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The Tonk

3.6 (1k reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated a few days ago

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THE TONK ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Live music
Loud
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - The Tonk

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Exterior
Joon K.

The rib was a bit bland and stiff. I like the vibe there. They have bands on Wednesdays - Sundays. Check their website for their schedule.

Jeff V.

My son was down the block at Thalia Hall so I had a lot of time on my hands. I was drawn to the smell of BBQ and wandered into this great spot. I sat at the bar while a DJ spun and the few remaining runners of the Chicago Marathon went by on 18th. I ordered a Guinness 0.0 and the brisket platter for one with greens and pulled pork for my side. It came out piping hot and delicious with a buttery roll. After pouring some of their excellent mustard sauce on my plate, I devoured the meal and finished off with a nice THC and CBD sparkling rose seltzer. The bartender was super friendly and great at her job. I will definitely be back!

Mac and Cheese, Regular (8 Oz)
Cassie H.

I hate bashing on small local businesses but the food here was not good at all in my opinion. The brisket chili was too salty for our taste, and the Mac and cheese was grainy for some reason. The corn bread was also so so dry. If you're looking for actually good bbq, I would totally suggest eating elsewhere because it wasn't it.

Daniel M.

Great attentive service and not too long a wait for food either. The food is really tasty and great! Definitely a recommended BBQ place. The ambiance is a spacious seating room, with some live music occasionally. So it is unique comparatively to other places. Back to the food, great cook of the BBQ food. The cornbread muffins are exactly as advertised. Nice and moist, as they should be. The hot link has a nice seasoned layer while tender. The brisket sandwich has a ton of brisket inside. I love brisket, so this is welcomed. The brisket is really great! There are three bbq sauces which are fine. Would be nice to have a spicy bbq sauce option too or some other type of bbq flavor sauce. As is there is a tangy (Carolina), a sweet bbq, and then some other one that's in between sweet n tangy. So perhaps a more straight up bbq sauce too would be good. Regardless, the three sauces currently are good. Overall, very satisfied with this BBQ . Another great BBQ place to check out in Chicago.

Deamontria R.

Came here on a Thursday night and it was decorated so cute for valentines. Always have a great meal here. Got the platter and it was pretty good. My cherry drink was delicious! Our waitress was super nice as well. They had live bands playing this night so was really cool to see.

Bacon Candy
David M.

Bacon Candy 4 stars Beef Brisket Sandwich on Garlic Breas 3 stars Hot Link 5 stars The Bacon Candy, bacon with a sweet glaze on it. Had it a couple of places. It's very good. The beef brisket sandwich was cooked well but it was bland. The garlic bread was hot, toasty, and flavorful. The house barbecue sauce is decent but this Sandwich didn't do it for me. The hot link however was on point. Really good seasoning, not that hot, but really enjoyed it. I'll go back and try a couple of other things.

Our spread! Minus the Garlic Bread and Prime Brisket by the Pound off to the right. Pickle fries in the basket as well were good
Maley S.

My work team was out for dinner to celebrate hitting our monthly goal. Perfect place to gather together and eat really good food. It was 4/5 of our first time here. Everything was really good. My favorite was the dinky dunker sandwiches with the sweet bbq sauce and the corn bread. The whole vibe of the restaurant is so fun and cozy. Definitely gather here with your friends sometime soon and make sure you catch one of the live bands! Can't wait to go back.

Band Daya Dorado  Photo by @nolacahi. Follow on IG :)
Elizabeth M.

Went here on a Saturday night for their live music. Sat at the bar, bartender was attentive and friendly. Live music was great! : Tex-Mex band Daya Dorado. Food looked and smelled great- will have to come back again.

Fried Green Tomatoes- thick and fresh
Stacey G.

Welp, I really wanted give this place 3 stars because I had a horrible pickup experience between the lack of parking after driving an hour and 20 mins and a 20 minute order turning into a rushed 35 min order because my order was lost was too much for me lol BUT - when I tell you this is the best brisket I have had in an extremely long time- I am not lying ! The brisket slices were thick , perfectly cooked with a flavored rub !!! The menu is diverse and had my favorite - fried green tomatoes which I enjoyed because the batter didn't have a ton of cornmeal and it wasn't grainy. I can't say I'd do pickup up again but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't come back for the brisket. It was that amazing

Half Smoked Chicken
KELLY M.

Order late lunch from this place. We got the platter which consists ribs, briskets, and half chicken with three sauces. We order some sides which is corn breads, mushroom, and mashed potato. The side was not bad at all, I would say the mushroom wasn't much flavor or I was having high hope however the corn bread and mash potatoes are delicious. We also order their jumbo smoked wings, I would say the smoked wings could be better. Street parking.

Mac & Cheese
James F.

A great barbecue spot! We went on Thursday for dinner and it wasn't too busy. Sat in the back room and really enjoyed the interior design and ambiance. Ordered the sampler platter ($43) that comes with basically everything and then a side of Mac and cheese. The mac and cheese side was not super needed honestly. The best parts of the platter were the ribs, the brisket sandwiches, and the corn muffins. Shared with my girlfriend and we had plenty to bring home for leftovers. Overall great food, value, and service.

Hot link
Sonya M.

I visited Honky Tonk for the first time a few weeks ago. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being a great experience. We walked in and found the place semi empty. There were ample seating choices, so we opted to sit near the front of the restaurant. Our waitress, Brenda, came over immediately to greet us. We ordered drinks and food. I had the pulled pork sandwich and greens. It was delicious. My sister also had the pulled pork, but she also ordered a hot link. My brother had the rib tips and mac-n-cheese. We ordered a basket of corn bread muffins for the table. The food was delicious!! The mac-n-cheese was al dente, which was interesting. My brother loved it, but I didn't care for it. He also liked the corn muffins, but I didn't like those either. I like my corn bread on the sweet side. The muffins and mac-n-cheese weren't bad... they were just okay, in my opinion. The pulled pork and greens were fantastic. My brother loved the rib tips as well. The hot link was decent. It's not like a link you'd eat in the hood, though. It's tasted more like Eckrich smoked sausage to me. We also ordered a round of cocktails, which were really good. My brother had a sidecar, and I think my sister had a moonshine. I can't recall what I had, but it was good. They both liked their drinks, too. The ambiance was really nice, too. There was an R&B band singing and playing live instruments. They sounded great! Our waitress, Brenda, was awesome. She offered recommendations and was really chill. We thought she was cool. The bill was about $100 for the 3 of us, which is a little pricy but well worth it. I'll visit Honky Tonk again for sure. Update - I changed my initial five star rating to four stars. I visited Honky Tonk again last night and the experience was lackluster. I had the pulled pork and greens again, but it wasn't as good as my first experience. The pork had a lot of gristle which was disgusting and the greens tasted bitter. The service was still good though and there was a great band (Anna Maze) playing. I was with three friends and they also didn't think the food was very good. The drinks made up for it though. Not sure if it was an off night or if this place is hit or miss all the time.

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2 years ago

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6 years ago

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Beth B.

Thanks so much, Kendal! We can't wait to help you again.

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8 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

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Beth B.

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3 years ago

The food is plentiful and the service is good. Delivery has always been timely and I've never been disappointed.

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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Beth B.

Thank you so much for the review, Michael!

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5 years ago

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Beth B.

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4 years ago

Best damn bbq period. Candy bacon... the best!! Great service and atmosphere! Don't miss out on this place!

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6 years ago

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Beth B.

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4 years ago

Best wings ever, and Tommy like wingy. They are SUPER JUMBO. Crispy and flavorful, and the sauces are a bit different than most.

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

not great, very dry and mealy ribs and brisket... save your money and avoid this place

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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9 years ago

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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5 years ago

I had been hearing about this place for awhile now. I ordered the platter. It was pretty good.

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Food was great, the live music was great! It's a seat yourself place- so service could have been better

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11 years ago

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15 years ago

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6 years ago

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Page 3 of 27

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Review Highlights - The Tonk

“I ordered out from Honky Tonk BBQ for the first time during the pandemic and I had a DELICIOUS meal!”

Mentioned in 73 reviews

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The Bassment - Chicago - The Bathtub

The Bassment - Chicago

4.0(250 reviews)
2.4 mi•River North, Near North Side
•$$

The Bassment in Chicago is a hidden gem that combines sophistication, style, and incredible live…read moremusic in one unforgettable experience. From the moment you descend into the intimate, speakeasy-style space, you're transported into a world of elegance and charm. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with dim lighting, plush seating, and a touch of vintage glamour that perfectly complements the lively energy of the performances. The musicians are top-notch, the cocktails are expertly crafted, and every detail -- from the décor to the acoustics -- is designed to create an exceptional night out. What truly makes The Bassment stand out is the seamless blend of entertainment and hospitality. The staff are attentive and personable, ensuring every guest feels welcome and well taken care of throughout the evening. Whether you're there for date night, a celebration, or just to unwind with great music and drinks, The Bassment delivers an experience that feels both exclusive and comfortable. It's one of those rare Chicago spots where the vibe, sound, and service all come together perfectly -- a must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality nightlife and unforgettable live performances.

I came here on a late Saturday night after attending another event; this served as the groups…read morenightcap before we ended the night. I'm so glad that I happened upon this place because it's one of the best late night live music spots that you can come across. I'm not sure if there was an established band that was on stage beforehand, but while I was there, it seemed like there were a lot of local acts and just super talented folks who were there jamming on stage. I loved every minute of it. There's a small bar there which I could imagine could get easily packed and overrun during a busy night but overall the drinks were fine. They do have seating areas, low chairs like the speakeasy vibe to enjoy the entertainment, but they also have a lot of space to dance and stand if you need to. I'll be back for sure, but you should also check it out.

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The Bassment - Chicago
The Bassment - Chicago
The Bassment - Chicago

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The Empty Bottle

The Empty Bottle

4.3(381 reviews)
3.3 mi•West Town, Ukrainian Village
•$

What a cool venue! It's got a great vibe, is very spacious, and has a great bar. The stage set up…read moreis pretty good. I was really amazed at how many people could actually fit fairly comfortably. I went in a group of 3 for a Jim E. Brown show on Thursday, and it didn't disappoint. The Empty Bottle was a great venue for him. The crowd was great, fantastic environment. Highly recommended.

Kari's Rating 8/10…read more Came on a Monday for some free music and got there around 8:15pm. I thought it was relatively busy as the bouncer checked my ID and gave me a stamp. I walked into the bar area and was trying to grab a drink and it was pretty crowded. Since I don't really drink anymore, a friend bought me a Matcha soda and two of the Monday night specials for three dollars each Overall, the place seemed relatively divey and a little bit dark. I don't really think of this venue somewhere you would take a first date. And the decor was a lot of sharpie doodles in the bathrooms as well as stickers galore. It was a really fun intimate stage. As the first band started, it only got more packed-but the air conditioning was well dispersed and I never overheated. I thought the acoustics were OK in the room, but the bands themselves are relatively loud and their pronunciation was a little difficult to hear the lyrics. I hadn't really heard of the bands that were playing, but when I left around 10:15pm there was a massive line-I think there were still two more bands that were going to play and I'm glad I left when I did!

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The Empty Bottle - Horribly loud and not tuned band with squeaky sounds

Horribly loud and not tuned band with squeaky sounds

The Empty Bottle
The Empty Bottle

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The Tonk - bbq - Updated November 2026

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