Holy Smoque! Ribs! Brisket!
Holy Smoque! It's not fancy, it's not convenient, parking can be challenging, and tables are close together.
But all is forgiven when the brisket and rib platters land in front of you.
Smoque BBQ 3800 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641
Phone: (773) 545-7427
smoquebbq.com
Visited: November 2025, 3:30 pm
Reviewers: Andrea and Rich
We've been eating at Smoque since they opened, and it has never disappointed. Barbecue is personal, and everybody has their own "best." But we've been eating ribs since our teens—that's 65 years of knowing what we like.
Most of our BBQ experiences have been in the Chicago area. For years, our favorite was Fat Willy's, but they closed during COVID. Fortunately, Smoque was ready to fill the void.
The Place
Smoque sits in the heart of Chicago's urban northwest, near the expressway. The area is busy and crowded, so getting there during rush hour from the suburbs can be challenging; it’s probably easier for city-dwellers. Lately, we've been going for a super-late lunch around 3:30-4:30 pm, and it also serves as our early bird dinner.
In this older Chicago neighborhood, Smoque looks almost rustic. You walk into a small dining area on the right, an order counter on the left, an open kitchen in back, and a wall-sized menu calling your name. The décor is super simple but impressively clean, given the messy nature of BBQ and high turnover.
Smoque is on a busy street with no dedicated parking, but we've always found a spot within a block or two.
The seating is nearly communal—basic wooden tables literally touching each other. You can usually carve out a few inches of space for two or push tables together for larger groups. But at Smoque, it fits the vibe. People are focused on their BBQ.
We've visited Smoque between 11 AM and 6 PM, and it's always busy. During peak lunch and dinner hours, lines stretch out the door. But during our late lunch window, there's always a table available.
Smoque manages traffic brilliantly. Sometimes they won't take your order until a table opens, directing you strategically so there's no awkward hovering. It's well controlled, and everyone cooperates.
AND there's a rumor that Smoque will open a second location in Glenview in 2026. Should we get in line now?
The Food
The food is simple, expertly prepared, generously portioned, and reasonably priced.
For this visit, we got the ½ slab of St. Louis ribs and the brisket platter, which includes three sides.
At Smoque, you eat the ribs—they don't fall off the bone or dissolve into mush. Their ribs have excellent crust and meet that fine line between requiring a good bite and remaining tender.
Two varieties are available: baby back and St. Louis. I usually preferred leaner baby backs while Andrea favored St. Louis. Both are great, but Smoque's St. Louis ribs are so meaty and lean that they've converted me.
The fries are always excellent and pretty crispy (they'll crisp them more if you ask). Note: We recently learned they'll cut your ribs for you, since their plastic tableware doesn't handle the job easily.
Dishes come as sandwiches or platters with sides. Our favorites are coleslaw, fries, and cornbread. Mac & cheese and the beans are not. Smoque offers multiple sauces, and we like the Memphis—just enough spice and sweetness without overpowering the meat. Beverages are self-serve from the kiosk.
Chicago has countless barbecue spots, and each is somebody's favorite. Smoque is our favorite because…
We don't like meat falling off the bone. We don't like fatty. We like a little char. We like tender meat that still requires just a little work.
The Service: There's no table service, but the staff is consistently friendly, from the cashier taking orders to the people busing tables and maintaining impressive cleanliness. The open kitchen crew works nonstop and is always available if you need something.
The Experience Smoque can be inconvenient, and tables can be crowded, but it all works. For under $60, we had a filling, delicious barbecue meal.
Verdict
A Five Early bird pick!
We're giving Smoque all five early birds—not because it's elegant, gourmet, or run by trained culinary chefs, but because what Smoque does, they do superbly to our taste.
Rating Highlights:
⭐ Food Quality: Excellent
💰 Value: Excellent
🕐 Early Bird Experience: We go for a late lunch to avoid city traffic
🔇 Atmosphere: Simple, can be crowded but organized, not too noisy despite the bustle
👍 Would Return: Always
