• 5
• Hands down, favorite local business

Whether they're reinventing old standards or coming up with stuff you'd never dreamed of, Mud Pie always hits the mark. I love that they're always experimenting with new menu items -- sandwiches, stuffed pretzels, kolaches, better-than-twix (my words, not the official name) caramel shortbread bars, strawberry cheesecake coffee cake, and maybe one day ice cream, donuts, juices, and grab n' go lunches. Mud Pie did our wedding, they're our go-to for work and family events, for business and social meetings, quiet time, family time (there's a kid room filled with toys and secured with a baby gate), a walk destination, a birthday party (we grab something vegan for our kid when partying with non-vegan cake eaters), and of course a coffee or tea drink any time. Sharon has been developing vegan recipes since her kids were young, and daughter Ashley and her husband Michael keep the shop full of fresh, comforting, innovative treats and drinks. Michael roasts much of the coffee in-house and purchases from local roasteries as well. They make most of their plant milks in-house -- almond, cashew, hemp, coconut. Definitely try the chai with cashew milk. The delicate richness of the cashews pairs well with a spicy, sweet, subtle chai. Also! They have a separate gluten free kitchen and keep gluten free goods (lots!) separate. Not sure on nut cross contamination, but otherwise the best allergy-friendly treats in KC. Mud Pie hosts community and family events often, including meetups, movie screenings, trick-or-treating, and more. The people are just simply fantastic. Ownership, baristas, bakers, management, everyone. They all deserve to be billionaires and Kansas City deserves a Mud Pie empire. If we're being real.