50 Best Barbeque Restaurants near Winnetka

“Tasty food! Fried calamari was just perfect! & Shrimp tacos were very authentic! Our waitress Ana was so friendly and welcoming . My family and I will be back!“

“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.“

“Every item on the menu is incredible. They are a staple of... not just Evanston... but of all Chicagoland!“

“the smoked sweet potato is a gamechanger. Spectacular“

“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.“

“Hubs and I came last night for an impromptu date night. The holiday décor was absolutely beautiful, you can tell a lot of effort and attention went into it. The staff were all super friendly and helpful! We arrived during the dinner rush, and given it’s the holiday season, I’m sure there’s an uptick in guests, but we were still seated within about 15–20 minutes, which was impressive. There is a one-hour dining limit during this season, I understand they’re turning tables quickly to accommodate everyone, especially having worked in the industry myself. However, I was really disappointed that every single item we ordered was cold. I don’t usually like to complain, so I didn’t mention it at the time, assuming it was just due to how busy the restaurant was. But after reading other reviews, it seems this may be a recurring issue, which is unfortunate. I’m not sure I would return, but on a positive note, the atmosphere was lovely and the staff were wonderful. Hopefully they can work with the kitchen to make sure the food is served hot, because everything else about the experience was great!“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

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

“This place is great--a family fave of ours for special occasions. The food is always a hit, the vibe super cozy--especially when it's otherwise freaking cold 9 months out of the year in these parts--and the staff is seasoned and excellent. Also good for takeout and delivery when you don't feel like cooking.“

“Awesome spot. We called ahead and ordered the party platter for our Super Bowl party. Transaction was smooth, confirmed the pick up time and they dropped the food in the car no hassle. Food was amazing! Brisket, two types of ribs, pulled pork, beans, mac and cheese, and coleslaw! Awesome food texas smoker style! Gonna come back again for sure soon!“

“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.“

“Everything is absolutely delicious, tender and full of flavor. This place legit has the best Cornbread Muffins with Cinnamon Butter that I have ever had from a restaurant. It was super moist and not overly sweet. Definitely my family's new go to for BBQ when we don't feel like making it ourselves.“

“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.“

“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. ♥️🙏“

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

“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!“

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

“We had a fabulous dinner last night at Chicago Kalbi with Cummins Peru, Komat'su, and the VPs from Antimina copper mine.

Such a great place, where you cook the wagyu & kobe beef at your table. The food was delicious ?

Isao Tozuka, the chef and his wife Chiyo-san, are fabulous hosts, very friendly, and really happy to help and show you how things are do e.

I would definitely recommend coming here. It's a unique place. Make sure you book though ad it can be busy.“

“I've been to many Korean BBQ's within the states and I have to say this was the best customer service we received. This place is pricey for the small portions you get. I'd definitely come back for the service tho.“

“Amazing food and fast!! My friends and I really enjoyed dinner at Sun Wah!!“

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

“Perfect Chicago dogs. Every time! Awesome fries!“

“Definitely one of the best burgers I’ve had!“

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

“Excellent brisket that was perfectly cooked, tender enough to cut with a fork and a mild smoked flavor. Loaded waffle fries that are light, crispy and a heaping canvas for BBQ sauce slathered smoked brisket with a sprinkling of jalapeno peppers. Burnt ends with unending flavor. Baked beans that included chunks of sausage and brisket. Delicious food, generous portions, old school vibe with the blues playing in the background and a staff that aims to please -we have a winner here, folks.“

“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!“

“Every meal at Great Chicago is a great meal!“

“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.“

“Dengeo’s is the BEST!! We had them cater our huge party and they absolutely crushed it. Every single dish was incredible and bursting with flavor — the Italian Beef was the star of the night, but truly everything was demolished. Our guests were raving about the food nonstop. Huge shoutout to Chris, Nick, and Jerry for getting us perfectly set up and making everything seamless. This was our third year having Dengeo’s cater our party, and we’re already looking forward to many more!“

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

“Very good for quick quality service. The portions are extremely abundant, you definitely won’t be hungry. I like how they specify on their menu which type of oil that is used. The gyros meat tends to be a bit too salty, but this is probably how it just is.“

“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!“

“Edit: I was able to call the restaurant about 9 days later. They opened late the day I ordered online, but the online system did not have the updated hours. I was able to get the refund from the restaurant. (Be aware that the restaurant does not always pick up the phone… might be better to visit them in person if you want to ask them a question.)

Ordered online on Thursday around 4pm. Restaurant was closed, and no one picked up the phone. Same thing today (Friday) at 2:30pm. I will be calling my credit card company to cancel the transaction.“

“Well worth it! I cook steaks regularly but I very much enjoyed the quality of the steaks here.

You get a complimentary side of warm, fresh-baked brown bread while you order, and the food comes out quickly and piping hot. The outlaw ribeye is definitely their best item, it comes out as this huge bone-in steak that seems almost bigger than their advertised 24oz. size. It has a great crust with visible grill marks and a rich smoky flavor from the char-grilling.

The sides were also great, with a simple but satisfying Caesar salad with a flavorful dressing and crisp lettuce, and a premium side of brussel sprouts roasted and tossed in a sweet and savory honey glaze. They complimented the steak nicely and rounded things out.

The bill at the end is a bit high, but I felt that it was definitely well worth it considering the variety of food items and their outstanding quality. The steak was cooked perfectly and had a great flavor and texture and the sides were fresh and flavorful, certainly more work than I'm willing to do at home even if I considered the potential price savings versus eating out.“

“amazing food and great service“

“Amazing food - for real
Great atmosphere and I am - extremely sad, that I paced myself so well and there was a red head behind the bar with an issue / that wasn’t me…

I’m sad I didn’t get to sing karaoke / that’s why I stayed, afterall. 🌻“

“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.“

“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.“

“Been coming since 2003-04. We tried the whole menu by now. Id say, the authencity in food, the taste, freshness, over the years, is still the same since day 1. Atleast all our family including 3 generations have eaten here and we still find time to eat here again! By the way , we are from Michigan and coming to Chicago is not a complete trip if not eaten here. Dont mind their simple setup, dont mind if the fixture looks outdated, it truly is the food and its real pakistani taste that other fancy restaurants on devon couldn't offer! Kindly try their juicy BBQ or rightly done Bhindi. It is simply one of the best pakistani food you can ask for!“

“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!“

“Had a wonderful meal at Hon Kee Restaurant on Winthrop. The Peking duck was excellent, and the pompano with black beans was especially memorable, fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Every dish we tried was delicious, and the service was warm and welcoming. Definitely a spot that we always come to and will continue to support!“

“If you are ever in Chicago and you want some authentic, hot, delicious FILIPINO fast food...be sure to stop into Seafood City. They have a fast-food eatery inside the store called, Grill City. Best in CHICAGO!!!“

“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.“

“since I was a young boy this been the spot! Northside staple #85Baby“

“delicious food, cozy place and friendly staff“