Every now and then on a Saturday night I will have already committed to not "going out" out and instead settle for a night of kicking it with some friends at my place. Â On some of these occasions, a groundswell movement (never thought I'd be able to use that term in a Yelp review) builds to go on a "food adventure". Â This desire has led to such excursions as Fatburger down in Beverly, White Castle (when there wasn't one of the northside) and Arun's up north (so obviously three places of somewhat equal status). Â On this particular occasion our taste buds took us to Ribs 'N Bibs.
I'm usually a baby back guy, but the guy behind the counter informed me that the rib tips were more the local speciality (apparently it's what Obama ordered when he went there). Â I got 'em and they did not disappoint. Â I'm not sure I would consider its quality to be worth the extra effort of getting there, but they were damn tasty, so if you're ever in the neighborhood (specifically did NOT use the shorter 'hood there, though my efforts are probably moot since I couldn't just leave it there), you should definitely check it out.
It had been years since my last visit to Ribs 'N Bibs. Â My recent order jogged my memory. Â The food is the epitome of blah. Â The ribs just aren't what you would expect from a bbq joint. Â More like what you would expect from a high school cafeteria. Â Aside from the lack of flavor and tenderness..all the food taste reheated. Â My theory is that they don't generate enough business like Smoque or Lem's to pull meat right off the grill/smoker. Â They've been around for decades..I don't know how they've survived.
Review Source:I had never heard of this place until I was watching The Tyler Perry Movie "Meet the Browns" Â I wanted to see if it was just a Hollywood made up place or if it was real!
Well, it was real but it didn't have any seats for you to sit down or a wait staff!
The first time I came here I got the Ranch Owners Smorgasbord Bar B Q Ribs, 2 Pc of chicken, Maverick Minis(tips) 3 pc gun slinger(which is nothing more than one sausage cut up into 3 pcs) Onion Rings(2), French Fries and Bread) which for 16.60 wasn't bad because it allowed us to taste a little of everything and it was really good except for the chicken it was kind of rubbery but not so bad that I didn't want to go back.
My second visit I just get the tips and I am delighted!
My third visit we got a Gun Slinger sandwich, Hamburger, Turkey Legs and Ribs...Well the Gun Slinger for me taste better without being drowned in the sauce, the hamburger was a frozen hockey puck and the Turkey Leg moist and delicious!
So, I have to say that over time I began to go to Rib N Bibs about 2 times a month and I was fairly satisfied each time I went.
Well, on my last visit I bought a pan of tips because I had friends coming over and there isn't really any bar b q places around my neighborhood like it use to be.
Anyway, when I receive my ribs they taste old, and like charcoal I immediately call Ribs N Bibs to tell them that I didn't like the food that I just received and because I had friends over I couldn't come back that day.
Well, the rude voice on the other end tells me well he doesn't know what I'm talking about because the ribs are made fresh everyday and that he couldn't give me a refund because the cash register only takes money it doesn't give money back!
I stood there staring at the phone while I am not only disrespected but applaud at the fact that the gentlemen could even say that too me and then he says Well, you can bring back the pan and we will replace it...Really, did he think I wanted a replacement of crappy tips and horrid service...I think not!
I chucked up my loss and have not and would not go back to this place if someone paid me too.
It is so sad that I would even have to write a review like this for a place that may not been the best but they did have some good food items that had me going back!!!
So, if you want horrible customer service(that is if you have a problem with the food), mediocre food then this is the place for you...otherwise don't waste your time or your money!!
I really wanted to love this place. Â There was no fried chicken by 7:00 when I arrived, so they offered me grilled as a replacement. Â It wasn't horrible. Â Heed the warnings of previous reviewers - get there early to get the good stuff. Â Ribs were tough and fairly dried out by the time I got there but they fell apart as if they were going to be freaking amazing so I was hopeful. Â The sauce is nondescript but not horrible. Â Soggy ass fries are not addictive so take a pass. Â I think they forgot my coleslaw so I can't comment there. Â The place has so much potential - the guy behind the counter is affable, the smoker/grill is totally legit, it just doesn't work for people who chose to dine after the meats peak. Â Clearly a neighborhood favorite because there was no lull in customers during the 10 minute wait for my food. Â The post about the health food violations from August wasn't something I wanted to see as I was walking out but I didn't let that cloud my judgement. Â You know how it is, when you want BBQ you will overlook a lot to get it. Â Damn I wanted to love this place. Â If you go make sure you go early even if that means you eat it at room temperature later. Â And don't bother with anything fried.
Review Source:Ever thought about taking a torch to a $10 bill out of sheer enjoyment? Yea, that's never been high on my bucket list either, but Ribs N Bibs definitely aided in helping me piss away $10. I would have rather spent the $10 on a can of raw sewage. Then, at least I would have known I was getting liquified trash prior to handing over my money.
A while back, and by a while back I mean three or so years ago, I tried the rib tips and wings. If I had to define them both, I would say they were "mush meat." And here I was thinking only cereal and bread could become soggy.
This time around, I tried the beef hot links. And on first bite, all memories of three years prior came rushing back to me. Mush Meat!
Two rancid hot links floating in a pool of barbecue sauce with two pieces of barbeque soaked white bread as decrepit spring boards. Mouth-watering right?
I gave them a mint green Alexander Hamilton which had the number "10" stamped on all four corners and they gave me BBQ sewage which incorrectly and proverbially had "edible" stamped on all four corners.
*YUCK!* Dont waste your time and money. The sauce is delicious but the meat is gross. Ive been there twice. The first time I had the ribs. The slab had thin, tough meat on  it. The second time I had fried chicken that tasted like It had been sitting under a heat lamp for a few hours. It defienty wasnt fresh. The only reason this place is still open, because its the only rib joint in a 6 mile radius.
Review Source:Don't get the burgers, which are frozen, prepackaged, and not very good. Don't get the pork sandwich, which was almost inedible. Maybe think about getting the chicken, though this was nothing spectacular.
But the rib tips! My goodness, the rib tips are outstanding. Yes, they aren't fall-off-the-bone, but that's because they are actually smoked (this is BBQ, people), and the flavor is outstanding. The rack of ribs is quite good too, but I've found you get so many rib tips for so little money that it's not worth getting the full rack. The sauce is quite tangy and acidic, and the mushy fries are surprisingly addictive. Remember: don't not get the rib tips then complain, because I warned you.
I love this place! Â I went last night and had the Jr. Ranch Hand. Â The man working the front counter was super helpful when I asked the difference between small ends and large ends and provided me with his preference. Â The food is always really good and they make the best coleslaw I've ever had in my life.
Review Source:It's all in the timing. Set your boots to walking around 5:30, and you will make you way to culinary heaven once you step into the tight confines of Ribs N' Bibs. The ribs and tips are the peak of their succulent, juicy glory. The rich, hard, spicy crust protects the tasty meat, and the sauce is a thing of beauty: not too sweet, not too thick, and totally worth the extra few bucks it will cost you to get the quart sized container.
The ribs are prima when you get the good batch, though I have had a few overcooked racks here in the past. Like I said, come early to get the ribs before they dry out. The ribtips on the other hand, have never disappointed me. Nowadays, the bucket, yes, BUCKET, of tips comes with two plates of fries and coleslaw. The fries are OK, but only there to help you scoop more sauce into your face. The 'slaw is actually really good, but the matter of a good slaw is a subject too deep to fight over in a rib review. You also get some wonderbread with the slab, and it's good as a sauce and grease catcher. Â
Their chicken is also good (my gf thinks it tastes weird), but for the price you might be better served by getting some lower quality Harold's down the street.
The link sandwiches are actually really good and very well priced. Worth a try, but not the main attraction.
Obama may have (or may not have) eaten here once... and you might say the same for me. The food at Ribs 'N' Bibs was decent and you definitely get plenty for your dollar, but it certainly wasn't the best form of BBQ that I've ever had the opportunity to devour.
I ordered the rib tips platter and the number one thing I noticed was that the meat didn't come right off the bone - you really had to struggle with it. That was highly disappointing especially since I really liked the thick sauce that was poured on top of the ribs.
The fries were delicious and crispy and paired well with the extra BBQ sauce that didn't stick to my ribs. Wish they served more than a dollop of cole slaw though, because it was pretty good.
Since my last review, my family and I have discerned a pattern. Â Here are the two rules for eating here.
1. You must be able to smell BBQ within at least a one-block radius of the restaurant. Â If you can't smell anything, don't go in. Â If you can't see smoke rising from its smokestack, don't go in. Â The ribs are only good fresh, and if there isn't smoke, they aren't fresh.
2. If there is a rib competition, rib eat-off, rib pride parade, or otherwise rib- or BBQ- related event going on the city, do not go in. Â Their best cooks will be at the event, and not at the restaurant.
Follow these guidelines and you should be bathing in BBQ bliss. Â If not, you might be stuck with some dry, tough, disappointing ribs.
Here's the scoop, it's real barbeque for real meat eating folks.
Vegetarians need not apply.
It's a no frills place that focuses on barbeque-that's it, you place an order, you wait a while, you take it to the park near by and get your hands dirty, it's a bit cave manish, but it's also a lot yummy and a nice indulgence once in awhile.
It's affordable and consistently good.
In Hyde Park there is one big argument, one that has been around longer than I have been alive. Â What is it? Â Ribs N Bibs or Harold's Chicken, which is better?
RIBS N BIBS DUH!! Â Sure there is the occasional shut down, but no matter what they come back stronger than before and stay as family friendly as they have always been. Â When you are a regular there and come back after YEARS like I did when I went away to school, they remember your order AND your name! Â This is a Hyde Park staple that needs to keep on chugging so when the time comes I can take my kiddies there for bronco burgers and rib tips with fries bathed in sauce!
Didn't care for it at all. This place makes me wish I57 BBQ or 87th street (now 79th street) BBQ was closer. Even Alices on 43rd!
I don't understand what all the hype is either as another yelper stated. I think maybe most of the customers haven't had the previous stated BBQ joints.
Oh well, to each his own!
I really don't know what all the hype is about with Ribs and Bibs. Maybe the pork ribs are better - we had the beef ones. But, the ribs we had were fatty and really nothing special, in terms of flavor. I also thought it was portion size to cost was quite high.
We wanted to also get fried chicken, but they were all out the day we went.
I was really hoping to love this place, but I was disappointed.
This is a solid place for BBQ, but if you are looking for really ultra-seasoned BBQ full of bursting, processed flavor, this is not a place for you. This place is very traditional BBQ, which is why you will see reviews all over the board. This is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint that comes with the leaky roof and all (my first time here was on a rainy day with my husband and the water was just pouring in). But it's that rustic feel that makes this place what it is. There's a history and loyalty to this place in Hyde Park.
So, to sum it up, anything you order here will be solid, juicy, and will taste like homecookin'.
Will it be the most processed flavor BBQ you've ever had? No. Will it taste like KFC? No. Are the fries as crispy and salty as McDonalds? No. But that's not the point of this place. This place actually has one of those old-fashioned, hickory stoves that is sweet. You will get that flavor and you will get an experience to remember from this Hyde Park staple.
I'm a Texas girl, and to me barbecue is something that you do well or not at all. So after my boyfriend broke up with me I knew exactly what it was that I needed to soothe my troubled soul. I headed down to Ribs N Bibs and ordered the half chicken dark with some of that sweet and tangy sauce. The man behind the counter then told me terrible news, all they had left at this late hour were legs.
I was really relying on my favorite, some of their juicy, perfectly breaded and crispy fried chicken thighs to help me relax, and in my fragile state I did what any reasonable person does: I burst in to tears. "They're really good legs, I promise!" said the concerned gentleman, and I then told him my tale of romantic woe. He smiled real big at me, said they'd take care of me, and when I opened my bag when I got home there were about 8 legs, and an extra order of fries.
To this day it is why I maintain that this is a better place to wash away your troubles than your local bar. Great food, awesome service, and a neighborhood staple. I also really appreciate how they don't even ask questions when we order just 12 orders of their amazing fries for our poutine nights, but that's probably a review for another day.
I had heard a lot of great things about this place. Me and my buddy decided to check this place out after nerding it up at the Museum of Science and Industry. After working up an appetite by seeing the latest advances in Farming technology and learning everything one can know about U-505 submarines, we took our calculators and pocket-protected stomachs into Ribs and Bibs.
The place is pretty hole-in-the wall. You order at the counter and wait. Seating is difficult as there are only about 4 seats in the entire place. Â The service is friendly.
Food: I have to say that after having gone to several BBQ places, this one didn't fit the hype. We ordered the full rack of baby back ribs. The meat itself was not as high grade as other good places and so the final product was not as tender. The only good thing about this place is the sauce which is very good. However, it is lost on the quality of meat.
I think next time I get hungry from walking around a science museum, I may just have to find another place to replenish my glucose stores.
I wish we had half stars because I'm in between the Eek! Methinks not and the Meh. I've experienced better choices. For instance, I'd go back if nothing else were open and I was really hungry.
The being open was the first issue, we got there just before closing and ordered our food, for some reason I always had this funny idea that if you make it into a place and they let you order, and don't tell you your order will have to be to go, that you have a choice between to go or not. Well the guy at the register didn't ask and I made the assumption that since he saw us arranging the seats by the little counter they knew we wanted to eat in. But I was wrong, he said your order is ready we came up to get our food and it was all packed to go. So my husband said, oh well we'll just open it up.
Much to my surprise another guy was at the door with the key in it ready to let us out, I asked him, "oh we have to go." He said, "yes we close at 10, it's on the door." Okay perhaps this is the case, but this is the first time this has happened to me, usually places lock up and let people finish as they cleanup. However, as much as I didn't appreciate what happened, I can deal with it and adjust if the food was good, which really is what my rating is about.
I have no idea if they serve Italian Beef, but my BBQ Beef sandwich smelled and tasted like one. It even had little red pepper specks like Italian Beef, I wondered if since they were closing they took what beef they had and poured BBQ sauce on it. The sauce just ran off the beef, which looked, tasted and smelled like Italian Beef, this with the BBQ on it tasted, well I don't have a word for it. All I know is I don't want to have it again.
My husband had the rib tips, and he commented, next time we go to Mississippi Ricks theirs are good, these are just okay, and they're definitely not Hecky's in Evanston.
Granted, not many options available at 10 pm on Sunday, especially on the south side, I really need to plan better.
Good ribs with a nice hickory flavor. Â Plating can be sloppy with the white bread begging for breathing room as the sauce and fries flaten the poor bread. Â But hey, it's sloppy, finger sucking eating that's enjoyable. Â Toss out all etiquette when eating these ribs. Â Ribs 'N Bibs is a staple in Hyde Park and is mostly a takeout joint, though there is limited seating. Â They know ribs at this place.
Review Source:Good solid BBQ joint that's been around forever. The portions are generous!
I really keep meaning to get the actual ribs, but I always end up getting the BBQ beef or BBQ pork dinner, or a Western burger. The burgers are really good here, they have a yummy smoky flavor to them.
The sauce is not super sweet but I like that.
A BBQ beef dinner will fill me to the point of exploding so I don't go very often, lest I gain 200 pounds!
A major plus is they're open until around midnight during the week and I think 1am on the weekend, so you do have late night options besides Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds drive-thru.
Very famous on the South Side. Â Way old school. Â But the actual food is not for everyone. Â It's a heart attack, man. Â Everything is smoky, which is good. Â Everything is just smoky, which is questionable. Â A burger is a burger and a bun. Â You can get cheese. Â You can get some cole slaw. Â They won't put a top on the cole slaw container, but they'll give it to you. Â You can get fries, which will kill you. Â You cannot get anything else. Â They do not have produce here so far as I can tell.
In sum, I'm not hard core enough for this place. Â I bow to those that are. Â And it's not bad. Â It's just not for everyone.
Lem's is probably better, but I love Ribs 'N Bibs. The rib tips and slabs of ribs are consistently well-smoked, tender, and served with excellent BBQ sauce -- some of the best I've ever had, and I've eaten a lot of ribs.
Plus, if you're looking for good fried chicken, this place is much, much better than the Harold's down the street. Ribs 'N Bibs chicken is crispy, flavorful, and moist without being even slightly greasy. Order it covered in BBQ sauce and you've got an amazingly filling, cheap, and satisfying meal.
Finally, while I tend to not like frozen fries, I do love the ones here. Again, covered in sauce, they're extremely enjoyable and have a good potato taste, unlike most fries that don't come from fresh potatoes.
The silver lining to a trip to U of C hospital lately was Ribs 'n' Bibs at 53rd and Dorcester. Â This place is a counter on the corner, but the 53rd street window houses the smoker with piles of magnificent ribs.
The BBQ is Texas style, and the menu reflects that in the naming of the food like the Outlaw burger.
Based on the 2 people who ordered before me, I went down for the small rib tips. Â It was like $7 and comes with fries and a thimble of cole slaw, all piled on a slice of white bread. Â I tried to use the plastic fork to keep my hands clean, but it wasn't worth it. Â You want to dig in and suck the meat off the bonelets. Â The sauce may be the best (Texas style) BBQ sauce I've ever had; certainly the best in Chicago that I've had. Â If you want BBQ, go here. Â I will definitely go back.
YUMMY BBQ Beef!
Boyfriend and I have them deliver during football season! Portions are huge, the taste is divine. My favorite is the BBQbeef.
The restaurant is tiny- so really only take-out and delivery are the best options. Â They have burgers, chicken, ribs, beef, salads, and you can also get "sets' that mix and match different stuff.
So far all my adventures to Ribs 'N Bibs have been met with a full-oh so-satisfied-belching-lip-smacking goodness. Never been disappointed, great for all those stomach growling, gut gnawing hunger pangs when you REALLY need something good and greasy. Great for groups, buy a hearty helping of meat and potatoes and everyone is satisfied. The coleslaw is tiny but its a perfect "shot" especially when you just really care about the meat.
The BBQ sauce tastes shockingly like BBQ sauce. I guess I'm just not the BBQ sauce connoisseur type as some of the other reviewers seem to be. But the ribs are always good, tasteful meat. The fried chicken is crispy and moist in the inside. Perfect for dinners, really late nights.
Oh. My. God.
I finally made it to Ribs N' Bibs. Believe me, it's harder than you think when your girlfriend doesn't eat meat. Anyway, my brother and I had some lunch from there and we tore it up. The minute you walk in you're overwhelmed with the sweet smells of bbq. That's where they got us, we ended up buying way more than we could finish, but we wanted to try it all.
The prices are reasonable, the portions are huge and the service was good. Their walls are covered with autographed pictures of all sorts. From local politcos to anchormen to athletes, a lot of people have enjoyed their food.
I'm really glad that I wasn't disappointed because I had been driving by this place for months and always wanted to stop in. If you get the chance and love bbq food you should stop in too.
If I could give this place zero stars I would've because that's how bad it was. Â Sorry but this place would have to rank as one of the worst places I've ever gone to for BBQ.
First off, I ordered rib tips which were dry and had no fat on them and appeared as if they had been sitting there awhile. Â They were covered with a thick hickory BBQ sauce that tasted like it came out of a can. Â It also left an unpleasant aftertaste. Â Yuck!!!
A little background here, I fell in love with rib tips several years ago while noshing on them for the first time at the Taste of Chicago. Â Â To tell you the truth I've grown to like them a whole lot better than ribs, especially when they're cooked right. Â Hear that R'NB's?? Â
FYI, a rib tip is the meat at the end of the bone and is not only flavorful and moist but when cooked just right the meat just falls off the bone. Â An order of rib tips (cut into quarters) is drenched with BBQ sauce and come with fries and 2 pieces of white bread, like Wonder. Â I know it's not healthy but for some reason it all goes together! Â Usually I order rib tips with or without chicken that is drenched in BBQ sauce. Â It's a sweet sloppy mess that tastes terrifically good especially on cold winter days.
Now getting back to R'NB's, for one thing this place is carry-out only and unfortunately you can't see them prepare the food, it's hidden. Â First red flag. Â I think there's a reason for that, it's not freshly prepared. Â What I believe they do is cook the food first, possibly first thing in the morning and when the people start streaming in around lunch time they cover it with this gloppy sauce. Â The motto, Get 'em in, get 'em out!
Another thing that raised a red flag with me was seeing only one other customer waiting. Â I was there on a Sunday afternoon for lunch when it should've been crowded. Â This place wasn't. Â Rarely do you see a popular place without a line.
And while I'm at it, they have a lot of pictures of celebrities lining the wall, especially ones that are now deceased. Â I'm guessing at one time the food was good...probably when those dead celebrities were alive, but now that it's established they don't have to try. Â
Take a pass on R'NB's, there are better places than this for good BBQ. Â
Go to Leon's on Archer instead.
Ordered food here for the first time since my college days on a recent trip down to the H.P. Â It hasn't changed a bit. Â There are still lots of signed portraits on the walls from B-list Chicago celebrities, none of which seem to be dated before 1993. Â There's still the quaint mix of African-American culture and the vaguely Western motif. Â And there's always, always still someone in the park nearby eating a messy helping of ribs as you walk by.
The ribs are 4-star ... the other food is 2-star ... so stick to the ribs, which aren't the absolute best I've tried but have an awful lot of character and flavor because they're slow cooked over an open flame.
When Mohammad Ali lived in Hyde Park years ago, he frequented Ribs N' Bibs often. And let me tell you, if this place was good enough for "The Greatest", it sure as hell is good enough for you!!!
The smell of smoked hickory wood billowing from the outside chimney is enough to get my mouth watering every time. They are famous for their signature rib tips (which I have never and can never have; damn you kosher!), but their fried chicken is some of the best ever!!! This place is a treasure to behold for U of C students and people everywhere looking to cure their munchies and hunger pangs.
If your choice is between this place and "ghettofried" Harold's Chicken Shack down the block, take this place every day of the week. Harold's has lost it's quality in recent years, and Ribs N' Bibs still stands as one of the premier soul food takeout places in the south side, nay, the city!!!
I been coming here on and off for a number of years. Â To tell you the truth, I don't think they're as good as they once seemed to be. Â My take out slab of ribs was dry and no sauce included, the fries were under cooked and pasty. Â My ribs weren't all that great tasting. Â I was kinda disappointed.
I have had better ribs elsewhere........If you can get someone to venture into the hood for ya...Try Lem's Bar-B-Q House at 311 E 75th St.
So apparently my mom goes here once a week. Â I can see why. Â From her apartment, about 2 blocks away, you can smell BBQ. Â Just smell it. Â And crave it. Â
Saturday, my family broke down and ordered a couble slabs of ribs to share. Â mmmmmm. Â I'm dieting and wasn't real hungry, but I gave in and had 2 or 3 of these succulent ribs. Â The sauce and seasoning was perfect. Â The meat was tender. Â mmm
According to my mom, the best deal is the pulled pork sandwich with fries and slaw for $5. Â If it's as good as the ribs - it's definitely worth it.
While this place isn't throwing down the best meat in the city, we're not talking Rush street steak houses, for a BBQ shack this is one of teh best I've been to so far in Chicago.
Prices are right, flavor is great, the staff are friendly even to first timers. Hit this place up and try something new. Just follow the smell when you get close by. As a matter of fact, I'm going to get some right now. Peace. I'm out.
Two words: Bronco Burger. You can get a big cheeseburger and a bag of fries, both DRENCHED in BBQ sauce, for only a hair over $2. Open til 12:30ish every night. I live near this place and the smell of hickory coming from their giant stove wafts through my apartment from time to time, beckoning me. The ribs, tips, and chicken are worth trying too. It's greasy and I promise you will not be able to get the BBQ sauce off your fingers for at least a couple hours. But that's all part of the fun, right?
Review Source:Oh Ribs N' Bibs...how wonderful you are for college students at the UofC. Â As a student, during those cold, rainy nights, this is a godsend. Â Whenever we're hungry and too lazy to go out, we usually order from here. Â A bucket of ribs and a bucket of fries is enough to feed 3-4 people.
It's a bit messy, but the greasy mess is absolutely delicious when you are a college student. Â We usually chow down the ribs first. Â The remaining fries are then dumped into the ribs bucket to be coated in the bbq sauce. Â For $25, I say it's a bargain!
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