So I decided to have Smokey D's for lunch and try the loaded baked potato, it was delicious! I added burnt ends to my potato for an extra charge of $1.50. As the potato is very large, the cheese sauce runs off into the container. As a result, my only suggestion is to ask for a side of cheese sauce. I went to the location in the skywalk before 11:30am to beat the crowd. I'm so glad we did because the ribs are only available on Wednesdays and it's normally a crowd. The location in the skywalk is nice but there is not a lot of space inside to sit and eat. I will definitely have it again soon. read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Loaded baked potato with burnt ends! - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This place is amazing. We stop here on every trip down south . Brisket is the favorite for us for sure . Nice staff and always great food ! Ty for the service ! read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Brisket! So good This place is amazing !! - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Stopped for lunch during the week. This place is pretty popular in Des Moines. I have had the BBQ and it is hit and miss,so I decided to try some non BBQ. I decided to go with the breaded tenderloin. Wow, I had no idea this tenderloin was this big. Definitely need to split it and get a second bun. The tenderloin was fried to perfection and was perfect. The sauce on the table went well with it as well. The breading was perfect and was tender. Excellent. If you are looking for a tenderloin then this place has a great one, but bring a friend and an extra bun because this one is humongous. read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Humongous Tenderloin! - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Burnt ends fry's and bbq beans are amazing Fast and friendly service ever time We need a Smokey D's BBQ on the west side of town

Best BBQ ever! Everything was great. I ordered the brisket, burnt ends, the pork, the pork ribs, cucumber salad, garlic bread, and fries. Everything rocked, except the fries sucked. read more

Just stopped in for a sandwich. Settled on the chopped pork. It took about 15-20 minutes to get the sandwich. It was still very busy from the lunch rush, about 1:00 pm. I didn't use any of their sauce as I prefer to Taste the flavor of their smoke. I also didn't get around to eating it for about 90 minutes. The flavor was about the best I've had in Iowa. Even the flavor of the toasted bun came through and was delicious. There was a good amount of meat which wasn't dry at all and melted in my mouth. They are the best in Des Moines IMO. read more

Great BBQ Ribs, waited on line 30 minutes, was only 1 person taking orders---they finally opened a 2nd register. They were not offering chili....no reason, just not available. Thought there should be more healthy sides--vegetables , ochra?? One of the only good BBQ places I have been to where there wasn't brewed ice tea....or sweet tea. Plea by of seating and parking and the ribs were great. read more

This place is amazing...idk why people hate it so much...the service is awesome the food came in like 30 seconds and the food was AMAZING like...this place was awesome.. read more

I've walked past this place for nearly a year and finally stopped in. What have I been doing with my life?! I tried the burnt ends sandwich and was instantly "wow"d by the flavor. It was on a simple slider bun and cost 8 bucks, but totally worth it! They also have a great lunch deal including a pork sandwich, bbq baked beans, another side and a drink. I'll definitely be back for more. The five-star rating is solely for the food. Their seating area and space is pretty cramped but well suited for the skywalk business crowd. read more

What can I say about this place besides the fact that it rocks? Well, it rocks hard! It's a BBQ joint that's just the right size and quick enough to come here for lunch. Don't get me wrong, dinner also, but this place delivers fast for people on the go. The burnt end here are amazing, brisket is awesome, Mac and cheese to die for. Again, Mac and Cheese to die for! Best Mac and Cheese of my life. It's creamy, it's classic, and it doesn't fudge around. It stays pure to the mac! It doesn't put white cheese with BS fairy dust on top. It doesn't put lobster junk into it. It takes some darn good cheddar, some dam* macaroni, mixes the gooeee goodness or however you spell gooeeeyy, and it makes the most perfect comfort food on earth. So yes, this place is 5 stars if you appreciate good BBQ. If you like fancy cloth tables, glasses made out of diamonds, food served by a virgin, then go somewhere else. If you want awesome BBQ at an affordable price, then go here. Don't be tird. Tirds stink! read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

This place was ok. I would eat there again, but I would learn from my mistakes. We went there and ordered the man handler sandwich, the rib and wing sandwich, the BBQ egg rolls, macaroni and cheese, and jalapeño corn. The corn, the macaroni, and the ribs were all great. I would order those again in a heart beat. The man handler sandwich was ok. We got burnt ends and chopped pork on the sandwich. It was nothing to write home about. I mainly just used it as a vehicle to eat sauce. The egg rolls were not good and not worth the 8$. They didn't make any sense. They were very vinegary and tepid. I would not order again. But it was a very clean restaurant and the staff were attentive on offering us boxes and checking in on us. I would eat here again but stick to the ribs and sides. read more

Thought I would try this place as I was driving through the area. I ordered a pulled chicken sandwich and it was very fatty with lots of dark meat not my favorite. The side I had was the cheesy mashed potato which was good. Service was very good and quick. Might be better to order traditional barbecue like pork or beef at this location. Would not order the chicken sandwich again. read more

Rating this 4 stars because the food and service was good but the smoke flavor was so subdued. I understand you're serving BBQ in the midwest, but we can handle a little more smoke flavor in our food, especially if we specifically go to a BBQ place. This place is great. I go all the time with my friends for lunch. We've been to the skywalk location as well as the Locust location. Such great, kind, and speedy staff. The line may look long at the noon hour, but it moves very quickly. They've never messed up an order of mine or my friends'. My favorites are the chopped pork, burnt ends, and brisket. As for sides, the mac & cheese is awesome. It's creamy, peppery, cheesey, warm, and delicious. My only beef with Smokey D's is with the smoke flavor in the meat. You can tell it was smoked, but the flavor is very tame. Also, they are quite overpriced. A meat sandwich with a side is about $7 (without a drink - the drink costs extra) but the food isn't extravagantly good. A decent sized meal with a meat sandwich, 2 sides, and a drink is about $10. Give Smokey D's a shot if you work downtown or even if you don't. It's pretty good...I guess. I live in Des Moines, what do I know about BBQ? All I know is the smoke flavor isn't full enough and the prices is a bit inflated. The staff is great though. read more

I loved Smokey D's. The sausage was amazing, the brisket was good, the ribs were on point. And the atmosphere was awesome. The mac and cheese was killer. I eat here every time I come to Des Moines. The line can get long here so choose your time wisely. read more

Addicted to this stuff. Mac and cheese is best here. I always do a dinner platter which comes with two meats and two sides with a garlic bread slice. Pulled chicken and burnt ends are best meats as of me. The sauces add the best taste. The chefs Turkey club sandwich is good stuff .. filled with turkey cheese tomatoes lettuce and on top these awesome Bacon strips. Best BBQ places in Des Moines read more

See all

I stopped in for lunch with a craving for good bbq, I ordered the lunch plater, burnt ends, mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese. I took three bites and threw it away. Everything tasted like it had been cooked days in advance and thrown in a microwave. This place is way over priced for the quality of service and food. If you're looking for good bbq take the time to drive out to kued. You won't be disappointed! read more

I had high hopes for Smokey D's when we walked through the doors, given all the hype I'd heard and the wonderful smells wafting out from the kitchen. My husband and I ordered a couple sandwiches only to find big chunks of fat mixed in with our pulled pork. Also, the meat was room temperature at best. We were far from impressed and will not return. read more

All of my co-workers rave about this place. So... I had to try it. It's good - it could be a decent staple for lunch downtown. I had the pulled pork, mac & cheese and beans (healthy, I know). I went to the location on Locust (not on the sky walk) and it was a little cramped, which since I was on a business lunch made it a little awkward. It's good but it's no Big Daddy's.. read more

When you order the one meat lunch platter they tell it comes with one meat of your choice. So we chose beff brisket and they charged us 1.25 extra because we wanted beef but no where does it say that, nor do they tell you when you choose it. Will not be back. Plus the lady was very rude. read more

We stopped into this restaurant during a quick trip to Des Moines. It was AWFUL. We should have known when we walked in and there were only a few other diners. When we approached the counter, all the employees peeked out to look at us like we were a spectacle. It was strange. We ordered the chopped pork platter with two sides, the mac n' cheese and the potato casserole. None of the food was hot. The mac n' cheese didn't look right and it didn't taste right either. The potato casserole was mushy and was simply not good. The chopped pork had very little meat that I felt comfortable eating. The rest was hard or discolored. The barbecue sauce was great though, I really enjoyed the wide range of flavors they had. Something for everyone when it comes to sauce preferences. I really think this place has room for improvement! Would not recommend or return to this restaurant. read more

This is a place that could be better, but I found the perfect combination on the menu--burnt ends with mac n cheese and jalapeño corn. Use the sassy sauce. Otherwise, it almost tastes like they add liquid smoke. The other options on the menu deserve three stars, but I'm rating this by what I order often. read more

Meh. The times I've been there the meat was dry, exceptionally salty, and lacked any sort of flavor. Not worth it for the price. read more

wow. so many trophys, blue ribbons, and awards - its a bit of a wonder why no one has reviewed it yet... iowa's best kept bbq secret? the GRUB: - smokey, spicy rubbed ribs - amazingly delicious. and cooked perfectly. - pulled pork - tender and tasty - cucumber and onion slaw was tart and pickled goodness that complimented the meats great - potatoe casserole was like a corn muffiny potatoey mix with the consistency of bread pudding - unique and delicious. - they proudly serve "Russ & Frank" BBQ sauces - and my only gripe for not getting at the 5 star mark - i believe a 5 star bbq joint should make their own sauce and not rely on an already award winning sauce to highten the bbq experience. the meats were perfect, but the sauce is the key... too bad it didnt come from the kitchen. the JOINT: - well, its in the sky walk - so i really dont know how much real foot traffic it gets... and im assuming parking is a bitch. - dining area is small and quiant - im thinking its only open for lunch - but catering is available and probably the bulk of its business. the SQUEEZE: - lunch combo with ribs and choice of meat (pulled pork, beef brisket, burnt ends, or turkey) plus 2 sides was a steal at $11 bucks. - fountain drinks available. - cash or card FINAL SAY - probably the best bbq in iowa hands down, and the accompanying bbq sauces were awesome... too bad the sauce isnt their own... but i can see how their meats bring home all the awards. good stuff. read more

What we liked- speed of service even on a busy Friday evening, the clean dining room, and the assortment of sauces. As far as food, the ribs were great, just the right bite on them, and lots of meat. I liked the jalapeño corn too, real spicy and creamy but hubs was not a fan. I also liked the sausage, tender and tasty, but would've liked more of a smoke flavor on it. Hubs got the brisket sandwich with fries and beans, we found them adequate but nothing special. He ate, he was hungry, but wasn't impressed and says if we ever went back he wouldn't order brisket. He felt like the sandwich was short on meat and the meat dry. The worst thing was the flies - they were everywhere and relentless. I hope it's just at time of year and they treat for the flies after close everyday. read more

Went there for a quick lunch with family. It was ok. I ordered a 2 meat basket. They didn't tell me there was extra charge if ordered beef. The meats were tender and juicy. There wasn't enough to charge $12 for it though. They said meat was all in 1/3 lb portions . NOPE. It was more like 1/4. If you want to share with someone, order more than one plate. I like the sauces. I will try their main location and write a more comprehensive review. read more

Everyone has their own opinions on BBQ but this is my favorite BBQ spot in Des Moines. They have four different sauce options on the table sassy, mild, fiery, and xtra fiery. The restaurant has a fun story in that it got started after the owner won a large sum of money on a TV show. I highly recommend the manhandler sandwich. It's big enough to last a couple meals. read more

This place has some great BBQ but what really left an impression on me were the baked beans. Unbelievably tasty and with just a little bit of kick. The pulled pork sandwich fell off the bun but I was able gobble up the remnants with a nearby fork. No wonder the line was out the door at lunch time. read more

I really enjoy this place for it's food. The burnt ends are very good. I also enjoy the Wednesday comfort food of the hot beef sandwich. The pork and beans are a great add on side especially if you squirt a little hot sauce in them. Plenty of parking in the local lots. Exiting the lot can be a challenge during heavy traffic periods. Recommended to try for yourself! read more

Ok BBQ. had the brisket it was fair, no smoke flavor but pretty good sauce

I've always loved the food here, but I am really not excited for this lunch. I can hear the microwave being slammed open and shut, beeping while I wait for my food. Why is the microwave being used?? Super bummed. read more

I went to try their ribs and to my surprise they ran out of those after 2 hours of opening!! They serve ribs on wednesdays only. I had to eat so got some burnt ends n sides. The food was good but a bit expensive for the ambience n cutlery they provide. Their sauces were nice. The service was quick and staff was friendly. The place smells of BBQ and its appetizing as soon as you enter and gets you in the mood of some serious eating. To that the portions were not very large!! Overall a good experience. I will go again for the ribs some(wednes)day. read more

I'm visiting from California and me and my friend came here to eat very good food so if you in Des Monies you must try this place..

My wife and I had brisket at Smokey D's today, not good, to tough, needed to be smoked more, but the rest of the food was great, beans, garlic bread and chips!! read more

We are on a cross country trip back to the East coast and we specifically took this route back to stop at Smokey D's BBQ. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!! I did read other yelp reviews and took some advice. We got there just about 5:30 on a Friday night and there was only 1 other couple in front of us. Sat down and our food was brought to us within minutes. By the time we left the line snaked out the door. There was plenty of food to take home for leftovers. So get there early with a big appetite. read more

Smokey D's BBQ - This was the sampler for $20. Bring your appetite - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

BEST BBQ in and around Des Moines! Puts the "other" BBQ wannabees to shame. Everything on the menu to great! The variety of sauces to choose from is remarkable. My favorite is the ribs and brisket! read more

Ate there for lunch today. Fast efficient service, now, the food. Very dry brisket with no bark, ring or smoke flavor. Smoked chicken had a "fowl" flavor, again not a smoke flavor to be found. Mayo based cole slaw and Mac & cheese with a yellow grease pool at bottom of cup. 4 types of sauces that are VERY sweet. This does not seem to be BBQ. read more

Surprising disappointment. Great atmosphere and efficient service. But the food was terrible! I ordered the beef brisket and link sausage with mac n cheese and beans and my wife ordered the ribs with potato casserole. My mac n cheese and beans were wonderful..best beans of any place I've been. But the meat was cheap and you could taste it.The sausage tasted like off brand breakfast sausage with lots of filler and the brisket didn't come in slices but shredded bits which tasted like steak ums. My wife's ribs were fatty and the seasoning tasted like you got it at a cafeteria but her potato casserole ( whatever its made with) was delicious. The soda was also watered down. The ordering system and service staff were excellent though and the restaurant itself was comforting and family friendly. But this place was a tad expensive for such disappointing food .A lot of hype. I expected more from an award winning barbecue joint, but then again I never trust Cityview's opinion anyway. read more

Awesome place...great people, amazing food, and a cool vibe. I can't wait until the next time I get back to Des Moines so I can visit again!! read more

Cold food. Staff appeared zombified. lack of customer service. I would be fine with sub-par service if the food was good. The food was cold and expensive for the serving size. read more