital-Journal

partner publisher · 16.7K followers

Topeka 'dirty soda' trailer brings a new drink to Topeka

High Noon Soda Co. opened as a mobile pop-up in August, bringing the dirty soda trend sweeping the nation to the streets of Topeka. Now, Owner Amanda Rice is rebranding under the name Dirty Voltage Beverage Co. and business is booming. Dirty soda recipes typically begin with a soda base mixed with flavored syrup and cream and served over ice. The concept, which started in Utah in the 2010s, has been making its way toward the center of the country over the past decade. “We have seven types of soda and different combos of dirty soda,” said Rice. “We make our own cream, cold foam and soft tops.” A soft top is a thick, fluffy sweet cream foam cap that sits atop a drink. Rice serves drinks in 24 and 32-ounce sizes using bases like Sprite, Fanta and Dr. Pepper. Dirty sodas are priced around $8 each. She also offers Energy Sips, which range between $8-$10. These are made with an energy drink base of Alani or Red Bull. Customers can choose from a variety of flavored cold foam options. According to Rice, Dirty Voltage’s most popular soda creation is the Cowboy Campfire, marketed as “what you would get if

Topeka, KS · 9d

The Kansas City Star

partner publisher · 145.9K followers

Johnson County Mexican restaurant closes last location after 13 years

After serving the Kansas City area for 13 years, a Mexican-style taco concept has closed its second and last location. Taco Republic closed its Prairie Village location Wednesday at 4100 W. 83rd St., marking the end of its brick-and-mortar era. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making Taco Republic so special. We hope to see you before we say goodbye to our Prairie Village location,” the restaurant announced Thursday. It promised to continue catering, so its taco truck will still pop up around the metro. The “not-your-standard Mexican restaurant,” its website calls itself, started in 2013 at Mission and County Line Roads in Kansas City, Kansas, where Joe’s Next Door now lives. In 2019, restaurateur Whitney VinZant took over Taco Republic and added it to his growing portfolio of concepts in the metro, which now includes Louie’s Wine Dive, Gram & Dun, Louie’s Reserve (formerly Cafe Trio) and BrewTop. Taco Republic opened a second location in 2021 in Prairie Village’s Corinth Square. It neighbored Johnny’s Tavern, Modern Market Eatery and BRGR (also a VinZant concept). Just a couple months ago, health concept Flower Child opened nearby at 3915 W. 83rd St. — and it’s already gearing up

Johnson County, KS · 10d