How Good Is Illinois BBQ? These 15 Cities Just Got Ranked

Barbecue is one of summer’s greatest food groups, and according to a new ranking, Chicago is serving it up right. Out of 476 U.S. cities, the Windy City sizzled into the No. 6 spot on their list of 2025’s Best BBQ Cities.

What Makes a City Great for BBQ, According to the Study

Get our free mobile app

How did they decide who’s best at brisket? The rankings looked at everything from the number of BBQ joints and consumer ratings to awards and memberships in elite BBQ circles (yes, those are real).

How Illinois Cities Scored in the 2025 BBQ Rankings

Illinois had 15 cities on the list, but only one other joined Chicago in the top 100—Joliet, which came in at No. 94. From there, it’s a slow slide. Schaumburg (No. 117), Waukegan (No. 132), and Peoria (No. 186) made decent showings, but then you’ll find cities like Springfield (No. 335), Evanston (No. 381), and… Rockford at No. 442. Oof.

READ MORE: This Is the Best BBQ in Illinois—Here’s Why It’s Worth the Drive

Why Rockford’s BBQ Reputation Deserves Better

Is it fair? Maybe not. LawnStarter didn’t factor in smoked rib dreams from Smoke House Barbecue on W. Harrison Avenue, or burnt end cravings from Ritchie's Smokin' BBQ in Machesney Park. And if you haven’t tried a pulled pork plate from Smokin’ Coop in Belvidere, are you even living?

READ MORE: 5 Places in the Rockford Area Serving the Best Comfort Food

Top 10 BBQ Cities in America You Might Want to Visit

In case you’re planning a road trip, or just a daydream, here are the top 10 BBQ cities in the U.S.:

Kansas City, Los Angeles, Houston, St. Louis, Austin, Chicago, Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, and New York.

More on the rankings from LawnStarter can be found here.

So… Where’s Your Favorite BBQ in Illinois?

READ MORE: 5  Best  BBQ  Joints  in  the  Rockford  Area  To  Overeat