When it comes to BBQ, East St. Louis, IL, is like a treasure chest just waiting to be opened. I’ve tasted my way through this city, and let me tell you, the flavors here are something special. I’m excited to share my favorite spots with you, so you can enjoy the best BBQ this area has to offer.
So, what’s the best BBQ in East St. Louis, IL? Well, it’s a mix of amazing places like Big Mama’s BBQ Express, Cal’s BBQ, and Pappy’s Smokehouse. Each one has its own tasty dishes and styles that make them stand out. In this guide, I’ll walk you through these top spots, sharing what makes each one unique and delicious.
Get ready to dive into a world of smoky goodness and mouthwatering flavors! I’ll take you on a journey through the best BBQ joints, where you’ll find everything from juicy meats to tasty sides that will make your meal unforgettable. Let’s dig in!
Top 10 BBQ in East St Louis, IL
- Big Mama’s BBQ Express
- Cal’s BBQ
- Sandy’s Bar B Q
- Red Apple BBQ & Lounge
- BEAST Craft BBQ Co.
- Sawmill BBQ Restaurant
- Sandy’s BBQ
- Salt + Smoke
- Sugarfire Smoke House
- Pappy’s Smokehouse
1. Big Mama’s BBQ Express
Phone: (618) 398-8950
Menu: www.bigmamasbbq.net
Directions: Open on Map
Big Mama’s BBQ Express Experience
Oh wow, Big Mama’s BBQ Express is just the best! Every time I go there, I feel so happy. When you walk in, the yummy smell of BBQ hits you right away, and it makes you want to eat everything! I remember my first time there; the people were super nice, and I felt like I was at a big family dinner.
What makes Big Mama’s really special is their St. Louis-style BBQ. The ribs are so tender, they just fall off the bone! And the pulled pork? It’s juicy and full of flavor. You have to try the brisket too; it’s so good and smoky, it makes my taste buds dance!
If you go, definitely get the ribs and some baked beans. They are so tasty together! Trust me, you’ll love it just like I do!
2. Cal’s BBQ
Cal’s BBQ Experience
Oh my goodness, Cal’s BBQ is just so awesome! Every time I go there, I get super excited. As soon as I walk in, the yummy smell of BBQ hits me, and I can’t wait to eat! I remember my first visit; everyone was so nice, and it felt like I was hanging out with friends.
What makes Cal’s BBQ really special is their tasty food. The ribs are so juicy, and the sauce is just perfect—not too sweet, not too spicy. I love getting the pulled pork sandwich because it’s piled high with meat and so delicious!
If you visit, you have to try the ribs and maybe some coleslaw on the side. They taste amazing together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling super happy!
3. Sandy’s Bar B Q
Sandy’s Bar B Q Experience
Oh wow, Sandy’s Bar B Q is just so much fun! Every time I go there, I get super excited because the BBQ smells so yummy. I remember my first time visiting; everyone was so nice, and it felt like I was at a big family party!
What makes Sandy’s really special is their tasty food that doesn’t cost a lot. The ribs are so good, and they have just the right amount of sauce on them. I also really love their pulled chicken; it’s juicy and super flavorful!
If you go, you have to try the ribs and maybe some crispy fries on the side. They taste amazing together, and I promise you’ll leave with a big smile and a happy tummy!
4. Red Apple BBQ & Lounge
Red Apple BBQ & Lounge Experience
Oh my gosh, Red Apple BBQ & Lounge is just so awesome! Every time I go there, I feel super happy because the BBQ smell is just the best. I remember my first time visiting; everyone was so nice, and it felt like I was with my own family!
What makes Red Apple really special is their yummy food that doesn’t cost a lot. The ribs are so juicy and tender, and the sauce is just right—not too spicy, not too sweet! I also really love their smoked sausage; it’s so tasty and always makes me smile.
If you visit, you have to try the ribs and maybe some mac and cheese on the side. They are so good together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling really full and really happy!
5. BEAST Craft BBQ Co.
Phone: (618) 257-9000
Menu: www.beastcraftbbq.com
Directions: Open on Map
BEAST Craft BBQ Co. Experience
Oh my goodness, BEAST Craft BBQ Co. is just the coolest place ever! Every time I walk in, I get super excited because the BBQ smell is just amazing. I remember my first visit; everyone was so nice, and the atmosphere felt so relaxed and fun!
What really makes BEAST Craft BBQ stand out is their big portions and super yummy flavors. The meat plates are huge, and I just love their housemade sauces—they are so tasty! I always get the brisket sandwich because it’s juicy and full of flavor, and it makes my taste buds dance!
If you go, you have to try the brisket and maybe some of their craft beer. They taste so good together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling really happy and super full!
6. Sawmill BBQ Restaurant
Phone: (618) 332-3000
Menu: www.sawmillbbq.com
Directions: Open on Map
Sawmill BBQ Restaurant Experience
Oh my gosh, Sawmill BBQ Restaurant is just so awesome! Every time I go there, I get super excited because the BBQ smell is just the best. I remember my first visit; the people were so friendly, and it felt like a cozy little place where everyone is welcome.
What makes Sawmill BBQ really special is their yummy pit-smoked BBQ. The sandwiches are piled high with meat, and every bite is so tasty! I always get the pulled pork sandwich because it’s juicy and has that perfect smoky flavor that makes me smile.
If you go, you have to try the pulled pork and maybe some coleslaw on the side. They are so good together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling really happy and super full!
7. Sandy’s BBQ
Directions: Open on Map
Sandy’s BBQ Experience
Oh my goodness, Sandy’s BBQ is just the best place ever! Every time I walk in, I get super excited because the BBQ smell is so yummy. I remember my first visit; everyone was so nice, and it felt like a big family gathering where everyone is welcome!
What makes Sandy’s really special is their delicious food that doesn’t cost a lot. The ribs are so tender and have just the right amount of sauce on them. I also really love their pulled chicken; it’s juicy and packed with flavor that makes me smile!
If you go, you have to try the ribs and maybe some crispy fries on the side. They taste so good together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling really happy and full!
8. Salt + Smoke
Phone: (314) 727-0200
Menu: saltandsmokebbq.com
Directions: Open on Map
Salt + Smoke Experience
Oh my gosh, Salt + Smoke is just the best place ever! Every time I go there, I feel so relaxed because the BBQ smell is just amazing. I remember my first visit; everyone was so friendly, and it felt like a great spot to hang out with friends!
What makes Salt + Smoke really special is their Texas-style BBQ and all the yummy drinks they have! The brisket is super tender and juicy, and I just love their house-made sauces. I always get the burnt ends because they are so flavorful and just melt in your mouth!
If you visit, you have to try the brisket and maybe a craft beer. They taste so good together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling really happy and super satisfied!
9. Sugarfire Smoke House
Phone: (314) 797-8487
Menu: www.sugarfiresmokehouse.com
Directions: Open on Map
Sugarfire Smoke House Experience
Oh my goodness, Sugarfire Smoke House is just the best place ever! Every time I walk in, I get super excited because the BBQ smell is so yummy. I remember my first visit; everyone was so friendly, and the vibe was just so much fun!
What makes Sugarfire really special is their delicious Southern-style BBQ. The ribs are super tender and juicy, and I just love their brisket cheesesteak—it’s so packed with flavor! And don’t even get me started on their spiked shakes; they are the perfect treat to enjoy!
If you go, you have to try the ribs and maybe a spiked shake. They taste so good together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling really happy and super full!
10. Pappy’s Smokehouse
Phone: (314) 535-4340
Menu: www.pappyssmokehouse.com
Directions: Open on Map
Pappy’s Smokehouse Experience
Oh my gosh, Pappy’s Smokehouse is just the best place ever! Every time I walk in, I get super excited because the BBQ smell is so yummy. I remember my first visit; everyone was so nice, and it felt like a cozy spot where I could just relax and enjoy my food!
What makes Pappy’s really special is their wood-smoked Memphis-style BBQ. The ribs are so tender and juicy, and the flavor is just out of this world! I always get the pulled pork sandwich because it’s piled high with meat and tastes so delicious!
If you go, you have to try the ribs and maybe some baked beans on the side. They are so good together, and I promise you’ll leave feeling really happy and super full!
Map of BBQ in East St Louis, IL
Choosing the Right Restaurant for You
With 10 excellent places, here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
| Restaurant | Price | Seating | Takeout | Delivery | Wheelchair | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Mama’s BBQ Express | Moderate | Yes | Yes | No | Accessible | No |
| Cal’s BBQ | – | Yes | Yes | – | Accessible | – |
| Sandy’s Bar B Q | Inexpensive | Yes | Yes | No | Inaccessible | No |
| Red Apple BBQ & Lounge | Inexpensive | Yes | Yes | No | – | No |
| BEAST Craft BBQ Co. | Moderate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Accessible | No |
| Sawmill BBQ Restaurant | Moderate | Yes | Yes | No | Accessible | No |
| Sandy’s BBQ | – | – | Yes | No | – | – |
| Salt + Smoke | Moderate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Accessible | Yes |
| Sugarfire Smoke House | Moderate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Accessible | No |
| Pappy’s Smokehouse | Moderate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Accessible | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best BBQ places in East St. Louis, IL?
Oh, there are so many great BBQ spots! Some of my favorites are Big Mama’s BBQ Express, Cal’s BBQ, and Pappy’s Smokehouse. Each place has its own yummy flavors, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them!
2. What type of BBQ is popular in East St. Louis?
In East St. Louis, St. Louis-style BBQ is super popular! It’s all about those delicious ribs, pulled pork, and brisket, usually with a sweet and tangy sauce that makes everything taste amazing.
3. Are there vegetarian options at BBQ restaurants in East St. Louis?
Yes, some BBQ places do have vegetarian options! While they focus on meat, you can usually find tasty sides like coleslaw, baked beans, and sometimes even veggie sandwiches or salads.
4. Can I get BBQ delivered in East St. Louis?
Absolutely! Many BBQ restaurants in East St. Louis offer delivery. It’s so nice to enjoy your favorite BBQ right at home by ordering online or using delivery apps.
5. Is there outdoor seating available at BBQ restaurants?
Yes, lots of BBQ spots have outdoor seating! It’s a great way to enjoy your meal while soaking up the sun and having a good time with friends or family.
