Wagner's Ribs

This was a recommendation by a local clerk at the Toyota Dealership. I got stuck due to some car issues while passing through.

First of all, the food is exceptional, good sized portions for the price they charge.

The environment, staff are very warm and welcoming. There was no kids allowed in the restaurant which I applaud. Thank you.

Additionally bathrooms were immaculate.

Definitely worth stopping for food at this location. 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wagner’s Ribs is a staple in the Chesterton and Beverly Shores area for ribs. They truly have the BEST ribs I’ve had anywhere (I go for the classic ribs with fall off the bone meat), amazing bbq sauce and tasty sides. Baked potato. Waffle French fries and slaw are my go to sides!!

The service is always friendly, attentive and pretty fast (even when they are busy). I’ve been coming here 20+ years (every summer when I’m back to the region) and fall in love more and more each visit!!

My family also loves their steaks but I can’t resist the ribs every time. Get a full slab for one and enjoy leftovers day two.

Best ribs on the planet. I get mine TIMS style and honestly believe they are the best ribs anywhere. Meaty, crispy, slightly spicy and fall off the bone tender. Waffle fries are my potato of choice. Also love their cole slaw. It’s mild, but excellent with the ribs. I’ve tried other menu items, but for me their baby backs are the star of their menu.
Service was friendly and efficient. Restrooms were clean. Easy parking but it fills up fast. Get there early if you want a good spot.
I always plan a stop there when I am in the area.
It is a 21 and older restaurant as they have a full service bar up front. No children allowed.
There is no wheelchair access and the restrooms are not handicap friendly.
One thing to note, and maybe it’s just me, but I find their floors really slippery. I always pay attention to my footing while in there.
IMO the best ribs out there.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and food here. The server was amazingly friendly. The French onion soup was delish; the ribs and grilled shrimp combo were quite tasty. We will definitely be going back. I'm hooked on the grilled shrimp, and the ribs were fall off the bone yummy. I would be happy if they had ice cream and maybe brownies 🤭🤭 I recommend this spot 🔥💯🫶🏽

The best place to eat dinner traveling to or from Chicago. A quick detour and kitchen open late. Ribs are to live for. Some call them Texas style. They have the thick meatiness of a St. Louis style cut, and the tender juiciness of a Chicago style babyback, dark sweet sauce. Great sides. Friendly service and fair prices. It's a casual sports bar, so does not have the cocktail game of a supper club, but they'll take care of you. And cool Halloween decor!

Just a southside girl from Chicago who found herself here one evening. These ribs can stand up to any southern juke joint or fancy pants place in the city. The cornbread johnny cakes were sweet savory delights and the green beans were greener than I ever imagined. I will be back. The staff and service were top notch!

Love love LOVE Wagner's ribs and do a takeout order pretty regularly. Had a little extra time today so we stopped in for lunch! Everything was delicious and Jessica was so pleasant! She did a great job taking care of us!

Delicious! Best BBQ sauce I have ever tasted! Ribs were amazing! Cornbread yummy and wedge salad was great. Service was excellent. We bought a pint of BBQ sauce to take home. Planning our next trip to Indiana just so we can come back to Wagner’s!

The photo says it all! The ribs were outstanding! This was a truly enjoyable culinary experience. Everything was wonderful, and I give Wagner's Ribs my highest recommendation. The atmosphere was cozy and charming, and our waitress was great!

The ribs were probably perfect. I gobbled them so quickly that I failed to take proper notice. Tender, flavorful, & smoky is all I recall. And I should have gotten enough for leftovers. Excellent service, too.

I have been back a few times in the past year: Still 5 stars. The most recent trip found me as the passenger in the vehicle and I amused myself by reading aloud the 1-star reviews, mostly complaints about Indiana's liquor laws, over which Wagner's has no control. There are, of course, the cranks who hated the service, or the cole slaw, or the other diners, or their life. I came for the ribs. The waitress was quick and attentive. And the $9 French onion soup was worth every penny -- the best I have ever eaten (sorry, Mom!). My full rack ($27) was prepared "Texas style", but I think I prefer "Wagner's style". I am splitting hairs. The meat was tender and the spicy sauce was spicy. Perfect. My waffle fries were hot & delicious. The corn bread was superb.

The real star of the reviews are the responses from the owner of Wagner's. Perfect combination of caring, cynicism, concern, and sarcasm. I am loving life. 5 stars!

First time here (out of towners); the food was phenomenal!! My husband got a full slab of bbq ribs; I got the bbq pulled pork sandwich. The lemon meringue cheesecake for dessert was the best, too! Aspen, he was our server, and gave outstanding customer service! Highly recommend stopping here! We will definitely be returning here if our journeys ever bring us through this way again.

I can't eat anyone else's ribs after having theirs. I always get the combo with half a rack of ribs and the grilled shrimp. Today, my two sides were a salad with oil & vinegar dressing and tater tots. Yum. We even splurged and ordered the fried Calamari appetizer. The flavor was great, but they were just on the verge of being rubbery...it was almost overdone. My other small complaint is that none of my food was hot...now, it wasn't cold either. It was just warm enough to not complain...plus, I was really hungry. Lol Our waitress Stephanie is always amazing, and she made this visit a great one. Especially since she recommended the $5 Monday special: a mango margarita. 😁

Haven't been here in maybe 15 years (I wasn't living nearby) and it's as good as I remembered! We had a chicken club and pulled pork sandwiches. Loved both meals. Our server was very nice, no complaints on service.

Bathroom could use a deep clean of the floor and walls.

Ribs were phenomenal, Mac and cheese and french onion soup was great!
My fiance was sent back to the car for not having her ID on her, even as she wasn't drinking. Waitress was nice and friendly with good recommendations for the food and drinks as well as being fast and efficient

Delicious ribs and pulled pork! Sides were all good too. Nice cozy atmosphere.

Stopped in, from South Indiana, to eat dinner. It was absolutely great! I would say I had a favorite, but it all was killer good. This will need to have a second stop when we come back into the area.

I’ve been eating at Wagners for quite a few years and can honestly say that I have never had a bad rack of ribs there. The food is always good and so is the service I receive. I also travel quite a bit and am always trying bbq in other states I visit and Wagners rates as having some of the best ribs that I’ve had. Don’t forget to grab a bottle of sauce to take home because the stuff tastes awesome!

The Pride of Porter!!

What a great time I had at Wagners Ribs. Nestled on the outer reaches of Chesterton Indiana, in the town of Porter is a local hot spot known as Wagners Ribs. I had heard about Wagners from people I know from the area, and they had but great things to say about this award winning Rib joint. I checked into the Best Wester Indian Oaks and made the quick drive to Wagners. I luckily found a parking spot right outside the restaurant and went in.

The Restaurant was celebrating Halloween and Halloween decor was hung throughout the bar and restaurant area. I did go outside to check the patio, but the sun was going down and the patio only had a few patrons sitting there, so I ate inside instead. hey have two main sections inside, a bar and seating in that area and a main dining room. I was seated in the main dining room. Wagners serves American Style BBQ and Comfort food, and is known for their BBQ throughout the area.

Food and Drink for This Evenings Meal.

Starters and Sides

A Cup of their Homemade Chilli
Haystack Onions - Lightly fried, seasoned and served with a Southwest sauce
Mashed Potates and Gravy

Main Course

Ribs and Shrimp Combo with Jumbo Grilled Shrimp served with melted Butter

Beer

Yuengling Black and tan

The chili was amazing, full of meat and beans, and not too spicy. Those Haystack Onions alone are a worthy starter on their own and perfectly paired with that Southwest dip. Light with a touch of crispiness, you can easily over indulge of those onions.The ribs were smokey, sauced just right and of course fall off the bone tender. Wagners pumps out thousands of pounds of ribs every year, and they have their technique down to a science. The mashed potatoes were a worthy side, and probably the least appealing. Not that they weren't good it's just that I've been spoiled by many a holiday home cooked meal with mashed potatoes. The shrimp were juicy and plump and had a very slight seasoning on them. You could taste the fire and the shrimp without any overpowering added flavours.

Wagners is a popular spot for a reason. The food is a culmination of a great kitchen and a great technique. The bar area is lively and dining room is charming. The staff are very friendly and you can feel their smiles and positivity through their masks. There is reason why Wagners is so popular and if you're ever the Dunes/Chesterton/Porter area, you will have to stop in and check it out for yourself.

I see why their ribs are the most awarded in the state, excellent! Sides were great too. We were greeted right away and the staff was great throughout. Exceptional food and service.

Best ribs around. I don't go here often, but if I'm going out for ribs, this is where I go.