If you haven’t heard about District Biskuits in North Kansas City, you are missing out on a culinary gem that offers a delectable fusion of comfort food and urban sophistication.
District Biskuits founder Chef Guroux Khalifa has been making headlines recently by placing in G.I.F.T.’s We Are Black pitch competition and by being a semi-finalist for best chef and best restaurant in the People’s Choice Awards. Let me tell you, Khalifa’s food deserves the hype and then some.
Khalifa is classically trained, studying at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta. However, it was his mother’s biscuit recipe that ignited his passion for the Southern staple, inspiring him to try and perfect the art of biscuit making.
The biscuits are close to perfect, with their outer crisp texture giving way to an airy, pillowy, and buttery inside.
After years of developing a cult following with his biscuit creations at popups and catering gigs, Khalifa’s dream of opening his own restaurant became a reality in 2022, when District Biskuits found a permanent home on Armour Road.
When you first enter this vibrant establishment — which used to be a Subway chain restaurant — bright colors, music loud enough to hear the words, and the aroma of freshly baked biscuits assault your senses. The decor blends sleek modernity with the charm of an open kitchen and lunch counter.
The menu at District Biskuits is a love letter to Kansas City, with each dish paying homage to the city’s diverse neighborhoods and iconic landmarks. The “Wonder” sandwich, named after the historic Wonder Bread building on Troost Avenue, is a true crowd-pleaser. It features a juicy fried chicken filet nestled between two buttery biscuit halves, topped with a perfectly fried egg, American cheese, crisp bacon, and chives.
While I’ve explored my way through the menu, I’ve landed on the “Charlie Hustle” sandwich as a personal favorite. Inspired by the Crossroads Arts District, this fiery creation features a Nashville-style hot fried chicken filet drenched in a tantalizing hot honey butter sauce, complemented by a refreshing coleslaw, crisp pickles, and a sprinkle of chives.
Fried chicken and biscuits are the stars of the menu, and Khalifa says that all the chicken in his restaurant is cooked sous vide, a French technique that allows the chicken to brine while it cooks. The technique yields consistently juicy, flavorful chicken that hits the spot every time.
On special occasions, Khalifa offers fried chicken dinners with all the fixings. While it isn’t on the menu full-time yet, watch social media for availability and future specials.
District Biskuits also has daily specials, including a hot chicken and waffle dish on the weekends that you truly can’t miss.
But District Biskuits is more than just chicken-and-biscuit sandwiches. The “DB Hash” is a masterful blend of crispy hash brown coins, savory chicken sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon jam, and shredded cheese, all lovingly crafted to perfection. The biscuits and gravy also pack a flavorful punch with mini biscuits and a spicy sausage blend.
For those with a sweet tooth, check out the rotating list of hand-crafted milkshakes. Get the “Benton Boogie,” a decadent chocolate ice cream-based shake with Oreos, peanut butter, and caramel. There is also a series of sweet and refreshing house-made lemonades called “Troost Juice” to wash down your choice of nosh.
What truly sets District Biskuits apart, however, is Khalifa’s commitment to celebrating and uplifting the local community.
From partnering with Black-owned businesses like Black Drip Coffee, Mother Clucker, and Kin Seltzer to naming menu items after iconic KC landmarks, every aspect of the restaurant pays homage to the city’s rich cultural tapestry.
As you savor each bite, you can’t help but feel a sense of pride and connection to the community that Khalifa has so skillfully woven into his culinary creations.
You can see the menu and order online at DistrictBiskuits.com if you like to plan ahead or have catering needs, but the food comes out hot and fast during weekday lunch hours and always satisfies if you’re out and about on the weekends.
District Biskuits
504 Armour Rd., North Kansas City
Closed Monday
Tue. – Thu. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fri. – Sun. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
