Best BBQ Beef Ribs in Chicago?

Please give your opinions on the best BBQ beef ribs in Chicagoland. I've waited for years to find a site like this for just such a question!

My favorites:

L'Woods - Lincolnwood. My personal fave. Meaty and great sauce (based on Cattleman's Ranch I believe). Niman Ranch ribs used.

Banderas - downtown. Chain, but extremely tender and falls off the bone. Comes with amazing side dish of peanut coleslaw which is heavenly.

Merle's - Evanston. solid option, but too little meat for the work in my experience. I'll try it again.

Bar-B-Que Bob's actually has decent ones.

http://www.barbquebobs.com/
2055 W. Howard

Marshall K wrote::lol:

Did I break website protocol? I don't understand your reaction.

In the interest of encouraging discussion on the topic...I've heard that the beef ribs at Honky Tonk in Pilsen are good. I've never tried them, but if you find yourself in the neighborhood, check 'em out and report back with your thoughts.

Honky Tonk Barbecue
1213 W 18th St, Chicago 60608
Btwn S Racine Ave & S Allport St
Phone: 312-226-7427

They're excellent at Honky Tonk. He makes a few different styles of beef ribs, one of which is wine-braised (this may have been just a temporary special), so you may like to call in advance to find out what's being currently prepared. Here is a recent post where Willie, the pitmaster, mentions his smoked beef shortribs:

viewtopic.php?p=198926#p198926

This is the style I've sampled most often and which now seems to be a standard menu item (but again, call ahead if you're dead-set on beef that particular night).

Another dynamite barbecue beef rib: Starfish. Yes, Starfish. It's Japanese barbecue and fork-tender, but stacks up favorably with other preparations around the city.

Hi,

I don't know if they still offer it and likely it is not smoke BBQ. My Dad has always liked the BBQ beef ribs at Lawry's. I believe it is a lunch item or at least that was his lunch.

Regards,

Ghazi wrote:

Marshall K wrote::lol:

Did I break website protocol? I don't understand your reaction.

Ghazi,

Not in the least, BBQ beef ribs are not common in Chicago and it is an interesting question. Far as what the emoticons mean in Marshall's post, I have no idea either.

Enjoy,
Gary

They aren't the ribs on the bone you're probably looking for, but Smokin' T's in Long Grove has excellent smoked boneless beef shortribs.

Smokin' T's Bar-B-Que
3976 Route 22, Long Grove
(847) 726-0726
http://www.smokingtsbbq.com

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I don't know if they still offer it and likely it is not smoke BBQ. My Dad has always liked the BBQ beef ribs at Lawry's. I believe it is a lunch item or at least that was his lunch.

Regards,

They do - although not daily (or they run out, I'm not sure). They're pretty good as well. Baked however. Still, its a tasty and huge lunch.

Not a huge fan of Beef Ribs, but Honky Tonk 's are excellent...

Cathy2 wrote:My Dad has always liked the BBQ beef ribs at Lawry's. I believe it is a lunch item or at least that was his lunch.

I'd second Lawry's. I'm sure they're on the the dinner menu too, but you can get them at the bar during lunch. The BBQ beef sandwich is delicious and certainly tastes like the same meat as the ribs. Of course, that might just be because of the sauce--super sweet and tangy.

Ghazi wrote:

Marshall K wrote::lol:

Did I break website protocol? I don't understand your reaction.

If my post appeared rude please accept my apology. I read this post right after I had gone through the entire "Chicago-Style BBQ: Sweet Baby Ray's", thread and these were my initial emotions.

Sorry

Marshall K wrote:

Ghazi wrote:

Marshall K wrote::lol:

Did I break website protocol? I don't understand your reaction.

If my post appeared rude please accept my apology. I read this post right after I had gone through the entire "Chicago-Style BBQ: Sweet Baby Ray's", thread and these were my initial emotions.

Sorry

No worries, man. It's all good. I just didnt understand.

I'll be heading out to try some of these places ASAP. Thanks for all the recommendations, everyone.

Stanley's Kitchen & Tap - They almost always have BBQ Beef Ribs on the Monday night buffet, and I think now on the regular menu. Fried chicken and mashed potatoes are also no slouch.

Stanley's Kitchen & Tap
1970 N. Lincoln Ave.
312-642-0007

The best ones are always the ones you make yourself!

ab wrote:Bar-B-Que Bob's actually has decent ones.

http://www.barbquebobs.com/
2055 W. Howard

Thanks for the recommendation, but I must strongly disagree. I had the worst food experience in recent memory there. The beef ribs were the fattiest I have ever laid tongue on. The quality was woeful.

For what its worth, the brisket and mac n cheese were shockingly tasteless, with the brisket offering a dessicated consistency of half-done beef jerky, and the mac n cheese offering the blandest version of the beautiful dish that I have ever come across.

The beef links were ok, with a spicy, post swallow burn that made it the only thing that would possibly see me return.

But i do appreciate the tip!

razbry wrote:The best ones are always the ones you make yourself!

Do you have a good, consistant source for beef ribs (other thaqn short ribs)? I'm trying to find a rack or two of ribs from a "prime" rib.

Veal ribs are an everyday special at Players in HP, they are pretty tasty considering they are a baked bbq product covered in sauce. the last few times ive been they have, unfortunately, been unavailable. BTW, Players has re-opened since the fire and they are hoping as usual.

Bones in Lincolnwood used to have beef ribs, i am not sure if L Woods currently has them on the menu too.

Players Grill
1855 Deerfield Rd
Highland Park, IL 60035
www.playersgrill.com
847-831-4445

razbry wrote:The best ones are always the ones you make yourself!

Doesn't this apply to everything?

stevez wrote:Do you have a good, consistant source for beef ribs (other thaqn short ribs)? I'm trying to find a rack or two of ribs from a "prime" rib.

I've bought them at Paulina, though I don't think they were prime.

Paulina Meat Market
3501 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
(773) 248-6272

stevez wrote:Do you have a good, consistant source for beef ribs (other thaqn short ribs)? I'm trying to find a rack or two of ribs from a "prime" rib.

Steve,

In the past I have checked the grocery newspaper add for a sale on boneless rib eye steak. This typically results in a surplus of beef bones from "prime rib" I call a day in advance and ask the butcher to leave the racks whole, they always seem to cut them in individual bones for some odd reason, and reserve my desired number of racks. I add they are for the smoker and would he please not trim them too close.

Jewel carries small packages of beef "prime rib" bones individually cut, I'm guessing if you called a few days in advance you could get whole 7-bone racks.

Enjoy,
Gary

From L. Woods dinner menu:

Niman Ranch Beef Ribs
naturally raised, choice of BBQ or Devil style

7110 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincolnwood
(847)677-3350

Ghazi wrote:

ab wrote:Bar-B-Que Bob's actually has decent ones.

http://www.barbquebobs.com/
2055 W. Howard

Thanks for the recommendation, but I must strongly disagree. I had the worst food experience in recent memory there. The beef ribs were the fattiest I have ever laid tongue on. The quality was woeful.

For what its worth, the brisket and mac n cheese were shockingly tasteless, with the brisket offering a dessicated consistency of half-done beef jerky, and the mac n cheese offering the blandest version of the beautiful dish that I have ever come across.

The beef links were ok, with a spicy, post swallow burn that made it the only thing that would possibly see me return.

But i do appreciate the tip!

Here's the bad news - that's the only "real" bbq beef ribs you'll find in chicago. Other than a special item Smoque had once at the Green City BBQ, I've never had anyone who actually BBQ'd beef ribs.

Can't speak to the other items, but maybe because they're the only ones in town, I don't mind BBQ Bob's Beef Ribs. They're no Jack Stack obviously.

ab wrote:
Here's the bad news - that's the only "real" bbq beef ribs you'll find in chicago. Other than a special item Smoque had once at the Green City BBQ, I've never had anyone who actually BBQ'd beef ribs.

Just to be clear, are you saying that the other places mentioned above are not BBQ'ing the ribs or that they aren't actually serving beef ribs?

Dave148 wrote:From L. Woods dinner menu:

Niman Ranch Beef Ribs
naturally raised, choice of BBQ or Devil style

7110 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincolnwood
(847)677-3350

I've had these. They tend to be a bit mushy for my taste, but I can see why they might be a favorite of some.

Darren72 wrote:

ab wrote:
Here's the bad news - that's the only "real" bbq beef ribs you'll find in chicago. Other than a special item Smoque had once at the Green City BBQ, I've never had anyone who actually BBQ'd beef ribs.

Just to be clear, are you saying that the other places mentioned above are not BBQ'ing the ribs or that they aren't actually serving beef ribs?

they are not bbq'n the ribs

all oven-cooked

for better or worse

I've had some good oven beef ribs before for sure.

I am glad you asked this question because I love beef ribs. Sweet Baboo finds them a bit too fatty to bother with, but I love the flavor. So what if I have to eat them all myself? Plus, I love the look of a backyard full of beef rib bones picked clean by the dog and bleaching in the sun. Makes me feel like the dinosaurs were around not so long ago after all.

ab wrote:

Darren72 wrote:Just to be clear, are you saying that the other places mentioned above are not BBQ'ing the ribs or that they aren't actually serving beef ribs?

they are not bbq'n the ribs

all oven-cooked

It never occurred to me that leanness was an attribute to be desired in any sort of barbecue. I have never tried them, but AFAIK, Bar-B-Que Bob's makes their beef ribs in the same Southern Pride they use for their pork ribs -- which I have had and like very much. When I have had the sliced brisket, it's also been very good: thick, tender, flavorful slices of smoky beef with crunchy charred ends.

The mac-and-cheese is awful, but the turnip greens are excellent, and so are the pies.

Bar-B-Que Bob's
773/761-1260
Howard-Hoyne Plaza
2055 W. Howard St.
Chicago
http://www.barbquebobs.com

I have bought them cryovac packaged at Meijers. Usually in the summer.
Paulette

This is not a helpful response, but I wanted to reminisce. There was a small storefront BBQ place on Irving between Ashland and Southport that used to have a weekly special of all you could eat beef ribs. Can't remember its name now (I think "smokehouse" was in the title), but the place got taken over and/or went out of business a year or two ago, and the beef ribs offering was removed. The ribs were quite high quality, especially for an all you could eat special.
It seemed to be a small family operation, and the folks operating it were tremendously nice. One time I ordered the beef ribs for takeout, and was given an absolutely massive amount of ribs. They seemed to take the "all you could eat" promise seriously, even with takeout orders. It was a true loss.

Anyhow, thank you all for the suggestions. I like to eat grassfed/pastured-ish beef when I can, so the Niman Ranch ribs at L'Woods sound like a total find.