Restaurant Review: Soul & Smoke

BBQ Fans will rejoice that Evanston-based Soul & Smoke has a to-go-only ghost kitchen open in Avondale, with a South Loop location set to open April 15.  

Chef D’Andre Carter spearheads the food truck and catering company out of Evanston, putting his tenderized touch on the delicious BBQ fare he creates with his signature sauce, smoking techniques, and out-of-this-world flavors. 

If you haven’t had a chance to sink your teeth into the great eats coming out of Soul & Smoke’s famous food truck or their Evanston spot, you’re in luck now that they have opened up shop in the city. Get ready to ask for extra napkins as this BBQ fave is now open for pick up and delivery at 3517 North Spaulding Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood. The South Loop is set to see Soul & Smoke’s arrival at 2537 South Wabash Avenue on April 15.

If this will be your first time indulging in Soul & Smoke’s menu, look no further than the baby back ribs to do your taste buds a personal favor. Featuring Chef Carter’s signature BBQ sauce on the side, don’t be surprised if you order extra of this delicious concoction because it’s simply that tasty. Chef Carter sells the stuff by the bottle as well, so if you need to stock up on gifts, forget the gift cards and hand bottles of his signature sauce out. There will be zero complaints.

The smoked brisket sandwich is another mouth-watering delight featuring the sauce as mentioned above and bread and butter pickles with delectable smoked brisket on a brioche bun—ditto for the smoked pulled pork sandwich served with apple sauce on the side. One taste and you will experience the Soul & Smoke difference with unique BBQ flavor bursting with each bite. Just trying to describe the food offered here puts my thesaurus to good use to see how many ways I can write the one word that sums up Soul & Smoke -delicious.

It doesn’t end there, though. Give the cajun shrimp and grits a try, and you will delight in sautéed shrimp and Andouille sausage bisque served on top of buttery stone-ground grits. The chicken gumbo with Andouille bisque and brown rice is the next best thing to hopping on a plane to dine in the French Quarter. 

Soul & Smoke’s jerk chicken skewers feature their house jerk sauce consisting of grilled habanero peppers, guajillo peppers, pineapple, and thyme, making this an ideal appetizer or to-go snack. The smoked pork shoulder provides one pound of rich pork accompanied by their BBQ sauce and has become a favorite whenever I can grab some food from their food trucks.

With the addition of their to-go ghost kitchens, Soul & Smoke is bringing big flavor to Chicago’s BBQ scene, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself following their food truck from spot to spot until their South Loop location opens later this month. Check out their website above to find out when and where Soul & Smoke’s food truck will appear next and to order from their existing locations.

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO