Uncle John’s BBQ

This is the worst place to go and buy barbecue I’ve been there many of times and each time I’ve went there no matter what time of the day or night I go I always end up with garbage, I get the ribs tips every time., and each time I’ve gotten more fat then tips, if they are not fatty they are burn so bad until you can’t eat them, I’ve tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, this is why I kept trying them I figure it might just be the cook of the day but no this restaurant I would give this place not 1 star rating don’t waste your money people, please don’t !!!

Tonight Jan. 31^st around 9pm. Uncle Johns hadn’t prepared enough ribs to accommodate thier customers. They took your money and had you wait close to an hour. It wasn’t worth the wait, and the portions were small for jumbo ribs. Uncle Johns DON’T short change your customers cause of yall mistakes.
Loyal Customer

My first time trying this place and I can say the servings were a big portion, the sauce wasn’t really to good. If probably never eat here again

I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER eat there AGAIN. A couple of hours after eating them I got extremely sick. Yes, it was food poisoning. I was sick for almost two days. I have never been that sick from food before in my life. I tried Uncle Johns because as usual Lems BQ was packed and I didn’t feel like the wait. I’ve gotten mixed reviews from my friends regarding Uncle Johns. Some have told me when they were on 69^th street the food was really good but have gone down a lot. Others have told me they just didn’t like their BQ so I thought I’d just try it for myself. The ribs were burnt and I wasn’t crazy about the hot links however, I ate them. The only time that building will see me again is to get some Dat Donuts… Horrible food and horrible service. Shame on Uncle Johns for selling bad and freezer burned meat!!!

I I had a taste for bbq so I went to Uncle Joe’s on 83^rd n Cottage Grove. I ordered 6 wings w/​mild sauce and a small Cole slaw. It was horrible!!. The chicken was black on the inside which meant it was old. I will never go back there again… How can they serve old food like that! It’s horrible!!!

I ordered the large tip and link combo. I definitely got my money’s worth for the quality and quantity compared to some of the other locals bbq joints in the area. I can’t believe I’m just now trying this place after living so close for almost two years. I’ll definitely be back.

I ordered the small rib/​link combo. I’m originally from Chicago but I’ve migrated to Atlanta I had been craving ribs and links for months. I was a bit leery of trying this place because the last time I was there (after Leon’s finally closed) the food was horrible.
These links were nostalgic. My grandfather was always a hot links man… he would definitely love the spice of these… Needless to say I inhaled it all… now chewing… just a lot of smacking.
The mixed hot and mild sauce is divine. Brought my husband an order of hot links back to Atlanta and this is what’s left.

What can I say garbage garbage garbage never ever go there. They should be ashamed to call this bull !##/​bar b que

I have been going here almost weekly which is costly because the turkey tips are $ 11 for the one size order. Every thing was excellent until 2 weeks ago I guess they got a new cook now the tips got tougher and sometimes burnt and the portion got smaller. I won’t be going back for a while maybe experience will help with the new cook:(

My wife said it all in her review. I’m very picky about BBQ being that I’m from Kansas City, but I have to say I was impressed by Uncle Johns. I told my wife he has a customer for the duration of my time in Chicago. I hope it wasn’t a one time deal. The lady behind the glass told me it was worth the wait, and it sure is… I’ll be back uncle John, your new nephew!!! Lolololol

My husband and I were attempting to try another barbeque place which was across the street, and smelled the aromas of barbeque as we approached… only to find that the other place had closed. We asked a guy who was getting into his car, and he said it was Uncle John’s, across the street… and we would love it.
My husband turned into their lot and we went to check it out. This was after 11 at night, and they were packed! We ordered a large ½ rib tips, ½ hot links meal to share, which came with fries, bread, and cole slaw, and your choice of sauce. As we checked out the menu, hubby asked questions and talked to a few people, who all said it was really good.
They told us it would be about 15 – 20 minutes because they were busy, but that was ok. There is no seating here so we took our order home, and even after the almost hour drive, the food was still delicious. There was no fat on the rib meat at all, and we could taste the genuine smoky flavor. The hot links were spicy and cooked to perfection. Their sauce is delicious, too! I kept dipping my fries in it.
For south side barbeque we like Lem’s, but my husband thinks this may be his new favorite. We will definitely try again, but for a first visit, they deserve the 5 stars!

My perspective may be that of a Chicago barbecue novice, but I went to the original Uncle John’s and this version once each, and this one works if judged on its own merits rather than in comparison to the legendary original. The ribs and rib tips have a primal appeal to a carnivore. As Seth P. notes, there is inconsistency in the smokiness. This isn’t a dealbreaker.
The hot sauce is spectacular. It isn’t the hottest thing you’ve ever tasted but it works on multiple levels. The fries are pretty good but you may not give them much attention amid all the meat.
There’s no seating.

Rumors of Uncle John’s precipitous decline have been greatly exaggerated. The ribs and tips are still meaty and delicious, and the mild and hot sauces are still «elbo lickin’ good». What’s missing from the 69^th street days is consistency: my friends and I agreed that in our large order of tips, some pieces were smoked to tingly perfection and some just weren’t smoked. You could actually see the difference in the pieces of meat. Everything tasted good, but if Uncle John’s want to approach its greatness of yore, they need to take the care necessary to make sure that every piece of meat is done just right.

Called to place an order for pick up and was RUDLEY told that we are not a catering business, you
Must come in to place your order and than the nasty lady said, and besides we are not bushy anyway and just hung up the phone. No customer service at all and they wonder why we don’t want to support… I didn’t need all of that attitude, a simply no you have to come in and place your order would have worked just fine. SMH

They’re pretty good service was good food was good. I miss the old uncle John’s on 69^th… I have really good news… The original owners have opened up a new restaurant on 47^th it’s called Uncle J’s, and it reminds me of the good old Uncle John’s!!! Even have good deals on Tuesday and Wednesday before 6pm…

This place sucks nothing but burnt tip bones I’m not sure where the meat is but it was just nasty and i really wanted to like them because it’s so close to home but the portions and taste is horrible

Best hotlinks. Great value for the money. Good barbecue for low prices. Fits everyone’s budget.

This place is awful. Overpriced nasty sauce that’s dry? crazy, how does the sauce dry up? but it does.
69^th was much better.
Do yourself a favor and don’t come here.

Let me set things straight: this is not the spot to go to for excellent customer service. The employees aren’t rude, but it’s not like they are going above and beyond for you. They make sure your order is correct and that’s that.
As far as the food. Listen, get the jerk tips and/​or the hot links. Wait your ass the allotted amount of time to get your food. These reviews on here with people complaining about the service and wait time are BOGUS. This is a good ass hood food joint, so the service won’t be horrible, just not overachieving, and the wait time is worth it so chill the fuck out and wait for your food. The rosemary on these hot links??? GAD DAYUM!!! (Although I-​57 has the hot link game on lock!)
The donut spot next door though?! *faints*

What a wasted trip!
I put off coming here for just long enough to miss the old location. I’m not used to ordering food through bullet-​proof glass in a tight corridor with no place to sit down. I am used to quality BBQ and this ain’t it.
I’ll count this as the first and hopefully last time I ever get a carryout box with enough grease to float french fries in! Stop. Nope, there was literally a pool of oil in the bottom of the box which made the french fries useless for anything other than propping up the meat and making the box feel heavier.
Worse, the meat had an acrid taste to it as though the firewood was ripped off a failed Chicago porch. I can do without being able to eat the fries I paid for, but when a BBQ joint can’t even serve a tasty rib tip, I quit!