Chewology

Chewology is a chef-owned contemporary Taiwanese gyoza bar in Kansas City’s Westport neighborhood, founded by Katie Liu-Sung, who grew the concept from a Lenexa Public Market food stall into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the former Bluestem space in 2021.¹²

Description

Chewology is a contemporary Taiwanese restaurant in Kansas City’s Westport neighborhood that bills itself as a gyoza bar, with handcrafted gyoza dumplings at the center of its menu alongside soft bao buns and brothy noodle bowls.²³ The kitchen describes its food as “comfort food through the lens of Kansas City,” partnering with local producers while drawing on chef-owner Katie Liu-Sung’s Taiwanese heritage.³

The dinner menu spans dishes such as Dan Dan spicy peanut ramen with pork and a Taiwanese beef noodle bowl built on beef shank with pickled mustard relish, bok choy, green onion, cilantro and a chili bomb.⁴ The restaurant occupies the historic former Bluestem space at 900 Westport Rd, which Liu-Sung renovated over roughly ten months before opening; the interior features 1980s-inspired décor with green walls and neon pink accents reflecting her California childhood.²

Chewology has earned significant critical recognition, including being named a James Beard Award semifinalist and a Kansas City Magazine Restaurant of the Year honoree.³⁴ Liu-Sung’s Taiwanese street food was named a James Beard semifinalist in multiple years.⁴

Ownership and history

Chewology is owned by chef Katie Liu-Sung, who launched the concept as a vendor at Lenexa Public Market, where she was the first vendor able to serve beer or wine, before moving to a standalone brick-and-mortar location.² After spending more than ten months renovating the former James Beard Award–winning fine-dining restaurant Bluestem at 900 Westport Rd, she opened the brick-and-mortar Chewology on October 29, 2021.² Within the same space, Liu-Sung also operates a second, weekends-only concept, Stray Kat, serving family-style Taiwanese meals based on memories of her family in Taiwan.¹²

Menu

Last verified: 2026-06-17 · Source: Chewology official site (menu page) · URL(s): https://www.chewologykc.com/menu/ · Confidence: High

Gyoza / dumplings (signature)

• Xiao Long Bao — soup dumplings; pork, shrimp, si gua (4 pieces) · $12⁵
• Mala Xiao Long Bao — beef, Sichuan peppercorn, chile, star anise, doubanjiang, sesame · $12⁵
• Pork & Cabbage — pork, cabbage, green onion, ginger, red oil · $15⁵
• Beef & Kimchi — beef, pork, fermented napa, sesame oil, chile, kimchi butter · $16⁵
• Pan Fried Veggie (vegan) — cabbage, shiitake, tofu, carrots, sesame, chives, wood ear, chile crisp · $14⁵

Bao (steamed buns)

• Gua Bao — pork belly, ponzu, mustard relish, cilantro, peanut · $17⁵
• Char Siu Bao — roasted pork, shokupan, buttery crust · $16⁵
• Karaage Bao — Taiwanese fried chicken, pickled cucumber, chili mayo · $17⁵
• Tofu Bao (vegan) — crispy fried local tofu, sweet sesame glaze, alliums, sesame seeds · $16⁵
• Damn Good Veggie Bao — daikon, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, sesame, soy · $16⁵

Noodles

• Dan Dan (spicy peanut ramen) — pork, peanut, chili, peppercorn, green onion, cilantro · $22⁵
• Taiwanese Beef Noodle — American wagyu beef shank, pickled mustard relish, bok choy, green onion, cilantro, chili bomb · $25⁵
• Three Cup Mushroom Ramen (vegan) — Myco Planet mushrooms, three-cup basil-kombu dashi, sesame, chile crunch · $21⁵
• Scallion Ginger Chicken — poached breast, egg noodle, 63-degree egg, bok choy · $22⁵

Small plates & rice

• Taiwanese Fried Chicken — basil, five spice, soy, sweet potato starch · $15⁵
• Dressed Eggs (vegetarian) — ramen egg, rainbow trout caviar, chili mayo, fried shallot, pickled red onion · $14⁵
• Smacked Cucumber & Wood Ear (vegan) — soy, sesame, pickled onion, cilantro, chile crunch · $10⁵
• Local Tempura Mushroom — fermented chile powder, black vinegar, hot chips · $14⁵
• Ló Bah Pñg (braised pork belly rice) — Taiwanese braised pork belly, soy, five spice, pickled cucumber, fried shallots, cilantro, tea egg · $21⁵
• Kung Pao Tofu (vegan opt., GF) — Central Soy crispy tofu, blistered snap pea, fermented chile, anchovy peanut · $18⁵

Menu items and prices rotate seasonally; verify current offerings on the official menu page before relying on specifics.

Links

• Website: https://www.chewologykc.com/
• Reservations (Tock): https://www.exploretock.com/chewology/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chewology-gyoza-bar-kansas-city
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chewologykc/

Sources

Disputes

None at time of compilation.

Footnotes

1. https://www.feastmagazine.com/kansas-city/article_ca3ba99e-81ac-11eb-8e28-a7c7b53c2478.html — Feast Magazine. Asserts: Chewology opened in the former Bluestem space in Kansas City; Katie Liu-Sung operates dual concepts (Chewology + Stray Kat) under one roof. ↩ ↩²

2. https://www.feastmagazine.com/travel/kansas-city/chewology-is-now-open-in-kansas-city-serving-gyoza-and-bao-with-a-new-concept/article_7e50d166-373d-11ec-96bd-8f1b1903f8ad.html — Feast Magazine. Asserts: Brick-and-mortar opened Oct 29, 2021 at 900 Westport Rd (former Bluestem); Liu-Sung started as a Lenexa Public Market vendor (first to serve beer/wine); ~10-month renovation; cuisine = gyoza dumplings, bao buns, brothy noodle soup; Stray Kat weekends-only family-style Taiwanese; 1980s-inspired décor. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

3. https://www.chewologykc.com/hours-and-location/ — Official site. Asserts: Address 900 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111; phone 816.325.3449; hours Sun–Thu 4–9pm, Fri–Sat 4–10pm; “comfort food through the lens of Kansas City”; James Beard semifinalist and KC Magazine Restaurant of the Year. ↩ ↩² ↩³

4. https://www.kcur.org/2025-01-22/james-beard-award-kansas-city-restaurants-semifinalists — KCUR. Asserts: Katie Liu-Sung / Chewology named a James Beard semifinalist; Taiwanese street food; menu items including Dan Dan peanut ramen and Taiwanese beef noodle. ↩ ↩² ↩³

5. https://www.chewologykc.com/menu/ — Chewology official site, “Menu” page (accessed 2026-06-17). Asserts: Current dumpling menu (Xiao Long Bao, Mala Xiao Long Bao, Pork & Cabbage, Beef & Kimchi, Pan Fried Veggie); bao (Gua Bao, Char Siu Bao, Karaage Bao, Tofu Bao, Damn Good Veggie Bao); noodles (Dan Dan, Taiwanese Beef Noodle, Three Cup Mushroom Ramen, Scallion Ginger Chicken); small plates and rice with listed item descriptions and prices. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰