A Chicago BBQ spot was award the prestigious James Beard Award Wednesday.
Lem’s Bar-B-Q, located at 11 E 75th Street on the city’s South Side, received the James Beard America’s Classics Award for 2025.
“Lem’s Bar-B-Q continues to be a cornerstone in Chicago’s culinary scene,” the foundation said on its website. “Known for its rib tips and hot links, Lem’s keeps guests coming back for their unforgettable secret sauce. The unique flavor comes from their one-of-a-kind aquarium-style barbecue pit, where hickory wood, charcoal, and fire combine to create Chicago’s favorite barbecue spot.”
Lem’s Bar-B-Q was one of six restaurants in the country that received the award. The Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, Idaho, Sullivan’s Castle Island in Boston, Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage, Dooky Chase in New Orleans and Gaido’s in Galveston, Texas also received the honor.
According to a statement from the James Beard Foundation, the America Classics Award is “given to locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal that serve quality food and are beloved by their communities.”
