Honky Tonk BBQ Reviews

I just want to say that if you like Latin American music, this is the right place on Thursdays. From folkloric to oldies, every week is a different style, but in the same line of music. And don't forget your dancing shoes! The wooden floor is perfect to stomp! Plus the ribs and bbq chicken are superb.

When you walk into the Honky Tonk BBQ, it looks like an old saloon from back in the day. It's a pretty dark atmosphere, but when you order, be ready for some good BBQ. You cannot go wrong with Brisket or Pulled Pork. I met the pitmaster Willy. I learned a bit about the type of smoker he uses. Once you take that first bite, you will be hooked! It's not like some other BBQ places that just says BBQ, but loaded with Liquid Smoke. This place is the real deal. If you're on Racine Avenue in Chicago and have a craving for BBQ, this is your spot!

My godson took me here for a Christmas present and he raved about the food. I was not disappointed. The food was very good and there was plenty of it. we each got the sampler and really one to split would have been enough. the staff was very friendly and the service was excellent. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Friendly jus taste terrible the food cane cold be cuz I notices the short staff was bring food for 3 _4 tables at a time bring out as it comes up waiting to deliver in 1 trip food was cold. Tips took much fat brisket no flavor it all was boiled then smoked for flavor I will not come back nor tell anyone to come. Staff was nice very nice

You won't find any place like it in Chicago. Restaurant in back and tavern/bar in front where you can also eat. I usually order the pulled pork or beef brisket sandwich and always ask for the homemade horseradish they will bring you in a small cup. EXCELLENT ! If it were just a restaurant, it wouldn't get all five stars. But every night they have excellent live music in the bar. Not too loud to be offensive as you can still carry on a conversation, but you probably won't because the music will be so good you will want to pay attention to it. Best jazz band in Chicago on Sundays, and top flight music from around the country on Fridays and Saturdays. Please don't come and get the place all crowded, this is a hidden gem and we don't want it spoiled with big crowds. Oh, by the way.... their is no cover charge for the music which makes this place the best bargain in town.

I had the pulled pork and my friend the ribs, both were delicious, I would tend to prefer the ribs, thought. The mac and cheese are delicious, the mashed potatoes with garlic not so much, well, I couldn't taste the garlic, that's what was problematic. We had the candied bacon as a starter, this was reeeeeaaaaally good, but make sure you are at least 3 to eat it, or that you really like sweet stuff because it can be a bit too much. The music is really nice and reminds of coy-boys movies, nice atmosphere.

This place just keeps getting better and better. I am happy that the back finally has AC and more tables. The food is delicious and besides the never go wrong barbegue, I have the Goat Cheese Salad that was out of this world!!! Our server Heather was helpful and helpful and made our visit excellent!

Firstly, the neighbourhood really isn't that sketchy. This is our first trip to Chicago, and I felt far from uncomfortable. Relax everyone. The room is an absolute stunner. It has an old-timey music hall type feel too it, and the bar looks like it could support some serious drinking. Beers were on point; great prices too. Our server was prompt and friendly, and the rest of the staff were efficient. We ordered a full slab of baby back ribs and a brisket platter with a side of mac and cheese. Everything was excellent. Honestly top tier. The ribs and the mac were the standouts for me, and I'll be dreaming about them for weeks to come. Smoky and filled with flavour, so no sauces required (but they are delicious, anyway!) Doubt the doubters, and get here.

I've been several times to this charming joint in the heart-of-the-heart of Pilsen. During our last visit the owner came by and explained to us the difference between a baby back rib and a St. Louis rib, (go for the St Louis, his sage advice) and assured us he's got brisket "down." He does. Menu offers a variety of options including several sampler platters for people like me who faced with the monumental choice between pulled pork, ribs, or barbecued chicken, can not choose. A variety of great sides too--all served in mugs. Decor is hipster whimsy, which accounts for the sea of bearded, carhartt hatted dudes you'll be sitting amongst. Candy bacon? Get it as an appetizer and resist the urge to order more. Cole slaw was a little dry for me and the hot link many of the dishes come with is really just a glorified breakfast sausage--it's good but why bother when there is so much way, way better to be had. I go as often as I can.

We went here to grab something to eat before we went to a nearby concert. I was very hungry but ended up only eating about half my food. Lukewarm temperature at best and not the biggest or best flavor either. To top it off, everything is sold separately (sides etc) — nothing comes with any sandwich or entree. So we each got a quite small portion of food and one beer each and our bill was like $44 before tip. Also took quite a while to get any service before and during our time there.

We had a sisters vacation in Chicago and went to this place for wonderful Bar B Q and great people watching. THere is apparently a live band every night but we went on Sunday night and there was a big jazz band and the locals were dressed to the nines having a fantastic time dancing. Def a top recommendation.

We went on a SUnday evening since there was a band playing music from the '20's and '30's. The amount of seating was limited but we were able to get a table for 4. The music was good since that was the reason to go there. But the food was less than satisfactory. The beef brisket sandwich had a lot of fat and there wasn't much on the bun either. My wife had a chicken sandwich but not much meat on it. The sides were extra, which made the tab about $15 a person. But were we still hungry!

we visited here for two nights running recently. Meal, service and welcome were all excellent, a great venue that has live music most nights. Beer selection was good as was the wine.

Not amazing but good. We ordered the sampler plate to share and it was enough for 3 very hungry adults. The brisket was my favorite. The sauces where nothing to root about. The old style beer was delicious. Its a bar/restaurant with live bands in a kinda rough area of town though.

My daughter chose this place specifically for the fried green tomatoes but they were completely out of them just after they opened so no appetizer and no green tomato BLT! To be fair, we were comped an order of corn muffins and a large order of mac & cheese to make up for the missing menu items. I had the Delux with brisket and my wife had the Platter with pulled pork. I choose mac & cheese for my side while my wife had the greens. My daughter settled for the Fungi sandwich while her friend had the Pulled Pork sandwich. The mac and cheese had a pleasant little kick to it but the coleslaw and greens were quite vinegary. Our meats (except the link) needed the addition of one of the 3 sauces on the table. The waitress was OK but the busboy was very efficient, clearing away everything, almost as soon as you had finished! The place has a great looking bar and a nice (original?) tin roof.

The food if FABULOUS, but we went with a very pick eater and they didn't even have french fries. But everyone one else loved the meal. Very authentic and the decor is really fun. They have live music sometimes too!

Went there specifically for a Sunday night as they have "The Fat Babies" performing live mostly ragtime jazz at the venue from 8pm to 11pm and we can swing dance too (Songs played are mostly for Balboa and Charleston unless you wanted to do some fast swing-outs which is possible.) The food, just like many of the other reviewers said, is delicious. We ordered a half slab of baby ribs (which comes with a pretzel roll and cabbage slaw), half of a smoke chicken served on top of a burger bun, plus an additional side of mashed potato at first, but then we were still hungry. Instead of ordering desert, we ordered an extra mashed potato and a platter with pulled pork, which also come with a side (we chose mac and cheese) and a pretzel roll. We loved the pulled pork and ribs. The pretzel roll and mash were the best sides among the others that we've had. Noted that after having two drinks each, we realised there were limited room left in our stomach for the second order, so we packed them to go. The service was great. At around 7:50, my husband and I arrived just in time to grab a table before the band started. We were very lucky to be seated right in front of the band. For music lover like us, it just couldn't be better. For some, it might be a little surprised that during/ right before the band break (around 9pm), the staff will move the first two tables (ours and the one next to us) for more space to dance. We were not told before we sat down in the beginning. We only knew about that when a staff politely came to us and told us about what's going to happen to the table (a bit after we placed our second order). Luckily, we finished just in time before they have to move it. We then continued to sit at the same spot for our drinks and later joined for a bit of dancing as well. It was a fun evening and we loved the attentive service by the friendly waitress of our table too. This is the place for you if you want some good American BBQ dishes and one of the best live (Dixieland) ragtime jazz music in Chicago.

If you love home-made southern-style barbecue and you've been to Memphis, Tennessee, and tasted the BBQ brisket and pulled pork and ribs at Topps or Cozy Corner or Central BBQ or Charlie Vergos' or Jim Neely's or Payne's, then you surely can appreciate everything about Honky Tonk BBQ in Chicago's Pilsen/Little Village neighborhood. Dine in or carry out, enjoy the live music nightly, especially the jazz on Wednesday and Sunday evenings, and let owner/chef Willie Wagner thrill your palate with fresh meats cooked over a wood-burning fire with no natural gas. That's why Honky Tonk won first place for ribs in the Rib-a-Que Chicago Rib contest in 2008 and 2009 and finished third in the World Championship Memphis-in-May contest in 2008. If you love pulled pork sandwiches, this is the place. Regulars prefer a platter with pulled pork and brisket with a side of mac n' cheese, coleslaw and cornbread muffins. Eat your heart out, Memphis. Or how about a platter with 1/2 chicken, 1/2 slab of ribs, small pork sandwich, small BBQ beef brisket sandwich, two hot links, coleslaw and cornbread muffins? Or the $32 Sampler, enough to satisfy the whole family or a regiment...half spread of ribs, half smoked chicken, two clinky clunkers (pork and brisket), two hot links, beans, coleslaw and two cornbread muffins? Dessert? You're still hungry? Well, the peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream is highly recommended. The thing about Chicago is more and more quality barbecue restaurants are opening up all over town. Like Honky Tonk, which opened in 2007. Memphis, Kansas City, Austin and Saint Louis may have bigger reputations and longer traditions for producing good BBQ but Chicago is catching up fast.

Nice BBQ place in the Pilsen neighborhood. We both had the pulled pork - which was not very hot when served. I also had a margarita - which was OK (very light on the alcohol). Our server was good. We also enjoyed the band. Nice vibe to the restaurant.

The Neighborhood is very sketchy and parking an issue. We arrived on a Saturday night for dinner to a very chaotic atmosphere. No one was at the door and it opened into a very casual room with tables and a bar. About 6 other people walked in at the same time. We stood around with other customers waiting for a long time so we all decided to walk to the back where the dining room was thinking we chose the wrong entrance. Not one employee stopped us. We got to dining room and then a girl chewed us out for walking in that far. So then put an employee at the door!! Not our fault, I watched the same thing happen all night to almost every customer that walked in. We asked how long the wait was and she looked at us with NO CLUE! She said I don't know, 5 or 20 or 45 minutes. So we just grabbed 2 seats at the bar and watched the chaos.We eat out a lot and know how restaurants work but this place really doesn't get it. We're very easy going customers. They should just do buffet because service is horrible!!! So one bartender finally took our drink order and gave us a menu then ignored us completely while working the service bar inches from us. The other bartender just worked the far other end of the bar. Not good!! The service bar wasn't that busy. The server that ran our food dumped it off with no napkins or silverware, just pushed us out of the way and dropped it on the bar in front of us. Of course the bartender a foot away won't even look at us and we can't even see the bartender at the other end of the bar so my husband just got up and walked to the wait station and waited until the busser stopped to help him. The busser wearing the yellow #14 shirt on May 16th at 7 needs a raise and every employees respect. He is the only quality employee you had on staff that night. We made a point to force him to take our tip. He is amazing and the only person that acknowledged and helped us. The non-service bartender that night was good but overwhelmed as he had no help from his coworker. The food is average, meat is dry. Bacon candy is great but it's just a thick piece of bacon with maple coating. Not that hard to pull off. It's basic, average bbq with tons of hassle. Managers need to get this place together it needs good leadership and 2 people at the door. I'll never go back, I get better bbq delivered. I gave an average rating because of the food the rest was ZERO stars except for the 2 employees I mentioned they should just work at a better place.

I had heard a lot of good things about this restaurant, so I tried it. The bbq was average and it doesn't open until 4pm. I felt there are better options in the city. If you are in the neighborhood give it a try and you be the judge.

I wasn't sure what to expect when my niece and her boyfriend took me here, but I liked it! The meats were all tender and juicy (chicken was the least good) and side were tasty. They even had Lone Star beer (made a visiting Texas feel at home)! Good size portions at a decent price, especially for Chicago. Parking can be a challenge - be ready to park 2 or more blocks away on the street in tight parallel spaces Great atmosphere and service.

Firstly, the cornbread muffin wrapped in the corn husks are outstanding! We really enjoyed the taste with bits of whole kernels in the muffin. The meat was delivered like a dry rub with several sauces on the side. We enjoyed the Chicago Sweet sauce and Carolina Garlic Mustard the most! The coleslaw had a vinegar taste and I didn't favor it. But we did enjoy the side dishes (mac and cheese, beans). I also tried the mushroom burger, it was tasty and very filling. I would love to visit again and try other menu items. I highly recommend the cornbread muffin!

If you're looking for an authentic, inexpensive BBQ place you can't do better than this. It's truly a BBQ joint. It looks like a beaten down old bar but don't let that scare you away. The BBQ here is great. The rib racks are gigantic, the combo plates alone can feed a family. This one is worth the trip.

Yummy food is in here. I love BBQ and like to BBQ at my backyard. As my husband doing it medium I like it also it's medium. We love to come here this marvelous place taste these yummy dishes. Lovely and friendly, I have never been disappointed in the this great BBQ. The staff is very kind and awesome. Decorating is also way to go. The service time takes about 10-15 minutes, but it deserves.

i like everything about this place. i like that it's on a street corner in the heart of an interesting neighbourhood on the south side. i like that it looks like a traditional czech beer hall. i like the decor, the music, the sound of folk enjoying themselves and the atmosphere that seems steeped in history and community. the food was belly busting, the beers were splendid and real and the staff were nice and friendly, if a bit eccentric. it helped that we were here on the evening of all souls day and there were all sorts of parades and stuff going on outside, but i can imagine that any night would be a good 'un here.

Just arrived in Chicago from London & we're both vegetarian so finding suitable local restaurants is tricky but this was good. We shared the girlfriend salad as a starter which was plenty for 2 & tasty it was like a wardolf salad then we had the portabella mushroom burger which was also tasty & then I had the hot cherry cobbler & ice cream from the specials board all most enjoyable.

Atmosphere great, food great! Wonderful service, could not ask for more. Comfortable setting. Live piano music - nice to hear.

The bbq was alright. The sides were really good; mac and cheese, collard greens. We got the platter to share for the group and it was more than enough food. They have a live band on some nights. The bbq sauces were quite tasty.

Great smoked meats all with a dry rub and three excellent sauce's on the table. I shared the sampler platter with my son. We got 2 sauages, 1/4 slab of ribs, 1/2 chicken, a small pulled pork slider, a brisket slider, cole slaw and baked beans. Everything on the platter was tasty and cooked perfectly. They were out on candied bacon, but gave us a ticket to pick it up the next day. Well worth the trip back. The inside is very much Honkey Tonk with a piano player or a band most nights. The place is loud and fun.

We had dinner here last night with our son & his GF. They live near here but had never stopped in though they heard it was good from friends. Good call on this when we asked where they wanted to go get some eats while visiting them. Great atmosphere, it was obvious that this had been a typical Chicago corner bar for probably over 100 years. The wood back bar and bar itself could never be duplicated today. The decor is very cool and the tin ceiling brings it all together nicely. If you like stepping back in time and having some of the best homemade BBQ in Chicago, check this place out. We had the homemade cornbread for an appetizer which was very good. Between the 4 of us, we had pulled pork, brisket and hot links with sides of mashed potatoes or mac & cheese. All of it was fantastic and made even better with one of their 3 different homemade sauces to choose from. We will be coming back again, excellent choice of many craft beers and great service. They have a small stage so they must have weekend entertainment too.

Not only did we go in one evening for food we also ended up ordering it as takeaway a few days later because it was so good. You can't beat the atmosphere inside though. Live music, friendly waitress, a huge table for that mountain of food. Apparently the drinks were excellent (I couldn't drink that night, sadly) but my god, the food was amazing. I wouldn't skip over this place! BBQ done right.

great BBQ brisket not very Fatty amazing garlic mashed potato. Bar type of venue with a good vibe for dates or bringing friends to hang out. Friendly staff and good drinks. In Pilsen area parking not bad. Everything was really good but my favorite was the Brisket will definitely go back for that and those mashed potato's!!!!!

We saw this place on the Food Channel and decided to check it out. We got there before the dinner rush and easily found a table. The food was excellent. We had smoke chicken and rib tips. We got a large garlic mashed on the side and I also got some portabellas. This meal was delicious. It was actually toooo much food and I am a big eater. Sauces are excellent. You will certainly be satisfied by this menu..................

We went with a family group and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, good food, and music. The server was on top of things and food came quickly and was delicious. We enjoyed the BBQ brisket sandwiches, salads, and a couple of platters. We were grateful to the staff who were willing to hold our table reservation because we were coming later than intended. Wish we could have stayed for the band that was warming up as we were leaving. A fun place!

In a city know for good BBQ ribs, this corner joint holds its own. Stopped by for dinner before heading downtown for a concert, well worth the stop. Once featured on Diners Drive-in’s & Dives this place continues to shine. With live music 7 nights a week and a crazy selection of craft beers, the dry rub is the best. Had ribs with a side of mac & cheese and it was very tasty. Although you have to order separate sides, the dinner and drinks for two was under $50 plus tip. And the friendly and attentive staff earn high marks. Will be back!

The atmosphere is delightful, dark, and musically engaging! If you are looking for some right on BBQ (meat) you've come to the right place. They are gluten free friendly, not so much vegetarian or vegan. They make their own sauces!

We have been to honky tonk bar whenever we go to Chicago. They have barbecue food and a variety of bands on the weekends. The food has bbq beef brisket, pork chicken and ribs. Very moderately priced too. The music on Sunday nights is usually ragtime and music from the 20’s. Its worth going to at least once.

A do not miss while in the heart of Chicago. BBQ is fantastic, happy hour is great, and they have music 6 nights a week for free! You can do takeout or dine in. They have an extensive menu and full service bar. The service is great and the music really makes this a dining experience. A do not miss while in Chicago!

This place had excellent food and good memories. We were 2 adults and 3 kids. Everyone had a good time. The prices are average. Decor was special. Staff was friendly. Oh the candied bacon......(reminiscing)...well anything bacon is delicious!!!

I couldn't agree with IDPak's visited Honky Tonk because it was in our Drink Deck. We used the Honky Tonk card for $10 off our bill and ordered the Sampler Platter which includes everything on the menu! Washed the BBQ down with some Lonestar Pilsner and listened to the Honky Tonk live music. Great experience!

Well, DDDDRRRAAANKS were awesome. Beer n bacon candy👍. Also their version of a bloody mary, comes with a few garnishes and a piece of hotlink was great. As was also the service. The waitress was very attentive and amigable. Its the reason they got two stars. I WAS SERIOUSLY disappointed with their food. I had been looking foward to going for nearly a year now. Only to be let down. We ordered the Sampler platter with came with a little bit if everything. With every single bite into every different dish the Beatles- Don't let me down.......came to mind. "Don't let me dooooowwwnnn, bdahdahdun bdahdahdun, don't let me down" but unfortunately they did. Ribs were dry, pork was burnt, brisket was dry, hot link was actually good. Mac and cheese, coleslaw, and beans were very bland. Cornbread was ok. Still say #1 in Chicago is Smoque, if in the NWI area check out my other post on Bombers!!!!

Honky Tonk is my favorite place in Chicago. Located in the lovely neighborhood of Pilsen, this place offers everything I love the most: great food and drink, super friendly staff but above all: my favorite genre of music: 1920s to 30s jazz. Every sunday the fabulous Fat Babies play the best music ever to dance the charleston: which I really do. Either solo with my favorite partner (who told me his parents used to be the charleston dance champions of Chicago back in 1926) I cut the rug all night long! And it is not only me: a faithful group of young dancers come almost every sunday to dance the jitterbug, or what they call nowadays the swing. There is no cover charge, the dancers support the band by passing the hat around and collecting some money. Tonight is sunday and I will be at Honky Tonk doing the charleston or being asked by a lovely dance partner to spin around like a jitterbug and I look forward to it!

Love the near dive sense of the place, but this is NOT a dive. Very warm and inviting place. Interesting from the architecture, decor, tables, chair and layout. The staff is always friendly and attentive. The BBQ is VERY good. The mashed potatoes are GREAT! The Old Fashioneds are tasty. They have live music on a number of nights. The fact that there is only one TV makes this place special to me. The food arrives quickly and sometimes too quickly. At the same time I have never felt rushed here.

I stopped here before The Black Angels concert at Thalia Hall. It is just down the street from Thalia Hall. I got there early, so it wasn’t too crowded, but it did fill up as it got close to show time. I sat at the bar and the bartender was outstanding. Very attentive and even when it got crowded, he was efficient and right on top of everything. The food was good. I had the Deluxe Platter with pulled pork. I thought it just a bit overpriced, but not too bad by city standards. The beer selection is mostly bottles. They had just three draughts. The two craft beers did not appeal to me so I went with the Chicago standard, Old Style. Overall, a good experience. Not sure I would specifically head into Pilsen to eat here, but for future Thalia Hall shows, this will definitely be my go-to place.

The Fat Babies were playing swing music when we walked in the door. That was good. Then my friend handed me a piece of candy bacon. That was very good. And then I had the beef brisket sandwich. THAT was awesome. This place is classic. Some Pilsen friends tell me there are other places on 18th Street that they like better, but I'm definitely headed back to the Honky-Tonk BBQ.

Honky Tonk Barbecue: you wont go to this place for the name but for the food might give it a try. if you like Southern USA style barbecue, veggies and cornbread then this must be the place in Chicago to go. The restaurant is long, split in multiple sections, the entrance is more bar like than restaurant like with table on the long side, a small podium in the middle where bands can play, behind there is more restaurant area where its lighter and you probably can take your family for a quieter atmosphere then in the bar section. On to the food. Try the cornbread. Lovely! Try any of the green veggies. And the meat. Have a pick, you wont be disappointed by volume and by taste. It's smoother than you can produce on your own outdoor kitchen, the sauces on the table are great and you will eat more than you wanted to eat. Try the brew and bacon. Try a dessert if you feel you still have space to eat. Service was fine but no really special. We were there on a very busy Saturday evening and it looked that the staff was 2 man down. They were running around with orders and trying to make everybody at ease, which in some cases was overdone. We had 2 bands playing that night. a Jazz band, which was nice as background fill up but the blues band not too long after rocked the roof off. We stayed for a couple more drinks.

we live only 2 blocks from this restaurant for 3 years, only recently find out that we have been missing out! The Louisiana Ribs is awesome, tender meat, 3 different kind of sauce you can choose, all the sides are freshly made, the space itself is funky, just looking from outside it's like a bar but the backroom is high ceiling with lots of arts, a must place to try out.

Visiting from out of town, we decided to go to Honky Tonk in Pilsen because it came recommend from a local friend who is a foodie and my husband saw it on an episode of "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives". Perhaps we had too high of expectations, because we were a little disappointed. The decor is, as my friend promised, "country and fun". There are paintings EVERYWHERE, floor to ceiling, as well as neat things like a chain made of bottle caps and an art piece made of promotional yard sticks. The place appeared clean, but there was an odd smell as you come in the front door. The BBQ (I had brisket, my husband had ribs) was great, but the presentation was lacking. We didn't expect just a slab of meat on a melamine plate with roll almost as an after thought. I was impressed that they served a wide variety of sodas from a local bottler (I had a grapefruit soda). The staff was friendly and helpful and I was grateful that they were accommodating of my 3-year-old, who kept leaving his seat to go "ride" the horse at the end of the bar by the stage.

I went to this restaurant and bar for the specific purpose of hearing a top-notch five-piece jazz orchestra that specializes in early jazz. The Chicago Cellar Boys (they have at least one other band name) play every Sunday from 8 to 11 PM; and there is no cover charge. The usual three sets, the usual loud bar environment, but a relatively good room layout for music (high ceiling, suitable band stage). I could go on and rave about the band, but suffice to say that they are in the very top tier of bands of this style anywhere in the U.S. There was a coterie of youngish adults who obviously came to hear this group, some in vintage attire and a very few trying their hand at lindy and balboa dancing. I ate only two appetizers (eating light this night). The hot link was wonderfully tasty; very nicely seasoned. The garlic-mashed potatoes were fine. Service was prompt. There is a full bar. Interestingly, all of the (male) servers had full beards. There seems to be a back room where music would be less loud. It seems they have live music almost every night. I used the #60 bus to get to and from, and I thought that was fine, even with a five-block walk in the dark (no moon) between the restaurant and bus stops. I went on a late-August night and noted that there seems to be no air-conditioning; so, it was a little sticky in there. I’m not a big fan of beef or chicken, so I am no judge of most BBQ, but the servings that I saw carried out from the kitchen looked quite ample. The prices including for drinks seemed quite reasonable, and a minor snafu about my first drink was promptly remedied. I would definitely go back to this place again to try the pork BBQ and some kind of “bacon candy” (which is apparently a specialty), and highly recommend anyone with interest in American music to go hear this band on a Sunday evening. If I could give two ratings, I’d give four stars to this BBQ restaurant, and five for this very talented small orchestra.

Grabbed dinner here before a show at Thalia Hall. BBQ was okay, but not great. Staff was really nice and friendly. Waited for our Uber there after the show and they had a great band playing. Would not eat there again, but would go for the music.

Great Memphis style BBQ. Try the platter if you can't make you mind on Chicken, Beef Brisket, ribs ribtip, hot links. The great thing is you get you sauces as sides. The greens and othr sides dishes are excellent. The beauty of getting the sauces on the side is that you see the smole rings in the meats. The a great choice in entertainment for Bluegrass to Jazz You go there more the food. Dry rub and smoke does it get and better!

I just recently visited Honky Tonk BBQ while on a friends weekend getaway. We just so happened to come across the restaurant while searching for dinner in the area on a Sunday night. The atmosphere was so cool. There was a band playing 1920s Jazz which was really nice. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. My friend and I ordered the Rib Tips meal and a side of Yams and Macaroni and Cheese, respectively. My other friend ordered the smoked chicken and a side of Greens. The portions were very large, definitely worth the price. And everything had that southern taste that I love. I would definitely recommend this place, and I will be visiting again whenever I return to Chicago!

I went on a Friday evening with friends. The atmosphere is great with live band, and we were lucky to get a table. I shared the sampler platter. We found somethings outstanding such as the sausage and chicken, while pork and brisket were sort of mmeh. Ribs were pretty good though. I loved the mac and cheese and the beans. Mushrooms were a great discovery too. I think this is a fun restaurant to try, but would rather have a few great BBQ items than a variety of average items.

This restaurant is housed in an old bar in the Pilsen neighborhood. The barbecue is delicious, and the portions are huge. Great service and a full bar. On the night we were there, they had an 8 piece jazz band and no cover. Sports were on television behind the bar, which has an old wood bar back and mirror. Very cozy warm atmosphere and reasonably priced. 8 of us ate there for a little under $190 including a couple rounds of drinks and 20% gratuity.

BBQ is fine enough, but what makes this place stand out is its excellent atmosphere and a good live music selection with no cover charge.

Took a group of 9 people for dinner. Super nice and very tasty. Friendly service and reasonable prices!

We stumbled upon this gem because of it's proximity to Thalia Hall. The outside may look intimidating but the inside is charming with mismatched tables and chairs and paintings covering the walls. They had great drinks, (try the Moonshine!) and awesome food. We split the sampler and had brisket and mac n cheese. The cornbread was the way it's meant to be. We also had the banana pudding for dessert -- which is worth saving room for.

It may be a bit sketchy area for the faint of heart. But it was just fine inside. Nice live music and food was good. It was a drive in and dives spot so I tried it. May or may not go back but it seemed like fair portions at a fair price.

If you like your BBQ and you like your sauce on the side Honky Tonk BBQ is for you. For the full experience you should stop by on a Friday or Saturday when the Viking Beef Short Ribs are available. The portion shrunk but it is still amazing! Three sauces to choose from - my personal favorite is the garlic mustard. All cut through the fattiness of any of the meats and still leave room to taste the rubs. If you enjoy the pure smokiness of BBQ this is a great place for you!

On our family vacation we searched for good BBQ with music that was out of the downtown area, had no cover, and would allow our teenage boys to join us. We found this gem, and were gald we did! Food and drinks were great, place was beautiful, and we enjoyed strolling the neighborhood!

We went to Honky Tonk BBQ after a a few breweries. This place was recommended by several locals. Great atmosphere and amazing BBQ. I know everyone has their own favorite type of BBQ, but this is great BBQ no matter which is your favorite. Everything was great (I had the Deluxe platter with pulled pork and my wife had the viking short ribs platter). Good drink selection and good prices for the serving sizes. We were both very full and had food left over. Highly recommend.

We had an awesome evening - loved the bar and the front room , good local hangout for friends - they accomodated a large group easily and quickly turned to get us great appetizers, Candy bacon to empanadas. Wonderful BBQ choices with amazing flavors and allowing you to adjust with a range of sauces and spices to meet your taste. Loved the Artwork, staff was fun and worked with the group of friends and family as they came and went. So stop in grab a table - nothing fancy but good food, and fun times with the amazing music line up they have!

Really enjoyed the food here and the place has a cool vibe. A friend of the owner's recommend it to us. I have to admit the waitress we had was a bit "off" that night and did not provide very warm service - so I was glad she didn't check back excessively. I was there on Halloween night, the place was full but not overflowing. The tables are pretty close together, but folks didn't mind moving around to make room for each other. I over ordered a bit so my out of town guest could enjoy/sample a range of items. Everything was tasty! (Though I must say the sauce was not amazing and good bbq should not need it anyway. Also, the bread was also not what I'm used to in the South, but it was passable.) The band that night was very cool - a bit old timey and hip. The whole experience reminded me of being back in Austin, TX where good bbq and a hip live band are typical parts of life! Art is well selected for the place and the wood tables remind you of being at Stubb's BBQ back in the ATX - hip atmosphere.

I recommend the pulled pork dinner. My wife likes the BBQ Brisket dinner. The pork is moist and flavorful and has a nice pink smoke ring. The BBQ sauces await you, (mild, spicy or garlic mustard) to finish your meat. The Oil and Vinegar coleslaw is tasty and the Mac & Cheese has a nice kick. The portions are generous and you will not leave hungry. If you hare hungry, they have a platter you can share. 1/2 Chicken, 1/2 Slab of Ribs, Small Pork Sandwich, Small BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich, two hot links coleslaw and muffins. Last Friday they had music playing which complimented the dinner. We sat in the room behind the music.

Went for dinner here on Friday night and got there around 9pm, it was busy but not crazy busy and we got a table in the 'back' room rather than in the bar. The service was great, attentive but not too much and our server happily explained the different options available. I had the full rack of St Louis pork ribs and my brother had the Beef short ribs both of which were AMAZING, we had a couple of sides and the portobello mushrooms I cant recommend enough, they were awesome! We sat in the bar after dinner and had a few drinks listening to the band which was great. Getting home we had to call a cab as the area the restaurant is in there arent many cabs driving past so bear that in mind.

A corner bar in the Pilsen neighborhood is playing two shows of music many nights and serving up delicious BBQ. I went for The Wandering Boys bluegrass -- this is not a bluegrass bar, though -- and heard great traditional 'grass with some deep catalog selections and one or two pop songs done bluegrass style. The musicianship and close harmony was exceptional. The ownership takes pride in the Barbecue, and serve it up tender and well crafted. The area seemed safe -- formerly Czech, now mostly Spanish-speaking, and dotted with a few hipsters. Honky Tonk BBQ has many styles of music on the calendar, and great tasting food. It's worth the trip, and even if the band is lousy, the 'Que will bring you back.

Ribs, pulled pork and brisket smoked just right. 3 sauces add a nice accent to the meat without being overpowered. Highly recommended neighborhood joint. Old fashioned bar tops it off.

I'll start by saying I'm an old guy from the North Shore, found Honky Tonk a few years ago as a group I follow was playing there. Went by myself and felt a little awkward as I was gramps, and crowd was sprinkled with locals and tattooed hipsters. I could not have been more comfortable . Best bartenders, wait staff anywhere. Tired of bartenders with an attitude? Not here! Food is terrific! Great BBQ with unique presentation. Try the fungi sandwich! 3 buck PBRs, unique cocktails, a funky decor of an old western bar with a Texas steer on the wall. All this and GREAT music with no cover. Love this place!

Hole in the wall type place near Little Italy and Chinatown. The brisket is really wonderful. Fired green tomatoes and bacon candy are a must.

Geat restaurant/bar in a very unexpected place. Featured on the food network, honky tonk is a great place for some southern food. But go on a weekday if you don't want to wait cause the line is usually out the door on weekends. If you are not adverse to waiting a bit i recommend the weekends as there is live music. The food here is fantastic and not something you can find all over chicago. And if you live in Pilsen like me its down the street and a nice variation from the rest of the restaurant in the nieghborhood (home of the best mexican food).

I had a taste for BBQ and I found this place conveniently located on my way home. After reading mixed reviews on another review site, I decided to give it a chance. The restaurant has a rustic charm to it and the wait staff was very friendly. The highlight of our visit was the Candy Bacon. While it isn’t outstanding it was different and tasty. For our main course, we decided to go with the sample platter. Which consist of ribs, chicken, pork brisket, hot link, coleslaw, baked beans and corn muffins. Most of the meat was lukewarm and lacking flavor. The coleslaw was bitter and uneatable. The corn muffins were dry. I eat a lot of BBQ and this place was a disappointment.

Good food, the platter is worth it to get a taste of everything. Legit smoking technique, and the Memphis sauce is really good.

I started off right by ordering a Bacon and Brew. A pint glass of Old Style with a piece of thick bacon that is coated in brown sugar and baked until crisp-what's not to like? The BBQ is great and is there are 4 in your party, give the platter a try. We were there on a Sunday night and they had a swing band with people dancing in period clothes--what a hoot!

What a great place for a first meal in Chicago. The food was delicious, the music was fun and the waitstaff were quick and friendly.

A little bit off the beaten path but Uber was able to find it. Really funky old (re-purposed?) bar and restaurant. Friendly and attentive service. Very satisfying BBQ -- Had the pulled pork deluxe dinner. Pork was right off the bone, charred and delicious. Candied yams were awesome as well. Open at 4 but heard the owner say that they are smoking the meats all day long. Dessert was a peach cobbler -- lots of peach -- no so much cobbler. All delicious. Looks like they've got an active music calendar -- didn't check that out but saw the stage stationed right in the middle. A very comfortable atmosphere for hanging out an enjoying some excellent bbq.

This requires you to get onto the L, but its worth it. The live bluegrass on the nights above made it a must for me on my travels. The food was pretty good too!!! I had the St Louis ribs with house rub. Almost the best ribs I have ever had.

We were visiting Chicago and wanted some fun with our dinner and thought this place would be perfect. It's a hipster bar with mediocre BBQ. The service was great, beer selection was strange, the music was jazzy pop tunes and not good. We left very disappointed.

The restaurant itself looks a little run down from the outside, but just move past that. Inside it is clean and a little eclectic, but this place is worth the visit. They don't take bookings, but we was given a table immediacy and there was 5 of us. We tried some starters as they looked interesting. Bacon candy, chilli, salad and bread was down with some Dead Guy beer. We tried a sampler, short ribs and the beef rib (only available Friday and Saturday). The meals were massive as you can see with the picture and very tasty. The only reason I did not give it a 5 is because the pork ribs were a little dry. Service was excellent with great advice. So bottom line is try it.

If your looking for a bit of a unique but charming casual dining experience in the Chicago area and you enjoy BBQ Ribs, Beef Brisket or Pulled Pork then the Honky Tonk BBQ should be on your list of places to visit. The dining room decor is interesting to say the least and when seated you get the sense of being thrown back in time. The service was very good and the Bacon Candy made for an excellant opening appetizer. I can vouch for the St Louis Ribs and Mac & Cheese as being on the money. Aside from the good food the live entertainment added to the ambience. Overall a very good and enjoyable experience.

I live in the neighborhood and have had dinner her a couple of times. The BBQ is ok, but I found their meat to be a little on the dry side. I really enjoy coming here for drinks and live music.

Located near west side, just a few minutes formLoop, this is some fantastic bbq. The bacon Candy is "to die for." Wings are huge and meaty. Plenty of homemade sauces for the dry rub ribs. Live music every night, which is not too loud, so you can still talk to your table mates. Street parking. Good beer selection including Daisy Cutter, PBR and Lone Star. Good for families.

We went here after our concert at Thalia Hall with a couple we meet there. Had a great vibe about it. It was Halloween night so allot were in costume celebrating. The beer prices were not bad and they have PBR in cans! They had some great live music and we were lucky enough to find a table and enjoy the music. We want to come back and have dinner here soon! Great staff great place!

This is a great spot to spend time with friends, listen to live music, and chow down on BBQ. Unfortunately, the brisket tastes more like roast beef out of a crock pot. Not even close to a typical texture or flavor for sliced brisket. Opt for something else off the menu. The fungi sandwich is vegan friendly!

Don't Be fooled by the aid back atmosphere - these guys know BBQ. We started with the bacon candy and it was over the top. Loved the pulled pork but the brisket was just ok. Sides were all good - not excellent. Can't wait to return.

I keep coming back! For all you BBQ fans who like their sauce on the side this is the place. You can see the owner Willie running around all the time! He knows what he is doing and making sure everything comes out right.

Honky-Tonk BBQ is located at the corner of West 18th Street and South Racine Avenue, in the Pilsen neighborhood, which is a heavily populated area of Chicago. Finding a place to park proved to be a major challenge: we ended up parked three blocks away from the restaurant, which meant walking three blocks down Racine Avenue in a city in which street crime is a constant threat to one's safety. Upon arrival, the restaurant was crowded with no seating immediately available, and there was no place to sit while waiting, except at the bar (neither of us imbibe). Children were running around and in some cases, being a nuisance. Once seated we waited a good five minutes before a server came to our table. Food was served on what amounted to paper plates and was average, certainly not what we were expecting, based upon the reviews that I had read. I ordered the roasted chicken and was somewhat disappointed with the size of the portion and the fact that it was over-cooked. My dinning companion ordered the same and had the same complaints. Our server wasn't terribly organized, as observed by how he handled our table and the tables of nearby patrons. I had to repeatedly ask him to bring the sides I had ordered. Incidentally, sides are separately priced from entrees and are no better than what can be gotten at a Denny's or similar. In another part of the establishment, a music group was performing, which much to my pleasant surprise, was the Molly Rose group, consisting of a gal on guitar and vocals, a guy on backup guitar and another on bass. We had heard them play at Stray Bar in Frankfort several years ago, so the jazz standards and swing music they were performing helped to improve an otherwise-disappointing dining experience. All-in-all, I give Honky-Tonk BBQ a 3 out of 5 rating, and it would have been lower had the Molly Rose band not been there while we were visiting. I cannot recommend this establishment.

We recently went here to celebrate 2 family members birthdays. It's on 18th street, so parking can be a problem. We were lucky enough to find a spot 2 blocks away. The decor is nothing to write home about, but the ribs were fabulous! They were so good we are going to buy a smoker as they put the ones we make to shame. The pretzel roll was not to impressive. We had the St. Louis style ribs which were new to us, the babybacks and a pulled pork sandwich. I wouldnt hesitate to order any of these again.One in our party has food allergies and they were very accommodating..Total bill $60.00.for 3 with 3 softdrinks.

Music a bit overpowering and barbecue a bit underwhelming. Still a fun spot and the right band would make for a good evening out.

We came here after looking up places on the diners drive ins and dives app. It was a winner. The pulled pork sandwiches were excellent and you have to try the Moonshine!!! They had live music and the atmosphere was so fun. We highly recommend this one!

my husband and I arrived to the restaurant late Sunday night and Since the kitchen was closing, we didn't want to rush our late dinner and decided to enter thru the pick up entrance for take out. To our surprise they had a live band and they would be more then happy to seat us. We sat near the front of the store and had a decent view of the band that played Jazz / New orleans / roaring 20s music. There were some patrons that were even dressed from that time period. It was actually nice to people watch. Our waiter, Kelley, service us right away, and brought us our ribs rather quickly. My husband had the Baby Back and I ordered the st Louis and we shared to compare. We enjoyed them both. I also had the Mac and Cheese which was very good too. Kelley, told us that on Wednesdays its trivia night which is really fun, Thursday thru Saturday, a Dj and on Sunday the live Jazz band. Service was really good and the price was perfect.

This place had it all. Excellent live music, great personal service (shout out to Hector) and all our food had tons of flavor. All the sides were very good. Favorite BBQ in Chicago. Nice job Honkey Tonk.

Honky Toni BBQ was between printed menus so we ordered from the party menu. Not really a problem. Our smoked "Bacon candy" appetizer was A bit too much- a lot of maple, and it was so hard I thought I might lose some fillings. However, we enjoyed their brisket platter and burnt ends. We had to drive out of town so we didn't try their beer, but there was plenty of options. Service was pretty good, although they left us stranded with no water for a time. I'd stop back here when I had more time to enjoy this honky-tonk. Located in hip area - Pilsen. Recommended.

Try the Candy Bacon!!! Small bands play here occasionally while your dining. BBQ is good. Relaxed place.

Came here on a Sunday night with live Jazz performance. A very busy place, great for people watching who dress up for the event in 20s dress. We tried the sampler platter, with different qualities coming up. The group shared a lot of of sides like Macaroni, coleslaw, etc. all average. Portions are definitely big.

Don't waste your time and drive into South Chicago for this BBQ joint. Ribs were chewy. Candied yams, that would be plural, I got one half of a yam (one piece) with some sweet sauce, not like my candied yams. Basic roll with the meal. Dessert, oh we don't carry what's on our menu in pies. Had some bourbon glazed pound cake - just OK. My son had pulled pork, corn muffin, mashed potatoes, and banana pudding for dessert and said all was good.

Another place in offering something a bit different in Chicago which is worth visiting. The food was very good (some of our party went as far as to say 10 out of 10) as was the beer, and service & atmosphere likewise. Perhaps not quite my style (hence only 4 stars), but nonetheless worth the visit.

I went two different nights. One night was trivia night. The crowd was enthusiastic. The next time I went there was live music. The food is great and they have some options for vegetarians which is rare for bbq place. Our server was a little slow but was not bad. Would recommend to people looking for a fun night.

In the hearth of Pilsen this wonderful old-style restaurant offers high-quality BBQ with live music and kind service! what else??

Gentrification at its finest!!! If u want a real gentrification experience go to the honky tonk and u will surely get it! It's filled w hipsters who are taking over Pilsen and their wealthy parents who are visiting them. It was pretty sad to sit there and experience that when all we wanted was some barbecue, which by the way was mediocre at best. The food took about 30 minutes to reach us and when it did it was cold:( yes cold Mac n cheese how can that happen? Well maybe it was bc our waitress kept gazing out the window instead of checking to see if our food was ready. It was really disappointing, if u want good barbecue I recommend husky hog on 31st st as it's delicious!! The only good thing here was the candy bacon, but I would never go back again :(

This restaurant has the best Pulled Pork in the City always juicy and the garlic mustard BBQ sauce is excellent. The Mac & Cheese is also very good with loads of cheese and a nice kick. Reasonable prices and a great atmosphere in Pilsen.

we were going to Sox game and had an hour to spare- looking for outdoor tacos and margaritas but kinda stumbled on this place searching as we drove south on Halsted - what a find! Ate at the bar, loved the drinks, not a lot of beers on tap but plenty in bottles and the mixed drinks were delicious. I had dinky dunkers (brisket & pork) and the meat was piled on - great corn bread - reasonable $$ - will definitely go back. We parked on Racine across from the bar.

This restaurant I didn't find, a frind of mine took me here and it is BY FAR the best bbq I've ever had, so mant amazing thins to eat!! It's on the south side of Chicago so it's not he nicest neighbourhood but if you have a Chicago friend to go with, or just be safe about it you are good! Worth it for sure! There is also live music some times so that is really nice.

OK, first I have to admit I'm a darn good firehouse chef, so my expectations may be a bit higher than most people. I also must say I went on a Friday about 7pm- so they were rather busy and the service staff was stretched. Still, the overall wait was a bit long- thank goodness they have a decent variety of beers. The ambiance was nice with interesting decor. The second star is for the ambiance and entertainment. The food left me feeling flat- I will not be coming back. The sauces; the Garlic Mustard sauce was nice, tart, and had just enough kick. Very "mustardy", the garlic is subtle, but you know its there from the chunks in the sauce. The "sweet" Chicago sauce was noted to have a significant pineapple taste as the sweetener. I do not agree "Chicago" sauce should be so fruity. The South Carolina sauce was the most traditional representation of a vinegar-based southern bbq sauce. The slaw that comes with the ribs has a potent vinegar base (which I like) and was tasty. The seasoned buns that come with the chicken are nice. They are rustic, hearty, and well seasoned... they should be served with all the meat dishes. They should keep the herb seasoning the same, but use these as the base of a stout garlic bread. And why a crappy little flavorless dry white roll with the ribs? That roll must be purely for filler, please do not waist the calories. We ordered the St Louis ribs and smoked chicken. First, the ribs- so so. The meat was cooked too long at too high a temp as it was a bit tough to get off the bone and completely without moisture. Come on, these are the St Louis ribs that are supposed to be a bit more meaty, fatty and greasy, but they managed to cook out all the juice out of the batch they served me. They have a subtle dry rub and are cooked without sauce. The flavor from the rub was OK, but the smoke was hardly detectable- I've had better. Remedy? I would add a good dose of brown sugar to the rub and lower the temp by 25* and cook a half hour longer. Now the chicken- really poor try. The chicken had a subtle rub on the skin, was nice and moist, but was not smoked enough. The skin was the best tasting part of the bird. The meat was flavorless, it needed all the help it could get from a sauce. I noticed that our bird was quite pale compared to other dishes at other tables, so maybe we got a bum bird, but still the meat should have been brined for flavor. I was totally disappointed in this "smoked" chicken, Chuck's in Burbank has it ALL OVER THIS PLACE if smoked chicken is what you want. Now I must say this place does do more than most other places I've been to, they are doing it all in-house, and I applaud that. They get an A for effort, they just fall short on the execution. Sorry to say I will not be back, as this is another BBQ joint that doesn't really know how to put out a decent product.