Station One Smokehouse

There is also Garage Band Brewing in downtown Plainfield. If that's not good enough, it is next door to Station One Smokehouse.

The best Texas style BBQ Chicago has to offer that I have found this far is Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield and now also in Yorkville.

Station One Smokehouse

Ha, I can promise you I don't even know who works in advertising at the Tribune. But I was most impressed with all of the barbecue spots. Start with Soul & Smoke, Green Street Smoked Meats, and Station One Smokehouse. As for Jewish delis, Manny's now has two pastrami options, which are really interesting. Eleven City Diner's version has just the right amount of fat, which is super important. Steingold's is a bit smokier, though also leaner. Lardon's version was also astonishing. I wish you could order it on bread with just some mustard. It's a great Reuben, but the meat could stand on its own.

My favorite pastrami in Chicago

I wasn't expecting to put together a list of the best pastrami in Chicago. I just kind of stumbled into it. While hunting for the best barbecue in the city, I noticed that a number of places also served pastrami. Barbecue joints already have smokers, so they just have to brine the beef and smoke it to make the dish. But I wasn't expecting them to be so well executed. That said, there are still some classic Jewish delis that are doing a great job. I was also impressed by a number of restaurants taking the time to make it from scratch. But I did encounter a lot of dry and boring pastrami along the way. Chicago's never been much of a pastrami town, since corned beef is more popular here. Fortunately, it really does feel like that's changing. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer

I am a native Chicagoan and Smoque to me is just good not great. Within the city limits I prefer Green Street Meats but if I want great BBQ (mind you haven’t found any chicago BBQ on oar with Texas) I am driving to Plainfield for Station One Smokehouse or Wheaton for Steamboat BBQ. There was a post recently that included Station one so I have added some other they mentioned to my must try list, including Chicago Culinary Kitchen in Palatine.

Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield has some association with green street meats and equally incredible pastrami!

This is definitely not Chicago's strong suit. Brisket has only recently been growing in popularity here. You'll have more luck in the suburbs, with places like Station One Smokehouse and Chicago Culinary Kitchen.

[https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-best-barbecue-in-suburbs-20220905-msrvop3ws5cm7ch7jzrrisrxdm-list.html](https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-best-barbecue-in-suburbs-20220905-msrvop3ws5cm7ch7jzrrisrxdm-list.html) Culinary Kitchen is definitely on the list. So is Station One Smokehouse, Soul & Smoke, Mel’s Craft Barbecue and Moontime Smokin’ Que. Since posting, I found Lucy's BBQ in northern Indiana, which I'd also include. https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-lucys-bbq-highland-indiana-tt-0315-20230315-nl2ysp4yivfsjc4wcbgb5cxbsi-story.html

Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville for beer, Ten Drops in Plainfield for Coffee. Stop in at Station One Smokehouse while you're there for fantastic BBQ.

Lots more to do in downtown Plainfield, Garage Band Brewing is pretty good (though I prefer Werk Force which is a bit removed from the downtown area). They are also next door to Station One Smokehouse which is great.

Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield. The owner/head chef grew up out this way. He’s a classically trained chef and ended up being the head chef for Green Street Smoked Meats in the city (best BBQ in the city) when they opened. He left and opened Station One with the same recipes but expanded the menu.

I’m currently at the ex-chef’s Plainfield outpost Station One Smokehouse. Can confirm the smoked Turkey is great

Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield

Fat Rosies in Frankfort Corner Stone Tavern in Lemont Bee Brothers in Romeoville Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield

Have a 22.5 WSM modded with a FireBoard Drive and do a fair bit at home as well. Brisket, ribs, chicken wings, pulled pork, Texas hot guts, maybe even throw the Mac and cheese on for 30-45 minutes… For my money the best BBQ in Chicago is definitely Green Street. When the brisket is on, one of the best single bites I can have on any given day is the burnt ends with a bit of white bread and a pickle chip or two. Sleeper hit are the ribs, which I find still to be as good, or even better than most any other place. Smoque is good, but it’s not great in the way that Green Street can be. That said, they have had some consistency issues, but Green Street is more often a hit than a miss. And their misses are still usually as good as most other well thought of BBQ places in the city. If anyone is

I haven’t lived in Joliet for a few years, but here are a smattering of favorites from there and close by: - Joliet: Chicken N Spice (also in Shorewood), Chicago St Pub, La Mex, Maurie’s Table (pizza), Jody’s Hot Dogs, Old Fashioned Pancake House - Not a far drive from Larkin: 1. Plainfield: Baby Back Blues, Moe Joe’s, Station One Smokehouse, Tap House Grill 2. Crest Hill: Firewater BBQ, Southern Cafe 3. Romeoville: Tasty Waffle/Shorewood: Crispy Waffle 4. Lockport: Mamma Onesta’s 5. Shorewood: Casa Maya

Songbird Cafe in New Lennox - Great Breakfast Fat Rosies in Frankfort - Good Mexican. Great Brunch Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield - BEST BBQ in the county Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park - Great beer, better tacos! La Dolce Vita in Lemont - Great Italian

Songbird Cafe in New Lennox - Great Breakfast Fat Rosies in Frankfort - Good Mexican. Great Brunch Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield - BEST BBQ in the county Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park - Great beer, better tacos! La Dolce Vita in Lemont - Great Italian

Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield for brisket Doc Watson’s Smokehouse in Romeoville for pastrami Frugal Muse in Darien for used books And I haven’t been to it yet, but the Donut Den in Joliet looks amazing.