Picture this, if you will: a downtown Wichita BBQ joint serving up smoky meats so tender they practically fall apart on your fork, where the smell of hickory hits you before you even open the door.
Bite Me BBQ has been feeding hungry Wichitans since opening its doors in the Old Town neighborhood in (https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2021/05/04/bite-me-bbq-sells-as-owners-retire.html), and locals haven’t stopped coming back for more. 🍖
What started as a husband-and-wife passion project has grown into one of the city’s most beloved barbecue destinations.
The restaurant earned its spot as the #5 restaurant in Wichita out of 934 on TripAdvisor, and it’s easy to see why when you dig into their perfectly smoked offerings.
How Bite Me BBQ Won Wichita Hearts
Bite Me BBQ didn’t just smoke its way into Wichita’s heart overnight—it earned its reputation one perfectly cooked rib at a time.
The spot has become a downtown staple where the staff makes you feel like family the moment you walk through the door, and that warm hospitality combined with consistently excellent barbecue keeps people coming back week after week.
Customers rave about the quick service that somehow never sacrifices quality, making it the perfect lunch spot for downtown workers who need to get back to the office but refuse to settle for mediocre food.
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The restaurant has built its following by mastering the fundamentals—tender, flavorful meats with the perfect smoke, sides that complement rather than compete, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes both first-timers and regulars feel equally at home.
Add in their famous prime rib special every Friday and Saturday night starting at 5 PM, and you’ve got a restaurant that gives people reasons to keep returning.
The catering service has also helped spread the word, as customers who’ve ordered for events become instant fans of the moist pulled pork, perfectly seasoned brisket, and that addictive house-made sauce that ties everything together. 😋
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What really sealed the deal for locals was the consistency—in a world where restaurant quality can fluctuate wildly, Bite Me BBQ delivers the same excellent experience whether you’re dining in on a Tuesday afternoon or picking up takeout on a Saturday night.
Food Highlights
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Spare Ribs: These meaty beauties have earned legendary status among Wichita BBQ lovers, featuring meat so tender it slides right off the bone with just a gentle tug, coated in a perfectly balanced dry rub that lets the natural flavors of the slow-smoked pork shine through without drowning in sauce, creating that ideal combination of crispy bark on the outside and juicy, pull-apart tenderness on the inside that keeps customers coming back specifically for rib night.
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Sliced Brisket (Lean or Moist): The #1 most popular item on the menu gives you options to choose your preferred cut, with the moist version delivering rich, fatty brisket that melts on your tongue while the lean cut provides all that smoky flavor without the extra marbling, both featuring that essential pink smoke ring and served with just enough of their signature sauce on the side to enhance but never overpower the perfectly seasoned, slow-cooked beef.
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Pulled Pork: This crowd-pleaser arrives at your table as a generous pile of impossibly tender shredded pork that’s been smoked low and slow until it literally melts in your mouth, mixed with just enough bark from the outside of the shoulder to add texture and smoky depth, making it the perfect filling for sandwiches or the star of their popular taco salad that has customers ordering it again and again.
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Smoked Prime Rib: Available exclusively on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 5 PM, this special offering has become the stuff of local legend, featuring tender and juicy cuts cooked to absolute perfection in 12, 16, or 24-ounce portions that showcase the restaurant’s smoking expertise beyond traditional barbecue, with customers specifically planning their weekend dinner plans around this limited-time special that sells out regularly because it’s simply the best prime rib many Wichitans have ever tasted.
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Burnt Ends: These flavorful nuggets of chopped brisket have developed their own devoted following, especially during the Thursday burnt ends special when regulars make sure to stop by for these crispy-edged, fall-apart tender morsels that pack intense beefy flavor into every bite, caramelized on the outside from extended time in the smoker and impossibly juicy on the inside, representing the very best parts of the brisket that serious barbecue lovers crave.
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Baked Beans: Don’t sleep on these sides—the baked beans have earned their own fan club with a sweet and smoky flavor profile enhanced by generous chunks of actual brisket mixed throughout the tomato-based sauce, creating a side dish substantial enough to be a meal on its own and consistently mentioned in customer reviews as exceptional, proving that Bite Me BBQ puts just as much care into their accompaniments as their main attractions.
Atmosphere
Step inside Bite Me BBQ and you’ll immediately understand why it’s become a favorite gathering spot for everyone from downtown workers to families celebrating special occasions.
The upscale-casual vibe strikes the perfect balance—nice enough for a date night but relaxed enough that you won’t feel out of place in jeans and a t-shirt.
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The space features 12 TVs strategically placed throughout the dining room, making it an ideal spot to catch the game while enjoying seriously good barbecue, creating that sports bar energy without sacrificing the quality you’d expect from a dedicated smokehouse.
Full bar service means you can wash down your ribs with cold beer or one of their unique cocktails, and the table service adds a level of comfort you don’t always find at barbecue joints.
Local artwork decorates the walls, adding character and supporting Wichita artists, while that ever-present aroma of smoke permeates everything in the best possible way. 🔥
The Old Town location at 132 N St Francis Street puts you right in the heart of downtown action, and whether you’re dining in the main room or grabbing a seat in the semi-private area for larger groups, the atmosphere makes it clear that this is a place where good food and good times are always on the menu.
Bottom Line
If you’re craving authentic Kansas barbecue that delivers consistently excellent smoked meats without the pretension, Bite Me BBQ deserves a spot at the top of your list—the combination of tender, flavorful meats, welcoming service, and that unbeatable Friday-Saturday prime rib special make it worth the trip whether you’re a downtown regular or visiting from out of town.
Address: 132 N St Francis St, Wichita, KS 67202
📞 (316) 729-2904
🕐 Mon-Thu 11:00 AM–9:00 PM, Fri-Sat 11:00 AM–10:00 PM (Closed Sunday)