Review: Worlds of Fun Burnt Ends Sandwich

Who thought they would see the day that Worlds of Fun would serve guests true burnt ends and fresh BBQ? The park has seen a tremendous transformation in food and beverage, which is anchored by the new Cotton Blossom Bar-B-Que restaurant.

In 2019, the Worlds of Fun Food Truck (typically parked inside Oceans of Fun) offered a burnt ends meal served on a bun, with homemade pickles and a bag of Lay’s potato chips for a side. For 2021, the food truck is now serving funnel cakes and the burnt ends sandwich has been reimagined at the new Surf’s Up BBQ stand.

These burnt ends have been through a smoker as a part of the brisket served at Cotton Blossom BBQ. The ends are then cut off the briskets, chopped up, mixed with a sauce, and served on a white bread bun.

As expected of true burnt ends, the meat was very dark and well done, but not truly burned. The sauce imparted a slightly hot and spicy taste to the meat, and the meat retained the charred flavor of being cooked in a smoked filled chamber for several hours. We appreciate a good smoked meat taste, and this had it.

This is our second experience with the Worlds of Fun homemade pickles that are available at several places in the park. On our first experience, we were not sure whether they were dill pickles or not. With our second tasting, we tasted dill, cloves, and also a sweetness that one expects of sweet pickles, so we would have to classify these as ‘sweet dill’ pickles. We would much rather have these pickles than factory jarred dill pickles and appreciate Worlds of Fun making them available across the park.

We are also extremely excited to see the burnt ends as a Worlds of Fun dining plan option!

Fact Sheet

What: Burnt Ends Sandwich
Where: Surf’s Up BBQ (Oceans of Fun)
Calories: 850
Cost: $13.99
Dining Plan: Yes
Pros: Real burnt-ends with a slightly charred taste. Good portion size, served on a bun. The homemade pickles are a better alternative to factory jarred dill pickles.
Cons: The classic burnt end charred meat taste may not be for everyone. The park took our previous recommendation and now serves the meal with waffle fries, which is a great choice!