Chicago
Lem's Bar-B-Q
Restaurant
Why we point you here
Chicago barbecue charted by the James Beard Foundation as an America's Classic in 2025.
This is the Chicago barbecue worth the detour—recognized by the James Beard Foundation as an America's Classic in 2025, the kind of distinction that speaks to decades of doing one thing exceptionally well in a city better known for other styles.
Accolades
On the map
Other charted spots in Chicago
Worth the detour.
Charted by James Beard Awards· Last verified 2026-07-11