FOODITOR’S TOP FIVE BARBECUE SPOTS IN CHICAGO:

1. Smoque BBQ
2. Lem’s Bar-B-Que
3. Smalls Smoke Shack & More
4. Honey 1 BBQ
5. Pork Shoppe

FOODITOR’S CURATED LIST OF THE BEST BARBECUE IN CHICAGO:

NORTH

Blackwood BBQ— You might suspect otherwise from the location and the Chipotle-like setup, but this is real smoked-wood barbecue serving lunch in the Loop and West Loop.

Chicago Q— Downright posh for a barbecue restaurant, this is a full-on southern restaurant serving drinks, delicious southern dishes and desserts— and the competition-winning barbecue of chef Lee Ann Whippen.

Green Street Smoked Meats— Hipster take on a Texas roadhouse from Brendan Sodikoff, with generally good barbecue (brisket is best; try the brisket frito pie), and a line out the door every night.

Lillie’s Q— Smoked tri-tip is the standout meat at this barbecue restaurant and bar, with good Southern sides. Also has a stand in the French Market in the West Loop.

Pork Shoppe— Texas barbecue joint and bar, with a standout in the lush pork belly pastrami. Avondale, Andersonville.

Smalls Smoke Shack & More— Texas barbecue comes with an Asian touch at this tiny takeout spot (you can eat in the adjacent bar), whether subtly (the “tiger cry” dipping sauce for brisket) or full-on fusion (brisket bibimbop); excellent fried chicken, too.

Smoque BBQ— Stellar sitdown barbecue joint on the northwest side, serving primarily Texas-style ribs and brisket, as well as Memphis-style pulled pork, and sausage from Mikeska’s in Taylor, Texas.

WEST

Ben’s Bar-Be-Cue— Friendly take-out only rib tip and hot link spot, one of the few on the west rather than south side.

Bro-N-Laws BBQ— West side rib tip and hot link takeout spot, that also has a separate no-pork grill for “west side steak.”

SOUTH

Barbara Ann’s BBQ— Superior, long-running rib tip and hot link take out spot, with a convenient motel next door to take it to.

County Barbecue— Slightly cheffed-up BBQ (pitmaster Erick Williams is also the chef of fine dining MK) in a honky tonk atmosphere on Taylor Street.

Honey 1 BBQ— Barbecue place had a cult following on the north side, but is doing far more business now relocated to the south side, where locals love the smoky ribs and rib tips.

Husky Hog BBQ— Memphis style barbecue and good southern sides in the shadow of the Sox; small seating area.

Lem’s Bar-B-Que— The city’s oldest barbecue spot (circa 1948) is variable, but at its best turns out the best ribs in town, as well as rib tips, hot links and wings. Take out only.

Uncle J’s Bar-B-Q— “Uncle J” is a reference to the late and beloved Uncle John’s BBQ, because this rib tip and hot links takeout spot is run by Uncle John pitmaster Mack Sevier’s daughter and her family, and does a very respectable job at reminding you of the original.

Uncle John’s BBQ Ribs— In a far south suburb, a protege of the late Mack Sevier of Uncle John’s BBQ carries on— and does justice to— that south side rib tips and hot links legend.

List compiled 8/31/15 by Michael Gebert.