Five guys who loved food and were passionate about BBQ opened Smoque in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood in 2006. Within a year, Guy Fieri was there. That’s how fast word travels when the food is right. Smoque appeared in Season 2, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “Real Deal BBQ,” aired November 5, 2007 — and Guy declared the brisket “capital T, tender.” That line has followed Smoque ever since, and the brisket has backed it up every day since the doors opened.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Smoque BBQ
City: Chicago, Illinois
Cuisine: BBQ
DDD Season: 2
DDD Episode: 6
Episode Title: Real Deal BBQ
Original Air Date: November 5, 2007
Address: 3800 N. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60641
Phone: 773-545-7427
Website: https://smoquebbq.com/
Status: Open
About Smoque BBQ
The founding team published a BBQ manifesto before opening — a serious declaration of intent that outlined exactly what kind of BBQ they were going to make and why. That level of conviction either ends in failure or in a place that genuinely delivers. Smoque delivered. The Pulaski Road location has been packing people in since 2006, and a second location at Revival Food Hall in downtown Chicago followed. The approach draws from multiple American BBQ traditions rather than committing to a single regional style — Memphis-style dry rub ribs alongside Texas-style brisket, pulled pork, and St. Louis ribs.
What to Eat at Smoque BBQ
The Brisket is what Guy called out specifically — “capital T, tender” — slow-smoked with a crust that gives way to meat that pulls apart without effort. The Ribs come Memphis-style with a dry rub and sweet tangy glaze. The BBQ Beans are smoked right alongside the meat. The Mac and Cheese and Peach Cobbler finish things off in a way that makes leaving feel premature.
If this has you thinking about firing up the grill, Guy on Fire: 130 Recipes for Adventures in Outdoor Cooking is the book for serious outdoor BBQ. And Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Dry Rub Variety Pack brings that smokehouse flavor to whatever you’re putting on the grill.
Plan Your Visit
Smoque BBQ on Pulaski is open Tuesday through Thursday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Closed Mondays. A second location operates inside Revival Food Hall at 125 S. Clark St. in downtown Chicago.
Address: 3800 N. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60641
Phone: 773-545-7427
Website: https://smoquebbq.com/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Great BBQ deserves great seasoning. Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Dry Rub Variety Pack and Carolina BBQ Sauce are the starting point. For the full outdoor cooking experience, Guy on Fire covers everything from ribs to brisket.
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Smoque BBQ appeared in Season 2, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Real Deal BBQ,” originally aired November 5, 2007.