Dish & Drink KC: Hearty handhelds at The Upper Cut KC and Conchita Tacos

The Upper Cut KC // Photo By Tiffany Watts

The Upper Cut KC has officially settled into its new digs just two miles from its original Liberty location, and the upgrade feels like a bold next step for a business that’s already mastered its craft.

This hybrid butcher shop and sandwich spot offers a combination of quality and flavor. 

On one side, you’ll find a full-service meat counter featuring prime Akaushi beef and Angus beef raised right on their farm in Richmond, Missouri, just 35 miles east of Kansas City. All of their beef is pasture-raised, non-GMO silage-finished, and entirely free of antibiotics, hormones, and artificial enhancers. They even make sure that every cut is dry-aged for a minimum of 21 days, and remains one of the only places in the Midwest that both raises and retails Akaushi beef in-house.

The other side of the shop is home to a stacked sandwich menu where premium cuts take center stage. 

During my visit, my friend and I went all in on the sandwich experience, sampling multiple options and pairing them with classic sides.

The Wagyu Witt delivered rich flavor and tender texture, highlighting everything there is to love about their house-raised Akaushi. Meme’s Million Dollar Burger was juicy and bold, piled high with toppings that made each bite feel decadent. The Chiefsteak, their take on a Philly classic, came oozing with cheese and perfectly seasoned beef. And then there was The Prime Time, my personal favorite. It was fully loaded and deeply savory, with the kind of flavor that makes you pause mid-bite just to appreciate it.

To round it out, we split an order of seasoned fries and their crispy onion rings. If you’re heading in soon, take my advice: order the onion rings with their house-made spicy mustard. It’s not actually spicy, but it’s packed with flavor and seasoned just right, an ideal dipping sauce that elevates every bite.

Now, the sandwiches here are no joke. They’re massive, messy (in the best way), and unapologetically generous. Either show up hungry or bring someone willing to share, because these aren’t your average lunch counter portions.

The Upper Cut KC is located at 1177 W Kansas St, Suite B, Liberty, MO 64068.

Conchita Tacos // Photo By Tiffany Watts

I always love a good First Fridays in KC.

The energy is up, the people are out, and there’s something to do (and eat) on every corner. My friends and I met up in the Crossroads area and started our evening at Made Mobb, which is kind of the heartbeat of First Fridays for me.

They always have good music, some of my favorite local vendors, and the vibe feeds into the energy of the evening beautifully. We made our way around the store and parking lot full of vendors and stocked up on a few goodies like candles, sweet treats, and drinks.

Not long after, made our way down the road and stumbled across a pop-up called Grown Ass Art Club. It’s described as a space where “big kids go to make art and build community,” and honestly, that’s exactly what it was. There were tables full of people drawing, music playing, and crayons everywhere. We drew portraits of each other, laughed the whole time, and even made some new friends. It was a low-pressure way to just play and be creative.

A really great addition to an already great night.

After all that walking and drawing, we were officially starving and ended up at Conchita Tacos. I’d been wanting to try them for a while, mostly because I heard their tortillas are hand-rolled, and honestly, that’s all I needed to know.

The setup was simple but inviting. A cute little patio with a DJ and trays of tacos flying out of the kitchen.

Once it was my turn to order, I let my stomach do the work. I ordered three Bistek tacos, made with marinated carne asada, and three Hongo Asado tacos, with seared, cured mushrooms. Both were topped with cilantro and onion and came in at $4.50 each. The Bistek tacos were it. The meat was super tender with these crispy little charred edges, and the flavor was next-level, zesty from the marinade, but still rich and beefy.

The mushroom tacos didn’t hit as hard for me, but I still appreciated them. They had a good sear and a nice bite, just needed a little salsa to wake them up. Once I added their house-made, they came to life a little more.

After we finished eating, we sat on the patio with our margaritas, empty plates, and zero plans to rush. The music was still going, people were relaxed, and the night just felt easy. It’s the kind of spot that fits right into the First Fridays experience: laid-back, flavorful, and full of KC personality.

Conchita Tacos is located at 1922 Baltimore Avenue, Kansas City, MO.