Food-Lover Website Names Illinois’ Best Barbeque Joint

I don't know if your workplace is like mine, but we talk a lot about food around here. Different types and styles of food, different types and styles of restaurants--if it's edible, we're talking about it.

When you think about the different types of food that dominate American restaurants, you may be somewhat surprised to learn that barbecue (BBQ) isn't even in the top five.

A major consumer survey from QSR Magazine shows that Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and pizza dominate restaurant dining, with reported frequent visits by 65%, 62%, 59%, and 58% of respondents, respectively--which is far ahead of most other types of cuisine, including BBQ.

So, What's Your Favorite Barbeque Style?

If you're a long-time BBQ lover, you almost certainly have a favorite style. There's one certain style that dominates all other styles of BBQ: Texas-style BBQ (brisket-heavy). Texas-style BBQ is by far the favorite, with 22 % of Americans ranking it as their preferred style, while Carolina, Kansas City, and Memphis styles each hover around 10 %.

Not in Illinois, though. A data-driven study using Google Trends reveals that Texas‑style barbecue is the most popular in 33 states, but Midwestern states, including Illinois, are more likely to lean toward Kansas City style overall. Kansas City-style BBQ can be described as being BBQ featuring a thick, sweet, molasses-and-tomato-based sauce that is often a little smoky and tangy but distinctly sweet.

Here's Where To Go To Get The Best BBQ In Illinois And In Our Neighboring States

This isn't my own personal take on this issue because as much as I'd love to, I don't have the time or finances to hit every one of the BBQ joints on this list from a terrific website for lovers of all things food, Mashed.com.

Harrison Pierce's piece, "The Absolute Best BBQ Restaurant In Every State" does the traveling for us by hitting every state in search of the perfect BBQ joints. Here's what they chose in our neighboring states:

• Wisconsin: Double B's BBQ in West Allis
• Iowa: Smokey D's BBQ (multiple locations), which has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives.
• Indiana: Big Hoffa's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que in Westfield
• Missouri: Bogart's Smokehouse in St. Louis
• Kentucky: Moonlite Bar-B-Que Inn in Owensboro

If You Live In Northern Illinois, Getting To Illinois' Best BBQ Restaurant (According To Mashed.com) Is Going To Require Some Time Spent Behind The Wheel

By "time spent behind the wheel" I mean about 4 and a half hours in the car, traveling roughly 290 miles south to Belleville, Illinois.

That's where you'll find BEAST Craft BBQ, the BBQ joint that Mashed.com says is the very best that Illinois has to offer:

David Sandusky, a St. Louis-based pit master, opened BEAST Craft BBQ Co. in 2014. His goal was to give St. Louis recognition as a fantastic barbecue destination, and BEAST is the shining star of his efforts. Reviews rave about how out-of-this-world the meat is, so it's worth the drive if you're in the St. Louis area.