We’ve cooked up a list, low and slow, of the best BBQ restaurants in Greater Des Moines as voted by locals. Bring your appetite and leave your white shirt at home, cause these places are smoking hot!  

*All of our Des Best lists are crowdsourced and voted by locals.* 
 

Whatcha Smokin BBQ + Brew
Everyone’s favorite BBQ joint is located north of Des Moines in Luther, in a renovated gas station. And as Joe’s Kansas City BBQ has proven, there’s something magical about BBQ born out of a gas station. Serving up central Texas-style barbeque, Whatcha Smokin partners with Iowa farms, breweries, and distilleries to ensure everything is local and fresh, from pit to plate. Pair with a trip to nearby Ledges State Park and grab a seat on one of their large patios to enjoy the smoky standards, along with favorites like brisket poutine, frito pie, and smoked cheese steaks. There’s a reason that “Food & Wine” magazine named it the best BBQ in Iowa.

Pitmaster pro tip: Stop by on Wednesdays for their mouthwatering burnt ends or Sundays for their Iowa Twinkies (bacon wrapped jalapeno peppers, stuffed with pulled pork, corn, and cheese), which was a Best New Fair Food finalist in 2023.

Kue’d Smokehouse
Cue up the accolades for this Waukee BBQ phenom, which placed first in TLC’s “BBQ Pitmasters” and overall reserve grand champion and brisket category world champion in the Jack Daniel’s World BBQ Invitational Championship. If you want melt-in-your-mouth burnt ends, this is the place to be. Their sides are some of the best around too, and given the pedigree of this list, that’s saying something.  

Pitmaster pro tip: Feeding a whole host of carnivores? Kue’d is a great option for family get-togethers, holidays, and even corporate events. Supplement your Thanksgiving turkey with sides like baked beans and Annie’s Hot Potatoes or go whole hog and get their meats by the pound!
 

Smokey D’s
One of the stalwarts of the Des Moines BBQ scene, Smokey D’s has been tantalizing taste buds since 2006 with their consistently great smoky flavors. Follow your nose to their Des Moines location off the interstate, their downtown skywalk location, or their food truck, which makes frequent appearances at events across the metro. Portion size is not a problem here, so make sure to save room for their cherry or peach pie bites for dessert.

Pitmaster pro tip: They’ve won plenty of accolades for their BBQ, but you’re also going to want to try their wholly unique jalapeno pork tenderloin, which was also voted by locals as one of Des Best tenderloins in town.

ShortE’s BBQ
ShortE’s is an underrated gem in Johnston that mops up the competition with dishes like BBQ nachos, bacon jalapeno wontons, and six different types of BBQ tacos. Their Wednesday through Friday lunch specials scream “neighborhood favorite” and their cozy vibe and generous kid’s menu assure that this will become your BBQ version of “Cheers.”   

Pitmaster pro tip: For our money, smoked wings are a BBQ dish that doesn’t get talked about enough. Lucky for you, we’re here to tell you about ShortE’s Thursday night special, where you can get smoked wings for just $1 each. You’re welcome.

Cactus Bob’s BBQ Corral
Maybe Johnston is a BBQ hotspot? Shhh. Cactus Bob’s in Johnston has been quietly serving up unpretentious, mouth-watering BBQ like baby back ribs and sausage platters since 2005. They offer up 11 different sauces and over a dozen appetizers that kick things off in style, including pulled pork sliders, cauliflower nuggets, and fried mushrooms.  

Pitmaster pro tip: If you like what you ordered, you can take the flavors home with you. Their general store sells everything from sauce to candied jalapenos and spicy pickles. 


Flying Mango
While most BBQ places focus on substance over style, Flying Mango in the Beaverdale neighborhood is one of the few places where you can get both. This is date night BBQ with a Caribbean twist. Smoked meats include pork tenderloin, chicken, Memphis-style ribs, and their 24-hour beef brisket; but you can also take a tour of the south with dishes like red beans and rice, shrimp and grits, and Cajun catfish.  

Pitmaster pro tip: Although it’s ironically probably the least divey place on the list, Flying Mango was featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.” 

Jethro’s
This ubiquitous BBQ giant has six locations around the metro, each specializing in a different area, from bacon to seafood to jambalaya. The secret sauce here is their wings, waffle fry nachos, and their BBQ melts served on Texas toast. You’ll have enough food that you might as well ask for a to-go box at the beginning of your meal.  

Pitmaster pro tip: Try a breaded pork tenderloin that isn’t just a sandwich, but a challenge. Literally. The Adam Emmenecker Challenge, consists of a tenderloin topped with chicken tenders, cheddar sauce, cheese cubes, Texas brisket, a bacon cheeseburger, a pound of waffle fries, and a pickle. You’ve got 15 minutes to get your photo on the wall or get heartburn trying.
 

Bubbies BBQ
The newest addition to the metro’s burgeoning BBQ scene can be found in Ankeny next to Nonna’s Pizza and Pasta and The Fletcher. Their 4.8 out of 5 Google review rating tells us they’re doing something right, and that something comes in the form of jalapeno cheddar sausage, burnt ends, and fall-off-the-bone ribs. Started by two brothers, you’re definitely going to want to finish what they started.

Pitmaster pro tip: Bubbies now has a full-service bar and TVs, so it’s a great place to not just enjoy some BBQ, but also the big games!
 

Cornbred Barbeque
Technically this is cheating because it’s in Ames, but Cornbred is just too good to keep a secret, so we’ve gotta give credit where credit is due. Their awards resume makes them look like the Meryl Streep of BBQ. Over 250 awards, 35 Grand Championships, four-time Iowa BBQ Team of the Year, and National Brisket Champion (among 6500 teams) just to name a few. This is BBQ worth leaving Greater Des Moines for, just make sure you come back.

Pitmaster pro tip: If your appetite for good BBQ runs 24/7, make sure to check out their bold brunch, where you can get saucy dishes like a brisket burrito, brisket-n-biscuit, and huevos bruncheros (with pork belly).