Ream's Elburn Meat Market in Elburn, Illinois: A Review

Out into the far reaches of the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois lies a little town called Elburn. Elburn is just west of the tri cities of Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles and represents the last stop for the Union Pacific West Metra commuter line. The downtown of Elburn is really no larger than a block or two with a few bars, a general store, and few restaurants wedged on the main drive. One jewel tucked away in this downtown district is the Ream's Elburn Meat Market.

The meat market owned by Randy Ream has been around for quite a few decades providing area residents delicious meats and other grilling extras. The store is located on route 47 in Elburn in the downtown area on the west side of the street. The store consists of two rooms that are connected by a large "L" shaped meat counter. The counter has every meat, sausage, and smoked meat one could imagine with a team of butchers and counter help gladly awaiting your order.

I was first exposed to Randy Ream's Elburn Meat Market back in the early 90's when I was attending Northern Illinois University. I went to a friend's barbecue party with which he cooked up some bratwursts, Italian sausages, and other meats all purchased by Ream's. The taste of the grilled meats was out of this world and from that point on I was hooked.

Ream's Market is a true oasis for the weekend chef or expert griller looking for top cuts of beef or pork whether it is dry aged rib eyes to the tasty Iowa pork chop that is out of this world. The butcher also carries excellent cuts of chicken for roasting and stuffing. Ream's even sells pre-stuffed chicken breasts offered with five different stuffing so all you have do is place them in the oven or on a grill when you get home. It doesn't get any easier than that.

I will usually go to Ream's about four times a year and spend about fifty to one hundred bucks per visit as my list seems to grow as I browse the counters. The prices at Ream's are little elevated to what would be spent at a large commercial grocer, but the quality is what brings people such as me back for return visits. These trips are fun as I will splurge on everything from steaks to thick maple cured bacon, to spicy bier sticks. I always make it a point to purchase his award winning bratwurst and some of the Italian sausages which are probably the spiciest I have ever tasted. As good as the spicy Italian sausages are they will test the extremes when it comes to heat tolerance. I am not sure where these sausages rank in scoville units but they seem hotter than any sport pepper I have tasted.

I would recommend a visit to this meat market to treat yourself and your family to some top quality meats for your summer cookouts or even winter stews and roasts. The service is always warm and friendly whether it is the young ladies at the checkout or the counter help telling me how to prepare certain meats. Once you get to Ream's you will need to take a number as the lines will occasionally be deep especially around summer holidays as Father's Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. When you visit make sure to spend a little extra for the sausage sticks for the ride home.