Firewater BBQ

We had our wedding reception at Golden Boy BBQ in Elmhurst, and we couldn't have asked for a better…read moreexperience. Joe Calcagno was amazing to work with from start to finish. He was incredibly flexible, responsive, and made the whole process so easy for us. The outdoor patio was beautiful and ended up being the perfect setting for our reception. The food and drinks were a huge hit. We got endless compliments from our guests, and people were still talking about how good everything was afterward. One of my favorite moments was when we realized we didn't have anyone to cut our wedding cake. Without hesitation, Joe stepped in and did it for us. It was such a small thing, but in the middle of a crazy wedding day, having someone willing to jump in and help meant so much. We are so grateful we chose Golden Boy for our reception. Joe and the whole team helped make our day feel special and stress free, and I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a fun spot for dinner or amazing event space!

I was super hungry, picked up a cheeseburger to take home, opened it up, and this is what I saw. So…read moreterribly disappointed. $20 for this!? I have no intention of going back to dine at this restaurant.

Order queue

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Joe's Bar-B-Q & Fish

2.3(98 reviews)

3.7 mi

Tips and links are my go to. Best links I find anywhere. Good local take out spot. They now have…read moreJoes bbq sauce bottled!

this is supposed to be turkey tips and mac& cheese i wouldn't even recommend this place to my worst…read moreenemy as never again dont go to this place they should send inspectors to this place the food is disgusting this is not what i ordered this does not need a star it needs to be closed

This is the worst bbq I've ever had. The rib tips were just like table scraps, the links were old.

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Special's on the window for 40th anniversary

Chicken Manor

3.5(8 reviews)

1.5 mi

Chicken Manor has moved inside of JD Muggs. .....For those who are not a fan of watering holes that…read moresmell of smoke and are filled with video poker, I get it is a pain but BELIEVE ME, it is worth it! I have stopped in a few times for take out but somehow forgot to check in or write a review. So here goes. For those who have never eaten Broasted Chicken, here's the best explanation I can give. It is a less greasy form of fried chicken. As I understand it, you cannot prepare it at home, because preparation requires a pressure cooker. The dinners come with a roll, coleslaw and fries or broasted potatoes. The prices run between $9-$14.

Forty five minutes late on our $45 pick-up order, cold, stale fries, and inedible chicken. Waste of…read moretime, gas, and money.

Ooo coming soon ribs!

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By the bar special

Seoul Bites

3.9(96 reviews)

3.9 mi

Have your mortgage lender on speed dial before coming here cuz you'll def need to get a second…read moremortgage to afford this place. That said. The food is totally worth it! Ambiance is really nice as well

After my 2nd time, I feel I can finally review this place. While I absolutely love the bulgogi and…read morethe loaded bulgogi fries, there was a lot that was just okay. They only offer 3 kinds of banchan when most korean restaurants fill your table with them. One of my kids really disliked the Korean ramen because the noodles were very obviously from packaged ramen. My other kid who loves bibimbap thought it was really lacking and not at all authentic. I didn't score any points by taking them here. I like the crispiness of the kimchi pancake. Most restaurants have really soggy kimchi or seafood pancakes and theirs was very crispy with nice flavor. Service is really good and the place clean. I didn't dislike it by any means. It's just not authentic at all if that's what you're seeking.

Main dining room area

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Front counter + self-service screen

Phase Three Brewing Company

A brewery with a Filipino inspired menu, I'm in! This was the perfect spot to relax and spend time…read moreoutside on the patio. Their menu often changes but consistently includes pretzel bites, wings, salad, burgers, sandwiches (and a banh mi), and big plates. Pork Lumpia $14 - Tasty filling and beautifully wrapped. Pork Adobo Bowl $22 - Good flavors and variety in this bowl. I was sad to have missed the ube flavored beer, but the strawberry whip I tried was interesting. They have their own parking lot which can get packed at peak times. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2026

I have been wanting to try this place since I saw that their menu offers Filipino cuisine as well…read more I made reservations online for a Saturday dinner. We chose to sit in their outdoor area because the weather was beautiful. For this visit, I've tried: Armadillo eggs- I like the crunch of the crumbs, the flavors were good, but the filling was too heavy Kalbi Short Rib bowl- this was my daughter's dish. it was just ok The Nuremburger- this was the burger of the month (September). It was delicious; the fries were great as well The Smoky Ghost- if you like spice, this is the burger for you. I tried one of the Seltzer; it was okay. My daughter ordered the Raspberry Lime Cola; it was good, although it was a little too sweet for me. Service was friendly and prompt. Our server was very attentive and efficient. The indoor dining area was super loud, so we made a great choice by sitting outside. I wish they had more options for Filipino dishes. I only saw the lumpia appetizer and the beef sisig entree. Maybe next time?

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Roberto's Ristorante

3.2(325 reviews)

1.6 mi

Went here to celebrate New Years Eve, and we had a wonderful experience! I'm truly shocked the…read morereviews aren't better, so here I am to set the record straight - Roberto's is a must! Be prepared and wear your walking shoes, this restaurant is massive! It's absolutely beautiful throughout too. There's a walk up, carry out section next door to the restaurant too. Apparently pizza is a big deal here? I'll have to try next time! Our food was incredible - the vodka sauce on the rotolo is phenomenal! I seriously recommend they jar this and sell it. The meatballs on the side are delicious too!! My husband loved his osso bucco as well! And for starters, the house salad - as simple as that is - was soo good! The service was very good, despite it being a very very busy night. I did get the sense that everyone around us was hanging out and in no hurry, whereas we had plans. But still, it was a wonderful time. Can't wait to come back!!

Not exactly sure what has transpired here in the last year but we had our FIRST BAD experience…read morehere. Poor service from a waiter we've never seen before. Poor quality food for the first time ever, not even just different, but Poor. My pasta came out half full of water and oil. The chicken parm was so bland with a red sauce that actually tasted like it was out of a can. For some reason it was extremely loud in the dining room too. I'm sad about this, it really was my favorite restaurant.

Tables

Half order of pasta with meatballs

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7-Eleven

4.2(6 reviews)

1.7 mi

Popped in for a Diet Coke, fruit, nuts, and some other snacks and was treated very well by Ofelia…read moreand the other cashier. Both were warm and welcoming, wished me a Happy Holiday. Store is bright, clean, as well-stocked with typical 7-11 offerings. Plenty of parking. Solid experience.

Never thought I'd leave a review for a 7-Eleven but this is the nicest 7-Eleven I've ever been to…read morein my 40+ years of life. Super clean, well-stocked, and the friendliest cashier that works there. Wish all 7-Elevens were this nice.

Potbelly

3.4(45 reviews)

1.1 mi

I hope that the Owner and Manager see this on Yelp and that one of them replies to me on Yelp…read more I pre-ordered my Vegan sandwich no cheese with JEN she got my vegan sandwich perfectly Potbelly is able to do any vegan or vegetarian sandwich perfectly thank you ro JEN Well I wanted to thank Jen for her 5-star vegan sandwich Apparently the owner or manager of POTBELLY Does not read his Yelp reviews 1 solid Yelp star from a YELP ! Elite and an All-Star I enjoy the Vegan Veggie Slim on wheat no cheese This is the only vegan and vegetarian option until lunch This is the singular non-American breakfast open at 10: am if I do not want leftovers the Manager or Owner has not respond to Yelp

Okay, I forgot to feed the camera. I was really hungry, sorry…read more Please feast your eyes on the interior shots. We were tired after walking in a parade, and needed some good food. I spotted this place on our way back to the car, and we decided to go there. We both got their Prime Rib Steak Sandwich, with chips and a drink. I also splurged and got a Chocolate Chip Cookie. The sandwiches were very tasty and nicely prepared. The chips were, well, chips. They were fresh and not beyond their freshness date. The chocolate chip cookie was tasty! Service was solid - we arrived, looked at the menu, made our orders and the food was correct. The place is nice inside, very clean and the food tasted great.

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Bacci Pizzeria

2.7(21 reviews)

1.1 mi

Well. Baccis is still Baccis. I haven't been in one of these since it was five dollars a slice with…read morea free pop. I was unaware that one had opened in Elmhurst until I got a coupon in the mail for a buy one get one free slice that suspiciously had no expiration date on it. That was about a week and a half ago, so not that long since the coupon arrival but when I rolled up and saw a sign on the window that said first 100 customers get a free slice I pretty much assumed the worst. I mean I'm guessing this place has been open at least a couple of weeks so they had to have served 100 customers at this point. Needless to say the coupon was no longer good and two slices now cost me $14 and didn't come with any drinks. The staff was friendly and the pizza still tastes like flavored cardboard for drunk people so I guess that's a plus.

While I still love the food, the consistent quality of service/experience has gone way down since…read moremy initial review. Unfortunately, the basic slices (e.g., cheese) are never ready to go. For example, my most recent order resulted in over 30 minutes waiting. Considering dinner time is peak time for food, I wouldn't expect to wait this long for something as basic as a slice of cheese when there are tons of other pizza places around Bacci's that will have these ready to go. I won't be back, which is disappointing since I've been a fan for years.

Margherita Pizza

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Salad menu

Chick-fil-A

3.5(140 reviews)

1.0 mi

Always a solid choice for lunch. They are consistent wherever you go. You can depend on it…read more Service is great, sandwich and fries are very good. This location is always busy so be prepared to wait a little when getting your order. It also has a play area for your little ones. I'm highly recommend this location for families with little kids.

This restaurant in Elmhurst has the worse customer service ever and then you call corporate and…read morethey just take a report and does nothing about it. I am still waiting for a call back about the bad management. Can't say all of them are like this but this one in Elmhurst should be shut down. This isn't the first time we had bad service and they just don't care at all. They need to do better.

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Hilda C.

1 year ago

We recently used Firewater BBQ for a catering event and were extremely disappointed with the experience. Despite spending nearly $2,000, none of the sandwiches came with barbecue sauce--no bottles, no packets--leaving us with dry sandwiches that were far from what we expected. On top of that, an entire half pan of potato salad we ordered never showed up. This was a significant event, and their lack of attention to detail ruined the experience for our guests. To make matters worse, no one from the restaurant has reached out to apologize or make things right. Extremely unprofessional and not worth the cost. Would not recommend for any catering needs. read more

Nancy S.

2 years ago

Firewater BBQ is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, the warm, smoky aroma gets your mouth watering. The food was exceptional--perfectly cooked meats with that signature smoky flavor, delicious sides, and sauces that take everything to the next level. The brisket was tender and flavorful, the pulled pork melted in my mouth, and the cornbread was the perfect sweet complement. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring everything was right. Specially since it was my first time there read more

Antwoin M.

2 years ago

I'm polite staff and very racist personality towards african americans. Management doesn't care about being polite to customers.Therefore, their staff or the people taking the orders do not care about how they treat the customers.At least that's what happened to me as an african american black male read more

Ramon A. B.

2 years ago

I had an amazing experience at this BBQ restaurant! The ambiance is fantastic, and the food is even better. The burnt ends are my absolute favorite--perfectly cooked, soft, and tender with a rich, smoky flavor. Every bite was a delight. Highly recommend this place to anyone craving top-notch BBQ! read more

Firewater BBQ - bbq - Updated October 2026

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Sharko's BBQ

4.4

(24 reviews)

I'm so happy Sharko's moved to this spot. We have loved Sharkos for 15 years…read more Walked right in and grabbed dinner for my family. Brisket, chicken, shredded pork, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. We are partial to their shredded pork! You get barbecue sauce and buns and of course the homemade sweet pickles to go on your sandwich. Gosh this place smells amazing. Friendly staff and nice and clean. Can't wait to go back.

Sharko's BBQ has all the promise in the world but just doesn't deliver. The food leaves you wanting…read moremore, much more. The outside, the inside, the vibes, they are all there. From the incredible looking lemonade (which I vow to return simply to bring home several bottles because they look fresh-squeezed and delicious!) to the easy-to-understand menu, to the wonderful staff. They check all the right boxes... but fall short on the most important... A quick comment on the staff: they are some of the nicest and friendliest people I've experienced at any restaurant. They are genuinely happy you are there and are just chomping at the but to help in any way that they can. This is a rarity these days and deserves to be specifically noted, with emphasis, here! That's why it was such a disappointment on the food side... they have all the right stuff on the menu but when you dig in it's rather flavorless. My pulled pork was also somewhat "swimming" in water on the plate and the brisket was just off-tasting. The semi-saving grace was the sausage link but even that is relative. I wanted to like this place, if for nothing else than the amazing staff. But the food just isn't there.

Dave's Holy Smokes BBQ

4.8

(5 reviews)

Nice spot that's tucked away. The food is very good!…read moreGot a platter of brisket, pulled pork, bbq chicken and sausage and he threw on some ribs!

I found out about this place on social media and then I looked up the reviews on Google. So, my…read morereview comes from years of experience at other bbq places. I've had bbq in Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, as well as some of the prominent places in Illinois. They have a shared parking lot. They do have seating inside. They are only open on Wed-Sat 11 am - 8 pm. You just order at the counter and they bring it out to you. We ordered the bbq sampler that feeds 1-2 people as well as half of loaded mac n' cheese. We also added brisket to the mac for more flavor. The jalapeño sausage was good. I'm kind of picky about my brisket after going to all those bbq places. The brisket here was decent. It was tender but I think it could have been more moist. The smoked chicken and pulled pork were fine. They were a little dry but we dipped them both in the sauces. The rib tips were average, to be fair the rib tips at other places were kind of tough as well. The loaded mac n' cheese with brisket was delicious. The staff was very friendly and attentive. They gave us a sample of some fries they made. I wouldn't mind paying for those if they were on the menu.

Steamboat BBQ

4.3

(1.1k reviews)

Best BBQ around! A must try! Especially the Burnt Ends! Owner, John is a very charitable guy to our…read morelocal schools as well!

Can't believe I have never been here before! And I drive past it all the time. Shame on me! Hahah…read more Walked in and was greeted right away and had patiently waited to take our order. Your clothes will definitely smell like bbq after leaving, just FYI. Good thing I left my jacket in the car. Got the 2 meats, 2 sides. Ordered the brisket burnt ends and brisket, with fries and the mac bites. For the sauces we chose the butlers tribute & firebox. I absolutely loved the burnt ends. It had the perfect amount of fatness and meat. The brisket was also good, a little dry but it was good with the sauce. Now that I have finally made it in, I will definitely be coming back again when I crave for some bbq!

Sharko's BBQ

3.9

(57 reviews)

I have been a big fan of Sharko's over the year, as I most often have gone to the location on 59…read morenear Plainfield. This is my second time to the location at Downers Grove. I paid $22 for a chopped brisket sandwich with mashed potatoes and a can of pop. This is insane pricing. My sandwich was good, and that's why I give it two stars, but the other thing that really hasn't changed over the years is that their sauces, the barbecue sauces, are lousy. I asked for both sweet and spicy. One was labeled S. And the other was labeled SB. Both were very sweet and the sauce was ready. There was no spice or no alternative taste in any of the barbecue sauce this place was a huge letdown, and I won't be back, especially with that kind of pricey relative to alternatives.

It had been several years since I checked out their Naperville location, so I decided to hit up…read moretheir DG location. We were greeted promptly as soon as we entered. Keep in mind that this location is more of a pick up and go place. However, if you have a group of 2 to 4, there is some seating inside. (And weather permitting, some outside tables) I went with the judge's plate that let's you sample ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. It also comes with one side! I enjoyed the ribs the most (2 bones). The brisket they let you pick sliced, chopped, or burnt ends. I went with the sliced and very generous portion. Great way to sample a little of everything. I had the mac n cheese as my side and it was also a generous portion. Prices are very reasonable. They prefer cash payments if your order is below $10. Limited pepsi products, bottled water, and lemonade for drinks. Give them a try!

Broosters Open Hearth Chicken

3.9

(126 reviews)

Five stars! It's…read morebecoming harder to find locally owned restaurants that offer good food, reasonable prices, and a comfortable atmosphere, but Broosters delivers on all three. One thing I especially appreciated was the soft background music. It was pleasant without being so loud that you couldn't have a conversation. (We were a family group of eight that wanted to catch up with one another.) The food was excellent. The ribs were tender and flavorful, the chicken was delicious, and everything was prepared with care. The portions were generous, and the prices were very fair. If you're tired of chain restaurants and looking for a relaxed place with great food and friendly service, I highly recommend Broosters. We'll definitely be back. Unfortunately we live over an hour away because it would be a weekly treat for my husband and I!

We had dinner here before going to the Arboretum for the Illumination show. As we walked in, it…read moreseemed to be a take out place, but there's a large dining area to the right. After we studied the menu, we ordered a chicken plate with two sides, and kabob triple treats (one chicken, shrimp, and steak kabob) over a bed of broccoli and rice. I added soup of the day as my one side. After order, they brought our food to the table. The chicken was moist, but can use a little more flavor. The shrimp and the chicken kabobs were cooked perfectly. The steak kabob was my least favorite. The texture of the center was too soft - unlike an undercooked meat, and not sure how best to describe it. Overall, a good spot for a quick bite.

John's Rib House

3.9

(78 reviews)

Was randomly looking for spots in my area. Decided to give this place a call. Did not disappoint…read more The baked beans were great and the meals were filling.

This is a hole in the wall you would probably skip based on the appearance. We dropped in late in…read morethe afternoon, having never tried the place because it doesn't look like anything to speak of. (Ironically it's next to an amazing divey Mexican take out restaurant.) And that said, I would not dine-in at either place, but if you are looking for take-out, it's a good choice. We had a final-4 game to get home and watch, so we didn't want to wait long enough to try the runs, but John served up some pulled pork and slaw lickety split. And we were very happily surprised. The food was very good.

The Budlong Southern Chicken - Oak Brook

4.3

(31 reviews)

I just had to stop in on the 3rd anniversary of their grand opening on 8/10/23. The original is…read morestill a great sandwich and it certainly fills you up with the mound of fries. I need to stop back more often and have the Nashville Hot, my next visit. I went with the honey bbq tonight. The chicken has a great crunch and very juicy.

Order took around 10 minutes. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich was good but the fried pickles…read morewere not. They use sweet pickles and I hate sweet pickles. Normal recipe is dill. Wasted almost 5 dollars. You had to order off a kiosk which took away from the customer experience of dealing with a person.

Russell's Barbecue

3.0

(583 reviews)

I'm a bit confused by some of the reviews that state things have changed at Russell's (like the way…read morethe meat is or the BBQ sauce). I've been going since I was a baby (I'm now 50+). My parents and grandparents all went to Russell's. We don't live so close these days (1+ hr away), but still get out there a bit to fill the cravings. The way the meat is shaved and the (original) BBQ sauce is the same as it has ALWAYS been. It's always consistent. As for a comment about the floor being uneven? Neither myself nor my mother who uses a walking aid has ever noticed such a thing - regardless of room we're in. Now - I will say this - if you're expecting a 'normal BBQ joint' type of experience, Russell's may not be for you. That's not what it is. It definitely has its own way of doing things. Its own taste. But that's what's been so good for almost 100 years!!! However, they have recently added offerings to the menu to also appeal to that type of taste. New meats, new sides, new sauces. My opinion is you can find those things anywhere. But to enjoy some delicious nostalgia and great classics, try one of the original sandwiches (beef or pork), chicken, or ribs and douse it in that one-of-a-kind magical BBQ sauce. And don't skip fries - sop some sauce up with them too. Their coleslaw is as it has always been. Delicious with a generous sliced pickle to top it off. If you want to venture into newer offerings, do so. But if you want a similar nostalgic experience, it's not in newer sides and meals that weren't even on the menu in your childhood (which it seems like some people ordered while wondering why it wasn't the same). I think Russell's is staying true to their roots, while modernizing some additional offerings. I'm glad they're doing that and think they need to. But for me, I'm there for the classics. And I'm so glad they still exist. There's nothing comparable out there. And I've never found them to not be consistent in those areas. Kiddieland may be long gone - but I'm so glad the gem that Russell's is still exists in its original location (some other locations have come and gone over the years). I'm hoping it'll be there for new generations to continue to enjoy.

I went in to recapture childhood memories. As the saying…read moregoes: "You CAN'T go home again." The quality of the ribs was poor. Reminded me of low budget Sonny's in the south. The service is quick and friendly. None of the employees seems to be overjoyed to be there. The dining area has not changed much over decades. It has a warm and homey feel. It is not SMOQUE!

Byrd's Hot Chicken

4.4

(44 reviews)

After a long day of shopping, we ordered food to go from here. There was a little bit of a wait,…read morebut understandable in that it was cooked to order. We were impressed by how crispy everything was after our +20 min car ride home. We had the chicken sandwiches and boneless wings w the mango habanero sauce. The spice levels and sauces were on point. We will definitely be back if in the area!

The last time I had Byrd's Hot Chicken was in Anaheim, California a few years ago! I arrived in…read moreChicago at the Westin Lombard. It was cold outside, around 20 degrees out! After getting checked in at the hotel and unpacked in the hotel room, I ended up looking on UberEats for restaurants in the area. Byrd's Hot Chicken was one of the first restaurants that popped up on the application! Byrd's Hot Chicken's menu consists of lots of chicken! You can order a chicken sandwich, the Byrd Bowl (diced chicken tender, cheese, slaw etc..), Tenders, French Fries, Mac N Cheese, Cake Shake, Chicken Nuggets, and so much more! I ended up ordering the following from Byrd's Hot Chicken [2] Chicken sandwiches: Plain, with pickles and cheese. Mac N Cheese Side The UberEats order took about 30 minutes. The meal was still hot and the chicken was super crispy when it arrived at the hotel! I opened up the bag and couldn't believe how much Mac N Cheese was in the container! There was so much! The Mac N Cheese was delicious!! It was perfectly seasoned and loaded with cheese! The chicken sandwiches were my favorite though! The chicken was juicy and tender. The breading on the chicken was so crispy and yummy! The pickles and cheese was a good addition to the chicken sandwich! This was one of my favorite chicken sandwiches that I've had in a long time! I might have to come back here one more time before I fly back to Las Vegas!

Chicken Manor

3.5

(8 reviews)