Kansas City Barbeque

A must do if you’re in downtown/ Gaslamp area. Food is simple, and tasty. But the main attraction is the memorabilia all around the place, and the atmosphere of being in iconic location for fans of the original Top Gun. Well worth a visit.

If you love the first (the original 1985) Top Gun film, you’ll love this bar. It is full of memorabilia from the film, and some of the bar scenes were filmed here (Great Balls of Fire...). There is also lots of KC Chiefs memorabilia in the back if that kind of thing is for you. My wife played Goose’s piano, and we met two US fighter pilots at the bar; they chatted, told stories, and posed for our photos. Very average food, but a GREAT experience!

While in San Diego, I absolutely had to visit Top Gun’s filming locations. KC BBQ was a MUST do! So I had to go for a beer. Loved the ambiance and nothing has changed since they filmed here.

Perfectly situated on Harbor Drive, where everything is walking distance from this awesome restaurant location! Known as the Top Gun Bar, it is definitely worth the visit! Food was excellent, especially the warm brownie dessert! Staff was friendly and provided amazing customer service! Loved all the memorabilias and decor from Top Gun era! A must visit!

Such a cool spot! Cindy was so kind and showed us around as a fellow KU graduate and KC native. The history of the building just adds to the fantastic food and drinks. Must stop and hang out at the bar where Maverick sat.

Loved the service, food and environment here. They have a lot of Top Gun memorabilia and a hole in face cutout. I ordered the brisket and the brisket and rib combo that came with 2 sides each (fries, onion rings, coleslaw, and cheese corn) and bread. They were all so good. I wouldn't get the rib again since they only give you 2 pieces. Dress code is casual. I parked on the street. Paid parking unless you park after the posted times (8am-6pm except Sundays and holidays). Just read the posted signs.

As a native Kansas Citian, I always go into new barbecue places outside of my hometown expecting to be disappointed. However, this place lives up to the name of being authentic Kansas City BBQ. You could definitely find this quality of barbecue in Kansas City itself. As far as the individual dishes go, I give the ribs an 8/10, meat was moist and soft but not quite fall off bone. The flavor was smokey and good. I give the burnt ends a 9.5/10. They were fatty and juicy with a lot of good deep flavor. Honestly, some of the best I remember having inside of Kansas City or out. The fact that this place even has burn ends makes it legit Kansas City BBQ. The brisket was somewhat disappointing. It had good flavor, however the connective tissue wasn't super stretchy leading to a slightly dry and stiff texture, but flavor was still good. I give the brisket a 6/10. I've definitely had much worse. The only thing I was really disappointed with was the selection and quality of sauce. The singular sauce that they have on offer was pretty sweet. It had an overwhelming, what I thought to be, molasses content that I would compare it to something like KC Masterpiece which you can find at the supermarket but with slightly more depth. Overall very sweet, no heat, no real acid content. Sauce 4.5/10 . As for the sides, I give the beans an 8/10. If they were to add some meat into them, these could be very high quality. Mac and cheese was disappointingly dry in with not much cheese 3/10. Something I was really impressed by was the decor. Everything inside was legit Kansas City memorabilia. They had authentic license plates from the Kansas City area and tons of Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawks memorabilia. Service was just okay. We never got our waters refilled but it was nice that the check came to us without having to ask. Obviously if you love top Gun you should come visit this place just for the iconic atmosphere. All in all, if you're a native Kansas Citian and looking for a taste of home, this place more than likely will not disappoint you.

Kansas City Barbeque is a must-visit for Top Gun fans and BBQ lovers alike! This iconic spot in San Diego is where the unforgettable "Great Balls of Fire" scene was filmed, and it’s packed with memorabilia from the movie, making it a fun experience for any fan. I ordered the Burnt Ends platter, which was perfectly smoky and tender, paired with creamy coleslaw and crispy onion rings—a winning combo! The highlight, though, was their Great Balls of Fire fried macaroni and cheese balls—absolutely indulgent and delicious. Whether you're here for the food, the history, or both, Kansas City Barbeque delivers an unforgettable experience.