Serving up Legendary BBQ since 1976
Serves entire Kansas City Metro
Service area
AWARD WINNER (5X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Zarda BBQ is a wedding catering company located in Blue Springs, MO, and Lenexa, KS. For more than 45 years, this family-owned and operated restaurant has delivered mouth-watering, Ozark hickory-smoked barbecue to the Kansas City area.
Over the years, the dishes at Zarda BBQ have taken on a cult status and earned the business a reputation for excellence. With an experienced catering team and perfected recipes, this company will ensure a seamless and savory meal at your special occasion. Before Zarda BBQ, the Zarda name was best known for its drive-in hamburger stands, founded by Norbert Zarda. “Grandpa Norb” instilled his work ethic in his three sons, who went on to start the barbecue restaurant. Now operated by Norb’s granddaughters, Suzanne and Jennifer Zarda, the eatery passes on the family ethics of hard work, dedicated service, and great food.
The catering team at Zarda BBQ will fully tailor your order to suit your tastes, preferences, budget, and guest list size. These professionals are ready to wow you with their award-winning burnt end carving stations, hickory-smoked sliced meats, tender smoked ribs, and juicy bone-in chicken. These meats are then paired with the eatery’s famous baked beans, refreshing country cole slaw, and decadent cheesy corn for an unforgettable culinary experience. Free wedding tastings are available at both Zarda BBQ locations.
No business details yet
No team details yet
Details
Cuisine
BBQ
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Vegetarian
Food & Catering
Buffet
Catering Clean Up
Catering Delivery & Setup
Menu Tastings
Servers
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.041 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Zarda BBQ is praised for delicious KC-style BBQ, generous portions, and reasonable pricing. Reviewers commend excellent communication and professional, friendly staff who handle full-service setup, serving, cleanup, and packaging leftovers. Reliable, adaptable, and highly recommended for weddings, rehearsal dinners, and large events.Jaelynn M
5.0
3/30/2026
Zarda BBQ went above and beyond for our wedding! Communication was excellent, service was even better, great prices, and food was amazing! Prior to the wedding, the family owed bus...
iness helped us figure out exactly what we needed for our big day. During the wedding, they had a server set up everything, keep food fresh, and packaged up all the leftovers for us! We didn’t have to stress at all about it - they handled it! It was so nice to have one less thing to stress about day of. Everyone at the wedding also said how great the food was! And after the wedding, they reached out to us and congratulated us! It was very sincere!
Brittany R
5.0
3/16/2026
Delicious food and great catering services altogether. Our guests loved the food! We'd use them again for sure!
Any questions?
Karsen H
5.0
11/08/2025
Zarda BBQ was amazing and overall I couldn’t have picked a better cater! They were super responsive and easy to work with. The most affordable catering I could find in the area whi...
le still offering many delicious options! They were dressed very professionally day of and I received a lot of compliments from guests saying how friendly they were! Highly recommend!
Erica F
5.0
11/03/2025
We are so happy we chose Zarda BBQ for our wedding day!! From our initial connect with Suzanne to our tasting with Helen and the day of catering with Morgann, Juan and Celeste, the...
y were all amazing to work with. They helped make our big day possible and our guests raved about the food saying it was the best wedding food they have had (we had cheesy corn, Mac and cheese, green beans, pulled pork, burnt ends, bone in chicken, rolls and salad). They also provide flatware, plates, cloth napkins, and glass rentals for us. If you are looking for BBQ for your KC wedding, they are the best!
Grace C
5.0
10/25/2025
We are so pleased with the catering services provided by Zarda (Suzanne, Moises, Maria, & Juan) for our special day! They were very communicative and helpful throughout the entire ...
process. We had multiple compliments from guests and many couples who were interested in hiring them for their own wedding!
Jimmy B
5.0
10/21/2025
The entire Zarda catering experience was very straight forward and professional. We were looking for catering for a wedding rehearsal dinner for 50 people. Just a few weeks prior t...
o the event, I filled out the online form to request to be contacted for catering. I provided the details of the event, the headcount, and what we were considering to order. Erin answered all of my questions, and even contacted the Mill Room where our event was planned to work out further details on catering there. All of that work made it seamless and worry free on my end. We opted for the full-service catering, and the staff on site during the event was wonderful. All the food was delicious and exactly as ordered. They even packaged up the leftovers in containers they provided! I would definitely recommend Zarda Catering with full-service!
Trevor D
5.0
10/13/2025
Zarda BBQ was a wonderful experience to have at our wedding. Suzanna Zarda was extremely helpful and responsive throughout the entirety of the planning process.
On the day of the ...
wedding, our caterers, Maria and Hector were awesome. Very personable and we’re glad they were apart of our big day. Thank you to the entire Zarda team!
Mia H
5.0
10/08/2025
We booked Zardas for our September wedding and they were absolutely amazing!! We got so many compliments on the food and the staff! Everyone was super sweet and helpful we will def...
initely be using them for anything we need in the future and recommending them to everyone we know!!
Nicole S
5.0
10/04/2025
We loved working with the GM Suzanne and her team Helen, Dustin and Maria. Everything with our food with flawlessly and we got so many compliments on our meal for our wedding. We a...
lso loved getting to sample so many different items and really find a meal that was all the yummy things we love! The Zarda team was professional and so friendly. 10/10 recommend!
Jennah U
5.0
10/01/2025
I hired them for my wedding and Zarda was EXCELLENT. Their catering department is very knowledgeable, kind and is very willing to work with you, and their ordering process is super...
easy. I felt that they wanted to give me the absolute best possible experience versus them wanting to only make money / get in and out. They were very patient and are completely customer oriented. They handled everything without issue. I will recommend them over and over again. I worked a lot with Helen at the Lenexa location and she was an absolute angel with making sure I had everything I needed to make it run as smoothly as possible and make sure I had everything I needed. Thank you Zarda.
Erin R
5.0
8/21/2025
Erin Henderson with Zarda was amazing to work with. We had 260 guests at our reception for my daughter’s wedding. The guests were so complimentary of the food. The staff did an ...
amazing job, they were so professional and helpful. The reception went so smoothly and we couldn’t have done it without Erin and her crew. We highly recommend Zarda’s.
Tina F
5.0
7/14/2025
Exceptional service, professional, reliable, set up was great!!! Food delicious. Highly recommend.
Renee M
5.0
7/02/2025
Everything was easy from the ordering to the setup at my event to the clean up. I had them cater and they brought everything and set it all up and the cleaned up afterwards. Made ...
it a lot easier for my event not having to worry about it. They also brought bread, sauce, pickles and all the paperware and serving pans/utensils. The food was a big hit, it was excellent,
Beth S
5.0
11/19/2024
Suzanne was amazing to work with. Straightforward pricing, so professional, and SO great on the day of. Food was tasty, and you get to keep leftovers!!!
Cari F
5.0
11/07/2024
We had Zarda for our daughter's wedding and they were absolutely AMAZING! Suzanne was so nice and easy to work with from planning our menu all the way to our final count! We had 2 ...
servers by the name of Dustin and MiKayla and they worked so hard the entire time they were there! From setup, food delivery, carving of burnt ends, cutting sheet cakes and packaging and putting away all the remaining food. Oh and the food of course was AMAZING! I would 150% recommend Zarda for any catering need! Thank you all so much for all your hard work and participating in my daughter and son-in-laws special day! :)
Lauren S
5.0
11/05/2024
Zarda was a HUGE hit!! The food was everything we had hoped for, so delicious. Every expectation we had with Zarda was far exceeded :
Food 11/10- SO GOOD! It was hot. The smokey fl...
avor was on point, perfect! We had the burnt ends (server did an outstanding job) and pulled pork was perfect too. And I really enjoyed the brisket!!! Sides were perfect!
Communication 11/10. Suzanne, you were amazing. We felt like we didn’t have to worry about the food, definitely turned out to be true!
Servers 11/10. They were AWESOME. It was hot, it didn’t seem to phase them though. And you were right, set it up, took it down and never looked like they were there. Big kudos to them!!
We got lots of compliments, one of the best choices of the entire wedding!! Will recommend to any bride/groom without hesitation!!
Amanda T
5.0
10/14/2024
Absolutely amazing service and equally amazing food all at a great price point. I highly recommend checking out Zarda’s if you are looking for delicious KC BBQ for your wedding.
Lyndsey L
5.0
10/12/2024
We started working with Suzanne Zarda from the Lenexa location in November of 2023 for our October 2024 wedding. When we went in for our tasting, Suzanne set us up with everything ...
that we could possibly ask for from Zarda catering. The food was absolutely amazing. After our tasting, she answered all of our questions in regard to the catering process. We knew immediately after the tasting that Zarda was who we wanted to use!
Leading up to the wedding itself, Suzanne was always prompt with communication and so easy to work with. She worked flawlessly with my wedding coordinator so that the arrival of the food flowed with the day’s timeline.
During the wedding itself, we used staff from Zarda that helped make our night go smoothly. They staffed the buffet line, refilled food as needed, and bused our tables. When dinner was over, the packed all of the leftovers neatly into containers for us to take home. It was so helpful that I didn’t have to think about any of this during the wedding and that it was taken care of for me!
The food itself was delicious! Everything was fresh and well-liked by our guests. We even used Zarda for our appetizers during our cocktail hour and that was a hit!
If you are considering BBQ for catering, please hit up Suzanne at Zarda’s Lenexa location. You will not be disappointed!
Beth K
5.0
10/08/2024
Using Zarda for our wedding reception was BRILLIANT!
First of all, Suzanne Zarda was SO pleasant and easy to work with! Second, Zarda BBQ has been making great food all day, ev...
ery day for a very long time. They have experience with large crowds, and nothing seems to phase them. Pricing is very reasonable, food is delicious, set up/clean up were unobtrusive, and leftovers were marvelous.
If you want to provide your out-of-town guests with a KC BBQ experience, talk to Suzanne Zarda!
Elizabeth H
5.0
10/07/2024
We had a fantastic wedding reception at Zarda barbecue in their banquet/private room. Celeste was our server and did an incredible job being attentive, serving over 65 people, and ...
keeping an eye on the food and drinks. She served the cake and packaged up all the food that was left over for us us including some bottles of Zarda barbecue sauce. We had a last-minute change in our venue, so Zarda fortunately had the evening open and let us come in that morning to set up and took such good care of us 10 out of 10. In a city of wedding venues that are way overpriced, sometimes the simplistic aspect to quality food and intimate space can be priceless. Highly recommend a local Kansas City nostalgic venue!
Chris S
5.0
9/24/2024
We were planning a rehearsal dinner from Texas and knew we wanted to serve guests real KC BBQ. We searched online for restaurant options for 50 guests and were discouraged by the c...
razy high prices. We are so thankful we stumbled onto Zarda Bar-B-Q. Not only was the food affordably priced, but it all tasted fantastic! And the banquet room was just the right size. This place is a family owned restaurant and a local favorite. Suzanne and Celeste went above and beyond to make this special event perfect. The Texas guests loved the food and atmosphere. We can’t thank them enough for making the night such a success.
Lisa R
5.0
8/01/2024
Could not have been better! First thing that started the service off amazing was the taste testing that Erin set up for us. She made it so easy for us to make the best decisions fo...
r our day. She was responsive and worked with us when we had to make time adjustments. The crew that came to the event was amazing. They even helped with moving tables to flip the venue from ceremony to reception. The food was a massive hit, everyone couldn’t stop talking about how good it was! We had a lot of out of town guests who look forward to Kansas City BBQ and they did not disappoint. They cleaned and tidied everything up so nicely for us at the end of the night and made it such an easy process to take any leftovers with us. Oh and I should mention it was extremely affordable!
Taylor C
5.0
7/18/2024
I catered Zarda BBQ for my rehearsal dinner and it was by far one of the best vendors that I used from my rehearsal dinner and wedding. From day one, the communication was amazing....
They were so quick to respond and answered all my questions that I had. Night of, the staff showed on time and set up in a very quickly matter, stayed, and cleaned up. I couldn't recommended Zarda enough for any of your food catering needs!
Carla S
5.0
6/24/2024
We used Zarda for a rehearsal dinner at Belvior Winery. Erin is professional and great to work with. Communicated we us throughout the process. We have always had excellent service...
when we hired them to cater our family events. The food, drinks and set up was as expected and excellent. The amount of food was beyond what we expected. Kiersten was our server and went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied before, during and after the dinner.
Tim V
5.0
6/24/2024
Food was on time (early in fact) and excellent. Portion size was great and the staff were excellent.
Robin M
5.0
6/19/2024
Zarda BBQ was exceptional in every area...quality of food, presentation, incredible staff, ease of ordering, clean up...we could not be more pleased! Zarda catered our 3 kids' wedd...
ings in the last two years (2 wedding receptions and 1 wedding rehearsal dinner). Our guests loved it and still talk about the meal! Erin and her catering staff are incredible! The presentation is beautiful and the food just stands out! The fresh-carved burnt ends at the buffet line was so impressive to our guests and the BBQ beans with burnt ends in them are the best anywhere! We had a large variety of sides and also offered fresh salad and veggies! Thank you Zarda BBQ for the above-and-beyond service you provided and the outstanding BBQ for our family and friends to enjoy as we celebrated our kid's weddings. Zarda will always be our first choice for BBQ!
Liza D
5.0
6/19/2024
Zarda was the absolute best! They were professional, on time, and there was plenty of food. Everyone loved the food.
K H
5.0
11/20/2023
I worked with Erin to set up a luncheon after my stepdad’s funeral. She was wonderful to work with and answered all my questions and helped me plan accordingly. Garrett was the cat...
erer the day of the luncheon & did a great job setting up and making sure there was plenty of food ready. They both made such a difficult day much easier!
Nicole B
5.0
11/14/2023
We use Zarda every year for a large program, they are always great! They show up on time and always do a fantastic job setting up, serving and cleaning up! The food is always hot a...
nd delicious!
Blake S
5.0
9/19/2023
Zarda went above and beyond!! We were looking at rain before the event and they accommodated us in every way they could!! The food was amazing and we are so grateful!!!
Linda D
5.0
8/10/2023
Food was hot and delicious. I would definitely love to have them cater my events.
Kayla M
5.0
8/01/2023
The food was delicious and the prices were very reasonable! Erin had great communication with everything leading up to the wedding. The caterers on the day of were very friendly an...
d helpful. Our guests raved about how yummy the BBQ was!
Response from Zarda BBQ on 08/01/2023
We are so happy you were satisfied with the catering services, it was so great working wit...
h you! Thank you again for trusting Zardas to handle the catering on your big day!
Erin R
5.0
6/19/2023
We booked Zarda for a corporate event and they far exceeded my expectations! Their catering coordinator Erin was always on top of communication and quick to respond to any question...
s or changes. Erin and her team handled the entire set up/teardown of the buffet line and even provided their own tables and linens. The food was hot, fresh and our 250 attendees all raved about how good it was (especially the potato bake). I would absolutely recommend Zarda and plan to use them again for future functions.
Response from Zarda BBQ on 06/21/2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for your kind words! It was so great w...
orking with you, we look forward to catering for you in the future!
Sarah B
5.0
5/31/2023
Food and service exceeded our expectations. Caterers were very professional. Would definitely recommend!
We were also on a budget and found their pricing most reasonable.
Taylor W
5.0
12/16/2022
Everyone LOVED the food on our special day! Zarda BBQ was easier to work with and affordable!
Jordan F
5.0
12/12/2022
Zardas was absolutely amazing! They came in and provided the greatest spread. The food was amazing and we heard such great compliments from guests. They bussed tables and packaged ...
everything up. Working with Erin to get things set up made this one of the easiest parts of wedding planning. Absolutely recommend!
Paige M
5.0
10/10/2022
Nothing but amazing. They catering was prefect - we had a ton of left overs though so much sure you order just what you need 😆
We paid for full catering- them set up, break down ...
& provide their tables, linens, plates, utensils etc - & in my opinion that's the only way to go. So you don't have to worry about anything.
They even took all the left overs with them & packaged everything up & store in their cooler back at the restaurant bc we didn't have enough space for all the left overs!
Mac-N-Cheese was a fan favorite 😍
Brittany W
5.0
5/23/2022
Absolutely amazing! Punctual, professional, and the food was amazing. Got so many compliments from guests and our venue said they were very self sufficient and easy to work with! F...
ood was delivered almost 2 hours from the restaurant and tasted like it came straight from the kitchen!
Mindi P
5.0
5/02/2022
We have used Zardas for many of large events and we have never been disappointed. They have always been able to accommodate anything we have asked for…and also show great flexibili...
ty and professionalism. The bonus? Their food is always of great quality and tastes great!
Rick M
5.0
4/19/2022
Of course the food is fantastic but all servers were excellent as well. Thank you!
Danielle S
5.0
11/22/2021
The food was excellent, appreciated the timeliness and courtesy of staff. Also liked that they notified us to give a last call before packing up. We were able to get 100+ people...
through the buffet line quickly and had plenty of food. Aside from the superb bbq, the white cheddar mac n cheese and potatoes were a huge hit. Will definitely use Zarda for the next wedding or event we have.
Contact
Curious to learn more?
Start the convo
*=Required
Use this secure form to reach out and share your wedding vision.
Wedding vendors in Blue Springs
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure. Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place. Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go. For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.