Overall good experience. Not the best BBQ I've had, but deserves higher than a 3.8 average. The menu is extensive, and great that you can order lunch portions anytime. There were 4+ sauces at the table. Extensive indoor seating available. The garlic bread was an unexpected highlight. The pulled pork and burnt ends were decent. Service was ok. The server brought out our potato salad and coleslaw sides first and was struggling to hold the bowls in her hands. A little odd; it would've been more straightforward to bring everything out together. I wouldn't necessarily seek this place out, but would come back. read more

Bandana's Bar-B-Q - Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Pulled Pork And Burnt End Lunch - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Update: Based on this review I did hear back from corporate with a resolution and plan to give the company another shot. Horrible service. Drove from Chicago to meet family for lunch. This was my first and will be my last visit to this location. Our server Bree tells us they are out of burnt ends yet a table near us seated after us was able to order them. Then we asked to sub a side and was told "Andrew" whoever that is says not allowed. This experience was the definition of a server trying to provide the direct opposite of good service. So disappointed as being from St. Louis this was always one of our favorite places. Do better Bandanas!! read more

Stopped by Bandana's in Bloomington for a takeout order and was disappointed with the overall experience. We ordered two two-meat combos--one with ribs and chicken, and the other with burnt ends and chicken--along with two soft drinks. The total came to about $68, which seemed expensive for what we received. Unfortunately, both the chicken and ribs were dry. The burnt ends also weren't what we expected; instead of being caramelized with a nice bark, they were covered in what tasted more like a sauce or gravy. On the positive side, the bread was fresh and the mac and cheese was very good. However, the quality and portion sizes of the main dishes didn't justify the price. Overall, we left disappointed and expected much better for nearly $70. read more

We used to go to the old location on IAA drive. It was very good, then. Went to the new one on 6/27/26. Not impressed at all. My ribs were chewy, macaroni and cheese was mostly sauce, brisket was dry. Service was ok. Don't really care for the order process, though. I don't think we will go back. I'll stick closer to home. read more

The food was excellent! I loved the fried okra with the special sauce! My husband loved his rack of ribs & the two sides.The portion sizes were great & leftovers heat up well. The ambiance was very nice. Our server, Grace was delightful and made sure our needs were met. read more

Definitely not the best bbq. This was my first time at this location. I ordered carry out for dinner. I ordered online with the toast app. I ordered a chicken sandwich (white meat), bbq beans and coleslaw. Unfortunately, the chicken was chewy. The bbq beans had a good bbq flavor and the creamy Coleslaw was just ok. Not a great experience. The original sauce is very sweet. read more

Bandana's Bar-B-Q - Chicken Sandwich White Meat bbq Bar-B-Q Beans Coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

I was really impressed with the food. I ordered the beef brisket, macaroni & cheese and I am very picky about potato salad but I was happy with this one. I tried all the custom BBQ sauces and rotated through them throughout my meal since they were all so good. read more

Stopped into their new location with the wife and ordered their BBQ nachos and the wife had the lunch sized turkey plate. Everything was great. Service stood out even though it was her first day, she did a spectacular job. Our food was delivered quickly and was excellent. My wife's turkey was very juicy and had a nice flavor. Is it the best BBQ I have ever had? No. But to have a BBQ place this good with excellent service and a fair price is nice. My wife's and I will certainly be back again. read more

Sad to say Bandana's isn't what it used to be, but then again there's others too that have gone downhill. First, you order at the counter, they bring food to your table, and clean up. No big deal, life in fast lane. Second, The main concern is their ribs were chewy, not what we're used to from years past. However, if that's your thing, go for it, I prefer tender, not necessarily fall off the bone, but tender. Last, The side dishes are plentiful, but the beans could've been warmer. They did keep some of the memorabilia from the old location so ambiance is toned down but familiar. If we go back it won't be for ribs. read more

AMAZING FOOD. I can't even! its so good and to me, its a decent price for it all. filled me up for hours and had different options of BBQ sauce. (ALL DELICIOUS) staff was SO friendly. we knew our waiter and talked with her a bunch. she was on it too with refills and taking away plates! the place was very clean and the bathrooms were too. 10/10 would come again. read more

5 star pulled pork. Honestly some of the best I've ever had. 1 star brisket, was extremely dry and I couldn't eat it. Fries and garlic bread were good. Mac and cheese needs serious improvement, it was bland, lukewarm and flavorless. Beans legit tasted like Bush's Baked Beans but I love those so no complaints on the beans. Service was good. I'd go back but I'd never order that brisket again. read more

Being a Texas native....Bandana's food was excellent and seasoned quite well.. the sides I chose were bbq baked beans and potato salad and my lunch partner had the sausage...I had the pork and beef were very tasty, fork-tender . Thank you for a delicious meal and wait staff was very attentive. read more

I've ordered from Bandanas several times and it's been a hit and miss experience. My last experience (early May, 2025) was particularly disappointing. I ordered a pulled chicken sandwich, a pulled pork sandwich and a baked potato with fries as a side, all to go. When ordering, I asked that the chicken sandwich contained only white meat with no gristle. Unfortunately, the chicken sandwich did contain gristle and the chicken itself was from an older bird and was tough to chew. To make matters worse, they left out the fries. Sad to say but Bloomington does not contain a decent BBQ restaurant. read more

We had pulled pork on June 22 and the quality of the meat was poor. It didn't even taste smoky like it had been baked. We've been at your restaurant many times in the past and it was pretty good, but I guess it isn't anymore read more

Everything was great. The service was on point and the food definitely filled my BBQ craving. The meat was so juicy and seasoned to perfection. Always love those baked beans with bites of meat, kinda like a surprise inside. read more

Second visit-- 1st visit was pulled pork sandwich which was moist , lots of meat and nicely seasoned !! Today was ribs , beans, corn !! All very tasty. Ribs were seasoned well and tender. Really like that you can get the extra sauces with the dinner for two. read more

Excellent pulled pork in bulk along with sauces, sweet corn and buns. Terrific for an event. People asked for the leftovers so it was really good food. Two thumbs up. read more

8 dollars for 24 ounces of boiled peanuts is ridiculous . Very disappointed. Wish the restaurant will improve the quantity. read more

Great food as always. This location is looking a little older/worn but service is friendly and efficient!

If you're in a rush, probably don't come here because the service was slow. But we did have a big group. The wait was worth it because the food was delicious and very filling! A nice hidden gem! read more

Bandana's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

It's okay. Not the best bbq I've had but also not the worst. The sauce options are good but I'll be honest, the sides suck. No flavor at all when we went, which is super disappointing. Our waitress was polite, and the atmosphere was definitely laid back. But again, food was not great. read more

Great attentive service for our larger group! Awesome selection of meats and sides. Loved the fried okra - photo is after I devoured most of them. Delicious! read more

Bandana's Bar-B-Q - Gluten free menu - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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Couldn't believe ribs can be made so bad. They were so tough that it was difficult to eat. If you want ribs don't come here

The food was incredible! We stopped on our way from Tucson to Chicago not knowing what to expect. The ribs were perfect, and they have choices of sauces on the table. We tried them all. The homemade BBQ Beans, Potato Salad and Garlic bread were fantastic as well. And our server, Tasha, made us feel welcome and well tended. Fun place for adults and children. read more

I really like this place, I'm from Nashville, Tennessee and it's great to find a local hidden gem with fried okra. Yes the service anywhere at anytime can be hit or miss and restaurants do get busy and they are allowed to make random mistakes, who hasn't? 100% Out of all the restaurants around Bloomington/Normal area this has to be the friendliest and most personable I've been to, and I've loved everything I've ever eaten here. Give it a try! read more

Ribs were delicious! Sides were good too! We did carry out and it was ready when I got there.

There seem to be some kinks in the ordering process. We ordered from here a while ago and they forgot part of it (the sweet potato fries); we went back for it and they gave us a $20 gift card. Unfortunately, when we did dine-in, the gift card didn't work because their system was down. If you plan to use a gift card, let them know ahead of time. If it hadn't been for the gift card, we probably wouldn't have come back, so I'm not inclined to return. The barbecue is okay. If you prefer chewy ribs over fall off the bone ribs, as my friend who loves this place does, then this is the spot for you. Here, the meats act as the canvas for the sauce and isn't as good plain. Not really my thing though. The service is excellent though. We got a choose three combo for three people, with boiled peanuts and fried okra and BBQ beans as sides, and that ended up being just the right amount of food. The boiled peanuts were a bit mushier than expected. They're very salty if you haven't experienced them before. The garlic bread is delicious and crispy when you're eating in. Their other sides are pretty standard. They do have sweet tea, but since this is the North, you have to specify that you want it sweet. I actually found that half sweet and half unsweet was the perfect level of sweetness. read more

Get the Ribs and Burnt Ends. We ordered a half slab which gives you 6 ribs. We ate 2 each, and I still wanted more. My favorite sauce was the Sweet & Smoky. Enjoyed some brisket, park, and burnt ends as well. read more

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Service was great, and the building itself felt like I was in for a bbq experience. The food however was abysmal. The pulled pork was decent, but the brisket was some of the worst I've ever had, it crumbled and was outrageously dry, this negative effect also forced itself into the burnt ends. The sides were fine nothing crazy, the bread given was delicious but the meats besides pulled pork are some of the worst I've ever consumed. Was really hoping to have a positive review for this place. The location looks cool from the outside and feels very southern inside so no complaints there. I'll be back to try again hopefully it was just a one time thing. read more

Great food and constant. We have eaten there for years and have never been disappointed.

This place is big and roomy. The food was great. We got the variety for two and it was plenty. We had the ribs, chicken, and pork. The ribs were absolutely smoky and tasty. The chicken was tender and also had the smoky flavor, the pork was really good as well. The platter came with 4 large pieces of garlic bread. We also had a side of beans and applesauce. Everything was very good and the food was really good with the smoky flavor that the restaurant advertises. read more

Okay, I had a bad experience but I decided to give this place another chance. I learned my lesson to never do that. First off, when I got there, upon opening the door, it got caught in a mat they placed down and I ran into the door. I said "oh s***" because it took me by surprise. Some weird employee didn't apologize for it or ask if we are okay, but instead said, "it's oh shoot." Um, what? That made me so uncomfortable for someone to censor my language and also not ask if i'm okay. That was the first weird thing. My boyfriend and I are in matching pjs for a photo shoot. He then asks, "what, did you guys just roll out of bed?" Excuse me? Within 2 minutes I got hurt, censored, and insulted. Normally I would leave but we ordered pick up ahead of time. Now for the food - Seriously, look at the photos. There is NO meat on the ribs. At all. Like .. what? We both ordered ribs and it was literally sad. When we called about it, the manager was acting like he didn't know how to process a refund for it but could send us a gift card. That won't work because I won't be back. Finally after being persistent with him telling me that he doesn't know how, he "figured it out." Very angry. read more

Bandana's Bar-B-Q - ribs with no meat - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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People forget about this place so it is quiet. But the food and service were excellent!

One of the best briskets I've had, better than some of the stuff down south. Truly great food and service

Worst BBQ ever. Why is this place still in business?? It was my first time dining here. I've always wanted to go and was excited. Upon entering I saw the weird religious decor, but whatever. As we were led to our table there was more weird and outdated, borderline racist decor. It was off-putting. I ordered the burnt ends and pork platter. Two others in my party also ordered burnt ends. We asked if they still had the burnt ends before ordering since they apparently go fast. The waitress confirmed they had them. When the food arrived, I had some other meat on my platter. Not burnt ends. I told her my order was wrong and she said no, it was brisket. What? Again I said I ordered the burnt ends so she went back to the kitchen and quickly reappeared and very nonchalantly informed me they were out. The other people I was with got their burnt ends. She just stood there with a blank expression on her face. Normally I would've been okay with them being out, but they had the audacity to give me brisket instead of burnt ends, a measly portion, without asking me first? Like I wouldn't notice? That ticked me off. She did ask if there was anything she could do but I said no. They should've offered a discount or something but no, they couldn't care less. Now onto the food. It was awful. The pork was bone dry. My fries were cold and limp and no salt or seasoning. The brisket, which I couldn't tell was even brisket at first because it was a a sickly pale color and sliced so thin, was very sinewy and nasty. This place sucks! Poor excuse for barbecue. I will never return. read more

This place is amazing. I just had their brisket sandwich with coleslaw mac & cheese on the side very delicious. The hospitality is off the charts. The employees are very nice. Very welcoming. The business looks perfect. I love the scenery. I love the layout of how it looks. read more

Food and service was exceptional as always!! We always enjoy our visits to Bandanas.... Wish they were in North IL!!!

Yummy! I had ordered wings but they ran out :( Brisket in the potato was delicious though and I loved the different bbq sauces. Cute little place read more

Bandana's Bar-B-Q - Baked Potato - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

First time here. Took the crew out to eat. 5 men. Ordered the Feast for 4 and the BBQ Nachos. Plenty of food. Had some left overs. Not many words spoken during dinner other than "pass me that sauce". It was delicious. All of us raved about it as we all enjoyed it! Our server was great! I totally forgot to take a pic of The Feast when it came out and promise to take it next time. Your mouth drops to the floor and you forget about your camera that very moment. Outstanding! We will be back. read more

From a Georgia boy in the deep South--where true BBQ can be found--to say I'm impressed with Bandana's is an understatement. Firstly, the owner and staff are quite polite--even friendly. There's something to be said for the art of service and being an overly courteous to your customers. We're all people communicating at the end of the day. Whether or not it's due to the acquisition of a good or service is irrelevant. Onto the food! The sliced beef is flavorful, moist, tender and absolutely delicious; as are the ribs. I suggest the St. Louis and Memphis bbq sauces. For our sides, we chose fried okra, potato salad and baked beans. All were very good, but the potato salad was the best! Be sure order the cinnamon funnel cake donut holes. Yummy! read more

Bandana's Bar-B-Q - Take-out feast before Da Bears! - Barbeque Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois