Hayward's Pit Bar B Que & Catering

We were in town for a wedding and were blown away by the delicious burnt ends, onion rings, bbq sauce and flavorful rub. The owner was exceptionally hospitable and passionate in sharing his cooking methods. His pride in delivering a high quality product was evident in his words and in the fabulous meal we enjoyed. We wish we lived locally so we could come back again soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Haywards is one of the best BBQ spots around. You can’t go wrong with the burnt ends, ribs, or wings (too many yummy things to list). The burnt end bloody mary is one of my favorite bloodies. Always 5 star service from Sam & Reilly too! Love this place ❤️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Did not like your BBQ sauce .

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best BBQ I’ve ate since living in KC. I got the Totchos. The hash browns were fried perfectly and the meat- to die for. So good. Even the bread on the sandwiches my boyfriend ate was good. Potato salad was delicious as well. Will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The customer service was fantastic. The brand beer was smooth and tasty. I had the bowl with cheesy corn tomatoes and cucumber which added a very fresh taste. The BBQ sauce is sweet but earthy perfection. Overall, will recommend and come back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food was amazing.
Service was horrible. Waitress got my order wrong, then argued me about the order, repeated the piece she said that wasn’t on the menu, and then asked if I meant the piece I ordered int eh first place. Was rude

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 1

Big fan of Haywards! I usually get the brisket sandwich and a side and it is always excellent. Love their famous sauce! There are other excellent BBQ restaurants in KC but I would put Haywards as one of my favorites.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We are Smoke Stack customers from way back. We were happy to find a great place for real pit bbq.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent BBQ!! They have some of the best sauce in Kansas City!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is good, service exceeded my expectations, room for any groups, handicapped is accessible lots of parking ,good prices for the food. Really enjoyed myself and I will be going back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Got food to go.

Food: 5

Service: 5

Honestly is a shame that Haywards is not considered to be one of the better BBQ places in Kansas City.

The vibes are of a good traditional, barbecue spot, nothing is too flashy and it gives you what a barbecue place should be.

I personally love their sauce and is one of my favorite in Kansas City, their meet is above average but all standards too.

Finally, service is really good with a knowledgeable and friendly wait-staff

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: KC's Best Burnt Ends Period, Baked Beans, Sweeney's Southern Pulled Pork Sandwich

The vibes here are spot on. Classic old-school BBQ joint: picnic-style table covers, a big bar right in the middle, sports on a few TVs, beer signs on the walls, and that unmistakable smoked-meat aroma wrapping around you the second you walk in. Comfortable, nostalgic, and hungry-making in the best way.

Andrea was our server, and she nailed it. We weren’t greeted right away, but she made eye contact, let us know she’d be back, and when she returned, she owned the table. Calm, confident, and full of recommendations that ended up being dead-on. There’s an art to that kind of service — not pushy, not rushed, just someone who clearly knows the food and trusts it to speak for itself.

We kicked things off with the dry rub wings and a side of their Helga sauce (Andrea’s call). Perfection. The wings were crispy on the outside, smoky and juicy on the inside. The rub was salty-sweet heaven, and dipping into Helga — a spicy-sweet mustard sauce — made them my new favorite wings from a BBQ joint.

Cocktail highlight: the Peach Please. Balanced, boozy, just sweet enough — exactly what you want while digesting smoky meats.

For mains, we split a platter: beef burnt ends, ribs, cheddar jalapeño sausage, mac n’ cheese, and baked beans, with a side of sweet potato fries. Everything delivered: the sausage was a knockout, the ribs had great bark and juicy bite, the mac was creamy and seasoned with BBQ spice, and the beans? Let’s just say they were good enough to make me question my faith, my family, and my life choices.

But the star? The beef burnt ends. Outstanding. Juicy, tender, hearty yet delicate. The sweet-and-spicy BBQ sauce elevated them into time-machine territory — instantly transporting me back to my first unforgettable burnt ends experience. Their regular BBQ sauce? 🤌🏻🤌🏻 perfection.

Andrea even told us to dip the sweet potato fries in the Helga sauce, and if she ran for mayor, I’d not only vote for her but join her campaign.

We finished with banana cream pie, locally made — KC small business supporting small business, which is the KC way. I wanted more flavor from the crust, but still, a sweet note to end an excellent meal.

Bottom line: Hayward’s is one of the most slept-on BBQ spots in KC. From the nostalgic vibes to Andrea’s top-tier service and food that feels both timeless and surprising, it’s a place that transports you back to a safer, slower, more delicious time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food was delicious

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food. Ribs for $20 on Thursday ❤️❤️