Honey 1 Pulled Pork Sandwich

Anyone had the pulled pork sandwich at Honey 1 yet?

I stopped in the other day and got one to go along with my usual order of tips. Robert says they are flying out of the door and I can see why. Topped with slaw, served Carolina style, it was just what the Dr. of Ribs ordered.

pd

Oh my. Pulled pork, Carolina-style, in Chicago, AND from Honey 1?! Have I died and gone to heaven?

Any Texas Pete on the tables?

Was it served with honey 1's sauce or with a vinegar/mustard sauce?

I saw the sign on Saturday when I stopped in for a carryout order, but I'm not a big enough pulled pork fan or aficionado to justify dropping $8 on the sandwich.

i must try! thanks for the tip, i've been meaning to go back for a visit for awhile now....

my best girl lives in SC & i had a great pulled pork there over NYE -- about time for another.

thanks,
miss ellen

gleam wrote:Was it served with honey 1's sauce or with a

Ed,

Honey 1's sauce, slaw on the sandwich and fries.

Honey 1 Pulled Pork Sandwich


No secret Robert Adams Sr knows his BBQ, but notice how perfectly the pork is both cooked and pulled. Nice bits of char/caramelization and perfect strands of pure porky goodness. (Yep, I said pure porky goodness )

Pork shoulder on the smoker.


Tips were as good as always, which, as Steve Z said at lunch, is damn good!

Honey 1 Tips


Some may notice Honey1 has new fries, Steak Fries, as Robert called them. I liked the old fries just fine, but these were very good.

Steak Fries w/Pulled Pork


Just a terrific sandwich, easily the best pulled pork I've this side of the Mason Dim Sum line.

Note to Amata, no Texas Pete, but there's Crystal Hot Sauce for the asking.

Enjoy,
Gary

Honey 1
2241 N Western
Chicago, IL
773-227-5130

I have to second Gary's opinion of the pulled pork sandwich. For a guy from Arkansas who swore he didn't know how to cook pulled pork, Robert Adams sure knows his way around a pork shoulder. This is easily the best commercially available pulled pork sandwich in the tri-state area. My only wish would be for a vinegar based sauce to go along with the sandwich, but Honey 1's outstanding BBQ sauce works nearly as well.

Alas, no hush puppies.

Speaking of Honey 1's sauce, I noticed there were lots of bottles of of Open Pit brand sauce behind the counter the lat time I was there. Is that what they use as their base?

d4v3 wrote:Alas, no hush puppies.

No hush puppies, but fried okra is on the menu.

viaChgo wrote:Speaking of Honey 1's sauce, I noticed there were lots of bottles of of Open Pit brand sauce behind the counter the lat time I was there. Is that what they use as their base?

I noticed that on Sunday as well and wondered the same thing.

As soon as I read the OP I RAN RAN RAN out the door speeding to Honey 1. I noted Gary and Steve in the dining room but was too embarassed to say hello -- in my great haste I forgot to put on my pants!

Oh well, it was worth it. Didn't mean to be rude though.

-ramon

edited for spelling

viaChgo wrote:Speaking of Honey 1's sauce, I noticed there were lots of bottles of of Open Pit brand sauce behind the counter the lat time I was there. Is that what they use as their base?

I had a friend that was a cook (not a chef) at a place that served ribs. They weren't BBQ, they were restaurant style. But people always talked about their sauce. He told me it was just Open Pit and KC Masterpiece mixed 50/50. I've tried it, and it actually makes a pretty good quick sauce.

Ramon wrote:Oh well, it was worth it. Didn't mean to be rude though.

Ramon,

Should have said hello, pants or no pants*. Always a treat to meet a fellow LTHer.

Enjoy,
Gary

*You really shouldn't wear Kiss the Cook boxers in public.

I sampled the pulled pork yesterday and was impressed. They do a good sandwich - nice and juicy, with plenty of BBQ sauce on it, which is very good in its own right. I also like how they put in on a plain, standard-issue white bun.

This was actually my first time at Honey 1. Need to go back for ribs ASAP. Two things I noticed about Honey 1: 1) despite going there at 1:00 yesterday afternoon, there were only two other patrons in there. Given the very high quality of this BBQ in a city dearth of good BBQ, I was a bit surprised, but maybe Chicago is just not a BBQ town for some reason. 2) No baked beans offered. I tend to judge a BBQ place on their baked beans - as any place that takes the time and effort to make primo beans is a place I want to go. Just got the fries, which were okay. Are they known for any particular side?

rdstoll wrote: Are they known for any particular side?

They are mostly known for their rib tips (not so much for the ribs themselves) and links...and now pulled pork. Honey 1 is not a place to go to for the sides, just quality main dishes. There are many who swear by their chicken wings as well. I think they're OK, but certainly not the star of the show.

Never saw a Chicago tips and links place offer baked beans. (Or pulled pork, either, so I guess it could happen.)

I had the pulled pork sammy last Thursday. I was in early (11 am). The pork was done but not warm.

It was an excellent except for the temperature.

To tell the truth I prefer Smoke Daddy over Honey 1.

HI,

I am a believer in giving fate a little push. You could always suggest to Honey 1 about the baked beans. It would be a good vehicle for leftover bits of pulled pork and chopped trimmings from the ribs. If they use canned beans, then they can also add some of their BBQ sauce to make the beans even more of a signature dish.

Regards,

LTH,

Michael, aka Eatchicago, has a terrific Honey 1 entry on his Eatchicago blog. One I happen to agree 100% with, why the hell isn't Honey 1 crowded?

If Honey 1 were in a more BBQ centric city, such as Houston or Kansas City, there would be a street named after Pitmaster extraordinaire Robert Adams Sr., instead many days they are looking out at a mostly empty dining room.

Add to this Honey 1 is getting grief from neighbors, actually one or two <censored> neighbors, about the light sweet sent of of wood smoke in the air which seems to have started a slow, but steady, interest from city inspectors, and you have a situation where Robert Sr and Jr. might just have to pack up the pit.

My advice parrots Michael's, get over to Honey 1 and be sure to show them the love, both in words and actions, or in six months it may be an empty storefront or cell phone store.

Enjoy,
Gary

Honey 1
2241 N Western
Chicago, IL
773-227-5130

I was blown away that when I went there a week or so ago, there were only two other people there not too far after lunch. Really, Honey 1 is the only edible BBQ joint in the city as far as I've seen and the fact that people don't go is mind-boggling. I just don't think Chicago is a BBQ town, for whatever reason. But yes, we should all make more of an effort to support them.

They need a shingle (sign). The first time I went to the new location, I passed by it three times before spotting it.

-ramon

Maybe more people do takeout? We have done takeout a lot and never eaten there. Last weekend they had run out of chicken when we called at 8:45 on Saturday night.

OK I am FINALLY going to try Honey 1. I have a few questions. Where exactly is it? What kind of $ do they accept? (cash only, credit card). What is the best recommendation for me and my hubby. We are taking it back home to Niles so I'm not very concerned about the sides.

The reason I found this forum was because I was looking to see if Brudders BBQ was going to be resurrected. So help me out guys! We're heading there Friday after my baby daughter's afternoon nap.
Thanks!

It's near Western and Lyndale, not too far from the Fullerton exit.

They take cash, visa, and mastercard.

For just the two of you, maybe an XL combo or a half slab and a medium-sized combo. Of course, you could also give the pulled pork a try.

I'd recommend eating there. It will seriously suffer on the trip from Chicago to Niles, and I think you'd probably be pretty disappointed. If you do insist on taking it to go, make sure they don't put the stuff in styrofoam, as they will generally do with slabs.


Honey 1
2241 N Western
Chicago, IL
773-227-5130

Honey 1 has a new lunch special of a pulled pork sandwich & fries for only $4.99. They've also got the same deal on a mini-combo. Wow, what a great deal on some of the best BBQ in town!

I was pretty amused to see none other than LTH's own stevez and the Chow Poodle park right in front of us, as we ran into Honey 1 - followed moments later by GWiv and (I think) ReneG?

I would've introduced myself but I've been sick and my voice isn't completely functional at the moment. (And I'd left my semaphore flags at home.)

I did however manage to introduce a friend to the joys of Honey 1's pork offerings. The pulled pork sandwiches were great, and the tip & link combo was just as good as I'd remembered.

I'm tempted to go and grab lunch there now.

Pete wrote:I was pretty amused to see none other than LTH's own stevez and the Chow Poodle park right in front of us, as we ran into Honey 1 - followed moments later by GWiv and (I think) ReneG?

I would've introduced myself but I've been sick and my voice isn't completely functional at the moment. (And I'd left my semaphore flags at home.)

I did however manage to introduce a friend to the joys of Honey 1's pork offerings. The pulled pork sandwiches were great, and the tip & link combo was just as good as I'd remembered.

I'm tempted to go and grab lunch there now.

Pete,

I was wondering who that was in back of us. You had that certain "look" about you. You should have said hello...especially when the whole group showed up.

I have a friend Glenn that kept recommending Honey 1 to me and when I finally made it there I was very impressed. I ordered the turkey leg which was enormous and delicious (although I don't think I could have finished the thing in 4 sittings) and tried 4 different side items including fries, okra, wings and slaw. I really loved the turkey leg. It was smoked well and full flavored, they didn't seem to take any shortcuts on the smoking. Definately not a "false smoke," as some restaurants try and get away with. I took a bite of my friends ribs and enjoyed the over all experience.

My one problem was this: They offer pork ribs (which are good) but they don't offer baby back ribs (at least when I went there). This is fine if you know what to expect going in, but for the average rib-fest/Chilis douchebag/weekend BBQ guy, you are sort of expecting Baby Backs. Or to at least have the option.

They obviously aren't being decieving in their menu, but if you were an average Joe and ordered a full slab, you may be a little weirded out by the large tube of fat running across the top of your slab of Kansas City style ribs.. And the fact that they aren't as tender. BUT, you may be impressed by their size and smokiness though, so it's neither a knock or thumbs up from me, I just wish they offered both.

It definately has a soul food feel, but I wasn't that impressed with the fried okra. The other side items were great. I was a bit confused by all of the hype and then seeing the overall simplicity of the place. It seems they've ridden their reputation via "We have good food, not a fancy restaurant," which is impressive in its boldness. Atmosphere seems to be half the battle nowadays, and they skipped it on the merit of their cooking. Again, that's impressive, but a bit of a risk I would say. Especially if you're a BBQ joint that doesn't have baby backs. I don't want to be upset about that, I'm just a little annoyed.

DitkaFan wrote:but for the average rib-fest/Chilis douchebag/weekend BBQ guy, you are sort of expecting Baby Backs.

Do I see a new LTHForum tagline in the works?

Honey 1's ambiance, or, should I say, lack of ambiance, is not affectation/Melmanization, there's no let's go for the minimal BBQ joint look, it is a minimalist Chicago West/South side BBQ joint, just happens to be located on N Western Ave, that's all.

DitkaFan wrote: It was smoked well and full flavored, they didn't seem to take any shortcuts on the smoking. Definately not a "false smoke," as some restaurants try and get away with. I took a bite of my friends ribs and enjoyed the over all experience.

Once can ask for little more in a BBQ joint.

Baby back ribs can be quite delicious, though many serious BBQ guys tend to be dismissive of them* as properly smoked spare ribs have a richer, deeper range of flavor and a higher ratio of meat to bone. Spare ribs, from a true BBQ perspective, which excludes interaction with water (boil/steam) have a higher degree of difficulty, cooking wise, than baby back ribs as well.

Chicago tends to be a baked/boiled/steamed, slathered with sauce, grilled to a mealy mushy 'eat it with a spoon' type of rib town and baby back ribs lend themselves perfectly to this treatment. Twin Anchors may have the reputation among the "Chilis douchebag/weekend BBQ guy" Honey 1 has the reputation, respect and business of those who love BBQ for BBQ's sake.

Enjoy,
Gary

*I am not among those who are dismissive of baby back ribs and, to my knowledge, neither is Robert Adams of Honey 1