Station One Smokehouse

Pastrami sandwich was loaded with pastrami. piled high. Burnt ends were very tasty. Sides are big enough to be shareable. They run out of the good stuff so get there early. Will visit again. Gets crowded, if there wasn't outdoor seating available and nice weather it could be a problem. 30 minutes in line to order food. Only 4 stars as they ran out of items we were hoping to have.

This place never misses. Everything on the menu is absolutely stellar and very reasonably priced. The meats are always seasoned and cooked to perfection and even their sides are all made with the same care and quality as the mains. You can always tell a lot about a BBQ type place on how good their sides are, and this place is unmatched in the area. The place is always clean, has outdoor seating and is never too loud inside even on weekends. You absolutely need to try the pork belly and the poutine with brisket. It's insane how good these are.

I’ve been coming here for years and their consistency has never faltered. Their bbq selection is great. I am personal fan of their smoked turkey, ribs, brisket burger and their cornbread. I have family who drive from inner city Chicago to eat here. Their service has also always been kind and I expect station one to continue to be one of the spots for bbq for years to come.

WORSE BBQ EVER!! SO OVER PRICED, I regret losing the money more than the 40 min wait in line. Sides were awful coleslaw had no taste broccoli salad was fowl. Pulled pork was dry and hot links burnt. BEST PART was the sauce pickles and young people working there!! Just EWW

Stopped by Station One today. The star of the show was definitely the **brisket** – perfectly smoked, tender, and absolutely delicious. It hits all the right notes for quality BBQ. The **service was friendly and welcoming**, which always makes for a better dining experience. Prices were also **right in line with expectations**, offering good value for the quality of food you receive. For dessert, the **bread pudding was a delightful treat** – warm, comforting, and a great way to finish the meal. I was really hoping to try the **peanut butter cup pie**, but sadly, they were out. A big plus is that **there's a bar**, so you can easily grab a drink to complement your meal. While it might not dethrone my absolute favorite BBQ joint, Station One is **really, really good** and certainly a strong contender. The **burger was a little on the salty side**, but even with that, it was **still tasty** and a solid option if you're not in the mood for traditional BBQ. Overall, Station One BBQ is a fantastic spot for a satisfying meal. Highly recommend!

As someone who's always looking for good BBQ places to try, my wife and my parents and I decided to give this place a try after seeing the good reviews. For the set up, it is counter-service, so there are no reservations, first come first serve. Someone will bring your food out to you if its not ready when you order though. If you come around 5:30 or 6:00PM be prepared to wait. Everyone who worked there was friendly and helpful. There was plenty of seating and even a patio area to sit outside if the weather is nice. I would give the service and atmosphere five stars. I ordered the pork ribs, my wife ordered the smoked meat poutine, my mom ordered the loaded baked potato, and my dad ordered the smoked turkey club. Everyone really enjoyed their meals and you got very large portions for your money. The only caveat I would mention is that if your palate happens to be sensitive to sodium you might find it too salty. They had fountain drinks and you could order spirits at the bar. There was a line when we got there so I ordered some beers for my dad and I while we waited to order our food. Overall I would say the food, service, and atmosphere were great. If you're close by and you like BBQ, it is definitely worth a visit.

Very cool patio, industrial looking inside. I had the pulled pork and a side of Brussels sprouts. Phenomenal flavor on the pork, it was moist, with just enough smoke. The brussels were crispy and had a pepper jelly sauce on them, maybe some soy sauce. Both very good. My friend had the chopped brisket with sides of mac n cheese and tater tot casserole. All items were very good! Meat was moist and flavorful, mac n cheese was creamy and delicious, I could eat a pan of the tot casserole! Clean restaurant, plenty of seating, casual. Highly recommend. Wish they were closer!

Definitely one of my favorite places if not my favorite. This place has never disappointed me. I usually get the brisket burger with Mac n cheese and tater tot casserole. If you pour some barbecue sauce on the casserole it tastes amazing. This food tastes like heaven and I will always come back. Even if you look at my bio, it says go to station one immediately. Thank you station one, you have changed my life

Other than having to stand in line to order, the place was great. The meat was moist and tender this will be on our restaurant rotation and we will be coming back. I got the pulled pork sandwich and my wife got the smoked turkey. The sides were big enough for two people to share

Came here on the Tuesday after Memorial Day around lunch time as I was passing by the Plainfield area. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and taste of the meats. Pictures don't really do this place justice. It is better than it looks! I like how they allow the meats to be ordered by the 1/4 pound so you can try a wider variety. Meats are on the saltier side, the vinegar coleslaw and green beans (not pictured) were cooked to perfection. I would recommend if in the area!

My friends and I love coming here after we go do Fall activities in the suburbs! The meat platters are amazing and it is a great place to sit down and relax with a beer. Staff is nice and friendly, but we asked some specific questions on why was served, they hadn't exactly known the answers or tried to ask someone else. The peanut butter pie was great if you have a sweet tooth, but I'd love to have a better chocolate/pb ration in the future. Either way, we will still make another stop next Fall!

Great BBQ sandwiches and robes. Sides are amazing and you have to get the corn and kale

Hands down the BEST bbq you can get outside of Chicago! First of all- the atmosphere is always fun and lively (not in a crazy or loud way) and the inside is decorated with cute string lights. They have a nice patio area with picnic tables that opens right up to the inside of the restaurant. My husband and I ordered a bunch of things to share: brisket, smoked turkey, wings (in beef fat buffalo sauce), potato salad, broccoli salad & creamy coleslaw. UGH. Honestly everything was to die for!! The flavor of the sauce the wings were tossed in was incredible. I could've drank it lol. Other meats were also delicious and tender. Best broccoli salad I've ever had. Potato salad had huge chunks of potato and was perfectly creamy and the coleslaw was super fresh & crunchy. Even their pickles are great & taste homemade. You do have to go up to the counter, order the food and take it back to your table so don't expect to be waited on. The prices are also fair for the portion sizes. Definitely my favorite spot in downtown Plainfield if you're craving amazing bbq!

Fresh-brewed Sweet tea is a hard thing to come by in the Midwest. This Bama boy's solution is to message BBQ joints about their sweet tea solution. Station One messaged me promptly and told me that they had it from a dispenser. Yeah the Gold Peak one that serves that abomination of sweet tea. But they allowed me to bring my own sweet tea so that made my day along with the delicious que they serve. Station One received that name because it looks like it was an old fire station. Someone better call 911 for this Texas Style BBQ! I went up to the counter and ordered 1/4 of brisket, pulled pork, and pastrami. Pastrami was a new one for me at a BBQ joint so I had to try it. I also had one rib added to my tray. The sides are a la carte and I chose tater tot casserole and Mac and cheese. All the meats were fantastic! I would rank them from best to worst: rib, pulled pork, brisket, pastrami. I loved the rib as it was meaty and had a sweet glaze to it. Pulled pork and brisket were solid. I was a little disappointed in the pastrami but my wife loved it. The tater tot casserole was amazing! Think of a hashbrown casserole with thick, crunchy pieces of hashbrown and you have the tater tot casserole. The mac and cheese was good but I started thinking I needed something else than cheese because of the tater tot casserole. There are 3 sauces. Spicy is a Texas Style sauce that is made with pepper. Bourbon Peach is very sweet. Texas Gold is a mild, mustard style sauce. I can't wait to go back and eat at Station One again!

I'm updating my previous review from '19. I stopped in on 5/6/23 with my boyfriend, who is from St. Louis. They've improved their pickles- yum! I ordered the Cuban, which needs to be a permanent addition to this delicious menu! I loved the bread- it reminded me of the Dutch crunch I used to eat in California. The beef tips, brisket, beans, pickles were all amazing. I can not speak for the potato salad in the picture as I don't eat it. My boyfriend enjoyed everything as well. I will not let 4 yrs pass before visiting again!!!

Service was a little off when I visited because they were changing shifts. They apologized but it was awkward. They only do large family deals otherwise everything is ordered individually. The small sides for $4 seems overpriced to me. Mac and cheese - creamy and delicious with breadcrumbs on top Pork- good as always. The 1/2 lb split with my husband was perfect Sauce- the bourbon peach is absolutely delicious Tater tot casserole - cheesy and delightful

The Plainfield location is fantastic. Great BBQ, fast and tasty. Great location and will continue to be a customer for years to come.

Food was great! Had the brisket, fries, pickles and tater tot casserole. We tried all the sauces and all were good. Bartender was helpful and counter lady was super nice. Inside used to be a firehouse and they continued with the theme. The rope to form the carry out line is a fire hose. Very cool inside!

This place is fantastic! We just held a party and had Station One provide the food! Everything was delicious! We've ate here several times, both to dine in and take out, and have never had a bad experience! Get there early as the line can be long and they do run out of food! Craft beer selection is excellent, too!

Wow! What an experience! You could tell the minute you walk in the door that this place is gonna be good just by the smell. We had brisket, pastrami, corn bread, elote, Mac and cheese and a hot link and everything was delicious. Great flavor and texture! Also the peach bourbon bbq sauce was out of this world. We also had the banana pudding and it was great. We'll definitely be back soon!

Yum!!! First time trying to visit the smokehouse I was with a big group on a Saturday night and the lines were long and nowhere to sit. Today was great the patio was open and wasn't too long of a line. What got me first is the bbq smell that hits you walking in the door. The ribs and brisket looked amazing. They have all the typical sides and meat options! I can never decide between potato salad collards Mac and cheese or Brussels sprouts. I was very happy with my choices. Enjoyed everything I had. The brisket burger is more like ground brisket and is a double patty which was a surprise to methe only downside was that the ice cream was all out and we had ordered the peach cobbler that comes with ice cream but weren't informed til we started looking for it. Besides that everything was great!!

The most amazing BBQ spot!! I was shocked at how amazing everything was! Being a city snob I didn't expect to be as good as local city, Chicago, BBQ's. So happy to have been proven wrong!! We stopped here after a day at the pumpkin patch. My 8 year, who is normally a good eater, even asked for thirds!! He knocked out on our way back home. 10/10 would recommend! Can't wait to visit again!

This is a place where you wait in line to order and get your food before leaving the counter. Portions and pricing were very reasonable as you can see by the size of the Mac and cheese and potato. The brisket was perfectly well done and didn't need any additional sauce for great flavor. The brussel sprouts were outstanding, charred and had a great sauce on them. The macaroni and cheese is homemade, and recommended with the bread crumb topping. Drinks are serve yourself and if you want alcohol this was ordered at the bar on the south side of the restaurant. On nice days (which this was) the garage door was open. The place could be fairly loud with conversation so the open door helped with that. Not a huge dining area, so be sure to come early, or expect to wait to find a seat once you get your food. Will be back here again soon for more!

The staff was very friendly and welcoming. Plenty of communal tables inside. Food was fantastic. We ordered the sliced brisket, pork belly, pork ribs, brisket sandwich, elote corn, mac and cheese, brisket chili and black pepper garlic link. The meat were all moist and flavorful, none of it was dry. Only complaint was that they forgot to give us the toppings for the chili but that's fine. Place was clean. I would come back. For prices, not sure why people say it's pricey but it's not. Chicago Culinary Kitchen is way more expensive. If you want some decent bbq, you have to pay a bit more. I've been to Texas, South Carolina, and Memphis for bbq and this place is definitely one of the better ones in Illinois. The sauces were pretty flavorful as well.

Always good BBQ. I do prefer my own sauce but I'm picky. The sides are amazing. If you ever need a meal for an event this is the place.

OH MY BBQ! Randomly stopped at this restaurant after a soccer tournament at Wintrust. Perfect if you're looking to go with friends and not wanting to split the bill as you are able to order at the counter and pay before you seat yourself - Kind of like Portillos but way better quality food. We ordered a slab of ribs as well as pulled pork. What's unique about this place is that the pulled pork is not doused with barbecue sauce, but instead has a station where you can apply whatever sauce you'd like. There's a few variations with spicy to not spicy. Everything is à la cart. Their brussels sprouts were crispy browned and seasoned well. We also had their seasoned fries which was standard. The pulled pork was beautifully prepared, tender, Smoky taste, not minced up like tuna in a can. Quality meat. The full slab of ribs was scrumptiously tangy, perfectly seasoned with the right amount of sauce Clinging to the ribs. Didn't have a chance to take pictures (Was too busy licking the sauce off my fingers), but I'm sure there's plenty of photos on their site, or found on other reviews for this restaurant.

Came here from a suggestion. It was so good I came back the very next day. Food, especially the brisket is so good. The owner even accommodated me because I don't eat pork by cutting my brisket on a clean board. Very grateful for that gesture. Thank you

Best BBQ around. The staff was great. Very busy. A bit pricey but food was great. Bar has a lot of options.

We love station one! Makes a great quick restaurant trip to eat in at with fast food and service. Or it's been super convenient to have some food catered for pickup to bring to parties. We just catered our second time from station one over Labor Day and everyone loved the elote and we had a ton left over too. The restaurant itself is spacious with a bar and outside area too.

Saw this place and stopping in for something to eat. I was in a hurry and was in and out in a hurry!

Excellent BBQ & sides. Good atmosphere, indoor seating a premium. Highly recommend.

Pricey but good. It's one of the more expensive bbq places in the area. We do not bring the whole family because it's just too expensive. The restaurant is clean & food is good. We'd visit more often if the cost was less.

My husband and I always love BBQ and were on the lookout for a great restaurant by our house. Through some YouTube videos we saw that Station One Smokehouse was considered one of the top BBQ spots in the Chicagoland area. We were ecstatic we didn't have to trek into the city and a great place was right in our backyard. We went there on a whim on a Saturday evening. We went right before the rush and were lucky to find a seat. The bar remained pretty open, but if you want a table I would definitely try to go early because seating is limited. I ordered the brisket sandwich and my husband got the brisket by the pound. The brisket was absolutely amazing. It was tender and fatty with a smokey wholesome flavor. It was absolutely perfect. The bbq sauces added flavor, but you could eat the brisket with nothing. We shared a fry on the side. The fries were crispy and salty. This was a perfect side dish to our meal. We absolutely loved it. We are definitely going back and I want to try the ribs.

10 out of 10!!! Great food, Awesome customer service and they even had a military discount! I can't wait to come back!!!!! My kids even devoured the chicken nuggets and french fries- they were homemade and fried to perfection

After 5 visits, pick up has gone way better than ordering in person and getting food at counter. Several times we have been given small containers of side items in person instead of correct size for package ordered. The quality of the meat especially for Brisket varies sometimes the meat is tight and not juicy and other times rendered well. Have had the turkey twice now and both times good but once weighed almost a lb and next time 3/4. For what it costs please don't under serve. It's expensive. The decorating is appropriate for BBQ and theme. Service was very self service and the line moves slow. BBQ pork is good but not great. Brisket is hit or miss and so far the turkey has been the most reliable but usually underweighted as is brisket. It never weighs at a lb The Mac and cheese is avg eh. But I appreciate how the cook made it with transparency and it's not like real mac n cheese. But if you eat box mac n cheese you'll be ok. The cornbread is either good, sometimes overdone and drier but good or undercooked but moist till gooey center. Still good just microwave. The pickles are interesting. It's just hard for me to justify $80 for three people. But we are trying again for 6th time. We've done 3 carryout and we get the right sizes for our sides. Everytime at counter they give us small. Not sure if it's because they are busy and running out of the corn elotes inspired dish. The beans/chili like thing eh skip trust me a miss

Found this by searching for rib restaurants close to Plainfield, IL. Glad we did! There is space to sit inside and outside; we however came to carry out. While standing in line the menu was well seen and easy to understand the Ale carte options. You get to place your meat(s), then next person takes your sides order. Each person was pleasant, greeted with a smile and a have a nice meal /day! That makes a customer feel great weather eating inside, outside or take out. As we were leaving we walked past a full bar. As far as atmosphere we plan on sitting in to absorb the adult beverage options. After un bagging the food at home the smells were fantastic! The meats We bought were ribs, link and Chopped Brisket. Sides mac&cheese and Collard greens and of course pickles. The ribs heavily seasoned, great smoke ring & tender. Link seasoning seen thru casing has good flavor and snap. Chopped Brisket ohhh so tender and delicious. Collards seasoned well a bit heavy on the chopped garlic (for those who like garlic bombs) but very tasty. Mac & Cheese was a miss - a bit watery rather than cheesy needed salt and pepper and some cheese (no stringy effect at all). The pickles are dill (not expected because usually Bread and Butter pickles served with ribs) but they were good. All in all a delightful meal. With so much on the menu we enjoyed we do plan on going back!

Very tasty food. Had the ribs, slicked brisket an pulled pork. The sauce selection was good. Very clean and pretty dining area.

I heard a lot about this place and my family wanted to check it out. No complains from me, I wouldn't have to cook dinner lol. It's not your typical restaurant, as they prepare all your food in front of you, which is serve directly on tray. We got lucky and beat the rush! So that was exciting. And let's just say the food is so appetizing and finger- licking good, I suffered from a food coma and blacked out the rest of the night. Hahah. I did have leftovers and it made for a yummy lunch the next day. The decorations are super cute too! 10/10 yummy! Definitely recommend.

Nice place, open space and clean. Great food, sometimes the quality varies, but overall quite good. Friendly services

Great brisket baked potato. Great Atmosphere and a nice bar next-door. Very good.

Excellent food, never a complaint in that capacity. Order prep strategy could be improved, as it seems one of us is always done eating b4 the other's food arrives at the table. But top quality smokehouse food!

Sides are good, meats, not so much. Ribs are spare ribs sold by the pound. $11 for three ribs. Really, and left the tough membrane on. Chicken wings were tough almost inedible with no smoke. Chopped brisket tough and dry, no smoke. Like everything overcooked on a gas grill. Very disappointing.

I cannot tell you how much I love station one smokehouse but I will try.... Upon entering station one, I am greeted by a big board of smoked meats and sides and everything in between and the accompanying smell of them smoking and cooking meats and sides in real time. Every time I have dined there my food has been fresh and the customer service is amazing! My top three items to try are the: 1. Brisket 2. Ribs 3. Corn bread

THIS is BBQ at it's best! Worth the drive, if you don't live in Plainfield. Station One is located in the old Plainfield firehouse. It has minimal decor, but what is there is super cool, referencing the building's past. The food was AMAZING - we had the Family Meal, and chose brisket & ribs for our meats. You know things are done right when you don't even need BBQ sauce. The rubs on both the ribs and brisket were so good, I enjoyed them solo! Everything was juicy and delicious. The sides were just as excellent - the best mac n cheese we've had at a restaurant, delicious elote (Mexican street corn), and tasty beans with a surprising kick to them. The cornbread was warm, moist, and delicious. Awesome homemade pickles :) I also REALLY appreciated that they didn't blast music - it was playing, but you could comfortable talk over it. Seating indoors in kinda limited, so make sure you're patient, or visit during an off-time during the weekend. They did sell out of ribs while we were there, so quantities of meat may be limited too. They have a patio out front, and I'm looking forward to going in the summer to enjoy that. It's on a quiet street, so car noise shouldn't be a problem. A great, family-friendly place!

The food is great HOWEVER- there is NEVER anywhere to sit!!! So aggravating... we just literally walked out because the line was to the door and ZERO tables available.

Tried the food for the first time two weeks ago. I can honestly say that adding a touch of a multi-cultural flavor to the BBQ sides was a great idea. The portions are perfect and the meats were never dry. I have always thought Sharko's was the best in Plainfield but I will now consider STATION ONE SMOKEHOUSE as my number one choice for BBQ food.

Great people great food nice & smokey juicy atmosphere is cool the garage band is bitchin too

Been here twice. Same thing both times. DO NOT SIT AT THE BAR!!! If you do go to this place. I'm sure the food is good but I never had the chance to eat it. The second time I went there I remembered why I left the first time. The bartender just looks at you doesn't say hello doesn't give you a menu doesn't ask what you want just stares at you expecting you to ramble off an order at her face. I left both times without ordering. Hopefully this second time I'll remember before walking in why I left the last two times. Did a little research and found out the owner used to be with Hogsalt restaurant group which is even more saddening. They have a solid program as far as food and service is considered and I'm assuming he wanted to bring that with him to his spot. Failure to execute tremendously on service. Such a shame, knowing how much I enjoy green street, Bavettes, and au cheval I'm sure the food was going to be amazing.

Damn!!!!! Just delicious period I'll go back anytime. Wayyyyyy better than FW. IMHO.

Mmm we love this place! Our favorites so far are: -1/2 lb pulled pork -1/2 lb sliced brisket -tater tot casserole -Mac and cheese

Station One is by far the best bbq in the Chicago burbs! The pastrami is to die for as well as the burger! We love the different variety of sides and their homemade cornbread!

Went for our first time for lunch today. We were in the area and wanted to try something new to us. I had the 1/2 chicken and split it with hubby. It was excellent. We got fries and Elote corn, both very good. Service was good, no complaints. We will be back when in the area again.

Delicious food- have had it catered for parties! Going to dine in we had to wait in a long line with limited seating but still enjoyed jt

Used to be 5 stars to me however the brisket has been dry the last few times I've been here. All the others meats are pretty good just stay away from the brisket.

I've only tried 1 item which was pretty good. Didn't care for some of the sides though. The location is convenient.

The food is absolutely delicious! Ambience was great for a Sunday afternoon fast service! The place was very clean and welcoming!!

If you think you can only get good Mexican food at a Mexican restaurant think again. The Birria tacos trend started semi -recently. So, when I saw Station One had them every other Tuesday I marked my calendar! Today was that day. Not only are the tacos loaded with juicy beef brisket, but the rice and beans that come with the dinner plate are actually better than most I've had. The consomé to dip the tacos has perfect depth of flavor too. Another home run!!!

The food is absolutely delicious, and the sauces are an excellent accomplishment but not necessarily needed. The brisket sandwich was juicy, flavorful, and tender on a pillow-like potato bun; I believe. The half chicken was juicy and tender as well. The tator tot casserole was great, tasty, and enough for two! Loved the sauce on the Brussel sprouts. Real good Mac and cheese and elote. The cornbread was the best. It is a huge chunk of moist and yummy goodness. Actually the best I have had out. Tried a few cocktails. The brown butter old-fashioned was a dessert but had to end there. Quite a trip home. We will be back! The rest of the area deems a day trip for sure!