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Bikes and Barbecue

In Kansas City, Kansas, Legends at Village West is one of the top attractions for visiting tour groups. Though the complex includes a variety of retail outlets, exciting outdoor entertainment and inventive restaurants, I’m excited to say that I’ve found a new favorite: Backfire BBQ.

Backfire is one of the newest restaurant attractions at the Legends, and I mean attraction in the literal sense — the restaurant was designed by the same folks who created the popular Rainforest Cafe concept, as well as T-Rex, a dinosaur-themed restaurant also at Legends. Backfire BBQ goes in a new direction, however, pairing classic barbecue dishes with decor and memorabilia from the hit television show Orange County Choppers.

The restaurant was designed in cooperation with the cast of the show, who run a custom motorcycle shop in California.

Throughout the building, visitors will find a number of bikes created by the Orange County crew, showing off the creators’ artistic eye and characteristic flair. Some are mounted on rotating pedestals, while others are parked on ground level for guests to mount up on and take pictures with.

The custom choppers, along with the other similarly themed memorabilia and decor throughout the restaurant, make Backfire BBQ an exciting place to look at. But it’s the food that makes the restaurant an exciting place to eat — the half pound of pulled pork that I sampled for lunch was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and so tasty that I didn’t even bother scooping it onto the accompanying bread to make a sandwich. Next time I’m in Kansas City, Backfire BBQ will be on the top of my list of places to visit again.

 

 

 

 

Brian Jewell

Brian Jewell is the executive editor of The Group Travel Leader. In more than a decade of travel journalism he has visited 48 states and 25 foreign countries.