I've been craving some MEAT for a while, and after reading Sam C.'s review, I was sold - I grabbed my keys and made my way over! When I find myself thinking of a return trip while still there, you know for sure Offset BBQ delivers! I ordered the All Beef Platter, and got the Brisket Chili (upgrade) as my side. The sausage was fantastic! It had a snap which made all the Chicago Hot Dogs within a 20 mile radius jealous. Inside was a maximally savory, salty but not over-salted filling. The kind of meat that needs no sauce. Then comes the brisket! A lovely piece of meat that was so tender, looking at it and licking my lips caused the meat to start falling apart. I also loved that it was a good balance of meaty and fatty bits. However, there is a small 'but' here. For my taste, the brisket needed a very light sprinkle of salt. No matter, with the help of the sauces the brisket leveled up enough to take on any boss battle thrown at it. Speaking of sauces: The KC Style and Hawaiian were both good. Both were sweet, and had some tang, though, it seemed the KC had a slight edge in the bold department between the two. A sauce I loved though was the Chicago White, a fantastic Horseradish and Mustard sauce that was unique, interesting, savory, fresh, and a little spicy. The kind of sauce I want to buy a container of and take home! For my side, I upgraded to the bowl of brisket chili. I loved this so much, I may just order this as a main on a return visit. The chili did not at all skimp on the meat, which was tender and flavorful. The use of beans, corn, and veggies were there to help accent everything else, and were themselves cooked perfectly. Kudos also for the inclusion of a couple pickled jalapeno slices. My heat tolerance may be too high to feel a burn, but the crispness of acid did wonders! The included coleslaw was one thing I did not love. I appreciated that they were not heavy handed on the mayo, and the dressing overall was light in quantity and consistency. However, the cabbage was sliced as if by a sleep deprived stagiaire who has yet to master knife skills. The slicing was terribly inconsistent, with some pieces being way too large. For dessert, I ordered the Blueberry Handpie. This was so much better than expected! The crust was flaky and wonderful, and the filling had plentiful sweet blueberries. This dish also excelled in its execution. The cast iron pan kept the pie warm, and the ice cream was such that didn't melt right away. I also loved that the blueberries weren't screaming hot and exploding with lava. When it comes to the service, the bar-server was fantastic. She was kind, friendly, and attentive. Food came out pretty fast, too, considering how fresh everything was. Finally, while I did not make laps around the entire establishment, the vibe has just the right intersection between BBQ and Rock & Roll, with the music playing at the perfect volume to be appreciated while being not at all intrusive. Final verdict: There are many who sing the praises of Smoque BBQ, which is a great spot. However, between the two, I prefer Offset. Other than a sloppy-chopped Coleslaw, the experience was fantastic not only in the food, but in the execution and the thought put into the experience. read more

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Alright, I don't usually do this. I'm not a Yelp or Google Review warrior, I'm not out here typing essays about every decent meal... but gotdamn, this place earned it. I've been meaning to get here for years, and we finally rolled in for lunch - and let me tell you, the hype in my head still wasn't enough. For context, I'm not just some random dude who likes ribs. I run a small side street BBQ pop-up on the South Side and I'm borderline obsessive about properly smoked meat - especially the kind that's gently smoked, where you taste the craft and not just a blast of soot and sauce. That balance is HARD. Most places (even the quote unquote "institutions" we all know) lean heavy on sauce to cover up over-smoked, tired meat. This spot? Absolutely not that. Offset BBQ in Humboldt Park is operating on a whole different level. This is thoughtful, patient, technique-driven barbecue - the kind pitmasters respect and regular people fall in love with without even knowing why it's better. I had the chance to meet Carlo Carani and Doug Pompa, and that alone made the visit special. Doug is the real-deal pitmaster - not flashy, not ego-driven, just a humble craftsman who clearly lives and breathes smoke. Both of them were welcoming, down-to-earth, and generous with their time. Doug even walked me through their smokers and process, which, as someone still climbing the BBQ learning curve, was like getting a backstage pass to a masterclass. No gatekeeping, no attitude - just passion and pride in doing things the right way. And the food backs it all up. The brisket? Tender, beautifully rendered, rich without being heavy. Pulled pork? Juicy, seasoned exactly right, smoke present but never overpowering. The pickled sides? Absolute game-changer - that bright acidity cutting through the richness like a perfect reset button between bites. They're not just doing traditional barbecue either - there's creativity on the menu that actually makes sense, not gimmicks. Add in a serious whiskey and bourbon lineup plus beer that pairs the way it should, and you're looking at a full experience, not just a tray of meat. This isn't just another BBQ joint. This is a Chicago barbecue institution in the making - if it isn't already. Do yourself a favor: run, don't walk. Whether you're a die-hard smoke nerd or just someone who loves good food, this place is the real deal. Maria's service is outstanding and you'd be remissed not to include her hospitality as a bright star to this BBQ institution's success. God bless this joint! read more

Great place for couples and large groups. Their bbq are fire and known to for their meats! A must try if you're on the Northside. Staff are very friendly and honest about the food. Good food! read more

Offset BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Biked past this place and had to stop in after smelling their food! I am so glad I did! Very chill place, super friendly staff, and tasty bbq! I really enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich and the banana pudding. I was excited to learn they also have live music from time to time, I will come back to catch a show. read more

Had a really good pulled pork sandwich and waffle fries, with a side of mac n cheese, and elotes .All were good, but the sandwich was amazing. Lots of pork, slaw, and pickles,messy, but really good. People were nice , service was fast, and overall, it was a good experience. The restaurant is huge, compared to what it looks like outside. Seems really clean and well maintained. I'd go back again for sure. read more

Service was a delight. I'm from Memphis and have very high standards for BBQ and cornbread. Offset did not disappoint! I'm vegetarian now but I'd love to come back again just for that cornbread. Tastes like home. read more

Decent place for BBQ. The service was nice. The food was just okay. We didn't love our entrees. It was pretty bland in our opinions. The shrimp appetizer though was awesome. Definitely the best part of the meal. Our drinks were okay as well. I had a Bourbon Peach Tea. I would get it again if I were to go back. read more

Offset BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't frequent many BBQ places but I will for sure be coming back to this one in the future! It's very family friendly, has fast service and the food is terrific all around. The space felt clean and spacious, and they have tables to accommodate large parties. We tried a little bit of everything, and I loved all the meats (brisket, pork and chicken). None of the cuts were dripping in fat and the meats were all high quality. My favorite side has to be piping hot fries, elote and cole slaw. They have three sauces on each table. Their bbq is phenomenal and they also have a horseradish and Hawaiian sauce. read more

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We shared: 1. Meet our Meats Platter - 1/4 Pound each of Beef Brisket, Smoked Pork, Pulled BBQ Chicken, and Smoked Beef Sausage + St Louis style Ribs W/ sides: Coleslaw & Brisket Chili 2. House-made Chocolate Banana & Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches Wow such an underrated spot that deserves a spot on Chicago's top bbq lists. Brisket is on leaner side but still tender. Chicken and brisket could be seasoned more but still good. I was happy and surprised all of the meats were tender and not dry. I liked all three of the house sauces. Coleslaw was light and crunchy. Brisket chili was smoky and flavorful. Homemade ice cream sandwiches were fantastic and must get. Service was good and plenty of seating inside. read more

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This place was the bomb! I especially enjoyed the waffle fry nachos, beef brisket, St. Louis style ribs, elote, cornbread, banana pudding, and the Offset BBQ Brew (beer collab with Pipeworks). Parking outside was easy even on a Friday night despite lots of construction on California, prices were reasonable, the ambience was casual but vibey, and our server was awesome. Definitely looking forward to returning! read more

Just found a new favorite spot in Chicago. Offset Barbecue. Honestly maybe one of the top three briskets I've had. And for sure #1 for biscuits and Gravy. Did the 4 meat platter. Brisket, Sausage, Pulled Pork, Chicken. Sadly My belly could not keep up with the rest of the menu.... To be continued read more

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I already have my bbq place in the city but occasionally I feel like trying out a new place. I did an online order from here. Pickup was painless. The my order was ready before the promised time and the staff was friendly. Wouldn't mind dining in next time. I ordered two beef brisket sandwiches, one with fries and another with an elote. You get a decent amount of perfectly smoked brisket. Not too fatty but just the perfect amount to make the sandwich delicious. The bbq sauce isn't really needed on this sandwich but still tasted good. The elote tasted off but not in a bad way. I'm just not exactly sure on what I tasted but it was something different. My son ordered their BBBLT sandwich. I'm not really sure why he would want this at a bbq restaurant but the damn sandwich was good. A BLT sandwich with brisket. Not sure I would personally order this but I hope my son gets it again when we return, so I can steal a bite or two. read more

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We've been on a bit of a BBQ kick lately, and we've been trying out and enjoying various restaurants. Tried this place out, and - delish! Two of us had the brisket and one had the pulled pork. Score! We loved it. Wings were awesome, too. Maria and Doug were great. Definitely going back. read more

My parents love coming here, so I've gone twice with them when I'm home in Chicago! I really like the BBQueso Fundido, side of Huli Huli Green Beans and ribs. - BBQueso Fundido: Melted Chihuahua cheese, smoked brisket, fire roasted chilies & warm tortillas, $12...we love this! A must get appetizer. - Smoked Beef Dip: Our smoky cross between a French dip & an Italian Beef, Chicago White sauce, side of beef jus, $16 - Smoked Pork Shoulder: Coleslaw, pickles, & a touch of BBQ sauce, $16 - Side: Huli Huli Green Beans $6...oh wow these are the best!!! Service: Each time someone who is not our waiter comes over to check on us and make sure that we are enjoying our meal. Reservations: It hasn't been super packed any of the times that I have been here, but you can make a reservation on their website and we always do just in case. Parking: Street parking available, pay to park. read more

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Had a very pleasant time at Offset , When walking in I was greeted immediately by who I assume was the manager maybe even the owner , it was kinda slow there on that night but the inside was kept immaculately clean, I opted to sit on the outside patio , my waitress cheerfully greeted me promptly and we were off , I started with the bbq queso wihich came with tortillas and was served piping hot , it was delicious, then I chose the Half slab , you can tell they take some serious pride in their food, ribs came out perfectly done , slightly sauced but you have a choice of some interesting sauces to add , I really liked the Hawaiian Pineapple and Soy but they were all delicious , my server was quite attentive and friendly and I appreciated this , Well done Offset , I was impressed read more

Awesome authentic Barbque. Doug is a master! 1st time there and plan many more trips. read more

Hear from California And went with my daughter and son-in-law. They go to this restaurant very often because they love it. I had the best naked chicken wings. They have a smoked flavor and they were excellent. The sweet potato was delicious. My daughter had the grilled cheese special with tomato soup. The tomato soup is yummy. My son-in-law had a BLT with meat and it was also very good. I would suggest this restaurant. read more

Offset BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have had a few different things delivered from here but the BBBLT is outstanding. It's exactly what it's billed as - a smoky, guilty pleasure BLT with all the original BLT flavor but extra richness and deliciousness from the brisket. The ice cream sandwiches are also delicious! read more

Always a good time at Offset. The staff is uber friendly and the platters on the menu ( from the multiple I've previously ordered) are amazing. Great neighborhood bar with a great atmosphere . read more

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Food is a solid 3/5. Staff is 5/5. Vibe is 4/5. Chicken was tasty, as were the sauces but the sausage was not enjoyable and kind of killed the meal. read more

The green beans are amazing! The potions are good and want to come in some Friday night when they have live blues!!!

What a stellar find! We wanted a nice lunch before going to Garfield Park Conservatory and gave this place a try... wow!! I'm a fan of Texas style bbq flavor and all the meats were exceptional! The Bibimbap was a perfect idea and I had it with the brisket, very high quality ingredients and so satisfying. My hubby loved his meal and especially fell in love with the smoked chicken, amazed that they got it so perfectly done. To top it off, the cornbread was the BEST! Moist, lightly sweet, bits of actual corn, all how I love it. We'll certainly be back to try more, like the desserts...mmm. Finally, cheers to excellent service. The host was so friendly and immediately got a sling seat for our baby's carrier. Thanks, Offset! read more

Offset BBQ - BBQ Bibimbap - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Some of the best barbecue I've ever had! The food was amazing and the staff were great! 100 out of 100 read more

Offset BBQ - This was some of the best barbecue I've ever had. The food was delicious and the staff were amazing! - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was feeling home sick and wanted some good BBQ since I'm originally from Kansas. I stumbled upon this spot with a Google search and I was not disappointed. The food is amazing, some of the best bbq I've had away from home. The service is amazing as well. Truly feels like home in this place. Felt so welcomed and appreciated the wonderful food. I also loved the ambience and the amazing music. I can't wait to come back. read more

Offset BBQ - Brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really good, attentive service and great food. I like the three different sauces they offer and I like that there are several bbq platter options. This is one of the better bbq places I've tried in Chicago. read more

Excellent sandwiches, I've had both the brisket and pulled pork, both worth trying, a variety of BBQ sauces and the staff were friendly

If I could give 3.5 stars I probably would. This place was good enough that I wouldn't discourage anyone from going, but not so good that I'm likely to go again. Neither the best nor the worst BBQ I've had in Chicago. The decor and ambiance, nothing amazing, but we were there early and in the front room. Service was fine, neither amazing nor bad, just normal table service which is nice for BBQ, so no complaints. Let's talk food: We got the pickle plate, I recommend the pickle plate. All the pickles were good, and they give you a generous helping of each. They bring out three sauces, kind of a pineapple / sweet sauce, a smoky barbecue, and a mustard horseradish, all were good on everything. We tried the Meat the Meats. The smoked chicken was great, which is surprising because that's hard to nail. To balance it out, the pork was surprisingly dry, the pickled onions from the pickle plate helped to make it work but that was a shame. The brisket was fine, nothing special, could have been trimmed / rendered a little better. The beef sausage was nice, a little heavy on the fennel, but a good texture and a nice surprise, you don't see that often. With the sauces, the average was good but not great. If we did go again, we'd probably go all in on the chicken. For sides, we got the coleslaw, the smoked sweet potato, and the cheesy cauliflower. Everything needed more salt, but there was no salt on the table, which always disappoints me - if you have the confidence to not put it out, make sure you're using enough. Coleslaw was fine, maybe a tad overly sweet, I added some of the mustard to it and that balanced it out. The sweet potato came with maple butter... it was fine, it was a sweet potato. The cauliflower was cooked well, still firm, not cooked to death, but the cheese sauce was a little too thin for what it was. On average the sides were okay - nothing was bad, but nothing stood out. There was a lot of grease on both plates and there was no white bread or anything to soak it up. For dessert we got the ice cream sandwiches, banana chocolate and key lime. Honestly, if we lived nearby I'd go there at least once a month just for this - it was really good. If we ever do go back, we'll also be trying all the other desserts. Overall it was fine, touching on good at points. I'm not disappointed we went, it was a nice night out, but I probably won't go again unless I happen to be in the area and hungry. read more

Love food and staff here! I went on a Sunday night and it was very chill, servers were great. I'm not huge fan of chili but that one was amazing. Also, had the plate with all the meats that's supposed to be for two people and honestly, I could have eaten it all by myself everything was delicious! read more

Best wings in the city. Nobody smokes them like they do. Putting this place at the top of the list. Crown them. You smell it when you walk in. Service is great and atmosphere is chill and cozy. Come for the fun, stay for the wings. read more

This is probably my favorite bbq spot in Chicago. Service was great and we were seated immediately. I really enjoyed the waffle fry nachos, they did not come to play! Their meat was delicious and the sauces, especially the Hawaiian one, was great. read more

Offset BBQ - Cornbread, St Louis Style Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Come in on a week night to a pretty quiet restaurant. No problem getting seated wherever we wanted. They do a nice spin on some of their bbq options - making bbq nachos out of waffle fries, bbq bibimbap, cheesy cauliflower, brisket chili. Don't forget the sides (loved the cornbread) and the dessert (had a key lime and a chocolate banana ice cream sandwich). Everything we ate was awesome and well priced! Would definitely recommend for a casual dinner spot if you are near Logan! read more

Offset BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My job ordered this for delivery and I unfortunately didn't get to get the full experience due to us having meetings that didn't allow us to eat until 1 hour after arrival. That is not the restaurants fault at all but I still wanted to give them a review. My coworker has raved about them so it's unfortunate I didn't get to experience it fresh. The burgers condiments were tasty and so sorry for the crappy picture but by the time I got to it, it wasn't too pretty. I did get a side of elote which was yummy! I did not expect the chipotle twist but I got used to it and devoured it haha I'll be definitely ordering again to give it an honest taste read more

Offset BBQ - Offset Burger - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Everything runs smoothly and at a high level. Service drinks, food friendliness all 4-5 stars. We had the chicken fried ribs. Unbelievable. Soooo tender smoky with the thin crispy coating. The margarita was perfect. We also had the BBBLT and a brisket Sammie the meat moist. I loved the woven bacon and toasted buttered bread. The only miss was the coleslaw IMHO, needed more flavor and a little less crunch. We have to return to try other menu items OMG. And the no metered street parking. Amazing read more

Offset BBQ - The BBBLT reveal - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had Offset catered to the Loop for a meeting last month and the food blew my guests away. They loved everything ordered which were: St. Louis Style Ribs Beef Brisket Cornbread Offset Wings Spinach Salad Elote Huli Huli Green Beans Seasoned Waffle Fries Blueberry Hand Pies with ice cream Very Cheesy Cauliflower All of the meats were so flavorful, tender and juicy with the right amount of smoke. Cornbread has whole kernals of corn in it, so that may be an issue for those with certain texture preferences, but I loved the buttery and diversity of corn flavors and texture of the bread. I wish the Elote was not a whole corn because it was a bit messy for eating in a professional environment. I thought it would spoonable corn kernals like I've had at other places. So maybe pictures with descriptions on the ordering website would be helpful. The sides were also great and those handpies with vanilla ice cream are to die for. Ordering online was super easy. Make sure you note and call to request plates and utensils. I thought I clicked to select it, but I didn't get any. I must visit the establishment one day to get 'em extra fresh and hot next time. read more

I am shocked how good this place was tonight. Our original plans fell through and we were looking for a great place for four adults and a toddler. One person recommended this place and it was outstanding. We started with the BBQueso Fundido which was very tasty. We also got some smoked wings which might be some of the best wings I've ever had. I went with the All Beef platter with fries and elotes. I also splurged for the ribs. While the portions looked a little small, it was filling. I especially liked the ribs and elotes. The beef brisket was pretty good too, but pretty standard. It fell apart which was key for me! I wasn't looking forward to to beef sausage, but I was very surprised. It was much more flavorful than I thought. It was also cooked a little crispier which was a concept I loved. I finished with the brownie with banana ice cream. All of it was excellent. Probably the best part was the service. She was one of the best servers I've ever had in a restaurant. She knew the menu, made some tasty recommendations and treated the toddler like a princess. She knew what she was doing and I loved it! I will be bringing my parents back here soon! read more

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Fantastic smoked turkey for thanksgiving! Fast friendly and responsive. Will go again to eat at the restaurant soon!

I absolutely LOVE this restaurant. We have been coming here since they opened in early 2021 and since have been back dozens of times both with and without our 2 kids. The staff have treated us like family and know our names and our kids' names, and it's the most welcoming place. I love walking in and seeing the same faces we've known for years, and the food is some of my favorite I've ever had. I have a hard time ordering something different than Abuelita's rice bowl, I get it almost every time, yet I've tried most of the menu over the years. Their BBQ is just amazing. I'm not quite a rib connoisseur but I KNOW these are incredible, they are so tender and just fall off the bone. This is random but their ranch dip is definitely the best I've ever had, I always find myself stealing tastes from my kids' meals. This restaurant is cozy in the winter and breezy/relaxing in the summer- they have the front garage-door windows open AND outdoor seating. Carlo, Doug and Maria are just the most wonderful people (and any other staff we may not know as well) and I cannot recommend it more. This is definitely our go-to restaurant, I just love it!! read more

Doug really helped hook it up with the catering. My work team was gathering together in the office for lunch and I figured this would be perfect for a summertime meal. Yes it's a bit heavy but oh so good. We got a salad ribs, brisket, chicken, Cheesy cauliflower, Corn, And green beans. everything was so delicious and flavorful. The sauces were amazing. I would totally order from here again. read more

Food was outstanding. Great smoke flavor and selection. The brisket melt sandwich is highly recommended. Service was awesome.

Food service and ambiance all off the charts. I wasn't expecting this to be how great it was but the meat was so soft and perfectly seasoned. The sides were inventive Abner was the best server we had on our whole trip. The music and decor just an amazing dining experience! 11 out of 10! read more

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