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    The Slab Bar-B-Que

    3.5 (158 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    THE SLAB BAR-B-QUE ATMOSPHERE

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    Large Tip with fries
    Precious B.

    Just ordered a large tip cut small and barely got any meat. I got mostly bones, grissle & fat. I also didn't get the sauce I ordered on the side or the napkins and utensils I made note of in the app. Do better. What little meat I did have tasted good, though. Also, the small yams are delicious and overpriced. One of the best sauces I've tasted in a while, but yall gotta do better.

    half slab large end and skin on fries that taste like they were once a potato! yummy
    Melissa M.

    food and service was great the greens will be on my next trip turkey based and cooked and seasoned to perfection ribs and chicken were very tasty... I should have gotten mild sauce the mix was spicy but in a good way I may go back and get ten orders of greens and fib and say they are mine at the next family bbq lol no dining... get your food and go but Im ok with that

    Small rib tips
    Cassandra L.

    The rib tips were old school flavored. IYKYK. Had the right amount of Smokey flavor to the meat ,crispy charred edges and tangy sauce !! Service was efficient and friendly. Ambiance is not what I usually look for in a neighborhood bbq joint but it was definitely in there . Plenty of smoke and hickory logs stacked in a corner, waiting to burn !!!

    Menu
    Sarah F.

    Absolutely phenomenal!!! The young lady that worked there (the chocolate chick) packed our food with such detail that I knew it was valuable.... and beh beh (New Orleans accent) when I tell you the food was hittingggggg!!!! We ordered two slabs of ribs, half barbecued chicken with fries and mild sauce, family sized Mac and cheese(), family sized greens, yams , and family sized cole slaw all for $110. Talk about bang for your buck!! Have recommended it to so many people already and will definitely return next trip to Chicago!!!

    4 wings
    Christopher V.

    I'ma keep this one short. 2.75 stars - Skip the mac and cheese. They need to revisit this recipe. Actually. ..find a new recipe all together. - Chicken is seasoned nicely, but soggy - Tips were tender, but I strongly suggest getting the sauce on the side. Not my favorite. The Slab has potential, but needs to work out a few kinks.

    Burnt... bursted... hotlink

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    4 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    21 days ago

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    9 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

    I ordered the small end ribs. The meat was tough and dry. I just wasted $19.98 +tax. Never again!

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The food is good customer service be good but why be closed when it's say open hurt the body twin

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    One thing they got very clean windows. The food is excellent smell good while it was cooking. Tasty exciting.!!!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    4 stars...fresh shockingly delicious no corners cut.. will go again on my next cheat day...lol good job chef

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    BBQ is very good! The tips were nice and tender. They forgot my sauce, but the meat was flavorful enough.

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    2 years ago

    The ribs are consistently tender and flavorful. I also got the baked beans and the turkey which was very tasty.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The BBQ is fresh, tasty and well prepared. I recommend that you try the tips with or without sauce, you can't lose. My goto BBQ joint!

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Smoque BBQ

    Smoque BBQ

    4.3
    (4.9k reviews)
    14.9 mi
    $$

    I've recently started lifting heavy, and on a Friday night was looking for a high protein…read moreindulgence. La Brasa Roja is a go-to, but my friend wasn't in the mood to share and an entire chicken just for me was not happening. In a search for chicken dishes in the area, I came across Smoque and came to Yelp to get a sense of it. Only to discover my own review, from 14 years ago. I did not remember this place and certainly did not remember coming here, at all. But I figured my 4 star review from the Obama years must certainly be 5 stars for 2026, since restaurants are so inconsistent lately. I was right. The half chicken was smoked *perfectly.* It was fatty and crispy, but it was not doused in oil the way so many restaurants do these days. And even if you remove the skin from your chicken, the flesh itself was tender but firm and flavorful - even the breast. Plus, if you have leftovers, it reheats very well and kept its crispiness and moisture. This time they did have St Louis ribs, of which we bought a sampler. I'm not a pork person these days (I don't digest it well) but I had a bit and it was great. Too bad I forgot about this place relatively close to me. I would have purchased a lot of smoked chicken here over the years. But I look forward to making their chicken a staple of mine. The prices are super competitive, too, especially for the quality.

    We flew into Chicago and looked for a good place to stop and grab a bite and we're craving BBQ…read more We saw Smoque was rated very high but also had a lot of reviews so we stopped in and are we glad we did! Mrs.GiGi at the front took our order and Juanita let us know we'd be waiting for a table as we waited for the food - it went pretty quick even though being busy with every table filled and people waiting. It's a smaller restaurant but the staff and team were so welcoming and took such great care of us (the whole team was amazing - some of the best service we've ever received and we stopped in on December 27th later at night)! This is a must try if you haven't - we will defiantly be back!!!

    Photos
    Michelin Recommend Smoque BBQ 3800 N Pulaski Rd,Chicago, IL This Place is Smoking Hot! Low and Slow! BBQ Heaven! Brisket is The Best.Cool!
    Michelin Recommend Smoque BBQ 3800 N Pulaski Rd,Chicago, IL This Place is Smoking Hot! Low and Slow! BBQ Heaven! Brisket is The Best.Cool!
    Brisket & pulled pork combination platter
    Brisket & pulled pork combination platter
    Burnt ends yumminess!

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    Burnt ends yumminess!
    Offset BBQ

    Offset BBQ

    4.7
    (302 reviews)
    11.8 mi
    $$

    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!

    Photos
    Offset BBQ
    12pc Offset Wings with Chicago White Sauce (side)
    12pc Offset Wings with Chicago White Sauce (side)
    Looking out at California.

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    Looking out at California.
    Aloha Hawaiian BBQ

    Aloha Hawaiian BBQ

    4.8
    (28 reviews)
    8.5 mi

    I love going to Hawaiian spots, but they're usually hard to come around; therefore, I gave Aloha…read moreHawaiian BBQ a chance and absolutely loved the food. We got the pork katsu, shrimp, and fried chicken plates. The katsu was very crispy and paired well with a nice tangy sauce. The shrimp was banging and paired so well with the lemon and rice. And lastly, the fried chicken (chicken karaage) was so crispy and juicy but had such good flavor to it. The rice and mac paired so well with the proteins too. The service was nice; they have a kiosk where you order all your food and then a robot brings your food to the table. The ambiance had a nice Hawaiian decor to it and was full of color. Additionally, there's a decent amount of seating if you want to eat there. I'd definitely come back again and give this place a try.

    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!

    Photos
    Aloha Hawaiian BBQ
    Loco Moco
    Loco Moco
    Aloha Hawaiian BBQ

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    Blackwood BBQ

    Blackwood BBQ

    4.1
    (406 reviews)
    8.8 mi
    $$

    My meal here was surprisingly tasty for a chain BBQ place…read more The lunch special was great. $12.99 for a pulled pork sandwich, side, and drink. That is essentially unbeatable downtown. The pork was juicy and the KC style bbq sauce was good (other options were Chicago, Memphis, Carolina(?)). The mac and cheese was really tasty, I found myself scraping the bowl for more. It had a really nice crust on top. The service was quick and friendly.

    I've had the full spectrum of BBQ from mind-blowingly incredible to places I send people I don't…read morelike. I am pleased to report that Blackwood BBQ is somewhere between "good" and "very good". It won't knock your socks off, but it is nowhere close to "bad." It's perfect for what it is, that being: a spot for a bite during the lunch hour. On both visits, I ordered the two meat platter, with brisket and sausage. Both were flavorful and savory, with the brisket being balanced in terms of meaty vs fatty (as requested). Now, that said, the prices at Blackwood are on the high side. On the one hand, I know the price of a pound of ground beef is greater than the minimum wage (as of this writing). However, I also can't help but feel the punch to the wallet when two meats and one side, where one of those is brisket, and a soda comes to somewhere between $20-25 (I think it's close to $25, but don't want to misspeak). Half a pound of meat is not a lot, making the wallet punch even worse. Then there comes the service. Most of the folks working here are professional and welcome. There is this one person, though, whose level of gruffness seems a bit high. It wasn't so much a lack of pleasantries for the sake of efficiency as it was annoyance that customers exist? Final verdict: If you're working in the loop, and craving BBQ, Blackwood is a rock-solid spot, but the high prices mean it likely isn't practical for a regular spot. If it's a weekend, there are better options out there.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Salad option
    Salad option
    Half a dozen sauce regions!

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    Half a dozen sauce regions!
    Carson's

    Carson's

    4.1
    (468 reviews)
    8.8 mi
    $$$

    I had not been to Carson's in over a decade I'm sure because they were located on Ontario & Wells…read more I thought they'd gone out of business and had no idea they'd moved to Illinois Street. I can assure you that my next review won't be ten years from now. I love the new location--it's such a wonderful classic dining experience with an outstanding vibe--family dinner or date night, and the service remains outstanding. The food is exactly as I recall. You hardly expect a "rib joint" to have good seafood but the Shrimp DeJonghe is an outstanding appetizer - white wine, garlic, butter, chives, whipped bread crumbs. The Half Roasted Greek Chicken and Prime Rib are to die for delicious--we shared those entrees and still had leftovers. The Prime Rib will literally melt in your mouth!

    I have been dining at Carson's restaurant for over 30 years, but after my experience last night, I…read morewill be looking for a new barbecue spot. Up until four years ago, I used to visit at least five or six times every single year. Last night was my first time back since then, and I was deeply disappointed by how much the standards have slipped. The entire evening felt incredibly rushed. The person taking our order seemed to be in a massive hurry, acting short and dismissive with us. To make matters worse, an automatic gratuity was added to the bill. While I understand this is becoming a common industry practice, a gratuity should ultimately be an option based on service. The server did mention at the end that we could have it removed if we wanted to, but customers shouldn't be forced into that awkward position in the first place. Unfortunately, the quality of the food has also gone downhill. I always used to order the ribs and frequently took extra food home because it was so good. Last night, the food left a lot to be desired. The barbecue simply isn't what it once was. When my uncle graduated in the 90s we went to your previous downtown location.He loved the restaurant as well; the food, the exceptional service, and the warm atmosphere. I went there year after year. While I respect that they have managed to stay in business for 30 years, there were just too many issues with both the service and the food for me to return.

    Photos
    Carson's
    Carson's
    Starters: Mediterranean shrimp 17

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    Starters: Mediterranean shrimp 17

    The Slab Bar-B-Que - bbq - Updated June 2026

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