09/05/09

Smoque is Good

by Pappyal

I saw this on triple D and knew I had to try it so I finally got to go today. Two co-workers and myself drove 90 miles to try this place and we were overall glad we did. We ordered brisket and St. Louis and Babyback ribs. The brisket was to die for, it actually melts in your mouth. The absolute best! The ribs were average at best, a little dry and tough. (and yes they give you a side of sauce). The sides were fantastic as well. We had the Mac & Cheese, BBQ Beans and Cole Slaw (all awesome). When I go back it will be just for the brisket and sides for me. I highly recommend Smoque for it's BRISKET.

• Pros: Best brisket ever! Good Service. Good prices.
• Cons: So-So Ribs. Street parking only.

08/29/09

Go Elsewhere

by Lizjaye

Ordered BBQ 6/27 at 6:30 pm. Was told my order would be ready in 40 minutes. Okay. Went 45 minutes later and was told I would have to wait again for the cash register person to ring up my order. They only have one cash register. Got home and food was solidly cold. Never again. This is the 5th visit there. Each time it's a gaff. Go to Honey1 BBQ or Fat Willy's farther from me but far better food and service.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Waiting, waiting... cold food... poor service

07/21/08

One of the Best BBQ in the City

by bb27bb

I love Smoque. I need it at least twice a month if not more regularly. My friend and I started checking out different Chicago BBQ restaurants this year to find the best and I have to say Smoque has some of the best BBQ in the city. The St. Louis ribs are by far my favorite. The sauce, the rub, the perfection of it's cooking is always consistent. I mention the sauce because they have different sauces for their different foods. You don't need sauce but it adds another dimension to the food. The Baby back ribs are good. They aren't the best I've had in the city but they are still far better than most others. They recently added Texas sausage which is their version of hot links, not as spicy but defiantly fantastic. The brisket is the best brisket in the city. I don't need to add any more. I can't write any more because this is making me hungry and since their closed on Monday I'm SOL. Anyway, please, please, please...if you are looking for good BBQ this is a definite must.

• Pros: Food, price, sauce, rub, BBQ, everything!!!!!!
• Cons: Not open on Monday's

06/28/08

cheap and fast service

by pink75

We had a decent experience. We had their bbq sandwhich and it was good. Their macaroni and cheese is a must try!! i would come back to this place if i really crave bbq.

• Pros: good value

05/24/08

Best BBQ IN CHICAGO... !

by Lance512

Obviously the other people commenting have no clue what real "que" is. Real bbq you have to wait in line for, Real bbq allows you to sit in a crowd of hungry happy people. I was born and raised in Texas and have been living here in Chicago for 11 years. Until Smoque showed up, the only real Texas style bbq was IN TEXAS! I was there the first week it opened and was there last week when they started selling Mikeska's Hot Links, and I was have been there every other week in between. Smoque is the real deal. The tender juicy brisket is actually BETTER than any I have had in Texas. The ribs are meaty and tender but NOT falling off the bone. Texans like their ribs like their women... tender but still having some meat ON the bone to pull on with your mouth! The mac and cheese was something unusual but addictive. Have no idea whats in it or how they get smoke flavor on it but its wonderful. Slaw is tangy and good. Beans are sweet with chuncks of meat and onion. Then there is the new Texas hot links. OMG. Thankfully someone has had the smarts to finally bring real Texas Hot Links to Chicago. They are in real casings since you can hear the pop when you bite into a whole link.... which I did often on my way home with 8 links... and with zero grease! My pants and shirt were like new when getting home unlike the results I have had with other sausage and dry cleaners bills...! Overall, Smoque is the best bbq in Chicago hands down. I should know since I was born in Lockhart Texas which is known as the Texas BBQ Capitol. Go to Smoque, get the brisket, hot links, slaw, macncheese and cobbler. You won't regret it. Happy Trails!

05/18/08

Not the best!

by KRC3

I can say that the service was good, but only one cashier in that little place. Seating is right on top of the next person. I saw the place on foodnetwork. Both myself and my girlfriend were excited about going because we saw it on tv. But like someone said before, you can't believe everything on tv. Portions were to small and a little pricy. The mac and cheese was bad, very bad. We had some Texas sausage which my lady thought was raw. The pulled pork was dry and the bbq sauce wasn't that good. The ribs were a little dry for our taste, but did fall off the bone. Now the big thing for me is that, i hadn't eaten much all that day. But after eating there we both were feeling a little sick after a hour of leaving. I had to work that night, and i was no good all night long. Not blaming them for anything, maybe the food didn't agree with me. Needless to say, it wasn't what i expected and we were disappointed. And don't get me started on the parking. Take the train, if you go.

• Pros: friendly service
• Cons: parking, price, portions, taste

03/15/08

Good...but not good enough

by vegitoboi

I saw this place on the Food Network on Guy Fieri's show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. When I saw that there was an actual BBQ place that was in Chicago (not to mention, near my house and serving BBQ in all seasons) I just had to check this place out. But I think after eating here it's safe to say don't believe everything you see on tv. The first problem with the place is their parking situation. There's virtually none since the residential street they're cornered on is permit parking only with cops monitoring the street about every hour. Now as expected with featured places, there's a line going to the door and that was fine with me. But only 1 cashier?!?! No wonder there's a long line. The menu is your basic pulled pork or brisket (or 1/2 and 1/2) sandwich, 1/2 or full slabs of St. Louis or baby back (or 1/2 slabs of each) pork ribs (sorry, no beef ribs here) that are made via dry rub, chicken, and abour 5-6 side items (fries, mac & cheese, cornbread, etc.). All orders came with a side of extra sauce (which looks thinned). I had the 1/2 n 1/2 sandwich to eat in and 1/2 slabs of each ribs to go. THE ENTIRE ORDER TASTED DRY!!! Note that I'm not saying it wasn't good because it was. I think they've rendered out the fat from their meat that there's barely any moisture (flavor) to have that distinctive juicy flavor of what we'd normally call BBQ. Heck, I can go to Whole Foods n get better, JUICER BBQ AND for WAY CHEAPER. I'm serious, that one $ you see on the side bar should be $$. I liked the food and I like the fact there's a place I can go for the Winter BBQ crave, but just don't expect much else except for a line, lousy parking, and dry, overpriced BBQ.

• Pros: Close neighborhood BBQ restaurant, off the Irving Park I94 and Blue Line stop, friendly staff, featured on Food Network
• Cons: IMPOSSIBLE PARKING, long line with one cashier, dry and overpriced BBQ, most seating is meant for large groups

01/13/08

Great BBQ but supply doesn't meet demand

by popoaks

The caveat up front is that we wish we could give this 5 stars: great BBQ, yummy mac and cheese (and fries and baked beans...) and wonderful service from a team you can tell cares about their shop and their customers. We vowed every Sunday would be barbeque night after we found Smoque, but just hung up the phone at 7pm--two hours before they close--for the second week in a row having been told they are out of all meat except chicken and ribs. Baffling to us that a barbeque house would run out of food so often (we have met the sign on the front door more than once announcing they were similarly out of brisket and pork) and we hope that their demand planning gets better before we find another place. Please, please, please work on it!

• Pros: Great food, great people
• Cons: Great food that isn't always available

01/02/08

Good BBQ addition to N. Chicago

by tailgatefoodsnob

Overall, I thought the food was good, but they didn't have any ribs ready. Puzzling to me. I know their new and working out the kinks, but without the Ribs, its really disappointing. Good luck with your adjustments.

• Pros: Good sauce
• Cons: No Ribs ready for sale???

09/30/07

BAD BRISKET

by vivi21

Smoque... You need some help on BBQ. Maybe a trip to Texas will help. The line was long, You were out of food...How do you run out of food? The BBQ sauce tasted like ketchup. I will tell you something, all of you guys come to the chicago area and call yourself the best bbq around you need to do some research first. I found one place in a 100 mile radius that had the best BBQ that I have had since I was in Houston Texas and that is Canyon Creek BBQ in South Elgin IL. I don't know where this guy came from but I would line his que up against anyone anytime. The service was perfect and the food even better...good job and keep up the good work.

• Pros: could not find any that time.
• Cons: thumbs down huge on this place.