Enjoy Smoky and Saucy Foods at 5 Barbecue Restaurants Near Marion, IL

If you’re a fan of smoky and saucy barbecue, there are some great places in Marion to check out. Whatever your cravings, these great joints are sure to satiate them. Choosing where to go for your lunch or dinner smokehouse experience might feel overwhelming, so we’ve taken the time to compile a list of the best spots around town. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, we’re sure you’ll want to visit these Marion restaurants again and again.

17th Street Barbecue

Baby Back Ribs by Ted Murphy is licensed with CC BY 2.0

One of the best places in Marion for barbecue is 17th Street Barbecue. This spot serves up food that’s so mouthwatering and delicious, you’ll want to take it with you if you ever find yourself outside of Marion. Luckily, the restaurant makes that easy with nationwide shipping. This means you can enjoy their incredible flavors and offerings from anywhere. Mike Mills is the legend behind 17th Street Barbecue, and now his daughter, Amy Mills, has taken up the mantle of providing incredible barbecue to all of southern Illinois and beyond.

Mike Mills has an impressive list of accolades, including the titles of World Champion and Grand World Champion of the Super Bowl of Swine. You can taste the excellence that inspired these and other awards by visiting one of 17th Street’s two Illinois locations. The Marion location address is easy to remember, considering the street is part of the restaurant’s name. It’s located at 2700 17 St., Marion. You can also visit them at their mother ship location, which the Food Network and the Travel Channel have both highlighted in their programs.

The original 17th Street Barbecue is at 32 N. 17th St., Murphysboro. Both restaurants are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

KB’s BBQ

Another Marion favorite is KB’s BBQ, known for their generous serving sizes and incredible smokehouse flavors. This family-owned establishment smokes all their meats the same way: by hand and with hickory wood for a mouthwatering result you’ll want to eat again and again. If you have room after your meal, sample some of the restaurant’s famous pie. Our other menu favorites include their chopped barbecue pork sandwich, one of KB’s half-pound burgers, and their hush puppies.

You can visit the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It’s closed on Sunday.

20’s Hideout Steakhouse

Though not exclusively a barbecue joint, 20’s Hideout Steakhouse‘s barbecue menu options deserve a spot on this list. The 20’s themed restaurant is a great place to go if you’re looking for a unique dining experience. Built to emulate the roaring 20s, guests can enjoy live piano music while perusing the largest wine list in southern Illinois. They have local jazz musicians in nightly to help create their fun and memorable 20s theme.

Our favorite barbecue menu options include the Bonnie & Clyde, which includes a 1/2 rack of barbecue baby back ribs and a Cajun-seasoned chicken breast, the Squealer, which is topped with the restaurant’s delicious homemade barbecue sauce, and the Fly the Coop, which includes chicken wings tossed in heavenly tangy barbecue sauce. Guests can visit the steakhouse from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is conveniently located off Interstate 57.

Riley’s Smokehouse

Another Marion favorite, Riley’s Smokehouse is one of the best places in town to satisfy your barbecue cravings. Its drive-thru means you can enjoy barbecue easily, even if you’re in a rush. You can also dine in for the full Riley’s experience. Be sure to try some of Riley’s inventive menu options, like the pulled pork nachos, crispy fish, and smoked pork steak. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s always a great time to experience authentic Southern-style cooking at Riley’s.

You can visit Riley’s for carry out, dine in, or drive-thru service from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Chuck’s BBQ

Located in nearby Herrin, Chuck’s BBQ deserves a mention as one of the area’s best barbecue joints. The restaurant has a long legacy. Started in 1952 by Chuck Shahadey, the restaurant passed on to Chuck’s son, Charles, in 2003. Then, in 2013, a barbecue enthusiast named Ryan Jeralds purchased the restaurant from the family, vowing to keep the tradition of serving great barbecue alive. Its new owner grew up in the area, attending barbecue competitions with his grandfather.

Jeralds then went on to create a unique dry rub recipe of his own to rival the flavors he tasted with his grandfather at those competitions during his childhood. Now, you can enjoy those flavors for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Chuck’s BBQ has a drive-thru for added convenience and quick service, but you can always choose to dine in as well. Our favorite menu items include the barbecue pulled pork sandwich, the fried bluegill sandwich, and the smoked wing basket. The joint also makes a great breakfast, serving customers burritos, breakfast sandwiches, and hearty plates.

Chuck’s BBQ dining area is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The drive-thru is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. On days the restaurant opens early for breakfast, they switch to their lunch service at 11 a.m.

With so many great barbecue offerings in and around Marion, we’re sure you’ll have plenty of choices for satiating those cravings. Whether you’re looking for an on-the-go drive-thru treat or a relaxing sit-down option, Marion has the joints for you.

Be sure to let us know if you try one of the local spots on our list. We’d love to hear how you enjoyed the food and what your favorite menu items were. If we missed a classic Marion joint on our list, let us know. We’d love to expand our recommendations to include the best barbecue locations our part of Illinois has to offer.