Bryan Alley’s longtime love of mushrooms is coming to life. Later this summer, Alley will open Mushroom Culture, a vegetarian deli and butcher shop, serving quick and easy grab-and-go style meals featuring all things fungi. The store will open on 39th Street, inside the space that previously housed Blue Koi.
Alley spent years growing mushrooms for local restaurants and farmer’s markets before pivoting to opening his own spot. His network of local foragers and growers will provide ingredients for Mushroom Culture’s menu, including MyCo Planet owned by Robin Moore.
“I’m trying to work with as many other mushroom people as possible in a collaborative way to make this happen,” says Alley. “We’re trying to build this culture up, from the ground up.” Alley remembers always having a fondness for mushrooms and is looking forward to the opportunity to educate and convert others into fellow fungi lovers.
“Everyone is a mushroom person,” he says. “They just haven’t had the right mushroom yet.” Lion’s Mane, a mushroom he was introduced to through foragers and his work as a chef, is one of his favorites and featured heavily in the new menu due to its versatility and ability to mimic the texture and taste of meat. Alley’s favorite is the Fried “Chicken” Sandwich with a recipe inspired by eggplant parmesan. “It was such a good recipe, and I’m sure I changed a few things over the years,” he says. “But when we tried it with Lion’s Mane, my wife and I looked at each other like we knew we had something. It’s so good.”
Mushroom Culture’s menu includes soups, salads, and (surprisingly) sweets—the Candy Cap mushroom ice cream is also found on the “Chicken” + Waffles, a yeasted overnight waffle with brown butter that Alley describes as decadent. “When I became a chef, I remember my favorite people who would come in to drop off local ingredients would be the mushroom people. They were bringing Lobster mushrooms, Chicken of the woods. I thought I knew mushrooms, but I was blown away by it.”
Alley also hopes to educate the public more on mushroom growing, foraging, and cooking. “Mushrooms aren’t super cheap, they can be somewhat of a specialty item and you don’t want to ruin them. People can be intimidated,” he says. “I’d love to invite local chefs to show how they prepare mushrooms. As much as I can manage, I want to make it an educational thing.”
When you check out Mushroom Culture this summer, expect to be converted into a mushroom lover. Alley says he’s undefeated.
Find the Mainvest campaign at or follow the Mushroom Culture Instagram (@KCMushroomCulture) for updates.