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    I Smell Bacon

    4.3 (97 reviews)
    ModerateSmokehouse, Barbeque
    Closed Closed

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    I SMELL BACON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - I Smell Bacon

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    Ribs and pulled pork platters.
    Nancy R.

    Amazing bbq at an affordable price point. On a Sunday afternoon we were met withan open table and smiles. The drinks are served quickly and the bacon appetizer went down quickly....soon good. The main course aas the shining star. My partner had the pulled pork platter and I had a half slab of ribs. A side of fresh cut fries completed the order. Corn bread, nachos and cheese, coleslaw, and pickled onions made it over the top. The sauces are exceptional and I recommend honey habenero. You can find them at the Schaumburg Boomers games, which.is what brought us here. A great find.

    Karen N.

    This has beeb on my list for sometime and we finally had the opportunity to try it and was not disappointed. It was fairly crowded and it was suggested we sit at the bar, so we could watch the Cubs game. Draft beers were $5 , a reasonable deal. My husband had the General Sandwich - sausage and pork topped with spicy coleslaw and bbq sauce on toast. The sandwich was a double decker combination of spice complimented by the creamy coleslaw. The texas toast did not fall apart and held the sandwich together. It was very large, but amazing and half went home . I had the Smoked turkey club. It was on Texas toast and layered with lettuce, tomoto and mayo. The turkey is smoked in house and was very tender. The thick cut bacon added a sweet smoky flavor. The sandwich was amazing, so flavorful. They have four house made sauces, that are gluten free. I especially liked the Habanero honey and Alabama white sauce. The atmosphere is similar to a sports bar, and service was excellent and all the servers were friendly. We will be back to try other items.

    Thick cut bacon
    Michelle L.

    Really great spot, wish we would have come in sooner. Sat at the bar, super friendly bartender. Casual spot with a bar, tables and slots. Good prices on drinks. Huge menu with such great options we were having a hard time deciding. Owner came over and gave us some recommendations. We started with the Bacon (of course) and the Jalapeño poppers. Thick cut bacon was tasty and the poppers were unique - giant, smoked and really good. We split the trio platter and added a side. All meats were terrific, the brisket was some of the best I have had. Sides were all outstanding, especially the pit beans. So many things we want to come back and try. The sandwiches sounded amazing. We will definitely be back soon, don't hesitate to give it a try!

    Cornbread
    Miranda L.

    After seeing such amazing reviews from other Yelpers, I knew I needed to make a stop out to try I Smell Bacon BBQ & Pub. The inside is very casual with a large bar, main dining with tables & chairs, a slots area, and fun/on brand decor. My husband and I sat at the bar and were thoroughly impressed with the menu offerings/variety. They offer daily specials as well as happy hour specials from 4-6pm. We started with a $4 You Call It cocktail special. I got the Redemption Bourbon & Diet and he got the Cruzan Rum & Ginger Ale. They were served in short glasses but flavor and balance was spot on. For food, I got the Chuck Wagon Cheesy Mac. The mac and cheese was absolutely delicious, full of flavor, and very filling. My husband got the Cup of Gumbo which he said was full of flavor as well and had a good heat. We shared a side of cornbread which came with two pieces, was served warm, and came with a side of butter. We left thoroughly impressed by the pricing, quality of food/flavors, and will certainly be back to try more of their meat offerings! Be sure to give this place a try! Tip: Thursdays they host trivia night and certain Wednesdays they host music bingo!

    Interior bar area
    Beth Ann P.

    This bbq place is located in Hoffman Estates off of Route 59 &72. We stopped in for "linner". I smelled the food just pulling into the parking lot! We ordered the shareable platter for two. What it came with (you make your own meat and side choices): *beef brisket *pulled port *Mac and cheese *Brussel sprouts *corn bread *Bread *pickled onions *pickles ***5 different house made bbq sauces to try! The food was out of this world delicious!! The service was quick and friendly. They have the TV's on playing your favorite sports game, with your typical sports pub/bar feel. We will definitely be back! They don't take reservations, but if you have a large party and call ahead they will try to accommodate your seating. They also have catering available.

    John M.

    We had a Restaurant.com certificate so we stopped in on a Sunday after 4pm. Located in a strip center off Route 59 and Higgins,this place has a very casual setting with fantastic BBQ We were seated immediately as they were not crowded. They offer a nice selection of appetizers,sandwiches and BBQ platters. Portions are huge and prices are reasonable. I had the Big Texas Sampler which had a smoked chicken egg roll, jalapeno poppers that were stuffed with a delicious creme cheese blend,smoked wings and cowboy fries that were covered in cheese sauce and bacon. Everything was delicious. My wife had the 2 meat combo platter with pulled pork and chicken,cornbread and Cilantro potatoe salad. They make all of their sauces which are gluten free but I wish they were served in squirt bottles and not individual plastic cups. Everything was delicious and we took half of it home. Our server Cristina was super nice but it seemed they had too many servers which is normally not the case anymore. It felt like we were being watched since it was not busy. The atmosphere is just ok but the BBQ is the hit of the show! This is a family run business offering great food and great prices.. definitely will be back!

    The owners
    Lisa P.

    Traffic was brutal and construction was in full force. BUT, I always say, "will travel for food." Unfortunately, it literally took two hours and twelve minutes to arrive. I thought leaving right after work was a good idea. Never mind that it's rush hour. Lol. I asked the police for directions when I got off the expressway. They were like: "oh it's really good barbecue", "it's right over there on the end." Of course, from the social media buzz and the news interview, I am fully aware that the owner is also a former police officer. Now, I really want to check to see if the food is any good. Upon entering I was greeted warmly. Although, I appreciate that, my first order of business is the bathroom. Lol. Ready to order. I'll have two orders of rib tips, one with fried potato salad and one with mac and cheese. I'll have one mixed platter that comes with chicken, pork, rib tips, baked beans and cornbread. I'll also have two orders of your smoked bacon and a root beer. Big bag to go. While waiting for my order, I spoke with the owners about the best menu items and their favorite sauces. We also took a picture. They were very nice. My husband and I ate that food for two days. Yes, it was worth the drive.

    Annette M.

    This restaurant has been on our radar since it opened and we finally got to try it late Sunday afternoon. There were more servers inside than patrons which is surprising because the food is excellent, the portions are huge and they offer a good value. Hopefully it gets busier because they deserve the support. Our server was friendly and helpful. The interior is more sports bar vibe than bbq joint. There are both high and low top tables as well as seating at the bar and outside. I love that their sauces are homemade and gluten free. The cilantro potato salad is a delicious and unique take and the meats melt in your mouth. We will return when again craving good bbq!

    Cowboy French Fries with brisket and bacon
    Marta M.

    First time trying this spot and it was definitely delicious. Went with a small group for trivia but unfortunately no trivia was able to be had haha but stayed for the food and company. Our server was great! He was very prompt and efficient and explained everything really well. No problem splitting checks either which was nice. The smells when you first walk in will make your mouth water. I didn't realize the platter didn't come with sauce automatically unless maybe they forgot it but most of it didn't need any (but it was a tad dry)! It all had great flavor on its own. I tried a little of everything we ordered and definitely will be back again to try some other things. My BF and I ordered the trio sampler platter (chicken, pulled pork and brisket) with Mac n cheese for the side to share. I could have eaten an entire pan of the cornbread I think - almost ordered it to go honestly, haha (kicking myself that I didn't). We ALMOST finished the entire thing but took just a lil of each meat home for later. The pickled onions were a great acidic pairing with the sweet sauces and creamy coleslaw. I also really liked the "tangy" sauce which is honey mustard tasting and the hot honey was actually VERY HOT, imo, while the salsa for the street tacos had a building vs instant heat. The Mac n cheese was my BF's fav (well besides the meat and tacos anyways). I preferred the flour tortillas even though I usual am team corn tortilla. Overall really fun atmosphere and good food. The prices vs portions were on point as well. Can't wait to try more yummy things next time!

    Menu 11/21/24
    Edward M.

    Chewy BBQ, friendly service, excellent Fried Potato Salad, casual table side eatery. The BBQ is chewy but moist. It's a weird combo, so much chewing. I had the Pulled Pork, Ribs, and Brisket. They were all flavorful, but chewy. The Ribs were the most tender, but the outside crust was tough. The pulled pork and brisket were all meat and all chew. The corned bread has a crust similar to creme brulee. It's an interesting desert but not good corn bread. The fried potato salad was the star of the show, yes the random side. Fried potatoes that were slighly crispy, with a nice spicy creamy sauce with a light kick, green onions for a crisp. Staff were super friendly and explained their BBQ style as Texas inspired, all rub, sauce on side. Sauces were ok, bbq was semi sweet, there is an orange south carolina tangy/sweet one too. Staff also explained meats are smoked in house the day before and most other things are made fresh same day. I would consider going back just for the fried potato salad, but it's 4 dollars for a small portion which is not that much food at all.

    Menu
    Kathleen L.

    We have been driving past here for quite a while and could not wait for this place to open. They have been open since August. There are high and low tables and seating by the bar. They have several TV's on the walls to watch the game! Video gaming area is coming soon. We were waited on right away, service with a smile! I ordered the pulled chicken platter and picked the cilantro potato salad for my small side. It was a decent size side too! The cornbread is moist and delicious too. My husband ordered 12 of the smoked wings (drummettes) and they were a decent size and came with blue cheese dipping sauce (ranch is also an option) There are several different BBQ sauces... I picked the tangy one... We will definitely be coming back again! Delicious!

    Sausage Platter
    Bob R.

    We wanted BBQ, and saw that I Smell Bacon had just opened so gave it a try. Jim's review (their first review) was outstanding, so that sealed the deal. They are in a strip mall in western Hoffman Estates, near Pinstripes. The interior is large and there are ample tables. I also noticed they had a full bar, but we weren't drinking. They have a very nice menu, and like most barbeque joints, when they run out of something, they run out. So, they were out of pulled pork when we got there but they had everything else. There were three of us - one ordered the Texas Link dinner, another the salad with brisket, and I had their three meat sampler, which normally has pulled pork. They gladly said they would substitute, so I asked for ribs. The portions are large, and the food was very good. The beans were outstanding, and (although I didn't have any), so was the corn bread and the fried potato salad. Everything my fellow diners said about the food was outstanding. Before we left, the owner stopped by and we chatted for a while. Very nice guy and I'd love to see his restaurant do well. So, if you are in the area and want some good barbeque, try I Smell Bacon...

    Michelle W.

    Decided to stop in after seeing the open sign. It's a soft opening. When walking in, it's quite bright and open. There's a bar area to the right. The menu was limited at the time, but the staff were friendly and patiently explained the menu. We got a variety to try. The meats were smoke just about right, the ribs were tender, and the fried potato salad is something must try! We will plan to come back after its grand opening.

    Smoked Chicken, Ribs, greens, fried potatoe salad. Cole slaw, corn bread and toast. The sauce is honey habanero it has a great kick!

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    1 year ago

    Excellent BBQ !! Great service. Relaxing atmosphere. I will go back ! Great selection of draft beer!

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    1 year ago

    Amazing Food and great environment! The meat was so tender and good! I have been back 3 times since and catered for a holiday party!

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    2 years ago

    Very good food and excellent service. The smoked sausage and baked beans were excellent. The pulled pork was very good. I'll go again.

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    bb.q Chicken Schaumburg

    bb.q Chicken Schaumburg

    4.2(119 reviews)
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    bb.q Chicken Schaumburg
    bb.q Chicken Schaumburg
    bb.q Chicken Schaumburg

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    Mother's Apron - Freshwater Eel

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    Mother's Apron exceeded my expectations. The kimchi tasted homemade and was so good on its own. We…read moreordered two appetizers and split the Mother's Signature Hanjeongsik between three people, and it was the perfect amount of food. We were a little hesitant ordering the Hanjeongsik since it was our first time and the mains (buttered abalone and short rib patties) were unfamiliar to us. Our server described it as a type of meal that was served for the royal family and comes with several dishes. Theirs included kimchi pancakes, freshwater eel, smoked salmon, and more. I think the shrimp tempura could be more flavorful, but aside from that, the dishes were thoughtful and so good. The prices are also very reasonable for the quality, and the menu has great variety as well, from KBBQ to bento boxes. The restaurant itself is modern, while the food is cooked traditionally and packed with flavor. I would gladly drive from the city just to eat here again.

    Photos
    Mother's Apron - Dining area.

    Dining area.

    Mother's Apron - Spicy pork

    Spicy pork

    Mother's Apron - Kimchi pancake

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    Kimchi pancake

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    Photos
    Lucky Monk - Inside

    Inside

    Lucky Monk - Bang Bang Shrimp

    Bang Bang Shrimp

    Lucky Monk - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Epic Burger - Classic burger and fries

    Epic Burger

    2.8(20 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    Awful food and service . It was really good when it first opened but now they just have a bunch of…read morekids running the place and it is really bad. Several times when I have ordered Cajun fries they will give me regular fries at the drive thru and when I check once I get home it's not worth it to drive back. The patties are soggy and not well cooked half of the time. This evening I ordered a classic single patty and one large Cajun fries and a small Cajun fries at the drive thru. I even mentioned about the fries not seasoned and to ensure that I was given cajun fries , she said she would make sure. I Waited 20 mins to get the food. There was no car in front of me or behind me. When I got to the window no one was there. The burger was undercooked and the fries were over seasoned where I couldn't even eat it. It was so salty. Clearly the employee doesn't know what is the right amount of seasoning required for these fries. Service and food was a 0/10 for me. Disappointed that a good spot for food has not lived up to the expectation of good quality food,

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    Photos
    Epic Burger - Seating

    Seating

    Epic Burger - SWEET POTATO FRIES GARLIC PARM FRIES

    SWEET POTATO FRIES GARLIC PARM FRIES

    Epic Burger

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    I Smell Bacon - smokehouse - Updated May 2026

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