Lem’s BBQ House

If you’re anywhere between 72^nd-​76^th and St. Lawrence-​Dan Ryan… Take a deep whiff of that yummy Lem’s smoke in the air!
My grandfather owned our family’s building a couple blocks away from here, so my mom grew up off of Lem’s and has been a loyal customer since they opened in the 60’s. She still can’t go a month without it. She passed the craving on to me, as I have literally been enjoying Lem’s since I was a baby. I’m serious. My brother’s wife jokes that our mom used fries dipped in spicy Lem’s sauce as pacifiers. She’s about right.
It’s no frills. Speak up so they hear you through the bulletproof glass (don’t be bougie, if you’re on 75^th you know what this is!) Know what you want or let someone go ahead of you. The workers won’t have a lot of time to answer questions. If the line is out the door you have to deal… 7 – 8 people allowed inside at a time. I wouldn’t suggest you try to skip the line.
Order the center cut, tips, or shrimp. Get an extra order of fries because they’ll only be like 10 hiding under the meat. They call the sauce «mild sauce» but it’s just a name; don’t expect the same flavor you get at Harold’s or Taurus Flavors. It’s spicy, tangy, just too good for the disservice of being called barbecue sauce. It’s ok to get the sauce on the side but I get it all over.
My brother now lives out of state, my mother sent him some sauce and he said it actually brought a tear to his eye

This is the BBQ you’ve been seeking. It is kind of hard to quantify just how wonderful this BBQ can be. Smoke is the flavor. This isn’t that slow cooked, super soft stuff that you get at most places, this is fast smoked, so the smoke flavor is in the crust on the meat, it is in the meat, it is on the other side of the meat. This BBQ is so good, that you can enjoy it without any sauce on it, and that is really saying something. As a matter of fact, get an order of rib tips with sauce on the side next time you go, and just nibble them tips for a while.
If there is something I don’t like about Lems it is the super-​limited menu. They could be smoking turkey breasts and veggies in there, not just ribs and tips. And then there is the fact that you could fit more people in you car than customers can fit in that store.

Lem’s is still awesome, they are open late and they do accept credit cards. I usually get a small rib tip chopped small, sauce on the side. The staff is great and the customers are crazy, but not in a bad way. Keep up the good work yall.

Some of the best bbq in the city hands down, but I would love to see some brisket and pork but…

Nice big shrimp, clean, open on time, everything that was on the menu was available (unlike the now defunct George’s). This is my new go to BBQ place.

Lem’s is always worth the trip. Growing up in the South, I’ve been consistently frustrated with the BBQ available on the north side. Although Rib Tips weren’t a common sighting where I’m from I’ve grown to love them, mainly through the experience at Lem’s.
Lem’s is a perfect example of the ‘aquarium smoker’ type smokehouse. It’s simple, delicious and no nonsense.

The bucket of tipsare delicious. Especially with lemon and pepper sauce. You all should try it. It is very convenient.

Went this past Sunday before NBA finals got in and out quickly. I’ve patronized Lem’s my entire life and it didn’t disappoint probably top 5 – 7 out of all my visits over last 35 plus years. We ordered Large rib tip cooked perfectly tender saucy tips, Center cut ribs very good drenched in sauce, and chicken not the best but was good. Mad love and respect to Lem’s!
A must try if you haven’t already it’s worth it.

Sadly we don’t have really good, notable barbeque on the north side (other than Smoque…) So it’s worth the trip down 94 to Lem’s on the south side. It’s a small place with nowhere to sit, but they’re always crowded and the wait is truly worth it.
What makes them stand out is that you can taste the smoke flavor of their meat. They definitely know bbq and how to do it right! Orders come with bread, fries, and their vinegary sauce which you can have on the side, or drenched on your food. Either way, Lem’s is the real deal. Love that they’re open late, too!
I highly recommend the rib tips. They can be a bit on the fatty side, but they are delicious. (You may want to order a bucket if you’re sharing or want some for later.) Fantastic!

Sweet baby mother of how-​can-​these-​be-​so-​good rib tips. This was one of those life-​changing meals that sets the bar higher of all future BBQ experiences. If you love vinegary-​smoky-​well-​done-​crunchy BBQ, this is the place for you. The surprisingly-​lean rib tips are chopped up into smaller pieces before being put on a bed of french fries and smothered with sauce. Give it 10 minutes to cool down and juices to spread out and you have a masterpiece. I’m never going to get this out of my head, and can’t wait to go back.
It’s not the safest neighborhood, so consider going during daylight. Everyone was nice when we were ordering. Read Matthew W.‘s review for some key pointers.

Yesterday went to what was my Favorite BBG house, Lems. What a disappointment! The rib tips were too salty and the entire order was full of burnt meat. I guess I will have to drive to I-​57 for good ribs. I must say that Lems sauce is still the best. Flavorful with just enough kick. I guess that you can buy a gallon of sauce and put it on I-​57 ribs!

I really don’t know what this is but it’s not bbq it’s like some mediocre something dump the sauce dump the hot links

It used to be Awesome!!! The last 5 times… not so much! I always order rib tips — they used to be meaty and delicious, now they are fatty, they are still yummy and flavorful but the bones are mostly fat, not much meat and the hot links are less than average… this place used to be my favorite, but it has gone downhill. All thats left is the sauce.

Even though I live on the North Side, I’m a South Side boy at heart. I grew up coming here and, over the years, have converted several lovers and friends. In the hearts and minds of many South Side Chicagoans, Lem’s isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an iconic culinary institution. So it goes without saying that every now and then, we get a taste for Lem’s and before we know it, we’re in the car headed South to 75^th.
Tip 1: know what you want when you step in the door, or prepare to make instant decisions when called upon. Many an uninitiated individual has incurred the wrath of the spectacled woman that runs the show, takes orders, and doles out the chow. Just like Teddy Pendergrass’ll holler at you, this woman will too, and I’ve seen it. I typically go for the Rib Tips (cut small, $.50 extra) and Link combo or the Center Cut Ribs, both with hot and mild sauce, which tends towards the vinegary side of the BBQ sauce flavor scale. Fries and bread accompany, and part of the magic that is Lem’s is having the sauce soak both the bread and fries, so that all may be consumed indiscriminately. With this tip, I’ll also state that, in both cold and warm weather, lines can be lengthy, so if you’re close enough to see the menu board, you’re close enough to make executive decisions.
Tip 2: Cash only. From the looks of the place, the savvy individual can easily determine that a credit card machine is as welcome here as a new car is among the Amish. Don’t behave in the manner of the uninitiated and stand, mouth agape with credit card in hand at the register. Just imagine the sassy, spectacled woman’s reaction to this error, and remember your mother’s gentle childhood scoldings, urging you to «make better choices.» Bring cash with you or be prepared to hit the Chase ATM in the Walgreens at 75^th and the Ryan.
Tip 3: Resist all temptation to consume any of this in your car on the way home. I’ve tried, with varying levels of success — sometimes on the expressway while piloting a vehicle — and have ruined several articles of clothing for my efforts. Wait until you can get it home, throw down some newspaper, and decend into beast mode.
Tip 4: After you eat: return and repeat. The food is good, the prices are reasonable ($ 14 – 22 for rib/​rib tip/​chicken/​hot link combos), and if you’re a North Sider like me, it’s a great excuse to take a ride and see an area of the city most only read about in the paper for its ills. Expand both your mind and your waistline!

I went here on a whim late Friday night. Apparently this place has some amazing bbq. To be honest, I’d never heard of this place though I’m a resident and consider myself to be familiar with Southside spots.
When I got to Lem’s the place was packed! The tiny parking lot was full of cars and there were also cars lining the street. Inside is very small and there’s nowhere to sit.
There was a 30 minute wait for rib tips but it turned out to only be 20 minutes. Needless to say, it was worth the wait. The ribs were perfect, not too tough, very flavorful and not drowning in bbq sauce. I was so impressed with the food that I didn’t care about the location, or the wait. Will def be back.

If I could give a negative star I would.
I had never had Lem’s before, but after hearing such amazing things about it my husband and I decided to try it. Worst mistake ever. The rib tips were burnt and tough. The hot link was under cooked. The chicken was disgusting and the «mild sauce» was unlike anything I have ever tasted (and not in a good way). We wasted $ 27.00 today to learn a valuable lesson… never ever again.

Wow. Ok, just… Lem’s how DARE you serve me so much delicious meat! I can’t believe I ate the whole thing. Large tips, mild sauce, the epitome of Chicago cuisine. This BBQ is indescribable. I’ll let others try. I’m still stammering.
The service was also impressive! The line was out the door (the joint is small), but even so, I was out the door in like 10 minutes. Exceptional establishment.
WARNING: you may soon need to buy bigger pants.

I found out about Lem’s by complete accident. I was staying at an AirBnB down the street and Lem’s was shining like a beacon in the night. They were open till 4am and they were the only business open.
Best BBQ sauce I’ve ever had. Try it with the short rib tips. They put your ribs on top of a bed of fries and they pour their delicious sauce over the top. I still have yet to have ribs as good as theirs.

So, went here last Saturday afternoon with the gf and two others. Nice day for a motorcycle ride, and we figured this was as good a destination as any. Walked in and figured we’d just order a variety, so I got the tips, links, shrimp, 4 wings, ¼ dark chicken, adn ¼ white chicken. Didn’t do any math in my head, that just felt like $ 60 – 70, and when the food came it was $ 44. $ 44. Ridiculous. Everything came with fries and bread. We barely touched the fries, the bread was great for wrapping the links and sopping up the sauce. Speaking of the sauce, stupid me ordered extra which was COMPLETELY unnecessary since everything came swimming it in. The sauce was glorious. So much so that I did one of the extras as a shooter. How was each food item?
–Tips — pretty good, decent smoke flavor, definitely benefitted from the sauce. Not as tender as I’d have liked. I want to try these again to see if I got their best effort.
–Links — good but the are the one thing I would drop next time I go. Good smoke flavor, firm, dense, but I would prly go elsewhere to satisfy my sausage craving.
–Shrimp — good but nothing better about these than any other non-​chain fried shrimp I have had.
–Wings — great, crispy skin, sauce hung on nicely, super juicy.
–¼ dark and ¼ white — actually my two favorite things. Great skin, lots of nooks and crannies holding sauce, meat was hot and juicy. For me, the highlight of the meal.
Next time we go, I’ll just tell them to hold the fries on all but one or two things. The fries are just filler. You go to a place like Lem’s for the meat, everything else just gets in the way. Suggestion: There’s no seating. Take your food due east to the lake and eat there with a nice view. Strong suggestion: Bring a roll of paper towell or a thing of wet naps, You are not given nearly enough napkins to handle the sh!%ton of sauce on the food.

Really, this is a 4.5 star review. Here’s the deal: you will drive up, you will walk in, it will smell amazing, you will order, receive your order in a paper bag, pay in cash, leave, and eat some of the best BBQ in your life. If you’re in a car, drive over to Promontory Point or one of the other nearby parks to eat.
The hot links are AMAZING — definitely the best I’ve ever had. Ribs are also amazing. Great thick, flavorful sauce, with the classic south side white bread and fries. Don’t expect fancy sides or, well, fancy anything. This is all about the meat and the sauce.