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    Jay's Backyard BBQ

    3.8 (49 reviews)
    Closed 1:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    JAY'S BACKYARD BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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    Jerk Rib Tips
    Jason W.

    Very small restaurant and there's no sitting room, standing room only on a deck against the wall. My Wife had the jerk chicken egg rolls and loved them. I thought they had regular rib tips but only jerk rib tips so I decided to try them. They had a nice seasoning to them a little too hot for me after eating a few but the mild bbq sauce was tasty. I'm sure someone who likes spicy food would love them, because even being too spicy for me I would try just one more lol. It was a 30 minute wait for tips the day I tried them but they took my cell phone number and called me when my order was ready

    Rib tips
    Anthony J.

    Had the rib tips. Not bad not great just kinda meh. Sauce was pretty good though. Also had the steak plate pretty good nice jerk taste to it.

    Jerk chicken tips

    Drove from Schaumburg just to give them a shot, and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Jerk chicken tips and my wife ordered the rib tips. They are a hit and I will be back to try something else..

    Mini ribtip $7.00
    Rozalynn B.

    I've been eating Jay's for about 4yrs now. I started eating his food when he was selling dinners out of his backyard!!! Hence the name of the place! So, originally I'd always order the philly sandwiches. Chicken or steak, then he mixed them and named them the Obama and even has 1 with shrimp and the other 2 meats called the Obama VIP!!! I love them. When he was at his 1st location on Madison & Central he started doing jerk philly egg rolls which were a bomb too. The jerk pork or chicken ribtips take the cake!!!!!! His jerk tacos are a hit too. I love Jay's. Everything is FRESH!!! NO OLD FOOD! Jay is the owner & he is in there working busting his ass too! He is very friendly & humble. He always gives free food back to the homeless/community and I know his business is destined for greatness because I've seen him bust his ass for this place!!! I will always support him!!!

    Jim D.

    Not bad but a couple of things were just "different" in my opinion. The jerk has literally no spice kick to it whatsoever & although I ordered something as strange or what sounded so weird that it had to be amazing, the jerk chicken gyro, the jerk didn't pair well with tzatziki sauce. With those tidbits aside the meats are seasoned well & the seasoning alone might be the saving grace for this place. My expectations were a littler on the higher side especially after watching their episode of "Chicago's best. I was also under the impression that "shrimp" came on the "Obama" options but maybe it's just wishful thinking. During covid they only allow 5 people in the lobby & after placing your order you're asked to step back outside & they'll call you when you order is ready. I was also told after the fact that the egg rolls were supposed to be accompanied by a sweet & sour sauce but I received no sauce with my egg rolls.

    Jerk rib tips

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    3 months ago

    Excellent barbeque! You can taste the smoke in the meat. Keep doing what you're doing.

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Food is great. Service is great. Prices are on par with the high cost of EVERYTHING these days.

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    t the tips are juicy, and fries are great, the sauce is boss! But that slaw is a necessity.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Good fresh food! Plan ahead, order ahead be prepared to wait. The food is worth the wait!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    10/10 recommend. Obama rolls are amazing. Ribs ALWAYS delicious. Worth the wait. Best bbq on the west side of Chicago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food is always made fresh to order. Everything is delicious the steak Philly is my go to but those ribs omg always tender

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Went there Twice and they were not open. How do you have a business and you don't have regular hours.

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

    FOOD IS AMAZING! Literally broke my diet to try the Obama and the jerk rib tips and it was WELL worth it!!! Very satisfied

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Jay's Backyard BBQ

    What are the Business hours?

    They don't have any... they open when they want which is crazy. They never answer their phone and when I did go during their "alleged" hours, they were not open... it's a bummer because I am sure they are losing business as they have great food.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Offset BBQ - St Louis Style Ribs - Half Rack Elote Cornbread (2 pieces)

    Offset BBQ

    (298 reviews)

    $$

    Humboldt Park, West Town

    I've been craving some MEAT for a while, and after reading Sam C.'s review, I was sold - I grabbed…read moremy keys and made my way over! When I find myself thinking of a return trip while still there, you know for sure Offset BBQ delivers! I ordered the All Beef Platter, and got the Brisket Chili (upgrade) as my side. The sausage was fantastic! It had a snap which made all the Chicago Hot Dogs within a 20 mile radius jealous. Inside was a maximally savory, salty but not over-salted filling. The kind of meat that needs no sauce. Then comes the brisket! A lovely piece of meat that was so tender, looking at it and licking my lips caused the meat to start falling apart. I also loved that it was a good balance of meaty and fatty bits. However, there is a small 'but' here. For my taste, the brisket needed a very light sprinkle of salt. No matter, with the help of the sauces the brisket leveled up enough to take on any boss battle thrown at it. Speaking of sauces: The KC Style and Hawaiian were both good. Both were sweet, and had some tang, though, it seemed the KC had a slight edge in the bold department between the two. A sauce I loved though was the Chicago White, a fantastic Horseradish and Mustard sauce that was unique, interesting, savory, fresh, and a little spicy. The kind of sauce I want to buy a container of and take home! For my side, I upgraded to the bowl of brisket chili. I loved this so much, I may just order this as a main on a return visit. The chili did not at all skimp on the meat, which was tender and flavorful. The use of beans, corn, and veggies were there to help accent everything else, and were themselves cooked perfectly. Kudos also for the inclusion of a couple pickled jalapeno slices. My heat tolerance may be too high to feel a burn, but the crispness of acid did wonders! The included coleslaw was one thing I did not love. I appreciated that they were not heavy handed on the mayo, and the dressing overall was light in quantity and consistency. However, the cabbage was sliced as if by a sleep deprived stagiaire who has yet to master knife skills. The slicing was terribly inconsistent, with some pieces being way too large. For dessert, I ordered the Blueberry Handpie. This was so much better than expected! The crust was flaky and wonderful, and the filling had plentiful sweet blueberries. This dish also excelled in its execution. The cast iron pan kept the pie warm, and the ice cream was such that didn't melt right away. I also loved that the blueberries weren't screaming hot and exploding with lava. When it comes to the service, the bar-server was fantastic. She was kind, friendly, and attentive. Food came out pretty fast, too, considering how fresh everything was. Finally, while I did not make laps around the entire establishment, the vibe has just the right intersection between BBQ and Rock & Roll, with the music playing at the perfect volume to be appreciated while being not at all intrusive. Final verdict: There are many who sing the praises of Smoque BBQ, which is a great spot. However, between the two, I prefer Offset. Other than a sloppy-chopped Coleslaw, the experience was fantastic not only in the food, but in the execution and the thought put into the experience.

    Alright, I don't usually do this. I'm not a Yelp or Google Review warrior, I'm not out here typing…read moreessays about every decent meal... but gotdamn, this place earned it. I've been meaning to get here for years, and we finally rolled in for lunch - and let me tell you, the hype in my head still wasn't enough. For context, I'm not just some random dude who likes ribs. I run a small side street BBQ pop-up on the South Side and I'm borderline obsessive about properly smoked meat - especially the kind that's gently smoked, where you taste the craft and not just a blast of soot and sauce. That balance is HARD. Most places (even the quote unquote "institutions" we all know) lean heavy on sauce to cover up over-smoked, tired meat. This spot? Absolutely not that. Offset BBQ in Humboldt Park is operating on a whole different level. This is thoughtful, patient, technique-driven barbecue - the kind pitmasters respect and regular people fall in love with without even knowing why it's better. I had the chance to meet Carlo Carani and Doug Pompa, and that alone made the visit special. Doug is the real-deal pitmaster - not flashy, not ego-driven, just a humble craftsman who clearly lives and breathes smoke. Both of them were welcoming, down-to-earth, and generous with their time. Doug even walked me through their smokers and process, which, as someone still climbing the BBQ learning curve, was like getting a backstage pass to a masterclass. No gatekeeping, no attitude - just passion and pride in doing things the right way. And the food backs it all up. The brisket? Tender, beautifully rendered, rich without being heavy. Pulled pork? Juicy, seasoned exactly right, smoke present but never overpowering. The pickled sides? Absolute game-changer - that bright acidity cutting through the richness like a perfect reset button between bites. They're not just doing traditional barbecue either - there's creativity on the menu that actually makes sense, not gimmicks. Add in a serious whiskey and bourbon lineup plus beer that pairs the way it should, and you're looking at a full experience, not just a tray of meat. This isn't just another BBQ joint. This is a Chicago barbecue institution in the making - if it isn't already. Do yourself a favor: run, don't walk. Whether you're a die-hard smoke nerd or just someone who loves good food, this place is the real deal. Maria's service is outstanding and you'd be remissed not to include her hospitality as a bright star to this BBQ institution's success. God bless this joint!

    Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Loco Moco

    Aloha Hawaiian BBQ

    (27 reviews)

    Little Village

    I am extremely happy to find another Hawaiian restaurant near me and it's not a wannabe like H*B*…read more We came on a weekend during dinner and there was a mild rush in and out of pick up orders and people dining in. We grabbed a menu as we had some time to review their offerings before the last person in our group arrived. When it was time to order, we went for variety and got Kaleb, garlic chicken / lemongrass pork and the Hawaiian breakfast. We ordered enough to receive 2 spam musubis. Everyone was happy with their food and compared it to another well known Hawaiian place in the city - but here with better prices! We had plenty leftover for our party of 3 and pretty much could fill up 1 container! We will definitely be back and look forward to trying other items!

    I discovered Aloha Hawaiian BBQ via a photo that was shared on my yelp feed. Once I looked at the…read moremenu and saw a picture of their fish katsu, it became a place that I just had to order from. I was pleased to find that it is located along a route that I frequently drive in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, which may lead to future visits onsite while in the area. And its 4.9 star rating out of 500+ on Uber Eats was the assurance I needed that I would have a quality ordering experience. I did further research on the menu before ordering and I took interest in the garlic butter shrimp, garlic butter fish fillet, vegetable lo mein, vegetable fried rice, crab rangoon, and of course the fish katsu! Out of those items that caught my eye, I ended up ordering the fish katsu with rice & macaroni salad as my sides. Whether it be Grubhub or Uber Eats, I love ordering online because it is convenient. Much praise to the Uber Eats delivery driver, Jesus, for arriving with my order in a reasonable time, as well as meeting me in front of my residence as requested. And Jesus also confirmed that it was me grabbing the order, which I cannot thank him so much for. As for my order, I could not help but smell the fish katsu prior to opening the bag it was placed in. Along with the white rice and macaroni salad it appeared so delicious once I got my first glimpse of it after opening the container. I was pleased with the acceptable portions given, which made my mouth salivate as I took pictures of it to share not only on yelp, but with friends. As expected, the fish katsu tasted very delicious and the katsu sauce complimented it so well. I just could not resist smiling in between bites of it, which left my mouth salivating. As for the macaroni salad, it was the best I have ever had, I kid you not! I finished eating it quickly in between bites of the fish Katsu. Here is your warning! If you are looking for a satisfying meal that could very well turn into leftovers after you have recovered from your kanak attack, then look no further than the fish katsu! In closing, I had an overall great ordering experience as I have indicated in this review of Aloha Hawaiian BBQ. I would consider ordering from again whether it be online or even visiting for takeout when in the area. And with that, I share my endorsement of it as well with you all on yelp. Service: 5 | Ambiance: N/A | Food: 5| Overall Experience: 5 ~ Veni, Vidi, Vici ~ Thomas G

    Jay's Backyard BBQ - bbq - Updated May 2026

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