JEFFERSON CITY – For more than two decades, the readers of Rural Missouri have been sharing their favorite places in the Show-Me State with the editors of the magazine. Thousands of entries in the annual Best of Rural Missouri Readers’ Choice Awards helped the staff highlight the best places to eat, shop, stay and relax. Winners in the 20th edition of the contest were recently announced in the magazine’s April edition, with a winner, runner-up and editor’s choice award presented in 16 categories.
A new feature this year is the addition of the Best of Rural Missouri Hall of Fame recognizing those restaurants, businesses and places that are not only voter favorites but have become Missouri institutions.
“During the 20-year history of the Best of Rural Missouri contest, some winners have emerged as perennial favorites among our readers,” says Editor Jim McCarty. “The inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2023 represents those places that have received five or more first-place wins during the history of the statewide contest. We’ll continue to list our Best of Rural Missouri Hall of Fame annually and add to that list in the years to come. Please join us in congratulating all of the places our readers consider to be truly the best.”
The following were selected by Rural Missouri readers as the best in 2023:
Restaurant
1st: The Mudcat Coffee House, Oak Ridge
Runner-up: Home Town Diner, Hermitage
Editors’ choice: Li’l Black River Cafe, Grandin
Barbecue
1st: Exit 92 BBQ, Craig
Runner-up: Kehde’s Barbecue, Sedalia
Editors’ choice: Strawberry’s BBQ, Holcomb
Burger
1st: Rich’s Famous Burgers, Steelville, St. James and Sullivan
Runner-up: Uncle Ernies, Bourbon
Editors’ choice: White Grill, Nevada
Dessert
1st: Bourbon Cafe and Coffee Saloon, Bourbon
Runner-up: A Slice of Pie, Rolla
Editors’ choice: The Pie Safe, Carthage
Food truck
1st: Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co., Columbia
Runner-up: Hercules Southern BBQ, Piedmont
Editors’ choice: Ghetto Tacos, Webb City
International Food
1st: Simply Siam, Maryville
Runner-up: The German Table, Cole Camp
Editors’ choice: The Greek Corner Gyros, Kirksville
Breakfast
1st: Cosmic Cafe, Warsaw
Runner-up: Billy Gail’s, Branson and Ozark
Editors’ choice: Jonesy’s Cafe, Paris
Outdoor Adventure
1st : Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, Lampe
Runner-up: Katy Trail State Park
Editors’ choice: Floating on a Missouri stream
Antique Store
1st: Nostalgia Vintage Apparel and Marketplace, Sedalia
Runner-up: Minnie Lane, Maryville
Editors’ Choice: Downtown Antiques, West Plains
Place to Take the Kids
Elephant Rocks State Park, Belleview
Runner-up: Wonders of Wildlife, Springfield
Editors’ choice: Kansas City Zoo
Getaway Without the Kids
1st: Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock, Ridgedale
Runner-up: Echo Bluff State Park, Eminence
Editors’ choice: The Elms Hotel & Spa, Excelsior Springs
State Park or Historic Site
1st: Harry S Truman State Park, Warsaw
Runner-up: Bennett Spring State Park, Lebanon
Editors’ choice: Wakonda State Park, La Grange
Festival
1st: Apple Butter Makin’ Days, Mt. Vernon
Runner-up: Heritage Days, Warsaw
Editors’ choice: Bethel Colony Fall Market, Bethel
Made in Missouri Product
1st: Bankhead Candies, Bowling Green
Runner-up: Burgers’ Smokehouse, California
Editors’ choice: Hammons Black Walnuts, Stockton
Winery, Brewery or Distillery
1st: Piney River Brewing Co., Bucyrus
Runner-up: Stone Hill Winery, Hermann
Editors’ choice: R/Farm Distilling Co., Mound City
Main Street
1st: St. Charles
Runner-up: Cape Girardeau
Editors’ choice: Hamilton
These are the inaugural Hall of Fame inductees:
Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que, Cuba
Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Camdenton
St. James Winery, St. James
Silver Dollar City, Branson
Branson
Lake of the Ozarks