Had to stop on my way through Des Moines. If you love BBQ don't miss the chance to eat at Smokey D's. Jalapeño Cheddar Hot links were so amazing. Smokey, cheesey and a little kick. So tasty and juicy. I should have bought two orders because my friend wanted to eat all of it. Brisket burnt ends were amazing! The bark was so yummy. Brisket was moist and Smokey. Perfect size, too. Pulled pork was also juicy and Smokey. Pork at other places can dry out quickly, but not at Smokey D's. It was filled with flavor and I couldn't stop eating it (until I had eaten all of it). Baked beans were very tasty and good. Coleslaw was just the right creamy sweetness to keep the palette clean. Not pictured was the two orders of garlic toast I ordered after eating the piece that came with the plate. Overall a sweet 10/10 from me, or as a BBQ judge, I give it all straight 9's. read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Jalapeño cheddar hot links, cornbread, pulled pork, brisket burnt ends, coleslaw and baked beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We were early, right at opening, party of 2. The smell alone lets you know you've been invited for some good BBQ. The lady at the counter, she's got your back and is very friendly helping you through the menu. Staff all around is super nice and helpful! The food just can't be beat when it comes to BBQ in DSM. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple spots, but Smokey D's knocks it out of the park with their consistency and quality, every single time. Thanks for the grub! See you for our next birthday lunch! read more

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We did carry out here, so my experience is based on that. They said in an email that the food wouldn't be ready for 30mins, listen to that! It was probably closer to 35mins. You park on the north side and go in a specific door for carry out too, which was nice. The brisket was delicious, the burnt ends were gosh darn awesome, and the BBQ sausage was 10/10! We also loved the sassy and mild BBQ sauces. The Mac n cheese was mid and the potato salad was rather oniony (but didn't have mustard if you don't like that). However, the corn bread was amazing! One dinner plate/special with added side of sausage was enough to comfortably fill two adults read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Dinner special with two meats and two sides - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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There are numerous barbecue flavors that just might give you that zesty taste that exceeds all expectations-- Smokey D's on NW 2nd is a place that offers creative options. The entry wait staffer explained how to order and in a professional manner stated how service is rendered to each table. The dining area was clean, little chilly, there was frequent table stops to see if all was well. The customers seemed happy as they chowed down on the meaty ribs, well seasoned baked beans and the sugary corn muffin. If you love brownies-- you got to try one -- homemade and very good. The prices are reasonable, inside dining spacious, plenty of parking for any type of gathering. read more

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This is a high-volume operation, with good variety, very reasonable prices, very attentive service, and good grub! You get in the queue when you come in, and order your food at the counter. You get a pager, and that apparently tells them about where you are, because your food shows up quickly at your table! Varying levels of sauce heat to choose from, and of course a variety of meats as well. Our most recent visit was a group of 6 of us, and we all enjoyed our meals. My wife and I split an order of pork nachos...and then shared with another diner, who ate all she could, and then...took a full to-go container home with her. Lots O' nachos. Others got sandwiches, ribs, and more nachos. Food came out quickly and staff was around a number of times to pick up plates, etc. We got a couple of drinks at the bar and they were very reasonably priced and well made. This is a great stop for a few people or groups to get a very reasonable, tasty meal! read more

I went to visit some relatives and said I was craving for bbq food, she said no problem there's a good restaurant down the street. This restaurant is huge! I thought the parking lot was full, but they have additional lot for cars. We walked in and checked out the menu, I didn't know what to order but asked to share the platter with someone. And don't forget the corn bread!! That was delicious with a side of melted butter. We order at the counter and took the pager to our table. There's a sauce station and drink station to help yourself. Once the food is ready, they'll bring to your table. read more

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My friend and I were traveling through Des Moines when we stopped at Smokey D's. Coming from Kansas City, MO, we KNOW our barbeque (Oklahoma Joe's/Joe's KC, Jack's Stack, Q39, Char Bar, etc.)! I've also had some amazing BBQ from places like Lewis BBQ (Texas style) in Charleston, SC. Here's what we thought: Burnt ends-- immaculate. One of the best I've ever had. The meat had an amazing smoke ring and the fat was rendered down perfectly! It was tender, and it was NOT dry. We loved that it was served un-sauced, as good meat doesn't need to be masked by sauce! BBQ sauce-- they were all okay/average. Sides: baked beans-- we felt we'd had better macaroni and cheese-- average coleslaw-- could have used more flavor jalapeno corn-- outstanding! garlic bread-- good cornbread-- amazing if you like sweet, dessert-like cornbread Apple Dumpling: OUTSTANDING. You guys can't go and not order this! Overall, we'd definitely go back! read more

TLDR; unassuming surprise hit right off the freeway while Supercharging. Recommend a stop. Food (of 5) Half Rack RIbs - 4.5 Creamy Jalapeno Corn - 4 Coleslaw - 4 Service (counter order) Friendly and efficient Ambiance Welcoming comfortable respite right off the freeway (I-80 / I-35), across the 415 highway (no crosswalks) from Tesla Superchargers. After traveling through Austin and Kansas City on our roadtrip we've been to several BBQ places. This place just happened to be on our charging route and I had low expectations. However it was a surprising hit. The half rack of ribs were spot on delicious and the sides were surprisingly good as well. Perhaps it was just the luck of finding a random place in the pouring rain to wait for our charge but damn it was satisfying. read more

Coming from KC, I'm always hesitant to eat bbq in other cities but this place was great! Great flavored meat and loved their sauce. Can't go wrong with pulled pork nachos and the long line was a testament to that. read more

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

Yum! Such a great BBQ joint. We were going to drive by and we just couldn't resist to stop in and have some of their tasty barbecue. Burn ends on the menu when available. Sides are always delicious and their brisket is just mouthwatering. Really good value for the money. Easy stop. Always delicious! read more

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Ordered a brisket sandwich, cole slaw and burnt ends. Brisket sandwich was boring. No flavor with the meat only became decent when I added the barbecue sauce. Plus grisly parts. Burnt ends were just fatty, non-burnt chunks of meat. Coleslaw was good though. Very much a let-down as they used to be good. read more

Came in for lunch today and ordered the brisket, jalapeño sausage, salad, and cucumber slaw.... And everything was super delicious. Inside was super cool and nice and we were treated like VIP. Highly recommend this if you're in the bbq mood. This is the perfect meal and the perfect service. read more

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

Smoked wings & hot apple dumpling! Winning combo! Love Smokey D's BBQ. The apple dumpling is a must...try one! :) Friendly service always - love this place! read more

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

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Lunch with friends and colleagues and they recommended Smokey D's. Overall it was a pleasant experience. Burnt ends and potato casserole were recommended and they were pretty good. Some burnt ends were dry but I appreciate that they weren't pre-sauced. Good BBQ does not "need" sauce. Sauce can be fine but it shouldn't be doused in it. Service was fast. Jalapeño corn was also good. Actually the sides were better than the main dish imo. It had a classic BBQ grunge feel for ambience and I loved that they serve Coke products. Only negative was the lunch platter with two sides and a Coke-Zero was $18. read more

4.2 Damn Good ! I came here years ago, probably in the first year. The food was okay but the service and process was weird and the blaring country music was just overkill. Now, boom! On point process and expert service along with very good BBQ, in the Kansas City-ish style and as good as it gets in Iowa. Fantastic value too, it's a winner for sure! read more

Love this place. We stop every time we go by. The bbq is great. The sides are great and the service/speed could not be better. Lots of courteous, helpful staffers. Always busy but never slow! read more

It was aight. I may have gotten bamboozled by all the BBQ prizes thinking it was gonna be really good but it turned out to be pretty mediocre in my opinion. I got a dinner platter with brisket, turkey, Mac and cheese, baked beans, and corn. Meat was meh, Mac and cheese was underwhelming, but the beans were pretty enjoyable. The cornbread was unique but it was more of a dessert roll I felt - very sugary. My friends really like it and I will say it definitely was on the cheaper side for BBQ which was nice! The ambiance was decent and the staff was very friendly and attentive. read more

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

My husband and I were both extremely disappointed at our experience at Smokey D's. The ribs and the brisket was dry and tough and had very little taste. The atmosphere was typical of a BBQ place and clean. The pasta salad was very tasty and that is what I ate the most. I did like the sweet BBQ sauce, which is good since I used a lot to cover my ribs. My husband had the ribs and the brisket. He also thought the ribs were dry but he did like the brisket. He said it was "ok". I do not recommend this restaurant at all. We will most likely not be going back here. read more

Always good! Order last year for thanksgiving as well. Have been multiple times over the years.

I've been to Smokey D's a couple of times. Each experience was good. I've had the ribs, the chicken wings and several sides. The food was amazing and the staff is friendly. If you're looking for great BB Que in the Des Moines area I would recommend Smokey D's over all others! read more

Had heard the tenderloin here was really good, so we decided to try it. Also advised to order one for two people because of the size. It did not disappoint!! Very tender and easily fed the two of us!! A little disappointed in our side of onion rings, only because of the amount. Their flavor was great. Next trip we plan on trying the ribs. There was a long line to order and the bartender asked if it was just 2 and sat us at the bar. We ordered right away and the food came out quickly. Very good experience!! read more

Bball Tourney Season! So we're on the road most weekends. Happened to be wrapping up a game when my daughter mentioned hearing about Smokey Ds from her teammates. I jumped on the net and was incredibly excited especially after learning they were featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." First off, the atmosphere was fantastic. The vibe was lively, and there was a great mix of locals and visitors, which made it a fun spot to enjoy a meal. The service was also commendable--the lady who took our order was attentive, friendly, and quick to meet our needs. Now, onto the food. I ordered the burnt ends, sausage, and brisket. The burnt ends were definitely the highlight--tender and flavorful, they lived up to the BBQ reputation. The sausage had a great spice that really stood out, but it definitely needed sauce to elevate it further. Unfortunately, the brisket and mac n cheese were BOTH quite underwhelming; both felt a bit lackluster, under seasoned, and didn't quite match the flavors I was hoping for. Overall, while the atmosphere and service were great, the food was just average. I had high hopes based on its TV feature, but it didn't quite deliver the BBQ experience I was anticipating. If you're in the area, it's worth a visit for the ambiance and service, but I would suggest trying a few different items to see what stands out. Glad to say I stopped by. read more

Great tasting food! We eat here all the time! Burnt ends is our go to! Great Mac & cheese, jalapeño corn are all wonderful! If you haven't eaten at this BBQ... it's a must try.... You won't be disappointed! read more

The food was very well made, I had the brisket sandwich and Mac and cheese i swear this has to be one of the best barbecue places in the entirety of Iowa. The service was also very good we got our food in at least ten minutes. The restaurant's interior fits the vibe it needs to for Barbecue. Also the amount of trophies they have is crazy but the foods shows why they win so many. read more

4.25* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 4* 08/24/2023 This place has been on my Want to Go since sampling their catering in a factory near their north Des Moines location. The BBQ is top-notch and in my opinion in the top tier in the Des Moines area. The atmosphere, value and service are all above average and worthy of a stop to try for yourself. We had a beer at the bar before dinner and ended up staying there to eat our dinner. I really like their snowy/ice rail to set your tap beer on - as it does do a great job of helping to keep your beer colder! A friend and myself shared the BBQ Sampler Platter (see picture) with brisket, burnt ends and chicken - and really enjoyed all 3 of them along with the ribs. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com read more

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Smells good as soon as you walk in. East order process from the counter, gab a # and sit down. I ordered the smoked turkey (tender and tasty) brisket ( moist- not a lot if flavor - a little grisly) (sides) potato salad (good flavor) & mac-cheese different flavor). It came with cornbread (SUPER GOOD) & melted honey butter (OMG I WANT MORE). Worth the spend. read more

Smokey D's BBQ - 2 Meat Plate with Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese, Cornbread & Honey Butter (Not Pictured) - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've been smoking meat with my own smoker for almost two years and even did the carnivore diet, eating only meat for over a year. I have a charcoal grill and have cooked meat in all sorts of ways--smoking, barbecuing, and using kitchen recipes. It's my favorite thing to eat, and my friends often say my smoked meat is better than what they get at restaurants. In Omaha, I've been to several barbecue places, some worse and a few better than what I can cook at home. I've talked to pitmasters for advice, using techniques like injectors, dry brines, dry rubs, and marinades. I have the temperatures and stages, like the stall, memorized. Meat's my thing. This was my first time in Des Moines, Iowa, and I decided to stop at this barbecue joint because it was closest to my hotel. I was **blown away** by how good everything was--the best ribs, chicken, and brisket I've ever had. The burnt ends were amazing, even though they were different from what I expected. None of the meat was dry, which is hard to achieve. If you barbecue or smoke meat, you know how tricky it is to get meat that's moist and juicy but not too fatty, and still has a good smoke ring. Everything had an amazing smoke ring, about a centimeter deep. The meat wasn't too fatty; it had just the right amount of juiciness. The chicken had a seasoning with herbs that didn't overpower it. I'm seriously wondering how they got the chicken so moist--brined, perhaps? I wanted to talk to the pitmaster, but they had already gone home for the night. I've never before looked at awards on walls and thought they meant anything. Every restaurant claims they're the best, but this place truly deserves it--they literally have a room full of awards. Everything I ordered was the best I've ever had. I might have had brisket that was better once, but I can't recall. This really might be the best brisket I've ever had. The same goes for the ribs and definitely the chicken. The burnt ends were different but amazing nonetheless--a different style, but not bad at all. I took pictures to include in my review because I was blown away. I told multiple staff members how amazing it was. I'm going to tell anyone: if you're ever in Des Moines, go to Smokey D's. I haven't tried any other restaurants here, so for all I know, all the barbecue in Des Moines is this good. But so far, this is the best barbecue joint I've ever been to in my life. In Omaha, my favorite is Double Barrel Smoke & Barbecue--they're amazing, but I think this is better. I'd have to have both in front of me to do a proper comparison, but I can tell you, this place is amazing. Highly recommend. Oh, and it's super affordable. The whole platter was around $30. I split it with my date, and we only ate half, so we're essentially getting four meals out of it--that's about $7.50 per meal. We got a dessert, a parfait in a to-go container for a few dollars, and it looks amazing--they have three different flavors. The restaurant is stellar and was pretty packed, so the locals definitely know this is the place to go. I'd say 10 out of 10, but to be a 10 out of 10, it would need to be on a skyscraper roof with wait staff in suits or something. But this is amazing. Definitely go here--absolutely amazing barbecue. And this is coming from someone who only ate meat for over a year on that insane carnivore diet and who smokes a ton of meat. I used to smoke 20 to 40 pounds of brisket every month and eat all of it. I would smoke pork shoulders, briskets, lamb, and chicken, serving it at parties. Again, this is coming from someone who goes to a lot of barbecue joints, only eats meat, and smokes a ton of meat. You can trust my opinion--this place is amazing. read more

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Stopped here for lunch, fairly busy as usual. Order line moved quickly with 2 people taking orders. Ordered and got our own drinks. Sat down for 10min and food was out already! Tenderloin was piping hot and fresh. Lacked flavor though. Even with salt and pepper it needs more imo. Fries were seasoned well. (They should use some of this on the tenderloin). Ribs were moist and bbq sauces were good. Staff stopped by and checked on us regularly and were friendly. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal BBQ! Everything I have ordered here has been really good. I have a client in the area that really loves it (I can see why) so I always end up taking 6-8 people to lunch here. If you are looking for BBQ, this is definitely the best Des Moines has to offer! (I also cook competitively) read more

BBQ in Iowa. I have to say that although they try, this place falls short of what true BBQ is. If you are in a pinch amd craving some, then this is at the very low end of acceptable. I have to say that this is the second place I visit where Guy Fieri has been and recommends. I certainly look at his recommendations with a lot of skepticism as the first one I went to over 10 years ago was really bad (a hot dog place in Chicago). Smokey D's was not much better. The claim that the owner won a Texas BBQ competition is true, however I am certain they are not making the same food that they competed and won at the event. If you have had really good BBQ in Texas or Kansas City, then this place is definitely not for you. read more

Love the potato salad here!! Got the Cherry Pie bites today and it was frozen and broke my plastic fork!! Does not taste as good this way!! Will check before buying next time. read more

A DDD stop that definitely did not disappoint. I had the smoked meatloaf special which was one of the best meatloaf dishes I've ever had. Also had chopped pork, potato casserole and cucumber onion salad. For dessert, ordered the apple dumpling and some peach pie. All was delicious and we were very stuffed even with half going home in a takeout box. Busy place. Service was good. read more

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The good: the sides. The fries were the best part of the meal and get the cup of ranch to go with. Then there was the corn bread muffin top. It was sweet and served with a kind of liquid honey butter, but sweet and tasty. I will put the jalapeno corn on the good list, but could have been cheesier. The not so good: the meats. I did the two meat plate with brisket and sausage and was disappointed in both. The brisket was not a tender as I would like. It did not tear apart and it couldn't easily be cut with a fork. The sausage was ok in flavor, but the casing was overly chewy. The diet soda options were limited to Diet Coke only. The tea was weak. It is a fine atmosphere and the bar area was large. It was counter service only in the dining area, not sure about the bar. Likely a one and done stop here even with limited BBQ options in DSM. read more

Smokey D's BBQ - Brisket and sausage 2-meat dinner platter with fries, jalapeño corn and cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Received like 7 or 8 dry fatty burnt ends today it was such a let down because I waited till I got paid to come get me some burnt ends. I have not been here in about a year what a huge let down to receive all fat and not even juicy like before so sad. I will not be returning. read more

As a Texan who is very particular about my bbq, I will however say that the bbq here is very good. If you're passing through Iowa and hungry for bbq, then check them out read more

Meh. I have definitely had far better BBQ. I question whether or not they even smoke any of their meats. We ordered "smoked" wings. Jethros is way better, no contest. The wings lacked smoke and they weren't crispy at all. We got the brisket platter. Also, no smokey flavor and it came out luke warm at best. The cucumber slaw was ok, just not for us. The potato casserole used to be much better, it was just ok. The kids loved the french fries and cheese balls. Will you leave here hungry? No, but if you are wanting a BBQ flavor, this is not it. read more

The only negative thing I can say is that I got a carry out order and they forgot my ranch dip for my chips. Other than that it was outstanding! I had the pork tenderloin. It was massive. It was definitely enough for two people to eat on it. I also ordered Tater Chips with ranch. The chips were outstanding. I was visiting Des Moines, but if I get back I would definitely go here again and try some of the BBQ. read more

I went to the restaurant in the skyway. I ordered different stuff, but the pulled pork I ordered was bad and they still have it to me. No one wants old meat with a twang taste in it. Last time I come to this place. Don't eat there unless you want to get sick. read more

We were just passing through town on our 4-day cross-country trip. Smack dab in the middle of a workday lunch hour, the orderinh line was long but moved fast, the ribs were to die for, servers were friendly and hardworking. Ample parking and quintessential Midwest vibe. read more

Easily the best BBQ in this area and one of my favorites restaurants overall. Never disappoints. The meat is so flavorful and juicy you don't even need the sauce, (although the sauce is really good itself as well). read more