I haven't been there in about 5years. I decided to go back after seeing them on the news. It was a hour wait. The ribs was tasty but the sauce wasn't that good. They definitely don't put enough on yours meat. The lady cashier was very rude to some customers behind me only because they were to close to the glass. They didn't leave because it was a hour wait outside. They only allow 5 people in at a time because of the space. So dress accordingly and be very patient.
Ceole Twist
Okay, but quite a few rib tips were overcooked and dry.
Deborah Gatson
The service was friendly, but took 45 mins. To serve 5 people. Than we wait another 20 minutes until food got done. My children wings seem refried and the sauce was all in the bag not on the ribs. 5/15/1925 I was not happy
Arvel Wynne
Be prepared for the wait a long time
laura robinson
Me and my Husband just left from Lem’s he always said he like there ribs. Today the ribs had too much fat on them. The lady that was at the register was RUDE. They were HOLLERING saying stay away from the glasses and STEP back customers DON’T know that you all cannot hear, if they come close to the glass. Put a sign up stating that then the CUSTOMER’S will know to STEP back when they walk into your establishment. I will not be RETURNING.
doris Brown
Worse customer service experience I have ever had. The lady behind the register was extremely rude. I walked in the door and she immediately started yelling at me. Stand on the wall as i was attempting to stand on the wall the young man preparing the food asked me what I wanted in the mean time the cashier was constantly yelling for me to step back and stand on the wall. I told her not to disrespect
Reggie Vaxter
Not Good at all I came from Minnesota visiting & remembered seeing reviews about this restaurant & it was all LIES Not good BBQ at all, Rib tips were Pure Fat I will never eat there again & I will tell who ever I talk to Not to eat there either!!! Wasted 45.00
C D
The whole point of the place is that there is no atmosphere. You line up, order your food, pick it up, and go home to eat it.
Ever since they got popular with the rest of Chicago the food quality declined a bit. The links were a little overcooked. The fries are flavorless. The fried chicken was interesting, not what you would expect when you think of fried. The breading is thick and saucy, almost like what you would expect a sweet and sour chicken at a Chinese restaurant to taste like.
Back in the day, the rib tips were the best I've ever had. When I had it today, which is the first since the pandemic, it was a little bit dry, a little chewy, and most of the sauce was buried under the fries. So it made for over sauced fries and under sauced ribs.
The rib bones were actually my favorite thing this time around. Good smoke, nice amount of meat, tender but not a lot of fat.
Not sure if I would go back soon, but I'm happy that they're being recognized by James Beard.
Linda
The barbeque taste or look like oil it was not good to me im giving it 2stars and then it look like dog food the way dude had cut it maybe they need to use a different bbq sauce like bon cherry bbq sauce
ME AND MY SON WENT YESTERDAY 5/8/25 AT 6:45PM AND STOOD IN LINE FOR 38 MINUTES JUST TO BE SERVED GARBAGE. THE LINKS WERE HARD THE TIPS WERE HARD AND INEDIBLE. THE EXTRA FRIES AND THE FOOD WAS WATERED DOWN WITH THE WORST BAR-B-Q MILD SAUCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE HAVING A BAD DAY OR WHAT, BUT I HAD TO THROW IT IN THE GARBAGE. I WAS SO UPSET I CALLED AND TOLD MY SISTERS HOW DISAPPOINTED I WAS IN LEM'S. $30 WAS A WASTE OF MY MONEY I WILL NEVER EVER GO BACK TO THEM. I USE TO GO HERE ALOT WHEN I WAS LITTLE WITH MY FATHER, AND IT WAS THE BEST BAR-B-Q I HAD EVER EATEN. THIS IS PART OF MY COMMUNITY AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THIS DISGUSTING FOOD. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND YOUR TIME AND GO SOMEWHERE THAT YOU ARE NOT GIVEN OLD FOOD. SHAME SHAME SHAME LEM'S.
OQuinn Holmes
I had not been there since the 90s .. stopped by and was in line for 40 mns to get to the door ..15 mns to get inside the door ... only 5 people inside the place at a time (small space) ...15 mns to order .. got a couple slabs of ribs ..a couple orders of rib tips ..and I got 1 JBL special which is 2 ribs 2 wings 1 hot link a few rib tips fries & bread .. the ribs & rib tips were ok .. I always order any BBQ with no sauce ..sauce on the side that way I can taste the quality and freshness of the meat before they load it up with hot sweet BBQ sauce.. the great deal was the JBL special for $24 ..OQ
Mary Ann Clarke
Female worker was angry and screaming at customers to stand up against the wall because that's their process. Next to me was a first time customer who was shocked at how rude and angry she was. Very unprofessional.
Ademola Haastrup
First time tips were meaty cooked well big serving. Went on Sunday long line an wait time. Tips horrible over cooked. Very little meat just bone an gristle. Ordered link tip combo. Just awful never again. They got the extra hype an fell off. Never again!!!
Line is too long.
I haven't been there in about 5years. I decided to go back after seeing them on the news. It was a hour wait. The ribs was tasty but the sauce wasn't that good. They definitely don't put enough on yours meat. The lady cashier was very rude to some customers behind me only because they were to close to the glass. They didn't leave because it was a hour wait outside. They only allow 5 people in at a time because of the space. So dress accordingly and be very patient.
Okay, but quite a few rib tips were overcooked and dry.
The service was friendly, but took 45 mins. To serve 5 people. Than we wait another 20 minutes until food got done. My children wings seem refried and the sauce was all in the bag not on the ribs. 5/15/1925 I was not happy
Be prepared for the wait a long time
Me and my Husband just left from Lem’s he always said he like there ribs. Today the ribs had too much fat on them. The lady that was at the register was RUDE. They were HOLLERING saying stay away from the glasses and STEP back customers DON’T know that you all cannot hear, if they come close to the glass. Put a sign up stating that then the CUSTOMER’S will know to STEP back when they walk into your establishment. I will not be RETURNING.
Worse customer service experience I have ever had. The lady behind the register was extremely rude. I walked in the door and she immediately started yelling at me. Stand on the wall as i was attempting to stand on the wall the young man preparing the food asked me what I wanted in the mean time the cashier was constantly yelling for me to step back and stand on the wall. I told her not to disrespect
Not Good at all I came from Minnesota visiting & remembered seeing reviews about this restaurant & it was all LIES Not good BBQ at all, Rib tips were Pure Fat I will never eat there again & I will tell who ever I talk to Not to eat there either!!! Wasted 45.00
The whole point of the place is that there is no atmosphere. You line up, order your food, pick it up, and go home to eat it.
Ever since they got popular with the rest of Chicago the food quality declined a bit. The links were a little overcooked. The fries are flavorless. The fried chicken was interesting, not what you would expect when you think of fried. The breading is thick and saucy, almost like what you would expect a sweet and sour chicken at a Chinese restaurant to taste like.
Back in the day, the rib tips were the best I've ever had. When I had it today, which is the first since the pandemic, it was a little bit dry, a little chewy, and most of the sauce was buried under the fries. So it made for over sauced fries and under sauced ribs.
The rib bones were actually my favorite thing this time around. Good smoke, nice amount of meat, tender but not a lot of fat.
Not sure if I would go back soon, but I'm happy that they're being recognized by James Beard.
The barbeque taste or look like oil it was not good to me im giving it 2stars and then it look like dog food the way dude had cut it maybe they need to use a different bbq sauce like bon cherry bbq sauce
Restaurantji Recommends
Lem's is a institution in the heart of Chicago
ME AND MY SON WENT YESTERDAY 5/8/25 AT 6:45PM AND STOOD IN LINE FOR 38 MINUTES JUST TO BE SERVED GARBAGE. THE LINKS WERE HARD THE TIPS WERE HARD AND INEDIBLE. THE EXTRA FRIES AND THE FOOD WAS WATERED DOWN WITH THE WORST BAR-B-Q MILD SAUCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE HAVING A BAD DAY OR WHAT, BUT I HAD TO THROW IT IN THE GARBAGE.
I WAS SO UPSET I CALLED AND TOLD MY SISTERS HOW DISAPPOINTED I WAS IN LEM'S. $30 WAS A WASTE OF MY MONEY I WILL NEVER EVER GO BACK TO THEM. I USE TO GO HERE ALOT WHEN I WAS LITTLE WITH MY FATHER, AND IT WAS THE BEST BAR-B-Q I HAD EVER EATEN. THIS IS PART OF MY COMMUNITY AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THIS DISGUSTING FOOD. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND YOUR TIME AND GO SOMEWHERE THAT YOU ARE NOT GIVEN OLD FOOD. SHAME SHAME SHAME LEM'S.
I had not been there since the 90s .. stopped by and was in line for 40 mns to get to the door ..15 mns to get inside the door ... only 5 people inside the place at a time (small space)
...15 mns to order .. got a couple slabs of ribs ..a couple orders of rib tips ..and I got 1 JBL special which is 2 ribs 2 wings 1 hot link a few rib tips fries & bread .. the ribs & rib tips were ok .. I always order any BBQ with no sauce ..sauce on the side that way I can taste the quality and freshness of the meat before they load it up with hot sweet BBQ sauce.. the great deal was the JBL special for $24 ..OQ
Female worker was angry and screaming at customers to stand up against the wall because that's their process. Next to me was a first time customer who was shocked at how rude and angry she was. Very unprofessional.
First time tips were meaty cooked well big serving. Went on Sunday long line an wait time. Tips horrible over cooked. Very little meat just bone an gristle. Ordered link tip combo. Just awful never again. They got the extra hype an fell off. Never again!!!
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