Joe Pearce

Joe Pearce and his brother Mike opened Slap's BBQ on Central Avenue in Kansas City, KS in 2014, and within a few years had built one of the most devoted followings in the metro. The Pearce brothers came up through the BBQ competition circuit, where they developed the Texas-influenced technique that defines Slap's: long oak smokes, minimal sauce during cooking, and a focus on the quality of the bark. The burnt ends at Slap's are consistently ranked among the best in the city, and the jalapeño cheddar sausage has become a sleeper hit. Slap's represents the new generation of KC BBQ: rooted in local tradition, but unafraid to borrow from other regional styles.