KANSAS CITY BBQ: HOLLYWOOD HISTORY IN SAN DIEGO BUT IS ITS FOOD TOP GUN?
The Cost - $18
The Atmosphere – Definitely a casual dining option, the inside of Kansas City BBQ is more of a bar than a restaurant. It is often frequented by tourists but there are a number of locals that com in during the day and later in the evenings for a drink (or two or three). There is outdoor seating available.
This one is for my fellow Top Gun fans. I decided to head back in time to Tom Cruise’s glory days and had lunch at Kansas City BBQ, the bar where the famous Top Gun bar scene was filmed more than 25 years ago!
The Order - Fried Pickles and a Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side of Cheesy Corn.
The Great - The iconic nature of this bar is by far the best part about it. I love that the bar is so proud of its Top Gun claim to fame and that it attracts people from all over to come and relive the epic movie. I also have to say that the service was superb. The bartender, Jersey, could not have been a nicer guy. He was helping customers at the bar and waiting on tables and was sharing stories, making connections and doing everything with a smile.
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The Good - The Pulled Pork sandwich was tasty. It wasn’t one of those pulled pork sandwiches that you don’t have to put barbecue sauce on but it was still done well and was the best food item of the meal.
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The Okay - I was super excited for the fried pickles and they certainly looked good when they came out in the basket. Served with both ranch and ranch with hot sauce mixed in it, the pickles were not everything I had hoped for and I didn’t love dipping them in either of the sauces.
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The Not So Good - On a previous trip to the restaurant, I had had the cheesy corn and remember really liking it. This time, though, the cheesy corn was bland and was really not good. I’m hoping it was a one-time error but it certainly was a miss.
The Verdict - Kansas City BBQ is definitely a worthwhile place to visit for any Top Gun fan. You aren’t really going for the food but that’s ok because the experience is a great one and, luckily, the food isn’t overpriced.