6 editor picks in Chicago.
6 american bbq places in Chicago we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Chicago | American Bbq across every city.
Chicago barbecue leans toward South Side smokehouses and rib tips over the brisket traditions of Texas. Lem's Bar-B-Q and Honey 1 BBQ work the classic South Side style, while Smoque BBQ in Irving Park brought a more studied approach to the North Side. Calumet Fisheries on the East Side smokes its fish over oak and is a piece of the city's industrial-corridor food history.
Smoque BBQ in Chicago is the Irving Park no-frills counter on Pulaski Road since 2006, with brisket and St Louis ribs smoked over apple and hickory in-house.
OrderA sliced brisket plate with the St Louis ribs split. Half-rack rather than full.
TipClosed Mondays. Closes at 21:00 sharp and meat sells out from 19:30 on weekends.
Calumet Fisheries in Chicago is the East Side smokehouse on the 95th Street bridge since 1948, with smoked chub, fried perch and shrimp wrapped in butcher.
OrderSmoked chub by the piece and a fried perch fillet plate.
TipCash only, no seating. Walk to the bridge and eat the chub on the railing watching the boats; that is the meal.
Calumet Fisheries in Chicago is the East Side smokehouse on the 95th Street bridge since 1948, smoked chub locals walk away with in butcher paper to eat.
TipCash only, no seating. Walk to the bridge with smoked chub in butcher paper, eat on the railing.
Lem's Bar-B-Q in Chicago is the Chatham South Side aquarium-smoker barbecue counter on 75th Street since 1954, with rib tips and hot links wrapped in butcher.
OrderRib tips, hot links
TipCash and counter only; open until 02:00 most nights. The tip-and-link combo on white bread is the canonical Saturday-night order.
Honey 1 BBQ in Chicago is the South Side aquarium-smoker BBQ counter on 43rd Street from the Henry family, with the rib-tip-and-link plate for under $12.
OrderRib tips, smoked links
TipClosed Sundays. The brisket sandwich is the under-the-radar order; sliced thick and dressed with the sweet-vinegar sauce on the side.
Uncle John's BBQ in Chicago is the South Side aquarium-smoker BBQ counter on Cottage Grove, with the rib-tip plate locals send out-of-towners to first.
OrderRib tips
TipCash only and the wait is long; arrive 16:30 to beat the 18:00 rush. The link-and-tip combo is the all-the-way order.
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