Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Kansas City area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Kansas City area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Kansas City area using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#23. Ponak's Mexican Kitchen
- Rating: 3.4/5 (451 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2856 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican, Sports Bars, Imported Food
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Em Chamas Brazilian Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (376 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6101 Northwest 63rd Ter Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (618 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 817 Westport Road Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Burgers, American, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Golden Ox
- Rating: 3.6/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1600 Genessee St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Jazz A Louisiana Kitchen
- Rating: 3.6/5 (488 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1823 West 39th St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Corner Cafe - Riverside
- Rating: 3.7/5 (381 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4541 Northwest Gateway Ave. Riverside, Missouri
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Trezo Mare Restaurant & Lounge
- Rating: 3.9/5 (480 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4105 North Mulberry Drive Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Seafood, Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Piropos Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4141 North Mulberry Drive Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Argentine, Empanadas, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Aladdin Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3903 Wyoming St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#14. The Bar West Plaza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1121 West 47th St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Sports Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. JJ's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4810 Roanoke Pkwy Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Voltaire
- Rating: 4.1/5 (219 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1617 Genessee St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Bars, American, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Ship
- Rating: 4.1/5 (196 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1221 Union Ave. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Sandwiches, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Chewology Gyoza Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 900 Westport Road Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Taiwanese
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Charleston's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (258 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8817 State Line Road Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Pressed Penny Tavern
- Rating: 4.2/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1511 Westport Road Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Cupini's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (545 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1809 Westport Road Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Italian, Delis, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Campground
- Rating: 4.2/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1531 Genessee St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Room 39
- Rating: 4.3/5 (489 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1719 West 39th St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Potpie
- Rating: 4.3/5 (534 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 904 Westport Road Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Nick and Jake's
- Rating: 4.4/5 (393 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6325 Lewis St. Ste 110 Parkville, Missouri
- Categories: American, Sports Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Café Des Amis
- Rating: 4.5/5 (279 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 112 Main St. Floor 2 Parkville, Missouri
- Categories: French, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Q39 Midtown
- Rating: 4.6/5 (6611 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1000 West 39th St. Kansas City, Missouri
- Categories: Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
