Chef
Charlie McKenna

Chicago

My Venues

Accolades

Best New BBQ Restaurant
Food & Wine
Four Stars
Time Out Chicago

110 Tasty Things (Tri-tip)
Chicago Reader
Best New Restaurant
Chicago magazine
Best Pulled Pork Sandwich
Chicago Sun-Times
ChefsFeed Winner
One of the Best Things to Eat in Chicago

View all accolades ▾

Where I Go Out

Bacon, sausage, garlic, and hot giardiniera pizza

The Art of Pizza

$, Pizza, Lake View

"The fat kid in me thinks this is the perfect representation of Chicago-style pizza: perfect crust, fresh ingredients, and amazing sauce."

Chef

Charlie McKenna

Lillie's Q

Crispy beef & egg noodles

The Bento Box

$$, Asian, Bucktown

"This dish offers a great contrast of flavors and textures: crispy beef and noodles, perfectly salty sauce, and soft egg noodles. Everything just works. It’s like a dance party in your mouth."

Mindy's Hot Chocolate

$$$, Desserts, Modern, Full Bar, American, Breakfast, Wicker Park

"I love the burger from Hot Chocolate. The cheese, the egg, the bun—it's all so great."

$$, Outdoor Seating, Mexican, Near North Side

"I love watching the machine over the fryer drop delicious morsels into hot oil, I love the cinnamon sugar, and I love eating multiple orders."

$$$, Outdoor Seating, Modern, Breakfast, New American, Gastropub, Fulton Market

"The Publican achieves the ideal ratio of salt to fat. This dish is seasoned perfectly. The cooks temper it for the perfect amount of time so it’s easily spreadable."

$$$, Reservations, Modern, Full Bar, Speakeasy, Fulton Market

"This foie gras has that sensual texture people dream about, as well as the fact that it’s topped with shaved black truffles and served with perfectly grilled bread. It’s simple, yet ridiculously decadent."

Chef

Charlie McKenna

Lillie's Q

At My Venues

Smoked corned beef hash

Lillie's Q

$$, Bbq, West Loop Gate

"Tender beef, crispy potatoes and the apricot habanero hot sauce just did right by me"

$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Bbq, Wicker Park

"Charlie McKenna knows his ribs. Plus, Lillie’s is super cool about kids eating on the premises. For a digestif, a little White Lightning never hurts."

$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Bbq, Wicker Park

"Perfectly smoky and warm, and dipped in hot, smoky BBQ sauce... I’ll have another pound to-go, please."

$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Bbq, Wicker Park

"Honestly, any smoked meat from Lillie's is a winner. Barbecue done right is not always easy to come by, but Charlie McKenna at Lillie's has it figured out. Must be his extensive Memphis in May barbecue contest experience (he wins there, too)."