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Each place has its strengths and weaknesses.
I tell people Jack Stack is safe for "tourist bbq." It's a sit down restaurant with wait staff, food is good, some items are very good. But it's not really authentic KC BBQ joint food.
Arthur Bryant's is unique. Their signature red sauce is like nothing else in the world. It's so unusual, that some people don't like it because they've never had anything close to it before. For those folks, Bryant's now has a more traditional sweet BBQ sauce that is GREAT on turkey. Their fries are wonderful, so is the cole slaw. 18th and Brooklyn store should be on the list of National Historic Places.
Gates Beef and 1/2 sandwich lean is a great sandwich. It's big, it's expensive. The problem with gates is consistency. They have problems with turnover in their help, and you can get a great meal or a cold, crappy food sometimes. That's their biggest problem. When they're on, its awesome. But too often they're not on, and you pay a lot for disappointing food. Gates sauce is famous for a reason, because it's damn good.
Oklahoma Joe's ribs are good. Z Man is good. Fries are OK, some people LOVE them, you get a LOT of them on an order, but I think they use way too much seasoned salt on them. Their beans are just OK. I used to love their Chicken Gumbo until it gave me a three day case of food poisoning once. Joe's has a regular sauce, and a "Night of the Living Hot Sauce."
Don't discount some of the lesser known places either. You can get a great meal at Rosedale (avoid the ribs-get fries for sure), Danny Edwards (best burnt ends), L.C.'s (big ass sandwich, good fries), Big T's (get the mixed plate, great sausage medallions), Smokin' Guns (everything is good), Woodyard BBQ (best smoked chicken and BBQ chili in town)... All these places are legit, all are wonderful. Don't just limit yourself to easy choices.
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