Dish & Drink KC: Seasoned realness at Wah Gwan and Krab Kingz KCK

Rasta Pasta With Shrimp At Wah Gwan // Photo By Lauren Textor

Wah Gwan

If you haven’t already read Liz Cook’s thorough review of Wah Gwan from 2021, then do yourself a favor and read that first. I won’t attempt to replicate her style—I can’t—but I hope to bring this restaurant to the forefront of your mind during Black History Month. It really, really deserves to be on your list. 

Wah Gwan serves Jamaican and Nigerian cuisine in a small, brightly colored space on Troost. Upon parking in the lot around the back, you climb the wooden porch, pull open the heavy door, and are immediately blasted with warm air and the smell of home cooking. 

“We’re here when you’re ready to order,” Chef Tanyech Yarbrough said when we entered. She was sitting on the couch with two others, laughing over a shared joke. “Just resting.” 

The goldenrod walls are covered in Patois phrases like “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.” You have plenty of time to browse these and examine the artwork (which includes a lovingly-made collage of Bob Marley) while your meal is prepared. 

My sister and I chose a round table by the window and examined the menu. She’s a pescetarian, but there were still more than enough options to satisfy both of us. She eventually settled on the Rasta Pasta with shrimp ($20.95), and, knowing the portion sizes, we opted to split this as a main and then each order a patty. I chose the chicken curry while she went for the veggie ($3.75 each). 

Chicken Curry Patty At Wah Gwan // Photo By Lauren Textor

After I ordered at the counter, it was a solid 15 minutes before we saw Yarbrough again. When she popped up with our patties, we devoured them immediately. The flaky pastry outside contrasts well with the inner spice of the curry, but I wish there would have been more filling in each mouthful. 

The Rasta Pasta is one of the most basic options on the menu, popular with newcomers. Although it wasn’t my first choice, I always yield to those with dietary restrictions. Honestly, it’s good for me to eat from that perspective once in a while. 

I would have preferred more heat on the dish, but the shrimp were tender and the pasta was al dente. It’s not often that my pasta is served with peas, carrots, and a side of steamed cabbage, and the mix provides the variety of texture that takes a meal from good to excellent. 

Wah Gwan is located at 6628 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64110.

Small Shrimp Platter From Krab Kingz Kck // Photo By Lauren Textor

Krab Kingz KCK

Krab Kingz does not mess around with seasoning. 

If Dish & Drink KC has taught me anything, it’s that looks can be deceiving. This local business has cracked asphalt in its strip mall parking lot. When we entered, the chairs were already stacked up on the tables, even though they were open for several more hours. But the owner greeted us with a wide smile and a suggestion for a small shrimp platter ($16.26), and I knew we were going to eat well. 

When we opened up the takeout container, we found that the butter had soaked through the styrofoam. This did not deter me. After mopping it off the table, I plucked a shrimp from the mess, peeled off the tail, and popped it into my mouth. It was absolutely infused with butter at this point, as was everything else, and it was delicious. 

The slices of potatoes were soft enough to melt on my tongue, and the savory sausage hit just right. A quarter cob of corn and a boiled egg completed the box. 

Maybe it’s for the best that their menu is generally out of my price range. Otherwise, I’d basically be drinking butter every other week. 

Krab Kingz KCK is located at 7704 State Ave., Kansas City, KS 66112.