My favorite places for BBQ in the city. Their brisket is my favorite! The owner is also very nice and generous. My first trip there, my mom and I got food to go. I forgot to order my tasting of their ribs and he over heard us talking and almost getting back in a line that was out the door and instead, told them to add one to our order and didn't charge us. My mom insisted and he simply replied "no, I know you'll be back another time and will get me back then. It's on the house today". Needless to say, I have been back. Multiple times. Great place to go in the summer with friends and sit outside to eat.
Review Source:I'd been looking forward to coming to Smoque for a VERY long time. The boyfriend and I came in on a Tuesday night and there was no line which was exciting. We had both anticipated a wait! The ordering process is easy and we were directed to a table right after we ordered/paid. Everything is very reasonably priced!
I had the sliced brisket sandwich and it was delicious. Tender, flavorful, loved every bite. I have to give credit to Aidan L. for the discovery, but the spicy rib sauce was incredible and trumped their regular BBQ sauce by a million. Definitely head up to the counter to ask for a container of this! I also loved the vinegar based coleslaw and the mac n' cheese. Serving sizes of the sides aren't overwhelmingly large, but it's definitely enough food to get you full. The boyfriend really enjoyed his pulled pork/brisket combo with fries. We also shared a little side of cornbread which was very tasty. Overall, in addition to the thousands of reviews already posted for Smoque, I would go during the week and absolutely order brisket and mac n' cheese, ensuring you pick up a side of the spicy rib sauce.
I always like scope out new places, but this place always keeps me coming back. Â The smoked brisket is outstanding. Â Quite possibly the best I've had anywhere. Â Impossibly tender, moist and smoky all at the same time. Â
I like the ribs and would love to try the pulled pork or chicken, but the brisket keep me coming back. Overall, the sides are okay. B+ to A- range with the mac n cheese and brisket chili being the standouts. Â However, the meats are done flawlessly. Â
Great, great BBQ joint.
Absolutely no complaints! The best BBQ I've had in quite sometime (other than my fathers). Â The baked beans and mac n cheese are decent but what keeps bringing me back is definitely the half chicken A+++. Â My advice is to either get there early (because its always packed standing room only) or order take out unless you like waiting an hour to eat. Its definitely worth it!
Review Source:You WILL get a seat - I promise. I know the line is out the door, I know every table is full - but trust me - they will get you a seat. While you are waiting in line to order, these guys (I call them air traffic controllers) will come to you and ask how many people you have. While you are ordering, they will find you a table. This is one of the most important things to remember, because the line out the door will really put off first timers - but you will get a table.
The inside is very casual, quasi-communal eating. The noise level is a bit high and the amount of people can at times become overwhelming...but you will get a seat! When your meal is done though, don't linger...eat and then move on to whatever else is on your docket for the night.
Now - the food....
Chicago is not known for its BBQ and BBQ - especially good BBQ - is hard to find. I am not an expert, but I have had Corky's BBQ from Memphis before, so that is what I compare against. The food at Smoque is excellent.
I have had the baby back ribs - they are excellent. They come with a dry rub which is very flavorful (sauce on the side)...the meat has that "pink" coloring that comes from a good smoking. The sauce on the side is pretty good...a little less sweet than I am used to, but still very good.
The Texas sausage is excellent - really recommend it
The coleslaw that comes with every meat meal is very fresh and vinegar based, not mayo - it is cool and refreshing
The Mac & Cheese is very good - I usually like the idea of Mac & Cheese, but am always under whelmed - these folks do a really good job of it though
I have never tried the place for take away, but I bet you that is really the way to do it - and there are a lot of people coming in to pick up orders. Overall though...this is excellent for BBQ!!!
I was in the city today and decided it was time to give this place a try. Since I live about 30 miles from Smoque, take out isn't really a good option. So dine-in, it was. I waited about 15 minutes until they took my order, then was assigned a table right next to the waiting line of people that I had stepped out of. The idea of dining amidst a human canyon isn't a good one and very nearly knocked this place down a star or two rating-wise.
But after enjoying a brisket sandwich with fries and cole slaw, I just couldn't do it. This is the best BBQ I've ever had. The brisket was tender, nicely placed on a fresh bun - and a fairly good amount of meat too. The sauce wasn't too hot or too sweet - it was right there - the perfect accommodation for beef that was so thoughtfully cooked. Fries were good and the cole slaw was delicious as well - sometimes vinegar cole slaws are a little harsh - this was just fine.
This place really needs a little more room and a better place for people to wait in  line. Seating was fine - the staff has it together that way, but it was a little aggravating to have all these people stand around me, along with an occasional touch of cold air coming from the exit door about 10 feet away. I was there on a Saturday around 2PM - not exactly prime time - I can only imagine it being worse at other times. Nonetheless, when I'm in the area at an even slower time of day, I'll certainly consider a return to Smoque - savored every bite!
Smoque BBQ is one of the best barbecue restaurants in the Chicago area. Their food is really good. I love their brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. The sides at Smoque BBQ are great as well. Their macaroni and cheese, fries, and cole slaw are amazing. Try this place out if you're in the area.
Review Source:I stopped in at lunch time on a Tuesday and found nearly every chair filled with good, solid northwest Chicago stock. The kind of guys who wear Haggar dress slacks, collared shirts, and Bluetooth earpieces. The kind of guys who always "have a guy"...and their fathers, the "guys" that other guys have. "Indipindint CANtrakerz."
Not that this, the joint's 1,630th review, is going to be the tipping point for you, but Smoque's darn tasty.
Well-smoked baby backs. Particularly tasty slaw. All-you-can chug fountain drinks. Â $18.01 with tax for a half-slab, slaw, two sides and a drink. Nice.
If I lived off the Blue Line or commuted up the Kennedy, I'd be wearing out the chairs in this place. As a Lincoln Parker, though, I doubt that I will be making the trek again... unless that guy I got takes me over DARE to take a look at a few of his siding jobs.
Delicious!! Â Smoque is pretty no frills, but it seems as they put all the extra energy straight into the food, which was amazing. Â This place can get busy, so be prepared to wait a bit, but they run an efficient operation, so things move pretty fast. I had the brisket and my date had ribs. Both were fabulous, which I may have mentioned a few times at this point. The rib meat pretty much just fell off the bone and the brisket had such a great flavor. An older gentleman who seemed to be somewhat in charge even brought over some more sauces and candied jalapenos for us to sample. Â The sides were pretty great too, mac and cheese, cornbread, and peach cobbler. Â Smoque, you delivered some knock out food. Keep up the great work.
Review Source:En lieu of the Super Bowl, a close bud and I decided to head to Smoque and consume mass quantities of meat, assuming that once the game started the typical crowds would diminish. Â And hot damn we were right! Â We walked in and were second in line to order. Â For me, there was still a competitive element to the experience even if we weren't watching the game - I am slowly making my way to all the popular BBQ joints of Chicago, and eventually I will be able to claim my favorite. Â Let the competition begin...
I've mentioned in BBQ reviews passed that I consider myself a decent judge of BBQ character if you will. Â Yea, yea, I know what you're thinking "everyone says that." Â Let me list my credentials:
-Dad owns a BBQ restaurant and is Kansas City BBQ certified.
-Sister lives in TX - So I've had my fair share of TX meats at Rudy's and Salt Lick just to name a couple of many.
-Kansas City at one time acted as my second home. Â Whenever in town I would eat BBQ for lunch and dinner...not a gross exaggeration - well, it's gross...but not really. Â I love meat, kiddos! Â I've sampled Arthur Bryant, OK Joe's (My favorite - the Z Man sandwich OMG - is this what heaven is like?), Gates...and so on. Â
-I'm not fancy - as in, I walk into Lillie's Q and I'm like "whoa...what's this...where's the line? Â Why so fancy?" Â BBQ places should feel like a joint...or a dining hall where people from Defiance, OH have their wedding receptions (I was born there, I can make fun - you, on the other hand should not).
Smoque was exactly what I thought it would be - a BBQ joint, no frills, divine brisket, ribs, and sausage (and probably pulled pork and chicken but they ran out due to the abundance of Super Bowl orders received), delicious sides, and it's BYOB so I got to enjoy it all with some Begyle American Pale Ale, and a Hop Whoopin'. Â Honestly guys, the brisket was the best I've had in Chicago no contest...perfectly smoked and tender with delicious burnt bits here and there. Â
So why not five stars? Â Well, I have one sizable pet peeve about BBQ restaurants - no sauce on the tables or at the very least readily available at my discretion. Â Before visiting Smoque I had only experienced this at one other establishment - Smokin' Woody's. Â Never.... NEVER in TX or KC...or at my pop's restaurant where BBQ is available on tables and/or in pumps where you can dispense your own into cups. Â Perhaps I missed pumps that may have been near the fountain soda station? Â But I don't believe this was the case judging by my half filled plastic cup of sauce served with my meal. Â When my sauce DID run out (because let's be honest, it always does when rationed like that) Â I worried, "Are they going to charge me for BBQ sauce...at a BBQ restaurant?!" Â Please say it ain't so!! Â This was the case for Smokin' Woody's and I have never been back. Â It's unforgivable. Â Does McDonald's charge for ketchup? Â Hot Doug's for mustard?
But what really bugs about the no BBQ sauce readily available is the inconvenience of stopping mid-meal to get up and get more, most likely having to wait for whoever may be ordering at the counter at the time to finish. Â All the while my delicious meats get cold. Â Additionally, it appears they have two types of BBQ sauce but I have no idea if I was served the Original or the Spicy. Â I would have liked to try both, but in the end tried....????? Â No idea. Â
I cannot confirm whether I would have been charged for additional sauce. Â I never wanted to leave my meat to ask which speaks to how amazing the food is (or rather, what an oinker I am). Â But Smoque, I've gotta know - what gives with this set up? Â It left this BBQ fan a bit disappointed.
We stopped in and they had plenty of food left. Â It was near closing. Â Chicago is not known for BBQ and so I don't expect the locals to have a good understanding of what is good BBQ. Â This was just OK BBQ. Â I've had BBQ all over the country. Â Again, this was just OK. Â Probably a good choice while in Chicago but yeah.....
Brisket was over done and fell apart. Â Brisket should not fall apart. Â They offer sliced and chopped. Â They only difference was that it was served from different parts of the brisket. Â Same texture no matter what. Â There was next to no smoke. Â A classic problem of many amateur BBQ cooks. Â I asked what kind of cookers they were using having already known the answer based on the taste in my mind. Â Southern Prides. Â I have yet to have great BBQ cooked on southern prides all have the same kind of smoke register. Â Little to no smoke ring, also a sign of an electric cooker, who knows. Bottom line was that the brisket was unimpressive and reminded me of pot roast.
The ribs were better than the brisket but not by much. Â They were also over done. Meat fell right off the bone, however, this is a sign of an overdone rib. Flavor was decent. Â
Sausage tasted like Hillshire Farms. Â Nothing special at all.
At the end of the day it was ok, just ok. Â It satisfied my craving for BBQ but barely.
Service was good. Â The best part of this to me was the atmosphere. Â This is what BBQ is about. Â Communal seating, basic eatery, done right.
Fantastic pulled pork, smoked meat and sides. Â But what keepsme thinking about it is the mac and cheese. Â Finally a place that makes really delicious mac, not the usual restaurant fare that looks pretty/tastes like nothing. Â Best mac in the city, I think, other than homemade.
BTW, Chicago IS a barbeque town. Â One of the great consequences of the Great Migration!
Come one, come all, but please don't be the moron who turns on to Grace St and puts your hazards on in the middle of the road!
I have the distinct pleasure and "misfortune" of living within walking distance of Smoque. I say misfortune because brisket and ribs are from the healthiest foods around and Smoque's are some of the best tasting around.
After multiple visits to Smoque I have decided to write my review, concurring with the praise that litters their Yelp page. The bbq sauces are amazing, the brisket is amazing, the pulled pork is amazing, the ribs are amazing, but the chicken is only reliable.
In summation... Don't be a bad driver, and come enjoy the best barbecue Chicago has to offer!
Let me begin by saying I've had BBQ in Texas so when several people praised this place as best barbecue in Chicago, I had pretty high expectations which Smoque failed to fulfill.
I ordered a brisket platter with cornbread and baked beans as sides. Honestly, the sides were the best part of the meal for me. The brisket, to me, was kinda bland. I didn't even finish it, despite the not-huge portion because it was not satisfying to my palate. I've had better barbecue in Chicago and don't get the hype surrounding this place.
I'm willing to make another visit and try a half slab because of this place's reputation though its many accolades and awards make no sense based on my experience alone.
Disclaimer: Â this review is skewed because I went to Smoque after a 50-mile bike ride and ANYTHING would have tasted good after that.
I'm not a huge fan of ribs. Â But I love the baby backs at Smoque. Â Incredible. Â Just writing this is making me want to go there right now.
Tips for you:
1. Go at off times! Â It's more relaxing. Â I like 3:30pm on Saturdays, myself.
2. Get the full rack of baby back ribs. Â Get a half rack and you'll be sad. Â Get anything else on the menu, and you'll be missing out.
3. Sides: Â choices, choices! Â Cornbread, definitely. Â Baked beans--a must if you can handle the sweetness. Â Don't order the coleslaw as a side--it comes as a mini-side for free. Â If you are extra hungry or have someone who can help you finish, get the mac and cheese.
my most recent visit to smoque was by far the best, my bf and i ordered and enjoyed our yummy brisket. When it was time to leave, a worker noticed and offered to get me to go dishes for my food and also noticed Ryan went back in line to bring some home for his parents. He told ryan to sit down and he can get it for him, he took his order and came back 5 minutes later with the food all ready to go!
Thanks so much to the guys at smoque, that's quality service and food!
Wow. Good to the last bite, our party scraped off every bit of food off of our plates.
Some Tips:
Don't be scared of the lines, I don't know how it works but by the time you get up there to order, and by the time your food actually arrives, tables magically open up and you have a place to sit. Â Don't question the logistics, it just works. :)
Don't share the cobblers. It will just cause discord among your party. Â There are some things that shouldn't be shared. Â
Don't skimp and go a la carte. Â Well worth the few extra bucks for the sides. Â
Lastly - their french fries are tasty. Â A nice surprise as I don't usually expect to get good fries with my bbq.
Oh and almost forgot, but the staff is extremely friendly. Â I don't need good service if your food is as good as this, but the helpful staff was just bonus!
Ordered every single side in the menu. My faves were surprisingly the cole slaw (vinegar based instead of mayo), the baked beans, which had a really nice smokey flavor and the mac and cheese. Â Corn bread was average and I found the mini peach cobbler to bee too syrupy sweet.
As for main courses, we tried the 1/2 slab St. Louis ribs, 1/2 slab baby back, an brisket sandwich. Sauces included were Memphis, NC, and a spicy sauce that came with candied jalapeños. Overall the meal was good, but expected the meat to be a lot more tender than it was. I later learned that they only smoke their meats for around 3 hours and it's intended to be chewier... But honestly, that's not my preference. I prefer my BBQ to be fork tender and none of these dishes qualified.
I've heard about crazy lines, but we showed up on a Thursday at 1 pm and didn't need to wait at all. Â
Bottom line: I wouldn't discourage you from coming, but I also won't be back.
To say this was the best brisket I ever ate, would be an understatement. Â To say that I never really ate brisket done right until this day, would be more appropriate. Â And I eat alot of barbecue.
The baby back ribs are also excellent and maybe the best I've ever eaten as well. Â And then there was the Texas sausage that was amazing.
It's a small place and very popular but the staff are incredibly efficient so by the time your food is ready, they have cleared a table and will escort you to it. Â
The sides are overshadowed by the meat but the peach cobbler is pretty awesome and I could have ordered two. Â
Bill for two pple wtih sodas was $34.38. Â But it's BYOB so bring your own if you like.
Awesome! Â Awesome! Â Awesome!
Ordered the rib combo--both St. Louis style and baby back ribs. Definitely preferred the quality of meat of the St. Louis style, as was recommended on the menu. I really liked the sauce, much tangier than I'm used to, but a pleasant surprise, if not sometimes a little too tangy. Good coleslaw, good corn bread, great macaroni and cheese, decent prices. I was not impressed with the baby back ribs, have had better at family barbecues.
We ordered takeout. The interior looked a little sparse and drab, wouldn't particularly want to dine in.
Good overall, but I'm still searching for my holy grail of rib joints.
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