Monk: Harp Barbecue burst on the Kansas City barbecue scene first as a pop-up in 2019 at Crane Brewing in nearby Raytown before owner Tyler Harp eventually opened up a brick and mortar restaurant in November 2022 (also in Raytown). From the beginning, Harp wasn’t beholden to the Kansas City barbecue tradition (that is, burnt ends and a sweet, sticky sauce) and instead imported barbecue traditions from his travels across the country. Sure, his ribs were Kansas City-inspired but he brought back whole hog from Scott’s-Parker’s in west Tennessee and brisket and inventive sausages from visits to central Texas.
In this well-produced video, a crew from Overland, Kansas-based Trondheim Studios interviews Harp on his origin story and also follows him and his staff prepping for a day of service at the restaurant. For Tyler, those days are 14 hour days that begin with him leaving his house at 5 AM in the morning.
Tyler Harp actually grew up in the competition barbecue scene alongside his dad, his uncle, and their friends, and for him Harp Barbecue is a reconnection to those past experiences. And it has even come full circle as now his dad Bob (who he calls his first mentor), helps him out at the restaurant on an almost daily basis. Bob recently underwent a double lung transplant, and in the most touching parts of the video, both Tyler and his dad both get visibly emotional when speaking about the opportunity they have to work alongside each other.
In some people’s eyes, the barbecue scene in Kansas City can be divided into “Before Tyler” and “After Tyler.” While Harp Barbecue may have dropped a few spots down to #6 in the most recent 2023 Best BBQ list from Kansas City Magazine (mostly due to the competition getting stiffer as well as a somewhat rough transition from a pop-up to a restaurant), Harp has made some adjustments in terms of meat suppliers and cooking at a larger scale now. By all accounts he has his sea legs back underneath him, and there’s little doubt he will be coming for the top spot on the next list.
Description: Located in Raytown, Missouri, Harp Barbecue forever changed the culinary landscape of Kansas City. Tyler Harp’s journey from weekly pop-up to national attention hasn’t changed his primary focus, serving the best barbecue in KC.
Harp Barbecue: 6633 Raytown Rd, Raytown, MO 64133
Trondheim Studios is a photography studio and gallery in Overland Park, Kansas.