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Lillie's Q

Lillie's Q

BBQ Joint$$$$
Bucktown, Chicago
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7.9/10
382
ratings
  • Stars
  • Stars
    This place is famous for their barbecue. It's one of the most popular in the city!
  • Tips
    Becky
    "the carolina + smoky sauces are amazing and drool-inducing."(5 Tips)
    Jeff P.
    "Best BBQ in Chicago- Carolina style"(4 Tips)
    Aaron K.
    "Try the Fried Pickles - Some of the best fried pickles around."(14 Tips)
    Brett L.
    "Pulled pork sandwich, sweet potato fires and greens, so good!!!"(7 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon119 Tips and reviews
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  • Serious Eats
    Serious EatsMay 13, 2013
    Tri-Tip Sandwich: Get it 'Southern Style' for light coleslaw that provides just the right crunch and vinegar to balance the meat, all without getting in the way.
  • Todd B.heart icon on user image
    Todd BidaJuly 18, 2017
    The grits and green beans are awesome. Great barbecue: Not too heavy just right. But the coleslaw is a little funky... steer clear. Not quite sure what's going on there
  • Bobby K.heart icon on user image
    Bobby KennedyFebruary 23, 2016
    Amazing pulled pork. The meat has incredible flavor on its own, and then you can choose from their line of sauced to add a regional style. I recommend the vjnegar-based ENC.
  • Charlotte W.
    Charlotte WoolfOctober 29, 2013
    This is THE spot for Carolina BBQ in Chicago. Love coming here when I'm feeling homesick for pulled pork with a choice of eastern or western Carolina sauce
  • Ashton B.
    Ashton BartlettDecember 26, 2012
    Best BBQ I've ever had in my life!!! Baked beans are amazing! Fries are amazing! Sweet tea is amazing! Banana pudding is yummy. Hot Smoky sauce is my favorite.
  • Paul F.heart icon on user image
    Paul FarrellApril 12, 2015
    The best ribs I have ever had anywhere in the world. Not shittin' ya. The real deal and make sure you order extra for your inner Frank Underwood. Decent beers.
  • DailyCandy
    DailyCandyNovember 20, 2013
    After a fire, the smoked-meat haunt returned less than three months later to serve Charlie McKenna’s award-winning barbecue. Bonus: Grab his addictive, spicy marinades, sauces, and rubs to go.
  • Time Out Chicago
    Time Out ChicagoDecember 6, 2011
    Try the fruit shortcake from our 100 Best list: This sweet-as-pie biscuit-and-fruit concoction (the fruit varies with the season) is good enough to go toe-to-toe with any of the fancier takes.
  • Alexis W.
    Alexis WrightAugust 8, 2013
    For true North Carolinians the BBQ doesn't come close to real BBQ from back home and the sweet tea...eh. It's like they tried to make the BBQ fancy but on the plus side they have cheerwine ;)
  • Eater
    EaterJanuary 8, 2014
    Lillie's Q is back in business! Charlie McKenna's barbecue, beer, and atmosphere is drawing crowds once again. [Eater 38 Member]
  • Eater
    EaterJuly 27, 2011
    When you win numerous BBQ awards after learning how to cook from your grandmother Lillie, and pit master dad, there's a reason your place gets packed. [Eater 38 Member] Read more
  • Chris A.heart icon on user image
    Chris AlgerJanuary 7, 2016
    ask for Danny's section - he took great care of us and made excellent suggestions. We all loved our food & drinks selections
  • Time Out Chicago
    Time Out ChicagoMay 11, 2012
    It’s the pink-tinged pulled pork and thick slices of smoked tri-tip that prove chef-owner Charlie McKenna is every bit deserving of that Memphis in May trophy behind the bar. Read more
  • Chris V.heart icon on user image
    Chris VanisonNovember 16, 2014
    Tri-tip is excellent - like it with the Memphis hot sauce. Corn bread was a let down, but the rest of the sides made up for it!
  • Carolheart icon on user image
    CarolOctober 25, 2015
    The tri-tip sandwich was seriously the best BBQ sandwich I've ever had. Get the strawberry fields forever cocktail
  • Chicago Sun-Times
    Chicago Sun-TimesSeptember 10, 2010
    A word about the dynamite pulled pork sandwich. A ton of pork -- delicious on its own -- stacked in the maw of the brioche bun. Squirt some "smoky sauce" from the bottle on the table over the pork to Read more
  • Time Out Chicago Kids
    Time Out Chicago KidsJanuary 13, 2012
    The pulled pork and thick slices of smoked tri-tip at this Wicker Park spot prove chef-owner Charlie McKenna is every bit deserving of that World Championship Barbecue trophy behind the bar. Read more
  • ᴡ H.heart icon on user image
    ᴡ HindsSeptember 18, 2015
    Best old fashion I've ever had. Make sure you order it without ice.
  • Alison
    AlisonOctober 4, 2010
    Loved the ribs! They are authentic, but a little more refined. The pulled pork was a little bland on it's own, but a fun medium for trying the custom BBQ sauces. Skip the side order of grits, but try
  • Myra R.
    Myra RubinAugust 10, 2010
    Loved the fried pickles, slaw, sweet potato fries & pulled pork sandwich (gr8 bun) Nice beer selection. Nice atmosphere & Friendly service. Will definately try it again when the AC is working!!!
  • Alana D.
    Alana DavidovJuly 16, 2013
    Buy a 10$ bracelet for 10% off for life! eat lunch here! It's not crowded, it's delicious and a good price!
  • Alex M.heart icon on user image
    Alex MuenchOctober 4, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    Tri-tip sandwich and smokey BBQ, is the way to go. So damn good. Fries are awesome too!
  • Vinnieheart icon on user image
    VinnieAugust 28, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    The tri-tip sandwich is excellent. You can't go wrong. Nice craft beer selection too!
  • Mikeheart icon on user image
    MikeApril 8, 2016
    The BBQ is decent but ludicrously expensive. It's also pretty reliant on the 6 different types of sauces they have, something that rubbed me the wrong. Pun intended.
  • Rhonda W.
    Rhonda WrightJuly 6, 2013
    Make sure you call in your carry out order. I waited 45 minutes for my carry out order and it was barely warm when I got in the car. Since this was my first visit I MIGHT consider going back! MIGHT!
  • Verna
    VernaJuly 9, 2011
    the recently added fried chicken is just as amazing as the bbq dishes. oh and moonshine is great in everything from bloodies to sweet tea.
  • Cary B.heart icon on user image
    Cary BlackOctober 22, 2014
    Love pork? Then this is your place. They also have a fried chicken takeout window.
  • Chicago Tribune
    Chicago TribuneMarch 19, 2015
    If you want to journey across the Carolinas in a single sitting, head to Lillie's Q, where they serve all three versions of the Carolina sauce — vinegar, ketchup and mustard. Read more
  • Jake S.heart icon on user image
    Jake SmithSeptember 11, 2012
    If you like Memphis-style sauce, the molasses-y flavor of the "Smoky" is what you're looking for. Mac and cheese is superb.
  • Wilfredo V.heart icon on user image
    Wilfredo VelascoApril 19, 2014
    The Mac & Cheese & Tri-Tip is a must. Oh & Smoky Sauce! Soooo good.
  • Joe D.
    Joe DonkaDecember 2, 2012
    Don't miss the tri-tip. It might be blasphemous to love beef this much in a BBQ joint, but I do.
  • Valek R.heart icon on user image
    Valek ReedMay 15, 2016
    Half pound of BBQ pulled pork with side of collard greans.
  • Lauren M.
    Lauren MonacoMarch 17, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    Want your mind blown!!! Try the grits with bacon... And the smoked chicken and dumplings!!! Holy shit! It's so good!
  • Chicago magazine
    Chicago magazineAugust 16, 2011
    The ribs here - lean and mean baby backs rubbed out in “Carolina dirt” - made our list of the 40 Reasons to Love Chicago.
  • Marty C.
    Marty CiszonSeptember 2, 2012
    Really good food, but don't come when they are closing because they get anxious, freak out, and service spirals rapidly south.
  • Thrillist
    ThrillistJuly 9, 2013
    Smoked beef tri-tip on brioche kicked with BBQ rub-dusted fries. Read more
  • Time Out Chicago Kids
    Time Out Chicago KidsJanuary 13, 2012
    Try the beer-battered fried pickles, which are extra tasty served with homemade ranch dressing ($5).
  • Stephen L.heart icon on user image
    Stephen LegaultApril 9, 2015
    Excellent shrimp grits, definitely worth trying.
  • Andre M.
    Andre MikaOctober 28, 2011
    Terrific BBQ with your choice of 5 custom sauces. Great room, and craft beers on tap.
  • Cate C.
    Cate C.February 13, 2011
    Gotta love BBQ, most items beyond the sandwiches are gluten free. Ask your server about the sauces to be sure there's no gluten.
  • Brandon W.
    Brandon WallNovember 13, 2011
    It gets crowded earlier so plan to wait. Grab a drink at The Southern next door while you wait.
  • Colin F.
    Colin FitzpatrickSeptember 24, 2012
    Skip the fries and go for the cornbread. The pepper jam butter is delicious.
  • Mindy Z.
    Mindy ZimmerAugust 7, 2011
    Really good pulled chicken sandwich! Great bun! I was pleasantly surprised with this place!
  • Famous J.heart icon on user image
    Famous JeffersonOctober 25, 2015
    I like their pork, stay away from ribs very dry and expensive. Great sauces available.
  • Pretty S.
    Pretty SalluOctober 8, 2015
    AMAZING just AMAZING 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀#AMAZING
  • Chris S.heart icon on user image
    Chris ShackletonNovember 25, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    My favorite BBQ spot in Chicago. Love the fried chicken and bacon grits.
  • Gilt City
    Gilt CityAugust 4, 2011
    The hot-links are out of the world. Great classic bbq, done right!
  • Dan S.
    Dan SchreckDecember 31, 2012
    Love the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Lube it up with some Carolina Gold and you're really havin' a good time.
  • Patrick L.heart icon on user image
    Patrick LeMasterSeptember 15, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    Everything! Really, everything!
  • Matt C.
    Matt CosentinoAugust 17, 2016
    The smoked tri-tip sandwich is so good.
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