i agree with mir that Ok joes is overrated. but it is really good.
gates can be incredibly good, but on average, it's average, and it can be incredibly bad too. they, like most kc bbq places, are very inconsistent.
the one exception to that rule is jack stack. they are consistently good to great. and have the widest range of good stuff. meaning, their strength doesn't just lie in their ribs, or their brisket, or their beans. they do it all well, including their sides.
i got some burnt ends the other day from LCs that i wouldn't serve to a dog.
but KC style bbq is what the national food pundits declare the best in the country. not a particular place. part of the reason for that is because like jack stack, we don't do just pork, or just ribs, or just brisket. we do it all, and on top of that, we invented burnt ends. yes i realize that you can get ribs in texas. but the reality is, is that texas does brisket. carolina does pork, memphis does terrible dry ribs.
kc has more bbq locations per-capita than anywhere else and we eat a lot of it.