Straight up garbage. Whoever put this place on the top 75 in america for BBQ knows nothing about great BBQ. Tips were pretty fatty and the sauce was flavorless. Avoid read more

I don't know what to say. I am obviously missing something. I thought the food was just ok. Not enough fries and the small amount of sauce they give you is soaked up in the bottom of the tray. I had not been to Lem's since the mid to early 90's but saw them on the front cover of "The Redeye"and decided to give them a try. It's not the worst but certainly not the best tip and link I've had in the city. You get a nice portion of food. All I can say is support local businesses and give it a try. BUT it is DEFINITELY not my go to for Southside Q and for sure not worth the wait in the rain. read more

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Over rated meat is tuff line to long. but people disagree if you ask me I'll say you can do better

Freshly made bbq that is good and hot ready to order. If you like bbq you will love Lem's. read more

Chicagos best rib tip and I mean it classic Chicago style aquarium bbq pit, friendly people and just all around good home cooking love them and the product read more

Was here the day before Memorial Day, 2024 and boy was I disappointed. First of all I had to stand in line for 2 1/2 hour. I am not exaggerating, either. Then, about 9:30 PM a lady came out and told us she was going to be out of food; that she had to get ready for tomorrow, so she wasn't going to be able to serve the last 2/3 of the line. And, when we got in, she was out of rib tips. Fortunately, I guess for me, I was in the front of the line by this time, so I did get served. She was rude as could be! She really didn't want to serve us. When I ordered my food, I ordered a small end with sauce on the side and a slab with sauce on the meat. Didn't they mess that up? They put sauce on the small end and didn't sauce the the slab. I wanted extra bread, but she wouldn't do that for me, and I was willing to pay for it, of course. She complained, because I wasn't handing her my credit card, fast enough. Also, when I got home, the bread had black charcoal all over it, because the bread was on top of the meat. So, the meat had black charcoal all over it. I know they're supposed to be some charcoal residue or meat residue, or whatever, but this was unbelievable. I definitely was cussing like a sailor when I left. Oh, and the cream on the top or maybe the cherry on the top was that it rained and I got wet. They have somewhat of an awning over the building, but we still got wet. I'm not exaggerating! We were there from 7:24 PM until 10:00 PM. It'll be a long time or as my people would say, a snowball will freeze in hell before I'll go back. I was so tired when I got home, that I didn't eat. I tasted a few of the french fries, but I'll eat tonight. What an experience! read more

Been delicious all 31 years of my life. That cherry wood is incomparable. There is no other rib tip.

Best BBQ in the city! Hands down! A little crowded but def worth the wait! You won't be disappointed. read more

Hate the sauce and prices are too high for little food, and the wait time is crazy , will not be ordering from them again..both locations are scary read more

When I was eating rib tips this was THEEEEE place to get them. If you can navigate the line you will be rewarded with juicy, meaty goodness. The sauce is the best combination of taste & texture--not too thick or thin, not too sweet, just the right amount of vinegary. If you need a rib fix this is your spot--yesterday, today and always. read more

My last trip to Lemm's was a let-down. Everybody knows how small their waiting area is. Only three people can get in at a time. I tell you now, if you are concerned about social distancing, Lemm's is not the place for you (or me). read more

Good service good food every time I'm in Chicago I go to Lem's I hit the large rib tips with the signature sauce it's outstanding

Once was the best in Chicago still had a good flavor but the quality of the meat is so bad it's just not worth it there are way better tips in Chicago Coleman's 2 Leon's I57 is expensive and the wait is ridiculous read more

I went here a couple years ago and the food was really good. I got turkey tips and it was absolutely amazing it had the perfect amount of sauce. There was a little bit of a wait because the line was so long, wrapped around the restaurant, but that just shows how good the food is. read more

3 generation of my family LOVES this BBQ. The DO NOT boil their meat before filling it, the sauce recipe has never changed (at least I can't tell in the 40+ years I've eaten tips here), the service is quick, and the mea is seasoned to perfection. The ONLY reason I would have given them a lower rating is that in colder months I REFUSE to stand outside in that line (thanks to COVID for this mess...which also could have been prevented). The Lemon girls are found their dad proud...he's up there fattening my Dad up (RIH). I'm proud to say this Lems is One of Chicago's very OWN surviving original BBQ houses been doin their thang for the last 54 years (since 1968). KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS MUAH MUAH MUAH!!! read more

Chicago staple! A must try for anyone visiting and looking for good local eats! Small establishment but they get you in and out.

Best BBQ on the southside. See that line? I don't like rib tips. I liked these. Ribs are good.

I can really see this location expanding right where it is! Especially after reading the homestory while waiting in line! I would appreciate if customers were notified when staff goes on break although we will wait in line it's just no one likes to wonder but then again people do complain when they have to wait so it's best to leave things be sometimes but a lunch break is definitely important so I definitely understand. I ordered the JBL special it was filling more than I expected with prices and food quality nowadays. I'll be back more this summer. read more

Not a big fan of this bbq. I'll drive to dolton before getting this. Kinda salty and sauce want to tasty. The line outside was deceiving but glad I tried it. Just glad I didn't post for it. read more

I visited this location this past Independence Day and loved the rib tips! It was definitely worth the wait, especially being a tourist.

Food is always good! Service is great especially with the crowds they manage daily! There's a great community ambiance with Lem's! Most of us have been patronizing the establishment for years and there's great camaraderie and respect for one another. Love Lem's!! read more

Ain't nothing changed but the date! Lem's is by far the BEST BBQ I've had! That first bite into the rib tip is glorious! It's so good and tender. Even the ones that is a little charred and yummy! The sauce is fantastic! Y'all got me hooked read more

Some of the best bbq in Chicago. I suggest the JBL combination. The staff is friendly and food is top notch.

After spending a lot of time in the South, I'm usually skeptical of BBQ places in the north or cities. But Lem's is very good. I got the rib tips with mild sauce and fries and it hit the spot. Very affordable. It's take-out only. The one problem I had is that they put too much bbq sauce on my rib tips that it soaked through the fries and the paper bag so badly that when I pulled it out of the plastic bag, bbq sauce went everywhere. They should give you the sauce on the side or give less aggressive pours. read more

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

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Food is great. Recommend getting food wrapped in aluminum foil. Barbecue sauce will spill out in bag.

Died and went to heaven. Had a one-on-one with Lem's rib tips and slab 'o ribs. Damn. That aside, waited outside in 40 degree weather an hour and ten mins to place order in covid-careful set up. Left out 15 mins later. home in an hour and partied on that pork for next hour while fighting off wanna-be-rib consumers. Damn. Good. Great. Damn. Sauce is a bit thinner and more vinegary than typical Chicago style but nice. Two things that would make Lem's even more heavenly: a north side location and taking online/phone orders. read more

Very good food, the tips are sometimes fatty but the sauce is so good you can put it on a sandal and eat it.

Want some GREAT tips, links, and fresh cut fries? Lem's is it HANDS DOWN!!!! Food is perfectly cooked and sauce isn't required. In fact, I roll with no sauce and go home to the Sweet Baby Rays. The ribs are okay, but again their TIPS . read more

Yay! They take credit cards. If only we didn't have to wait outside. I'm asking a lot huh?

A Chicago institution. Chicago-style aquarium smoker in use here. Great sauce. Great ribs, rib tips, hot links. I really like them all. Lem's is the definition of Chicago-style BBQ, read more

The ribs are tough, I just go for the hot links, the lem family owners are nice sometime nasty other times very inconsistent, be prepared to wait outside, only 4-5 allowed inside at a time. The tips taste and tenderness depend on ....welll you just gotta take a chance, you just never know, but it is so hard to find good rib joints. read more

I went to Lem's after LeBron broke the hearts of Toronto fans and separated themselves from the Raptors going up 3-0. Purchased a large tip, cut small and some wings. It's just ok. It is south side BBQ. It is not smoked, but they do have a BBQ pit that does all the work. You do smell the smoke and the BBQ as you approach this shack. The tips, some were chewy, some were tender, some were meaty, some was just bone (the reason for the three stars). I love the sauce. It is different and an acquired taste. The wings dipped in the sauce is heaven. And if you are lucky to go to bottom of your tray and in all that sauce get a couple of fries, consider yourself blessed (in a good way), because that taste so good. I love dipping my bread in the sauce, too. It is in the hood. So hood that night a man got out of his car in a lime green suit. That's cool. But do you know his car (as well as the interior) matched the suit??? "You gotta coordinate!" (from the movie "Boomerang") read more

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

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Best BBQ I've had in a long time!!!! I'm from Mississippi and when i read the reviews i knew i had to try it! Waited at least an hour but it was worth it! read more

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

Dank! Best tips in Chicago. Large tip basket and ready to order some merch. Dreaming about the next visit.

You go for the smoked rib tips and then you get addicted and go again. This is the way of things, young Skywalker. No trip to Chicago is complete without a stop at Lem's, but you'll need to take your meal elsewhere. (There's no seating to speak of here.) Doesn't open until afternoon, so be advised. read more

My brother and his wife came from Topeka Kansas and the reviews were good so we ordered food , I ordered a combination of sausage and rib-tips with bbq sauce on it , when I got home to Schaumburg Il and opened my bag I never seen anything like this before they poured the bbq sauce in the bag and than put me tray on top of the bag , I had no bbq sauce on my food whatsoever and it was the same with my brother and his wife, please believe we will never travel all that way for 1 star and that was just to be nice read more

I tell you, the Chicago Rib house scene is NOT what it used to be. This is my second tine trying Lem's and I was not impressed! When I patronize a rib joint, I expect for them to be better than what I can do on my home grill! While the small tips were hearty, meaty and tender, "I need to know Where is the FLAVOR?!?!" I like the Smokey flavor the permeates the meat and Lem's does not have it! I noticed the my have a new smoker so maybe it's not broken in. Second, the sauce is watered down. When I got my rib tips I thought they forgot to put sauce in only to find out the sauce was on the bottom of the container which means it was so runny it did not stick to the tips. Lastly, while I support our black businesses, it would be nice if the cashiers can at least smile showing they value us as customers! The lady with glasses (possibly owner if wife of) was just unpleasant. I get it she may have been there all day, but it's a pandemic abd have she ever thought if it wasn't for the customer they would not be open! Just saying. I give this 2 stars. read more

Lem's Bar-B-Q - Lem's weak sauce, no flavor, no smile yet tender and meaty rib tips - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

the food is so fresh and delicious and the sauce is just amazing , go try it you wont be disappointe.

The best BBQ in the country. Hot links are the best. I buy the sauce to put on other dishes. Excellent.

Tender, juicy, and flavorful! Lem's has a line around the corner every time I stop by, and there's no wonder why. The rib tips are smoked beautifully with fully flavor and fall off the bone. They're taking safety precautions with a max of 3 customers inside the walk-in stand at all times. Not a big fan of the links but the rib tips do not need any assistance here! Great spot. read more