Smoque BBQ

Food Thoughts After a Week in Chicago

Spent a week in the area (from Seattle). Your city was awesome, generally all red meat dishes were better than what I get back home. Hospitality was also superb. This is a ranking from my personal perspective of the things I ate (doesn’t count bars/coffee/desserts) 1. Pequods (Double sausage no veggie) 2. Carniceria Maribel (carne asada + Al pastor tacos) 3. Smoque BBQ (Gumbo) 4. Del Seoul (shrimp tacos) 5. The Warbler (mushroom soup) 6. Al’s Italian Beef (Italian beef) 7. Wild Berry pancakes (Wild berry pancakes) 8. Santouka (spicy miso ramen) 9. Iron Age (beef brisket+plain pork belly) 10. Qing Xiang Yuan (fried lamb dumplings, lamb skewers) 11. Portillo’s (Chicago dog) 12. Gilt (spicy orichette) 13. Strings Ramen (kura buta ramen) 14. Gopchang Story (beef and pork combo) 15. Sutadonya

Smoque BBQ named best barbecue in Illinois

I haven’t eaten at literally every bbq joint in Illinois, but damn Smoque is great. What do all you think?

Green city Meats, Smoque BbQ

My First Visit to Chicago

Just got back home after visiting Chicago for the first time. I absolutely loved the city! I think it’s one of, if not the best large city I’ve been to. Things I liked the most was the beautiful architecture, the friendly people, and the ability to get around the city by walking and subway. I met some locals at the bars and everyone was talkative and friendly. I ate at Luke’s, First Draft, Smoque BBQ, Lou Malnati’s, Portillo’s, and Monteverde. I got to see most of the iconic buildings and walked 25 miles around the city. I also was lucky enough to go to the White Sox doubleheader on Tuesday ($5 beers??). How’d I do? Let me know what restaurants, attractions, or bars I missed so I can add them to the list for next time!

Cheessteaks I'd go Monti's. For a cheat day? If I'm with a group, Dim Sum. If I'm by myself, Iron Age or Smoque BBQ.

First Look: Smoque Steak, a steakhouse by Smoque BBQ, opening in Chicago

First Look: Smoque Steak, a steakhouse by Smoque BBQ, opening in Chicago

Smoque BBQ Celebrates 15 Years With a Special Occasion Sandwich

Smoque BBQ Celebrates 15 Years With a Special Occasion Sandwich

Leon’s Sauce on Smoque BBQ Brisket and Ribs.

Leon’s Sauce on Smoque BBQ Brisket and Ribs.

Smoque BBQ for ribs and briskets! They also offer curbside pickup. Welcome to the city.

$10 Restaurant gift cards (free) -- The Restaurant Deck, a la card

Chicago's restaurants, bars, and their employees are going to need a raise once the COVID-19 shutdown ends. With that in mind, I'm offering the following free $10 gift cards to Chicago restaurants. My hope is that once restaurants reopen, the gift cards will encourage people to get back into restaurants and spend some money (and tip!). It's also a great excuse to try a new restaurant. Please claim the gift card in the comments below and confirm no one has already claimed that restaurant. Don't claim more than one card. The card requires a minimum purchase of $25 and can't just be for alcohol. If you claim a card, please message me your name, address and the claimed card, and I'll then mail the card to you. (FWIW: This is where I got the cards; well worth the money if you eat out enough [

MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2020 Bib Gourmands - List with map link

From: https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/illinois/chicago/article/news-and-views/michelin-guide-chicago-2020-bib-gourmand-results / r/chicago conversation: MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2020 Bib Gourmands List: * Arami - Sushi - West Town - https://goo.gl/maps/mmaGfR2TcPtbUYBW7 * Avec - Mediterranean - West Loop/Fulton Market - https://goo.gl/maps/TWbdQPXDcYPdpfne9 * Avlí Taverna (NEW) - Greek - Lincoln Park - https://goo.gl/maps/Ed8e3T448iw96165A * Birrieria Zaragoza (NEW) - Mexican - Archer Heights - https://goo.gl/maps/ExZ6Hqo29ziEvTBr7 * Cabra (NEW) - Peruvian - Fulton Market/Randolph Street - https://goo.gl/maps/q8B8q83SuEqPh1ADA * Ceres’ Table - Italian - Lake View - https://goo.gl/maps/DxHMTCRVqg6z5f4fA * Chilam Balam - Mexican - Lake View - https://goo.gl/maps/ypJ9yqkGvDZreFie7 * Cira (NE

* Arami * Avec * Avlí Taverna (NEW) * Birrieria Zaragoza (NEW) * Cabra (NEW) * Ceres’ TAble * Chilam Balam * Cira (NEW) * County Barbecue (NEW) * Daguan Noodle * Daisies * DeCOLORES * Dos Urban Cantina * The Duck Inn * etta (NEW) * Fat Rice * Flat & Point (NEW) * Frontera Grill * Funkenhausen (NEW) * Ghin Khao (NEW) * Giant * Gilt Bar * Girl & The Goat * GT Fish & Oyster * HaiSous * Herb * Ina Mae Tavern (NEW) * Jam * Kai Zan * Kie-Gol-Lanee (NEW) * La Josie (NEW) * Lonesome Rose * Longman & Eagle * Lula Café * Mango Pickle * Marisol * mfk. * Mi Tocaya * Mott St. * Nella Pizza e Pasta (NEW) * Pacific Standard Time * Passerotto * Pizzeria Bebu * Pleasant House Pub * Proxi * The Purple Pig * San Soo Gab San * Smoque BBQ * Sol de Mexico * Table, Donkey and Stick * True Food Ki

Blue line to Damen. Eat a taco at Big Star. Maybe a margarita or whiskey. You're now a local. Go one stop north to Western. Eat a hot fudge sundae at Margie's Candies to wash down the taco. Go one stop north to California. Eat a pretzel with cheese sauce and get a beer at Revolution. Or a single slice of pizza (sausage) at Boiler Room. And a beer. Bring cash or use their ATM and get a free shot. Go a few more stops north to Irving Park. Walk to Smoque BBQ. Get the brisket and as many side dishes as you feel comfortable eating. It's probably time to get back to O'hare. Go to Tortas Frontera in the airport. I'd say either the Milanesa or the Pepito. Chips and guac are optional. Sleep on the outbound flight. ​

My Chicago Spots List (what next?)

Crisp chicken - Lincoln Park , Korean chicken, a joint, cheap, carry out/ delivery Athenian room - Greek, Lincoln Park, cheap Hash house - good brunch Gold Coast Q BBQ - Gold Coast bbq, dank Mac and cheese UrbanBelly- wicker park / west loop, Asian fusion, deliver, coconut chicken Pho, phat style rice bowl, dumplings BLVD - nice dinner west loop Toro - Lincoln park, hole in the wall sushi, Mitch owner is the bomb Cafe ba-ba-reeba - Lincoln park, great tapas and sangria, fun brunch The gage - Michigan Ave loop, American nicer, mussels, venison burger Summerhouse - Lincoln park, great ambience, American food, summer, date night Hubbard Inn - river north, happy hour, seafood Cold storage - seafood, happy hour, 1 dollar oysters Honey Butter chicken - dank chicken sandwich

Fire at Smoque BBQ closes acclaimed Chicago restaurant temporarily

Fire at Smoque BBQ closes acclaimed Chicago restaurant temporarily

Angry Crab Arami Au Cheval Avec bellyQ Bohemian House The Bristol Ceres’ Table Chilam Balam Cumin *Daguan Noodle *Daisies DeCOLORES Dos Urban Cantina Dove’s Luncheonette The Duck Inn Fat Rice Frontera Grill Giant Gilt Bar Girl & The Goat GT Fish & Oyster HaiSous Han 202 Herb Hopleaf *Jade Court Jam Jin Thai Kai Zan *Lonesome Rose Longman & Eagle Lula Café Mana Food Bar Mango Pickle *Marisol mfk. MingHin Mi Tocaya Mott St. Nana *Pacific Standard Time *Passerotto *Pizzeria Bebu Pleasant House Pub *Proxi The Purple Pig Quiote Sabri Nihari San Soo Gab San Smoque BBQ Sol de Mexico Sushi Dokku Table, Donkey and Stick True Food Kitchen TWO Untitled Supper Club Wood Asterisks indicate new additions this year.

Smoque BBQ

Smoque BBQ

Smoque BBQ in Chicago, IL

Smoque BBQ in Chicago, IL

* Have yet to receive any seafood parcels from Rahm * Can't get giardiniera when out of town * Frequently late to work from all the Stanley Cup parades * Chris Farley is still dead * Having to choose between 114 beers at Howells & Hood * Bears tickets are expensive even when subzero * Getting fat from all the damn tamale carts in Pilsen * Not being able to spend every summer day in a boat * Underappreciating our world class museums * Have not ran into Vince Vaughn * It's not 1995 and I don't have Bulls tickets * Malort * Amazing concerts & shows every week, hurts my wallet * Argyle is far and pho is good * Not living next to Joakim @ Trump Tower * Wasting 15 minutes a day commuting to work * Having spent $0 on car related expenses in almost 5 years * Smoque BBQ isn't constantly in

St. Louis style ribs at Smoque BBQ in Chicago with mac & cheese, cole slaw, and beans.

St. Louis style ribs at Smoque BBQ in Chicago with mac & cheese, cole slaw, and beans.