49 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Des Plaines

“Lately, I’ve been moving away from the ayce kbbq and trying the ones that are a la carte. This one uses oak wood charcoal vs gas-powered/electric grill that most of the Illinois Korean restaurants use. The verdict is that the meat comes out really tasty. When you come in, you might have to reserve a table especially on the weekend. We didn’t reserve, but we were lucky to get a table for 3 on a Saturday night at 7 pm. The restaurant is small so seating can be limited. Parking is sufficient since it’s a shared lot.

The service was very attentive and friendly. This is a family owned and run establishment. We ordered the combination platter (bulgogi, kalbi fingers, and pork belly), mo dum jun (combination platter for appetizers, ggo ri gom tang (oxtail soup). This was more than enough food for 3 people. Banchan is refillable. I would say this is one of the best kbbq restaurants in the Chicagoland area and I wouldn’t mind coming back.

-combination platter 5 - this is good for 2-3 people as long as you have other dishes. Meat cooked fast.
-mo dum jun 5 - fried squash, shrimp, oysters, and stuffed peppers. The stuffed peppers were my personal favorite. Make sure you dip them in the sauce provided.
-oxtail soup 5 - light broth not too robust. Oxtail meat was tender, not chewy. It’s big and shareable.“

“Was looking forward to a great steak after a long day of traveling only to be turned away because we didn't have proof of vaccine cards with us!! What a joke! Will never return to this establishment!“

“Always excellent, always delivered no problems whether its the yummy chicken or a stuffed pizza. Keep up the good work!“

“The brisket was the best part; then the pudding bread, rib tip Mac & cheese and Sausage. The sticky sprouts are the cherry on top. I saved the 3 pcs of Pig Candy for when I get home.“

“I love this place. We eat here at least 3xs a month. Everything is amazing! My favorite is the Tri Tip or Pulled Pork. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Its a bit expensive but the quality is top notch. Shakes are really good too!“

“Ya Hala truly lives up to its name — a warm welcome from start to finish. The moment you walk in, the aroma of freshly grilled meats and spices wraps around you like a hug from home. The staff is attentive without hovering, and every dish feels prepared with real care. The hummus is creamy and rich, the shawarma tender and bursting with flavor, and the falafel has that perfect crispy shell with a soft, savory center.

What makes Ya Hala stand out, though, is its atmosphere — relaxed yet vibrant, perfect for both family dinners and casual nights out. Portions are generous, prices fair, and you leave both full and genuinely satisfied. Ya Hala isn’t just another Mediterranean restaurant; it’s a true gem that makes you want to come back again and again.“

“First, the food is DELICIOUS! They have a lot more flavors of chicken available than some other K.F.C. restaurants. The tteokbokki offers more flavors & add in’s as well. You can tell the company really cares about their food quality and customer satisfaction-eg they have steam vents built into the containers and the keep your to-go order propped slightly open until you pick up your order all so that your chicken remains crispy, rather than getting soggy waiting in a closed container! The staff are always very polite & conscientious. LOVE THIS PLACE!“

“Been going to this place before they moved to this new location. They moved to this new location the weekend of the covid lockdowns. They sold their food to go, and it was one of the first places we supported. We have been routine customers, and enjoy our time there, every time we go. The barbecue is fantastic, the beers are amazing, the staff is tremendous.. And if you're a fan of hot wings, doing their hot wing challenge, hopefully annually, is a must. Don't skip on this place.“

“We were greeted by a very pleasant Host and seated exactly where we asked to be seated. Our Server was the best we have ever had there!!! (The servers are all wonderful) She was absolutely amazing and took such wonderful care of us. She was so pleasant and cared very much about us having a special meal! Had the best time and can't wait to come back!“

“The food is so incredible even the ribs! Staff are very kind and Wood Dale is a great city! Prices are also reasonable.“

“Oh my goodness. The best BBQ we have had in Illinois. We have traveled to Tennessee, Missouri, Chicago and all over the Chicago suburbs and this place takes the cake. (Peg leg in Nashville still is the over all best we’ve had) We happened upon Porkey’s after our Chicago plans fell through. Wow!!!!!!!!!! We had several plates of meat, a kids meal, sides, and dessert and our bill was less than $50. The staff were friendly, attentive and they offered great suggestions. I was so satisfied with our whole experience. From beginning to end a great flipping meal. They also had the bears pre season game on. Everything was so tasty. I will say this… and it may be fighting words, but their lumpia were better than stix and noodles. We had brisket sandwich, 1/2 lb of pulled pork, chicken fingers, a bao bun, brisket lumpia and bread pudding. On sundays they also have apple cider donuts so yeah we had those too! 5 stars from beginning to end.“

“Great bar service, awesome food. Definitely worth checking out“

“I enjoy the friendly employees“

“My friend and I stopped in at Firewater BBQ in Elmhurst on Thursday Dec. 1st for the "Granny's Lunch Box Special" which is available daily from 11AM-2PM. This was my second visit and my friend's first at Firewater. We both ordered the Angus beef brisket sandwich with a side of 3 cheese Mac & Cheese and a soda. The brisket (smoked for 22 hrs) is amazingly tender and flavorful. It was piled high on a toasted brioche bun and is served with your choice of sweet or spicy BBQ sauce or both if you like. The Mac & Cheese is sooo silky-smooth and creamy and compliments the brisket quite well. There are complimentary pickled jalapeños and sweet & spicy pickles available as well. My friend was so impressed by this amazing brisket that he placed another exact order to go to bring home. The cashier who also took our order was very friendly and polite. We told one of the chefs, Shawn, (pictured) that we really enjoyed the brisket and complimented his skills. My friend and I will both be returning to Firewater BBQ and we'll definitely be letting our family and friends know about this wonderful BBQ spot.“

“Food is amazing. Great place to get a lot of protein.“

“First time here, definitely will be back to to try the food“

“This is my mom's favorite BBQ place in Chicago and she took me today! I was blown away by the brisket salad I had, along their honey mustard, Chipotle ranch, and ESPECIALLY the homemade Chipotle peach BBQ sauce. The staff is also very friendly and helpful, overall we had a great time with amazing food!!“

“Reps is one of our favorite spots! The nachos and wings are amazing, and the food is always top-notch. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is great. Highly recommend it!“

“I gave five stars because I absolutely love they turkey tips I stumbled upon this location last month and I have been recommending my customers to go there but today was a very bad experience for me and I probably won’t be returning because the lady at the counter today was very very very rude to me and I truly don’t appreciate that. This is my first time seeing her there it’s usually a nice gentleman man that works there I asked her may I have a bag please for my food she turned around and looked at me with disgust and said “I’m going to put it in a bag “then took the bag and threw it on the counter at me I’m so glad that I’m more in to my church now because she almost took me there but the devil is a lie. So sad because I actually love their turkey tips. I don’t understand why people work at an establishment that they don’t like or don’t like being there because to me customer service is everything especially when I spending my hard earned money.“

“This place is perfect for Korean BBQ lovers. The unlimited grilled meats and authentic Korean flavors make every visit worth it. The bulgogi and galbi were packed with flavor, and the corn cheese and egg casserole sides were delicious. Great atmosphere, great food, and a fun dining experience every time.“

“I had a brisket burrito and Mac & cheese . Very Delicious ! I will be back.“

“Jerk chicken, was very tasty, macaroni was okay in my opinion, many people may give ot a 10, cabbages I give it a 10, sweet potatoes were good to me they, were not sweet, but more on the healthy side, waiting time was minimum, the service was good. One major negative was a boot was on my car, I did not like that experience period, the guy took it off in less then 10 minutes, I never had a boot on my car.“

“Had their bbq duck, bbq pork and roast pork.
Their roast duck and roast pork was good. Their bbq pork leans more salty then sweet. It's more of a preference thing, I prefer more sweeter bbq pork. Their prices are pretty good as well.“

“I thought this place was dirty, when it wasn't and I thought the food wasn't good either, but was pleasantly surprised that the chicken wings and rib tips with bbq sauce actually hit..This place is a criminally underrated rib and chicken joint(Chop Steaks too)just off the food alone and I bet that not one rib shack in the city can beat their prices ..“

“the best place in this area; especially the cheeseburger, hot dog, and grilled tuna sandwich“

“They catered a lunch for 15. The food was excellent and they’re great to work with. #iraeats.“

“Thank you so much to everyone at Firewater for doing the best job at honoring Michael Altman and his family. The love and support was felt by the hundreds and hundreds of people who attended. Inside and outside were packed. Thank you to the people selling the T- shirts outside so I was finally able to get mine. It was truly a heartwarming day. Please keep The Altman family in your thoughts and prayer's and continue to reach out and love them. ♥️🙏“

“Chibogan has very fast service and high-quality meats. If you'd like to order large trays for your occasion or potlucks, this place is one of the best for Filipino food. The owner is very nice and friendly.“

“I've been wanting to try this spot. The meat was fresh and seasoned well. The ladies serving us were so kind. We got the Chungkiwa special, which included all the meats, sliced ribeye, spare ribs, chicken thighs, pork, shrimp and squid. The sliced ribeye and pork were the best! It was enough for 3 people for sure! The side dishes were excellent. Also the dumpling soup was light, flavorful and soothing!“

“Chicken is excellent and tasty 😋 We always order here for so many years. Highly recommended to all my family members and friends. ☺️😋😍“

“Jay’s Backyard BBQ did not disappoint. The fried chicken was crispy and flavorful, and the rib tips and hot links were delicious. I’ll definitely be back again.“

“We have been going to Russell's 50 plus years. Everything has always been amazing from the ribs falling off the bone to the original pulled pork sandwich that was so good. The last 3 time it has not been enjoyable. Tried it again last night the ribs were dry over cook not falling off the bone. Very disappointing. Four of us had them and all four was said they were terrible. Salad had to be returned. Baked potato was old. So disappointed, we drive 50 mile for this. Please fix it! Go back to your original recipe!“

“Not a bad item on their entire menu! By far one of the best places in the Sauganash/Edgebrook neighborhood.“

“Wow1 This meat and grill business has the best kabobs! They also are generous to charities and very community spirited. Stop in. You will be happy you did!“

“We visited this restaurant with our family on Tuesday evening and had an amazing time. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming.The staff were very kind, friendly, and attentive, and the service was excellent. The food was absolutely delicious.When we arrived at our table, everything was already beautifully prepared — the salads were fresh and ready, which made us feel very welcomed.We had so much fun as a group and truly enjoyed our experience. Highly recommend!“

“Among the restaurants in Chicago suburban, there were many good reviews, so I visited there for the first time with my wife. There was a little waiting time, maybe because it was the weekend, but the staff organized the table quickly, so I was able to sit down without waiting for long. The 'banchan' prepared when I ordered and waited for the food felt good about the type and taste and made me look forward to the main dish even more. Finally, the food I ordered arrived, and I was surprised at the amount that the chef thought I had made a mistake and decided when I tasted the food that was well-baked on the grill. 'I'll have to bring my parents next time!' And finally, while the servers are busy, their kindness in customer service remains very impressive.“

“Our go to restaurant.. the. best kimchi ever 😊“

“First time at this location as we were visiting my son and daughter in law and was truly disappointed about dinner . Ordered herb crusted chicken with a side kick of shrimp and got a plain grilled chicken breast and let manger know and she offered nothing but got a new actual herb crusted chicken 15 minutes later after everyone was about done with dinner ! Been to Texas by our house several times and ordered this same thing and never got this kind of service ! Not even a sorry let me make it right !“

“We were waited on by Jonathan, who had quite the pleasant demeanor when he arrived. He quickly got our appetizer (wild shrimp) and bread, filled our waters. Soon the luscious steak came. I mean, you can't beat it for taste and value anywhere. I found him (Jonathan) thoughtful when he asked if we wanted more water to go. He and the whole staff deserve your good tips. They've made this Longhorn a very pleasant eatery. Alejandra and one other hostess at the door gave such bright smiles, it made our night. Thanks all!“

“Got some skirt steaks, a couple NY strips, chicken and prepared soups. Everything was fantastic and way beyond our expectations! I would (and have) highly recommend Hofherr’s to anybody! They’re great!“

“It's so nice to be out at a restaurant! This location is poppen so be prepared to wait a lil bit. We always sit at the bar and Angela was busy! She was friendly and never stopped moving! Our shrimp was salty to me but my husband at it all.“

“I've been going to Mickey for YEARS!!! Today I took my grandkids for the first time. They are very nice people with great service....and food!“

“Love the Bar B Que and the Chicken...Go Royal Chicken!!!!!“

“Enjoyed the Tuesday, 5 Taco special. Had them made Mexican style...Steak, Asada,and Chicken. Absolutely delicious! Meats were so flavorful, and plentiful! The smoky taste, with the cilantro and onions paired up perfectly.

Next time going for the 1/2 Chicken dinner...have been told the chicken is astounding 🙂“

“I didn’t dine, but it was decent sized space. The host was very receptive as soon I walked in to pick my order. Very great service from initial experience. The food was delicious especially the fried chicken. The Rose Deokkbokki was really great as well. The Kimchi Fried rice hit the spot for sure. Very genuine Korean tasting food.“

“Good and highly recommend“

“My fiancé and I have been a gyro war. I’m a Skokie Dengeos girl and he’s a diehard Squabs fan. While it’s hard to compete with childhood memories after trying Squabs I totally get it. The gyro was perfectly cooked, the tzatziki was beautiful, the fries were delicious. The absolute standout was the customer service. I was having such a bad day. I confused the gyro plate with the gyro dinner and they took such good care of me. I had cried the whole ride over and left with the biggest smile and a plate of leftovers. 10/10 I will be coming back every chance I get.“

“Food is delicious! Just what I’ve been looking for in the suburbs.“