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KC Restaurant Week began as an effort to uplift the restaurant community and has grown into a ten-day culinary event involving over 200 businesses, displaying diverse cuisines and immense talent throughout the metro area. It is set to return from January 12 to 21.
The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and Visit KC work together to include as many restaurants as possible, and this year boasts one of the highest numbers of participating restaurants in the event’s 15-year history. “We’ve grown to be one of the nation’s largest Restaurant Week events,” says Jenny Wilson, vice president of partnerships and events at Visit KC. “It’s an incredible testament to the strength, passion, and creativity of our restaurant community. It also speaks to the enthusiasm surrounding Kansas City’s culinary scene. This event wouldn’t be a success without so many adventurous, inquisitive diners taking advantage of the opportunity to try something new each January.”
The Basics
KC Restaurant Week includes three price tiers: $20, $40, and $55. Each restaurant curates their own menu which can include some of the restaurant’s top items or Restaurant Week exclusives, all at a discounted price. In recent years, Restaurant Week has added the option to dine your way with carryout and delivery options in addition to the traditional dine-in experience.
A full list and map of participating restaurants can be found on the website, but Restaurant Week experts can find extra updates through the app available on the Apple store or through Google Play to make your reservations early and find an unforgettable experience.
What’s New
In addition to expanding into breakfast and brunch menus this year, KC Restaurant Week is on pace to have the highest-ever number of businesses participating. “Each and every year, we have an incredible list of first-time participating restaurants,” says Wilson. “Some are new additions to the scene, and others are long-time area favorites who have signed up to participate in the event for the first time. Either way, it’s a great chance to expand my own culinary horizons. From Café Corazón in the Crossroads and Noka on Martini Corner to Char Bar’s new location in Parkville, there are so many fabulous first-time participants on my radar this year.”
Other Restaurant Week newcomers include Mesob Restaurant in the Northland, Summit Pizza, The Spot, Society KC, Transport Brewery Gardner with Smoke-N-Seoul BBQ, Harry’s Bar and Tables, Pinstripes in Overland Park, Colonial Kitchen, Nine Zero One, District Biskuits, Court House Exchange, Pickleman’s Gourmet Café, Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Atomic Cowboy, VOO Lounge, and the Strang Chef Collective on the Plaza.
Community Impact
Over the last 14 years, ten percent of each meal has been donated to selected nonprofits—totaling over $3.3 million. This year’s community partner is Kanbe’s Markets, who works to address weaknesses in the city’s food systems and already has an impressive list of accomplishments, including 50 Healthy Corner Store locations that bring affordable and reliable fruit and vegetable options to over 120,000 KC residents. “The problem isn’t that we don’t have enough food, the problem is that we don’t have a system that works on redirecting produce to the best end user,” says Max Kaniger, founder and CEO of Kanbe’s Markets. According to Kaniger, there are 400,000 food-insecure residents in Kansas City, and residents wasted over 715 million pounds of food in 2023.
“Our Food Redirection Program has rescued 500,000 pounds of food from the landfill and more than half of that has been redirected to feed people in our community,” says Kaniger. “That’s over 600,000 servings of nourishing fruits and vegetables into our city’s food banks and pantries, for free.” Kaniger has big plans for the next year, including empowering store owners to offer SNAP benefits. “Being the featured beneficiaries of one of the largest and most beloved Restaurant Weeks in the country is a huge platform,” he says. “We are so humbled by the honor and are most excited for the many thousands of diners to learn more about what we do and why.”
Restaurant Week brings people together through a love of food and an appreciation for our unique and thriving culinary community. “We are tremendously fortunate to have a community of food and restaurant leaders who bring an unmatched level of passion to everything they do,” says Wilson. “From the plates they serve to their unrelenting focus on providing warm Midwestern hospitality, the people guiding our local culinary landscape are the reason our reputation as a stellar food city continues to grow.”
“Sharing a meal with people you love and care about is an experience we can all appreciate,” says Kaniger. “Sharing food, sharing meals is an act of love, and it can be more—family recipes are passed down from generations, and it can be part of sharing your history, and your humanity.”
While you’re making your plans for this year’s Restaurant Week, don’t forget to show your appreciation for the hard-working service staff. And enjoy!