Lem’s Bar-B-Q House
To get the ribs that made Chicago famous, you’ve got to head south, into neighborhoods perhaps unfamiliar. Our favorite is Lem’s, served out of an old-fashioned drive-in, carryout only, with the rib pit fired up smack dab in the middle of the joint. Lem’s makes the big, meaty stick-to-the-bone ribs, with just enough fat to hold the flavor, and an outer layer of meat that peels away with ease. Their mild sauce, a subtle yet sweet-and-tangy original, or Louisiana-style hot sauce, properly take a back seat to the main attraction on the bone.
311 East 75th, (773)994-2428
Best of Chicago 2002