43 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Riverwoods

“10/10 will come back next year.“

“I was the lucky one to win a red envelope from BBQ Productions & Station 51 Truck Co Bar & Grill. Jeff was amazing & extremely helpful! I freakin love my Louisana Founder Series Smoker! Thank you!!!!!“

“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.“

“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.“

“If you understand BBQ-- REAL good BBQ takes time to smoke to a tender, juicy, pinky, perfect flavor. You need to have a great deal of patience and skill. Lee and Danita have that gift in their soul so you have to wait for all that goodness to be assembled for your dining experience. Sit and talk after placing your order be patient and you won't EVER be disappointed.“

“Thank you for the best lunch..well worth coming to from the city. Bob and Chip and the rest of the staff were so friendly and kind...free samples to boot. My sister and I had the Tri Tip, Brisket, and I brought home a Reuben for later. Everything was mouth watering and delicious...make the trip. You will not be disappointed. We will be back to try more. oh yeah and the lemonade was great too..just saying.“

“the smoked sweet potato is a gamechanger. Spectacular“

“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!“

“My daughter and I traveled from DC to Chicago for a cheerleading competition. We decided to try Porky's... I am not making this up, hands down the best BBQ I've had in years. The combo sandwich with brisket and pork, is phenomenal. The Porkys Beans with brisket, left me speechless. Outstanding customer service to go along with the great taste. Honestly wish I lived in the area, so I could eat here more often.“

“Delicious food and the best owners! Friendly and fast service.“

“We had an outstanding experience at Smokin' Jack's BBQ, a truly a fantastic addition to Mundelein.

Cody, our server, was exceptional from start to finish. He was attentive and engaged the entire time without ever being intrusive. Friendly, efficient, and clearly experienced, he took our drink order right away and had everything back to us within minutes, even on a busy Friday night.

At his recommendation, we started with the Texas Twinkies and Smoked Pork Belly... and wow. 😋 I never imagined how perfectly both would be curated. The Pork Belly was unbelievably tender and my fork went right through it. Honestly, I may be chasing that level of satisfaction for the rest of my life.

We ordered a variety of meat trays, and as a foodie family, it’s rare for us to have zero notes but we truly had no suggestions for improvement. The flavors were so well-balanced and dialed in that we didn’t even touch the sauces.

If you’re looking for fall-off-the-bone, boiled-then-grilled rib slab, this isn’t that and that’s a good thing in my book. These ribs are hearty and properly smoked with incredible flavor, served without sauce for a reason... they simply don’t need it.

We grabbed dessert to go and left with leftovers to enjoy later if it survives the trip passed our kids.

10/10. Congratulations to the team and we will absolutely be back.“

“Greeted at the entrance…warm and inviting. City vibe ambience. Scott is one of the BEST servers we have had. He is conscientious and attentive to detail. We had a late lunch on Saturday because less noise, food served in a timely manner. I tried the double chicken breast sandwich which was blackened and requested crispy Texas toast instead of a bun… it’s all about the ‘crunch’ , tomato and red onion cut fresh and was not sitting around from early prep. Side was a salt crusted baked potato… Scott checked to make sure it had a crispy skin. Scott brought a mini carafe of their famous BBQ sauce. We had a glass of ‘shades of blue’ Riesling (crisp, light citrus notes and not sweet)… pairs perfectly with anything. An excellent wine.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“I had the pulled chicken entree with golden corn bake and roasted Brussels sprouts for sides, plus a fountain drink for a late lunch ~1:30 on a weekday.

I had the dining room to myself (a plus for me as I like solitude).

Tables were clean, food was delicious and the staff attentive.

With tax and tip, I was paid less than $25.

I have enough chicken and corn bake for a second meal. I couldn't NOT finish the Brussels sprouts.

In addition to the two sides, I took advantage of the offered (complimentary aka free) slice of white bread and sweet and sour pickles.

I have been here before, but that was years ago. Im glad to see its just as good as always and still in business.

Lord willing, I will return soon. Its out of my way but oh, so good!

I would like to see some senior meals or discounts offered for patrons who have lived 60 (sixty) plus years.“

“their jackfruit vegetarian barbecue options are awesome. I highly recommend the onion rings as the side.“

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

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

“Love this place! The food is absolutely amazing. I can’t seem to stop ordering from Booby’s! Whenever there is celebration or a get together and we want to order out…my 1st choice is always Booby’s!“

“Amazing Enchiladas at Wilmette location! Beautiful outdoor seating. 👍🏻“

“Bluegrass Restaurant is a wonderful, family-owned restaurant. We have been ordering takeout and eating in since we came to Highland Park three years ago. The owners take pride in managing the restaurant on a daily basis. They prioritize customer service, great food, and a warm, welcoming experience. Last night, they hosted the Highland Park/Highwood Professional Moms group. We had only expected 15 women to attend, but 25 women ended up coming. The owners and the staff were AMAZING. They brought over additional chairs. They provided us with top-notch service, including separate checks. They respected us when we were speaking to the group and quietly took orders in the background. I can't say enough nice things about this restaurant.“

“Went there on 6/22/22. We ate outside and were pleased to have a musician playing on the patio. The food was excellent as was the service. Bring your appetite and still expect to take home leftovers. Classic menu of steaks, chops, sandwiches and top notch BBQ. This will be a mainstay for us moving forward. Can't recommend this place enough!“

“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!“

“It is a different level of service when you visit blue house. It is a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere and all of the food is the best here! authentic and fresh. So grateful to visit this lovely resturaunt. Worth every dollar and then some!“

“One of the best Korean restaurants in the suburbs. Everything was delicious, the meats were very tender and marinated well and also, they serve this salad that is one of the best salads I’ve ever had. I don’t know what kind of dressing they put but it’s delicious!“

“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!“

“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!“

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

“great place to eat, very good service and very large portions. loved it here“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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 !“

“My husband and I we are KOREAN BBQ lovers and today we enjoyed the most delicious BBQ dinner in Chicago area, very good and delicious menu, nice and friendly service. We definitely recommend BBQ GARDEN to all our family and friends.“

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

“First time having Korean BBQ. I could not have a gone to a better place! Everything was so good! The severs are very attentive and were very nice! Enjoyed my meal!“

“GREAT RESTAURANT

The food is traditional and authentic. There are a lot of delicious menu options. The atmosphere is also great, and the interior design is in a traditional Korean style. This place has been around for a while, and they know what they’re doing.

There’s also a karaoke lounge in the back with varying prices. It’s not the best karaoke spot but they have most recent songs available.“

“from out of town and stopped on a whim. Def a good idea! Burgers were hand pressed, fresh cut fries and could tell oil was fresh so fries were excellent, shake had chocolate syrup drizzled on inside if glass- nice touch! will def stop again if in area.“

“delicious food, cozy place and friendly staff“