Updating my review. Earls has become one of my go to spots. Order from there frequently. Still miss the coleslaw instead of the pickle but I can understand rising prices might have brought about that change. Only complaint, FIX YOUR MENUS. Door dash, Grubhub, website, all of the above. They are all different, missing items on some, different prices. I literally skipped ordering the other night because there was a menu item missing from your website. So inconsistent. 2 item platter on door dash: $19.95 2 item platter on website: $16.95 Salmon offered on one, not on the other Smoked Sausage offered on one, not on the other Missing sides all across the board Missing favorites like the brisket burrito. Just some examples. read more

We live like 4 blocks away but didn't try it until today because we're allergic to crowds. I figured a weeknight at 5:30pm was a safe time to give it a go so we got take out. We got some 1/2lb pulled pork sandwiches and rib tips with fries, mac and cheese and donuts. Everything was excellent. The pulled pork was flavorful and moist. The rib tips were nice and charred. The fries are fresh cut and crispy. The donuts (while a little expensive, IMO) were fresh and yum. The only disappointing thing were the sauces. I feel like we need a spicier option! I like my sauce with some heat. A great addition to the neighborhood! read more

Small, clean, rustic BBQ joint on the far NW Side of The Chi. Not many of these type of joints in this remote part of the city. I think there is some sort of joint on Harlem but it looks like it's for hillbillies, so this is really the only option. Typical BBQ options. Brisket platters, Pulled Pork Sammies, and rib tips highlight their offerings. My order was the Pulled Pork. Not bad! The meat was not overpowering, tender, juicy meat it was. The only problem I have is with the bun, however this problem is not isolated to Earls is the bun. It was pretty hearty and it masks too much of the complex flavors of BBQ'd meats. There should be a light bun or a good bread that can handle the BBQ but won't take away from the meats flavor. Four Sauces were available: 1) Georgia---Very watery. Vinegary and mustard based. 2) Carolina---Vinegar based. Not much different than Georgia. 3)Honey---Sweet. 4)Original---Savory with smoke. My recommended option. The sides were the beans. I liked these beans quite a bit. Not the typical sweet honey baked beans you usually get in BBQ joints. Much more savory almost like a chilli. The Coleslaw was something I could have done without. They also have Mac & Cheese on the menu but it seems as if they steer you away from that and more towards the beans. Probably a good call. They say everyone raves about their beans. It would be funny to hear them say "our Mac & Cheese or beans suck". But I really do rave about their beans. This joint is small a few picnic benches inside. The BBQ is good for this side of town. Prices are competitive. Service was super friendly, maybe too much. Way too much four-Loko perhaps? Either way a good experience. I'm coming back for that Brisket! read more

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With three visits under my belt, I'm deeply underwhelmed. Had I reviewed after the first I might have given a 4-5 star without looking back. That day was a brunch visit. I was jones'ing a good breakfast burrito and found myself in the area shortly after attending a local church. Perusing their menu I found mention of a brisket stuffed breakfast burrito and thought why not. Had that with a cup of coffee and a 3 piece of their freshly made donuts. The burrito was wrapped tightly and stuffed to the max. With the addition of their different BBQ sauces it complimented nicely. The fresh made sugar topped donuts were a perfect finish to a great breakfast. Having seen their menu and with the promise of sound local opinion I decided to return for their different smoked meats. Second visit was takeout. Placed a phone order for rib tips and a 1/2 portion of smoked salmon, the order was estimated ready within twenty minutes. On the scene I placed an additional order for a 3 piece of donuts which never made it to my final destination. Thirty minutes later I was with friends sharing my spoils. The salmon and the tips were dry. I wish the tips were served typical Chicago BBQ style which is usually, grossly over sauced. Those tips needed moisture. Since Earl's offers 4 kinds of sauce they ask which you'd like when picking up orders. The sauce containers are small and being they aren't trying to give everything away, this requires a step of figuring out which sauce will "do it for you." So sample them ahead of time and know what you need. This of course doesn't help the new customer that orders by phone. My most recent visit was a few days back. Had a lunch date with a relative that loves pork. I was kinda beside myself. Trusted and true would have been going to a local Northside establishment. For whatever reason Mondays are a late start for all barbecue related joints. So it came down to Earl's or L Woods. Cousin made the deciding factor, "whatever's cheaper." Dining in we ordered a bunch. A full slab, ¼ salmon sandwich, ¼ brisket sandwich and smoked wings. Everything came with their stellar Cole slaw and an additional side. Got fresh cut fries, BBQ beans and mac & cheese. The sides were okay. As previously stated the Cole slaw was perfect. However, all meats with the exception of the sliced brisket were dry. For FUCK's sake.. Spent more than $60 dollars for mediocre meats. The slab was dry and some bits were like razor when it got stuck in the gums. The salmon was almost dry with some moist bits. The wings.. I had the option of having them tossed in sauce. Not knowing which to go for, the counterperson suggested "dry". Worst choice. They were dry alright. I've had great smoked wings in the past.. just not here. If there was one detail to pass onto folks trying this for the first time? I would imagine there are folks that enjoy smoked meats dry. I don't. I think smoked meats should sing to you. A moist quality still in the meat. Or say rib tips, smoked so well that its cartilage is like butter. Both not the case with Earl's. If you like the kind of ribs where gnawing on bones is required or extra dry meats.. By all means go for it. But if you like moist quality meats with good flavor.. Well, y'all gotta keep trekking. Head West and back up North to Smoque. read more

Earl's BBQ - Smoked salmon on bun. Served with mac & cheese and Cole slaw. Ordered smoked, received dried meat. - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Holy smokes dude. Earl's BBQ in Jeff Park is legit and very good addition to the hood. Have a variety of smoked meats that is especially good and nicely smoked. Best is the salmon and ribs. So tasty, tender, and just a bit spicy. Smoke flavor is prevalent but not over the top. Also over 4 different types of sauces from original and Carolina vinegary. Best is a thick mustard Georgia sauce. Place is small but does have seating. Offer take out and have a drive thru for convenience. Service is good yet staff is still not too familiar with the menu - but I'm sure they will improve over time. We also got to try a treat while we waited - some tender just fried donuts. So good. Notice. This is a BBQ joint and not fast food. So you will have to wait a bit in line to get fresh food. Also, a good BBQ joint smokes just enough meat for the day and the best joints run out before the day is over. So if you come and food starts to run out, that means it's good. Come earlier next time. Will come back again for the brisket that was sold out when i got here. Must be good... read more

Earl's BBQ - Smoked Salmon and ribs. - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was super excited to try this place... Approximately 30 mins from standing in line till I got my order. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of Mac and cheese which also comes with a Cole slaw for $6.57 I also was looking forward to trying their donuts but the donut machine was down. The sandwich was by far the best I ever had. The Mac and cheese was normal tasted a little bland. I don't like Cole slaw so I have no idea how it was LOL... Can't wait to come back and try something else. Hopefully by than the donut machine is working . read more

Earl's BBQ - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I liked it! Had pulled pork and brisket - liked them both, brisket a little fattier than the pork. Mac n cheese was good, but needed a bit of pepper, the Cole slaw was pretty good. I also got the donuts, great!!! I will be back. Line was a little slow but they mentioned they were waiting for a second cash register, ok I can handle that answer. Still very tasty! Fries were lukewarm- but they have been hot before. Love all their sauces! read more

This is the best bbq in the area, I've only had 2 bad experiences from the same staff member. So if there's a 16 year old dipshit taking orders that vapes in the kitchen and will forget your order by the drive through window for 15 min, maybe come back when she's not working. 5 star food, 2 star effort read more

Meats were solid. Too much fat on our tray though. Like there were big chunks of fat that didn't have any meat on them. We are had a platter with rib tips, burnt ends, pulled pork, and rubs. Pulled pork was the clear winner. Fries were well seasoned, but you get like 10 fries for $3. Mac and cheese was completely flavorless. Coleslaw was good.I'm not a big bbq sauce person, but they seemed good overall. Donut was very good. Nice and crispy. Tasted like a churro. 3/5 stars overall. I'll give them another chance to see if they get better after being open a while. read more

Earl's BBQ - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rib tips again. Ordered a large order this time. Good not great. Tasted tender when hot but got tougher as they cooled down. Becoming apparent based on two previous experiences that timing is everything as I ate there late afternoon on a Saturday. I'm assuming tips were held a little longer than at peak point of consumption. Presentation was a heap of meat. Bottom line is that I don't care how they look or are chopped up, if they show up taste wise. Upgraded to Mac and cheese from Cole slaw for 75c. Mac and cheese was pretty bland. Fries were fresh out of the fryer and were great. I'll return, earlier in the day the better. read more

Earl's BBQ - From front right clockwise: brisket, ribs, and rib tips - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pros: portions, service, ambiance, sauces, their own sodas (I did not try but will next time), drive thru!!! Cons: mac n cheese, some of the meat had way too much fat, chicken was dry and I even ordered dark meat This place is a nice addition to the area. Also for Chicagoland BBQ joints it definitely competes but it's not blow my socks off fab. I wish they allowed half stars k might put it to 3.5 because of the drive through. I ordered a 4 meat sampler. It could probably serve 4 people! Chicken pork brisket and tips side of mac and coleslaw. Also a raspberry coconut shake. Price was good. Sides were "okish". Shake was good. Excellent smoke present in the meat but a bit too much fat as well and the chicken was a bit dry. Brisket had great flavor. I read some people complaining it's tough. I don't know what you were expecting but I always use a knife and fork for brisket? I would go again and probably try the ribs or get a pulled pork sandwich and another shake. read more

Earl's BBQ - Tips pork brisket and chicken! - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

1st order was wrong...2nd order the rib tips were all fat...these were take our orders...won't return.

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and the 4 Smoked Items Platter and everything was amazing!! so tasty, will definitely order again. read more

Earl's BBQ - Pulled Pork Sandwich - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We order from Earl's at least three times a month. My husband always gets the large brisket sandwich and fries. Tonight the sandwich was very small and the fries are burnt. I called and was told I was wrong. Guess our go to won't be getting our business anymore. Sad because the food is delicious. read more

Earl's BBQ - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Mac and cheese has a canned cheese sauce on it with a bunch of bread crumbs. This may be the first barbecue place that doesn't even remotely smell like barbecue. The collard greens are average with too many pepper flakes. I still think the best barbecue place is Smoque on Paulina--definitely worth the drive. read more

This is a great new addition to the neighborhood! High quality meats and sauces (Georgia was the best). I can see this becoming a main staple for us. My only complaint was that they had no ketchup for the awesome fresh cut fries! ---- Also the owners need to figure out something more environmentally responsible for people dining in than serving food in those horrible foam to go containers. read more

Earl's BBQ - Pork and brisket platter with fresh cut fries. Yum!! - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in after house hunting as we drove by. Very happy we did. The smoked chicken wings were cooked perfectly. Love the bbq sauces. The salmon sandwich was also great with the Georgia (mustard) bbq sauce. The fries and the Mac n cheese were great sides Hope we find a home in the area so we can eat at this place all the time. read more

Went here seeking a gift card, but they didn't have the denomination I wanted so I didn't get one. But I did decide to try a brisket sandwich and with that, I was not disappointed. Nicely done smoky BBQ. I also loved the cole slaw. I went with the beans for my side - nothing special about those in my opinion. I was there at an off hour, so easy to get a spot to sit down. But the seating is a little awkward. Might try them for breakfast sometime - interesting looking options at that hour. I plan to return for more BBQ as well. read more

Great bbq love the rib tips and salad And extremely fast food delivered I would recommend this place to everyone read more

Quick hole in the wall drive thru BBQ spot. Not bad. Service was great, food was surprisingly good. Almost didn't stop by due to risking BBQ with drive thru. I'm used to BBQ should be sit down, order and enjoy. Wife and I were satisfied read more

Earl's BBQ - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mixed thoughts on Earls BBQ. Its a nice little local joint in Jefferson Park not too far from the Blue Line stop. They serve a variety of BBQ that you would expect from a BBQ place. I had a full slab of ribs and they were okay. I say this because I noticed the first half slab of ribs I had was definitely older/reheated and not fresh, compared to the other half of ribs which was definitely moist and and tasted better. I was kinda suspicious at first because my food came out super fast in less than 10 minutes. It comes with a side of mac n cheese and it was good. Also comes with standard white bread and pickle as well. It comes with 3 sauces as well, and i picked 2 honeg bbq and a spicy bbq sauce and those were really solid. I got to try their donuts and those were delicious. Those were definitely fresh. They do have a drive thru option at the restaurant if you don't want to go inside. Also, you can all advance to place an order. People seemed nice and friendly. Small parking lot, prob 5 or 6 cars could fit. Will probably give it a try again sometime, just hope both slabs of ribs would be fresh. read more

Earl's BBQ - When their fresh - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I hadn't had Earl's since they opened a few years ago. So last night we got delivery, the brisket sandwich and mac & cheese were excellent!

Since discovering earl's about a year ago, my partner and I have consistently ordered from here for bbq. The brisket is always generous with portions and smoked just right. I tried the Mac and cheese for the first time tonight. I was blown away!! Best Mac and cheese I have ever tried. Bread crumbs browned just right and seasoned to perfection. The cheeses were throughout the slice of Mac too. It looked like a pastry because it was presented so well! I will never order another side from earl's. Now I'm so stoked to try other things on their menu! They are consistently great quality food! read more

We were there last night and the brisket was the best we have had in the last year we have been in Chicago. Perfectly moist, very tasty bark and a good smoke ring. The meat was cut properly, which for some reason some can't figure out how to cut across the grain. The love was felt! Being from Austin, TX, we like our brisket, and this was outstanding. We purchased 1 pound of brisket, and bread to take home. I am not sure I got quite a pound though, it did seem a little light. I asked for a side of sliced onions and pickles, a must for a good brisket sandwich, but they wanted 2.99 for a small side of each. I did not order them. The bread and brisket were outstanding, their sauce smokey sweet and some kick. Very good if you like sweet hot. I will be back to try their other smoked products. Someone mentioned Salmon, so will try next time. Oh, they do need some jalapeno's on board. read more

Ordered from them directly for delivery, they said it would be 25-35 minutes... Delivered cold, and when called ... They said they contract out delivery so they can't do anything about it read more

UPDATE: Friends wanted to go Earls and I relented. I am so glad I did! The food was FANTASTIC!! Fresh and perfectly cooked - quite a change from my last visit. I still wouldn't eat the salmon though. They made us wait 15 minutes for donuts because they wanted to change the fryer oil...which was good to hear! I don't know if it was a good day or they stepped up their game. Regardless, Earls, we will be back read more

Good food, decently priced, very clean location and inviting space, free parking in lot and friendly service. BBQ joints have to be judged by their sauce selection and quality. Period. This place has a solid original option. They have a weekend breakfast menu but not every weekend apparantly. I would return to try it. read more

My husband and I recently tried this place and it was good. I really enjoyed there Ribeye sandwich. The meat was very tender and flavorful. Although it's a little pricey here we like having it in the neighborhood. The one thing that was a bit annoying was when I went through the drive-thru to get coffee. I asked the young man if they had iced-coffee, he said yes and so I ordered it. I pulled up to the window and waited about 7min and no one was coming to see me. I pulled my car up to see if there was anyone at the cash register and they finally came to me. Apparently the guy forgot to communicate my order to the girl. I pay the girl and then the guy hands me coffee cup with a sleeve and lukewarm coffee inside with a few ice cubes. I said ummm I thought you said you had iced-coffee, I don't want this. He then says oh wait let me check. He comes back and hands me a styrofoam cup with the same lukewarm coffee. ‍‍ At the point I just wanted my money back. No apologies for the mistakes or desire to make it better. I know this place has good food but customer service has to be right up there if not better. read more

So great! Large portions of amazing tender pork and beef! Choice of yummy BBQ sauces..try Chicago Hot! The sides are awesome too! Loved the Mac n cheese and cole slaw. Fast delivery! Check them out! read more

Earl's is delicious, convenient, and travels well. My faves are pulled pork, salmon, and the dark chicken

It's a little overpriced but when you're the only bbq spot around the area I guess you can expect that. They've got some good sauces and I think they don't do bad on their meats. It's not a very big place and I always get my food to go. They also deliver and that's nice too. This is a go to spot for me if I don't want to go far to get food. Is this the best bbq in Chicago? No. read more

Came here yesterday to pick up some ribs, chicken, and potatoes salad for the 4th. Omg, let me just say this was delicious. I usually frequent Woodys in Inglewood and Phillips in leimert park( no longer there). However, lately Woodys has been in consistent. But Earls was a dream come true. My new spot for anything barbecue. I'd also like to try their catfish. read more

My family and I went in this Friday evening to dine in and had the best experience! We didn't expect their serving sizes to be so generous so we ordered way too much food, but were able to try a lot & have leftovers for lunch the next day. We had the pulled pork & ribs, which were my favorite & so delicious. We also had the chicken, the brisket, Mac n cheese & fries. EVERYTHING was delicious. The vinegar based sauce was our favorite-so good! Ordering was quick & easy & our food didn't take long either. All in all, a great evening out. read more

Great BBQ, the brisket was the standout, very tender with perfect bark on the outside. Any BBQ purveyor will tell you, fat = flavor. It renders during the smoking process over many hours and tenderizes and flavors the meat. If brisket didn't have fat it would be dry, but you probably already know that. Rib tips were very solid too, nice bark with a good chew to the ends, less smoke than the brisket. Baked beans had chunks of pork and plenty of smoky BBQ flavor. Even the coleslaw was homemade, which I usually skip, but it was actually good. Sauce is optional, but the vinegar-based was very tasty. Give it a shake to mix in the vinegar and go to town. Generous portions of mains and sides. If you want more meat, simply order the large size. Service was friendly and timely, in and out in 10 minutes. Oh yeah, the made-to-order old fashioned doughnuts were pretty excellent too. They advertised a new buttermilk fried chicken platter, which I hope to try next time. Solid authentic BBQ on the NW side, if you don't feel like waiting in line at Smoque, give Earl's a whirl. read more

If you've had barbecue before, don't skip this review. I came to Earl's the week they opened and was a bit disappointed with the food. I figured I wouldn't judge a restaurant based on their first week. I never went back until last night. I had a craving for BBQ and decided to hit the drive thru since I was busy running errands and didn't want to get out of the car. I immediately learned that there was no drive thru service, which was surprising given that having a drive thru is one of their big selling pionts. I went in to order only to have to stand behind a couple who felt it necessary to narrate their entire ordering experience for over five minutes; but that is neither here nor there. When it was finally my turn, I placed my order for a 1/2 pound brisket sandwich with Mac and cheese and Georgia sauce. I also wanted some donuts (one of their other big selling points) to bring home to the family, but was informed that it would be too much effort to make since they would be closing soon. Most other takeout places at this price point and in a major city would never dream of stopping service of a menu item before closing. Aside from that, the staff were very friendly and the service was good. As far as the food goes, I'll work from good to bad. The cole slaw was pretty good and was of the creamy variety. The Georgia sauce was ok, but wasn't very mustardy as it should be. The Mac and cheese wasn't very cheesy and the sauce tasted plasticy (like out of a box), but it did feature a nice breadcrumb topping. Now for the reason I am giving it one star: the brisket was TERRIBLE both times I went. It was incredibly dry and very low on both smoke flavor and beef flavor. This is probably due to the fact that they use a rotisserie gas smoker instead of traditional one (which is why you won't smell smoke in or around the joint). They also trim almost all of the fat off, further exacerbating the dryness and toughness. The cut face of each slice of brisket was dried out like they sliced it earlier in the day and it had been sitting out. What a disappointment, considering that for a few more dollars and for few extra blocks, I can go to Smoque (life-changing barbecue) instead. If you've ever had barbecue before, avoid this place like the plague. A couple of side notes: they do have Cheerwine in the soda fountain, which is pretty cool; their menu is pretty big and I haven't tried most of it (some of it looks good, but the place seems too small to support such a large menu); if you're paying with a card, they have one of those tablets that assaults you with a tip page even though it's just takeout (I'm not saying you can't tip for takeout, but it is just counter service, no waiters). I find it hard to believe that so many people like this place and it was even featured on Chicago's Best. The only explanation I could think of is that most people who go here have never had good barbecue before. I'd love for this place to change my mind, since I live very close, but it seems unlikely. read more

Earl's has as simple, yet wonderful menu. By sticking to a BBQ theme, this place creates a distinct personality for itself. My party and I went last week for a mid afternoon snack, and their food didn't disappoint. Earl's has a variety of BBQ sauces on the table for you to sample, and their staff is very courteous and pleasant. The interior has a great vibe, and is very clean, overall. I'm docking a star, however, since the staff sent out 1/2 of our order about 15 mins ahead of the 2nd half; the kitchen staff came out to ask what else was part of our order. Other than that minor hiccup, I would recommend this place to my friends. TL;DR - Earl's is a wonderful BBQ in Jeff Park (one of the few worth visiting) read more

Loved the brisket and baked beans. Also, they're coffee was a good surprise, it tasted great!

Hands down best bbq in the Chicago area. Brisket is perfect - classic bbq smoke ring. Excellent selection of sides, and they are a decent size (not the tiny cup you get at some places). The pulled pork is equally good. They also make their own soft drinks! I'm a Diet Coke addict, but their diet cola is just as satisfying. And get this - they do breakfast. I've never had it, but did sample one of their donuts. Amazing. The place is small, with 3-4 large tables for sharing. You must try this place!! read more

Missing item, no refund, they hung up on me. Doesn't matter how food taste in places like that. This is Chicago, plenty of better places out there. read more

Absolutely love Earl's! This place is great. Been coming here since they opened. The brisket and pulled pork are cooked low and slow; always juicy and tender. The wings are fire! The donuts are great. And don't get me started on the brisket biscuits and gravy! You really can't go wrong with anything you order from here. read more

Earl's BBQ - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois