Chicago's Best Ribs?

http://wscr.cbslocal.com/chicagos-best-ribs/
Ran across this in a email sent to me from one of these places.
I have been to two of these joints and dont know how they made it on the list.

What do you guys think of all this?

I have to wonder if some sort of a sponsorship/fee deal was involved in picking the list for "Best Ribs." So many obvious choices (Honey One, Barbara Ann's Smoque, Lem's - or even Gale Street or Twin Anchors for the meat jello style) were left off the choices, and so many fairly obscure joints were included. Maybe the fix is in?

Cbot wrote:I have been to two of these joints and dont know how they made it on the list.

Which two and why don't you think they should be on the list?

As the list itself goes, seems more of an advertising gimmick, Text Code Smokey and get 10% off, than anything else.

Far as the BBQ joints go, I've been to 5 of the places, Big Ed's and Smokey's are actual BBQ joints, Chuck Pine of Chuck's is very capable of producing good BBQ, L Woods does not serve BBQ and, while I have been to Sheffield's, I've not been since they instituted a BBQ program. As an aside, I've heard good things about Q-BBQ, but not been.

Regards,
Gary

Ive had ribs from a couple spots on that list, and they were all average to bad. The worst being from Chuck's.

I rarely if ever feel the need to pay for bbq, but if I would the only place right now in Chicago I would pay for ribs is @ Honey 1.

To be fair (which is probably unwarranted) the poll is simply about ribs, which is presumably any style, not just BBQ ribs.

Of course this poll is for marketing purposes. It is run by WSCR (AM 670, a very good sports talk radio station) and is a text message poll. I'm sure the station is asking people to go to their website and vote. No reason to discuss this poll any more than, say, a poll for who we think will win the Stanley Cup.

Was blown away by a place in Midlothian called "Hog Wild" on Pulaski. Very tasty.

G Wiv wrote:

Cbot wrote:I have been to two of these joints and dont know how they made it on the list.

Which two and why don't you think they should be on the list?

Nicks and Q BBQ.
Nicks does not use any smoke or charcoal on there bbq. Its all oven and finished on gas type grill. BBQ meats there with no sauce not to good, with sauce its better but still grim. And its for sure fall of the bone...would not say meat jello on Nicks.

Q bbq ribs the 3 or so times I had them were so/so. Full slab looked hugh and meaty but found large amounts of fat pockets on the ribs. Found myself cutting and hacking most of it off. I wonder where they get there ribs from. I think Q can be much better if they tweak there ribs and add some house made sauce. They just seam to be missing a step or two or three.

I guess we'll never know how many people eat BBQ regularly but less than once a week. If I were king I would add twice a month and once a month.

i eat bbq 3 day out of a week , whether me cook or out .
you need to know when there stuff is coming off the pit.
my self 11 am to 1 pm the ribs should be just out .

or ask what is the best item at that time you go.
to me there is nother worse then tough ribs . or ribs cook in a pan

dramisino wrote:Was blown away by a place in Midlothian called "Hog Wild" on Pulaski. Very tasty.

Hog Wild in Midlo is absolutely not worth the time. No smoking going on at all. My pulled pork was a pile of saccharine meat jelly, and the oil slathered on the bun before a light grilling gave it a nasty, acrid taste. Mediocre food service fries were the final turn-off for me...but the place was jammed for some reason.

mtgl wrote:

dramisino wrote:Was blown away by a place in Midlothian called "Hog Wild" on Pulaski. Very tasty.

Hog Wild in Midlo is absolutely not worth the time. No smoking going on at all. My pulled pork was a pile of saccharine meat jelly, and the oil slathered on the bun before a light grilling gave it a nasty, acrid taste. Mediocre food service fries were the final turn-off for me...but the place was jammed for some reason.

Hog wild does ribs now? There pork chop sammy and a few other things they have there are killer yum! Tried one rib tip there no good. Tasted oven/pan baked.

I will definitely defend Hog Wild's pork chop sandwich, that is some good stuff, if sometimes too salty. As far as I'm concerned though, steer clear of their "barbecue"; as Cbot mentioned their rib tips are completely without bark or smoke ring or flavor. I don't think I've ever seen full-on ribs on their menu though.

From what I remember ribs are a "special" on Wednesday (maybe other days as well) at Wild Hog...but would not personally say they are special any day of the week. The pork chops, by themselves, or sandwichized are what to get.

M

G Wiv wrote:L Woods does not serve BBQ....

Without in any way, shape, or form endorsing the BBQ served there (I haven't ever had it so can't comment in any way, positive or negative), L. Woods does, in fact, at least list BBQ pulled pork, brisket, baby back ribs, and chicken as ordering options.

(Unless, of course, you're making the point that what they serve shouldn't be dignified with the appellation, in which case I withdraw my correction.)

Cbot wrote:I have been to two of these joints and dont know how they made it on the list.

What do you guys think of all this?

I've had tips from Big Daddy’s BBQ. They were cooking them outside on a Friday in those oil drum type rigs. No sign of wood anywhere,just empty bags of Kingsford charcoal. Nothing about them stood out to me. They're in a strip mall in Gary,In where they have weekly flea markets Fri,Sat,& Sun. I have no idea how they cook them on the days when there is no market.


Big Daddy’s BBQ
4213 Cleveland Street
Gary,Indiana
http://www.bigdaddysbarbque.com/home.html

I'm actually kind of surprised to see Big Ed's on the list here because IMHO, unlike many of the other places on the list and commented on, it is really an excellent place for BBQ. Ed really knows his way around an Aquarium Smoker and, based on my experiences there, puts out consistently excellent Q. Publicity is a good thing I guess, but sometime ya gotta be careful about being known by the company you keep.

Sounds like Big Ed's won the deal! Congrats, now I need to get up there for a slab and see what its all about.

Link to a post on Ed's >> http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=24392&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=big+ed+s+2501+Martin+Luther+King+Jr+Dr

http://www.bigedsllc.com

Big Ed's did in fact win..it was down to Ed's and Q BBQ in LaGrange..
A well deserved win for Ed imo...he and his staff are hard working and put out a great product

HI,

This was a people's choice type of election, right? I received e-mail requests to vote for Big Ed from Waukegan and North Chicago politicians. Ultimately, these 'people's choice' competitions are closely related to how good is your (and your friend's) social networking skills.

Regards,

I remember several years ago when Twisted Spoke was winning the Metromix Best Burger for a few years running because their patrons would have strong power to flood the polls.

It was a good burger but not widely recognized as #1.

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

This was a people's choice type of election, right? I received e-mail requests to vote for Big Ed from Waukegan and North Chicago politicians. Ultimately, these 'people's choice' competitions are closely related to how good is your (and your friend's) social networking skills.

Regards,

I agree with Cathy about this issue which is why I was sorry to see Big Ed's listed in this contest to begin with (see my previous post). On the other hand, I'm glad to see he won and hope he gets a lot of new business out of this deal. Big Ed's is a great place and Ed and his wife work hard to produce, IMHO, excellent and highly consistent BBQ.

I received this today:

North Chicago Chamber of Commerce
June 25, 2010


Dear Daisy,

CONGRATULATIONS to North Chicago Chamber member Big Ed's BBQ who competed and won The 670 Chicago Sports Radio contest for Best Chicago Ribs.

Ed Nero thanks you for your support!

Now is the time to stop by and taste the ribs that were voted the "Best in Chicago".

Sincerely,
North Chicago Chamber of Commerce