Always a hit! The battered and fried tenderloin and mushrooms put this place on the epic scale. Not much to look at, decor is pretty old school, but it's the food that counts! Hit CB's today with a group of seven old co-workers... That's old as in former, but most of us would probably qualify as literally old now too. Lol If you haven't checked out Cactus Bob's... Get there! If you've been, but it hasn't been recently... You deserve to go back soon! Enjoy! read more

Came on a whim... wanted bbq on a Sunday. I was worried cuz it wasn't busy at all, but pleasantly surprised. Good food, friendly service, and great sauces to choose from ! Will be back ! read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - Gold Rush combo with Mac n beans - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

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The crew here is always very friendly and greets me immediately when I walk in the door. The food is always smoked to perfection and the portions are very generous. I highly reccomend the Renegade sauce--it's hot but not too hot. The Granny's slaw is vinegar-based...has bell peppers in it and is delicious. I also reccomend you grab a quart of the prickly pickles from the cooler... This would be a five star if the sauce bottles in the restaurant were cleaner. read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - A "side" of fries... - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

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Hands down the best bbq joint in the Des Moines area! I've been going for years and have never been disappointed! Highly recommend, food is amazing, staff is friendly, and great dinning area! read more

Dry af briskit... Friendly staff... Good fried cauliflower... you have to pay 1.00 extra for cheese sauce that goes with cauliflower make it make sense... I could overlook all that if not for 2 things.. I was there a few weeks before and paid 16.00 yesterday I paid 21.00 for the same meal I did not challenge the price because there were people there and I was in a rush for work!!! Second I only got like 6 pieces of cauliflower for 9.00 or so!!! Now I know it's inflation but that is just ridiculous on all levels!!!!!! Not sure if I will return but id so it would be for the cauliflower also what BBQ place does not have burnt ends?!! read more

Inside is nice workers are nice but the food was just ok nothing really special brisket was dry and fry's were bland overall was ok probably wouldn't come back. read more

Second visit to Cactus Bob's. Not sure why I didn't review the first time as I have been wanting to return when in town again. You order at the counter and food comes out quick. My go to BBQ order is brisket, beans, fries and sometimes cheesy corn. I skipped the corn this time. Brisket was flavorful and tender, probably 4-6 oz of meat on the sandwich. Fries are a fresh cut style and we're crispy. Beans had a good amount of meat mixed in and nice flavor. There are a few good options for BBQ on this side of town, and this is one of best. read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - a sandwich and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Des Moines has a lot of great bbq, this is a great little known option. Usually easy to get in. Fair prices. Three normal sauces, and then usually six hot sauces that go off the scale. Have fun with that! read more

I am reviewing Cactus Bob's a second time....Because we ordered our Thanksgiving turkey from them, smoked turkey breast to be exact. It was absolutely delicious!!! Again, it was my husband who really wanted to order our Thanksgiving fowl from Cactus. I was hesitant because it was advertised as "breast", which to me is dry white meat. But BOY WAS I WRONG, the turkey was juicy and tender. By far the best turkey I have ever had - I am a ham gal. All we had to do was warm up the meat in the oven for about 50 minutes in the aluminum pan that it came in. So easy, so tasty. Trust me, avoid the hassle of cooking your turkey next year and order it from Cactus Bob's! read more

Walked into cactus Bob's a little after 11:00 AM hoping to get some burnt ends but found out quickly that they don't or didn't have burnt ends on the menu so I ended up purchasing for about $14 a sandwich one side and a soft drink. I purchased the Longhorn, which basically is a brisket sandwich and a side of fries. The french fries were awesome. The fountain drink was perfect but the sandwich was extremely dry and full of gristle, and some of the meat was even tough. I will definitely go back a second time to see if this might've been a off day for them. The staff seem pretty competent and helpful/pleasant. read more

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Doesn't look like much when you walk past, but I was practically dying of hunger so I popped in. The definition of a hole-in-the-wall. I got the Buffalo Chicken with Mac and Cheese and wow... there are no words. A Buffalo Chicken done right. Crisp bun, Crispy Chicken. There's about a million options available between the menu board and wall full of specials, so it can get a little overwhelming, but you really can't go wrong. Not much else to say besides go see for yourself! You won't be disappointed. OH AND THE SERVICE WAS AMAZING. All the employees were friendly and made good conversation. If your feeling hungry go to Cactus Bob's and they will treat you right!!! read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - Cactus Bob's - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

I love the smoked brisket. The baked beans with brisket are amazing. Add a side of corn relish, that's living. Don't forget to get some beef jerky and prickly spears to go. Oh so snackable. You can't eat just one. read more

Really great BBQ without the pretentious hype of the others! Fantastic food and staff!

Stopped in this last weekend....fantastic! The ribs, pork shoulder, sausage combo with bbq beans and the Texas Chili was my choice. The Mrs ordered the Chicken and Onion Rings...The BBQ Nachos were pretty good as well. Ribs very tender and they have a large variety of sauces to choose from, some too spicy for me to try...I settled on the Last Man Standing at the OK Coral read more

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The food here is GREAT!! Even though this is my second time here, I LOVE it. There is nothing short here and the favors are on point. Rubs are great! Sauce are great! Prices are great! The staff here are very helpful and willing to talk you through the menu. The only thing I disliked was the fact that my cornbread was cold but other than that EVERYTHING is GREAT!! read more

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Muy Deliciouso My boy Cactus Bob smokin up that fireeeee bar-b-q!! Pulled pork is easily 10/10. read more

Best pull pork sandwich ever. I get it every time I go and the fact that they have every hot sauce ever as decor. It's pretty neat!

Came to Cactus Bob's for lunch with a couple of co-workers. I had been hearing how good it was, just never managed to make it there. When we walked in, there were hardly any seats left. The thought that crossed my mind was "wow, this place must be good!". I noticed a sign that said Item of the Day. The price on the sign was the same as the price on the menu. Did they mean to do that, was it an error or did they have a lot of that item to get rid of? I grabbed the only table left that was big enough for us as my co-workers ordered. I had the Smoked Chicken Sandwich Basket with Potato Salad. It took a little bit of time for them to call our number but I'm sure that was due to them being busy. The sandwich had decent sized pieces of chicken and a nice soft bun. I was lazy and used the sauce at the table rather than go to the hotter sauce area. The sauce I had was decent but next time I will not be lazy and try a hotter sauce. The sandwich was good as was the potato salad. Overall, good place for lunch as long as I can find a seat! read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - Order Counter - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

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Joined some former co-workers for a long retiree lunch last week. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by the employee at the counter and after we all assembled we placed our orders. Lots of options with a great variety of BBQ. Sandwiches came with two sides, or a side and a drink. I ordered the Smoky Chicken Breast sandwich with fries and jalapeño corn. You get a number and are called when the food is ready, and it only took a couple of minutes to get my order. The staff serving up the food thanked me at pickup and I settled in to enjoy my lunch. The chicken was an ample serving of nicely flavored slices of chicken on a fresh bun. There were 3 sauces on the table to choose from to top your meat choice. I opted for the spicy one which had a good zing without being overpowering. The corn was DELICIOUS with a good kick. The fries were hot and fresh and I got a heap of them that I tried to finish, but finally gave up. We were there for a few hours and there was a steady stream of a lunch crowd. Everyone enjoyed their choices and the prices are very reasonable - especially considering the serving sizes. Excellent! read more

Been eating here for years. Never been disappointed. Food is delicious or I wouldn't keep stopping in.

Over the past 10 years this place has consistently amazed me. I have been here when they are unlocking the doors and when they are closing up for the night and the service and food has always been 5 stars excellent! In the entire time I have lived here, no other restaurant has been able to do the same. If you want BBQ for having won some award, then go there. If you want really good BBQ from people who are pleasant, professional and, at times, silly, go to Bob's. You won't be disappointed! read more

This is your run of the mill bbq joint in Iowa. Same style as Smokey D's.. you pay and then go sit down and wonder how long it'll take to get your food. Even when not busy it takes a long time for food. The brisket (which I get at every bbq place no matter where I'm at) was dry as all hell and the sides had no real memorable flavor. If you want mediocre bbq in a strip mall.. this is the place for you.. read more

Saturday afternoon lunch. A friend and I stopped in after buying a vehicle. Pulled out the trusty yelp app to see what was nearby. We decided on barbecue and Cactus Bob's was it. The restaurant was in a strip mall with an menu that could be studied for an hour. There were 7-10 tables occupied. My friend settled on the pulled pork sandwich and potato salad. I ordered the pork tenderloin sandwich and Cole slaw. The lady at the register made sure and told me that it was not a creamy Coleslaw but more vinegary. Three BBQ sauces at the table, 4 at the bar in the middle of the restaurant with a chalkboard sign describing their 4 hottest sauces. With little 1/2 oz containers to take back to the table. Being adventurous, I decided to put a few drops of each to give each a try. Each had a different flavor, but none were over the top heat wise. All in all, it was a good meal and if I lived nearby. Cactus Bobs would be on my regular rotation for restaurants to go to. read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - Pork tenderloin - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Two reasons I came here, I heard they have good BBQ and I was curious about their Showdown Challenge. I attempted the challenge first...I won't explain my experience, you need to try for yourself. All I can say is I did not complete the challenge, but I was content with my result. After I recovered from the challenge I ordered the Longhorn, which is the Beef Brisket sandwich, their specialty. I need to say this loud...BEST BRISKET I HAVE HAD AT A RESTAURANT. It was juicy and flavorful, only better brisket I had in my life was homemade by someone I don't even know at a potluck. I had the mac and cheese and cornbread muffin for sides and they were delicious as well. This is a order at the counter style place and you don't need to wait long to get the food. The owner is a hard worker, he sat and chatted with us during the challenge, very nice guy. Great atmosphere here, cannot wait to come back again! No more challenge for me though... read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - Beef Brisket from the Longhorn! - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Very good food!! We had ribs, wings, fries & jalaPeno corn. It's a seat yourself, order as much as you need to drink for your whole sitting when you get there joint. Reasonably priced for quality of food, but there were not a large amount of drink options! Good for families it appeared. Staff was polite enough, but they do not "serve you" so to speak. I would consider returning if in the area and in the mood for some ribs! read more

I live this place because their prices are fair and the portions are large. I had the brisket sandwich this time, which was good. Their hand cut fries are my fave along with their homemade chips. Their fries and chips put Smokey D's to shame! If you're in the mood, I highly recommend the rice crispy treats! read more

The food is good but for the second time in two weeks they don't have wings and kettle chips. The last time they offered something in place, this time the person at the register just laughed and made an excuse. Need to get it together. read more

Haven't been here for years. Some of my coworkers wanted to go here today and so I obliged. First of all, I really don't like ordering at a counter and then waiting for my food at a window. Especially if I'm going to order a beer. The whole process just seems a little strange. The brisket was extremely tender but the macaroni and cheese left a little something to be desired. The fries were also excellent, as they were hand cut. As for the barbecue sauces, there's more than you can imagine! It's far as I was concerned, the original was just fine with me. All in all, it was a pretty good meal but I won't be in a hurry to be back. Btw, had it not been a counter order type of situation, I would've had more than just one beer. read more

Food was delicious, service was good and mask wearing was enforced. We ordered a variety and couldn't eat it all. Try the pork sliders! And the BBQ nachos read more

This is really good bbq! In a very unassuming space. The interior was charming as well.

Food is SO GOOD! We always get a combo and share it - usually the silver dollar city. Ribs, pulled pork & sausage, all of which is fantastic. For side dishes our favorites are the baked beans, jalapeño cream corn, and French fries. We aren't a fan of the Cole slaw, it's more a southern style and vinegary and we prefer the more sweet style. read more

This place is a little dinky. Needs a bit of dusting and a good wipe down. Customer service definitely needs improvement, but I mean they aren't terrible. Just not the friendliest people, lol. The food is GREAT though. I'll be back, just for the food. read more

My boyfriend and I ate here for lunch yesterday. Service was great, even when they mixed up serving us macaroni and cheese instead of chili. Mac and cheese was not very cheesy, chili was delish especially when we added some spicy BBQ from their wall. Cheeseballs were hand battered and very crispy. We didn't realize we had ordered sandwiches, thought we were just getting their meat. It was still pretty good, didn't taste very smokes though. read more

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Go eat here if only to see the hundreds of hot sauce bottles in a display case on the wall. We really enjoyed the ribs, jalapeño creamed corn (not spicy, but flavorful) and baked beans. There were a couple of other items we ordered that were good, too. We were the only patrons mid-day, but I suspect business picks up later in the day. Three stars only because overall when compared to Fort Worth's Billy Bob's or Sacramento's JR's, it came up short. I always start with Billy Bob's as a basis for comparison. Maybe not exactly fare, er, maybe not exactly fair. It was good enough, though, to eat leftovers for breakfast. read more

I frequent Cactus Bobs a couple times a month and usually have a great experience. Just this one time I made my order to go and for some reason the quality and quantity of the food was below par. I had spent $12 on a chicken platter that had half the chicken that I would get for $3.99 at Hardee's. One of the pieces of chicken was nothing but cooked batter. Just really disappointed on this visit. read more

We stopped in while passing through town on a trip. The staff was so helpful and friendly to our family. We took it to go and the food was really good! read more

been There one time from what I can remember you can choose the spice level of the sauce and it was delicious I would definitely go back.

Although I am NOT a fan of Iowa, since there is nothing to do there other than eat. I do have to admit, I did eat very well. Iowa really does re-enforce the midwest stereotype; the folks there are genuinely really nice. Cactus Bob's was a little BBQ unassuming little restaurant located in an unassuming strip mall. Inside was a sparsely decorated for convenience than anything else. The menu is pretty basic...BBQ and BBQ. My associate and I ordered a rack of Ribs and 1/2 Chicken, sides were Texas Chilly, Baked Beans, Apple Cobbler, and Corn Bread. Yes we ordered way too much! The Ribs were just perfectly done, fell right off the bone when you bite into it, I don't like it when ribs just fall completely apart. There was a really nice smoke ring for that incredible smoky taste. They have a large selection of BBQ sauce and varying in heat level; I recommend the original of course. The BBQ Chicken in my opinion was better, still very juicy and really good flavoring. The baked beans was the best of all the sides, perfectly cooked and sticks to your ribs. The Texas chilly need to cook longer, it was a little on the runny side. Corn bread was not very good. Apple cobbler was just way too sweet and you couldn't taste anything. read more

Who knew there would be good BBQ in Des Moines, no offense :) Had the platter with brisket, smoked turkey and pork shoulder. The brisket was good, the turkey a little dry but tasty and the pork was tender and moist. Our sides were great too. We had the pit beans which were solid, the jalapeño cream corn which hello, was amazing, and the mac N cheese which was creamy and tasty. The $8 pitcher of beer and extremely moist corn bread topped it all off. The sauce selection was insane as were the heat levels! You like a spicy?? Great prices and friendly staff! read more

Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral - Yummy! They cater too! - Barbeque Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

I am a regular Food Network watcher and happened to catch this place on one of the shows I was watching. I live close by so I decided to try it out. Since then I stop in 1 or 2 times a month for a nice lunch. I have only ordered off the part of the menu where you get a sandwich and 2 sides. I have tried almost all of the sandwiches and found them all to be good. The first time I tried "The Smokey Chicken" it was a bit dry, but luckily there are about a dozen different sauces to spice your sandwich up with. I am a spice nut, so this place suites me well. My favorite sauce is "Sweetwater Death" it gives me that kick I love and has an initial sweet flavor when you first bite into the sandwich (the name says it all). For sides I always get the corn bread and rotate between the baked apples and the baked beans. The baked beans are some of the best I have had and have some chunks of brisket in them. read more