I finally found a BBQ spot in the suburbs that I absolutely love. Chicago Culinary Kitchen has a cool rock n' roll vibe, and everything we ordered was delicious. For the hand-cut meats, we tried the brisket and pulled pork. Both were incredibly tender, smoky, and practically melted in your mouth. We also ordered the cornbread and mac and cheese, and both were standout sides. The cornbread was huge, dense, and still perfectly moist. I was a little worried the mac and cheese would be too spicy because of the Hot Cheetos, but it actually had just the right amount of kick. The combination of creamy mac and crunchy Cheetos made it extra flavorful. To finish the meal, we shared a burger, and wow , it was juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. You do have to order at the counter, but the staff was super friendly and helpful. They gave us great recommendations on which meats to try, which made the experience even better. read more

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Barbecue, beer, rock and roll and tattoos... OMG, I can't remember a night where I had so much fun and great food. We started off with the Delirium Black Armangnac Barrel Aged porter. This is a really rare opportunity, so I'm not sure I'll ever see it again. Amazing!! For an opener we enjoyed the Char Siu Pig Wings, a really unique take on the chicken wing - sweet, spicy and perfectly cooked. Then it was on to the brisket, St Louis style ribs and some of the best and most interesting sides I've had in a long time. The Sticky Sprouts had the same flavor profile as the Pig Wings, unique and tasty. The mac and cheese was dusted with crushed Flaming Hot Cheetos and the fried green tomatoes were really good too. I didn't have any stomach room left for dessert. I'll have to try the candied bacon n the next time I eat here, which I hope is really soon. And, I was granted a special high kick in celebration of my bday! The staff made my night really special. read more

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Maybe I had too high expectations based on all the other reviews, but I thought the BBQ at Chicago Culinary Kitchen was OK for the price. The brisket and pork belly nuggets had good flavor but were on the dry side. The fat did help with the moisture a little bit, but it was kind of like jerky in some areas. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very well themed. Service was good, not too busy midday on the weekend. Maybe will try again on a different day. read more

Chicago Culinary Kitchen - Pork Belly Nuggets - Barbeque Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

If you are a fan of great barbecue than KCC is your spot. This north suburban restaurants will have you doing the bbq lambada. We dropped in to check out this place for lunch and the vibes brought me back to the good old days when classic rock was blasting out of the radio and all my buddies would hang in the basement with walls covered in posters. Now let's chat about the food. Without doubt CCK is a place that offered Texas BBQ outside of TX. The brisket has a great bark, the ribs have fantastic flavor and the pulled pork simply slaps (as the kids say these days). Service was great. This spot also has a large covered patio with life music on the weekends. read more

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Holy Moly! I had heard good things about Chicago Culinary Kitchen and got a small taste at Taste of Roselle, but it did not prepare my husband and I for how good the standard food was going to be! We visited for an early Saturday dinner. They were crowded but not packed. The food didn't take long to be prepared, they had a live band for their patio seating, and plenty of inside seating. Prices weren't bad for the quality and the sauces all offered a unique flavor add! I got the side of mac and cheese as well as the cornbread. Both were absolutely delicious and I could not recommend the mac and cheese more! We shared the zucchini fries which were perfectly breaded but the side sauce could have add more flavor. My husband loved his brisket. Meat was juicy and tender; his favorite sauces were the chipotle apricot and legacy. My maple coffee old fashioned was good but way too strong (which I don't often say). Overall, I loved my food and experience here! I would certainly come back as it's hard to find good bbq. I will say that if you sit inside, be prepared to leave smelling like bbq smoke. read more

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I loved the restaurant-bar it is so nicely decorated. You order your food first at the cashier you go sit and they will bring you your food. We ordered most of the food that was on the menu what I loved the most was the enormous pastrami sandwich to me most of the food was extremely salty even my friends said the same thing. Non of the food was hot which is a no no for me I love my food served hot not cold although they did say the salmon was served cold for taste The prices are ok for the huge portions I think someone should taste the food before the bring it to the table so yes it was very salty I end up taking most of the food home because it was so salty my body did not handle it my roommate did eat it not me I drove so much when the Patio can do better and closer to me huge disappointment read more

Chicago Culinary Kitchen - Barbeque Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

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I've been at CCK a bunch of times. Here's the rundown. Food: high quality. Their bbq has a lot of Smokey flavor. If that's your thing, you'll love this place. My wife is a bit sensitive to that so we tend to look for alternatives to this. I had the prime rib once and it was incredibly smoky. Overall their food is good. Ambiance: a bit loud and acoustically challenged. They play loud rock. Location: in a strip mall. Easy to get to. Price: fair for what you get. Some things are pricy - tomahawks for 140.00. read more

The meat is ALWAYS SO tender and falls off the bone. The Greek Beef Rib meat had a nice smoky flavor. We like trying specialty items and events. We did the "What's in the Box?" It was a fun experience. The cheek meat of the pig head was super flavorful and tender. It was fatty & greasy but in a good way. The pig head came with sides, pulled pork, tamales and more. We especially liked the pig head meat although a bit disturbing to peel back the skin and see the jawbone and teeth. Definitely unforgettable & unique experience! read more

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Took a trip out to Chicago Culinary Kitchen with a group of guys on a rainy day to try out some BBQ and wow, this place did not disappoint. We practically ordered everything on the menu! The food looked amazing, tasted even better, and came out on a big, beautifully presented tray. Every single item was spot-on. The sliced brisket was my personal favorite tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The mac and cheese was creamy and rich, the cornbread perfectly sweet, and the ribs, pulled pork, bacon, and chicken were all top-notch. We even ended things with bread pudding and a few other desserts that were just as impressive. All the sauces were fantastic, but I especially loved the Legacy and Hippie sauces both absolutely delicious. The atmosphere of the restaurant was awesome rock star themed, with great décor, music at just the right volume for conversation, and lighting that made the whole place feel vibrant but comfortable. The photos online show a lot of blue light on the food, but trust me, it's not like that in person -- just a camera thing! read more

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This was our first visit to CCK and given the snow and cold it could have ended up differently. My son went and picked up St Louis Ribs and brisket and WOW! First off the ribs are the meatiest ribs we've ever been served. Great smoke, so meaty. Fantastic. The brisket was well sliced and had a bit of fattiness which I really appreciate. A great helping of homemade pickles really set off the flavors. Great effort and great food. They have a nice selection of Super Bowl specials and I'm thinking of ordering the Sampler special. What do you think? read more

Chicago Culinary Kitchen - Superbowl treats! - Barbeque Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

I enjoy this place for sure, but I'll start by saying I had order envy from my recent visit. I had the BIG Buffalo Chicken sandwich, which was a well cooked and sized chicken breast and tangy sauce, but had a lot of breading, which extended well beyond the meat. With that said, no problem at all, as other items were all good-Char Siu Rib Tips were tangy hot as a special starter. The Rib Tips and Pit Beans were very good as well. My friend had the Snowmonster (I may be forgetting the exact name), a special dish that was a hollowed out bread roll stuffed with great brisket/pork meatballs, sauce and the bread had a cheese dusted top. The bite I had was great, and he had two full lunches out of the sandwich. A good atmosphere that's a combination of a classic BBQ walk up, neon lit rock 'n roll bar that is plenty friendly to families and communal seating on picnic tables and bench seating. read more

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Been coming here since day one, and I'm still obsessed! The food? Absolutely amazing. The service? Always on point. And the vibe of this place? Seriously, the design is just perfect. This is THE spot you have to check out at least once - I've brought all my friends here, and every single one of them loved it. P.S. Do yourself a favor and try the buffalo chicken sandwich!! read more

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PROS - Food is a 4, but phenomenal service takes this to 5*. I didn't catch the cashier's name, but she had black hair, red highlights, hair in pigtails/buns, and cute glasses. She saved my life today! - We drove 1 hr+ from the city in a collectible car (all metal/super hot), and the AC broke! By the time we got here, I was suffering from heat stroke. I was very red in the face (the same color as their red chairs), moving in slow motion, couldn't hear/process well, and I almost fell over. I think I muttered "water..." My fiance went to get bottled water, but the cashier sprung into action. She disappeared for a second and reappeared with a giant to-go soup cup filled to the brim with ice and water. She saved the day! The bottled water wasn't cold enough to cool my internal temp quickly, but the very icy water worked. I sat there and drank 3/4 ASAP and came back to life. It took a while for me to get to 75% normal, but I eventually did. I got 2 giant icy water refills (1 for the road), which also greatly helped. She never made me feel like a bother or annoying! She was so nice to me. Wish I could say thanks again -- CONS - No AC right now (it broke recently). They had huge fans, which helped - Wish they had a vinegar based BBQ sauce option. The closest they had was mustard-based, but it wasn't vinegar-y -- RECOMMENDED - mac & cheese = phenomenal, al dente, flavorful - rib tips with thai chili sauce = unique topping/dry rub variant - jalapeño cheddar hot links = but it rly needs a vinegar based sauce read more

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I have now been to Chicago Culinary Kitchen a handful of times and have never been disappointed. This is some of the most delicious and unique BBQ in the northwest suburbs of Chicago! Their PB&J wings are easily one of the most delicious wings I've ever had. My husband and I can't get enough of them! You will absolutely need some napkins, haha but they are so worth it! We also love their pastrami, chicken, brisket, and ribs! We are still slowly working our way through the menu so we can it all! One thing to note, if you don't particularly care for loud restaurants then I'd suggest carrying out. Don't miss out on the food, just know it can get a bit loud inside! read more

Chicago Culinary Kitchen - Pb and J wings, cornbread, hot links, and brussel sprouts - Barbeque Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

I've been working in the area and finally came back to this place. The layout has changed in the past 5 years since I've been here, but honestly for the better. My husband and I got a little bit of everything and can honestly say it's still really good bbq! The brisket and pastrami were very tender and moist, and my husband thoroughly enjoyed his sausage and ribs. Excellent bbq place here in Palatine, definitely give them a try. read more

I was really excited about this place. Unfortunately their food was a little too greasy for me. I did enjoy the smoky flavor of all the foods. read more

We had Chicago Culinary Kitchen cater my husband's birthday party last weekend, and the food was absolutely amazing! We've eaten at the restaurant before and it's always incredible, which is why we decided to go with them for catering, but you never know, sometimes catering can be hit or miss. In this case, it was just as delicious as eating in person. The delivery was seamless, and the driver was so helpful in getting everything set up. The food stayed warm, traveled well, and held up beautifully. Everyone at the party kept commenting on how great everything tasted. One fun note: we had a couple of guests up from Texas, and as anyone who knows barbecue knows, Texans can be very particular about their BBQ. They absolutely loved it, which says a lot! Jay was also fantastic to work with. He called me ahead of time to walk through the order and gave helpful tips for setup and serving. Everything went perfectly from start to finish. I can't recommend Chicago Culinary Kitchen enough. Just phenomenal food and great service all around. read more

Let me tell you. We've been coming here for the past year. My partner and I have never been disappointed here. There are always unique and fun specials every week. The brisket is to die for and the ribs are always a winner. We have ordered everything from the pig candy, to turkey, brisket, ribs, the links, and bunch of sides. Whatever they are doing they need to keep doing it. The cocktails are great. The service is great. The ambiance is metal and sexy. Keep doing the damn thing. read more

Epic BBQ! I haven't had a bad dish yet! Check out the daily specials they are really getting pretty creative lately! The pastrami, brisket, and ribs are out of this world!! Did I mention the burger? TRY IT!!! read more

I was here with a large group, about 20 and everyone loved it here. This is a casual BBQ spot where you order at the front counter and once your food is prepared they will bring it out to you. Seating is plentiful indoor and outdoor. My favorite item from here was the brisket - it was tender, moist and full of flavor. It was very tasty and I'd definitely get this again. I also tried the zucchini fries which were fine. Not the greatest however I do appreciate there being a somewhat 'healthy' vegetable option. My husband tried the rib tips which he said were on the drier side but that didn't stop him from eating the entire entree. He enjoyed how well it was seasoned and full of flavor. Some fan favorites from my group were the rack of ribs and chicken. They raved about how large the portion was and how the flavors were exceptional. read more

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We came by for dinner on a Saturday evening and the tables were full inside so we sat on their heated patio outside. They are located in a plaza that has complimentary parking, as you walk in the menus are there for you to look over and go up to the counter to order and you'll grab your drink and tell them where you plan on sitting and they brought the food to us. We decided to share a few things. Each of the dish was full of flavor, we even got some of their specials which were delicious. The Brussels were a stand out, along with their brunt ends. All in all we had a great experience, I did wish we had someone check in on us at one point to see if we were warm enough or if we needed anything but being the only table outside I guess we were pretty self sufficient as all of the sauces and to go containers weee out there. read more

They have great food there, or get I takeout Vegetarians should just wave as they pass by read more

This was a pleasant surprise, smoked and bbq meats that actually tasted good. The brisket was moist tender and smokey. The pulled pork was melt in your mouth teder and the sausage was snappy with a little spice. Definitely recommend read more

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We ordered a half smoked chicken to eat at the restaurant and an El Jefe sandwich along with a 1/2 pound of smoked brisket. Unfortunately the chicken was dry and then we ate the brisket a few days later and that was also dry. The pulled pork and the Texas sausage that was on the sandwich was very good though. I'm definitely not a bbq expert, but I'm hoping the brisket and chicken come off the smoker a bit sooner to stay moist. I would go back again as I do love the taste of the food/rub they use. read more

The buffalo chicken sandwich is as big as a face! Rock n roll, tattooed, biker bar vibe with the best quality ingredients and most creative BBQ recipes you've ever had. It's pricey, but SO worth it! Counter service to order, communal seating. Always amazing! read more

Chicago Culinary Kitchen - Buffalo chicken sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

Over priced and extremely under portioned. I haven't been back for months even though I only live blocks alway and there isn't a bbq place nearby and it's a disappointment everytime. I really thought they would get their shit together. I give them another years as a passing phase. Where is brothers bbq. read more

Updating this review from having gone a few more times: 1) the Fried Pork Belly is fantastic and worth every cent 2) Smoked Prime Rib was great 3) If I'd known how amazing the blueberry banana cream pie was I would have ordered 2 more slices 4) The Not Your Fathers Root Beer Float was so delicious 5) The service continues to always be on point, even when it's busy like it was today. We typically have stuck to their events because it's so far away from where we live, but be it their events or just a regular meal - I highly recommend coming to visit Jay and Team - and definitely don't forget Betty Rocker's pies. read more

Chicago Culinary Kitchen - Barbeque Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

Chicago Culinary Kitchen is the BEST! They provided their food truck for our youth program and are simply outstanding! Jay and his team are top notch. They are kind and easy to work with...not to mention they brought EXCELLENT food to our children and families! Highly recommend! Thank you Chicago Culinary Kitchen! read more

BBQ is important to me, in the same way that gills are important to fish, and martyrdom is important to my mother. So, when I say that CCK is some of the best BBQ around, it's coming from a place of deep consideration for me. Husband and wife team up for a rock and roll concept that combines an edgy (but not pushy) atmosphere, friendly service, and mouth-watering, crowd pleasing, slap-yo-momma tastes. A variety of sauces add an element of depth and (slight) heat, and I'd encourage you to add different flavors to each bite to find your own personal nirvana. It was so delicious that I went back the next day and had the same meal, adding on four different net-new dishes to try. read more

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I really wanted to give it a 5. Cool place, attentive staff, live music outside on the weekends. Sides were amazing. My son in law had a full rack and let me try one.. tender and tasty. My daughter had the largest chicken sandwich I have ever seen and it was tasty (enough for 3 meals). My wife had the pastrami sandwich and even through they were empty , she had to almost beg them to put it on anything but Rye. The kitchen allowed it.... It was ok. But very fatty. I had the brisket and it was put together perfectly but the meat was mostly burnt ends. I know some people like that but I don't. Thyme had a good beer and wine selection. So why not 5 stars? The place voted "best bbq in Chicago" and as pricey as this place is should not serve burnt ends unless they have that as an option or is mentioned. All in we would go back!! (Btw. All the buns in the picture are the same size. Yes even the chicken. Gives you some scale on that sandwich!!!) read more

Chicago Culinary Kitchen - Chicken sandwich. Ribs bbq and sides - Barbeque Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

I've been back here several times since my initial visit! Most recently the bank my dad works for had their event catered by Chicago Culinary Kitchen and they were blown away! Not surprisingly the brisket was the first thing to go and the pulled pork was not far behind but he did manage to bring home some for us! Lucky for me he also snagged me some of the amazing mac and cheese and I couldn't have been happier! Except when I found the very large chocolate chip cookie which was the perfect ending too my little takeaway meal! I'm also not sure how my initial photos didn't all post so I'm going to share them now! I will be talking to our apartment complex about adding them into the food truck rotation! Hopefully they take my advice! If you're in the area do not miss out on some absolutely fabulous barbecue in a fun and friendly environment!!! read more

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Live music today was incredible. The food? Always amazing -- meat, meat, and more meat! The beer was fantastic. Service was just okay, but the girl at the front definitely brightened the atmosphere. There's room for improvement -- some table service outside would be a great addition. Otherwise, a solid 10/10 experience! read more

Back again and I had to get my regular Brisket and Sausage!!!! Still as ahhh-mazing as ever! The Brisket melts in your mouth! The Sausage is sooo good. They also have weekly specials that I need to try. So will be back for more! Service is great! Love everyone! Happy eating! read more

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ambience - industrial, skulls, motorcycles, rock music - in a word awesome! Food - amazing and amazing! Rib tips, pulled pork, brisket, truffle fries - everything was delicious. Great range of beers, great whiskey bar.! Will come again and let everyone know- fun fact - they cater and they have master barbecue classes as well! read more

Overall 4/5. I loved the metal theme when you first walk in as well as in the dining area. They also have cool props outside. I found out about this place through social media. One star was taken because the prices are expensive and I wished they extended their houses to like 9 pm at least. There are tons of parking spaces. This place is popular so you might have to wait for people to leave if you plan on dining in. -Smoked rib tips 2/5 - too chewy not enough meat -back alley sticky ribs 5/5 - i love these ribs. I love the flavor with honey and dukka. -brisket 5/5 - very moist and melts in your mouth -jalapeño cheddar link 5/5 -f'n mac & cheese 5/5 -pig candy 5/5 i wished i had more read more

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OMG! I had their walleye dinner last Friday and can not stop raving about it. I grabbed it for carry-out and almost had to pull over to eat some on the way home. The scent reminded me of fishing with my dad and my mom cooking up the fresh catch for dinner. It was beautiful! Can't wait for this Friday. read more

Lovely place. The bbq night was amazing - we had a class where they walked us through their bbq process and had an open QA session that was very informative. It's a casual place with good food and a bar and bartenders with character. I'd have pictures if It wasn't for the class. read more

A solid choice for barbeque if you're in the Palatine area. The meat portions are thick, juicy, and tender and there's a good smoky flavor to the meat. The service isn't the fastest as this restaurant is generally busy and you can generally expect a line to order food. There is a good amount of seating available but it can be challenging to find a seat during the busiest times. With the lighting inside it can be difficult to take good food pictures, but you can also choose to go outside if the weather permits. On my visit I tried the brisket, PB&J Pork Wings, and fries. I found the meat to be generally tender and flavorful, though it was just good for me and not anything particularly special in comparison to other high end BBQ restaurants. Portion sizes were alright though maybe a bit small in comparison to the price paid. The fries were a bit disappointing in how soft they were, and a bit oversalted for my taste. The BBQ sauces were also alright as well, mixing fairly well with the meats but none stood out as particularly memorable or special compared to what's available at other highly rated BBQ restaurants. Overall, I'd probably visit again based on reputation to try a few more different items on my next visit. I found the food to be pretty good, but wasn't exactly wowed by what I tried. read more

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Average, forgettable food + outrageous prices + unwelcoming atmosphere = disappointing experience. I have heard rave reviews about Chicago Culinary Kitchen for years, so I was excited when I had the opportunity to try it for myself. When I walked in I was hit by a wall of loud noise. The combination of loud customers and obnoxiously loud music does not mix well. I was lost as to how to order because there are no signs directing you where to go. When I finally did find where to go two rude customers cut in line in front of me. I found the prices to be very high and I was hoping for excellent food to justify the prices. I can tell you that the food is average. Absolutely nothing special. The prices do not come anywhere close to matching the quality of the food. Chicago Culinary Kitchen gets an F when it comes to value for money. We ordered the brisket, French fries, and the PB&J pig wings. The brisket was warm and moist but had no flavor from the smoking. This was very disappointing. There was noting special about the French fries except for the salt content. It tasted like an entire can of salt was dumped on the French fries. The PB&J pig wings was the only item with any flavor. I'm not sure how they flavored this or what type of pork they used but it did have a peanut butter and jelly flavor to it. I will not be returning to Chicago Culinary Kitchen. read more

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If I could give 25 stars, I would--but five will have to do! A huge thank you to Chicago Culinary Kitchen, Jay, and Chef Sal for hosting our client event in your prep kitchen. We had an incredible time learning the art of prepping, seasoning, brining, and smoking all things pork! Your master class was absolutely worth it, and the interaction between your team and our clients was nothing short of top-notch. Explore St. Louis will definitely be back!! read more