KC Food Passport
Welcoming Week
Food Passport
Taste the global flavors of Kansas City through our Food Passport! Compiled by MO-ORA staff, this list is a collection of restaurants that are owned and operated by immigrants and refugees in Kansas City.
Broaden your horizons without leaving the city, and try out some new places this week!
Mon – Sat 11am – 7pm
1019 E 63rd St KCMO 64110
“Seeking education and an opportunity to create a better life, Baba immigrated to this country as a Palestinian refugee in the late 1970s. He came to the United States alone as a young man, knowing little English without any friends or family here. He missed home and my Tayata’s (grandmother’s) cooking. Baba would often call his mother and get recipes over the phone. He began cooking these recipes and sharing his creations with professors, friends, and colleagues. Through food, Baba was able to bring people together, stay connected to his family and identity, and build friendships that would provide solace as he struggled being away from home.” – owner’s family member
Mon – Sun 11am – 8pm
4107 N Cherry St KCMO 64116
Queen serves authentic Lebanese and Jordanian right here in KC. Their menu features Greek Salad, Lentil Soup, Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, and Beef Gyro Wrap.
11am - 8pm, Sun 11am – 3pm, Tuesday
City Market Apartments, 20 E 5th St, Kansas City, MO 64106
The Blue Nile Cafe was started in 1995 by Daniel and Selam Fikru. Over the past 25 years, the Fikrus have been instrumental in introducing Kansas Citians to Ethiopian cuisine. Winner of multiple awards over the decades, in 2019 the Blue Nile Cafe was named the "Best Ethiopian" restaurant by 435 Magazine.
Mondays 10am – 3pm Tues-Sun 10am – 7pm
City Market 405 Main St KCMO 64105
From owner Ting Santos:
“Our mission is simple: serve delicious, affordable food that expresses the Filipino culture with excitement and passion. Dr. Norma Santos was my mama. She taught me how to be a strong, independent, loving, generous boss of my own life. I owe her all my love and respect until my last breath. Felicitas Valentin was my biological grandmother who was the most loving, sweet, fighter, actress, opera singer, loved by all, and owned a small eatery where she lived. She taught me beauty in everything, and she loved to laugh. Most recipes are from her.” - Owner
11am – 7am daily, 11am – 5pm Sundays, closed Mondays
4105 Troost Ave KCMO 64110
Fannie's African Cuisine is an authentic traditional food from all parts of West Africa. “At Fannie's restaurant, our food is handcrafted from scratch with fresh, healthy, hearty, organic and natural ingredients. Fannie's restaurant embraces African lifestyle. The menu is designed to reflect ethnic, cultural and traditional themes. Our mission/goals is to have people from all walks of life within the Kansas City and it surrounding areas, enjoy amazing native African cooking under one roof.” - Owner
Open 4pm – 9pm daily, 10pm on weekends
900 Westport Rd, KCMO 64111
Serving Taiwanese street food, specializing in gyoza. From chef/owner: “I remember growing up, one of my favorite thing to do was to sit around this round table with friends and family, and my mom would start rolling out dough, making dumpling skins, and we would all just sit there start folding dumpling, cracking jokes, having a really great time, I believe everyone has that certain food that will (just) bring you right back to that wonderful childhood memory, and for me, that food is dumpling.”
9am – 8pm daily, 9am-6pm Sundays
1447 Independence Ave KCMO 64106
Named after Somali owner Hatimi’s daughter, Yasmeen Cafe serves traditional East African fare including sambusas, mandazi, and chai tea lattes. “Our food, we have a lot of influence from Somalia, but I do Kenyan Somali food basically, because I lived in those two countries.” - Owner
11am – 8pm daily, 9pm on weekends, closed Mondays
6433 N Prospect Ave Gladstone, MO 64119
Tasty Baghdad is a locally owned family restaurant serving Iraqi food. Every dish made by Chef Asma is a new discovery. You can find a variety of cuisine such as Veggie Platter, Chicken Biryani, Arabic Tea, Falafel, and Chicken On Rice.
7am – 8pm daily, closed Tuesdays
916 E 5th St KCMO 64106
Enjoy unique coffees, teas, and pastries in historic Columbus Park. In October of 2020, Jackie Nguyen opened Café Cà Phê, the city’s first Vietnamese coffee shop. It began as a single table pop-up, and a truck soon after. Now it has two brick and mortar locations, the West Bottoms location is open on weekends 10am – 2pm in a shared space inside 12th Street Post.
11am – 7pm Sun-Wed, 11am – 8pm Thurs-Sat
1404 Westport Rd KCMO 64111
Syrian-owned bodega style market with small café inside. Shop for specialty tea, spices, and groceries, and have lunch! They serve sandwiches, falafel, salads, and have a pastry counter. Wide selection of halal meats as well.
Sun – Thurs 3pm – 9pm , Fri-Sat 3pm – 10pm
3601 Broadway Blvd KCMO 64111
Upscale Caribbean dishes and earthy Ethiopian fare unite at Mesob Restaurant & Rhum Bar. A partnership between Haitian-born Cherven Desauguste and Mehret Tesfamariam, who hails from Eritrea. At Mesob in Midtown Kansas City, chef-owner Cherven Desauguste uses French-inspired culinary techniques to prepare Caribbean and Ethiopian cuisine with a refined presentation.
Mon-Sat 11am – 6pm
2450 Grand Blvd KCMO 64108
Columbian owned, specializing in both Columbian and Venezuelan cuisine. They recently relocated from Southwest Blvd to Crown Center. The menu includes empanadas and arepas, pastries stuffed with meat or cheese fillings; and traditional plates including Pabellon /Criollo and Bandeja Paisa as well as combos that include rice and beans.
Tues – Thurs 11am – 10pm , Fri/Sat 11am – 11pm, Sun 11am – 9pm, closed Mondays
1707 Locust St. KCMO 64108
Located in the food hall, Parlor. “As lovers of eating and drinking, we are constantly seeking out inspiring food experiences. Many of the Korean dishes we eat today, once exclusively prepared for royalty, have evolved from the food we ate growing up in mom's kitchen. We believe these dishes need to be shared with all who share our passion (and stomach!) for food, especially in the city that we call home, Kansas City. We’re proud to be the first restaurant in KCMO dedicated to highlighting Korean cuisine.” – Owner
Mon-Fri 7am – 6pm, Sat/Sun 8am – 6pm
1721 Westport Rd KCMO 64111 and 110 Southwest Blvd, KCMO 64108
“At Café Corazón, we offer you the legendary warm, inviting hospitality, and mouth-watering flavors unique to Latin cultures. We’re a one-of-a-kind coffee house, specializing in classic and specialty Latinx coffee and espresso drinks. Café Corazón is the premier cafe in the midwest serving traditional Yerba Mate tea. Our cafe was largely inspired by Miel’s father Alberto José Castagna, who grew up in the heart of Buenos Aires and emigrated to the U.S. when he was 16. He was a lifelong, multi-talented artist, avid yerba mate drinker, and an example of all that is great about South America and the Spanish-speaking world. We are equally inspired by Curtis’ grandparents, Felipa and Aniseto Herrera who came to the U.S. from Guadalajara Mexico in the 1930s to work on the railroads and the farms of Western Kansas and celebrated their heritage through family gatherings drenched in tradition and flavor.” – Owners
Tues – Thurs 11am – 7pm, Fri/Sat 11am – 9pm, Sun 12pm – 4pm, closed Mondays
6228 Troost Ave KCMO 64110
“I was born in Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Wah Gwan is another way of saying "What's up" in Patois. Within the past three years, I've ventured to different countries of Africa. Nigeria being one of them. My exposure to the people and culture, allowed me to see so much of my Jamaican heritage is intertwine with Africa, and how food brings people together, who are not rich in wealth but are rich in great tasting dishes, with spices and flavors. My love for Nigerian Cuisine comes from my life time partner who exposed me to the dishes he grew up on as a child in Nigeria.” – chef/owner
Open daily 10am – 8pm, closed Tuesdays
522 Campbell St KCMO 64106
Enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine and Vietnamese coffee in this historic KC neighborhood.
“The Vietnam Café is a special place in Kansas City as it brings the Asian and KC communities together to enjoy good authentic food and tradition,” according to the Mayor Quinton Lucas.
“Our mother, Truc Le, and father traveled on a boat to go to Malaysia from Vietnam. They were held captive in their refugee camp for seven years in hopes to go to America for a better life. After seven years, they returned to Vietnam for another two years due to U.S. regulations of limiting people from outside the U.S. from entering the country. Finally, through a random raffle selection, the pair had the chance to go to the United States. They passed their interviews and moved to America in 1998 in search of a better life.” - Owner’s family member
