(816) 897-0087

Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-12am
Friday-Saturday: 11am-1:30am
Sunday: Closed

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Welcome to the Hard Core Cafe

We’re Kevin and Kathy Burns, and we created this space out of our love for great food, cold drinks, and motorcycles. Right next door to our custom motorcycle shop, Hard Core Customs in Gladstone, our cafe is a place where everyone can kick back, enjoy a hearty beer selection, live music, and even some bar games. Sports fans can catch the game on TV while soaking in the friendly atmosphere.

After hearing from so many of our customers looking for a nearby spot to grab a bite, we decided to make it happen ourselves. Whether you’re a biker waiting for a tune-up, a local out for a fun night, or just someone who loves good food, good company and a cold beer, the Hard Core Cafe is here for you. Come on in—we’d love to have you!

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Hard Core Cafe
4.7
Based on 235 reviews
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Michael Livers (MLpapa)
18:24 19 Dec 24
Great service. Food was good. I need a nap now.
Elizabeth Berutti
23:37 26 Oct 24
If you have not tried the food here yet, you should definitely give them a try! Their Turkey Melt is so good!! But I love their French Dip and potato salad too! Everyone is always nice and welcoming as well. Just give them a try! You won't be disappointed.
Mary Robinson
20:16 11 Oct 24
Lindsey Moehlman
04:10 05 Oct 24
McKenzie is the ABSOLUTE BEST bar tender
Josh Aragon
20:15 03 Oct 24
Fantastic place. Food was awesome definitely will be back. Loved the clean biker atmosphere.
Carl Sorensen
15:51 17 Nov 23
A while back someone posted in a FB group wondering why people had not gone to a particular restaurant. Their complaint was that there were no pictures or posts about this restaurant. I must admit they were correct, and I set out to do something about it. So yesterday afternoon I got in my jalopy, and I drove over to a café they call Hard Core!When I got there, I ordered up a nice cold Dunkel and their version of the club sandwich. You see they take three slices of wheat bread and toast them to perfection and then they put onto that bread a good smear of mayo and on top of that mayo they put down some lettuce, cheese, turkey, and add the second slice and on that second slice they put a little more cheese tomato ham and bacon put the lid on it, drive a stake through its heart and cut it in half.Holy Moly!This is where human endurance is tested for you see that sandwich sits well over 3 and 1/2 in high! Even after attempting to squeeze it together, unless you have a lower jaw that you can unhinge, you cannot wrap your mouth around it. And when you do as I did and take a bite out of the bottom half and then a bite out of the top half, so you can get all of the flavors, I was amazed at how incredibly delicious and fresh this sandwich was.This is an incredible sandwich!Well done Hard Core CaféWell done indeed!It’s a Thursday afternoon and I'm filling my belly with a fantastic club sandwich in Gladstone!!
Angie Pike
16:54 14 Oct 21
Their salads are amazing. You won’t be left hungry that’s for sure! I have tried the buffalo chicken and the chef, both are very good and they are huge. The cafe/bar is clean and well stocked.
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Article from the Kansas City Star

Hard Core Customs, a full-service custom motorcycle shop, has operated in Gladstone for nearly a dozen years.

Its customers often wanted to grab a bite while waiting for a service like an oil change, but there wasn’t a restaurant within walking distance.

So now owners Kevin and Kathy Burns are providing one.

On Oct. 30 they opened the 2,600-square-foot Hard Core Cafe at 320 N.E. 72nd St.

The cafe — with walls of bright red and shiny diamond plate — features a pool table, Harley-Davidson pinball machine and dart boards. There’s also the Burn Pit, a separate smoking area.

But it is designed to draw more than just Hard Core Customs customers.

“We want the girls at City Hall to come down and feel as comfortable as a big fat biker,” said Kevin Burns.

The menu includes pizzas such as the Hard Core Combo, with pepperoni, hamburger, sausage, Italian sausage, green pepper, onion, mushrooms and black olives, as well as subs, French dip sandwiches, Buffalo chicken or breaded chicken salads, and more.

As for its sister business, Hard Core Customs, it does everything from oil changes to complete custom builds. It also has a retail area selling apparel and motorcycle accessories and parts.