Dish & Drink KC: Trying Waldo’s new Apparition Coffee and chicken burgers at Chixen Kansas City

Dish & Drink KC logo by Theodore Rosen

Waldo has no shortage of coffee shops, which means opening a new one comes with a challenge: giving people a reason to choose yours. 

After a visit to Apparition Coffee’s soft opening, I can confidently say they have one. 

The new café, which officially opens Friday, June 26, spent the beginning of the week welcoming guests during a soft-opening period. The space strikes a balance between polished and approachable, but what stood out first was the staff. Warm, welcoming, and genuinely excited to be there. 

Photo by Tiffany Watts

I ordered a honey matcha ($6) and decided to make it dirty by adding a shot of espresso. It was one of the best decisions of the day. 

The earthy matcha and floral sweetness of the honey balanced beautifully against the rich espresso, creating a drink that was smooth, energizing, and surprisingly well-rounded. The dirty matcha absolutely hit. 

For breakfast, I went with the vegan breakfast burrito ($9.50), packed with soyrizo, black beans, kale, sweet potato, and vegan mozzarella. When I placed my order, I assumed it would be on the smaller side and briefly considered ordering two. Good thing I didn’t.

When my name was called, I was handed a burrito that was anything but modest. It was a generously stuffed, two-handed affair that could easily stand in as breakfast and lunch. 

Photo by Tiffany Watts

More importantly, it delivered on flavor. The soyrizo brought savory depth, while the sweet potatoes added a subtle sweetness that kept every bite balanced. The black beans provided heartiness, the kale added texture, and the vegan mozzarella melted everything together into a rich, satisfying bite. I’d absolutely make my way out there just for that burrito. 

Apparition Coffee officially opens Friday in the former Second Best Coffee location, with hours from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. They’re closed on Sundays. 

If my first visit is any indication, Waldo has a new coffee shop worth adding to the regular rotation. 

Apparition Coffee is located at 328 W 85th St, Kansas City, MO 64114. 

Photo by Tiffany Watts

Chicken sandwiches are everywhere these days, but Chixen took a different approach. 

Located inside Culture X, the restaurant has built its menu around oversized chicken burgers, making it the first concept of its kind in Kansas City. My daughter and I kept hearing good things about it too, so we decided to pop in for lunch.

We started with the vegetable samosas ($8), served alongside a jerk aioli and an order of fried okra. Both arrived piping hot and fresh from the fryer. 

The samosas featured a crisp, golden exterior that shattered with each bite, giving way to a well-seasoned vegetable filling. The jerk aioli didn’t have a ton of heat, but it did have just enough flavor to complement the savory filling without overwhelming it. The fried okra was equally impressive—crispy on the outside, tender inside, and free of the sliminess that often turns people away from the Southern staple. We happily cleared those dishes pretty quickly. 

Photo by Tiffany Watts

For her entrée, my daughter ordered the little chef ($15), a half-pound chicken burger topped with romaine lettuce, onion, pickle, beef bacon, American cheese, and Chixen’s house-made sauce, served with fries. 

She loved it. 

As any parent knows, a child finishing an entire meal at a restaurant is one of the highest compliments possible. The burger was juicy and flavorful, with two chicken smash patties that remained tender throughout. The fresh toppings seemed to add crunch and balance, while the house sauce tied everything together. The fries were hot, crispy, and exactly what you’d hope for alongside a burger. 

Feeling ambitious, I ordered the big monarch ($22), a full one-pound chicken burger topped with romaine lettuce, caramelized onions, jalapeños, beef bacon, and bourbon barbecue sauce, also served with fries. 

Photo by Tiffany Watts

What arrived at the table was less of a burger and more of a challenge. 

The burger was thick, juicy, and substantial enough to make me question my decision-making almost immediately. Still, one bite in and my regrets disappeared. The chicken was seasoned well and cooked, retaining plenty of moisture despite its size. The sweetness of the caramelized onions played nicely against the smoky bourbon barbecue sauce, while the jalapeños added just enough heat to keep each bite interesting. The beef bacon brought a savory richness that rounded everything out. 

It was a well-balanced burger despite its larger-than-life proportions. I managed about half before admitting defeat and asking for a box. 

Chixen Kansas City is located at 7502 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64131.