Warm up from the inside out with some of the best soups in Kansas City

Blue Crab & Sweet Corn Bisque at Pierpont’s // Photo courtesy Pierpont’s at Union Station

I am a year-round soup connoisseur. Give me a savory broth with a large spoon, and I’m happy. But a soup has to meet a few requirements for me to get excited about it.

First, it has to evoke a feeling of “healing,” which is completely made up and subjective. The soup has to be comforting, striking the balance of rich and bold without solely relying on salt. Ingredients of salt, fat, and acid must playfully interact for dimension.

Next, it has to be a concoction that I’m not likely to whip up at home with ingredients I keep on hand. In my near farmsteading and plant-based years, it was no biggie to prepare a pot of dried lentils. Nowadays, I’ll leave my lentils to the experts in a professional kitchen. 

Finally, it has to be enjoyable enough to order alone as a meal, even if I don’t always do that. Protein is a priority but not a necessity. 

These soups pass the test, leading me to order them time after time. 

Tortilla soup at Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Tortilla Soup at Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine

When I’m craving a bright chicken soup, this is it. Only Ixtapa can meet the need.

There’s an ironic twist to this tortilla soup. There are no tortillas involved. Never has it been served with tortilla strips. It does, however, contain large chunks of chicken that look and taste as fresh as if it came straight from a coop out back. Yet chicken is not listed in the menu description. 

The warmth is comforting; the broth is soothing and savory without overt saltiness. Vegetables add pops of color and nutrients. Chunks of avocado fit easily into a spoonful and add a decadent texture. Last but not least, the chicken adds protein with large, tender pieces of light and dark meat. 

I can’t seem to finish this large bowl of soup in one sitting, and the leftovers keep well. At home, I add a pinch of cayenne pepper to spice it up. 

Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine has locations at 7103 NW Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO 64153 and 7305 W 95th St, Overland Park, KS 66212.

Lentil Soup at Queen Sweets and Bakery 

This family-owned Lebanese and Jordanian restaurant serves a mean lentil soup. A large bowl of it is only $6.99, providing a hearty amount to fill up on.

Perhaps this soup should be considered the top top soup, based on how many times I have ordered it. The blended lentil soup is not silky smooth but not grainy either. It is well-seasoned with a proprietary blend of Middle Eastern spices. The result is a slightly pulpy, rich soup.

If you’re not confident in the soup being sufficiently filling for you, the shawarma plates or sandwiches are a must.

Queen Sweets and Bakery is located at 4107 N Cherry St, Suite C, Kansas City, MO 64116, with a sister restaurant at 12247 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66215.

Tom Kha Gai Soup at Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Tom Kha Gai Soup at Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop

This Thai soup is both creamy and light, thanks to the reliance on coconut milk.

While you can usually include the protein of your choice in this soup, chicken is common around here and is the default at Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop. Tender chicken pieces complement both soft and crisp elements like carrots, snow peas, and greens. Left behind is a broth that you’ll have no qualms with lifting your bowl for—careful to enjoy every last drop.

The Tom Kha Soup at Baramee Thai Bistro is a very close second, but the sweetness of that particular shop’s recipe keeps it from earning first place.

Lulu’s Thai Noodle shop has locations in Crossroads, Westwood, and Overland Park.

Jalapeno Corn Chowder at Cliff’s Taphouse // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Jalapeno Corn Chowder at Cliff’s Taphouse

For a complete comfort-food meal at family-owned Cliff’s Taphouse, start with the Jalapeño Corn Chowder. The soup is warm with a true, natural jalapeño heat and uniformly diced corn and potatoes. It is creamy, hearty, and very popular. If I get sick, this is the first thing I will have delivered.

As a finisher, the chocolate cake from Overland Park’s Golden Boy Pies and Cakes is a fantastically classic dessert, boasting a balance between sweet and dark chocolate as well as moist and lightweight. Trust me, you’ll make room in your “dessert stomach” for this.

Cliff’s Taphouse is located at 3044 Gillham Rd., Kansas City, Missouri 64108.

Blue Crab and Sweet Corn Bisque at Pierpont’s

The blue crab and sweet corn bisque is probably ordered as an afterthought on most date nights and work dinners at Pierpont’s. But there’s a reason this soup remains on the menu season after season. 

This rich starter is well-balanced, and I find myself selecting it over a salad or alternate appetizer at Pierpont’s. The luscious texture and few pops of crunch from corn pieces keep you diving back in for more.

Pierpont’s is located in Union Station at 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108.

Text exchange with my sister

What’s missing from this list? A good pho, ramen, a peanut soup, and a chicken and dumplings. Feel free to email me your recommendations at sarah@thepitchkc.com.