Consistently sweet employees, fun decor, the best barbecue in the area!! We love their bourbon-focused events & frequently patronize their liquor sales to find new things to try. The best place to bring out-of-town family & friends read more

The South Moon is a casual room packed with vintage and antique toys of all things. So many joints decorate their rooms with antique junk-it's a simple theme that almost always works. TOYS, as a theme catches your eye and your fancy, and provides a sense of comfort, really. If you're of a certain age, you HAD some of these pieces when you were a kid. I certainly did. But what links Toys, Bourbon and BBQ, I have no idea. Perhaps if you hit some fine pre-prandial herb it might make sense. I can remember that state of mind from my hippie days, and I think I may be on to something. The Q here is superb, at prices that will make you clean your glasses to make sure you saw it correctly. The perfectly-seasoned rib rack is HUGE (see photo below), with the right amount (and right flavor) of smoke. The pulled pork and brisket is the same quality. The sauces taste home-made and if you like it HOT, the ghost-pepper variety will not disappoint. Someone in this kitchen knows what they are doing. There are a few miscues (not enough to put me off my feed, but I report it all nonetheless): The Slaw is a little underseasoned. Hit it with some salt and it's great. The vaunted "spicy potato salad" isn't exactly a "must-have", I'd stick with the regular "mustard-style" tater-salad. There's a pulled Chicken which I haven't tried yet, but there isn't a bone-in BBQ chix option. I'll bet they'd knock it out of the park if there was one. And then there's the bar. A heroic variety of Bourbons, and the guy who curates the collection (I think his name is Phil) really knows his stuff inside and out, even if he looks more like a farmhand than a Bourbon Sommelier. They also have a smashing selection of Irish Whiskies. Note Bene: Make sure you have a designated driver. Trust me. In and amongst the toys, all this great booze is offered for sale. They also have a variety of THC-infused beverages on the menu. With this excellent Q, the mind boggles. Plus...toys. As far as Circuses, the service is homey and efficient, with sports on the TV, and picnic tables as a seating choice. A fine feed indeed, and it doesn't do that bad of damage to your pocketbook. We've always wanted to find a place that was in the same league as the Q joints found in the South, and I think we hit on a winner here. Worth the drive, that's for sure. Epilogue: Here's the wicked pissah: For a while, South Moon was open not more than a mile from Stately Breakwind Manor, here in the far southwest Chicago Burbs; in a building that until recently never had a winner in it. We didn't go 'cos we didn't like the building (idiots,we). If you take a look through Yelp for this region most every Q stop is compared to South Moon-believe them. read more

South Moon BBQ - Everyone likes a huge Rack (of ribs) - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

I found this restaurant to be very expensive for what you actually get. Everything on the menu is à la carte, so the costs add up quickly. To make matters worse, the sides are incredibly small. When our sides arrived, they were served in tiny Styrofoam cups and contained no more than two tablespoons of food. It is definitely not worth the price. My husband, son, and my mother ordered the ribs, they were good but a bit, tough and dry. I ordered the beef brisket, a huge disappointment, it consisted of just four slices of thinly cut meat. I understand that the cost of food has gone up and the aftermath of Covid has really changed restaurant prices and quantity. But come on don't insult me by giving the bare minimum. For a small town BBQ joint you are charging Chicago prices with absolutely no extras. read more

South Moon BBQ is our favorite BBQ spot and has earned all its accolades! We came for lunch on a Saturday and, while it was packed, service was fast and efficient. Our waitress was very kind and gave us great recommendations. The decor of the restaurant and arcade room really set the vibe of the place. The food was amazing. The ribs were tender with a sweet, sticky sauce. The legal diva is a sandwich with burnt ends topped with a brat. I highly recommend asking for sides of their other sauces as well. The vinegar based sauce was my favorite, but they are all excellent. read more

South Moon BBQ - Legal Diva - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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We loved all the funky vintage stuff all around the restaurant. We got brisket & pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, fries, and burnt ends! Great beer selection. Our server was very nice! We liked playing the old arcade games after our meal! The Nitro sauce is NO JOKE!!!! read more

South Moon BBQ - Brisket and pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

I had a pulled pork sandwich with brisket on the top and the brisket was very dry and tough... excellent pork though! Everything looked great but dry brisket is a dealbreaker for me. read more

Wasn't impressed with this place. People said to try it out I did and was big time disappointed. The brisket sandwich was dry and maybe had 4 of brisket on it, the mac and cheese had old brisket mixed with it that was dry and had pieces stuck to my teeth n gums , the fried potato salad was decent but you don't get alot. The bbq sauces are pretty good but the meat overall was not. read more

South Moon BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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Service was hit or miss. It was very busy on a Friday night, and there was a lot of cool retro decor. The food was good; it came out quickly, but we did put in our full order all at once. read more

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A wonderful cute BBQ joint! Today we arrived about 5pm. We ordered ribs and burnt ends. Nope! Out of RIBS and BURNT ENDS and WINGS. Our server was good, once she finally approached our table. She went to check if they had one last rack of ribs. We got lucky! We each had a half rack and tried the pork bellie bites. If the food wasn't so good, I would not return to a restaurant that is out of its main item before dinner. I really felt bad as the restaurant filled up and none of those people had access to ribs, ends and wings. I would have left. Bottom line is that if you are lucky enough to get ribs, they are out of this world! The service and selection was most disappointing for my friend and I for our first visit. Correct the availability and service and this is a 5 star review. read more

South Moon BBQ - Pork bellie bites - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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Absolutely delicious! We had the most amazing sandwich to sample a little bit of all the smoked fare. Definitely will be back! read more

South Moon BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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Always good food! service by Taylor, what a fun great lunch! She was awesome and smiling and made our day! Special drink made by the young lady bartender was soooo delicious! Love this place! read more

AMAZING. I added South Moon to my list of restaurants to visit years ago. It's not close to me, but not too far either. Yesterday, we finally made our way out. Now I can only wish that we would have made this trip a long time ago! I don't have to be in the mood for BBQ..it always sounds good. South Moon doesn't have a huge menu, but they have just the right BBQ options, including my favorite..a brisket sandwich. The sandwich was a la carte so we got a basket a fries to share and I also had their baked beans. The brisket sandwich is one of the best tasting, most savory, tenderest ones I've ever had. Did I say it was damned good? It was. The only trick with this fella is it comes on a small bun with pieces of meat coming out every side. So you have to cradle it just right into your hand as you take bites and keep adding more BBQ sauce. The beans and fries were also terrific, and I had a couple bites of my wifes nacho's..also delicious. South Moon has an eclectic decor of memorabilia from the 70's and 80's. It's mostly toys and action figures, but there are also movie posters and props, and my favorite..they have a bunch of video games throughout the restaurant, and a separate game room. All of the games work and all require quarters, so you'll want to bring a roll if you're interested in playing. We sat next to the Galaga game and it was just calling me..but we were cashless. Next time. They also have a cubby with liquor for sale - mostly whiskey. I'm sure they have bourbon and scotch mixed in (well, maybe) and I did see some soda and others. South Moon also has a full bar and a nice craft been menu. Honestly, they have it all in here. I mean..ALL. For seating they have regular tables, the bar, or picnic tables if you come with a larger party. Service here is with a smile and over the top friendly. They also hustle as this place gets busy. I honestly can't wait to come back and bring my son, and some friends here. This might just be my new favorite restaurant. Cheers! read more

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South Moon BBQ is the real deal! The service is friendly and the atmosphere is entertaining. The wings have an absolutely exquisite homemade buffalo sauce, the ribs fall apart and have a perfectly sweetened rub. They have a Spicy potato salad that makes my mouth water, and truly unique Mac n cheese. We go at least twice a month. Prices are very reasonable too! read more

Great food and atmosphere. Waitress was very kind. The wings were amazing and the meat was well cooked.

South Moon BBQ has a really cool vibe! The restaurant is covered with vintage toys and signage. They also have an arcade in the back. They have some large picnic tables for seating, with rolls of paper towels, and bottles of barbecue sauce on top. The bbq is also pretty good, though if you want burnt ends or the buffalo bones, you need to get there early in the evening, before they run out. Our server was friendly and helpful. read more

South Moon BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

Excellent food and service! Kid friendly atmosphere with a small arcade. Great selection of cocktails and beer.

How is this place only 3.9 stars!?! This place is the best bbq I have ever had! The nicest employees and the food came out fast and hot, but I guess the real question is will I be coming back? YES!! read more

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We heard about this restaurant, and though it was 30 minutes away from our neighborhood, we gave it a chance - and we are SO glad we did. The decor was quirky and fun and filled with 70s and 80s nostalgia. The service was friendly and prompt - this is a family owned and operated business and the whole family works there. A great change of pace if you're used to more corporate type restaurants - it has a family run vibe to it. I'm from Texas and know my barbeque - and this was excellent! We sampled the pork belly and chicken wings - the wings were flavorful, crispy but not overdone. My wife had the Reuben and loved it. The meat was of higher quality - a thicker cut, not the ultra thin deli type, and the cole slaw combined well with it. All in all a winner. (This lady's standard of a "good reuben" is the kind you get in New York City, so when she said it was solid, it got high marks indeed...) I had the Steve sandwich - brisket with -- get ready -- a BRATWURST served on top. It was heavenly. Both the sweet and spicy barbecue sauces went very well with it. Good beer menu - I had the dunkel and was tempted by the Oktoberfest but stopped myself out at one since I was driving. The photos of this place online do NOT do it justice. The actual inside looks way nicer in person. Maybe they gave it a refresh? Not sure but good ambiance. The food here is criminally underpriced. We would have paid over 20 percent more for it and still felt we had gotten a good deal - all three of us ate for $60 with drinks and took home half of it. Also: the bathrooms were VERY clean. So - I can't help but give this place the highest possible rating - Five Stars. read more

Been here a decent amount of times, all the way back when they were out in Montgomery. Food has always been decent, but there is better BBQ out there for sure. They have some pretty nice bourbon events as well. Unfortunately their owners decided to partake in a pretty scummy practice. They received a bottle of Weller antique to sell, and these geniuses thought it would be a swell idea to make you buy a separate bottle to get a raffle ticket for the right to buy said bottle for $230. MSRP for said bottle is about $52 and even secondary isn't even that high. I let them know what a scumbag move that was and instead of being a responsible business owner, they blocked me like a child. It was a good run, but I guess that's it for my time there. ***Update*** Continuing in the childish ways, the owner blocked everyone that criticized this sale, and lowered the price, so that future people people wouldn't see the scumminess. They forgot to update Instagram though so attached is a photo with the proof. Sad they they couldn't just admit they were wrong and chose to be unprofessional children instead. read more

South Moon BBQ - Proof of price gouging - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

Stopped in for a bloody. The aroma of sweet bbq waffled in the air. No lunch this time but will definitely return. The bloody was made with homemade mix. Lots of flavor, lots of spice. Delicious. read more

In Hinckley, and had to stop here. It is the place. They had good overall BBQ, my wife and I got the "Chuck Norris" to share and had some left. Lots of beers to choose from. Really eclectic inside, but in a fun way. read more

I recently went to south Moon barbecue it's my go to with barbecue! As usual, they didn't disappoint. The staff is extremely friendly. The dining room is lined with old nostalgic toys. The barbecue is amazing. I had a Reuben. The sandwich wasn't over stuffed with meat. It was just the right amount and the taste is amazing texture as well! to start off, we had fried pickles always a must! And One of the main reasons we go here is the burnt ends!! They are always cooked perfectly and go so good with every sauce offered especially the nitro. It's a little bit of a ride to get to South Moon but worth every minute. Beautiful country all the way up and great food when you get there! Five stars! read more

South Moon BBQ - Burnt ends.....fried pickles and Reuben ! So good! - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

Years back the food was GREAT. Last couple times I felt a slip in quality and attentiveness. First bad visit I wrote it off as a one-off thing. The next time we ordered 2 full slabs and both were DRY. Not appetizing. The staff could not do anything to make it right - we'd already gone home - so I asked for the owner to call me. He never called. We never went back. And, I don't talk this place up like I did! No more free advertising. And we sent LOTS of people out there.... We'd been driving 50 miles each way for this and spending lots of money every time. Now we save the gas. The grocery store 1 mile away now has a smoker and they sell incredible full slabs for $15. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed every time or your money back. read more

Bbq invites you soon as you get off your car, and the closet you get to the door the stronger the urge to get inside. Once in, you're greeted by an eclectic collection that for me brings great memories, from Beatles to Star wars, movie posters adorned the walls, while they also display classic memorabilia like the Ghostbuster wagon, speed racer car, etc. We ordered nachos and Chuck Norris and both were great. All meats were seasoned and cooked to perfection, juicy and tender. G read more

South Moon BBQ - Chuck Norris - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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I travel the world and finally came here with my family. By far one of the best BBQ I've had, I wish I was as good at home. And the people are so nice and welcoming. Is it off the beaten path? Sure but that's where you find the gems. It's worth the little extra drive from The burbs. Thanks for a great evening!!!!! read more

Ordered a pound if pulled pork for carry out. At time if pick up, we questioned the amount we received as it felt light, and was in a much smaller container than in the past. We were assured that it was indeed a pound he said they even weighed it. When we got home I weighed it container and all on my food scale and we only receives 12.5 oz. See attached pic read more

South Moon BBQ - Our pound if pulled pork... - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

We passed this place on the way to Honey Hill Orchard and hit it up for lunch on the way back! In Covid times they are only doing outside dining and seemingly have two staff members running things, one in and one out (this was what one waitress, who had been madly racing around, told a guy who showed up and asked why no one was answering the phone). We ordered and waited. When we first arrived there was only one guy there, but it filled up quickly thereafter (their slogan is "it is what it is and when it's gone it's gone," so people must know to come early). The wait between order and our food arrival was a bit long, but on a Saturday we just chilled and chatted, and it did arrive with time. We both got the burnt ends (listed under appetizers, but one dish of them per person was plenty as a lunch entree) and split a large fry (thick, potato-y and tossed with a spice blend, not very salty, also plenty for two). The burnt ends were very tasty: meatier than I have had at some other places, and my friend wished for more char. We both got the Sweet Heat sauce, which definitely erred more toward the sweet side. A lot of the menu seemed to lean toward giant things, such as the Chuck Norris sandwich (which seems to pile just about everything they make onto a bun); I personally don't need all these combos, but if you're looking to test your bbq mettle, this might be the place. Overall, I would certainly stop back for more bbq the next time I am in this area! read more

South Moon BBQ - Burnt ends and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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Went for lunch and enjoyed the "half size" pulled pork Nachos appetizer along with the Burnt Ends appetizer. Server forewarned us that the appetizers were large portions and she wasn't kidding. The "half size" pulled pork Nachos were a lot of food. The home made tortilla chips along with the grilled peppers & onions made the Nachos a future repeat appetizer choice. The burnt ends were OK. The in-house made barbeque sauces were pretty good. The server was pleasant and helpful. A lot of food for the money. The ambiance is definitely between a mini museum and banquet hall. There are hundreds of action figures on the walls and shelves. They also have an arcade in the back. Family friendly place that's worth a visit. read more

South Moon BBQ - South Moon Barbeque in downtown Hinckley, IL - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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Terrific BBQ. Terrific service. Super fun place. Tons of great memorabilia. But most importantly, the food is superb. The beer selection is first class, and ice cold with frosted glasses. Do not, do not, do not skip the pork belly bites. Burnt ends like candy. I will always agree to go to South Moon. I think I will go tomorrow. read more

I was in the area visiting to do some business and decided to check out the South Moon BBQ restaurant. The food here is pretty delicious, I had the Rueben sandwich with fries and it was one of best I've had in years since I moved from New York to Chicago. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive to us so the service was pretty good in my book. The ambiance was great too because I'm a huge fan of marvel, DC, and see signs of those memorabilia everywhere was awesome to me. They even have video game arcade which brought me back to my childhood instantly. In all, my overall experience was great one so I recommend that you visit this restaurant to experience all of it's awesomeness! read more

South Moon BBQ - Fries - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois

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I met friends here Wednesday evening for the first time. I had the Cliff Combo which is Pulled pork topped with brisket on a bun. They had two sauces available, Sweet Hot and St Louis Sweet. I tasted both sauces and the Sweet Hot seemed like a good choice and it was. I ate several slabs of the brisket and then slathered the rest with the Sweet Hot sauce and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I believe Shannon was our server and she kept track over everyone's order and even remembered me after I moved seats to socialize with another table of friends. Shannon kept on top of things, checking in to see if I needed anything else. The price seemed fair and the meat was oh so tender. After that I played a couple arcade games bringing back memories of the endless hours I spent in the arcade in the early to mid 1980's. read more

My dad took me, my brother, and my boyfriend here one night for dinner after we were craving some BBQ. It was amazing and probably some of the best bbq I've ever had. I got a pulled pork which was so good. My boyfriend ordered a PBLT which I also thought was phenomenal. Recently we tried here again and had the redneck Reuben- which was also very good but I think My go to will always be the pulled pork. Very good place- best bbq in Dekalb county in my opinion. read more

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I was passing through on business when I caught sight of this place. I'm glad I popped in for lunch! Prompt and friendly services. The place is decorated with lots of cool conversations pieces. My meal was amazing- PBLT sandwich with a side of fresh cole slaw. The sandwich was a bit on the smaller side so there was some room for a beer :)- cheers read more

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I love this place and the people that make it an extension of our home. It's a bit of a drive but a nice drive in the country. The staff is amazing and they welcome us warmly and with the wonderful hospitality we've enjoyed over the years. There's always something new to discover when visiting the South Moon BBQ and I purposely over order food and enjoy the leftovers later. Im always pleased with the quality of food and I love sharing the experience with friends. Thanks read more

I've had BBQ from Chicago to Memphis to Mississippi. I know my stuff. A lot of joints claim to have the best BBQ in America. They rarely do. South Moon is right up there. We have stopped in for take out quite a few times. And, the people are always pleasant and friendly. read more

This was an awesome find! Our party of four tried a few different dishes. The pulled pork was so tender, it was probably mixed with heavenly clouds! The brisket was super tasty and it was fun to try the sauces. The Cole slaw was crispy fresh and the fried potato salad and beans were perfect additions. On top of all of that, we became our best kid-selves. Overwhelmed with nostalgia for the collectibles. Take home was a Tshirt that summed it all up: "it is what it is and when it's gone, it's gone." So, go! Share this place with family and friends, and bring a wheelbarrow to wheel your guests out to the car! read more

It's not easy to find great barbecue, so no matter the distance, South Moon is worth the trip! Meats are perfectly smoked and tender, with an array of sauce choices to choose from. The pulled pork is fantastic- try it as a sandwich, or enjoy it on the pork rind nachos. I am not a fry person, but the seasoning on the fries is terrific- a must order side. The atmosphere is casual, laid back and family friendly. There is a cool collection of memorabilia throughout... lots to look at! read more

First time to South Moon. I have had it suggested to me many times. I get it! If there are burnt ends, go for it. So good they melt in your mouth. I ordered the ribs with Mac n cheese and fries. My friend got the beans with her Cliff sandwich, wish I had done the beans. The sauce and mop wash was perfect on my order. My friend and I both agree, we will be back. read more

I came here with a group of friends for a friends' birthday. We ordered first and then seated ourselves. Hubby and I shared burnt ends, brisket, corn bread, and cheese fries. The burnt ends and brisket came without BBQ sauce but there were two kinds of BBQ sauce available. The spicier BBQ sauce was overly sweet and had a weird aftertaste. The other BBQ sauce was okay but wasn't amazing. The burnt ends were definitely better than the brisket as the brisket tasted dry and wasn't as flavorful. The cornbread was good but it would have been better if it was fresh. After lunch we went over to the arcade area to try out some of the games. However, we quickly found that most of the machines ate our quarters which was a huge disappointment. There's a change machine in the back but there is no ATM available. After we ran out of quarters we decided to leave since there were so many faulty games. read more

Nothing good to say. Slow service, cold food, full slab of ribs never brought to the table. Server never even noticed one person wasn't eating. Buns were stale. No BBQ Sauce with meals. Over priced. I wish I would have taken a pic of the tiny $4 salad and $2 sides that were served. Had to get up and get our own refills on soda. No genuine I'm sorry from anyone. Overall horrible experience. read more

South Moon BBQ - Horrible cheese sauce. - Barbeque Near Me - Hinckley, Illinois