Russell's BBQ Reviews

My absolute favorite place for bbq! Coming here since I been a kid and my family been coming here since they opened! love it!

Somehow not as good as my memories of it decades ago.

Russell's is a very popular place and is quite busy when I have been there (for a repeating) group event. I have family that loves Russell's. Personally I find the food to be good but not great. Their BBQ sauce is tame for my taste buds. It is a good place for family.

Happy to see indoor dining open again! Disappointed with the .25 per extra cup of BBQ sauce over the 3 complimentary cups. Hoping to see that .25 surcharge leave as we move beyond the pandemic. Happy to drive 40 minutes to support indoor dining!

It was excellent as always. It hasn't changed in 30 years. Always reliable

The Best Darn BBQ in the State!! Always had Great Food and the sides are Excellent been eating here since the 1970's still the same Great Quality shredded pork sandwiches and tasty side dishes

Love me some Russell's Ribs. About due for some very soon.

The meat is really good but they need to up the portions for the sides and they need to offer a platter portion for like 2 or more people

Not the place it used to be. I guess memories were better. You would do much better at Patio!

Was not greeted the moment my wife and i walked in. Yeah people who gave this place one star were right literal trash.....first and last time coming here

Nothing fancy here just great barbecue. Been coming here for 50 years.

A tradition everyone should experience and their slightly sweet BBQ sauce is unique

Best BBQ ribs and BBQ sandwiches. Great sauce, fast service . They serve beer and have great milk shakes.

I've been going to Russell's since I was a kid and even though I've moved out of state, I make it a priority to get some of their fabulous pork bbq whenever I visit Chicago.

This review is based on Russell s not being a good neighbor and being a nuisance. They have not been aggressive enough in dealing with a horrible rat problem. Rats are constantly running around and if you live in or visit the area you are guaranteed to see rats any time of day or night. Deal with it! Rats are a public health and safety issue, Russell s! Come on get extremely aggressive

This place is amazing. It's been around since the 1930's! That says it all! Fantastic food, barbecue beef sandwiches and world's best onion rings!

Everytime i go here....brings me back to my childhood! I still it! Thinly sliced beef....the vinegary sauce is yum yum for the tum tum! You can buy it in Jewel-Osco. They give you more options for your meal...back in day only applesauce or coleslaw...now get mashed potatoes or upgrade to sweet potatoes for one dollar more. They also have pasta salad or potato salad. The restrooms and tables have not changed over the years either. Im ok w that but I do miss the jukebox at every table!

If you are stuck in Chicago and miss Texas BBQ, or Kansas City or Memphis, this place will stop your jones-ing for BBQ. It's been around FOREVER. The bbq beef or ribs are great as is their coleslaw. Theyve added sweet potato fries...just so good! And top it with 2 corn on the cob. Roll yourself out to ypur car and just go ahhhhhhh! Super family friendly place, 50s 60s music and uber clean & friendly. They even have Blue Moon on draft. It isnt summer for natives if you dont stop at least once. And head east on North Ave. & snag some of the best gelato joints this side of Napoli. Or an Italian ice. Youll know the places by the lines.

I have been coming here for 60 years. Best bbq anywhere!

VERY good treatment and tasty ribs with barbecue sauce

Great place. My mom has been going there since she was kid.

Russell's BBQ was my mom's favorite restaurant and I haven't been there since I was a teenager. I live in the suburbs and we got together there for a friends birthday. The food was outstanding, just the way I remembered.I had a Mail Tai and my girlfriend had a margarita and those were really good too. Great memories.

It can get a little backed up on the weekends but the wait is worth it & our family has been coming here forever.

Good barbecue it looks the same for the last 50 years but food is good.

Sandwiches haven't changed in 40 years. Best BBQ sauce!

I just had the ribs and half chicken and I have got to say NEVER AGAIN! Both were extremely dry and overcooked. Awful portion sizes (who puts sides in a hot sauce container) and the sauce was nothing to brag about. For the money I just spent I won t be coming back.

This place has been there ever since I was a kid and the food has not changed.....still awesome. Wish they had a few locations. Would be therefore than once every few years.

My grandma used to take my mom and her sisters here in the 50s! I take my kids now food is great lots of room inside and nice workers.

A classic old-time joint for good barbeque. I'm not sure how long it's been there, but also least about 70 years- they must be doing something right!

Great local BBQ. Its been around forever for a reason

Still the best after all these years! Keep up the good work.

The menu and service were beyond my expectations. I absolutely enjoyed the ambience of this spot. Nice spot to take my family out for dinner.

I spend every birthday here! This has been my favorite restaurant with the best food since I was little. The sauce is to die for-we consume almost a whole bottle every visit! The 45 minute drive is always worth it for dinner. The service is amazing, Megan is really kind and went out of her way to make my mom s birthday special. Thanks for all the good times!

We did the drive thru and ate on one of the many picnic tables. Our family on it's 6th generation of eating here. The food was great the service quick and good.

It's almost the same as it was when I came here in the fiftys. It's always a nostelgic trip when we come here. I love it as much as I did when I was 7 years old.

Been coming here since I was a small child. My parents ate here when they were dating. They would have been married 69 years. The food is consistent. I love their pork sandwich and sweet potato fries. Their ribs are also very good...I'm very picky on that...only a few places I eat ribs. They fall off the bone. If you haven't tried this place you're missing out!

Largely over-rated. The brisket tasted more like potroast. Too many too small tables in too small of a space, and the bathrooms are also too small

A multigenerational iconic establishment providing the same consistent flavors and welcoming homestyle charm for close to 90 years. The BBQ pork sandwich, fries and coleslaw served on a paper plate I had today is still as satisfying and uniquely wonderful as is the lifetime of fond memories served..

The sauce had no kick to it very bland and the Mac N Cheese taste that it s from out of a box horrible. Sorry but I have to speak the truth and it s expensive. $30 for 2 pulled pork sandwich meals . The size of the sides they give you are a joke. Will not go back nor will I recommend.

It's the best place to eat. The food there is awesome!!!

My family and I have been coming here for years. It's pretty far now from where we all live, but to us, it's worth the travel to get there.

Not your typical BBQ and that is what makes it special

They changed the BBQ SAUCE. It isn't as good as it used to be. The sandwich was still good.

Fast and friendly service. The smoked wings are wonderful.

Wasn't as good as i thought it would be...they have better brisket sandwiches at Famous Dave. Hands down sorry. Maybe the rest of the menu is good but i will never find out. Cause i will not be returning.

Food is great and has been for probably 50 or 60 years. Unfortunately the washrooms are the same vintage. Those of us who grew up in this West Suburban area treat this place like Mecca and it is alowed a few foibles.

It needs uodated it feels old. And we are under a pandemic so u think that a remodeling would improve business.

They actually got better. Fries used to taste like saw dust. Tsdye good now. Beef taste like beef. Getting good.

This place is always great especially the roast beef sandwiches

Been going to. Russells since I was a small child. My parents went there for dinner the nite they eloped in 1938. O love the bar b que sandwich. That was our one treat for the summrr

Still great just like it was 55 plus years ago when I first started to go there

Chicago's historical ribs been in business 70 years? Remember going after kiddie land as as a kid. Large menu to please serious barbecue. Memories and excellent food.

Classic old time BBQ. The prices have went up however over the years.

Local favorite, love their pulled pork sandwiches!!

This place is fantastic. It's a really old fashioned building kind of tucked away out of sight. But the quality of food here is unbelievable. Russells set the standard here for Brisket. A very extensive BBQ menu that covers just about everything you can think of and they have a homemade sauce that compliments any meat you order. They also have a video slots room in the back. A few years ago they were on Groupon, not recently however. I travel upwards of 10 miles to go here so it's definitely worth it.

3 different prices for corn muffins. Online, posted and actual receipt

The service of curbside is really good and fast, the ribs are good but I m not too crazy about it , the brisket and the pulled pork omg sooooo good I will order it again and Again 100% recommended!! I tried the rib tips I thought that they would be insane delicious but I didn t like it if u like to eat fat a lot, this is for u ! Fat rib tips !! The corn really good is not sweet is just perfect!! I ll be back Russell s Thank you !

If you are stuck in Chicago and miss Texas BBQ, or Kansas City or Memphis, this place will stop your jones-ing for BBQ. It's been around FOREVER. The bbq beef or ribs are great as is their coleslaw. Theyve added sweet potato fries...just so good! And top it with 2 corn on the cob. Roll yourself out to ypur car and just go ahhhhhhh! Super family friendly place, 50s 60s music and uber clean & friendly. They even have Blue Moon on draft. It isnt summer for natives if you dont stop at least once. And head east on North Ave. & snag some of the best gelato joints this side of Napoli. Or an Italian ice. Youll know the places by the lines.

The beef sandwich! Absolutely incredible. I find the sauce ok. Still 5 stars.

There is no barbeque here. There is no smokestacks, no wood, no flavor. Just rough meat and a bunch of sauce.

Good place with great food, the only downside is that ther restrooms are very small and outdated. There is nowhere to change your baby. Thank goodness it was summer, but had I gone in the Winter I would have been out of lock because I wouldn't be changing my baby's diaper in my car like I had to today.

One of our must-stop places when we are in the area. Great BBQ pork and beef with the normal sides. Soups are fantastic. Shakes, beer, wine, and other drink options when eating there. Good outdoor seating options. TV sets in good spots if there is a game on.

Great food as usual. Barbecue sauce is slightly sweet, but has a nice tang as well. Good prices and quick service.

Food was great, but not easy to find handicapped seating.
They need to pull out some of those booths and put in handicapped accessible seating.