Lems Bar-B-Q
Company Details
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 12-10PM
Thursday: 12-10PM
Friday: 12-11PM
Saturday: 12-11PM
Sunday: 12-10PM
Contact Information
Chicago, Illinois, 60619
United States
Lems Bar-B-Q Reviews
Submitted by Ella McDonald on 08/29/2022
Ella McDonald 1 stars rating.
I ask them for a large tip cut small when I got my tips they were salty and was cut into shredded pieces they was horrible for a extra cut that should have been smaller a dollar more which made it 17.00 dollars. The owner they are representing should be turning over in his grave because he would never except anything like that. The sauce wasn't even good. Make sure you tasted it before you leave because it's horrible and make like it's your taste.
Submitted by Douglas Lewis Sr on 08/26/2022
Douglas Lewis Sr 4 stars rating.
All time favorite BBQ house!! The lines can get pretty lengthy! But, Hot Links are worth the wait!
Submitted by M. Davis on 08/19/2022
M. Davis 5 stars rating.
Place is fantastic. The smell the location the hot link, ribs. Tips. Feels like ur in Memphis. Only 35 mins from my house. I thought the sauce was Great. The ribs where my favorite. Nice flavor. Not too overpowering of smoke. I will Be back. Thank you very much for making my lunch great. Love the history and people where super nice.
Submitted by Adrian Esquivel on 08/17/2022
Adrian Esquivel 5 stars rating.
JBL special the way to go, sauce in the side so you can taste that smoke and seasoning. worth the wait everytime especially if you're getting fresh tips
Submitted by De Speech on 08/03/2022
De Speech 4 stars rating.
We love their rib tips. I always get them with no sauce. Never liked the sauce, just the tips. And surprisingly, I like the fries. I would like to taste their wings one of these days, if they sell them.
Just Me, De
8-3-22
Submitted by K.C. Khan on 08/02/2022
K.C. Khan 5 stars rating.
TAKEOUT ONLY! This is BY FAR the best bbq in the city! A staple on the south side of Chicago and I'd HIGHLY recommend. I get large rib tips with extra fries, bread with heavy mild sauce. The quality of meat has been much more consistent lately and the mild sauce is ALWAYS great! The tip-link combo is great too along with the center cut or small end. The neighborhood is not the safest though so have some street smarts when you go but worth the wait, worth the money, worth the risk. And speak up when they ask you what you want. Takeout only there's no dine-in.
Submitted by Albert Allen on 07/28/2022
Albert Allen 4 stars rating.
Excellent Excellent Service. Our waiter discovered that it was our first time here at the restaurant and he gladly explained how things worked there. He gave us his honest opinions of what was good and popular there. Super caring and tending to our needs. When our food arrived, he thoroughly explained to us about the 4 sauces they had at the table: how each one tasted, which combination of sauce went well together, which one he liked, etc. Really loved the service here.
Submitted by Mac W on 07/16/2022
Mac W 3 stars rating.
It was ok. I was hoping for a little bit more of a unique flavor profile from this historic landmark of BBQ. The ribs tips were tender but the sausage lacked any kind of flavor. Always order your sauce on the side.
Submitted by Tee H on 07/16/2022
Tee H 5 stars rating.
Always great food neighborhood staple but the wait can hopefully be better one day
Submitted by Nancy Haddad on 04/30/2022
nancy haddad 2 stars rating.
I have been in Chicago for 32 years and never tried Lem's until today. They open at 12 pm I arrived at 12:30 pm. The line was wrapped around the building, and you could smell the smoke in the air, which made me even more excited. By the time I got to place my order, 50 minutes later, they were out of the Rib Tips. They were on the Food Network promoting their Rib Tips, and how great they were. So, with that being said, can you please explain why you would run out of this very popular menu it within the first hour of business? On a Friday no less. I spent a total of $80 , and the food was not so good. The Rib Tips and the baby back taste as if they used lighter fluid. They got me this time, but never again.
Submitted by R R on 04/09/2022
R R 5 stars rating.
I’ve had southern bbq and while styles are different in regions, I think Lem’s rival some of the most popular BBQ places.
Line was worth the wait - I got the hot links and rib tips over fries and boy it was amazing. Seasoned to perfection and so much flavor.
They take credit but note this is take out only right now and eating this can get a bit messier in the car. You can wait until you get home but we wanted the food fresh!
Submitted by Tonya Cotto on 03/03/2022
Tonya Cotto 5 stars rating.
The BBQ is outstanding. We waited outside for about 20 minutes and about 10 minutes inside. It was worth it. I went during the week for lunch about 15 people in line the whole time. The smell drew us in. We ordered JBL special...a little of everything. Wings, ribs (my favorite) hotlinks, tips, and fries. Next time I'll order my fries separately because they soak up the sauce but I'll will be back. Dress warm during the winter you have to wait outside.
Submitted by Lisa Davis on 02/27/2022
Lisa Davis 4 stars rating.
A Southside institution.. haven't been in 30+ years but tastes exactly the same. Nobody but Lem's (and good old Leon's) knows fries at the bottom.. underneath the ribs and tips smothered in sauce. Opened at 12..was in line at 11:52.. didn't have my food until 12:37..but the JBL special was worth it. Great to go packaging as it stayed warm until I got home 3hrs later..the key to reheat is flip over the container so sauce drips down to meat.
Submitted by Brent Schmitt on 11/01/2021
brent schmitt 5 stars rating.
The Center Cut and Short Ends are FIRE!!! My family loves the bbq sauce, ribs, and chicken at LEM’S and I can honestly say it’s worth a longer wait in line. Good crowd outdoors as always. Fun stories and memories begin with a full slab for sure! Mmmmmkay!
Submitted by Brian Lowenberg on 09/17/2021
Brian Lowenberg 4 stars rating.
The ribs were great, really good smoky flavor. The only reason they don’t get 5 stars is that the line is incredibly slow. I was the 8th customer in line and it took just under 30 minutes to be served even though there were 6 people working. Not sure why the line moves so slow but it will limit my visits.
