Chicago Style BBQ

Based in Park Forest, Willie P’s BBQ and Catering is a mobile operation and food truck specializing in South Side-style smoked meats. The menu features fan favorites such as slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, and smoked sausage. Led by a local pitmaster, the business focuses on event catering and mobile service, providing charred, tender meats for gatherings and festivals throughout the area.

Located in East Dundee, Duke’s Blues-n-BBQ specializes in southern-style barbecue and home cooking designed to emulate a traditional family kitchen. The establishment is known for its rib tips and a community focus that includes hosting the multi-day Duke’s Blues Festival.

Located on Ruby Street, JD’s BBQ is a pickup and delivery-focused Joliet establishment specializing in a combination of pork rib tips, links, and fried catfish. The kitchen is known for its Honey Mango Jerk Wings and signature combo platters, which include foundational sides like coleslaw. Distinctive for its late-night availability, the restaurant remains open until midnight or later on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Located in Mundelein, Smokin BBQ on 45 specializes in slow-smoked meats including pulled beef brisket sold by the pound and jerk chicken seasoned with fiery spices. A signature menu favorite is their BBQ rib tips, which are dusted in a house rub and mopped with the restaurant's own signature sauce. The counter-service establishment offers a mix of traditional BBQ dishes and different creations for dine-in, takeout, and catering.

Operating in Chicago since 1994, Smoke Daddy specializes in slow-cooked BBQ classics and is highlighted by its "Chicago-style" spare ribs. The Wrigleyville location pairs its meat with a focus on blues music and beer, frequently hosting events like whole hog pig roasts near Wrigley Field.

Hecky’s Barbecue is a long-standing Evanston institution that has been operating from the same street corner since 1983 and was famously featured in Anthony Bourdain’s book *World Travel*. The menu focuses on traditional items like baby back ribs, hot links, sliced brisket, and smoked wings, often accompanied by their signature sauce and sides like collard greens and caramel cake. The restaurant is a staple for local catering and offers take-out and delivery services.

Located on Chicago’s South Side, No Sauce AZ Smokehouse specializes in meats smoked low and slow over real hardwood, including brisket sandwiches, smoked pork tips, and chicken ribs. True to its name, the smokehouse emphasizes deep, natural flavor developed through skill rather than relying on sauces or shortcuts. The menu also features signature items like oxtails and crab legs alongside traditional sides like mac and cheese and collard greens.

Led by Chef Dominique Leach, a veteran of Food Network’s *Chopped* and *Fire Masters*, Lexington Betty Smokehouse specializes in smoked spare ribs, rib tips, and wagyu beef franks. The menu features distinctive offerings like brisket-topped macaroni and cheese and brisket queso, paired with a variety of house-made sweet, spicy, and Caribbean BBQ sauces. The establishment has gained national recognition, earning the title of “Best BBQ in Chicago” from *Good Morning America*.

Coleman’s BBQ Elgin specializes in Arkansas-style Southern BBQ, focusing on slow-smoked pork rib tips, links, chicken wings, and turkey. This family-owned establishment is known for its signature tangy barbecue sauce and popular combination platters that pair tips with wings or sausage. Distinctive menu offerings include turkey tips and a variety of crispy wing baskets served with seasoned fries or sliced bread.

Bro N-Laws BBQ is a community-focused establishment owned by Kenneth Johnson and Gary Smith that specializes in southern-style meats smoked with hardwood. The restaurant is particularly recognized for its BBQ chicken and what they describe as traditional Chicago-style ribs. Their operation includes on-site dining on Chicago Avenue along with catering services and delivery options.

I57 Smoke House is a no-frills barbecue spot specializing in pork and turkey tips alongside hot links. Their meals are distinctive for including bread and fries soaked in sauce, with combo platters available to sample multiple meats. This South Side location offers home-style comfort food strictly for takeout, delivery, and catering.