If you're in Southern Illinois and just hankering for some barbecue, chances are you'll find a decent joint in a town near you. Barbecue styles vary, depending where you go, but most places offer ribs and the classic pulled pork or pork barbecue sandwich.
17th Street has been voted "Best BBQ and Ribs in the U.S." by Bon Apetit Magazine and one of the "Top Ten BBQ Joints in the U.S." by Playboy Magazine. They offer award-winning fare like ribs, pulled pork, chicken and a variety of side options. You can choose from one of four location in Southern Illinois, depending on your location (Murphysboro, Marion, O'Fallion and Sparta). The main location is in Murphysboro. They also cater and ship their barbecue nationwide.
17th Street Barbecue
32 N. 17th St.
Murphysboro, IL 62966
618-684-3722
17thstreetbarbecue.com
Shemwell's offers a no-nonsense, cut and dry barbecue sandwich eatery. It has a lunch counter/diner environment. Instead of pulled pork, they slice it up and serve it on white toast. They provide barbecue sauce in a squeeze bottle. Food is moderately priced and served on a paper plate.
Shemwell's Barbecue
1102 Washington Ave.
Cairo, Illinois 62914
Pop's Barbecue located in Benton serves up daily specials priced at around $6.99. They offer pork barbecue ($2.00 on Monday) and plenty of sandwich baskets (turkey barbecue pork chop and Italian beef). They also have fish and shrimp baskets. Their sides include fried green beans, slaw, mushrooms, potato salad, baked potato and macaroni and cheese, among others. Their specialty items include an individual rib and pork chop. They also sell bulk items (1/2 side ribs, pint of baked beans, potato salad or slaw).
Pop's Barbecue
322 North Main Street
Benton, IL 62812
618-438-7000
popsbbqrub38.com
This Belleville establishment offers award-winning barbecue. They slow cook their pork butts and brisket for 12 to 14 hours smoked over Southern Illinois apple wood. Special sides include their sweet n' sour slaw, barbecue baked beans and cole slaw. They offer catering, and you can purchase their bottled sauces as well, which come in Hicks Original, Hicks Dark (sweet and smokey) and Sweet Baby Rays. They also offer homemade chips.
Hicks BBQ
609 S. Illinois St.
Belleville, IL 62220
hicksbbq.com
