ShortE's BBQ was a really pleasant surprise. I had the ribs and smoked wings, and both were…read moreexcellent. The ribs were cooked perfectly -- tender, flavorful, and honestly didn't even need BBQ sauce because the seasoning and smoke flavor were that good. The smoked wings were also spot on with great flavor. The mac and cheese was pretty good, and the seasoned fries were solid as well, but the real star of the show was definitely the meat. I'm pretty picky when it comes to BBQ and often leave disappointed at most places, but ShortE's absolutely delivered. I'll definitely be back.

There are a few BBQ options in the area, but this one is one of the better ones. Nice atmosphere,…read morefeels like a traditional hole in the wall BBQ joint. At one point you ordered at the counter, but recent visits have had table service. My go to order is the Texas Mike sandwich. This masterpiece has thick sliced brisket and chopped brisket along with cheesy corn and bbq beans on 2 slices of Texas toast. I like to remove the top slice and eat it like an open faced sandwich. The brisket is super tender and the beans and corn add a nice amount of flavor and texture. I add their sweet sauce, but the spicy is good too. It comes with an additional side, so add the seasoned fries. They are crispy with a nice seasoning. And again, pair with the sweet sauce. Give them a try.

Been seeing this place for a while passing through Des Moines so I finally decided to give it a try…read morewhile I was in the area. I place my Order on Uber Eats for pickup while I was on my way. I ended up ordering brisket, burnt ends, turkey meat and ribs. The food was freshly prepared and definitely tasted good plus they gave me nice portions unlike other places. Even without barbecue sauce it still tasted good. The meat was tender and not overcooked. I did not get any sides so I can't speak about it. The inside dining area of the restaurant was very nice and clean with the servers doing their job. Staff here is very nice and welcoming to customers. Overall great barbecue in the state of Iowa better than I was expecting.

The cornbread was truly something of its own kind! With the sweet melted butter, oddly shaped like…read moredisc but now something I would seek after. UFO shaped cornbread? MUST! We got the Whole Pit for $82 and imo for 4 adults, couldn't have been a better deal! My standouts: the Burnt Ends were an interesting less dry take on a traditional fatty pork, less caramelized and charred. More juicy flavorful bites of pork, deeelish! The ribs had a flavorful dry rub, I paired it with the sassy bbq sauce, making a tasty fall off the bone rib experience. The turkey was also a surprising stand out! Nicely cooked and seasoned. Could easy see this being the start of a possible thanksgiving meal. Moving onto the sides.... My friends were big fans of the potato casserole, with cubed potato, lots of cheese, and beautifully seasoned. Mac and cheese was watery and oddly not cheesy imo, but were def seasoned. I almost just wanted more depth in the cheese flavor. You walk in and order up at the counter, where they give you an order number and drink cups to fill up at the fountain. They have plenty of seating, including bar top seating if you're also interested in having a few drinks. Tables that you can probably bring together as well if you had a big group. The lady at the order counter was not the friendliest nor happily engaged in the conversation we were having, but considering it was only a minute and a half of our experience.

We arrived right at noon and the drive thru line and parking were a little crazy, but we hung in…read morethere and found a spot to park! So glad we did! This will be a regular stop on our drive to Chicago. Happy to report that the drive thru lane moved pretty quickly and by the time we left 30 min later, that had cleared. As far as food goes, we tried the original with fries and the Nashville hot (as a wrap) with brussels sprouts. We both thought our meals were fantastic. I would put their brussels sprouts up against anyone's! The fries were also battered lightly and resulted in a crunchy fry with a nice light flavor. I like that they have a variety of seating inside and it never felt like you needed to vacate your space quickly. In fact, I noticed some shelving with board games, so they definitely welcome groups who want to enjoy good food and hang out. There is a large picnic table for groups or communal seating and some individual stools near the ordering counter for singles or anyone who just wants to sit and watch the world outside those windows. This was a great find for us!!

It's all about the customers! I mean- weekly specials that…read moreare as tasty as they are creative. We have waited for the return of the street corn sandwich. My son downed it in 4 bites! The monthly flavored shakes are also a nice treat. And where can one get some of the best Brussels sprouts at a chicken place? They are delish! You can get your sandwiches grilled, fried, in a wrap or in a salad. For me, all great options but the original fried is my go to- large, always perfectly cooked and juicy chicken. The service is as fantastic as the food- always friendly. And- dogs allowed! Outdoor patio seating in addition to indoor and (let me repeat what exceptional service) they find you even when you change your mind and start one place and end in the other. Drive through is a nice option and the only (good) problem for this business that started out as a food truck is that at peak times parking and pulling out can be tricky with the drive through. I've saved one of the best customer- friendly mentions for last- when you pay by card, the highest display for tip is 10%(starting at 3%). I mean- the service is always worth 20+ but I appreciate this range as opposed to so many that start at 15% or higher. Come for the always fresh, awesome food and tip for the excellent and friendly service! Locations growing around the metro- yeah!

Absolutely love Kue'd! This is one of our regular stops in the Des Moines area. The BBQ is great, I…read morepersonally love the pulled pork. But the sides really put it over the top. The corn bread and honey butter are amazing and my family regularly fights for the extra cornbread! The Mac n cheese is as creamy as can be and the Cole slaw is a great topper with the pulled pork or other bbq meats. The variety of sauces are also delish. For us, this is a grab and go place. There is some seating but it is minimal and simple. We'd rather grab and take home!

There's a particular smell that good barbecue joints carry -- the low, sweet perfume of wood smoke…read morethat clings to your clothes long after you leave. It's the smell of patience, of time, of a pitmaster standing watch over a stubborn hunk of meat for half a day or more. Walking into Kue'd, I was hoping for that smell. What I found instead was something a little more complicated. I ordered a half pound of brisket and a half pound of burnt ends, with a side of poblano creamed corn -- thirty-two bucks all in. Not bad. In the modern barbecue economy, where smoked meat is starting to cost what a decent steak once did, that's a respectable number. The brisket arrived looking the part. Sliced, tender enough, with a decent beefy flavor. But the first bite told a different story. Where you expect the deep campfire soul of smoked meat -- that unmistakable bark, that blackened, peppery crust that whispers of hours in the pit -- there was... nothing. No bark to speak of. No smoke that lingered. If someone had told me it was roast beef pulled from an oven instead of a smoker, I wouldn't have had much evidence to argue otherwise. It wasn't offensive. It just wasn't barbecue. Then came the burnt ends. Now these were the reason to be here. Juicy, tender little cubes of beef with the kind of bark the brisket should have had in the first place -- dark, caramelized, and deeply smoky. The fat rendered just right, the meat pulling apart with that perfect balance of resistance and surrender. Each bite carried the flavor of the pit that the brisket seemed to miss entirely. The regular barbecue sauce was solid -- sweet, balanced, and clearly designed to complement the meat rather than smother it. The vinegar-based sauce, on the other hand, promised Carolina but delivered something closer to pancake syrup. Sweet, thick, and missing the sharp, nose-tickling tang that vinegar sauce is supposed to bring to the party. The poblano creamed corn was good -- comforting, creamy, with a mild pepper warmth -- but it played things a little too safe. One note, pleasant but forgettable. Like a song that never quite reaches a chorus. Still, when you step back and look at the whole tray -- a pound of meat, a side, and change left in your wallet -- the value is hard to argue with. Not every barbecue meal has to be transcendent. Sometimes it just has to be honest. And here's the thing: those burnt ends? They were honest. Next time I walk into Kue'd, I'll know what to do. Burnt ends again, no question. Maybe some pulled pork. And I'll give the baked beans and potato casserole a shot -- because every barbecue place deserves a second look, especially when they've already proven they know how to get at least one thing very, very right.

Food is always amazing. The staff is top notch! Their smoked meat is the best in Des Moines.read more

4.2* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 4* (Probably) Total check/person: $61 10/23/2026 My brother-in-law was staying with us, is a meat lover and the new owner had reached out to me about being listed on my other web site (www.happyhourdesmoines), so seemed like a great opportunity to get back to the Flying Mango. Followers will know that my wife and I like to enjoy a cocktail while we unwind and wait for our orders and tonight was no different. We ordered the Mango Margarita (see picture) and Pumpkin Patch Margarita (see picture)...followed later in the meal by a Spicy Margarita (see picture) and a Backyard Bonfire Old Fashioned. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from the Pumpkin Patch Margarita. While the first taste didn't put it high on my likes list - by the end, I was actually enjoying it, as it wasn't super sweet and the pumpkin flavoring wasn't overpowering. Since there were 3 of us and we all enjoy trying things, we decided to sample three different appetizers - Muscle Beach Mussels, Tacos of the Day and Quesadilla of the Day (see pictures of each). We really liked all 3, with my personal favorite being the Tacos of the Day (I love street tacos with corn shells). I also really liked the buttery, tangy lime flavor of the broth that came on the mussels, so saved the extra to add to my Lime & Garlic Chicken (more on that later...). For our main courses, my brother-in-law ordered the Redneck Surf-n-Turf (see picture), my wife ordered the Shrimp & Grits (see picture) as this has been a favorite of hers on previous visits and I opted for the Lime & Garlic Chicken (see picture). While my wife and I love this place and want to see it succeed, I have to admit that all of our main courses were a bit of a disappointment relative to previous visits and how we had built it up for our guest. While the chicken itself was tender and moist in the Lime & Garlic Chicken, the dish was quite bland to my tastes and I wasn't a fan of the chicken noodle soup-like broth served with it. This was my own fault though. I ordered it thinking it would be lighter than some of the other options following several appetizers, then when writing this review saw that I stated that I would not order that dish again in my 2023 review. Lesson Learned - read my own reviews when I go back to a restaurant - and for the record, I would not recommend the Lime & Garlic Chicken (and will try to remember not to order it again myself...)! As to the other main dishes, my wife is a huge butter fan and while her comment from our 2024 visit was that it was quite rich (which she likes) - this time she commented that it was not very rich and seemingly had a lot of the butter removed. My brother-in-law shared some of the catfish from his plate and we all thought it tasted great. The ribs were a bit overdone and dry to his taste and upon reading my 2023 review, see that we had made the same comment then.

Thao and Kara welcomed us to our first visit to the Smoking Goat Pub like we were family. We…read morestumbled upon this place through a different channel, and decided to give it a try. We are so glad we did. The atmosphere is a dicey but very clean and the vibe looks like a great time. It was a quiet afternoon but the ladies went out of their way to make us feel like we belonged. This visit was only for a couple of cocktails but we saw some food come from the kitchen and it looked on point! Kara made a tasty treat and shared it with some of at the bar and that sealed the deal! We will be back in to give it a shot. I will update my review on the food after that! See you soon!

Stopped in for lunch, had the (really good) house specialty burger. The service was excellent and…read morethe staff was friendly. Didn't get to sample any of their beers but the selection was definitely appealing.

I've eaten at Leachmon's twice. Both times the sandwiches were amazing. They just recently started…read moreopening for lunch and both times I ate at the lunch counter. The space has an old-time diner feel on one side of the restaurant. Monday through Wednesday they serve various sandwiches and fries. All the prices are in the $10-$13 range. On Thursday through Sunday they have a full menu with ribs, Southern sides, and interesting desserts. Prices are higher, but appropriate. This review is a preview because I will definitely be going for the full menu. The service is prompt and everything has been tasty. I am judging them solely on service and food. They're pretty new to the space so I'm giving them a pass on the ambience. It's a family restaurant and restauranting is hard work. I trust that they will get the ambiance fully dialed in in time. The most important thing is the food anyway and they have BBQ down! Lucky to have them so close to work :)

This is 5 star food in our great city. The owner is humble and has so much to be proud of! They…read morewere out of many things in the day we tried, but that won't stop us. They have a board of items listing what they're out of. I had the brisket sandwich with fries and mac and cheese. The sandwich was everything you want brisket to be. Tender, succulent, perfect crust and loaded on a grilled bun. The fries were great and had some delicious rub/seasoning on them. The mac and cheese was different than expected, but in a good way. Rotini noodles, cheesey, perfectly seasoned. You need to go. They're not open all days of the week so check yourself so you don't end up brokenhearted. Go. Eat. Indulge. Tip well. Thank me later.

Hits the spot every time! This is a must while in Iowa. For me, Jethro's is always:…read more CONSISTENT: I know that the one-meat platter will hit the spot every time - and taste the same at every Jethro's location. TASTY: My go-to is brisket with waffle fries and jalapeño creamed corn plus a cornbread muffin - so good! QUICK: Service has always been attentive for me, and especially this weekend we visited the Ankeny location. Speedy without lacking service! SAUCY: I love all the different sauces they make and provide on the tables. Georgia mustard and Alabama white are my favs! We buy bottles of those, hot BBQ and their Ranch to take home to MN we like it that much ($5 each). SPACIOUS: This location, like the others, have plenty of space. That means typically not having to wait, and that you can bring a larger group here. An Iowa favorite and classic!

Ordered off door dash, kinda have mixed feelings about dinner. Ordered burnt ends and pulled pork,…read moreboth had great flavor just super dry (crunchy almost). Not sure if I would order it again. Side of jalapeño corn was delicious, little runny, cornbread was good and the gumbo had good flavor (add the corn to it, it's even better!). Hopefully next time it will be a bit better.

To start off with I was greeted as soon as I walked into the door. And asked to pick a seat as I…read moresee available. The atmosphere was absolutely perfect (The Name Alone had me excited already) My server came just about right as soon as I sat down and brought me a menu, I didn't grab pictures of the menu as they are already online. Anyways, I had ordered The Baja Burger with a side of the specially seasoned fries which are just the utmost delicious. I have to admit for such a small place I wasn't expecting HOMEMADE RANCH I can't stress it enough that any place that has homemade ranch has my heart completely. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who's looking for a good burger that fills you up and doesn't make your stomach hurt. Thank you so much The Lucky Horse

4.2* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 3* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $21 06/24/2026 Finally had a chance to stop again after several years while on our way home from downtown and looking for something to eat. It was a beautiful evening, so we decided to sit outside on their patio. Shouldn't admit it...but we had to ask our waitress what the lettering was on the side of the building (see picture) - but hay, we are near Drake. Following a Lucky Casa Margarita (see picture), we ordered our meals. My wife ordered the Dogtown Burger w/ Onion Rings (see picture) and I went with the Boneless Wings w/ Blueberry BBQ sauce (see picture). As is our modus operandi, we shared tastes of each and both thoroughly enjoyed both plates. While me wife isn't usually a big berry sauce person, she agreed that the wings were very good. Unfortunately, I was too full to sample one of the awesome looking desserts on the menu...so that will be the reason for another stop! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

ordered the dank pinner with garlic and herb bread lettuce onion with jalapeno's very delicious i…read morewill be eating sandwiches from here on out good job chef

Five Hours on the River + Cheba Hut = Damn Near Perfect…read more Went back to Cheba Hut and yep -- still love this place. We came in after about a five-hour float down Beaver Creek, grabbed some drinks, hung out at the bar and demolished an AK-47 French Dip and a Thai Stick. After five hours on the water, it absolutely hit the spot. The bartender was fun, easy to talk to, and added to what we already like about this place -- it just has that laid-back, fun vibe. Good food, good drinks and good conversation. Prices are pretty typical, but if you get there after 8, happy hour kicks in and the bar gets downright cheap. Definitely worth knowing. The AK-47 was hot, cheesy and perfect with the au jus, and the Thai Stick was a great mix of chicken, pineapple, pickles and everything else packed into it. Both sandwiches were loaded and exactly what we needed after being out on the river all day. Cheba Hut has become one of those places we know we can walk into, grab a seat at the bar, relax, eat well and have a good time. Go. We'll be back again and again.