Finding quality cuisine in the foodservice industry for people who follow Islamic teachings is no easy task. If you are someone who practices a halal diet, most modern establishments are out of the question. 

However, those of Islamic faith or simply on the hunt for quality barbecue can look no further than Bones N Chefs, located on 219 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard. They are the “first zabiha halal BBQ restaurant in Illinois that is 100% wood smoked,” as their website states.

When entering the restaurant, the environment was near spotless and the decor was rustic with lots of black, white, orange, and red accents. There were four televisions throughout the seating area playing a football game. The dining area was very quiet, unlike most restaurants similar to theirs. This was surprisingly pleasant because I did not have to shout over music or television when ordering. One downside to this, however, is that because the space is so small, the lack of background noise meant that everyone around me would be able to hear my conversations. 

The entire seating area smelled like the wood smoke, which was very pleasant and also added to the rustic scenery they aimed for. They have a sit-down style seating arrangement where you order food at the counter. The server brought out the sides first, which only took about five minutes. The main courses were served to me no more than 10 minutes after that.

I ordered three sides and two entrees off their menu. These included waffle fries, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese which were all $1.99. I also ordered the one pound beef brisket for $29.99 and the half rack of ribs with cherry sauce for $26.99. The sides came out after about five minutes of wait time, and the entrees were served shortly after. The macaroni and cheese was flavorful, and the seasoning worked well with the other barbecue flavors in the food. The waffle fries had a perfect texture and crunch, but were a bit bland without any sauce. The mashed potatoes were fine, but were a bit underseasoned and not an item I would recommend or order a second time.

The stars of the show were, as expected, the brisket and the ribs. Both items were perfectly cooked, still slightly pink in some areas with bits of crunch around the edges. The brisket pulled apart effortlessly, and the meat fell off the ribs with minimal effort. Both sauces were incredible, with the sauce on the brisket being tangy and the other being sweet and smoky. One issue with the ribs was that there was too much sauce in some spots, making some bites a bit soggy, though still enjoyable.

Halal food refers to food that is seen as “permissible” by Islamic dietary laws. This includes zabiha meat (meat which has been slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines), meat and byproducts that only come from herbivorous animals, and entirely non-alcoholic beverages.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a fast and tasty barbecue meal. The customer service was fantastic, the workers were incredibly attentive, and the wood smoked meat was perfectly balanced and very enjoyable. While some side dishes were slightly lackluster, I still left the restaurant very satisfied and very full.

4/5 paws