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Lem’s Bar-B-Q is a favorite for rib tips
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Where to Eat Rib Tips In Chicago

Chicago’s most-famous barbecue contribution

by Elizabeth Atkinson
1 comment / new
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Lem’s Bar-B-Q is a favorite for rib tips
| Facebook
by Elizabeth Atkinson
1 comment / new

Most places, the rib tips are the cartilage-ridden parts of spare ribs that are often discarded. But in Chicago, the rib tips are many people’s favorites, with a crispy exterior and tender inside. They’re messy, hard to eat, and often paired with a hot link — that’s the cream of the crop, the combo. From North to South, here are the best places for rib tips in Chicago.

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Fat Willy's Rib Shack

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Most barbecue places on the North Side don’t serve rib tips, but Fat Willy’s is the place to go for anyone up north. Fat Willy’s serves theirs slathered in barbecue sauce with a wide variety of sides.

2416 W Schubert Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 782-1800
(773) 782-1800
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Honey 1 BBQ

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This takeout spot is cash only — but everything about Honey 1 BBQ is worth it. The no-frills spot serves top of the line rib tip and link combos, with a crunchy outside while still being tender. Whatever size looks best, up it one so there’s extras.

746 E 43rd St, Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 285-9455
(773) 285-9455
Yelp

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Leon's Barbecue

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There aren’t many places to order an entire bucket of rib tips, but at Leon’s it’s possible. There’s also a variety of tip/link combos (or wings), but this is the place to bring a few friends and chow down on a bucket of tips.

4550 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 247-4171
(773) 247-4171
Yelp

Uncle J's B.B.Q

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With a former pitmaster from Uncle John’s, Bronzeville gets recipes that Uncle John’s regulars had come to love. These rib tips are meaty and crunchy, and the links have a nice bite and spice. Going hungry is not a problem at Uncle J’s. And for those who don’t dine on swine, the turkey tips are impressive.

502 E 47th St, Chicago, IL 60615
(872) 244-3853
(872) 244-3853
Yelp

I 57 Rib House

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There are a few locations of I 57 Rib House, and this is one where the amount of rib tips desired has no limits. These are covered in sauce, come in all sizes, from a small one person meal to catering sizes, paired with fries and a hot link if desired.

6514 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636
(773) 436-9000
(773) 436-9000
Yelp

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Lem's Bar-B-Q

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Lem’s is a favorite for rib tips — crunchy, juicy tips with a tangy sauce. They’ve been serving tip and link combos since 1954. Each order comes with a slice of Wonder Bread to sop up any leftover sauce.

311 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 994-2428
(773) 994-2428
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Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe

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For rib tips with a side of pretty much any southern dish imaginable, Chuck’s Southern Comforts is the place to go. There’s something for everyone on the menu, including their slow smoked rib tips with a choice of hot to mild barbecue sauce, or tangy North Carolina sauce.

6501 W 79th St, Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 229-8700
(708) 229-8700
Yelp

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Uncle John's BBQ

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Tucked next to Dat Donut, Uncle John’s BBQ packs a punch when sweets and barbecue are both within reach. Grab a tip/link combo for an excellent balance of sauce and meatiness, with fries and bread on the side.

8249 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 952-6236
(773) 952-6236
Yelp

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Fat Willy's Rib Shack

2416 W Schubert Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Most barbecue places on the North Side don’t serve rib tips, but Fat Willy’s is the place to go for anyone up north. Fat Willy’s serves theirs slathered in barbecue sauce with a wide variety of sides.

2416 W Schubert Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 782-1800
(773) 782-1800
Facebook

Honey 1 BBQ

746 E 43rd St, Chicago, IL 60653

This takeout spot is cash only — but everything about Honey 1 BBQ is worth it. The no-frills spot serves top of the line rib tip and link combos, with a crunchy outside while still being tender. Whatever size looks best, up it one so there’s extras.

746 E 43rd St, Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 285-9455
(773) 285-9455
Yelp

Leon's Barbecue

4550 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60632

There aren’t many places to order an entire bucket of rib tips, but at Leon’s it’s possible. There’s also a variety of tip/link combos (or wings), but this is the place to bring a few friends and chow down on a bucket of tips.

4550 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 247-4171
(773) 247-4171
Yelp

Uncle J's B.B.Q

502 E 47th St, Chicago, IL 60615

With a former pitmaster from Uncle John’s, Bronzeville gets recipes that Uncle John’s regulars had come to love. These rib tips are meaty and crunchy, and the links have a nice bite and spice. Going hungry is not a problem at Uncle J’s. And for those who don’t dine on swine, the turkey tips are impressive.

502 E 47th St, Chicago, IL 60615
(872) 244-3853
(872) 244-3853
Yelp

I 57 Rib House

6514 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636

There are a few locations of I 57 Rib House, and this is one where the amount of rib tips desired has no limits. These are covered in sauce, come in all sizes, from a small one person meal to catering sizes, paired with fries and a hot link if desired.

6514 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636
(773) 436-9000
(773) 436-9000
Yelp

Lem's Bar-B-Q

311 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619

Lem’s is a favorite for rib tips — crunchy, juicy tips with a tangy sauce. They’ve been serving tip and link combos since 1954. Each order comes with a slice of Wonder Bread to sop up any leftover sauce.

311 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 994-2428
(773) 994-2428
Facebook

Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe

6501 W 79th St, Burbank, IL 60459

For rib tips with a side of pretty much any southern dish imaginable, Chuck’s Southern Comforts is the place to go. There’s something for everyone on the menu, including their slow smoked rib tips with a choice of hot to mild barbecue sauce, or tangy North Carolina sauce.

6501 W 79th St, Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 229-8700
(708) 229-8700
Yelp

Uncle John's BBQ

8249 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619

Tucked next to Dat Donut, Uncle John’s BBQ packs a punch when sweets and barbecue are both within reach. Grab a tip/link combo for an excellent balance of sauce and meatiness, with fries and bread on the side.

8249 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 952-6236
(773) 952-6236
Yelp

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