Missouri · best-of list
The 12 Best Restaurants in Missouri
All 12 restaurants our route editors picked in Missouri, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. 11 come with an insider tip.
Our curated picks
12 restaurants in Missouri, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Branson 2 picks
Billy Gail's Cafe
Branson · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Log-cabin café famous for plate-sized pancakes.
Tip: Breakfast only; expect a line on weekends.
Photo: Billy Gail's at Branson Mill · Google
Clockers Cafe
Branson · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Downtown diner since 1970 with big breakfasts and homemade pies.
Tip: Breakfast is the move; cash-friendly.
Photo: Tim “the Coffee Guy” Knutson · Google
Downtown Kansas City 2 picks
Jack Stack Barbecue Freight House
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
A Kansas City barbecue institution in a restored freight depot next to Union Station, known for burnt ends and crown prime ribs.
Tip: Reservations help; the bar seats walk-ins.
Lidia's Kansas City
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
Lidia Bastianich's Italian restaurant in the Freight House since 1998, with a multi-course menu on New Year's Eve in past years.
Tip: Book an early seating and walk the few blocks to the Crossroads afterward.
Forest Park & the Central West End 2 picks
Blueberry Hill
Forest Park & the Central West End · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Delmar Loop restaurant and bar from 1972, full of pop memorabilia, where Chuck Berry played for years.
Tip: Check holiday hours and look at the jukebox and memorabilia cases.
Pappy's Smokehouse
Forest Park & the Central West End · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Memphis-style barbecue counter in Midtown, known for dry-rubbed ribs that often sell out.
Tip: Go early; it closes when the meat runs out.
Kansas City 2 picks
Arthur Bryant's Barbeque
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
Barbecue institution with vinegar-forward sauce and piles of burnt ends.
Photo: Arthur Bryant's Barbeque · Google
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
Barbecue served out of a working gas station; the Z-Man sandwich is the order.
Tip: Lines can be long at lunch; go early or order ahead.
Photo: Joe's KC BBQ · Google
Springfield 2 picks
Lambert's Cafe
Springfield · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Ozark outpost of the home of 'throwed rolls,' tossed across the dining room.
Tip: Expect a wait at peak times; portions are huge.
Photo: Lambert's Café · Google
Leong's Asian Diner
Springfield · On our Ozarks Hidden Gems route
Family restaurant from the inventors of Springfield-style cashew chicken.
Tip: Order the original cashew chicken.
Photo: Oliver F · Google
Country Club Plaza 1 pick
Gram & Dun
Country Club Plaza · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
A Plaza brunch favorite on Brush Creek, with a big patio and dishes like banana cream French toast and shrimp and grits.
Tip: Reserve ahead for New Year's Day and confirm holiday hours.
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch 1 pick
Crown Candy Kitchen
Downtown St. Louis & the Arch · On our St. Louis New Year's Eve route
Soda fountain open since 1913 in Old North St. Louis, known for BLTs, malts and house-made chocolates.
Tip: Expect a line at lunch; it moves quickly.
Photo: Marcus Qwertyus · CC BY-SA 3.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Missouri?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 12 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Missouri has the most restaurants on this list?
The picks are spread widely: 7 destinations are represented, and none has more than 2.
More lists for Missouri
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Branson 2 on this list
- Downtown Kansas City 2 on this list
- Forest Park & the Central West End 2 on this list
- Kansas City 2 on this list
- Springfield 2 on this list
- Country Club Plaza 1 on this list
- Downtown St. Louis & the Arch 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.