Top Chicago BBQ Restaurants

Ask Chicagoans which is the best ribs restaurant in the Windy City and opinions are bound to vary. Readers surveys list a diverse group of restaurants, from very casual rib shacks suitable for a quick bite to sit down restaurants offering a full service dining experience. Here are some of the listings of Chicago area readers polls about Chicago's best BBQ.

Citysearch list includes: Cooper's, Twin Anchors Restaurant and Tavern, Hillery's Bar BQ, The Smoke Daddy, Lem's Bar-B-B House, Gale Street Inn, The Patio Restaurant, Uncle Bub's BBQ, Hecky's Chicago and Carson's.

Gayot's list includes: Carson's The Place for Ribs, The Fireplace Inn, The Original Leon's Bar-B-Q, The Patio Restaurant, Robinson's No. 1 Ribs, Smoque BBQ, Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern and Weber Grill.

City's Best is polling votes in their reader's survey. Best Barbecue contenders include Fat Will's Rib Shack, Fireplace Inn, Hecky's BBQ, Honey One BBQ, Lem's BBQ House, Leon's Bar-B-Q the Original, Robinsons's 1 Ribs - Lincoln Park, Smoque BBQ and Twin Anchors Restaurant.

Following is some information about restaurants that consistently top the lists.

Carson's Ribs. Carson's Ribs Carson's is an acclaimed BBQ restaurant, named the number one choice by food savvy Chicago Magazine. MSN named Carson's on of America's 20 Best BBQ Restaurants. The secret is in the sauce. Barbecue specialties include BBQ Baby Back Ribs, BBQ Pork Chops and BBQ Chicken.
River North, 612 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610, 1-312-280-9200
Deerfield" 200 North Waukegan Road, Deerfield, IL 60015, 1-847-374-8500.

Gale Street Inn Chicago. Gale Street Inn is a neighborhood joins on Chicago's northwest side, about 10 minutes from O'Hare Airport. This restaurant and tavern has been a Chicago favorite fro over 40 years. Save money by taking advantage of the Early Bird specials available Monday through Friday. Orders placed between 3:00 and 5:30 pm are $14.95. 4914 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630. 1-773-725-1300.

Weber Grill Restaurant. Ribs are prepared over open fires on authentic Weber Grills, indoors. Barbecue is slow cooked over the open flame. BBQ entrees include Competition Style Baby Back Ribs, Central Texas Style Pork Spare Ribs, Beef Brisket, Black Angus Meatloaf and Half Chicken.
Locations:
Hilton Garden Inn, 539 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60610, 1-312-467-9696
2331 Fountain Square Dr., Lombard, IL 60148, 1-630-953-8880
1010 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173, 1-847-413-0800
Indianapolis: 10 N.Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, 1-317-636-7600.

Twin Anchors Restaurant and Tavern. Twin Anchors is a historic ribs restaurant that consistently makes the lists. This restaurant is located in a historic building in Old Town that dates back to 1881. Twin Anchors has been serving ribs since 1932. The neighborhood favorite has a speakeasy atmospheres from the Prohibition era. Frank Sinatra made Twin Anchors one of his favorite stops when he visited the Windy City. Tales abound about Sinatra's visits at the tavern. The 1999 movie "Return to Me" was filmed at Twin Anchors, exposing movie viewed to the charm of this corner restaurant. Twin Anchors famous rims are slow cooked baby back ribs, basted in a choice of sauces. 1655 North Sedgwick Street, Chicago, Illinois. 1-312-266-1616.

Robinson's No. 1 Ribs Lincoln Park. Robinson's is in a former walk up with weathered bed-and-breakfast feel. Robinson's delivers in the Chicago area. They do not serve alcoholic beverages. Their web site instructs to bring your own. The patio is wheelchair accessible and pet friendly. Smoked specialties include baby back ribs, rib tips, beef ribs, chicken pulled pork pulled brisket and pulled turkey.

Information is subject to change. Contact the restaurants for additional information.

Ribs and More at Gale Street Inn in Mundelein, Illinois
Top 5 Greek Restaurants in Greektown in Chicago Illinois
Top 5 German Restaurants in Chicago
Top 5 German Restaurants in Chicago
French Restaurants in Downtown Chicago: Fine Dining in the Windy City