After two days at Go Blog Social my brain was bursting with ideas, and I was getting tired. Once the sessions came to a close, we had a couple hours to relax before going to one last GBS party. My friend Nicole and I decided to use our time to explore Kansas City, Missouri. We were already smitten with the city, and we wanted to see more so we went to a walk to explore.
We couldn’t walk past YJ’s Snack Bar. This funky cafe was begging us to stop in, and the promise of coffee was exactly what we needed. Everyone in KC is beyond friendly, so naturally the barista was chatting with us while she prepared our drinks. We learned that YJ’s Snack Bar has been around since 1927 – and at one point it was a bar/coffee shop. The decor included an old sign advertising drink specials, a piano, and lots of other eclectic memorabilia.
Nicole ordered the Lemon Tart and a coffee, while I had German Chocolate Cake with Sun Tea. The desserts were both made in house, and were outstanding. The chocolate cake was perfectly moist. The lemon tart was a lovely mix of tart and sweet.
While having coffee and cake in the afternoon isn’t common on this side of the Atlantic, it is a popular tradition in Germany. When I studied abroad in Berlin, the teachers and students would often stop in the mid-afternoon for coffee and cake. It is a fun little pick me up in the middle of the day. (There is Nicole in the corner, she is always smiling!)
I am so pleased that we stumbled across YJ’s Snack Bar. It was such a unique authentic local experience. If you are in Kansas City, you can visit YJ’s at 128 W 18th St, Kansas City, MO. They do serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner in addition to coffee and snacks. Thanks to my friend Nicole for helping with the photos.
Nada Qamber
Friday 11th of April 2014
Sounds like you ladies had fun. I would love to visit Kansas some day, and the restaurant looks so funky; just as you said, and you can it carries some history with them, of course since it opened in the 1920's. You gotta love restaurants like these, it feels like you're going back in time a bit.