If you’re craving some traditional BBQ on the west side of Chicago, you’ve come to the right place. The west side of Chicago is a food lovers goldmine. It’s home to some of the most refined foods in the entire country for steaks, pizza, seafood, and BBQ.
We’re here to provide our picks for the absolute best barbecue in Chicago suburbs. In particular, we’re focusing on the west side of Chicagoland. That includes areas such as Naperville, Oak Park, Downers Grove, and more. Read on to learn about the best BBQ restaurants Chicago’s suburbs have to offer.
4. Q-BBQ
103 S. Main St., Naperville, IL
Our first point takes us to Naperville for some homestyle BBQ. If you’re a fan of the traditional BBQ experience, complete with a chalkboard menu, you’ll love Q-BBQ.
The restaurant takes a fresh new take on barbecue traditions. The Memphis-style sweet sauce is particularly succulent. It does a lot to enhance the flavor of the slow-cooked meat.
They’re open from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM seven days a week. They’re a great spot to have a quick lunch or grab dinner for your entire family in the evening.
A fan favorite of this location is their hush puppies. They’re crunchy, delicious, and quite rare to find.
The Menu
All right, now let’s dive into their main BBQ offerings:
- Burnt ends
- Spicy sausage
- Spicy turkey
- Chopped brisket
- Pulled pork
- Pulled chicken
- Sliced brisket
- Sandwiches
- Bundles
- Sides made from scratch
- Hushpuppies
As you can see, they have all the classics at Q-BBQ. It’s a must-visit if you find yourself in Naperville and want some barbecue.
3. Firewater BBQ
440 E. Roosevelt Rd. Lombard, IL, 60148
Our next choice for the best barbecue in Chicago suburbs brings us to Firewater BBQ in Lombard. They offer award-winning barbecue and rich history. In fact, the origins of the restaurant date back to the historic Chicago Fire.
The current owners still use the old family recipes from back in the day. They’ve got burgers, tacos, BBQ, pork, and lots of beer.
Firewater also provides some unique dessert offerings. It’s a great restaurant to pick if you have a sweet tooth in addition to a love of barbecue.
The restaurant is open 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM on most days, except Tuesday and Sunday. On those days, the restaurant closes at 8:00 PM. Let’s check out what they have on the menu.
The Menu
At Firewater BBQ, you can order:
- Award-winning ribs
- Triple porker sandwich
- Pulled pork sandwich
- Angus beef brisket sandwich
- Angus beef brisket dinner
- Taffy apple bread pudding
- Gourmet root beer floats
Firewater also has a kid’s menu, making it a very family-friendly location. Their ribs are award-winning, so you definitely should try them out if you wind up at Firewater BBQ. If you want some take-out, Firewater is an excellent option. All you need to set up a delicious BBQ dinner for your family is a simple phone call.
2. Sharko’s BBQ
4931 S. Rt. 59, Naperville, IL, 60564
Our next choice for the best BBQ restaurants Chicago suburbs brings us back to Naperville. Sharko’s BBQ is another historic location, with roots stretching back to the 1930s. That was when founder George Sharko opened up a butcher shop.
His sons would go on to build a Chicago restaurant before relocating to Naperville. In 2013, they would open Sharko’s BBQ to raving reviews. In fact, the restaurant would take the first place prize at the first-ever Naperville Rib Fest.
Sharko’s BBQ cooks their meats better than just about everybody. They have authentic slow-cooked ribs, turkey, brisket, pork, chicken, and more. The meat is so tender and succulent that it will melt in your mouth. Signature sides include mac and cheese, baked beans, and more,
Sharko’s BBQ is open almost every day from 11:30 AM – 7:30 PM. Two days of the week, Friday and Saturday, they stay open until 8:00 PM. The spot has a safe location, friendly staff, and affordable prices.
The Menu
Now let’s take a look at the BBQ offerings at Sharko’s:
- Brisket King of Kings
- Smoked hot links
- Pork hog heaven hand pulled
- Rotisserie smoked turkey
- Burnt ends bun
- Sliced or chopped brisket
- Mini slider brisket buns
- Mini slider pork buns
- Brisket grilled cheese
- Meal packages
- Meat by the piece
Unique offerings here include their sliders, the brisket grilled cheese, and the meat by the piece. Similar to a butcher shop, you can order meat by the slice or pound to use at home. As previously stated, Sharko’s started as a butcher shop, which is a fun fact.
1. Uncle Bub’s BBQ
132 S. Cass Ave. Westmont, IL, 60559
Uncle Bub’s gets our top pick for the best barbecue in Chicago suburbs, bar none. It’s the cream of the crop when it comes to the best barbecue joint in Chicago suburbs. The restaurant has won both local and national fame for its exceptional BBQ offerings. Uncle Bub’s BBQ has appeared on The Food Network and Chicago’s Best.
The restaurant features a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere for guests. It’s a joint where you can kick back and enjoy a large feast without worrying about being too proper.
When it comes to barbecue, the kitchen staff at Uncle Bub’s are total experts. Their slow-cooked meats are incredible, and their sides are just as good.
Uncle Bub’s is unfortunately closed on Monday and Tuesday. For the rest of the week, the spot is open from 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM. There’s also a rewards program called the Bub Club. The more barbecue that you eat, the more reward points you collect. Uncle Bub’s BBQ also donates lots of its profits to charity.
The Menu
Here’s what you can order at Uncle Bub’s BBQ:
- Pork chop dinner
- Homemade mac and cheese with pulled pork
- Flying pig
- Beef pot roast
- Prime rib sandwich
- Pig pickin’ pulled pork sandwich
- Pulled chicken sandwich
- Award-winning baby back ribs
- Uncle Bub’s sampler platter
- 1/2 BBQ chicken
- 1,2, or 3 meat dinners
- Much, much more
As you can see, Uncle Bub’s has one of the most extensive menus out of any restaurant on this list. If you find yourself on Chicagoland’s west side, you owe it to yourself to check out this nationwide gem.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you’ve seen our picks for the best barbecue in Chicago suburbs, what are your thoughts? Have you tried out any of the restaurants listed above? Let us know in the comments section.
Is there any other type of cuisine that can be debated and discussed more than BBQ? And while I may disagree with half your list, it doesn’t mean you’re wrong…you just like a different style than I do. That being said, Sharkos and Firewater are both solid picks. But I would replace Uncle Buds and Q with Steamboat BBQ and, so long as Plainfield is still considered a “western” suburb, Station One…my top pick in all of the burbs.