Hecky's Barbecue

Barbecue restaurant · Evanston

Hecky's Barbecue

Barbecue restaurant · Evanston

3

1902 Green Bay Rd, Evanston, IL 60201

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Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null
Hecky's Barbecue by null

Highlights

Hecky's Barbecue, a cherished Evanston institution since 1983, specializes in mouthwatering Chicago-style ribs and smoked meats, perfect for carryout and delivery.  

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1902 Green Bay Rd, Evanston, IL 60201 Get directions

heckys.com

$$ · Menu

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1902 Green Bay Rd, Evanston, IL 60201 Get directions

+1 847 492 1182
heckys.com
HeckysBarbecue

$$ · Menu

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Jul 9, 2025

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@eater

"More than three years have passed since the death of Hecky Powell, who in 1983 brought his Chicago-style aquarium-smoked meats to suburbanites at his restaurant, Hecky’s Barbecue. His legacy, however, remains and continues to fill the bellies and hearts of Evanston locals with Creole recipes passed down from his mother and grandmother. Hecky’s biggest hits include rib tips, hot links, brisket, and its signature Juneteenth Strawberry Soda." - Naomi Waxman, Samantha Nelson

Where to Eat and Drink in Evanston
View Postcard for Hecky's Barbecue
@eater

"Smoked meat landmark reopens for pickup and delivery. The restaurant is known for its Chicago-style barbecue ribs, rib tips, chicken, and more." - Naomi Waxman

Chicago’s new restaurant and bar openings and reopenings, summer 2020 - Eater Chicago
View Postcard for Hecky's Barbecue
@eater

"Hecky's Barbecue, a suburban Evanston smoked meat landmark, debuted in 1983 and quickly earned legions of loyal fans for ribs, rib tips, chicken, and more. The restaurant used Creole recipes and an aquarium smoker to provide genuine Chicago-style barbecue. The restaurant’s barbecue sauce is sold by the bottle. Hecky's opened a second location on Halsted and Division in 2004, but the Lincoln Park outpost has been closed for years." - Naomi Waxman

Hecky Powell, Founder of Evanston’s Landmark Barbecue Restaurant, Has Died - Eater Chicago
View Postcard for Hecky's Barbecue

William Weber

Google
Great local BBQ spot! The sauce is incredible and ties everything together. Their rib tips are tasty but not smoked as long, which makes the meat tougher/chewier and doesn’t allow the fat to render (bigger chunks of fat). This could be a personal preference. The hot links are delicious and the fries are exceptional - the seasoning is perfect! Caramel cake is homemade and is perfectly moist. The caramel is a little gritty and I’d love a little more tackiness but has a nice flavor

Ma Bell

Google
I’ve come to learn that Hecky’s rib tips are hit or miss. A few weeks ago I could swear that the sauce on the tips was not Hecky’s traditional sauce. Not at all good. I love their tips but if I cant rely on the quality, or the sauce, I will limit my visits.

Vince B

Google
Outstanding! The food was fresh, and tasty. The staff working were very nice to me just considering the lady before me gave them such a hard time, while she was on her phone. Chicago Combo was outstanding. Wife says tasted just as good as she remembered 25 years ago. If your looking for BBQ in the area, this is the place.

Todd B

Google
Very welcoming folks. I tried the rib tips and hot links (mild). They were very meaty with a little bit of chew to them. Just the way I like my rib tips. I had a 50/50 mix of hot and regular sauce. I also got a side of each and would just go with the hot sauce (a little bite) next go round. I also bought 1/2 slab of St. Louis, 1/2 slab of baby back and some more rib tips to take to a friend in Arizona. It's the one food item he wants whenever he gets back here to visit. The place is kept super clean inside and out. One of their staff was sweeping up garbage from the curb. Bravo!!! Love to see it. Definitely give them a go.

mike metzger

Google
Still hitting on all cylinders, carrying on the namesake’s focus on quality and great service. Had a great family meal of St Louis ribs, tips, smoked chicken and some pulled pork, sauce on the side of course. Been enjoying Hecky’s for 35+ years (old Highwood location was my first time), this meal was right up there with my memories best.

NORH ROBINSON III

Google
Hecky’s Barbecue has been a Evanston staple for years . I decided to have them for lunch again one day and it was good . I ordered the “mutt” and it delivered. The mutt is two smoked wings , rib tips ,one hot link and fries. The wings could’ve been cooked a little longer but was still tasty and the sauce isn’t my favorite but everything else was good . Hecky’s always come through when I have a taste for bbq.

Jesse C

Google
I recently made the hike to Hecky's from my hotel downtown after flying in from Toronto. Hecky's was my first stop on a Chicago food tour. It was fantastic, wet and juicy ribs, the sides were fresh and the staff were super friendly and engaging once I told them I was from Toronto. This was my 3rd trip to Chicago and this spot lived up to all expectations.

John Aldape

Google
Hecky's did not disappoint. We both ordered the brisket sandwich, which was huge! Plenty to enjoy. I tried both the regular and hot bbq sauce on the side and they were both great. We also enjoyed the baked beans and cole slaw, which were the perfect compliment to the lunch. My lunch companion also ordered the Juneteenth Strawberry Soda, which he let me try. It was delicious and reminded me of the red cream sodas I had growing up. Glad to be new regular at Hecky's.

LTrain N.

Yelp
I'm finally writing a review after coming here over a decade. Unfortunately for me, I've been transferred to the south side of Chicago (where I'm currently cultivating new haunts) and Hecky's will be greatly missed. But I can tell you this: Heck's rarely disappoints! The sauce is king (mild or hot)! The smoke flavor runs deep! And the portions are aplenty! I typically get the Chicago combo and can split it between 2-3 people, depending on their hunger level and if we get an additional hot link. Speaking of.... The hot links are the best I've ever tasted. They can stand on their own, but shine best with the mild sauce. And they're good sized, too. The tips are usually meaty. Typically, a better meat to fat ratio, although I've encountered the opposite on occasion. But, as stated earlier, the smoke flavor runs deep. This long-time establishment is strictly carry out. When ordering on the phone, you're given the option for sauce on or on the side (mild is default -it still has a nice kick, though). Also, with or without bread (sauce mop). This place is an Evanston institution! If you're visiting friends or family in the area, they should already know about Heck's. If not, insist on putting in an order and get out the bibs! Enjoy!

Gino W.

Yelp
I had driven to Evanston to try a restaurant only to find out that it was closed permanently. Plan B also turned out to be closed permanently. So, I Googled for other options, and Hecky's was it since I was nearby. I ordered a half slab of St. Louis ribs, greens, potato salad, baked beans, and peach cobbler. The flavor of the ribs was good enough, but they were not quite tender. So I did a low heat, long bake in the oven. Meat fell off the bone. If I go back, I'd request to have the sauce on the side. The greens tasted like no seasoning had been added. I diced a small onion, cut up a garlic clove, and cut up a habanero to put in with some bouillon and pepper, after which I did a slow cook stovetop. That kicked them up. The potato salad and the baked beans were right on. I ordered everything on a Saturday and ate it the next day after letting the seasoning set in the greens. As to the peach cobbler, there was no flavor. I worked in a little cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg and then baked on low for a few minutes to heat it while keeping the juice. I added a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, and that seemed to work. I think my timing may have been off. It happens. Perhaps the outcome will be differently whenever the next time I go for an order.

Ken B.

Yelp
I love the idea of a place like this that's been in business so long and it's an institution. But there were a few glaring things that irked me. The brisket was very nicely crusted. The fatty side was much better than the underside but without adding sauce, it was quite dry. The sauce was delicious. Both regular and spicy versions were excellent. Slaw was good. Didn't taste homemade but worth it. No pickles available. The corn muffins- OMG- DON'T order these! Dry and like powder. These were beyond disappointing and we threw them away after one bite. I almost couldn't swallow the small piece even with butter on it. Sad. Chicken hot link- mostly hot, not flavorful. Very dry. I'd take a pass. I've had the pork ones and they are good. I wanted beef ribs but not available today. Pork ribs must be the thing here but my wife doesn't eat them so we had other things. Next time I'll eat pork ribs in the car. Although this is an icon in the Chicago area, I really think it's my last visit.

Lindsay D.

Yelp
Can't say enough good things about Hecky's BBQ and Cheryl! Both the food and service are fantastic. I worked with Cheryl on two separate catering orders for our staff. She was so wonderful to work with, offering her thoughts to help place the order and was extremely flexible and kind with date changes and increasing the order size. Aside from this our staff raves about the food, specifically the Mac and cheese and pulled pork!

Anthony M.

Yelp
I was a little torn on Hecky's, but decided to give it a 4 because the food is pretty good and plentiful. Started a new job and was looking for a place to eat. I saw that I can pick up from Hecky's so I placed an order. It seemed a bit expensive, but "when in Rome". When I went to pick it up, it took a little longer than I expected. It took awhile before anybody acknowledged me. Anyway, they had it packed up and I was on my way. Once I got back to my office, I found out that they didn't give me any napkins or utensils. Huh? The good news is that the pulled pork sandwich was gigantic and good. Hecky's is known for its BBQ sauce and it shows! Will I be back? Maybe. I am glad that I got to try this place, but I felt that it was a bit too expensive for an office lunch. I also felt that I needed to take a nap afterwards. I guess that's good....

Joan H.

Yelp
I miss Hecky Powell, but his family is keeping the food and service up to par! The BBQ is one of the best in town. The bread pudding, peach cobbler and sweet potato pie are excellent. I prefer rib tips, the big turkey drumstick and of course the fries. When it comes Down to it, though, with BBQ, it is the tenderness of the meat and the sauce! The only sauce that comes close is "Baby Rays" and the Evanston Chicken Shack. Hecky's squeaks past both of these as you will see!

Cheryl C.

Yelp
For one thing I was overcharged it went from 28 to 41 dollars plus 19 dollars I gave driver but tips were not tender tough and lots of fat sauce was good

Esther W.

Yelp
Dear Cheryl, The St. Louis Style and Babyback Pork RIbs were absolutely amazing! The jar of Hecky's BBQ Sauce was an added treat to my order, thank you! Eating the ribs was a wonderfully tasty and delicious experience. The BBQ sauce was truly an exceptional combination of flavorful ingredients. Hecky's Barbecue is one of the best family restaurants in Evanston, IL. Thank you for a truly memorable dinner. Sincerely, Sam

John C.

Yelp
Yesterday my wife and I loaded up the kids and dog into the car in the late afternoon to try and catch some sunshine at the beach on the 4th of July. We drove to Montrose Harbor from TriTaylor where we live only to find the lake front essentially shut down by CPD due to over congestion. We decided to press on North into Evanston, as we were planning to catch the fireworks there that evening anyways. When we got there we unloaded our gear and walked to the beach only to be told we needed a beach pass. Disappointed, I thought at lease we can hang out in the park... but then suddenly the skies opened and we were soaked by the rain, so we lugged everything back to the car only to have the rain stop and sun re-emerge right as we got everything loaded up again. At that point I was feeling a little defeated, so my wife (who knows I love bbq), started looking up local spots. She found Hecky's and we went because it was listed as dog friendly but I was a bit skeptical that it would actually be open on the 4th of July... To my excitement it was open when we arrived and we were greeted by Cheryl, one of the owners, with a welcoming smile and friendly hello. She could see that it had been a long afternoon and offered us a free round of Juneteenth, the restaurant's signature special Strawberry Soda on the house - it was so delicious and refreshing that we picked some more up for the road when we were done eating. Cheryl helped us wipe off the rain soaked outdoor table and chairs so we could sit down and brought a little bowl for our dog to have some water. She was one of the most generous and kind people I have ever met. She told us the history of Heckys and the soda (made in honor of Forest E. White, a freed slave and Cheryl's husband's paternal great grandfather) and we felt right at home. The ribs and chicken were out of this world. As a bbq enthusiast who dabbled in smoked meats - these were truly one of the best I'd ever tasted. Their homemade bbq sauce was tangy and sweet and complimented the smoked meats beautifully. Our sons gave the food 10 stars (out of 3 haha). Best of all, the food was fresh and quickly prepared and very reasonably priced. Cheryl and Heckys really made our entire 4th! Thank you so much, we will definitely be back! The Cieslaks

Foodie B.

Yelp
Got a smoked duck for Thanksgiving. It was delicious. Will try the BBQ very soon. Heard good things about it.

Victoria D.

Yelp
Ordered delivery from this place and the food was mediocre at best. Rather dry and hard to chew, and it also wasn't that flavorful. It may have been due to the delivery, but I don't think I would want to go again to find out.

Teia T.

Yelp
I was pleasantly surprised that I really liked this place a lot. The smoked chicken wings are really good. The rib tips are , they are tender, great smokey flavor, and great potion size. I was also pleasantly surprised that I really liked their barbecue sauce. My mom (rip) has the best barbecue sauce I've ever had. So, for me to say their barbecue sauce is good, that is a huge compliment. The service is always good. No complaints at all about this establishment. Keep up the good work! I always want to support black owned business!

Lesley H.

Yelp
Last Saturday my family joyfully gathered to celebrate my uncle's 95th birthday. When we announced that the food was from Hecky's my uncle smiled from ear to ear. Once people began to eat all you could hear were excited exclamations about how moist and smoky the chicken was from first bite to last. The rib tips were tender and meaty with just the right amount of sauce. Of course this wasn't the first time we've celebrated with Hecky's, but some of the guests were in from other parts of the country. They were impressed with the quality of the food, from meats to greens and corn muffins. My Uncle made us promise to order Hecky's again for his 96th birthday celebration!

Jim R.

Yelp
At halftime of an NFL playoff game this evening I went over to pick up Hecky's "Chicago Combo" -- 1 pork hot link with1 pound of rib tips and fries. For $20 bucks the ribs and link, smothered in their sauce, was damn tasty. And there was more than enough for 2 people -- such a deal. I'll eat the leftovers tomorrow during another playoff game.

Leigh T.

Yelp
Hi, My phone number should be on my order @ store. Could you give me a call, please. I'd prefer to discuss with Cheryl or Floyd.

Matthew M.

Yelp
We had Hecky's for lunch on a student film I worked on last quarter and it blew us away! The pulled chicken was obviously a staple, and I'm a sucker for baked beans so that was my fav, but I think everyone agreed that the corn muffins were what really stood out-- nobody could get enough! Not to mention that the coleslaw was the perfect way to balance everything out. As a native Texan myself I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find quality bbq up in Evanston, and let me say it certainly scratched the itch! I'll be coming back to Hecky's for sure! Thank you Hecky's from the whole Mixed Signals team!!

Ann A.

Yelp
Outstanding BBQ! Well prepared meat (tips are fav), delicious sides and as always the sauce is the magic.

Nathan W.

Yelp
Hecky's Barbecue (7.3/10) The Mutt (pictured above) included 1/2 pork hot link, 2 smoked chicken wings, and 1/2 lb of rib tips. The meat was served on a bed of fries and comes with a slice of bread. The fries and bread pair well with the bbq sauce from the meat. The meat was moist and had a slight smoky flavor. There's a lot of food. I would recommend Hecky's if you're hungry for flavorful barbecue.

Reginald F.

Yelp
Am sorry that the owner isn't with us anymore - it's been a few years, and he always made you feel at home - the team carries on, but the quality and consistency isn't as good Ribs and burnt ends are still the best options

Monica M.

Yelp
Great customer service and my order was ready. When my coworker had food from Hecky's this is what they have me to bring every time. So I do blessing to his family in keeping Monica

Curtis J.

Yelp
Heckys will ALWAYS be my place for BBQ. I recently had my favorite combo; tips and links. Heckys still has the best around. When friends and family come to town HECKYS is always requested. Matter of fact, I'm having HECKYS tonight! Curt

Sandra W.

Yelp
I've been there twice and still nothing about the food that gave me a lasting impression, just ok. Because of the long history I have nothing negative to say

Yvette J.

Yelp
We spent almost $130 on chicken, brisket sandwich, rip tips, so much food! My family was so happy to finally get to eat Hecky's barbecue after 20 years of not having it. Back in the day the food was good. When they fell off I don't know. But today was not a good day! I wish I had pictures to post. Instead I threw the food away in the garbage. Because that's where it belonged! Traveling almost an hour and a half from where I live to visit family and to go to heck is a waste of time!

Barry W.

Yelp
Everybody knows how great the barbecue is, but I just wanted to verify that. Ordered carry out and everybody was completely satisfied and the price was reasonable for the terrific meals we got.

Shih C.

Yelp
There are a few people I follow religiously for their fabulous & honest reviews and mouthwatering pictures. Thanks to Gerry T, I can finally say, "Yes! I made it!". I love the history of the "MUTT". I love it so much I ordered it. While waiting for my order, I learned Mr. Powell started the business in 1983 with $100 in his pocket and had recently passed. I'd loved to have met him in person. My order consists of a bed of fries, topped with rib tips, hot links, 2 wings, and a slice of bread. The meat had a lot of flavors (without the sauce) and cooked to perfection. The waiting area was simply decorated with pictures. They offer takeout, delivery, express, and catering. There is plenty of street parking along Green Bay Road and Emerson. I hope they continue to honor Mr. Powell by making delicious BBQ. I will definitely return.

Gerry T.

Yelp
Came back for the rib tips and those tips were succulent, moist, not too fatty, not too dry - and it went perfectly with my white bread and French fries. I chose to have these with the sauce on the side and this allows me to really taste the pork, smoke and natural flavor. The BBQ sauce is like the icing on the cake - as they say. I believe they also have a spicy sauce - which I'll try next time. The whole chicken is a better deal than the half chicken and it was also very tender and moist. I'm a white meat/breast person so I really enjoyed that portion for my meal. I believe they use the same yummy sauce for both the ribs and the chicken, which is just fine with me. Thank you Hecky's for this satisfying meal!! I feel like I have at least 3 or 4 more meals with the leftovers. :)

Peter H.

Yelp
Great local BBQ. Ribs are the best I've found since I traveled to Austin, TX. Suggest you get the sauce on the side as the ribs come well smoked and just a small amount of sauce was, I found, just right. Haven't tried the chicken. The ribs are just too good.

Andie G.

Yelp
We wish we would have checked Heckys out sooner. Not only is the brisket a melt-in-your-mouth heavenly experience, the service is incredible. Everyone is so genuinely kind and welcoming! We can't wait to try everything on the menu. Thanks Heckys!

Mari D.

Yelp
I'm sad to write this bc I had such high hopes for Hecky's but unfortunately it just didn't live up to the hype in my opinion. The rib tips are okay, most of them are more work and fat than meat. The combos are a great way to get you to try their top items but for $20+ and mostly just end pieces they'd toss and tons of fries, this place is just eh. The sauce is good but id get it on the side so it doesn't overwhelm the entire plate of food

Frank T.

Yelp
The staff here are great. Friendly and efficient. 5 stars We dropped in and picked up a full slab of baby back ribs a hot link beans and slaw. We brought it home and didn't get to it for three hours. So our experience might be different if we had eaten it right away. The slaw is outstanding. Would order again. The beans were okay. It needed more brown sugar or molasses. There was no rich flavor. They should have tasted it beforehand. The link was meaty but I like mine with a little more fat The baby backs were well cooked. It was good reheated. The sauce is good.

Sunrise F.

Yelp
First time at Hecky's and it was really good. I had the pulled pork.sandwich. My friend got baby back ribs, but once I opened my take out container, half that pulled pork sandwhich was gone. The portion size was huge, lots of meat. Also had greens. Was a but hesitant since I have always had greens with ham, bacon or smoked turkey, but I have to say those were darn good greens. I wish I had gotten more, but I will be headed back in a day or two for more. Mouth watering delicious barb b que. Clean and great service. Thank you for a great lunch!

Audrey T.

Yelp
I called to ask staff if they could sell me ribs with no sauce. For a BBQ restaurant that's known for their sauce, this could have been offensive. The staff responded with "absolutely." The ribs, no sauce, were fabulous. When any meat can be great without hiding behind its sauce...um um good. Kudos, Hecky's.

Monic S.

Yelp
Besides the fact that every tip was fat and gristle but they don't put fries with it and the price went up sorry Heckys I won't be recommending nor returning. P.s. nothing special.

Aaron S.

Yelp
Still as good as ever. Tips and wings are go tos. Also the chicken hot links (somehow better than the regular ones in my opinion). I usually get delivery and it always shows up fast and hot. Probably my favorite bbq spot in Chicagoland.

Warren F.

Yelp
Hecky's has done it again. I was looking for something for the me and the guys at work. Someone mentioned Hecky's randomly. That thought was on my mind making me hungrier and hungrier, done deal-we ordered baby back ribs and were not disappointed. The meat was tender and juicy, perfectly smoked and they gave us enough sauce to go around. They even gave me a cake that seemed to defy the laws of physics with how much sweetness and caramel were inside. Cheryl,Hecky Jr, and staff, you have raised the bar again and we are all greatful.

Teresa H.

Yelp
I went to Hecky's today to purchase two small sweet potato pies and decided to try a vegetarian burger. This burger was AWESOME!!!!! Absolutely delish!!! PLEASE try one if you can with a side of sweet potato fries. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. YUM!!

Tucker W.

Yelp
Hecky's to me is the scrumptious comfort food of my childhood that I never learned to cook myself. The flavors of a smoked wing dipped in BBQ sauce fill my mouth and heart. Every drop of liquor from the greens carries a blue-sky day! Tomorrow will be our 5th time using Hecky's catering for our work events. Cheryl is always so helpful. And our staff and guests LOVE IT!

Kitty T.

Yelp
Don't miss out on this wonderful experience for both your palate and your pocket! Can I just say "Wow"?!! I celebrated my 70th B-Day over the weekend with 50 friends and family members and the food was so tasty and done right. The smoked rib tips and hot links were fireas someone described them. Thank you Ms. Cheryl

Jack G.

Yelp
Terrible product. Ordered the pulled pork sandwich. Meat was fine and seemed quality (only saving grace here) but the sauce they put on it was basically water. Tasteless. Sandwich was a soggy mess, fine but the sauce was so bad it ruined the whole thing. Maybe order it plain and put your own sauce on. I say maybe but the reality is I'll never be back. Only take out too. All in all total waste of $13 and still hungry

Thomas G.

Yelp
A few years ago, Hecky's Barbecue was brought to my awareness by a colleague of mine who gave me his endorsement of the restaurant. At the time, I bookmarked it with hopes to visit, but never got the chance until now. Recently Hecky Powell passed away due to Covid-19 complications and the community he served shared how much he meant and the difference he made which opened my eyes. It spoke volume about the character of Hecky as a man and it is heartwarming to know that a black owned business can make such an impact in a community like Evanston. As for my order, I ordered the Chicago style tips w/ a Juneteenth soda which was on my radar after seeing pictures on Yelp. As a lover of soul food, Hecky's has a lot of items that have my interest. Ordering again if I were not to order Chicago style tips again I would probably order either a pulled pork sandwich, a catfish dinner, or a sliced bbq brisket sandwich. I told my co-worker that I will be ordering from restaurants in Evanston again because Grubhub arrived with my order swiftly in comparison to ordering from restaurants in Skokie. With that, I guess there are more people that order in Evanston versus Skokie, so Grubhub drivers are prompt with pick-up and delivery. I really enjoyed the Chicago style tips! Those tender tips smothered in barbecue sauce tasted like heaven. I told my co-worker that I will definitely be ordering them again in the future as I moaned how good they were, hehe. "I see you Hecky's, I see you!". I recommend having the fries put on the side because it is hard to enjoy them. They were mixed in with the tips w/ barbecue sauce drenched on them which made it hard to enjoy the seasoned taste. And the Juneteenth strawberry soda tasted very good; it was not like your average strawberry soda with that sugary taste. To conclude, I had a pleasant overall experience ordering at Hecky's Barbecue. Grubhub delivery was swift, and the food itself was amazing which makes me very open to ordering again. ~Blessings~ Thomas G

Charles C.

Yelp
Times change but I sure still love the turkey drum. Hot sauce on the side.

Madge F.

Yelp
I hadn't been here in awhile and decided to try it again. I got my usual rib tips and greens. The rib tips were cooked perfect, meaty and very flavorful. Loved the greens as well, just added a little hot sauce. Will be back more often.

Sheri N.

Yelp
So I really wanted barbecue. I ordered a half of smoked chicken and it was delicious. I highly recommend the chicken. it is so good. I'm still thinking about it and dinner was hours ago. Thank you Cheryl!

Frank M.

Yelp
Since I moved from Skokie years ago I hadn't eaten at Hecky's for a long time. It was great BBQ at the time. This weekend I had the opportunity to try them again and was very disappointed. Our order ( carry out ) consisted of a full slab of baby back ribs that were salty and as tough as shoe leather. I actually couldn't finish them and threw them away. To be fair, we also tried the beef ribs and rib tips and they were both pretty good. In addition, we ordered a couple of hot links sandwiches to eat right away and while they were delicious, the meat wasn't temperature hot.

Billy O.

Yelp
We ordered 2 slabs of baby back ribs with a couple of sides. It cost over $60. The ribs were tough as shoe leather and tasted like dried ham. There was half a bottle of corn syrupy BBQ sauce dumped on the ribs to apparently disguise the fact that these ribs needed another 2 hours in the smoker- if that's what they use. We each chewed through a portion of each slab and called it quits. The next day, I wrapped the ribs in parchment paper and foil and threw them in the over for two hours at 300 degrees. They turned out fall-off-the-bone, tender and delicious. It's tragic when a business doesn't know how to do BBQ. I know their motto is, "It's the sauce," but good BBQ isn't really about the sauce. It's about the rub, the smoking and the tenderness of the meat. SMOQUE on Pulaski, cooks their briquet and ribs all night. Take a lesson, owners. Do it for the beloved Hecky.

Hersh A.

Yelp
This was my first visit to Hecky's. In all of my visits to Evanston or just being in the area, I had never been to Hecky's before. This time around, I was in the neighborhood so I decided to check them out and get BBQ food to go. I had looked up the menu in advance so I knew what I wanted but when I got to the restaurant, I decided to check out their menu board anyway to see if anything else caught my eye. I was greeted as soon as I approached the counter. It wasn't busy or crowded since it was after 8 PM at night. I ordered a half slab of Hecky's Choice Ribs (and not the Baby Back) and a pork hot link. I didn't ask how the Choice Ribs were different from the Baby Back Ribs. I was asked if I wanted BBQ sauce on my ribs as opposed to just on side and I said yes to it. I went with their sweet sauce. I do like saucy ribs too. I opted not to get any sauce on the hot link. My order came with a slice of bread and an order of fries with each of the entree. After having the food, I must say it was tasty but not anything to rave about. It was okay-good. And IT IS all about the sauce (like it says on their website). I know a good to great BBQ place does not rely on their sauce(s) to make the food taste good. Here, the BBQ sauce enhances the taste of the food. And for me, it was their sweet BBQ sauce that was good. So they offer two types of BBQ sauces. One is sweet and the other one is spicy. Although, the spicy sauce does not really have any heat or a kick to it. It's a mild, slightly tangy sauce. The rib pieces were meaty (I guess this is where it differs from the Baby Back ribs which tend to be lean and not that meaty?). The flavor of the meat was nice but nothing special or extra ordinary. The pork hot link was tasty too. It's a big piece of meat. The fries were crinkle cut and seasoned. They were pretty decent in taste. Overall, I liked this place but it's not somewhere I would go frequently. However, I will go again to try some of their other menu items but not anytime soon. Prices are reasonable and the menu offers a good variety. The service was okay-fine. The restaurant is small with a limited window side bar stool like seating. I would say go check them out at least once if you haven't before because they are a popular local institution and offer no frills, gimmick free BBQ food. I am glad I checked it out. I would give them three and a half stars but since you can't actually give half stars, I rounded it up to four instead of down to three (for good menu variety, prices and being a local institution).

Ru'Mon L.

Yelp
I have to recommend the delicious food at Hecky's! I've been a fan since the 90's! The barbecue was good then and it's good now. It's the only place I patronize on the far north side for good barbecue. The service is efficient when you call in an order and the staff is pleasant and accommodating. The prices are what you would expect for really good barbecue. But what really impressed me with Hecky's is their catering service. I tried it for the first time last Thanksgiving and was thoroughly satisfied! They prepared me a whole, fully cooked, smoked turkey for a decent price and I ordered a 1/2 pan of black-eyed peas too! When I tell you those were the absolute best tasting black-eyed peas I had ever eaten! It's now my most favorite catered food from Hecky's! So, if you like really good barbecue and delicious catered soul food, then I recommend you pay Hecky's Barbecue a visit!

James M.

Yelp
A friend of ours catered for the holiday and I helped pick the food up. First off, the staff was wonderful and such a joy to interact with even if it was just for a short second. Also, the food was great. The sauce was great (even the bottle of sauce they gave us with the order). 10/10 would recommend ordering from here. Eating here. An institution of barbecue and food that reminds me of my family down in New Orleans. Thank y'all

NaNett G.

Yelp
I can easily give Hecky's 5 stars if they'd just get rid of their dessert menu. Each one I've tried was tossed in the garbage. Tried the peach cobbler today that tasted like uncooked dough dipped in cod liver oil.

Carmen B.

Yelp
Used to come here all the time , haven't been here in over two years things have changed the food. It's not quite the same disservice not the same sad to say.