Living in a city with its own regional style of barbecue, smoked meats are always on the menu in Kansas City. No one knows that better than the family that runs Fritz’s Meats & Superior Sausage in Leawood, Kansas.
Fritz and Rose Plapp first opened Kansas City’s oldest smokehouse in 1927, originally located in Midtown on 39th Street. Using old-world recipes he learned in Germany, Fritz worked hard and built a loyal following of fans who appreciated his superior sausage-making skills, becoming known for making quality sausages and hot dogs with no fillers.
As the family butcher shop and smokehouse continued to grow, and they eventually moved into a larger location on State Line Road in 1969, where now the fourth generation are still running the shop using only quality cuts of meat with everything still made by hand in their USDA inspected facility.
Here you’ll find 18 different varieties of sausages from kielbasa to chorizo, plus summer sausage, jerky, smoked hams and turkeys, brisket, ribs, chops and lunch meats all still made with Fritz's original recipes.
As the holidays approach at the end of the year, Fritz’s is busy around the clock, as customers come from all over to have them smoke their Thanksgiving turkey or holiday ham. Fritz's will custom smoke anything you bring or buy from them for only $2.00 per pound year-round.
They also happen to serve a heck of a lunch deal made from the quality meats they sell, which makes them a very popular spot for lunch. Daily lunch specials are generous and include items like half a slab of St. Louis pork ribs, pulled pork or a barbecue beef sandwich, half of a smoked chicken and a specialty of theirs is their sausage burnt ends smothered in barbecue sauce. Other lunch time offerings include grilled sausages, bratwurst and hot dogs, along with and classic deli sandwiches with many items priced less than $6.
Their most popular sandwich is the Bette Rogers, and it is a mouthful. It comes piled high with their smoked brisket, ham and bacon topped with marinated artichokes, roasted red peppers, mayonnaise and spicy mustard served on a soft Roma roll. Think an Italian barbecue sandwich.
For those looking for something a bit simpler, but no less meaty, there is the Fritz’s Special which comes with beef, turkey, ham, cheddar and Swiss cheese and can be topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise or mustard.
Operating a family-run business smoking meat for 97 years, Fritz's has undoubtedly earned its place on both our lunch and holiday tables.
Fritz’s Meats & Superior Sausage is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:30pm and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fritz’s Meats and Superior Sausage, 10326 State Line Road, Leawood, Kansas, 913-381-4618, fritzskcmeats.com