KANSAS CITY WESTPORT FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO TKC FIRST REVIEW!!!

Freebirds World Burrito in Kansas City's Westport Party District opened this week and last night TKC conducted a cursory visit and review.

Rather than pretend that I know anything about about culinary criticism. . . Let's just cover the basics.

Freebirds World Burrito takes the place of the old Chili's in Westport which was known for crappy service and even worse food at a mid-range cost. It was probably one of the most uncreative spots to have lunch or dinner in all of Midtown Kansas City.

Freebirds in Westport is a much better option. It's new so all of the employees are pretty jazzed to be there and seem to be on their best behavior. That will fade but for the most part these national chains run a pretty tight ship. This is a quick service restaurant and not a place where a waiter has to endure all of the Midtown KC cultural logics that make getting or serving a decent meal in this town mostly a horrible experience.



While Mexican heritage doesn't make me an expert in burritos, unfortunately I consume a lot of fast food and understand the dynamic this place is based upon. Real talk: Freebirds World Burrito is a slightly more pricey and somewhat nicer version of Chipotle. For the money, the burritos are much tastier, there are more options AND McDonald's Corp. mega portions are not standard. All of this works to the advantage of Freebirds.

Two people can eat for 20 bucks and without the hassle of a gratuity or someone forced to bother patrons during the meal. As far as Midtown dinning options go, we can see this place picking up steam because it's relatively quick, clean, cheap and the location is perfect. It seems like a decent option and the goofy motorcycle gear on the wall gives the illusion of ambiance so it'll serve as a cheap date night location for women with low expectations.



Other than that . . . For those killing themselves with takeout . . . This place should earn a well-deserved spot in the rotation. The somewhat tangy and flavorful BUT THANKFULLY INEXPENSIVE take on Americanized Mexican food is a nice twist for Westport dinning that has been mostly veering toward overpriced faux gourmet garbage that's mostly about pretension. Port Fonda d-bags who would pay $9 for a taco - We're all smirking at you.

Also, there's no such thing as a "gourmet" food truck. There are only suckers willing to pay a premium to pretend that the loss of the American manufacturing base hasn't disheartened the consumer class and made them even more desperate to find some connection to authenticity.

Anyhoo . . . In the final analysis, Freebirds World Burrito Kansas City tinfoil-covered dinning in Westport is worth a few extra cents for the illusion that working class life affords something nicer than the empty calories of mass produced food.