we travel out of our way and past many otherwise high quality bbq places just to eat at Big Ed's. Ribs are excellent and staff is top notch friendly. read more

Always hits the spot! We used to frequent their old restaurant across the way and now that they've opened up their new location we had to check it out. The restaurant is so much bigger and livelier and were so excited to see all of their success. Definitely come early to be able to try their brisket and Tony Mac! You wont regret anything you try but those are defnitely our favorites. Oh and the ribs, if you're looking for the incredible smokey juicy flavor look no further. Any of their bbq sauces are great and pair well, but we highly recommend giving their original a go because of the perfect balance of sweet, savory, with a bit of a kick. read more

Originally opening in North Chicago in 2008, and moving to Waukegan (in the old Lakehurst shopping center complex) in 2012, Big Ed's BBQ moved to its current location (used to be a banquet hall) in 2025. I got a large carryout order from them 5 years ago at their old location, and thought the food was OK. The experience this time was much better, mainly because we dined in their new large location, obviously remodeled to handle large groups looking for large amounts of BBQ. When I was growing up in this area, there were a few tried and true barbeque places where we would occasionally get decent bbq (mostly ribs and tips). Consistency was the problem: one time the rib tips would be amazing, other times it would be old and dried. It seems like Big Ed's has solved this by being consistent across all of the major meats (chicken, pork, beef), not running out, and it being decent. Seven of us came without a reservation at 11am, right when it opened. One stands in line to place and pay for your order, and once ready, it will be brought out to you. There is an area to with utensils, ice water fill up, and to-go containers. Each table has a set of 4 barbeque sauces as well to share. The food came soon after. -- Can of soda was $1.99, with bottled water being $5.38, and bottles of Modelo ($6.25). -- half pound of shredded chicken ($15.99) which was OK, -- half pound of pulled pork ($15.49) which was good. -- half pound of burnt ends ($17.99), nice moist pieces of chopped brisket -- half dozen muffins ($6.99), very good -- half pound of brisket, sliced from the flat end. decent -- 32 oz (Large) mac and cheese ($20.99) - a popular choice. -- 32 oz (Large) sweet potato ($20.99) - probably should have gotten the small, but for the people who ate it, they enjoyed it -- mini rib tip ($11.99) which came with fries. This is a good deal, though the fries already tasted old. It's a really large dining space, seating for groups of all sizes. It's is self bussing, with use of real silverware and serving dishes. The set-up here is really smart, not having that many employees since a customer can get what he/she wants once the food is delivered, and don't have to wait for anybody. I would have loved a place like this when I was going to high school here, and definitely had a touch of nostalgia when I saw a plaque from the local high school (my alma mater), thanking Big Ed's for his support of their school. read more

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All very good might be a 1/2 step down since they moved from their original location to this super sized restaurant The prices now also seem super sized but that is certainly not unusual in this environment Will absolutely eat here again read more

Make the pilgrimage on a Tuesday and feast on a smashburger. Only day they're on special. Today had a taste for some of his rib tips. They're always delicious and I enjoy a little sweet and heat sauce. Always a pleasure to get a warm greeting from Eddie with a strong handshake and a hug. When you come by it's impossible not to notice the amazing mural that was recently added to the northside of the building. The Tony Mac and lawd have mercy beans are a favorite. Dinner prices include two sides and a cornbread muffin and can easily make a second meal but lately I have been gorging myself as I wasn't gonna make it home in 2 hours and certainly wouldn't want it to go to waste. Burnt ends are another favorite and typically sell out by dinner. The new bar area is so nice and cafeteria style dining room is large enough for the biggest group imaginable. Dedicated to-go order section too. read more

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The food was great. We went around dinner time on a Saturday and they were out of a lot of meats. But we tried Big Ed's combo, we got the Ribs and the catfish. The catfish was a good size piece and 4 baby back ribs. The meal also comes with 2 sides, the mac n cheese was delicious and the wife enjoyed her sweet potatoes. The service was good. Only one man preparing the food for the orders and another working the register. The establishment is big, plenty of seating and a good size area if you have to wait for a table. Lots of tv's to watch sports or whatever is on the tv. read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

The food was incredible & the service was too. The food came quickly, was just what we ordered & done perfectly. You can choose either table service or cafeteria style seating. We chose the cafeteria style seating & they were super attentive on that side too. We'll definitely be back! read more

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We were in town for our son's graduation from the Navy bootcamp and wanted some BBQ. There are two sides of this restaurant, a huge dining area with cafeteria style service and a smaller bar area with full service. We chose the bar side. Jasmine was our server and was amazing. She was friendly and helpful and provided suggestions. We had the burnt ends dinner with mashed potatoes and Tony Mac, and the Big Ed's Combo with pulled pork and brisket, side salad, and Tony Mac. All the food was really good. The brisket was moist and tender with a nice bark. The pulled pork and burnt ends were really good too. They have a variety of bbq sauces on the table that were all good. I would like to try some other items and will be back when we're in town again. read more

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Was looking forward to grabbing some burnt ends, unfortunately like with a lot of family BBQ businesses you must plan to get early as they were out of burnt ends and chicken before 4 pm. So with that settled for the brisket dinner which comes with two sides and a corn muffin to enjoy. Service was fast and friendly. They have a handful of sodas along with some beer (had corona and modelo special today). Good was out quickly. Brisket was on the drier side, but the sides were amazingly delicious!! Good sauce selection and a bit on the thin side so be careful when dispensing your favorite BBQ sauce within your meal. Casual vibe with TVs in the back ground (no volume or CC) and music lightly playing not to overpower the conversation with friends. Dine in or take out, good option to meet your BBQ needs! read more

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Heard about Big Ed's when we moved to the area. And the food definitely lived up to the hype. We were a little confused by the restaurant set up. It's split into two - cafeteria style side and a full service restaurant style. We chose the full service... The wait service itself was solid. Waitress was personable and we were rarely without a drink on hand. But we had to wait 25 min for our dinner. This is the part that dropped my rating to 4 stars. We eat a lot of BBQ and it rarely requires that long of a wait. The food is smoked and grilled hours ahead of time which is why the cafeteria side is able to serve right away. Why is there such a long wait for the same food in the sit down space? Again, the food was great and the atmosphere of the restaurant was ok. But I'd hesitate to select this for dinner out unless I wasn't hungry yet and I had a lot of time. read more

We had heard about Big Ed's BBQ for years and always planned to make the trip. We finally committed -- and we were not disappointed. The venue is large with a good sized parking lot. Walking in, you expect it to be spacious, and the main restaurant area delivers that. I believe the dining area is only a portion of the building, as they appear to have event rooms and additional space as well. There was a large line to order when we arrived, which told me right away this place was worth the wait. Our family collectively ordered brisket, rib tips, fries, Mac and cheese, chicken strips, peach cobbler and key lime pie. Not a single item missed. The brisket and rib tips were well made with bold, strong flavor. The fries, chicken strips and Mac and cheese were all equally impressive. My wife loved the key lime pie and the peach cobbler was a standout for me personally. Zero complaints on the food. The one thing I will note is that next time we would likely order ahead and pick up. The line took about 25 minutes, which was absolutely worth it for a first visit -- but now that we know how good it is, we would rather skip the wait and get straight to eating. Highly recommend. Big Ed's lived up to every bit of the hype. read more

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Delicious food, great service and wonderful spacious dining experience. We found this place by accident. We were in the area and decided to stop in. We're so happy we did. We didn't want to eat too much so we shared a combo tray. The chicken was good, not a juicy as we wanted. The brisket was ok. The best part was all the sauces to choose from along with the macaroni and cheese. We wanted collard greens and sweet potato but those are only served during the weekend. Overall, it was a good experience. I would go back again if we ever return to Illinois. The chef happens to know a lot of famous people. When you walk in, you will see all his photos with them. If you want some delicious sauces along with tons of options for BBQ, this is the place. Try it, you might like it. read more

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I picked up Ed's for lunch yesterday, and I have been thinking about the burnt end sandwich ever since. I am going back today for lunch. Super tender, smoked to perfection, excellent rub, and the sauce was spot on. Very friendly service when I was picking up. Excellent bbq. read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Burnt end sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

I had a taste for BQ and this place hit the spot. I had a full slab of ribs, coleslaw and fries. The ribs were so tender and tasty. I love their original BQ sauce. My friend thought his pulled pork sandwich was excellent. He also tried the peach cobbler and loved it! Dione T did a wonderful job. We ate in the full service area and it was near the bar and stage. This is the weird configuration of the place. They also had a pick up counter cafeteria style. read more

I read the reviews about big Ed's and I concur with the majority of positive reviews. This is some amazing barbecue. And it's in Illinois to boot. When I arrived at the bar I was greeted promptly and provided drink and food menus. Two TVs playing sports were above the bar and there was music being pumped in on a decent sound system. The only downside was that they were out of a significant number of meats including brisket, pork, and burnt ends. That made me very sad. Not all was lost however. I ordered the rib dinner with a side of mac & cheese and the Lawd Ham Mercy beans. This was accompanied by a cornbread muffin. Before it arrived the bartender provided me with a delicious margarita that was well-made along with six bottles of amazing barbecue sauce for me to try. My tray of barbecue came out shortly after my order and I dug right in. It was simply put delicious. The ribs had a nice smoke ring and were very meaty. In fact some of the medias ribs I've ever had for pork ribs. I dabbled with the original sauce, and settled on the sweet heat as well as the Memphis. The beans were named appropriately. They were amazing as was the mac & cheese. And let's face it, cornbread muffins are either amazing or awful and mine was the former. As I walked out at the end of my dinner I was greeted by a bunch of folks near the entrance who wished me a good evening and were kind and friendly and made sure that I enjoyed my dinner. If you like barbecue, and you're in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, big Ed's is the place to be. read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Rib dinner with mac & cheese, corn bread muffin, and the amazingly named "Lawd Ham Mercy" Beans! - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

Food is amazing people who work are so friendly and amazing I give 10 stars excellent will recommend to everyone any time my son and wife was from Indiana went crazy and she is a critic when comes to food had to be on point no matter what kind of food wish they had dessert read more

Big EDs BBQ is the best BBQ set-up, food, and service I have had since visiting Texas. Their location is huge! It's a walk up menu type establishment and the cooks taking your order make amazing suggestions. I appreciated BIg EDs BBQ prices and they offer a military discount! I would highly recommend for anyone visiting the area for a boot camp Graduation, it's close to several hotels in the area. read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Hot links platter - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

Definitely not worth going back for , its always good to try new places. Service was fast but they didnt have much options the had a whole list of things they had already ran out of which was mostly everything. Was looking to have chicken and they didnt have nun left. Ribs barely had any meat to it and most were just fatty. the fries were good freshly made a little salty. the mac and cheese was also salty and hard. The mash potatoes (redskin sour cream) were really good. The hot link was really greasy, tasted alright. The brisket was on the dryer side not what we expected. For sure over priced for these two plates my husband paid almost 80$ read more

Big Ed's BBQ - brisket ribs hot link mac and cheese mash potatoes corn bread - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

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Amazing! Excellent and authentic meals. I will not mind the long drive here because it's worth the trip. The front desk goddess got our order correct with a cheerful attitude. We got our order right away too. I would give them way more than 5 stars. Oh - and the sides were exceptional. It was fun inside- the restaurant is located in the way back of a parking lot- I wasn't sure what it would be like inside- not that it would matter to me. read more

Big Ed's BBQ was ranked #97 on Yelp Top 100 BBQ restaurants in 2024. It was time to see how Big Ed's stack up. First of all, the building is pretty grand as it is huge. But when you walk in, there is a line. The line doesn't seem to go fast so be prepared. But when you reach the counter, the customer service was very friendly. I went with the combo with brisket, pulled pork, beans, cornbread, and I talked myself into the Tony's BBQ mac instead of the normal mac. The Tony's BBQ mac wasn't bad but I feel like the normal mac and cheese had to be superior. Pulled pork was solid and the brisket was good, just not as moist as I like. The beans were phenomenal with all the spices, peppers, and onions mixed in. Big Ed's knows sauce which made me happy for a sauceaholic like me. There is a picture of the descriptions but I found that the Sweet and Spicy went best with the brisket, Memphis and the Hot ish went well with the pork, and the Memphis was the best overall sauce in my opinion. The Sweet and Spicy was my next favorite and Chipotle Maple was the most unique. The best thing at Big Ed's though was the sweet tea! Being from Alabama, I'm a sweet tea snob and the Midwest at times does not understand how to fresh brew tea and add lots of sugar to make it phenomenal. The lady at the counter said they brewed it on the stove which made it even better! A 12 oz sweet tea was $2.69, which for this outstanding tea was a great deal....until refills were not included. But it seemed like there were no refills on any drink except maybe tap water. Anyway, surprisingly outstanding sweet tea I would buy again even without the no free refills. I will give Big Ed's a try again though I think I need to eat there a few more times to understand it's top 100 ranking. read more

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It was the weekend, so of course I got the collard greens! They're 12/10 as always. The ribs on the other hand were good, but not great like I remember which was unfortunate. The cornbread was great! Fries are good, could have used just a touch more salt. The barbecue sauce is out of this world! If I could put in on tap in my house, I would. I'm not sure what's in it, but it's spectacular! Service is a little different. Didn't get to see the usual guys, because I ordered takeout. It's pretty big inside, but quiet in the front. Not as close knit as it used to be, so that definitely took away from the "home" feel that you used to get. I'll be back for sure, but hoping they bring back some of old restaurant closeness! *Also personal gripe, you CANNOT contact them if you make a mistake on your order. None of the lines lead to a direct line to Big Ed's which is really frustrating. read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

This is a stand alone building in a safe part of Waukegan just down the road from the casino. It's cafeteria style, you order your food up front & bring it to your table. Food: Brisket was so delicious. Rib tips good but too salty. Tony Mac & Cheese, too salty Laws beans was very good. Key lime pie was life changing. Pound cake was life changing. Corn bread was very good with a crispy exteior. Loved the 4 different sauces at the table. Service: The lady getting me my food was great. The guy at the reception was simply preoccupied looking at his phone when we left. When we arrived, his only message was announcing that they were out of burnt ends. Overall: Get the brisket, law beans & the life changing key lime pie & pound cake. read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Brisket, rib tips, Tony Mac & cheese, law beans, corn bread. - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

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Just had take out from Big Ed's: we got baby back ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, mac & cheese, coleslaw, fries and baked beans - they were all excellent! read more

Ok this place has a really odd set up. BUT the food is good! Is it worth the price to the amount given, unfortunately no. I understand it's BBQ, but it didn't make me want to come back for more. Service is nice and fast. The place itself is nice and enough. read more

Great getting to meet the owner right at the door. Good solid bbq when your thousands of miles away from home.

Another great meal from Big Ed's! What a birthday celebration! The catering team was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Easily located near the entrance for ordering and pickup. Sports lounge decor for waiting area. And team kindly carried it out to load up. It did not disappoint!!! Thank you!! read more

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Huge restaurant which is cafeteria style, you go to the counter and order your food and you find a table to eat at. I was driving through the area stopped and ordered food to go. I ordered chicken wings, and rib tips. The chicken wings were OK nothing to rave about and the rib tips were OK as well. The barbecue sauce was watery to me and it didn't really have a robust flavor. The staff was amazing, very friendly and they were helpful in explaining the menu. Overall, the restaurant was spacious and it had lots of memorabilia on the walls. I would have to be in the neighborhood again and try their food at the restaurant because taking it HOME did not do any justice to the food. read more

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Friendly welcoming active environment. Food comes out quickly, fresh & delicious! Free parking.

Big Ed's BBQ: A Smoked Revelation in Waukegan Unexpected win: I landed a last-minute spot for training out in Chicago. Touched down early Monday afternoon, and before the suitcase hit the hotel floor, the hunt for BBQ was on. I asked nine locals where to find the best ribs in town. Only one--an older lad at Binny's--gave me a confident answer: Big Ed's BBQ. That was all I needed. After class, I jet straight to the spot. Ordered the Full Rib Rack Dinner with mashed potatoes, BBQ beans, cornbread, and a slice of Key Lime Pie. Slapped first seven ribs-No sauce needed. First bite in, and I was floored. The bark was perfect, the smoke was light and soulful, and the meat? Fell off the bone like it was trying to escape into my mouth. --no shame, just joy. Pure, finger-licking bliss. Then came the pie. I don't know what kind of crust sorcery they're working with, but every bite held together--crispy, moist, custard-smooth filling, and a topping so airy it defies description. Slap-yo-mama good!! No exaggeration. Big Ed's isn't just a BBQ joint--it's a masterclass. Cali needs to take notes. Do yourself a favor. Go. Eat. Thank me later. read more

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The food is pretty delicious. The brisket is soft, pulled pork is delicious, ribs are delicious.tender and favor is amazing-no sauce needed. Mac n cheese are kids approved, greens are adult approved. Cornbread is also delicious. At Big Ed's you line up and order at the counter and get your food right away. The line is out the door by 1130am. Someone is always checking up on you and clearing tables right away for the next customers. This place is huge and clean. read more

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Everything was so good! * Food * Service * Parking * Sitting Don't forget to try the deserts. I recommend it.. ... read more

First visit to the new site. Wow it's huge compared to the old place. But the food is still amazing. I had burnt ends, beans, and mashed potatoes. Delish!! Usually I get the mac & cheese, but wanted to try something different. Service is still great. Order at the counter and they bring you your food. Folks still walking around to make sure you're doing good. Got the last piece of homemade pound cake! My friends (first visit) tried pulled pork and loved it. They now have a dining room with sit down service for dinner. But as I understand it, the counter service is also open at the same time. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best barbecue place. Food is great, service good, clean place, good parking and easy to find. I will be back! read more

Cute n cozy in bar area, server was friendly and gave recommendations on food selections, food was great ribs fell off the bone tender, catfish fried to perfection, sides sour cream red skinned mashed potatoes, Tony Mac, baked beans and sweet potatoes were all delicious read more

Brother wanted BBQ while we were coming back from Wisconsin - and found this place. BBQ is tricky because if you're in a remote enough area - their "good BBQ" really is "okay BBQ because they don't have access to better BBQ." But - Big Ed's does a really good job :) It's a very homey vibe as (it appears but too shy to confirm) Ed himself is there, and he's a friendly man. The variety of choice you get is amazing - and the portion size is very generous. The fam basically got one of each item so we can try them all - the full rack, the brisket, and the burnt ends. Some of these items are tricky also as, for example, brisket can be chewy and tough (and paying a premium for it makes it worse). But I want to say, all the meats were really good - I'd probably lean towards Burnt Ends being the best, then the brisket, and then surprisingly, would skip the ribs as the other two are that much better. Notably, they provide 6 sauces at each table so you get to try them all. Unfortunately, I want to say that I didn't like any of them - they felt homemade in the sense that it was unbalanced (ie: one too vinegary, one too watery, etc.) - but maybe it was just the batch we got??? I'm okay with eating BBQ without sauce though and the meat quality is good enough to do without it - but yeah, this part was a little unfortunate. Overall, would come again if in the area :) read more

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Everything was delicious! Group of 9 but they were very kind and helpful. We bought an assortment of food and everything was wonderful. read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

No notes. Just meat, really, really damn good meat and plenty of it. Barbecue sauces to drool for. Beans of dreams. Peach cobbler. Just go. You'll thank me later. read more

I've been to Memphis a few times, love the bbq and haven't been able to find the same in the Chicago area, until now. Fast and friendly service. Very clean inside. Had the Half a Yard Bird and my friend had the Burnt ends, our sides were mac and cheese, Lawd ham mercy beans and coleslaw. Everything was delicious. They provide multiple sauces at each table. Nice large seating area and plenty of parking. Nice vibe inside with a good mix of couples, families, and friends eating. Someone was constantly going around cleaning and clearing off the tables. Definitely worth the drive out! read more

I came here because I saw that the restaurant was a repurposed Pizza Hut. I walked in and stood in line it moved relativity fast. There is a bar that served beer. While waiting they have a white board with items that are sold out with a time when they should be ready again. Since I wanted the rib tips but there was a 20 minute wait. I ordered the combo dinner with burnt ends and brisket. It comes with two sides and a corn muffin. I was feeling greedy so I ordered a third side. Mac and cheese, beans and cole slaw. The guy behind the counter was phenomenal. Joking with customer while giving them information when items will be ready. I sat down and they have six different bbq sauces to try. My favorite was the original and That Hot Ish. I was surprised by how much food they give you. The brisket was juicy and fall apart as soon as you tried to pick it up. The burnt end was tender and flavorful without any sauce. My favorite side was the Mac and cheese, followed by the beans with chunks of brisket. My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I enjoyed every bite until I had to tap out. Seldomly do I need to go containers at bbq spots, but I would have had to take a nap if I continued eating. read more

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Oh MY GOSH! Big Ed's BBQ is THA REAL DEAL! First time here today and it's my new favorite restaurant. We ordered the Brisket Dinner with two sides ($22.99) and I chose the Baked Mac n cheese and the Lawd Have Mercy Beans. Yum, Yum and Yum. The Brisket is seasoned and smoked perfectly and it is moist without being fatty. The perfect Brisket dies t need sauce and this one needs no sauce. The Baked Mac n Cheese is pretty great too. Just cheezy enough and creamy without being over-creamed. The Lawd Have Mercy Beans are so tasty, not over spiced and not swimming in bbq sauce that overwhelms the beans like other places tend to do. The Cornbread....or Conebread as we like to call it is just perfect. Moist inside a crisp outer and just slightly sweet as a great "Conebread" is supposed to be made. We also ordered a Pulled Chicken dinner ($18.99) with two sides and we chose the Baked Mac n Cheese and Mashed Potatoes. Again, Yum, Yum and Yum. The chicken is seasoned and smoked just right and the potatoes are a creamy delight. The staff is friendly and helpful...making this a very comfortable restaurant to visit. I cannot recommend Big Ed's BBQ enough! read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Order counter - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

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The restaurant is nice. A very homey feel, nice music and excellent staff! The cook is super nice and does a great job answering any questions. The bar section had live music and good vibes all around. I dined on the cafeteria side. Now let's get into the food. I had the fried mushrooms, Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes as sides. The fried mushrooms were good! The ranch dipping sauce was nice and creamy. The Mac and cheese unfortunately was nothing special. It was cheesy but the flavors tasted artificial. The mashed potatoes were good but just a little cold. My entree was the big Ed's barbecue combo, I had beef brisket and rib tips. Unfortunately the beef was extremely dry. The flavor was very good though. I didn't enjoy the beef at all and was not able to finish it because it was so dry. The rib tips were also very dry. The flavor was good for the rib tips as well. I'm not sure if I came too late but the meat all together was just very dry and not as tender as I am used to for barbecue. Not a bad restaurant, but not my personal cup of tea. If you're looking for a place to dine for some barbecue, while this would not be my first choice, it is a nice restaurant to grab a bite with family or friends for a good price! read more

Big Ed's BBQ - Mac and cheese, fried mushrooms, mashed potatoes, beef brisket and rib tips - Barbeque Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois