Great Bbq fries and rib tips.when you get there to order speak up and don't be shy when it your turn. read more

Lem's Bar-B-Q - Wings - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ribs were burnt and the owner was rude. They did not put enough sauce on the ribs so they were dry. I will not be returning.

I called there to place an order. They did not have what I wanted. I told the cashier to have a good day. The cashier called me back and told me not to contact the restaurant again. Horrible customer service. My colleagues and I will never consider eating there. If I could rate Lems for 0 stars, I would! read more

The cashier was very rude! She doesn't have any business etiquettes just plain ignorant towards her customers! She talk at her customers like they're children with no hesitation! She doesn't appreciate the customers! This was my first time coming to this restaurant & it was a terrible experience after spending almost $50 & coming from the Lakeview area on the Northside spending $80 around trip in a cab! My rib tips was dry no sauce & the same on the JBL! Ribs, coleslaw, potato salad & chicken wings was okay nothing to write home about! I heard about Lem's from the news because they received some kind of award! It was all hype if you ask me! Poor people skills will cause them to lose business plus God doesn't like ugly! Lord have mercy read more

Lem's never disappoints! I was there tonight and got a slab. I always have my slab dipped and I get extra white bread. No wheat bread when you're eating barbecue. The barbecue was tender and flavorful as usual. As as soon as I got home, I tore off a piece of the small in, which was a little burnt, just like I like it and had a little fat. It was so good! Yes, there was a short line and we waited about 20 minutes. As soon as we got inside, we were told there would be another 15 minute wait on barbecue, but we did not mind. If you're coming for Lem's barbecue, be prepared to wait. There's always a line, because this joint has the best barbecue in the Chi. read more

I went to this location today with my son---boy was it interesting. Let me give you the heads up, you cannot place your order in advance for pick up. We waited in line for 1 complete hour before we were able to place our order. We ordered the JBL special which comes with 2 ribs, 1 hot link, 2 wings, rib tips, and fries. I asked for spicy bbq sauce on the side. The cashier explained to me that I would need to mix 2 containers together to yield the results of the spicy bbq sauce. There's no place to sit inside to eat. We were so hungry we decided to eat in the car. The ribs and rib tips were pretty tasty. Their original sauce is a watered-down after thought and it's not sweet like normal bbq sauce. It's not very tasty at all. In order to get the spicy bbq sauce that I requested, they recommended that I mix their bbq sauce with picante hot sauce. The end result was so disgusting I am convinced they are not tasting their sauce before serving it to customers. The BBQ sauce should be the easy part. They have mastered the hard part- they can produce ribs and rib tips that are tender and very delicious. They created an epic failure with that BBQ sauce. I understand they've been in business for over 60 years---that bbq sauce couldn't have tasted that bad. If I ever decide that I need a BBQ fix that bad, I will ensure I have some Sweet Baby Rays stashed in my car. read more

Hello and good day I drove from 187th from Lansing Illinois a month ago there was an hour or so wait on the rib tips so I took a chance and went yesterday. I waited in line over an hour, when I got inside I wanted my rib tips cut it thin. I was willing to pay the $1.50 but the young man said they cut thin anyway. I ordered a bucket and a order of links, when I got back home they weren't cut thin. I hardly had no sauce and at the bottom of a bucket was full of grease. Not sauce, I picked through the bucket for good pieces, it was chewy and no sauce on a 38-dollar bucket of tips. I will not be patronizing this location again. It was better in the '70s read more

Bbq rib tips are always on point. Service is quick, as there is only a pick spot no sit in.

It hurts my heart to write this. Lem's has been a family favorite during all our Chicago visits for more than 50 years (not a misprint). Unfortunately, the most recent visit is likely to be my last for quite some time. The flavor of the sauce was changed, giving all the meats and fries a heavy nutmeg flavor that was nothing like I had enjoyed for decades. The chicken not being fully cooked was also a problem. I normally don't mind the long wait, but it's always been worth it before. I'm sure I will go again someday, but if the iconic sauce flavor has been permanently changed, that's a huge mistake IMO. read more

Ribs are delicious. Barbecue sauce is too vinegary. Links are good too. Service is fails to accommodate the large number of customers. Must wait in long lines especially during holidays or spry occasions. The shop is carry out and cannot hold only 5 persons at a time to place orders. No delivery service read more

Congratulations on your James Beard award! Lem's really is delicious! As a long time customer I can say I'm proud of Lem's and they deserve this honor! read more

My Fiance & I were at Iems BBQ last week, I ordered a half of white chicken dinner & he I ordered a Turkey Tip Combo , So today I called to see how much was a Turkey Link cost & the lady stated that they did not sell Turkey links or Turkey Tips, We were so disappointed Bc on their menu inside the store has a menu that has Turkey Tips & Turkey Links on it. Beware of this Business, Bc they sold us Pork Links & Pork Tips, Instead of the Turkey Links& Turkey Tips!!!! read more

You can eat them without the sauce and say OMG ! Wish they would open earlier than 1:00 PM, then again that might mean more pounds than I need. To me best BBQ Tips in that area by far. Been there for years and has not slacked off from serving good quality food. read more

Ghetto and dangerous. The cooks are rude and unprofessional and I'm not standing outside in the cold to purchase anything. It's not worth it . read more

TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERIVCE... The LEM sisters are super rude and very unprofessional. You can't even explain nothing without them cutting you off. The cook is way more understanding and polite. How do you get mad at a customer for an order that you guys messed up. She gave me a partial refund. As I read the other reviews they are all true. Ms. Lem is super rude and the ribs are terrible. I will never support this business again. read more

Gotta love Lems. Only negative thing I gotta say about Lems is that they open at 1pm. Can't they open at least at 11am? Other than that, come at 1pm and it's already packed full of customers wanting some ribs. You can't go wrong with a large order of rib tips and links. The links are cooked to perfection and tasted fresh, not dry and old like some other places I've tried. And the highlight of the meal is of course their rib tips. Juicy, saucy and with a crazy smoky flavor. If you ain't licking your fingers after every rib tip, than ribs tips ain't for you! Just sayin! Their large rib tip combo is a little pricey at $19.99 but I would say it's worth every penny. It comes with two links and a crap load of rib tips on top of a bed of fries. I would probably prefer the fries on top, but hey what the hell. It is what is is. Once you're done eating you can eat those fries that are soaked in a very good bbq sauce. Other places also service rib tips and wings, but not Lems. My wife is not a big fan of links so she usually orders wings instead. So if I wanted wings I'd have to order their JBL special. It comes with rib tips, two wings, two ribs and fries. Like Paul Pierce, Lems bbq is the truth! Also, compared to their competitors, they get you in and out. You yell your order through a bullet proof glass and then you pay. By the time you're done paying, they yell out your order and then you're all set. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Food is o.k. Customer service sucks! If you ever go, don't go on a cold night. You will freeze to death waiting on some ribs. I waited outside a hour and a half. Freezing. This guy name Jamar one of the employees came outside, we asked him to tell the manager to turn the heat lamps on. He told us it's not cold enough. It was 46 degrees. I don't know about you, that is cold to me. What are they trying to do, save electricity? Smh They have to treat their customers better. read more

Lem's is definitely worth standing the long line. The food is all always good, but the links the links is it for me read more

Still taste good. But If them hot links get any smaller they're gonna have to change the name to hot weiners instead of hot links.

Nevet disappointed. Worth the wait in line. I've waited in the Summer,Spring,Fall,and in the Cold Cold arms of Winter. Met some nice people and had some great conversations about the quality of good Barbecue. Shelia the daughter is on her A-Game working that Registar. And the Guys that get the orders together Stand on Business. read more

I was disappointed the last time I ordered from Lem. I ordered a large rib tip, and it had no barbecue flavor. It tasted like it had been pre-boiled. This happened during the New Year holiday; maybe they were trying to cut corners for time's sake, but they were horrible. The delivery service was on time, but the food was cold. read more

Really great value overall. Lem's is known for their rib tips so my party of 5 decided to go big or go home. We shared the largest size option, a bucket of tips (takeout), and we were all pretty full by the end of the meal with some leftovers too. The bucket came with around 5 lb of rib tips (we measured it on a scale at home since we were curious) -- that means we each got about a pound of meat! We also got some BBQ fries on the side which were a good complement to the ribs though they did get soggy on the ride home. All of this for $30 plus tax. The actual meat was hot, fresh, and tender. However, the sauce was a bit too vinegary and thin so it pooled at the bottom of the bucket, making the tips on top too dry and the ones on the bottom too wet. I would still come back though because that price can't be beat. Of note, they only open at 1 p.m. so plan your meal accordingly. read more

Lem's Bar-B-Q - Bucket of tips and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is true south side Chicago bbq at its finest. I love the whole menu but the ribs and hot links are my favorite with their unique vinegary sauce which is second to none! I wish they would ship nationwide and I would order! If you want different bbq than the traditional Kansas City, North Carolina or Texas then come to Lems and experience the uniqueness and richness of true Chicago bbq! read more

Having been raised on quality Carolina Q and Texas brisket, I have long despaired of getting decent barbecue in Chicago the land of parboiled ribs in ketchup. Sure, things have gotten somewhat better with Smoque and similar restaurants, but we don't have really legit BBQ joints like in the South. Lem's, though not for everybody, was pretty darn close. It's a takeaway place and there will likely be a line but it moves along and folks were nice. Parking is catch as catch can in their lot but theres some on the street and clearly they are used to having lots of cars in and out of the area. Have your order ready, they want it the second you make it in the door. I got the JBL combo - ribs, tips, chicken wings, hot link sausage, fries. It comes in a foil container pretty much swimming in sauce. Rib tips were the best I've had and they chop them in front of you. Smoky, crispy and meaty bits abound. Chicken reminded me of Aretha Franklin's Blues Brothers line "best damn chicken in the state". it is crispy in some kind of honey breading sauce and spectacularly good. Ribs are solid. Definitely smoked and pretty good preparation. Tough to do better in Chicago, though not to the level of a top Carolina or Tennessee place. More of a dry rub with their light sauce not quite sticking to them. The hot link I did like but not outstanding - slightly overdone maybe. Nice taste and crunchy skin though and it went well with the sauce. The fries were buried under all this and ended up being more like poutine by the time I got to them. Which is a good thing. $22 for all that is a bargain these days. I'd go back and order the chicken and either tips or a few ribs again. read more

Be ready to wait for awhile. They ran out of bbq so had to wait for the next batch. But it's all worth the wait. Make sure check the menu before hand and have your order ready. As soon as you walk in, they will yell at you asking for your order quickly. They don't have the time to let you peruse the menu and think of what you may want to order. Also they give huge portions. The small combo can feed 2-3 people. The sausage is ok for me but the fried chicken wings and rib tips were so juicy, flavorful and finger-lickin' good! The coleslaw had too much mayonnaise for my taste. But the potato salad was delicious and perfect pairing for the wings and rib tips. Will sure visit this place when I come back to town. read more

Lem's Bar-B-Q - This is a great deal! I should Have seen it first before ordering. - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Open during the COVID-19 Pandemic! The place has always been take-out only. Drive to it and give the south side some of your love. We really enjoyed the ribs and the french fries with sauce slathered all over the place. Recommend that you get your sauce on the side. Should you drive back 20 minutes to home to eat, the condition of the fries is not ideal. We ate leftovers for three days, and I eat a lot of food during every sitting read more

I will never return to this establishment ever again. The service is terrible. You can get better barbecue in the city of Chicago and receive ten times better service. Don't waste your time or money. read more

It's a HARD HELL NO! I don't and I won't EVER eat this MESS again! Good bbq consist of tender meaty meat and savory sauce. I got neither. The tips are skimpy on meat and full of fat and the sauce has so much vinegar in it they may as well call it pickled bbq. The line is always wrapped around the building but upon close inspection, it's older ppl, ppl that look drunk and high. Yep that sums it up! Me nor none of the ppl I know messes with this spot! I would ask why it's still open but demographics show there's more elder folk in that neighborhood with their drunk/drug addicted offspring living with them. When you have more ppl w/o transportation someone needs to feed them. There's no other bbq spot over there so that pretty much sums it up! read more

The facility Too small for the crowd! Poor design! Capacity inside has to be no more than 10 and that's uncomfortable. The Wait is standing outside, and that's not cool! No drive up and poor parking conditions! A real shack read more

No complaints, other than the heat! Boy was it hot in the city this weekend. If you want great BBQ LOOK NO FURTHER. It was plenty of food, amazing sauce, great rib tips. Expect a long line, and wait. I recommend calling ahead, the inside of the restaurant only allows three guests at a time. read more

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Incredibly disappointed and, from what I have heard, both the food and service were far superior beneath previous ownership. The ribs were far too tough and dependent upon the sauce for flavor. While I do want to leave a bite mark, I am not looking for fall-off-the-bone, the ribs were just straight tough. It made me wonder if they were pre-boiling the ribs and causing the connective tissue to seize up. Since being there, I have been told that the hot links are the way to go but, it being a BBQ joint I wanted ribs. I wanted to see how they treated a special cut of meat but they failed. Also, while I am fine waiting in a line, I do have issues seeing a staff treat customers in a rude manner which is precisely what I witnessed with the group ahead of me. It is clear to me that this is a business relying upon it's name and history. Seeing any customer treated like that is disturbing and soils the vibe of any establishment. I will not be back. read more

Standing in line at lems trying to get this good sauce. There is a group of out of towners. Trying to get in. There is line down the street. Folks not moving. Staying in even though it is a little chilly. Due to coronavirus they only letting two at a time in the store. You must have on a mask on. read more

I'm not sure if the food was any better when it was under the original owner. I can only attest to my order from 1-30-23. I waited outside for 45 minutes for a Slab that was awful they don't have cooks who know how to barbeque over fire charcoal. Lem's method of cooking is burning thick char on the outside of the ribs and brisket and leaving the meat to smoke inside the pit yuck. The fries were cold in the bottom of the paper tray with the meat on top and the sauce was plain just a hickory bottled type. read more

The food and sauce was terrible and the service was ridiculous. This place need to be closed and the woman taking the orders was rude and disrespectful! My best friend wanted some ribs so we looked on line to see who had good barbecue. Lem's on 75th Street came up so we drove over. Of course when we got there it was a line and raining so we waited outside for about 30-45 minutes. When we finally got inside there was rusty water dripping from the pipes. An elderly man who looked like he came from church was dressed nice so we all saw the water dripping. We moved over toward the middle of the isle to avoid getting our clothes damaged by the rusty pipe water. The woman told us to move away from the counter and we told her it's water dripping from the pipes and it's rusty, she told us it's condensation because it's hot back where she was and it's only water. She then told us that's how we roll in here, you can go somewhere else if you don't like it. There was a Caucasian man and the rest of us were black. She gave the Caucasian man 2 extra wings because as she stated, when you keep your mouth closed we take care of you. We hated the food and will never come back to such a tasteless place again. A business is never supposed to treat any customers in the way we were treated. This place is not worth the money! read more

The place use to have good ribs tips but now, its horrible The meat was like leather A short older lady was so nasty and rude. I drove so far to get to Chicago for these ribs and stood in line for 30 min, it was not worth it. Never again​ read more

My friend recommended Lem's and I have been seeing them pop up on random food publications so I had to give it a try. Rib tips and a hot link were what I was instructed to order. I was a little flustered as I didn't really have a chance to scope the menu which seemed to be larger quantity orders and also I had to yell at the man behind the Plexiglas window but he was very accommodating. "What you having?" Me: Ugh the rib tips. "How much?" Me: a small? "What else you want?" Me: a hot link.. "Okay, so you want the small combo then...right?" Me: yes.....? Yes, that's what I want. "Okay then. (insert smile)." FYI that "small" combo had a TON of food and would feed 2 people (w/avg. stomach capacity). Lots of rib tips, piled on top of a bed of fries and slathered with sauce. There's outdoor counter space that wraps around the front of the building but it was kind of cold so I just went to my car to eat which also may have been the wrong move. The more liquid/vinegar BBQ sauce was easy to splash as you would pull apart the delicious rib tips. They put a good amount of sauce too. Fast forward a week and my car still smells of BBQ sauce... The sauce - amazing. Finger licking, almost tempted to lick the steering wheel good. I got the "hot" version but it's really not hot to me (high spice tolerance though). A nice hint of sweetness to it. Rib tips - cooked to perfection. Falls off the bone but still enough chew and tasty. Hot link - good. Nothing special though. Fries - I actually love how they put the fries at the bottom which leads to them soaking up all the BBQ sauce. A nice treat at the end of the meal. Overall, great spot for BBQ. I would definitely come back if in the area. #Refereeats "I call it like I eat it." read more

Lem's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lems is my goto barbeque place for ribtips They very seldom disappoint. They are one of the best bar-b-que joints in the city. They give you a good portion of ribs in the small. I wish I could tell you how many pieces you get but I've never been able to count them before I start eating. The tips are served with two pieces of white bread and in true Chicago fashion everything is served with fries. The fries are under the tips soaking up the sauce. I would suggest ordering extra sauce because the tips on top somethings are lacking sauce...like mines today. Due to the light sauce I've given them 4 stars and to be honest it's more like 4.5 stars. As i mentioned earlier they very seldom let you down. They people that work here are always professional and pretty friendly. They make you feel welcome and appear to enjoy their jobs. They're always nice and that is a great perk! read more

Best rib tips in Chicago. If you get a large one, you'll eat for two or three days. Crispy, juicy, crunchy, it's the whole nine yards in there. Especially like their sauces. Not too sweet but very tangy. When I brought these to my teenage son, he tucked right in and all I heard were yummy noises for 30 min. It's a south side necessity to stop here. Nice people at Lem's, even if you can only speak to them through bullet-proof glass. Not sure why I'm even writing this though. Like Muddy Waters said, "If you got something you don't want other people to know, keep it in your pocket." Naaah. Not with Lem's. read more

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Yes, the one star reviews are correct... at least rib tips. The rib tips were in fact tough, dry, and over salty. I tried it back 2015ish. I don't know what's going on but the one star reviews are absolutely true for the rib tips at least. read more

Best bar b que in the neighborhood, however, Lems has been in that little shack for years. I know they have made thousands of dollars by now to expand to a larger place. The parking situation is ridiculous and it ain't no fun standing outside in the rain, cold, snow, sun waiting to place an order when only 3 or 4 people can come in at a time! The lines are always down the street. read more