Dish & Drink KC: Revisiting Café Corazón and Blue Bird Bistro
Dish & Drink KC logo by Theodore Rosen
After the holidays, there’s nothing quite like being out of the house and back in the city, especially when you remember you’ve got gift cards burning a hole in your wallet. Since everyone knows food is my love language, café and restaurant gift cards are always the perfect gift. My first gift card swipe of 2026 led me straight to Café Corazón, specifically their Westport location, which I was visiting for the very first time.
Café Corazón // Photo by Tiffany Watts
If you’re familiar with Café Corazón’s Crossroads café, the Westport spot feels like its cozy, slightly more intimate sibling. It’s smaller and more quaint, but still carries the same heart. Warm colors splash across the walls through vibrant artwork, the music hums softly in the background with an easy, feel-good rhythm, and the space instantly feels welcoming. There’s outdoor seating for those warmer days, friendly staff, and that unmistakable Corazón energy that everyone from locals to tourists loves.
I kept my drink order simple: an iced latte with oat milk, sugar-free caramel, and an extra shot of espresso ($7). Their lattes typically come with two shots, but I needed that additional burst of energy, so I added shot number three without hesitation. It was as I expected, balanced and delicious. It was exactly what I wanted while easing back into my routine.
Since I was there, I also wanted to try something new. Enter the ratatouille empanada ($4.75), a vegan option filled with zucchini, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and herbs. On its own, the empanada was excellent: flaky on the outside, warm and savory inside, with vegetables cooked down just enough to be tender while still holding their flavor.
Café Corazón // Photo by Tiffany Watts
It’s served with a red salsa by default, but I asked for verde, expecting a classic tomatillo-based green salsa. Instead, I was handed a small container of something entirely different and completely unforgettable. It was packed with garlicky goodness, oil, fresh green herbs, and little red chili peppers. It elevated every bite so much that I was genuinely upset with myself for not ordering extras: one more for me and a few to share with friends.
Judge me or don’t, but I’m already planning my return visit, if only to confirm exactly what that sauce was and see if buying a jar is an option.
Café Corazón is located at 1721 Westport Rd. KCMO 64111.
Blue Bird Bistro // Photo by Tiffany Watts
I’ve got a KC gem for you, so let’s dig into the details, shall we? Tucked into Kansas City’s Westside, Blue Bird Bistro is serving up Mid-American artisan cuisine, and it’s cutesy, homey, and effortlessly comfortable.
One of the best perks? You can order anything on the menu at any time of day. So when I stopped in around breakfast hours, I went straight for the Chicken Sandwich ($17), made with a blackened chicken thigh from Campo Lindo Farm, organic greens, and served on a house-made organic unbleached white wheat bun.
The sandwich typically comes with tomato and Hemme Brothers Creamery quark cheese, but I opted to take both off. Yes, I know that changes things. To balance it out, I added sautéed onions, a hit of hot sauce, and ordered the potatoes on the side.
The chicken was juicy and deeply flavored, which really kept each bite interesting. Personally, I think thigh meat is always the right call for a sandwich–tender, rich, and far from dry. The bun held everything together beautifully, soft but sturdy, letting the chicken remain the star.
Blue Bird Bistro // Photo by Tiffany Watts
Then there were the potatoes. Golden with the right amount of crisp and seasoning.
Beyond the food, the location always seals the experience. Plus, the sun was out, casting that warm, feel-good light that makes Westside feel especially alive.
Blue Bird Bistro is located at 1700 Summit St., Kansas City, MO.
