Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
Hagz · 279 Google reviewsTwin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern — Old Town american where the Ribs sets the tone. No frills and no gimmicks, just a solid honest room. The bartender knows what they're doing. "The menu is limited but all you need to know is that they have the best ribs in the city" — Christy ML [$$, patio]
What 1,839 diners keep saying
What 1,839 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“This place lives up to the hype! I’ve lived in Chicago for 6 years now and hadn’t been, but my colleagues from work invited me and I’m so glad they did. Great bar to have a drink before dinner while you wait to be seated. The ribs are fire! I went with their zesty sauce since that’s their most popular and it was my first time. Great classic rib sauce. I’ll try their prohibition sauce the next time I go. The meat was tender and falls off the bone. For my side I got the creamed spinach. It was fantastic and had a peppery kick to it. We also ordered a basket of onion rings for the table and polished those off as well.”
“An absolute Chicago classic! Twin Anchors never disappoints. The atmosphere here is excellent historic, cozy, and full of that authentic, old-school Chicago tavern charm. The food was incredible from start to finish. We had the ribs, and they were phenomenal—tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. We paired them with the onion rings, which were perfectly crispy, as well as the chili and baked beans, which were both rich and comforting. If you want a legendary neighborhood spot with amazing food and a great vibe, this is the place. 5 stars all the way!”
“If you want to feel like you’re in a neighbourhood bar this is the place for you. We had the ribs as that’s the specialty and they were fall of the bone perfect. Make sure you get extra sauce and I had the baked beans with pulled pork as my side which were very tasty. Great selection of drinks and the atmosphere is awesome!! Great service on top of all that and this is the experience you need to have in Chicago. More options than I’ve seen anywhere in the world, heaps of appetisers which all sound delicious, lots of options for sides with your ribs, five or six. If you have a salad you have six or more dressing options.”
“Awesome ribs and coleslaw slaw at a very friendly casual historic neighborhood bar frequented by Frank Sinatra. Going back next trip to Chicago.”
“A life long Chicagoan and tonight was my first time at Twin Anchors and wow! The hype is real. First, we walked in and talked to the host who said the wait would be 25 min (party of 2) and we waited by the bar. Not more than a minute later they grabbed us and said they had a table for us because someone no showed. Score! Both hosts couldn’t have been nicer. We were seated in the main dining room and were greeted right away by our server Elle. She knocked it out of the park. So kind and attentive and even talked about how she never was at the restaurant until she worked there. Spinach dip for an app is a must and of course the RIBS! Fall off the bone with lots of zesty sauce on the side. I can’t wait to come back and bring my parents to a true Chicago staple!”
“Another classic Chicago restaurant and it did not disappointment. Loved the spicy Prohibition sauce with the ribs! Took the family here and would love to come back!”
“Fantastic place with a chill, old-school Chicago vibe that really stands out. The service here is some of the best you’ll find, our waitress was amazing and made the whole experience even better. Everything we ordered was fresh and full of flavor, clearly made with care. They offer Coke products along with a wide selection of cocktails and draft beer, so there’s something for everyone. It’s a historic spot that has been serving both locals and celebrities since 1932, located in a building that dates all the way back to 1881, which adds to its unique charm. Keep in mind, this place is very popular and does not accept reservations, so expect a wait during peak hours. Still, it’s absolutely worth it for the food, service, and overall experience.”
“Best ribs in the city! Must visit. I am a big rib guy as well, this is a really great place.”
“This is hands down my favorite ribs place in Chicago. We come here every time we are in town and they never disappoint. Prepare yourself for a wait for your table especially if you have a larger group as they don’t take reservations but trust me it’s worth it. I love to have a drink at the bar and people watch. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. I recommend the ribs, coleslaw, beans, green beans, baked potatoe and fries. Also their cakes make for an amazing dessert so save room for them.”
“Many who served us was brilliant. Fierce attentive and honest. Said tip already in so no need to give to him, I wouldn't have known so I'll remember him and the restaurant in a great way for it. Best ribs I've had in a long time. Food out within 5 minutes of ordering. Atmosphere brilliant and authentic place with real people and great food.”
“Twin Anchor is one of the oldest original restaurant in the city of Chicago. Since its founding in 1932, Twin Anchors has always been known for great, tender, barbequed baby-back ribs that can be enjoyed in a quaint neighborhood tavern. Twin Anchors is a 100 % Chicago legend! Some of the best BBQ in the country. Their Prohibition sauce might be my favorite BBQ sauce. There's a short list of places that are a must eat in the city these days and Twin Anchors is at the top of that list. Have you ever had BBQ ribs or chicken that you can eat with a spoon because they're so tender? I have, at Twin Anchors. 100% recommend!”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More American in Lincoln Park & Old Town
See the ranking →
In the same lane · American, mid-range
If it's packed, walk to…
More good rooms in Old Town, minutes away.