Honestly I just really wanted a baked potato when I walked by and saw a sign saying they had some with your choice of toppings. It was really good! Which is a surprise, because their potato soup is one of the worst soups I have ever eaten. Definitely get the full baked potato and not the soupified version... no idea what happens in between baking and mashing it but it's something truly unspeakable. read more

Smokey D's BBQ - They claim this is potato soup, but honestly it tastes more like raw biscuit dough with potato lumps in it. - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

Downtown BBQ at it's best, Came in for Lunch and a Rack of Ribs; Got the Lunch but unfortunately will have to wait on Ribs as they only do them on Wednesday's. Oh well the lunch crowd filled in fast but the crew had the food moving; I went with the $9 pork nachos that extremely delivered a half hour of bliss, pork butt was smokey "d's", lots of cheese sauce, Tom's and jalepeno's all fused to crunchriffic BBQ rub dusted chips. Little sour cream on The side was the only thing I had left over...I devoured this thing watching the order line get longer and longer. I took my time but still didn't want to hold up a table, these were soo good I could have had another but didn't want to go into a meat coma. If you can't make the main Smokey D's location just swing by the D.M. sculpture park and get your smoked Meat on and definitely go to; "Nacho Town"...Place is very casual but gets the job done in feeding your face off! read more

See all

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

I typically used the one in the skywalk. I love the ribs, that is my favorite. I think it's better than KC ribs.

I have been here 8 days and have been there twice. What does that tell you?! I'm from California and BBQ isn't as popular there. I love it so much! The first time I had a pulled pork sandwich and last night I had ribs. Both terrific! read more

It was a darky and stormy night when I ventured from the office to forage for my evening meal. I needed something hot, something that would liven the taste buds, and provide comfort for the soul. As the rain blew and the storm sirens wailed, Smokey D's, like a lighthouse, gleamed before me. BBQ can be great comfort food, and the work being done at Smokey Ds has fit the bill a couple of times. I'm disappointed that pulled pork (instead of chopped) is not a meat option, but the range of sauces makes up for this. From an "OK" sweetener for the faint of heart (y'all know who you are) to an extra-fiery that is reasonably hot, but not flavor masking, you can dress up your generally well-prepared options to whatever "comfort level" you need. While it doesn't work for some, my guilty pleasure is the cayenne pepper-laced mac and cheese. It provides such a nice warm glow when the winds are a-blowin'... read more

Pretty decent, really small portions though. Burnt ends were alright, really small tho, same w sausage, pulled pork was prob biggest. Alright but nothing special read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Really small order counter - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This barbecue is about as close as you can get to Killian's barbecue in Pearland Texas, which is the best barbecue that I've ever had in my life. read more

I wanted to like this place. I went there on a Monday at about 5pm. There were two diners. I walked in, went to the bathroom, washed my hands and went to order. A woman was washing dishes or something at the first window towards the door and there was a man squatting with his back to the counter at the main order window. He seemed to be alive. At first, this was not an issue, but as two minutes turned to five, and the man never took my order, my sensibilities were tested. I did not know what was going on but it was clear that no one wanted to take my order. Defeated, I left. So the second star is because they have a bathroom, in the front and you don't have to interact with anyone to use it. Unfortunately, under certain circumstances, you won't interact with anyone at all. read more

Me and my girlfriend visit Des Moines and were recommended to hit at this establishment. Never will I ever eat here again; the food was over priced, the restaurant was dirty, and the guy at the register sounded like darth vader!?! Would not recommend this establishment... read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Dark vader and his dirty ass establishment!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We ordered the Dinner Platter from here, which for $11.49, you get a choice of two meats (choices: chopped pork, beef brisket, sliced turkey, smoked sausage, burnt ends, and pulled chicken). The platter also includes a choice of 2 sides (choices: mac & cheese, potato casserole, baked beans, cucumber and onion slaw, marinated veggie salad, bag of chips, potato salad, cottage cheese, pasta salad, cole slaw, and garlic bread) and a slice of garlic bread. We opted for the beef brisket and smoked sausage for our meats, and the potato casserole and mac and cheese for our sides. The beef brisket was thinly sliced and dry. They use a dry rub here and give you sauce on the side (we chose the medium BBQ sauce which starts off as slightly tangy and ends off with a heat at the end that lingers in the back of your mouth). The beef brisket lacked any smokey flavor, which was a bit disappointing. The smoked sausage, on the other hand, was delicious and very flavorful. It has a nice spice to it also. The garlic bread was okay. As for the sides, I thought they were okay. The mac and cheese was super creamy but I wasn't a huge fan of the type of cheese they used. The potato casserole was a little too salty for my taste. Overall I thought the BBQ here was okay, but definitely get the smoked sausage if you try this place! read more

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

See all

Really great bar-b-q lol.... Good food. Place could be cleaner and staff seems a bit impatient, maybe I came at a bad time... Everyone has a bad day. read more

Nothing bad or great about this place. Food portion was nothing generous but I was okay since I'm on a diet. The brisket was thinly sliced and a bit drier than I'm used to having. Probably won't come back but worth the try at least once read more

To say I was unimpressed would be an understatement. I have never been here and don't plan on going back- I've heard so many great things about Smokey D's and it just didn't live up to the hype. To start off with the place was totally over crowded, they packed everyone in there like sardines and there wasn't even a place to stand while waiting for my to-go order. The pop station was sticky and disgusting. They had kids just sitting in a bucket (to go with the whole rustic theme style, yes I get it) but that means you had to touch every other lid in there to get yours. Cannot even imagine how many kids stuck their hands in there and touched every other lid and how many germs are in the bucket. I figured even though the restaurant itself was a mess maybe the food would at least taste good... nope. My dad got the pulled chicken and burnt ends, his pulled chicken was in a perfect circle and looked like mashed up cat food. I got brisket and burnt ends, neither were flavor full. We both got mac and cheese, let's just say it tasted like low-grade, public school mac and cheese with some "spicy seasoning" thrown in. The fries I got were soggy by the time I took my 3 minute walk to my car. And the BBQ sauce... at a BBQ restaurant was unflavorful and watery. Not to mention they don't have mashed potatoes! What kind of BBQ place doesn't serve mashed potatoes??!! They have garlic bread with their dinner platters?? Are we eating at an italian restaurant now?? Will not be going back here, I'll make the long drive and stick with Kue'd BBQ in Waukee, better flavor, better price, and they actually serve BBQ items. read more

Ok I really like the at their main location so I came here on my lunch break. The food here but not the service. They were not busy yet as it was only 1130 and it was about 10 people in the dining area and my group of 3 coworkers with me. I asked for the sandwich with a side and the lady at the counter said "you mean the special " in a condescending voice like I knew nothing. So I said sure thinking it was some daily special thing and she gave me my total instead of asking what I wanted for a side. When I asked she sighed and proceeded to tell me that I didn't get a choice and no substitutions. The special was ok beans,slaw, and sandwich, I'm not a fan of slaw so at least they give you enough meat! Which the chopped pork was delicious! Especially with their sauce!! The thing that gets me is the palates of buns on the floor in the entry. If that is what they have in the open. I don't want to see the kitchen. Overall good good, not great service, and questionable food handling practice. Probably will go to one of the other stores next to here or back to the main location before I come here again... read more

Stopped in for lunch recently and had the Special -- pulled pork sandwich, beans and slaw. Sandwich was dry, not particularly tasty, bun was Wonder Bread. Beans and slaw were probably from Sysco, but better than the sandwich. There is better BBQ in Des Moines. The only reason to go here is for convenience. I'll take Uncle Wendell's any time. read more

I thought the ribs were just ok. Served dry and you put the sauce on from the table. Baked beans tasted like they came straight from the can. read more

Good food in a bright clean location. Wide selection of meats and sides and prices were reasonable. I would def eat here again. Recommended