Smokey? Sweet? Spicy? What's your preferred BBQ flavor?
Lucky for you, Chicago's barbecue scene has a bit of everything. Whether it's on a slab of ribs, chicken, pulled pork, or wings these spots have the best selection and more that are bound to satisfy your needs.
Updated May 2025
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / THE SMOKE DADDY
3636 N. Clark St. | Wrigleyville
1804 W. Division St. | Wicker Park
Smoke Daddy is a world-class BBQ restaurant in the heart of Wicker Park and now, the heart of Wrigleyville. If you're looking for an evening of BBQ, blues and beer, look no further. Dig into their extensive menu of all your favorite classics, and swing by for special events like weekend brunch, trivia, and live music.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / GYU-KAKU JAPANESE BBQ
210 E. Ohio St. | Streeterville
1364 W. Randolph St. | West Loop
2813 N Broadway St. | Lakeview
Gyu-Kaku is the perfect place to spend time with family and friends. They offer shared plates and a personal charcoal grill at each table, so everyone can be involved in the authentic Japanese yakiniku (grilled barbecue) dining experience. With premium aged meats and marinades, and drinks like Japanese sake and shochu, you can never miss.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / HONKY TONK BBQ
1800 S. Racine Ave. | Pilsen
Honky Tonk serves its meats in the traditional Memphis-style dry rub, roasted over a wood-burning fire with no natural gas. Their signature pulled pork and smoked brisket is always served with sauce on the side, and cooked with a dry rub is the perfect combination of salty and sweet, pepper and spice.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / CHICAGO Q
1160 N. Dearborn St. | Gold Coast
Chicago Q serves an award-winning barbeque experience with flavors from the Carolinas, Texas, Missouri and Tennessee—paired perfectly with a glass of bourbon. Dig into the highest quality meats seasoned with house-made rubs while served in a Savannah-style dining room, bubbling with Southern charm.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / MILT'S BARBECUE FOR THE PERPLEXED
3411 N. Broadway | Lakeview
Milt's is the only kosher-certified restaurant in Lakeview and offers a delectable experience ranging from on-site smoked meats to numerous vegetarian options. Milt’s also hosts an ongoing speaker series, focusing on topics that provide insights into life, politics and the state of the world.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / BABYGOLD BBQ
6615 Roosevelt Rd. | Berwyn, IL
Attached to the iconic FitzGerald's music venue, Babygold Barbeque offers everything from traditional American barbecue like brisket and ribs, to authentic po'boys and chargrilled oysters, and even healthier-than-expected vegetarian options like BBQ spiced cauliflower, and a killer kale Caesar salad.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / GREEN STREET SMOKED MEATS
112 N. Green St. | West Loop
Located down a brick-paved alley in the West Loop, Green Street Smoked Meats serves Central Texas-inspired BBQ, beer and cocktails in a warehouse-style restaurant. The curated menu has backyard BBQ staples and more unique offerings like rich pork belly, smoked salmon, vegetable-centric side dishes and the immensely popular Frito pie.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / OFFSET BBQ
1720 N. California Ave. | Humboldt Park
Offset has all of the bbq classic covered. You can get yours by the pound, on a sandwich, in a rice bowl or on a salad! The menu also boasts some unique fusion dished like BBQ bibimbap, a Mexican bowl with barbecued meat, and a bbq take on gyros served with warm pita.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / BUB CITY
435 N. Clark St. | River North
5441 Park Pl. | Rosemont, IL
From River North to Rosemont, Bub City serves American barbeque with a side of live country music. Enjoy double-barrel burgers and back porch tea daily as well as biscuits, beer and bloody marys during their classic weekend Bub Brunch.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / SOJU BBQ
36 S. Ashland Ave. | West Loop
Soju BBQ is the modern twist on homemade Korean BBQ. The restaurant sources quality proteins and lets trained servers do the grilling so you can kick back and dig in.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / JIANG NIU BBQ HOUSE
2300 S. Archer Ave. | Chinatown
Jiang Niu is a one-of-a-kind Asian fusion all-you-can-eat BBQ restaurant located in the heart of Chicago's Chinatown. The menu is inspired by cuisine from China’s Dongbei region and traditional Korean BBQ, resulting in a unique blend of flavors.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / LEM'S BAR-B-Q
311 E. 75th St. | Chatham
Lem's, the famous Bar-B-Q House, was founded in the '50s on the South Side of Chicago, and gained popularity for its rib tips and hot links. This Black-owned business uses an original Bar-B-Q sauce and spices that keep people coming back for that unique flavor.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / WINDY CITY RIBS & WHISKEY
67 E. Cermak Rd. | Motor Row District
Windy City Ribs & Whiskey is a no-frills barbeque restaurant that packs a punch with everything on its menu—St. Louis ribs, smoked whole wings, specialty fish fry, and the ever-popular taco and tequila Tuesdays! Windy City also works with High Roads Kitchen to fight food insecurity in Chicago.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / OLD CROW SMOKEHOUSE
3506 N. Clark St. | Wrigleyville
Serving award-winning barbeque from the kitchen of pitmaster and “MasterChef” Tony Scruggs, Old Crow is the go-to spot for game day action, country music and an endless supply of whiskey and BBQ. Swing by for all the classics and sides, and their special weekend brunch menu.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / LILLIE'S Q
417 W. Ashland Ave. | West Loop
Lillie's Q is a two-time barbeque world champion, so you know their Southern BBQ styles are both delicious and authentic. If you love the flavor and enjoy being a pitmaster yourself, they have their signature sauces and rubs for sale along with recipes online.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / PORKCHOP BBQ
8307 S South Chicago Ave | South Chicago
1132 W. Grand Ave. | West Loop
Porkchop serves up an urban interpretation of a backwoods experience, serving Southern comfort foods like hardwood smoked pork, beef, chicken and seafood. In the summer you can enjoy bbq and a fully curated drink menu on an open-air patio.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / JERK JAMAICAN BARBEQUE
811 W. Chicago Ave. | West Town
Jerk. Jamaican BBQ initially started as a food truck and grew into a full restaurant in West Town and Humbolt Park offering a menu inspired by "pushcart" Jamaican street-food with a unique barbecue spin—truly the best of both worlds!
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / TWIN ANCHORS
1655 N. Sedgwick St. | Old Town
Since its founding in the '30s, Twin Anchors has been a staple for tender barbecued baby-back ribs, enjoyed best in their quaint neighborhood tavern. The demand for ribs is so high, you can even have them shipped (with a bottle of housemade sauce) to anywhere in the country!
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / THE PIGGERY
1625 W. Irving Park Rd. | Lakeview
The Piggery is a family-friendly, sports-themed restaurant serving the same Flintstone size, fall-off-the-bone ribs for over 65 years. Their comfort food menu specializes in pork as well as other home-cooked entrees, sandwiches, and burgers perfect for any big game night.
Did we miss your favorite BBQ spot? Let us know at [email protected]
