The Best Places in Chicago for Ribs

Chicago is a culinary city that, in my opinion, has few competitors. New York likes to brag about its food, but my dad and I both agree that we have yet to have a truly great steak in our visits there. While most Chicagoans actually eat the New York style pizza rather than the deep-dish stuff that the tourists eat, for the most part New York could not and cannot hold a candle to Chicago food.

One of the best foods you can find around here is barbecued ribs. I know, most people do not think about ribs when they think about Chicago. They think about that pizza or they think about the hot dogs or maybe, if they are really in the know, they think about the Italian beef, but they are forgetting one of the great food delights of this town.

Thankfully, ribs happen to be my favorite food. Well, maybe not my absolute favorite, but they are sure close. It would be impossible for any one man to visit every single rib joint in this town. I have not even come close. As such, this is just my own personal list of what I think are the best rib places in Chicago. The trouble is, I could only come up with four.

Fourth on the list is a relatively new place located in the neighborhood I grew up in called Edison Park. The restaurant is an Irish pub-themed place called the Curragh, right on Northwest Highway, in the middle of Edison Park's restaurant district. They have traditional Irish food such as bangers and mash and things of that nature, but I skip that. When I first visited this place I asked the bartender what she thought of the ribs and she smiled and said they were great. She was not lying. They come basted in a thick, sweet and tasty barbecue sauce. They sprinkle some small bits of green onions on them, just enough to give taste, and then it comes with a side of some of the best damn French fries I have ever had anywhere. They are long and flat and just delicious. The combination makes this a winner.

Number three on the list is a place normally known for hits hot dogs. Portillos is a chain local to Chicago and they have great Chicago-style hot dogs. However, they have other things on their menu worth checking out. One of them is their barbecued ribs. The ribs are actually at a restaurant that is connected with Portillos known as Barnelli's Pasta Bowl. Yes, they have pasta, but you'll want to get the ribs from Barnelli's and then step into the line right next to it for the fries from Portillo's. Trust me, this all makes sense when you visit. The ribs are almost fall-off-the-bone and truly delicious. The sauce is a little on the sweet side, but with just the slightest kick for good measure.

Number two is Gale Street Inn located on Milwaukee avenue and right across from the Jefferson Park CTA station. To many, this is the best place for ribs in Chicago. It is a very, very, very close second for me. These ribs are the kind of thing you write home about if you are here on vacation. The meat stays on the bone and the sauce is some kind of traditional, family recipe sweet and tangy mix. I get the fries again, but their menu has lots of sides. The restaurant itself is a mixture of fancy and casual and you can go either way.

For me, the number one ribs in the entire Chicago metropolitan area is a little place you might not even notice if you drove past. It's called Perry's Pizza and Ribs and it is located in downtown Park Ridge, in the area actually known as South Park. It is on Devon avenue and the joint itself is very casual. You walk in and you seat yourself. There is nothing particularly fancy at Perry's but you don't go there for the décor an atmosphere. No, you go there for the ribs. These ribs are in a sweet and spicy sauce and the meat just falls off the bone. The meat is so tender it nearly melts on your mouth. The dinner comes with slaw and fries. I love the fries, but devote most of my time on the ribs. These are, without a doubt, the best ribs in Chicago for my money.

So, there you have it. Four restaurants that you should try if you have a hankering for ribs the next time you come to Chicago. Forget the pizza for a night and try one of these places, particularly Perry's. You will not be disappointed.