Russell's Barbecue

Meet us where nostalgia is served with Jamaican spices

You can’t miss the tall smokestack outside this BBQ joint that looks much like it did in 1930 when it first fired up the grill in Elmwood Park. In fact, loyal regulars get upset when any changes are made to the restaurant at all!

Russell’s Barbeque is the kind of place where nostalgia is served atop the red-checkered tablecloths. Grandparents bring their grandkids to show them where they once spent date nights, delighting in the original recipes with the original BBQ sauce still on the menu.

That sauce, with its Jamaican spices and cinnamon flavoring, is perfect for layering on top of the classic barbeque pork, beef, and ham sandwiches. Even the coleslaw is served just as it was dished up in 1930!

Even though everything looks and tastes much as it did when this retro restaurant first opened its doors, Russell’s Barbeque did update its menu when the smoked meat trend reached Chicago. Today, alongside the classic recipes, you can find a Smoked Brisket Sandwich, featuring meat slow-smoked for 16 hours and smothered in that original, famous sauce.

Or mix it up with the Smoked Meat Combo Dinner, choosing from two smoked types of meat (brisket, pulled pork, or pulled chicken) with one cold side and one hot side.