Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ

Another place I have not experienced outside the comfort of my home and the first one I can say significantly suffered from that fact (ordered it from Grubhub). I ordered the Sliced brisket, a garden salad and cornbread for delivery, and the food came super late and was cold. If I had written my review before I heated up the brisket and ate it, this would have been a no-​brainer 1, but the brisket was so good that it almost fully reversed the spiral of rage I had entered.
Almost. The salad and cornbread were pretty mediocre and I feel like this place got away with one by getting a 3. You’re welcome Dragon Ranch, today I have been merciful.

I had given up on Friday night after work fun time for the new year, mostly because it leads to bad behavior like eating fried foods of the happy hour bar variety. But of course it took just the slightest of twists to my arm when a dear friend texted me at 5:30pm on a January Friday with «wanna have a drink?»
We ended up at Dragon Ranch sitting at the bar, which I knew after previewing the menu, was rife with my favorite trigger foods. While I opted to be bad and enjoyed a couple of their delicious cocktails (Rockit Man followed by a Pineapple Smash), we did go the healthier route with some lighter apps.
The deviled eggs were creamy and filling, and the pickled onion is always a nice foil for the rich goodness. We then rounded things out with the Chinese broccoli, which was full of flavor, huge in portion, and low in fat (served in a well seasoned broth), and the grilled Chinese long beans (like French fries, but better for you, right?).
Service was fantastic!
Sadly, they had a fire and will not reopen until April, but by then I’m sure to have shed my winter weight and will be ready to devour their waffle fries and tasty meats!
Heh heh… tasty meat.

Sometimes blending two concepts together works beautifully. A rock song with a violin? Of course. Bailey’s in coffee? Wouldn’t have it any other way.
But Asian and Southern? That’s a very delicate, landmine-​filled line to walk. Both culinary heavyweights are steeped in tradition, pride, and more importantly, they can talk the talk AND walk the walk. With swag.
Dragon Ranch missed the mark mostly by playing to the stereotypes of both genres. If you’re going to do BBQ and banh mi, please do them impeccably. Otherwise, throw the box to the wind and get creative. I did not find this menu creative. It felt like a half-​hearted attempt to simply have a few Asian standards on an otherwise underwhelming Southern menu.
The BBQ was cold and fatty. I make better BBQ in my Crockpot. I’m not kidding. My brisket can kick Dragon’s in the nether regions. The sauces on the table… unless they’re there for impromptu food fights with expert aiming, they shouldn’t even be on the table. Where were the Asian-​influenced sauces? The chili soy concoctions with notes of ginger and sesame? The siracha-​inspired fire BBQ? A tempura and green onion-​topped mac and cheese with a side of kimchi and a little soy pork mixed in would have been delightful. Classics with complements of the other.
Dragon did do justice with the banh mi buns and fillings. We ordered a plate for the table and the buns were reminiscent of those at Sun Wah– irresistibly soft, slightly sweet, and absorbent of the sauces.
I also found the cornbread to be quite nice. Not too dry, with just enough texture to pick up with the pork. I also enjoyed the cocktails and I’m always a fan of anyone who carries moonshine. Are my southern-​born roots showing?
But again, half-​hearted attempts at being creative smother this menu. A moonshine cherry jubilee dessert, or wasabi and peaches mochi would have been a thrill to see on the menu. Even if it doesn’t work, get the ball rolling on something the average Joe (or Jill) can’t make so you can justify your silly cocktail prices, would be awesome.
And one personal gripe that really put a hilarious but irritating spin on the night: the little builder block stools to sit on are idiotic. This isn’t a cafeteria for five year olds. The seats should not have the option to be converted into wooden block sail boats and space ships. They aren’t cute, and they aren’t comfortable. Get it together.

I struggled over the star apportionment here. I really did. Here’s why.
Service: Fantastic! They gave me a reservation for 12 at prime time without batting an eye. Once there, our server was quick and friendly. He even brought us three piping hot skillets of brownie bread pudding with vanilla ice cream (gratis) for my birthday. Three! I’ve gotten the ol’ «here’s a sundae for the bday girl» but never three full-​sized desserts. 5 star service.
Cocktails: We loved them. Buffalo trace is just fantastic. I had a moonshine cranberry concoction that came with fresh cranberries floating in it. The drink was perfectly bitter without being syrupy. The others I tried (something with apricots was particularly good) were delicious too. The only issue is that these things are mad-​overpriced. Like $ 13 for a tumbler overpriced. Ouch.
Sides: The cornbread is moist and flavorful. We gobbled it up and asked for more. The macaroni and cheese received mixed reviews, the main complaint was that it was too bland and people didn’t like the type of pasta noodle.
BBQ: Most everyone got sliced or chopped brisket. This is where the two stars disappeared since it is, after all, Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ. My chopped brisket was so so so dry. I doused it in the house bbq sauce, which helped, but man. I was disappointed. As were all the others who ordered the chopped version. The sliced brisket eaters, however, we delighted with moist brisket. What? Why the big difference? Not only that, I’ve talked to several other people who experienced the exact opposite: chopped was moist and sliced was dry. Clearly the brisket is hit or miss, and varies depending on which piece you get. Sad. You’re a bbq restaurant. Minus 2 stars for disappointing me on the main event.
Dessert: the bread pudding dessert was out of this world. I don’t even like bread pudding and I enjoyed it! The vanilla ice cream tasted home made and was indulgently creamy. Nicely done on dessert.
So yeah, I’m sure I’ll be back. It was pricey. And my main course was not good. But I’m such a bbq devotee that I’ll give em another try. They earned a second chance with those free desserts :)

This place is kind of like the Far East meets Memphis, but somehow it works. Totally fun vibe when you walk in… very casual décor…mix and match plates from a thrift store… open kitchen, etc. We went for brunch, and really liked it… now I’m anxious to return to try lunch and/​or dinner… I’m especially eyeing the ribs and pulled pork.
For brunch, my nephew and I started with the deviled eggs (yum!) and split the Shrimp N Grits and the Thai Benedict. Both entrees were delish, though I like mine with a little more kick than prepared… but there is plenty of hot sauce in this place to kick things up to your taste… try the Asian hot sauce on the Thai Benedict… fabulous for those who like things spicy.
As Saturday brunch is a relatively new add here, they were pretty empty when we went in, so the service was great! Not only was our server Denise very attentive, but quite a few of the other employees stopped to ask how we were enjoying our meal. (There’s that Memphis feel again… Southern hospitality!) Even the cook asked how we liked it. So… thumbs up to this place… we’ll be back.

Yeeeeeeee-​ikes y’all!
I was skeptical about asian fusion BBQ but I’d previously had some yummy bites ‘n ‘shine from a past Unilocal party. Spur-​of-​the-​moment dinner plans led us to venture into unknown territory at Dragon Ranch. I should’ve known better than to order the ramen, but I was in the mood for noodes + soup. The tonkotsu ramen was a no-​go! It came in a really, super salty broth that overpowered everything else. The adorned meat was tender and well-​prepared but it just seemed out of place in my ramen bowl. The boy’s pork belly steamed buns were decent, again, nicely prepared meats but not quite the «wow» factor.
Next time, I’ll skip the asian stuff and just stick with the BBQ eats.

Went here on a week night with the girls and tried several things on the menu. The best items we had were the Steam Buns and the Smoked Brisket. I wanted to love the mac & cheese, it was good, but not great. Skip the pimento cheese, nothing to talk about. The bacon grill cheese was also good, but had better in several of the new grilled cheese specialty stores.
Stick to the BBQ meat steam buns and drink though the cocktail menu (FYI their Rocket Man drink was ok, I’ve had better manhattans). The ambiance is great with awesome décor.
I wanted to love this place, but there was just something missing.

Yay Google Deals!
Great for late night cocktails and not-​omelet grubbin!
Love the 4 diff kinds of BBQ sauce waiting for you at your communal table: D
Pimiento cheese dip and dragon egg are great for sharing… but the star of the experience was the cinnamon pineapple smash!

I was in town for Thanksgiving and went out with some former colleagues for dinner at Dragon Ranch. I was a little wary since I’m not a huge fan of fusion in general but I was really glad we went despite my purist ways. The place was pretty full for the Friday after Thanksgiving, but we had a reservation and they sat us quickly.
The décor was comfortable and warm. Their menu isn’t «extensive» and I like that. It makes me feel like they choose a few things to focus on and do them really well.
We started with with the Grilled Chinese Long Beans and they were delicious. After eating nothing but carbs and meat for 2 days it was a welcome break. I ordered the pork belly steam buns, basically gua bao and I wasn’t disappointed. The steamed buns were good and stayed soft the 1 hour it took me to eat them between drinks, the garnishes and sauces were delicious and the pork was perfectly crackled yet juicy. It’s different then the braised version I grew up with but just as good, if not better. I asked for a some cilantro just to make it a little more traditional.
My friends ordered the Banh Mi, Smoker Sando and the Grilled Garden with Brisket. Everyone seemed really happy, but I didn’t get a chance to taste theirs :(
Our waiter was great and offered suggestions on the menu and the moonshine. Friendly staff but not intrusive in any way and let us merrily drink ourselves silly. The prices are totally reasonable for the quality of food and service you get. I would definitely recommend this place.

I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t experienced it for myself, but I can safely proclaim that Chicago finally has a decent BBQ restaurant worth telling people about! I stopped in here for lunch with some of my co-​workers and had one of the tastiest lunches I’ve eaten downtown in a very long time.
For starters, the Pimento Cheese spread is a Southern thing you just don’t see too often up in these parts of the woods. Having spent a lot of time in Atlanta, I’ve tried many different recipes for this and Dragon Ranch has it down pat. I’d eat a bowl of that stuff by myself in a closet with a spoon (just to make sure I didn’t have to share any of it).
Next, we tried the mac & cheese. This was not your ordinary mac & cheese, or even the now run-​of-​the-​mill «gourmet» mac & cheese you find at so many places these days. Nope, this actually had a unique flavor that tasted slightly smoky and slightly like beer cheese to me. I couldn’t put my finger on it (I was too busy eating it), but it made me go back for a second helping.
For the entrée, I got the chopped brisket and tried all 4 sauces, thinking I’d find one I liked the best. Well, 3 out of 4 were delicious to me, so I kept switching sauces for each bite I took. The corn bread was also a nice touch that was so yummy!
Lastly, the cocktails were incredibly delicious. I tried the 1-​inch punch and thought it was outstandingly delicious and easy to drink for a strong cocktail. I also tried the Bushwacker which is like an alcoholic version of a Wendy’s Frosty (which is a good thing).
I’ll be coming back here… OFTEN.

I’ve tasted better sauces at Lillie’s Q and I’ve had cheaper drinks at Barn & Co.
Now that I’ve led with the bad, I can start over again with the good.
The portions are huge, and the quality and originality of the food/​cocktails shouldn’t be missed.
I ordered the bahn mi pulled chicken. My plate was ginormous, much better than you would find at any other bahn mi joint on the north side. The meat was tender and I tried all of the different sauces on it. I finished all of it, and actually took a nap afterwards. True story. It was $ 12.
They had some other sandwiches for around $ 10-​$ 13, but the cocktails (moonshine drinks) are what did me in. Not sure if it’s because they are made with heavy amounts of alcohol or the fact that this location is in River North, but I can never justify paying over $ 13 for a drink. I had the Moonshine Sling (see pic) but I could barely down half of it.
All in all, not sure if this joint is my kinda place, but I know some other enjoyed it more than I did. Our server was wonderful, funny and super accommodating to all 10 of us, so there’s that good news.

We went on a Thursday at 7. We found two seats at the bar or it would have been a 35 minute wait.
In the beginning it took awhile for the bartenders and the cook to get things rolling but after the first few hiccups, we were golden.
I got a moonshine sling — Whoooo Boy! Good stuff. My husbo got beer but when he got offered a glass, it was scalding hot. What bartender gives a scalding hot glass and freezing beer to a customer?
Anyhow — ordered the pimento cheese as an app. I love pimento cheese and this did not disappoint. It was amazing. And I’m a pimento cheese fan.
I had the pulled pork — A bit greasy for my taste. Good but greasy. Husbo had the rib platter and said they were as good as any other ribs. But — the main difference is they don’t boil the sh*t out of their ribs and that’s what makes them true BBQ ribs. I have mad respect for the BBQ joint that doesn’t boil their ribs.
The cole slaw was different and had a great flavor and the cornbread reminded me of cornbread I used to get at home back in KY.
All in all I liked this place and I would go back.
I’m surprised at the less than good reviews… It’s definitely not the worst BBQ I’ve had… It ranks up there with Honky Tonk, Smoke Daddy, Fat Willy’s.
And I personally like the Asian flair it comes with — It’s different and executed quite well. The Asian BBQ sauce — hands down, my favorite one there.

I never intended to try this place– the name sounded douchey and the thought of american bbq + asian influences = I’m not amused. Needless to say my expectations were pretty low but I had 2 gift cards to burn out before it expires on halloween so here I went. It’s super casual here– very farmy type with communal picnic tables and it’s really dark and fucking. loud. The first time I went I remember noting to my dining partner in crime that I’m exhausted from having to yell at him our conversation or repeat a lot of things. Turn that shit down, it’s not Abercrombie and Fitch. The food? It’s alright– not horrible. I might actually return but only because I can walk here.
The mac and cheese was a let down– sure it’s nice and creamy but the pasta was too doughy for us. Large, thick, doughy. We both agreed that the mac and cheese from Corner bakery from earlier that day was a lot more fulfilling and tasty. Another thing you should pass on is the grilled vegetable tempura. it was soggy, greasy, not at all like how tempura should be! which is light and crispy. Plus– there’s way too many carrots in the mix! The cornbread was good but a bit overrated in my opinion. A good side that I had was the sweet potato hash topped with an over easy duck egg. I liked putting on drizzles of the asian sauce on the table. I had the brisket and it was good and a little fatty which I kinda like. It’s great with the steamed buns. I tried the rotisserie chicken and it was dry and bland.
They have 4 sauces on the table and all were pretty boring and typical but I really liked the asian sauce. It’s really good and I’d put that on almost everything here. The spicy sauce tastes like nothing. No seriously it tastes watered down and of nothing. The mustard one sucks. I’m so helpful.
Their moonshine cocktails are pretty nice. very smooth.
I’d put this place in the delivery/​takeout mix or spontaneous walk in, again only cuz it’s convenient location wise… when I tire of Big Bowl.

Went to Dragon Ranch for a belated birthday dinner last week.
I have to preface this review by saying that my family BELIEVES in good BBQ… so I couldn’t walk by this place and not try it.
The service was simply okay, nothing to brag about and nothing too impressive.
I’m not a fan of communal dining and this place has shared tables for the most part.
We started with moonshine…(loved it), then deviled eggs…(hated it).
Then moved on to try the brisket and the ribs with mac & cheese (sharable size) and cornbread.
The brisket was dry, the sauces available were not to my palate and the mac & cheese was just barely okay. I did however enjoy the ribs (without sauce) and the cornbread with the butter.
I’m not certain I’ll try Dragon Ranch again but it does smell delish when I walk by!

Went here with a friend before she took off to Africa for a month, so it was one of those 2 ½ hour dinners and in all honesty this is not a place I would choose to come and sit down for that long ever again. (In the time that we sat there I watched three couples sit down, order, eat, pay, and leave) It is great for a short meal, but not for a leisurely lingering dinner.
Also not a good place for intimate dinners because the tables are all set up mess hall style. None of the chairs have backs so it is also not good for the elderly or anyone with back problems.
My Mac and Cheese was a tad bit salty, but over all it was very good. A perfect portion that didn’t leave me too full or wishing I had more. My only complaint was the cornbread. Sorry, but I have been eating cornbread for 21 out of my 23 years on earth (I’m a wannabe Southern girl), and I have NEVER had any that was this horrendous ever in my life. They should definitely warn people that it is not the traditional cornbread they are expecting when they order it.
It was heavy, doughy, and almost felt like a sponge that had absorbed too much water. It didn’t have the normal airy somewhat salty taste that normal cornbread has. Actually, it tasted like it had some kind of yogurt or custard in the middle – like the «bread» in «bread pudding,» just way more disgusting. The cornbread was also somewhat sour tasting. I’m sure some people will take a liking to it, but I get very turned off when people try to put their own twists on things that are definitely not broken and don’t need fixin’! I’ll be back, if only for the mac and cheese.

Bottom line: Creative but still needs some work.
Time: Early dinner around 6:30PM
Ocassion: Birthday dinner. Party of 3.
Service: Kind of slow.
— Food comes out pretty slow, or maybe I was just really hungry.
— Our server was very kind. Gave us lots of good recommendations, especially warning us to not over order because he sees a lot of people do that.
Food: Hit or miss.
— Dragon egg: never had anything like it. Quite yummy!
— Combo platter. Ribs — dry. Pulled pork — didn’t care too much for. Chopped brisket — yum. Slaw — decent. Cornbread is good with the butter, but without it, not so much.
— Crispy pig ear was a bit too greasy for me.
— Their special tonight was scallop with pork belly. Scallops were good, but the pork belly was way too fatty and hard to eat.
Concept is there but execution could use a tune up.

I went here at the beginning of the month with my grad school roomie. It was her last dinner in Chicago, and she loved it here.
The setup is a bit annoying. Communal tables. Oh. Annoyed with their ubiquity, the two of us opted to sit at the bar instead. This was a great choice, because we got to see the chefs at work. They even asked us how the food was and chatted with us a bit! It was very cool.
The cocktails feature moonshine. I should have remembered that I don’t like whiskey! I got a green cocktail from their list and overpaid for something that was very strong and bitter.
The food is better. Way better. My roommate’s brisket was exceedingly tender and a bit fatty but super crazy delicious. Her cornbread was dense and flavorful. My lobster entrée was decently priced for what it was (a lotta lobster). It was perhaps a bit too charred for my liking, but not enough where I couldn’t enjoy it. The accompanying carrot slaw was fruity and a great balance. I’d recommend Dragon Ranch! It seems a bit cheesy, but the service is good and the food is creative and stands up to the hype.

Oh let’s go to Sunda! Rockit, sure I love that place. Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ… no way!
I’ve been seeing pictures on FB for weeks that look amazing so my excitement was oozing as I walked in in anticipation. Pure disappointment to follow…
You’ve been open for over a month right… you are owned by HUGE Chicago restaurant names right… what I experienced was not acceptable. Billy Dec, you were high on my list of most amazing people but you’ve let me down.
Had a reservation, host staff was a disaster.
Hate communal seating, personal preference but ick. But in my defense if my bill is going to be $ 70 for two people I do expect to not get elbowed while trying to dine.
Had the Rubarb Lemonade and it was good and strong, not quite good enough to chug, which is over all a good thing. One Inch punch was good as well, reminiscent of a mimosa.
Sweet potato hash was good, potatoes were not fully cooked and it was a little salty but I would definitely get it again.
BBQ Combo. Ribs were huge, we joked that they were from a moose. Lots of fat and looked like a lot more meat than each contained, good smokey flavor but slightly tough, we ended up leaving 2 of 4 uneaten, not a good sign. Brisket was tough, is that even possible. Pulled pork was super fatty and not tender. Sauces were nothing special. Cornbread was dry, though all cornbread kind of is. Not impressed at all with the brussel sprout slaw.
Worst of all while walking to the bathroom we noticed what looked like a warmer plastic bags of meat in in. May explain the lack of tenderness, flavor and overall quality.
There is not one BBQ place I have not loved in Chicago… DRM-​BBQ is the first in Chicago I would not recommend to my worst enemy.
This restaurant is practically a trust fund kid, there is no reason it should not be the most amazing restaurant in Chicago and it was honestly not good.

Flabulous! Nope, not a typo. It’s close enough to my crib that I’m certain to acquire an extra layer of flab from eating here so often. Besides a bomb drink menu, this Asian/​BBQ fusion place boasts a badass menu that’s bound to give me a bad (not good) ass.
Appetizer eggs that are truly devilish, the BLTB, which is a sandwich that can only be described as the candy STORE of meats, and a grilled cheese with none other than more bacon inside it. I didn’t even get to try the noodles or BBQ yet and it’s already 5 stars for me.
I’m certain to die a much earlier death now that I know of Dragon Ranch, but what a way to go out.

Throw 4 people who like to try everything, into a brand spankin’ new restaurant, and this is what you get.
Appetizers:
Grilled Vegetable Tempura: I really liked it. I think the fact that they grill the veggies before deep frying them makes it perfect. The Asian Sweet & Spicy sauce is really good.
Dragon Egg: Holy Sh**, this is gooooooooooooood. This is actually more then good, this is great. Smash that egg up, mix, and enjoy!
Entrees:
Spare Ribs: Huge. Pretty good. Pretty meaty.
Pulled Pork: Delicious and porky. Exactly what you expected.
Chopped Brisket: This was probably my favorite of the 3. Perfect amount of seasoning on the brisket and super tender.
Sides:
Mac & Cheese: WOW! Huge rigatoni noodles drenched in the richest and thickest cheeses. FANTASTIC!
Cornbread: Corny & moist. Throw on some of the bourbon honey butter and you’re gonna be a happy camper.
Cocktails:
Rhubarb Lemonade: Strangely is tastes like a margarita
Moonshine Sling: A little too strong for this chick
Dragons Blood: Very dry… but kinda good
One Inch Punch: Fruity, refreshing, delicious
My only complaint is… the sauces. The spicy sauce is terrible, which is a huge disappointment to me because it’s normally the one that I’d choose first and like the most when eating at a BBQ place. The classic BBQ sauce is just okay. The Asian sauce was really good. I didn’t try the mustard.
The service was great. The place was packed. Can’t wait to come back.