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Blackwood BBQ

Blackwood BBQ

BBQ Joint$$$$
The Loop, Chicago
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8.3/10
171
ratings
  • Stars
  • Stars
    Has a stamp of approval from Time Out Chicago and Chicago Tribune
    • Time Out Chicago
    • Chicago Tribune
  • Tips
    Shannon J.
    "The brisket here is phenomenal… the sauces are amazing!"(22 Tips)
    Casey R.
    "Cornbread and Mac-n-cheese are awesome."(9 Tips)
    Kirstjen L.
    "Pulled pork with Carolina sauce is great."(17 Tips)
    Manijeh B.
    "Got the memphis sauce but would love to try the rest soon :-)!"(3 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon57 Tips and reviews
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  • brisket
  • Southern food
  • cornbread
  • mac & cheese
  • north carolina sauce
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  • Redeye Chicago
    Redeye ChicagoFebruary 4, 2016
    Next time you're looking for a quick bite, check out Blackwood BBQ in the Loop. It is a welcome change to the usual fast food joints and won't disappoint. Try the pulled pork and their mac-n-cheese. Read more
  • Thrillist
    ThrillistJuly 30, 2013
    If a Chipotle franchise knocked boots with a Southern BBQ joint, things would probably get really messy, but the resulting offspring might well look something like Blackwood BBQ. Read more
  • Time Out Chicago
    Time Out ChicagoJuly 7, 2014
    The first barbeque spot in the Loop, Blackwood is not the best ‘cue in the city, but it’s good and it’s a welcome change from the usual lineup of fast food and salad/wrap restaurants. Read more
  • Willheart icon on user image
    WillAugust 6, 2014
    Don't be discouraged by the simple menu. The brisket sandwich with Chicago sauce is amazing. All of the sides are very good, but keep in mind that your eyes could be bigger than your stomach.
  • Dave
    DaveDecember 9, 2014
    Lunch is good here with the choice of beef brisket or pulled pork, but the winner here is the breakfast hash which includes eggs, potatoes, choice of meat and sauce. At $3.99 it's a bargain.
  • Chicago Tribune
    Chicago TribuneMarch 19, 2015
    This fast-casual barbecue joint — open during breakfast and lunch only Monday through Friday — specializes in a bright, yellow sauce, honey mustard-like in color and flavor. Read more
  • Will L.heart icon on user image
    Will LonghiniAugust 1, 2013
    Order the platter, you get more meat and you're going to order at least one side anyway. I recommend the brisket and you can't go wrong with any of the sauces. Heads up, the lemonade isn't very sweet.
  • Raumheart icon on user image
    RaumJanuary 13, 2014
    Great fast good BBQ option downtown. Pulled pork was excellent, I recommend both Carolina sauces together. Chicago style sauce had too much cumin in it. Slaw was good too. Cornbread tasty.
  • Chicagoist
    ChicagoistJuly 6, 2016
    File this under good things: the a.m. sandwich from straightforward pit Blackwood Barbecue features meat rubbed with seasonings from The Spice House. Read more
  • Luiz E.heart icon on user image
    Luiz EduardoSeptember 30, 2014
    Brisket BBQ plate or salad, mix a couple of sauces and be happy. Fast service if everyone knows what they want by the time they get to the counter. Remember that.
  • Thrillist
    ThrillistMarch 12, 2014
    Get the angus beef brisket smothered in PBR-infused BBQ sauce, and Panko-and-cheddar-crusted mac & cheese. Choose from any of five different BBQ sauce styles. Read more
  • Andre W.
    Andre WilliamsNovember 22, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    Awesome BBQ as you have options of the following flavors: Kansas City BBQ, Memphis BBQ, North & South Carolina BBQ and Chicago BBQ in the form of pulled pork or brisket
  • Chicago Tribune
    Chicago TribuneAugust 1, 2014
    Of note is the barbecued beef brisket, smoked 14 hours with hickory and apple wood. One of its nice touches is the ground coffee in the dry rub. Read more
  • John S.
    John ShrimpMarch 17, 2018
    The meats are slowly smoked for hours in house and the menu keeps things simple by offering just pulled pork, pulled chicken, and brisket.
  • Khadi C.heart icon on user image
    Khadi CanoJune 22, 2018
    The brisket is sooooo good. The Mac and cheese is pretty top notch too!
  • Casey R.
    Casey RyanAugust 2, 2013
    Brisket is good but you get way more in the pulled pork meal. Chicago style is the best sauce. Cornbread and Mac-n-cheese are awesome.
  • Michael H.heart icon on user image
    Michael HaaralaOctober 17, 2016
    Get your meal with the white Atlanta style BBQ sauce for a great spin on classic brisket or pulled pork.
  • Emily B.heart icon on user image
    Emily BSeptember 13, 2013
    The Kansas City sauce is the best tasting by far, but a little too thin. Mix it with a tad of the Memphis sauce for extra thickness and you've got a winner!
  • Chicago Tribune
    Chicago TribuneAugust 1, 2014
    My preferred sauce: the Chicago style, a tomato-and-vinegar-based dip splashed with Pabst Blue Ribbon (though more accurately, Milwaukee style?). Read more
  • Phaedra L.heart icon on user image
    Phaedra LeslieOctober 25, 2014
    Beef brisket with Mac n cheese and a cornbread muffin. Pulled chicken over salad with the North Carolina sauce. Mmm mmm
  • Kirstjen L.heart icon on user image
    Kirstjen LorenzJuly 8, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    You cab smell the place a block away. Pulled pork with NC sauce and Mac & cheese makes a pretty good work day lunch.
  • Mark B.
    Mark BrouchAugust 6, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    This is the Chipotle process for BBQ. Line can be long, but moves quickly.
  • Bradley L.heart icon on user image
    Bradley LobergOctober 8, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    The brisket is fantastic and the baked beans and mac and cheese sides are great.
  • Nick
    NickMay 24, 2018
    Been here 10+ times
    Line is almost always out the door during lunchtime, but it moves quickly and is 1000% worth it.
  • Manijeh B.
    Manijeh BonshahiSeptember 27, 2013
    Loved the brisket w mac n cheese. Got the memphis sauce but would love to try the rest soon :-)!
  • Time Out Chicago
    Time Out ChicagoDecember 20, 2013
    The pulled pork at Blackwood BBQ is one of the 100 best things we ate this year. http://tmout.us/rLOtk
  • AV
    AVAugust 14, 2014
    Decent sauces, nice coleslaw. But what's better is that they play solid songs. By solid, I mean Jimi Hendrix's, Led Zeppelin's and Rolling stones'.
  • Billy K.
    Billy KenefickAugust 24, 2013
    Wow! This place is just what the loop needed. The lines may look long but jr moves fast because it's BBQ
  • Kirstjen L.heart icon on user image
    Kirstjen LorenzJuly 4, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    The pulled pork is very good and the North Carolina sauce is a zesty addition.
  • Shannon J.heart icon on user image
    Shannon JeropkeOctober 14, 2021
    The brisket here is phenomenal… the sauces are amazing!
  • Spencer S.
    Spencer SJuly 28, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    You will definitely want to buy an additional side with your meal. Recommend the cornbread.
  • Consta K.heart icon on user image
    Consta KNovember 6, 2014
    Been here 10+ times
    Everything is awesome. You can buy big bottle of their souse
  • Nick B.heart icon on user image
    Nick BarellaJuly 12, 2019
    Brisket is delicious
  • Johnathan B.
    Johnathan BarnesSeptember 26, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    Pulled pork sandwich with the Chicago bbq sauce. You can't go wrong.
  • Scott R.heart icon on user image
    Scott ROctober 8, 2013
    Brisket was really good. Just the right a amount of smokey, fatty, juicy.
  • Matt L.
    Matt LindnerAugust 12, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    The pulled pork. Just order the pulled pork. Generous portion and perfect.
  • Joshua E.
    Joshua EhartOctober 19, 2013
    Tough to find a seat but the pulled pork plate with Carolina sauce is first rate
  • Mattheart icon on user image
    MattJuly 22, 2014
    Order pickup on GrubHub to skip the line of 50 dudes in button downs
  • Westonheart icon on user image
    WestonAugust 22, 2018
    Breakfast wrap and corn bread were great.
  • Orlando K.
    Orlando KeslerDecember 20, 2013
    Been here 25+ times
    Beef Brisket platter with corn bread was off the chains.
  • Angelica C.
    Angelica CJuly 19, 2013
    Corn bread is dense, dry, and not sweet. Slaw is not worth it. Mac n cheese is OK. Beware of bone bits in pulled chicken. Brisket is tender and good with Memphis sauce. Pulled pork is very dry.
  • Kirstjen L.heart icon on user image
    Kirstjen LorenzOctober 28, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    Pulled pork with Carolina sauce is great.
  • Dan C.heart icon on user image
    Dan ChamberlainOctober 16, 2019
    Been here 5+ times
    Great food, friendly staff.
  • Lee A.heart icon on user image
    Lee AllenAugust 7, 2014
    The brisket sandwich was great.
  • Michael P. H.
    Michael P. HillAugust 9, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    Love the brisket with K.C. sauce on the side.
  • ISC C.heart icon on user image
    ISC ChicagoApril 15, 2017
    One of few BBQ places in the Loop
  • Chris S.heart icon on user image
    Chris ShackletonAugust 6, 2014
    Brisket is top notch.
  • Nick F.heart icon on user image
    Nick FruendtMarch 9, 2016
    Chicago BBQ sauce is delicious
  • Benjamin N.
    Benjamin NelsonSeptember 17, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    Food is flippin' amazing
  • Mark A.
    Mark AnthoneyOctober 28, 2013
    The food was good
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