A Little BBQ Joint

A Little BBQ Joint is a family-owned, father-and-son barbecue restaurant in Independence, Missouri, opened in 2013 by Don Bauer and his son Fabian out of a shared love for great smoked meat — and run alongside their long-standing automotive business, Glory Days Classic Parts, at the same address.¹²

Description

A Little BBQ Joint occupies a converted space at 1101 W US Highway 24 in Independence — a corridor heavily associated with the city’s BBQ identity — and has built a loyal following since opening in 2013.¹² The restaurant is physically embedded with the Bauer family’s automotive business, Glory Days Classic Parts, which shares the same address; the connection is visible throughout the dining room, where the hood and side panel of a classic Chevrolet have been fashioned into the bar, and license plates, car memorabilia, and auto-themed signage line the walls and ceiling.³

The menu centers on Kansas City-style slow-smoked meats: brisket (thick-cut slices with a peppery bark), baby back ribs, burnt ends, and pulled pork. Three house-made sauces anchor the table — Mad Housewife (the standard KC-sweet), Mean Mother-in-Law (spicy), and Sweet Sister (sweeter profile).²³ Sides include cheesy corn, mac and cheese, baked beans, and coleslaw. The kitchen runs daily specials, with burnt ends identified by regulars as the single must-order item.³

Beyond the dining room, A Little BBQ Joint operates a full bar and an outdoor deck where local bands play on weekend evenings, making the space part neighborhood restaurant and part community gathering point for East Jackson County.²³

Ownership and history

Ownership timeline

Period	Owner / Operator	Notes
2013 → present	Don Bauer and Fabian Bauer	Father-son; opened as family-owned BBQ concept alongside Glory Days Classic Parts auto business at same address.2

Founding

Don Bauer and his son Fabian opened A Little BBQ Joint in 2013 with a stated mission to deliver great food, great service, and a great atmosphere.¹ The venture grew out of a genuine enthusiasm for barbecue and the family’s deep physical investment in the Independence address — they already operated an automotive parts and restoration business, Glory Days Classic Parts, on the same lot, and incorporated salvaged automotive pieces from that operation directly into the restaurant’s build-out.²³

The Independence city government lists A Little BBQ Joint among its featured local BBQ destinations, a signal of the restaurant’s standing within the city’s culinary identity.⁴

Links

• Official site: https://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlebbqjoint/
• City of Independence listing: https://www.independencemo.gov/visitors/places-eat/independence-bbq/little-bbq-joint

Sources

Menu

Last verified: 2026-07-24 · Source: A Little BBQ Joint official online menu (Menufy/HungerRush) · URL(s): https://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/order · Confidence: High (direct from official menu; all prices published)

Kansas City-style slow-smoked BBQ with a car-culture neighborhood bar atmosphere. Full bar; outdoor deck with live music on weekends. House three-sauce lineup: Mad Housewife (KC-sweet), Mean Mother-in-Law (spicy), Sweet Sister (sweeter).²

Daily Specials

• Tuesday — (2) Pig Tuesday — sausage and pulled pork sandwich with fries — $15.79⁵
• Wednesday — Mad Hog — smoked and grilled pork loin/bacon with smoked horseradish cheese, fried onion strings, and homemade aioli — $15.49⁵
• Thursday — 4 Rib Plate — with choice of two sides — $16.99⁵
• Friday — Southern Pulled Pork — pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw, choice of two sides — $15.99⁵
• Saturday — Quarter Chicken — with choice of two sides — $13.79⁵

Appetizers

• Bacon Chips — thick-sliced smoked bacon glazed with maple BBQ sauce, seared and chopped — $10.99⁵
• Bacon Pretzel Bites — soft pretzel sticks with cheddar cheese and bacon — $10.99⁵
• BBQ Wonton Wraps — chopped brisket, red bell peppers, and onions with Mad Housewife sauce in a wonton wrapper, with dipping sauce — $9.99⁵
• Onion Rings — $9.99⁵
• Chili Cheese Fries — $9.99⁵

Brisket Chili and Potato Boat

• Brisket Chili — bowl, served with crackers — $12.99⁵
• Potato Boat — hot baked potato salad topped with pulled pork and creamy cheese sauce — $12.99⁵

Sandwiches (with fries and pickle)

• Pulled Pork — $14.99+⁵ · Turkey — $14.99+⁵ · Ham — $14.99+⁵
• Brisket — $17.29+⁵
• Combo — any two meats — $15.79+⁵

Burnt Ends

• Burnt Ends — 1/2 lb meat, slice of bread, pickle, two sides — $21.49⁵

Specialty Sandwiches

• Build-A-Melt — choice of meat, Swiss cheese, grilled onions on toasted rye — $16.79+⁵
• Harry S — grilled hot dog topped with pulled pork and pepper jack — $16.79⁵
• Fleetwood — ham, turkey, and bacon — $16.79⁵
• Torpedo — hot sausage, ham, brisket, and cheese — $16.79⁵
• Firebird — turkey, bacon, coleslaw, and pepper jack — $16.79⁵
• Mag Hog — smoked and grilled pork loin/bacon, smoked horseradish cheese, fried onion strings, homemade aioli — $16.79⁵
• Da Bull — smoked shredded beef with smoked steakhouse cheese and grilled onions — $17.79⁵
• Sinnett Sister’s Spicy Meatloaf — bacon-wrapped meatloaf, pepper jack, topped with onion rings — $16.79⁵

Chicken (with fries and pickle)

• 1/4 Chicken — leg and thigh — $11.79⁵
• 1/2 Chicken — two legs and thighs — $15.29⁵

Dinner Plates (with bread and two sides)

• (1) Meat (6 oz) — pulled pork, ham, brisket, chicken, sausage, or turkey — $17.99+⁵
• (2) Meat (12 oz) — $22.99+⁵
• Chicken & (3) Ribs — $22.99⁵
• (4) Rib Plate — $18.29⁵

Just Ribs

• Full Slab — $27.99+⁵ · Short Ends — $21.59+⁵ · Long Ends — $19.59+⁵

Anti BBQ

• Adult Grilled Cheese — seasoned toast, smoked cheddar, provolone, American, and pepper jack — $10.99⁵
• Chicken Tenders — with fries — $12.99⁵
• Catfish Nuggets — with fries — $12.99⁵
• Uncle Nick’s Catfish Filet — with two sides — $14.99⁵
• Chili Dog — open-faced 1/2 lb dog with cheese, onions, and jalapenos, with fries — $11.49⁵

Senior Choices (60 and older; small sandwich, one side, soda or tea)

• Pulled Pork — $11.99 · Ham — $11.99 · Turkey — $11.99 · Brisket — $12.99⁵

Kids Meals (12 and under; drink, applesauce, fries)

• Pulled Pork Sandwich — $7.25+ · Grilled Cheese — $7.25+ · Grilled Cheese with Ham — $8.25+ · Grilled Cheese with Turkey — $8.25+ · Beeney Weeney — $7.25+ · Chicken Nuggets — $7.25+⁵

Desserts

• Cherry Crisp — with ice cream — $7.99⁵
• Peach Crisp — with ice cream — $7.99⁵

Sides

• Fries · Baked Beans · Coleslaw · Spicy Coleslaw · Cheesy Corn · Potato Salad · Hot Potato Salad · Pea Salad — $8.25+ each (family-size listing)⁵

Beverages

• Iced Tea, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Cream Soda, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer, Lemonade — $2.50 each⁵

Meat by the Pound

• Brisket — $28.50⁵ · Ham — $19.50⁵ · Turkey — $19.50⁵ · Pulled Pork — $19.50⁵

Mac and cheese, cited in earlier press,³ does not appear on the current online menu. The order page displayed an “Online Ordering Coming Soon!” notice at capture — carryout/delivery ordering status worth a recheck.⁵

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Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

1. https://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/ — official website. Asserts: family-owned BBQ at 1101 W US Hwy 24, Independence MO 64050; smoked meats and house sauces; active online ordering. ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. https://joesbarbecuequest.com/2018/10/08/a-little-bbq-joint-in-independence-missouri/ — Joe’s Barbecue Quest (independent review blog, Oct 2018). Asserts: owners Don Bauer and son Fabian; opened 2013; also own Glory Days Custom shop; automotive décor sourced from their shop; full bar; outdoor deck with weekend bands. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

3. https://www.ourchanginglives.com/taking-a-spin-at-a-little-bbq-joint/ — Our Changing Lives (food/travel blog). Asserts: burnt ends as most popular item; Chevrolet panel bar; three house sauces (Mad Housewife, Mean Mother-in-Law, Sweet Sister); cheesy corn, mac and cheese sides; automotive décor throughout. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

4. https://www.independencemo.gov/visitors/places-eat/independence-bbq/little-bbq-joint — City of Independence, MO official visitor site. Asserts: A Little BBQ Joint listed as featured Independence BBQ destination. ↩

5. https://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/ and https://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/order — official website + Menufy/HungerRush online menu (accessed 2026-07-24). Asserts: full menu with prices (daily specials, appetizers, sandwiches, specialty sandwiches, burnt ends, chicken, dinner plates, ribs, Anti BBQ, senior/kids menus, desserts, sides, beverages, meat by the pound); hours Mon closed, Tue–Thu 11–8, Fri 11–9, Sat noon–9, Sun noon–8; phone (816) 252-2275; “Online Ordering Coming Soon!” notice on order page at capture. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵ ↩³⁶ ↩³⁷ ↩³⁸ ↩³⁹ ↩⁴⁰ ↩⁴¹ ↩⁴² ↩⁴³ ↩⁴⁴ ↩⁴⁵ ↩⁴⁶ ↩⁴⁷ ↩⁴⁸ ↩⁴⁹ ↩⁵⁰ ↩⁵¹