Does Rockford Really Have a Problem Finding Good BBQ?

Someone on Reddit said about Rockford BBQ, "It's weird how hard it is to find really good BBQ in this town."

It got me thinking, because I wasn't sure if that's true.

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Is It Really That Hard to Find Good BBQ in Rockford?

You already know I'm a big pizza guy, but if it were to fall off the face of the Earth and never be seen again, I'd go BBQ, ribs in particular.

I was never a big BBQ guy until I lived in Kansas City, but that's where my obsession took hold. After I moved back to Rockford, I was on the hunt for something to replace the food I had grown to love so much.

a rack of ribs cooking on a grill

Rockford's Best BBQ Restaurants According to Reddit

It took me a while to find my favorite place for BBQ in Rockford, and apparently I'm not the only one, as there was pretty big discussion about which place in town does it best.

The Reddit discussion brought out plenty of recommendations, including Rick's Ribs, Honey Boy's at CJ's, Whiskey Hotel BBQ, and Ritchie's.

Smokin' Coop got some love, too, although they're closed for the remainder of the year. A few people even suggested leaving Rockford altogether to find the good stuff.

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Why Smoke House Barbecue Is My Rockford Favorite

The Rockford BBQ joint I keep coming back to is Smoke House Barbecue at South Main and Harrison.

I'm not sure it completely captures what I miss about Kansas City barbecue, but it sure hits the spot.

Some folks might see the occasional out-of-stock side dish as a downside, but I see it as part of the charm of a small, independently owned barbecue joint. You never know what's available, but I know the barbecue keeps bringing me back.

Is Rockford overflowing with great barbecue? Tough to say, but we've got some places worth supporting, and if we don't give them our business, we shouldn't complain when there aren't any more.