Smoke Ring'z BBQ in Wheaton

This weekend the family and I were going to Cosley Zoo in Wheaton for the first time when we realized we needed to eat first. My wife was in the mood for BBQ, so I looked to see if anything even half decent was around. Then I found Smoke Ring'z BBQ, a place only about a year old in a strip mall. Expecting the worst, we went in, thinking that at least it won't be McDonalds. Low and behold, there was an actual big smoker in the place, with tons of real wood, and the smell was intoxicating.


We split some brisket and pulled pork, and damn if that wasn't some of the best bbq brisket I have had in a long time. Good smoke ring, nice crust, and really, really moist - fatty in a good way, without being overly fat-laden. The pulled pork also was pretty tasty, with a faint smoke flavor and nice and juicy. The sauces were actually pretty good, too, although maybe a tad on the sweet side. Sorry about the picture here - I had gobbled up 3/4 the brisket before thinking to take a picture.



We talked with the owner, John, who grew up learning bbq in east St. Louis, then had a career in telecommunication, all the while entering bbq competitions (over 150 so far). He also worked with Dave from Sweet Baby Ray's at some point. Now he is retired from his telecom job and just doing bbq, and he really cares. He actually just bought the big smoker at the now defunct Austin BBQ in Wheaton (a 4000 pound monster) and is going to use that at a place of his down south. It seems he really cares about the food, and mentioned how just the other day he advised people not to eat the brisket that day because it didn't come out the way he likes. They tasted it and opted to eat it anyway (probably because 1/2 good for him is still damn good).

So if you happen to be in the Wheaton area and feel like bbq, I strongly urge you to try this place out. I know I will be back again.

Smoke Ring's BBQ
332 E Geneva Rd
Wheaton, IL 60188
(630) 665-6227
http://www.smokeringzbbq.com