Wow, just wow! Haven't had Smoke Daddy in a few years, Ordered today on Caviar. OUTSTANDING!!!

I went to the Wicker Park location on a Sunday evening. It was very nice, open, and pleasant. I had the $27 meat sampler, brisket, baby back ribs, bbq chicken, Mac and cheese, beans, and cornbread. God bless the cornbread! It was AMAZING and I am from Texas, so we are some cornbread eating people. The brisket was awesome. The ribs were good but slightly over cooked. I didn't care for the bbq chicken. The mac and cheese was good but could've been hotter in temp. The beans were great but again, not hot enough in temp. read more

Not the best in town but damn good. The brisket was excellent, good macaroni and cheese and great pulled pork. This is my offices favorite place for lunch. read more

Tuesday afternoon, 2:43PM: Got the 'Taste of the Daddy' Baby Back Ribs, pulled pork & brisket w/ sweet potato fries & coleslaw. Drank water=$28.20 with tip out the door. Nice place, cool to look at all the stuff on the walls. OK the food: The GOOD: fantastic coleslaw which was super fresh and great taste. fantastic pulled pork!! Super fine pulled pork which we will order again along with the coleslaw. The BAD: brisket was super well done and dry on top of tuff to chew. The UGLY: sweet potato fries were thin pieces of overcooked & greasy "things" with no flavor and harder to chew then the brisket. Real poor sweet potato fries. The UGLIER: the baby back ribs tasted like somekind of charcoal liter fluid chemical taste!! Won't order those again. Might come back. read more

Their BBQ is excellent, best in the city. But last time i went, i noticed that some of the sides had changed. The sweet potato fries did not taste like they were from fresh sweet potatoes. That and the "homemade" BBQ chips tasted like it had store-bought seasoning on it with way too much salt. I love this place, and hate to see them slip and take short cuts. The baby-back ribs are ridiculously good though. read more

Fact of life: BBQ is awesome. The Smoke Daddy offers a concise menu of barbecue goodness - ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken. While I can't complain about the ribs, which were full of smoky goodness and fall off the bone tender, the pulled pork left something to be desired - a bit dry, and not all that flavorful. We had the brisket also, which was fine. As far as sides go, neither their slaw nor their green beans were fantastic. Did love the mac and cheese, though, and the sweet potato fries weren't bad either. What I really disliked about The Smoke Daddy was the sauces they offered - ostensibly three distinct sauces, they were all generic and a bit too sweet. Their 'sweet' sauce was cloyingly sweet, and the mustard and vinegar based sauces were also lacking in bite. Overall a very serviceable barbecue joint if you focus on what they do well. read more

It can be a nightmare to park if you want to go to Smoke Daddy. I am sure that experience varies and is not an issue if you live close by. We had to wait a few minutes in a small line that went out the front door. Of course, they were just featured on Check Please recently. We did not mind the wait. It was not bad and as soon as we got thru the door we were greeted, given a time estimate and our name was put on a list. We managed to quickly get a spot at the bar. We were seated in about half the estimated time at a table. We were not given water, which was ok I guess. Order was taken quickly. Nothing was explained to us, not even about the bbq sauce that was on the table. The sweet potato fries are pretty good, not fabulous. The corn bread is nice, moist. Small but that is ok, we don't always need to have big portions. Just reporting the size. The smoke daddy style cheeseburger was alright but not special and the bun was not very good. We had thought it was going to be very good so that was disappointing. We didn't care for the pulled pork. The baby back ribs looked really good but they were not good. We barely forced ourselves to eat half of them. The brisket was alright but not great. Nothing special to say about the sauces or flavors either. Maybe they are better and there was just a problem today. The food came out pretty fast, but it was almost cold. What was that about? We were looking forward to this place and thought it looked great. I cannot recommend it because it was cold and didn't taste very good. I wouldn't say not to go there but we spent over $48.00 for two people w drinks and tip. The food could have at least been hot. The staff was friendly and the server still got the usual 20% even though the food was lacking. The Saturday entertainment must not have been ready to play yet. Either that or we just missed it. read more

Very surprised the overall rating for this place is 3.5 stars. Their whole menu is amazing. The ribs don't even need sauce which is the mark of good BBQ...it's all in the rub. People may say that the price is a little high but it's BBQ and meat ain't cheap. read more

Went to this place around 10 p.m. Friday night because I had heard very good things about it and I wanted some meat! I also appreciate very good barbeque, brisket, etc. My friend had the baby back ribs and I had the Brisket sandwich. Let me first say that the time between ordering and receiving our food took less than five minutes--seriously. My friend and I were wondering how that was possible. After we each took a bite, we sort of realized that we were given the 'end of the night' or 'bottom of the barrel' leftovers. The ribs had an OK flavor, but the meat seemed of a lower quality and less flavorful than other ribs I've had in Chicago. The sliced brisket left a LOT to be desired. It was dry, shaved very thin, almost like you got it from a grocery store deli. The baked beans I had as a side were OK, but had an unusual aftertaste, again not bad, but certainly not as good as the barbeque beans at smoque or some of the others. My friend got the mac and cheese as a side. It looked promising with the breadcrumbs on the top! But alas, not actually baked, just a clever attempt to deceive. The cornbread was actually pretty good. Nice outdoor seating area, they did have live music too, which apparently they have every night. Overall, DON'T go here if you're expecting great food. Go to smoque or somewhere else instead. Also, $3.50 for a PBR seemed a little ridiculous, but just saying. read more

This is by far some of the best BBQ I've had in Chicago in quite a while. It's a busy area so parking took a little time to find, but it was worth the effort. A good selection of micro brews on tap is always a good way to start a meal. The chicken wings were awesome, some of the best i've ever had. Great spices, super crispy skin. They don't come sauced, but you don't need any to enjoy these. We split the large platter with the ribs, brisket, and chicken. It would be hard to pick a favorite because everything was great. For sides we had fries and cornbread. Only complaint would be that the cornbread was a little oily, but I would still eat it again. Their BBQ sauces come on the side and it was hard to pick a favorite between the three. A little spicy, smoky, and sweet. It was a semi-busy night and we sat outside. Service was good and attentive. read more

My man and I LOVE to eat all of Smoke Daddy's delicious MEAT. His favorite is the brisket and mine is the smoked chicken. *HINT: I like to order the 1/2 smoked chicken knowing I never finish it-- it makes AMAZING soup the next day the way it just shreds right off the bone!! My honey says their barbeque baked beans are the best he's ever had, and he doesn't even like baked beans!! I love the cornbread and order it almost every time. Other good things to order: the chili, the mac & cheese and basically any of the meats. Word to the wise: if you don't like a loud restaurant, check the website before you go to see if/when they have live music. The bands are usually good, but because it's a small place it gets very loud. read more

Love it, been there well over a dozen times and it never disappoints. atmosphere and best bbq in city

the smoke daddy has the best bbq in chicago. The pulled meat plate is amazing, so are the sweet potato fries and the mac n cheese. They also carry a great selection of local craft beers. another plus, live music every night, and out door seating. the space is pretty small, so make sure you call ahead to make a reservation or show up early. but its well worth the wait! read more

I could not decide what to get because it smelled amazing in this place and as I saw other people's orders getting to their perspective tables they all beckoned to be my mouthmate. My brain was in full on indecisiveness mode.. so I went with the "taste of Daddy" (which sounds somewhat dirty in a sexual innuendo way, but I assure you is awesome) and got ribs, brisket, and pork, with mac-n-cheese and cornbread as my sides. This meal was incredible in both size and taste, I took left over's home for a snack and lunch the next day. The service was awesome and the few people I was with all loved there food as well. It's close to the Blueline and a couple major bus lines and even has live music depending on the day. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for awesome BBQ! read more

Prices are high. Food is great. Parking is slim. Music definite plus!

This is one of my favorite BBQ places in all of Chicago. Very unpretentious, you'll feel like you're sitting in a blues bar in Memphis somewhere on Beale Street. The outdoor space in front is an added bonus here in the summertime. I am a huge fan of the pulled pork sandwich, but the ribs and brisket don't lack either. But those beans...are absolutely divine! This place is a hybrid of the Memphis/Kansas City BBQ styles and everything is solid. One thing I love about this place is that they keep the meats/sauces/bread separate when you order takeout or delivery which lets you assemble your sandwich yourself and prevents it from being a sloppy mess when it arrives. I think this place is right up there with the best in the city. read more

I think that the ribs were the best I've ever eaten. They were awesome ribs that I have to try again. We tried the beef brisket, which was good but not as good as the brisket at Smoque. The pulled pork was ok, nothing special, but each of the different sauces were good. The portions were huge. Way too much food, but I enjoyed all of it. read more

Haven't had anything I really didn't like here, my favorite is the burnt ends. Get the beer cheese for an appetizer. Overall a good place for BBQ in Chicago. read more

It's loud; everytime I go here the place is booming with people and the acoustics are poor. I have to shout at whomever I'm with to be heard. Limited seating inside, but when it's warmer you can sit outside. Local musicians play at night. It didn't help with the noise factor, but the musician was good. The places is decorated cute w/ twisted perverted signs on the wall. "Ribs for her pleasure." LOL I ordered the burnt ends, ribs, yam fries, and collard greens. The meat was good and they give you a decent portion. I loved the yam fries, but the greens...NO! Don't do it! "Forgetaboutit" peeps. Pass on the grass. One big negative was no labels their bbq sauces. There are three different kinds at the table, but no one explains what kind are which. read more

AMAZING BBQ. Some of the best BBQ I have had since I lived in Memphis. Thank you Smoke Daddy!

Kill'n it! I am out visiting from California tried a few BBQ spots and Smoke Daddy was amazing! Corn bread and ribs were on point!

I really want to love this place. It is a really good place, but there are a couple minor drawbacks. First off, good luck even making it to the door because parking is horrendous over there. The menu is kinda small and actually so is the place itself. The waitstaff can be slow at times, even when it's not busy. The atmosphere is cool. I guess they have live music some nights, although I've never been. Drink selection isn't extensive, but it's more quality than quantity. The food is good. I'd say the pulled pork is probably the best thing on the menu. And if you have room, try the banana pudding. As a bonus, if you're looking for your corned beef fix on St. Patrick's Day, go see the daddy. Corned beef isn't a regular menu item. Only one day a year and it's phenomenal! read more

I went with a friend for the half price burgers. The food and beer were very good, but I thought the atmosphere was a little stiff. There was a musician playing which lightened up the atmosphere. I would expect a BBQ place to be a little more relaxed. read more

went back in early 2011 and ran up a nice tab for lunch.... much better than when we last went. Yes, I realize I'm posting this two years late. It takes me an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes. Sue me. read more

I eat a lot of BBQ, and since Smoke Daddy completed their expansion- more indoor seating, new menu, longer hours, nicer patio, I've been going more. It does help that I can walk there in 5 mins... although sometimes it's too tempting. They're one of the only places that does Burnt Ends well. I've had them in a sandwich and as part of a breakfast skillet, and both were awesome. Their pulled pork is also fantastic- comes very moist and with a great smoke flavor. You can top any of it with either of their house sauces, one slightly sweeter, one slightly spicier- both perfect accompaniments to their meats. Definitely try the sweet potato fries too. Their new brunch has some standard breakfast foods- pancakes, omlettes, etc.- but what sets it apart are items like the Pulled Pork Benedict, Burnt End Skillet and Bloody Mary garnished with pickles and meat. read more

BBQ heaven, that's all I'm saying. I went there for lunch on a Friday afternoon and the place wasn't super crowded mainly people on lunch breaks like myself and my friend. We both ordered the platter which comes with 2 choice of meat, I ordered chicken and pulled pork and 2 sides, mac and cheese and cornbread for me. The whole platter was outstanding! The meat was mouthwatering, mac and cheese was portioned perfectly and it was cheesy greatness. The cornbread had jalapenos in it and it made it savory enough, I devour it. They need to improve on service though. We waited for 10 minutes to even get a server and then once we asked for our check it took another 15 minutes for her to take it. When you're in a business lunch, time is crucial! So keep this in mind if you're on a tight schedule. read more

I am not a BBQ expert, but I think I could tell if it was legit or not. I ordered carryout for 6 people, and I wanted to make sure we sampled many of the BBQ options and sides as we could handle. I ordered the St. Louis Style ribs and the Baby Back ribs. I also ordered the Brisket and the Pulled Pork as sides. I would rank them Brisket, Baby Back, St. Louis, and Pull Pork. Each one was good, and I would order them again, but the Brisket was above them all. As far as sides, the Pit Beans are at the top of my list. If I could order a vat of the beans, I would do so with no shame. read more

Super yummy barbeque! Fun and relaxed atmosphere. The manager was really nice to the group I was with. We had to wait awhile for our table so he gave us all a free drink. Good service goes a long way in my book. Looking forward to going back. read more

I've been too this place a couple of times and since it was always packed we always ordered out and ate once inside. Pretty decent. I think they added chairs outside and extra space now. I'll update this when I go back. read more

Can't say enough good things about this place. I have never been disappointed with their service or their food. I love BBQ in general, but I honestly think that as far as places in Chicago go, this is one of, if not the best place to go. They also expanded the place, which makes it even better and more of a chance to get seating! If you have to wait, its worth it! read more

Great burnt ends sandwich, good fries and cold beers. Great service and I love all the sauces

Nice place nice people but barbecue is subpar the flavor coming from the sauce not the meat read more

Smoke Daddy - Smoked wing - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been to this establishment at least three or four times every year for the last three years and the food has been amazing!! But the terrible atrocious service brings this place way down. I was there about 6 months ago with a friend and we were two of 6 diners in the place for lunch it took 5 mins to get our beers and the waitresses were sitting down talking when our food was in the window. This place needs some serious management overhaul. Awful dreadful service. Be prepared for great food but frustration with the service. read more

I go to The Smoke Daddy a few times a year for dinner. The baby back ribs are great, as is the iced tea. Never been let down. I've had good service each time too. read more

Recently used them for Catering...I ordered food for 30 people, they arrived on time to deliver and set up rather quickly and the driver was awesome. We got plenty of food and of course the food was yummy, it was a hit among our guest...would highly recommend this place for eating at their restaurant or catering, yummy food and great prices. Thanks for everything guys...Christina and Tai were aawesome! read more

I had the ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and mac n cheese. The brisket was flavorful and tender and the mac n cheese had a hint of smoke to it which added a good amount of flavor. The ribs were a huge miss, they were tough, lacked flavor, and the sauce didn't add anything - I make better ribs at home. With the pulled pork they drench it in bbq sauce and it's impossible to taste the meat, I hate when restaurants do this, just put the sauce on the side. There are a number of other great bbq places in Chicago with comparable prices and would recommend those before sending someone here. read more

I always eat Chicago style baby back ribs when I go to a barbecue place. This meat falls off of the bone! Love the sauce and the meat is very tasty, flavorful and so tender. If you are up for awesome baby back ribs then this is your place. The desserts are good too. read more

Brisket was overlooked and the collard greens were just plain awful. I think there were grains of sand in them. Only DECENT thing was the coleslaw. read more

Signed up for Yelp just to write a review on this establishment. Co-worker hyped Smoke Daddy's up, so I decided to take my husband out to eat here, being that we both love BBQ food. Was so excited to eat here and got highly let down. My husband ordered the sampler ribs with 2 sides, thought we give all the rib flavors a try. Ribs were burnt and dry like beef jerky. No taste and not your meat did not fall right off the bone like ribs are susposed to.Sides were ok Mac and cheese and sweet potato fries only thing small portioned . I ordered bbq pulled chicken sandwich, pulled chicken was gross tasting and it came on one of those buns you can get in a 8 pack at wal-mart for a $1.49. Wait staff was terrible never came and checked up on the table. Giving that It wasn't even that busy there is no excuses. Never will go here again or recommend it. read more

The service here is horrible, the worst I have ever had. Was seated outside and it took well over 30 min just to get a drink on a slow Sunday, at least 5 waitresses walked past the table with no service. I would not subject this place based purely upon the horrid service. Never even got the food either... read more