Bar.B.Q Tonight — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

I drove 3 hours from Iowa after seeing the Instagram post that Karachi’s Authentic Bar.B.Q Tonight had opened on Devon Ave in Chicago.

When I arrived, I was greeted by a polite young Middle Eastern server. I asked him if the food was truly authentic Pakistani, and he assured me it was. I asked the Pakistani waiter the same question—he also confirmed it was 100% authentic and claimed the cook had trained at the Karachi location. Unfortunately, my experience did not match those assurances.

What We Ordered: • Chicken Corn Soup – Excellent, rich flavor. 10/10 • Chicken Peshawri Karahi & Mutton Peshawri Karahi – Average taste, lacking authenticity. 5/10 • BBQ Lamb Chops – Burnt, tiny portions, overpriced, no Karachi-style flavor. 3/10 • Beef Bihari Kabab – Decent, but not authentic. 7/10 • Chicken Reshmi Kabab – Very small, cooked on a stovetop instead of a tandoor. My wife makes them better at home. 4/10 • Chicken Malai Boti – Extremely poor quality. 1/10 • Beef Nihari – Did not try. • Butter Chicken – Passable but nothing special. 7/10 • Garlic Naan – A complete disappointment. Instead of tandoor naan, they use Middle Eastern stone baking, which results in hard, brick-like bread. When I complained, the waiter microwaved Deep frozen naan and served it as a “fix.” This is nowhere near authentic Pakistani naan. • Chicken Biryani – Lacked flavor and quality. 2/10

Overall Experience:

This restaurant is misleading customers. There is no chef from Karachi, and the food is not authentic Pakistani Bar.B.Q Tonight. I travel often, I’m a foodie, and I know the difference in flavors. The atmosphere didn’t match either—Arabic music was playing, and most of the staff, including the kitchen, were Middle Eastern. It felt more like Al Badiaa trying to profit from the Bar.B.Q Tonight name rather than the real thing.

I gave this feedback directly to both the Arab manager and Pakistani waiter. All they said was “sorry.”

Final Verdict:

This could have been something special, but instead it was a huge letdown. Save your time and money—go across the street to Bundoo Khan if you want authentic taste and true vibes. This place will...

One of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had in Chicago. This place used to be Tandoori Al-Badia, which failed to run well, and unfortunately, the so-called “rebranding” into BBQ Tonight hasn’t done it any favors. In fact, it feels like they just slapped a new name on the same tired operation. You can still see relics of the old restaurant, and from the looks of it, the same staff is running the show — only now they’re pretending to be a Pakistani BBQ house, borrowing credibility from the actual BBQ Tonight in Pakistan.

Let’s start with reservations — or rather, the complete lack of them. We tried calling countless times, and no one ever picked up. A friend even stopped by in person, only to be told it’s “walk-in only.” That might work for a casual joint, but when you’re marketing yourself as fine dining, it’s laughable. If you can’t even manage a phone line, you shouldn’t be positioning yourself in that category.

Now, the food. We ordered Chicken Tikka, Chicken Boti, Chicken Malai Boti, and Lamb Chops. With the exception of the Lamb Chops, which were passable at best, everything else was abysmal — flavorless, uninspired, and shockingly small in portion size. The naan, usually the saving grace of any Pakistani spot, was the biggest disappointment of all. It almost makes sense, given the staff used to cook Middle Eastern food — they are simply out of their depth when it comes to authentic Pakistani BBQ. Drinks? Just as forgettable.

The only silver lining was the service — our server was kind and did her best, but she was clearly stretched thin, juggling multiple large tables of 10+ people. It’s not her fault this place is so poorly managed.

BBQ Tonight Chicago is an identity crisis on a plate. It doesn’t live up to its name, it doesn’t deliver on flavor, and it doesn’t respect diners’ time or money. Save yourself the regret and take your business to Bundoo Khan right next door — a far superior choice...

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Bar.B.Q Tonight on Devon Ave and also hosting one of the very first parties in their brand-new banquet hall and the entire experience was nothing short of spectacular! The food was absolutely amazing, truly reminding us of the taste from back home. The kebabs were tender, juicy, and silk-like in texture, simply melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The chicken boti was perfectly cooked, bursting with flavor and so juicy. From appetizers like samosas and chicken pakoras (so crispy and tasty!) to the main dishes, every bite was a delight. The biryani was outstanding, full of flavor, and the gajar ka halwa was rich and mouth-watering. Even the chai at the end was perfect, a true comfort. The banquet hall itself is stunning, It's brand new, elegant, and unlike any other hall we’ve seen. The valet parking for all the guests was a thoughtful touch that made everything so convenient. With about 130 guests at our baby shower, every single person left happy and impressed. A very special thank you to Mr. Tariq Siddiqui, the owner, who went above and beyond in ensuring everything was perfect. The chef and team also exceeded expectations, especially given that our party was arranged on short notice. Their hospitality, professionalism, and personal attention made the whole event feel so special. Overall, the experience was truly five-star. Amazing food, exceptional service, and a beautiful venue. We are already looking forward to hosting more events here in the future. Highly recommend BBQ Tonight and their banquet hall to anyone looking for top-quality dining and an outstanding...