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The Smoke Daddy
Categories: Restaurants Barbeque Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Barbeque, Music Venues [Edit]
1804 W Division St(between Wood St & Honore St)
Chicago, IL 60622
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
(773) 772-6656
- Nearest Transit:
-
Division (Blue Line)
Damen-O'Hare (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Maria S. said: "We sat at the bar and chatted with Ken. Service was attentive. We even met with the chef who made the coconut bar ice cream. Love it! Libations is what we definitely were in for as a stop...but who could say no to the BBQ grill that…" read more »
539 reviews for The Smoke Daddy
Review Highlights
"Don't miss the sweet potato fries and the cornbread."
(in 117 reviews)
"But I consider myself a mac & cheese snob."
(in 164 reviews)
"The pulled pork sandwich was amazing."
(in 63 reviews)
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539 reviews in English
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Review from Whitney K.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012
Being from Austin, the holy grail of Texas bbq, I knew my husband was starting to get very antsy for some good meat in the city. I took a couple recommendations from coworkers and we ended up trudging through the snow last Saturday to try out Smoke Daddys works.
Pros: ribs, pulled pork, bbq sauce choices, mac and cheese, collard greens. Service was friendly and quick.
Cons: brisket. Sorry, I just hold brisket to a very high standard. My husband was pleased, but I think it was because he hadnt had any real brisket in months. I like my brisket a little smoky, and cooked over an open pit for the entire day and I just didnt get that vibe from this.
3.5....An extra half star because its the best we have found in Chicago. WIll return when he gets another craving! -
Review from First L.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mmmmmm...smokey goodness...three kinds of sauce (molasses, vinegar, or mustard-based) with free parking on the side (if you get there early enough, that is). We've tried the Beer Cheese with chips, the burnt ends, the spare ribs, the pulled pork, the beef back ribs, the sliced bbq, the mac & cheese, the slaw, the beans, and the drinks.
In one word, YUM.
The slaw here is NOT the creamy kind for those looking for a traditional white slaw. But it is awfully good. Might be just a trick so you don't feel so guilty eating everything else on your plate. Maybe.
Beans are my personal barometer of a BBQ Joint. And these are good. Peppery with some cumin hidden in there, I suspect, leaving the mouth full of tangy molasses, pepper, and Q-tastic flavor. There might be burnt ends in there, but that would mean I'd have to slow down long enough to figure that out, so as far as I'm concerned, it remains a mystery.
They have different drink specials and beer flights with a strong selection of brews on tap and interesting apple cider-based drinks. Nothing like a hot toddy to warm you up after that 2 second walk from the car...
When you go, try to get a booth so you can see the bar and read all of the fantastic t-shirts on the walls...proclaiming saucy things such as "our meat, your mouth" and "sauce so good you'll both come again and again" Need I say more?
Oh, pass the napkins, please... -
Review from Pascal M.
Naperville, IL
1/15/2012
Smokedaddy has a lot to offer. It's a neighborhood type of place with a cool interior.
The bbq is good. Personally, they have the best beans and slaw around. They use cilantro in their slaw which is different andi it works really well with the dressing they make for it. The beans are outlandishly good. A lot of our local bbq places dont seem to do beans well, Smokedaddy makes em nice rich, smoky, and spicy. Both are a must get. The mac was not that great, I wish they put a little more oomf into them., I gotta try the collard greens next time.
The pulled pork was fantastic. Beautifully slow cooked, very juicy, and goes great with their sauces. The ribs and brisket were just ok. I thought the ribs were nicely cooked, but there wasnt any mind blowing flavor going on. The brisket was a bit dry. Tough to do brisket just right, but maybe I caught bad make. All in all, the bbq is solid and absolutely worth a visit. Maybe a few if you leave near by and dont do your own bbw (which everyone should do).
I'd love to go back and try the burnt ends. -
Review from Megan B.
Chicago, IL
2/7/2012
Okay I might be slightly "unamerican" because I don't exactly like BBQ (also not a fan of ketchup or fried chicken, so sue me!). BUT my fabulous 50-something mother wanted me to take her out for some southern food and blues. Dee's Place next door on Division St. just shut down, which was my original choice. So we wentto Smoke Daddy on a Friday night at 8:00, boy was it crowded!
Bloody Mary's TO DIE FOR. Mmmm brisket.
Pulled pork sandwich, delish and reasonably priced. The BBQ? Actually pretty good! You pay the price$$ for it though.
Music? Great!
Customer service? HORRRRIBLE! We had to wait over an hour for 3 people. Yes I realize that it was a Friday and they were busy but the two groups after us were served approximately 15 minutes before us. Our waiter literally came to our table (already looking unpleasant), asked for my boyfriend's and mothers drinks and skipped me! That is a pretty standard server rule. How do you miss someone at a 3 person table? The manager noticed at one point they we were looking unhappy and went to grab our drinks. We had to ignore the issues with the waiter to continue our birthday celebrations. Too bad, great food and music but the customer service puts a huge damper on the whole experience. -
Review from Tony F.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2012
I am in love with this BBQ place. Whether it's pork or beef, its done just right. As a bonus for a side dish, the sweet potatoes are nice and crispy. Very few places pull that off. You go here for the food and then drinks.
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Review from Ariel L.
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
If not for the amazing burger at Smoke Daddy's, i would have given them 2 or 2.5 stars (virtually). But after having their burger for the first time this past weekend, i will be a repeat customer. I don't like their Ribs, and i'm not a huge fan of their chicken, but i do love the location and the restaurant itself. I love that they have live music, and i like their outdoor patio in the summer. But the burger....
The Burger needs to be ordered "Daddy Style". That means it comes with a few slices of BBQ Brisket on top. Slap on a piece of cheddar cheese and you have one of the best burgers in the city. I have been eating here for the past 10 years, and i only just found about that. I just assumed that if you were going there you had to get the ribs or chicken. I was DEAD wrong. Its a GREAT burger. I'm talking top 10 in Chicago burger. I'll throw it up there with Kuma's, Bad Apple, Gibsons, Rosebud Steakhouse, Revolution Brewing, etc. I kid you not, don't be a fool, order the burger. And of course it comes with sweet potato fries. YUM!
Get the damn burger. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Jennifer P.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
I have been coming to Smoke Daddy for years. The food has always been decent--not great (sometimes the BBQ can be a bit dry). If I were looking for food alone I'd go down the street to Lilly Q or over to Smoque for much much better food. But, the combination of live music and bbq has always been that thing that made Smoke Daddy unique and is, for me, a huge selling point. It was always been a good place to eat, have some drinks and hear some great live blues music. The food alone just doesn't cut it. It seems like the place has changed a lot the last few times I've gone--even in the last few months.
There is less of a fun, relaxed vibe. I was there for dinner recently and they had a band on stage basically playing quiet background music. It was pretty lame. I could barely hear them from our seats in the back. I guess I could have asked for a table closer to the stage, but it was pretty crowded and we didn't want to wait. Besides, it was a weekend at like 8:30 or 9:00 and the band was playing like they were performing in an old age home instead of a bar! What is the point? They may as well pipe in elevator music. What happened to this place?
On another sour note, one of the waitresses (I think her name was Ryan or Regan--short with dark hair) was pretty rude in the way she dealt with us--she seemed almost angry with my boyfriend for taking a while to order. I guess she's never heard the expression, "the customer is always right." I also noticed the nasty way she was speaking to the other employees. It's a small place so you can see and hear everything and we were right near the kitchen and bar. I just thought it was very unprofessional and really made me think twice about coming back.
This place has been around a long time--it's a shame to see it gradually lose it's funky edge and just become another corporate restaurant bar with no character. -
Review from K B.
Davidson, NC
2/4/2012
Being from Carolina I have a very strong opinion on bbq. The stuff I tried here was quite subpar, and the fact that they rely on sauce for flavor and the available sauces are pedestrian is a killer to their chances of impressing. If you go here, eat the ribs I guess. Oh yea, and it's smokey.
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Review from Krystle N.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012 1 photo
Excellent food!! HORRIBLE service!!! I give the stars for the food. I five the service -20 points! I wanted to cuss all of them out! Ill be calling the manager!! Next time Ill take my money else where
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Review from Leanne K.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
The BBQ is great, I recommend the burnt ends in particular, the waitstaff is friendly and attentive, and the Bloody Marys garnished with brisket and a beer sidecar are not to be missed.
Took my Dad there for Father's Day over the summer and he loved it, except for the homeless man who was harassing us while we were sitting on the patio, but really, where doesn't a homeless man harass you in Wicker Park? It's part of the experience. -
Review from Lesley S.
Ukrainian Village, Chicago, IL
12/16/2011
i hate giving a neighborhood place a bad review, but smoke daddy just isn't that great.
when i used to go there last summer (as in summer 2010) their food was pretty good. it's steadily gotten worse. dry ribs, dry brisket, too much generic tasting sauce on everything, bland mac 'n cheese, extra watery coleslaw, dried out pork.
my bf wanted bbq, so i agreed and we ordered from there tonight and i was excited when the veggie of the night was collard greens. i LOVE greens, but these weren't cooked long enough, they weren't washed well and were still gritty and they tasted like burnt garlic.
fail smoke daddy, there are much better bbq places in the city -
Review from Allison W.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2011
I'm from South Carolina, but I'm not a BBQ connoisseur, so I will limit my review to just the cornbread, which I happen to be an expert in due to the sheer amount of cornbread I have eaten in my life.
This cornbread is perfect. This is the best cornbread I've had outside of South Carolina. Smoke Daddy's warm, buttery, slightly chunky slice should not be missed. Merle's in Evanston is a close second, but mainly because it comes with a side of honey that you can mix into the butter to make it delicious. Smoke Daddy's seems to have the honey and the butter magically infused into the cornbread so no additional spreading is necessary. Truly remarkable.
Oh and the rest of the food was great too! And they had live music on a rainy Tuesday which was a pleasant surprise. -
Review from Joe S.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2012 6 Check-ins Here
Haven't had anything I really didn't like here, my favorite is the burnt ends. Get the beer cheese for an appetizer. Overall a good place for BBQ in Chicago.
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Review from Julie Z.
10/26/2011
Note to self: be more suspicious when your guy friends tell you a restaurant is awesome and they are known to eat anything and everything.
With that being said I was still really excited to eat here. I love bbq esp ribs. Well, unfortunately, this is not the place to get ribs. The ribs were dry and I didn't care for the smoke flavor. There are just too many other bbq places in the city that know what they are doing when it comes to ribs and using a smoker.
The brisket was the best thing here. Pulled pork gets 3 stars...too fatty. However the corn bread is gooooood.
I came with a big group. They do not have ideal indoor seating for large groups. It's cramped so if it's nice out, sit outside.
The drinks are ok and sometimes it takes a while to get anyone's attention for more beer/cocktails. -
Review from Corinne M.
Chicago, IL
10/13/2011
Growing up in Memphis, only one thing rubbed off on me. That being my deeply engraved love of good BBQ.
This place does it right. You smell that delicious aroma, as soon as you open the door. I got the pulled pork sandwich, my favorite. The bread is so soft and easy to smoosh until your mouth... not too messy. I never before considered how important good bread is for a pulled pork sandwich until having this, it's perfect!
Three options for BBQ sauce - perfect.
Monday night jazz music - perfect.
Sit at the bar alone, at a small table with your date, or at a booth with many people - perfect.
The bartender/waitress was very attentive - perfect.
The food came out within 10 minutes of ordering - perfect.
I was also impressed to see the Bloody Mary's actually have brisket and BBQ in them? I did not order one, but it sounded pretty amazing. That will be for next time. -
Review from Lourdes A.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2011
Appetizer: Smoked jalapeno beer cheese with chips. Skip it. It's nothing special and sorta gross, although I did eat some so not sure what that says about me.
Lunch: Smoked sliced brisket sandwich with sweet potato fries. The sandwich was a bit skimpy and some bites seemed to be more bread than brisket. Fries were ok.
Drink: Arnold Palmer (iced tea + lemonade). Had never had one of these before and it was delicious!
Service was good. A solid three star kinda joint. -
Review from Kamil D.
Schaumburg, IL
12/28/2011
This is by far my favorite BBQ place in Chicago. My girlfriend moved here from Kansas City and when I would go visit her before she moved we always went to get BBQ since thats what KC is known for. I would put Somke Daddy up against any of those places. The smokey flavor is great and their sauces are even better. If you love ribs like I do I would recommend this place in a second.
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Review from Jason H.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2011
We had the ribs... wasn't hungry but ate them all anyway, hahah. oopsie!
So the food is great good BBQ sauce. They actually bottle it too. They have a nice patio there. Only thing lacking is the service. I really hope they have a little fun while working... -
Review from Porter K.
Warrenville, IL
1/21/2012
We were a group of 6 and everyone raved about their entrees. Their Bloody Mary is their own Smoke Daddy version with a piece of pork wrapped with brisket. The macaroni and cheese is to die for and has a wonderful flavor. The ribs are generous and the pit beans are some of the best I have every had. Looking forward to going back.
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Review from Ryan G.
Chicago, IL
10/10/2011
What happened to this place???
Saturday night at 7pm we were able to walk in with 7 people and sit down right away......not a good sign. Ribs were overcooked and dry, cocktail list was boring, service was fair. Probably won't be back. Shame. -
Review from Lawrence S.
Chicago, IL
12/15/2011
This barbecue is so unique. Smoky, tangy. My pantry is stocked with their sauce and BBQ rub. Come for the ribs, stay for the pulled pork sandwich. And don't forget the pulled meat nachos. We even had them cater the late night at our wedding. I have eaten here about once a month for the last 10 years. Maybe a little exaggeration.
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Review from Andrea D.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2011
Good BBQ in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Good enough for me.
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Review from Jennifer I.
Chicago, IL
7/17/2011
Smoke Daddy is quite alright.
I had a combo of brisket and pulled pork...I enjoyed the pork, but the brisket was a little fatty. With the exception of bacon, I am not a fan of seeing fat on my meat. I've really been spoiled by the brisket at Smoque...maybe I should just stop getting it at other places because it's always a hair disappointing, even if it's good. This brisket would have been ok if I didn't have to hack off the fat.
For my sides, I chose mac and cheese and baked beans. I liked the mac and cheese, but those beans blew the roof off the place. I am not a huge baked bean gal, but I could have just eaten these and been happy...for real.
Finished up with some banana pudding...banana pudding is absolutely my favorite way to get my potassium (don't tell the members of my medical team), and this did not disappoint.
If it wasn't for the fat on the brisket, I would give Smoke Daddy 4 stars. I'd certainly go back...if only for the baked beans.Listed in: Barbecuticles
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Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
7/7/2011
It's amazing to me just how long Smoke Daddy has been around. I remember coming here in '95 when I lived just a few blocks away. I was something of an urban pioneer back then as the neighborhood was completely different than it is now.
My neighbor was a waitress here so I'd come in pretty often, and let's face it, there weren't a lot of restaurants in the area in those days. We'd eat at SD, then head next door to Czar Bar. Ah, good times.
I had all but forgotten about Smoke Daddy, but summer is all about stuffing barbecue down my gullet and dining outside as much as possible, so a fellow barbecue devotée and I dined here last night.
Parking is a lot more of a hassle than it used to be, but that's gentrification for you. After driving around for a while, I finally found a spot on a side street, so I suggest avoiding Division Street.
We were able to get a table outside which made me happy, and we settled in to look at the menu. I started with a "Porch Swing" and my friend went with the "Southern Belle."
My drink was muddled cucumbers, gin, Pimm's, and a splash of lemonade. Unfortunately it looked and sounded better than it tasted.
We moved on to the main event and the reason we came here: barbecue, and lots of it. I had skipped lunch and I was plenty hungry so I went with the rib and chicken platter and my friend went with the smoked meat platter. For sides I chose the sweet potato fries and mac and cheese and my friend had the smoked pit beans and mac and cheese. Oh, and I added a side of hand-cut fries. Don't judge, I was hungry.
The food came out pretty fast, which I guess is a good thing. Everything was fine, but nothing had me jumping for joy. I'll elaborate:
ribs - fall-off-the-bone tender. I am not a fan. I prefer to have to "tug" a bit when I'm eating them. Who doesn't love a good tug?
chicken - skin was not crispy, which made it kinda gross.
sweet potato fries - pretty good, but why does every place feel the need to put some kind of sugar/spice on the fries? Why mess with a good thing?
mac and cheese - don't know how else to describe it other than it's simply too creamy. I like mine a little denser.
hand-cut fries - the first order we got was terrible, like they were "held" too long in the kitchen. The replacement order was much better, especially dipped in the barbecue sauce.
My friend also chose to indulge in the banana pudding, which was a generous portion topped with fresh bananas and Nilla wafers. I didn't try it, but she seemed to enjoy it.
Service was fine too. Our server was friendly and got the job done, so no complaints there.
I'm giving Smoke Daddy three stars, but it's more like 2.5. They're owned by the same folks who own Dunlay's on the Square (of which I'm a fan), so that warrants a rounding up.
I think there's better barbecue to be had in the city, but it really comes down to personal preference. A lot of people really like Smoke Daddy, but for me, Smoque wins, hands down.Listed in: Uki Village/Bucktown/Wicker…, BBQ
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Review from sam t.
Chicago, IL
10/10/2011
When I left Smoke Daddy last night I was a little let down - I just didn't like it that much.
Firstly the Bloody Mary was one of the best I've had.
Secondly, I ordered the Rib Sampler. The sides of the sweat-potato fries weren't to my liking (they put brown sugar and cinnamon on them which makes them a little too sweet) and the mac-n-cheese was more of a custard style and pretty sweet as well. My friend got the hand cut fries which were awesome!
Lastly, the ribs I thought were just ok - I left with about half of them as leftovers (It's a really good value for price).
I was thinking that the things I didn't like about the ribs, the VERY intense smoke flavor being one, would be melded with a night in the fridge and I was so right. The next day they were amazing. Next time I will take out - Rib Sampler with a side of hand cut fries and coleslaw. -
Review from Susan M.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2011
i came here the other night get a drink, and i was charged tax on that. wtf. who charges tax on a guiness? crazy!
this place isn't like it used to be. the food is still good, but i think the owners are looking to make a quick buck now. it doesn't have the same neighborhood vibe anymore :( the owners don't recognize anyone who comes in here, and i used to come here all the time. -
Review from Samantha V.
Cook, IL
9/5/2011
What worked well:
Diner/BBQ atmosphere
Family friendly
Quick service
Crunchy, thin fries
Three types of BBQ sauce
What could have been better
I hate to say it, but maybe a couple more salads
Smoke Daddy was missing the "x" factor for me, there was just something missing
If you like BBQ, go to town -
Review from Rick M.
Chicago, IL
7/7/2011
Smoke Daddy's is pretty great. I usually get their pulled-pork and am a huge fan of mixing their BBQ sauces together and then dipping my sandwich in my concoction.
The burgers here are good too and the portions are always awesome. The last time I went in I was soooo hungry and was craving a burger so freakin' bad. I ordered, enjoyed the live band, and in no time got my food. It was absolutely delicious and the waitress was very attentive when I finished.
I got my tab and was stunned... it was only like 4 dollars or something plus the drink. I was really confused and then found out that it was half price burger night!
Looks like I lucked out. Wish I could remember what the hell day of the week that was.Listed in: Welcome to Good Burger, home…
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Review from Kyle H.
6/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I used to live near Smoke Daddy when it first opened. The neighborhood was way different back then. And not just demographics. There were huge sinkholes in the sidewalk on Division before 1996, that I'm sure led to some kind of Masonic Underground Daley Payola Gold Mine. When Smoke Daddy opened, it was exciting, but also signaled the end of Dirty Division, which had its charm too.
Maybe that's why I've stayed away from Smoke Daddy for so long. I resent it, in a way. A recent visit kind of slapped me out of my petty ways (a good restaurant, like a good woman, can do that for you). And I'm so thankful.
Division is now a prime street for dining Al Fresco, and the Smoke Daddy has tons of outdoor real estate, seating should not be a problem. Awesome. The Pulled Pork sandwich was excellent. The server who brought out the food was super friendly, and she explained the three different hot sauces on the table.
Each was better than the next and just as good as the last! Smokey dark, red with a zing of vinegar, and a sweet mustard-based sauce were all excellent to put on a sandwich that already had a great sauce, and also to dip the sweet potato fries in. Top it off with a good selection of beers, and you can't beat if for BBQ cravings on Division. I'm hoping Smoke Daddy is a mistress I can visit often, and not need to be slapped again. Unless I ask, of course.Listed in: Do Me, Division
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Review from David C.
Chicago, IL
11/5/2011
My favorite BBQ in Chicago! We brought our two kids (9 months and 2) for an early dinner. They were very helpful with highchairs and quick with the food. I usually order the pulled pork sandwich. My favorite sides are the sweet potato fries and cornbread. The sweet tea could be better.
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Review from Catherine P.
Schaumburg, IL
My sister crashed our Saturday of doing chores and said we have to go try The Smoke Daddy. Being nice weather, I agreed to head to the city.
It was evidently a Puerto Rican holiday or parade as there was crazy noise and busy streets all down Division from 90. Found parking a few blocks away from TSD on a side street.
We tossed around a few ideas, but we ended up ordering nachos with pulled chicken and pulled pork and a smoked chicken soup to start. I wasn't feeling that great, so I skipped ordering my entree because I was pretty satisfied by the soup and nachos. The nachos were pretty decent. The soup on the other hand was a mixture of dark and white meat pulled chicken. The black stuff that is sometimes near the bone (i believe blood) was very noticeable in my bowl of soup---kinda a turn off. A lot of onions, and tomatoes- almost like a gumbo. The taste was great. The meat in my bowl....not my fav.
My boyfriend ordered a pulled pork sandwich and fries. I didn't actually taste anything, but it looked very good and he consumed most of it. My sister got a burger with beautiful thick cut strips of bacon. I think she was a little displeased with the well-done-ness of her medium ordered burger. All in all, a fun place to eat, decent food, and fun memorabilia (such as, T-shirts that say "Ribs, For Her Pleasure") to purchase and take home with you (we did).
I find it likely that we will return, but I know of a few other places I would like to try first. -
Review from emily h.
7/20/2011
One of my favorite things about living in Wicker Park is living within a 5 minute walk from the Smoke Daddy! We frequent the Smoke Daddy more often in the summer months because we prefer sitting outside when we eat there so it was a major bonus when they expanded their patio for Summer 2011!
My favorite items on the menu are the pulled chicken sandwich, the hamburger and the cookie skillet!! My husband LOVES the jalapeno corn bread. I have also looked into catering some of the pulled meats from Smoke Daddy for gatherings and their prices for this are extremely reasonable! (Beats making it yourself and having your house smell like pork for days!) -
Review from Tiffany k.
Chicago, IL
6/29/2011
I was a bit apprehensive about this place after reading the reviews, but the food looked SO DAMN GOOD, that I couldn't resist trying it out.
I came here on a Sunday with two people. We sat outside and the wait was about 5-10 minutes around 7pm - not too bad for a nice day in Wicker Park. I ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich with sweet potato fries, and my S.O. ordered the burnt ends sandwich with sweet potato fries, while my other friend ordered the fish sandwich with sweet potato fries.
Now, I don't eat BBQ too often (not because I don't like it) but this was absolutely great! The sauce was tangy and sweet, but not too crazy. The pulled pork - oh man, it practically melted in my mouth! So delicious! And don't get me started on the sweet potato fries - they were covered in cinnamon and sugar, and it was a nice, subtle flavor that I noticed quickly and appreciated. The burnt ends were absolutely great, too!
The food is filling, and the portions are big. Service was good, and the flavors were there. The meals are decent, at around $9-10 per person just for a sandwich. I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Steve L.
Alsip, IL
Updated - 8/14/2011
They've added a KC Style burnt end sandwich!
When I visited KC, their burnt ends were a revelation and I could barely contain my excitement when I saw that Smoke Daddy added this to the menu.
It was char-filled, smoky goodness.
I will be a more frequent customer due to this addition1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/13/2009
This place is 3 blocks away from my house and I was hankering for some bbq. Yelp had great reviews,… Read more »
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Review from Nathan F.
Chicago, IL
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I know plenty of people are more qualified at assessing BBQ, but I definitely have a solid baseline. Having sampled some of the best out of KC, Memphis, Texas, and even SC, I can safely say this place is nowhere near that level. Keeping in mind that this is Chicago and they aren't attempting to compete at that level, I would still say Smoke Daddy is sub-par. This was a place that I SO BADLY wanted to like, but couldn't do it.
Food:
My fiance and I ordered the beer cheese appetizer, which I would have to say was pretty much the only highlight. Pretty tasty soft cheese with some spice to it, but nothing spectacular.
For our main course, we split a sampler (Daddy Sampler? Can't recall the name), which offered a little of bit of something for everyone -- burnt ends, ribs, and pulled pork. I was unimpressed by all of them, even in light of the fact that they are not competing at the national level. I am not grading this for Memphis in May and I still think it is mediocre. Most of the meats were over-cooked and bland -- two major sins of BBQ. I have even had better pulled pork at many gastropubs in Chicago who don't pretend to be BBQ joints.
The mac and cheese was decent, but the reviews on Yelp have over-hyped this dish. Don't get too excited -- it wouldn't stand out at other restaurants. 2 stars.
Service: Meh. I have had better. It was okay, but our waitress was not particularly informed on the beer selection or the specialties of the restaurant. And, no, it was not her first day. 3 stars.
Ambiance:
Think of a dive BBQ joint in Memphis with an outdoor seating area of Chicago. Bam. Smoke Daddy's. I have heard that it's great for live music and I'll give those reviews the benefit of the doubt. 3 stars.
Overall, I was genuinely heartbroken by Smoke Daddy's -- so much potential squandered at that location on Division. I wanted to love it, but I couldn't even bring myself to like it. Not going back. -
Review from alan q.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2011
Smoke Daddy's was good but I was expecting a little better for all the hype of this place.
Baby Back Ribs - I think we got them on an off night because the rack of ribs we got was very dry. It tasted as the ribs were sitting out all day and we got the leftovers. I was pretty disappointed here.
Pulled Pork - Pretty solid here. It was a good mixture of pulled meat and some crispy bark.
Brisket - This was the best meat of the three that we had. Just the right mix off meat and fat.
Sides - The sides were the best thing about the meal. Mac and cheese was cheesy and creamy. Beans were off the hook. I am not a huge baked beans eater, but this had a nice smoky flavor with huge chunks of meat. The cole slaw was fresh and crisp. The jalapeno corn bread had a nice unexpected kick to it.
Service was great. The food came out quick. All in all, a solid bbq joint. -
Review from Kyle W.
5/10/2011
Came here with my boy Roman M. back in December to start off the night in Chicago. Around the corner from Roman M's pad, Smoke Daddy helps you get the night started off right with live music.
I'm more of a dry rub fan, but Smoke Daddy's sauces were pretty good on my baby backs. Portions come in typical midwest fill you up SUCKA portions.
Being the southerner I am, I had to get the mac and cheese, which was the slightly disappointing part of my dinner. Not enough crispy top layer, and slightly to liquidity cheese for my tastes, but this is pretty minor.
Overall really good midwestern BBQ, and some good ass get down, move the funk music, to begin the downhill spiral for the rest of the night with Roman M. -
Review from Matt M.
Chicago, IL
5/26/2011
A haiku:
These guys deliver
All the way over to Clark
What's your problem, Piece? -
Review from Christy M.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2011
I came here for dinner a few weeks ago. We had heard really good things. People say it's one of the best bbq joints in the city, so we were pretty excited.
I have to say, it was good, but I can't go so far as to say great. Or even one of the best.
I get that the place is really laid back; super causal. But when we walked in the door we didn't know what to do. No one greeted us. Do we seat ourselves? Do we wait to be seated? Where are the menus? There was no sign inviting us to seat ourselves. We hem'ed and haw'ed till we finally decided to be daring and just take our own booth. I eventually spotted the menus and grabbed two for us. As casual as a restaurant is, it's nice to get a little direction as to the modus operandi.
We both got the pulled pork sandwich. It was quite tasty, but I have had better, to be honest. There wasn't a ton of bbq sauce on the sandwich. But that's ok cause they have 3 different flavors right there at the table for you to decorate your food with. They were good, not great. The sauce wasn't as thick as I prefer. I guess I'm still a Sweet Baby Ray's kinda gal. That's more my kind of bbq sauce. Smoke Daddy's sauce was a bit more runny and just not the most amazing bbq flavor ever.
I would return, but not with the expectation that I'll leave with my eyes rolled back in my head from the sheer genius of the food. -
Review from Allie J.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2011
We were looking for a caterer for our wedding at Salvage One and came across Smoke Daddy. We tried other BBQ places but they either missed the mark or did not offer catering.
We tried out the restaurant with some friends on a Saturday night. The food was so good we almost fell off our chairs. I had the pulled pork sandwich which was phenomenal and my then boyfriend and our friends had the ribs. The cornbread is delicious and has a litlte kick. The cole slaw has a bit of cilantro which makes it amazing. Fantastic. And great live music.
Needless to say, after our dinner we decided to go with Smoke Daddy for the wedding. Tai and her staff were incredible. My husband met with her a few months prior to the wedding to discuss options. She even met with us again a few weeks prior to the wedding to make sure all of our bases were covered. She was very patient and accomodating to our menu changes. We did the pulled pork, pulled beef brisket, halved chicken, beans, corn bread, cole slaw, and daddy salad for 65 people. Everything was hot, tasted amazing and tasted fresh.
The day of the wedding the food was delivered on time as promised. Tai and her staff were great- they got everything set up and ready to go to our specifications. Smoke Daddy provided extra staff and bartenders for the event. Most of all, the guests LOVED the food! People went back for 2nd and 3rd helpings! Smoke Daddy was a big hit to say the least!!
Don't be afraid to get BBQ for your wedding! People will actually EAT the food and enjoy it!
I would definitely recommend Smoke Daddy for dinner or an event!
