Eat This Now: Worm Dip at The Drunken Worm

Worm Dip // Photo by Sarah Sipple

I’ve never explicitly asked you to trust me, but for this dish, I’m playing that card.

Worm dip ($10) at The Drunken Worm just might be the worst dish to feature when it comes to food photography. I’m not sure that a true professional photographer could make it look any more appealing. Then there’s the issue of the name… Therefore, I ask you to trust me. 

Worm dip is a best seller on the appetizer menu, according to Manager Courtney Yager. This creamy dip, nachos, and deep-fried beef tacos were all menu items that Yager and her team, such as Chef Josue Mendoza, knew they had to bring back from the glory days of Drunken Worm past.

The appetizer’s ingredients are simple—a thin jalapeno cream cheese blend, black beans, Monterey cheese, and a drizzle of chipotle raspberry puree. When scooped with tortilla chips, the melty dip is hot, sweet, and salty, while also bringing a hint of heat from the peppers. 

For a hearty dinner at The Drunken Worm, I recently paired the dip with a worm paloma ($13) and a drunken chimi ($15). However, I have no shame in ordering apps as my main, which I have absolutely done with this dip. For those who can handle the dairy, worm dip makes for a chill meal to slowly chow down while sipping drinks with friends.

Worm dip has it all: it is creamy, warm, cheesy, sweet, and when you factor in the chips—crunchy. Once you get past the fact that it looks like grits (at best), you’ll see why this unique dip was a must for the reopening.

I first had this type of dip in the late aughts at a Manhattan, KS joint—So Long Saloon. I was instantly hooked and proceeded to recreate it a couple of times each year for parties. However, at my next Drunken Worm visit, I may order it like Yager: add chorizo and eat it with tortillas. 

The Drunken Worm is at 1405 W 39th St., Kansas City, MO 64111.