Best BBQ in Des Moines. Smokey D's BBQ
Iowa > Des Moines: Smokey D's BBQ
- Thread starter James G.
- Start date
Brad Olson
TVWBB Platinum Member
I remember seeing Smokey D's Yellow Pages ad when I was in Des Moines last spring but didn't have a chance to get out there. I'll definitely keep it in mind for next year.
Chuck Anderson
New member
Hey, I've had hot Italian sausage from Grazionos. My wife was raised not too far from there. And she's Italian by the way. For a Swede like me The Italian sausage was quite of a new treat. My little Italian has added quite a bit spice to life too. But you always kind of wondered if you wanted to know the rest of 'the family' or not.
Mike Freel
TVWBB Pro
I admit that these are two of the reasons that I do not mind living in Des Moines.
Mike
Mike
Brad Olson
TVWBB Platinum Member
I visited Smokey D's for lunch today and ordered 3 items: ribs, a sliced brisket sandwich, and a chopped pork sandwich. All 3 were very good and I felt that they didn't need any sauce, although I did try the 4 sauces in the interest of fairness.
Brad
Brad
Brad Olson
TVWBB Platinum Member
Some thumbnail photos from my visit.
Ben Setzer
TVWBB Fan
The BEST pulled pork I have ever had I got at a resturant in Stuart, IA. I think the name of the place was Country Kitchen, at a truck stop just off the interstate. I'm from the south so I have tasted tons of BBQ but this was absolutly the best I ever had.
Ben
Ben
Smokey D's BBQ
5055 NW 2nd St
Des Moines, IA 50313
smokeydsbbq.com
Mrs. TVWB and I had lunch at Smokey D's BBQ when passing through Des Moines in September 2025 on what just happened to be my birthday!
We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we sprung for "The Whole Pit" for $81.99--a full slab of spareribs, 1/3 pound of all BBQ meats (sliced brisket, sliced turkey, pulled chicken, chopped pork, burnt ends, sausage, and pit ham), 3 pints of sides, a basket of French fries, 3 slices of garlic bread and 3 cornbread muffins--knowing full well that we'd be taking a lot of leftovers to-go.
Given the reputation of owner Darren Warth as a legit pitmaster who wins at the highest levels of competition barbecue, I had high expectations for this meal. To be honest, we were not very impressed by most of these meats. The sliced brisket was our favorite, it was moist and tender and really good, and I liked the turkey. The others were so-so in flavor and moisture. We tried a couple of the ribs, which tasted fine but not amazing and were almost perfectly tender (just a little over), and gave away the rest to some fellow diners. We took all of the other leftover meats and breads to-go, leaving behind the sides (mac & cheese, baked beans, and jalapeno corn). In hindsight, we would have been better off saving a lot of money and just getting sliced brisket sandwiches with fries.
Here are a few more photos from our visit.
5055 NW 2nd St
Des Moines, IA 50313
Smokey D's BBQ | Des Moines BBQ, Catering, and more
Smokey D’s BBQ was founded in 2006 by Darren and Sherry Warth. Their passion for BBQ and success on the BBQ circuit led them into the restaurant and catering business.
smokeydsbbq.com
Mrs. TVWB and I had lunch at Smokey D's BBQ when passing through Des Moines in September 2025 on what just happened to be my birthday!
We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we sprung for "The Whole Pit" for $81.99--a full slab of spareribs, 1/3 pound of all BBQ meats (sliced brisket, sliced turkey, pulled chicken, chopped pork, burnt ends, sausage, and pit ham), 3 pints of sides, a basket of French fries, 3 slices of garlic bread and 3 cornbread muffins--knowing full well that we'd be taking a lot of leftovers to-go.
Given the reputation of owner Darren Warth as a legit pitmaster who wins at the highest levels of competition barbecue, I had high expectations for this meal. To be honest, we were not very impressed by most of these meats. The sliced brisket was our favorite, it was moist and tender and really good, and I liked the turkey. The others were so-so in flavor and moisture. We tried a couple of the ribs, which tasted fine but not amazing and were almost perfectly tender (just a little over), and gave away the rest to some fellow diners. We took all of the other leftover meats and breads to-go, leaving behind the sides (mac & cheese, baked beans, and jalapeno corn). In hindsight, we would have been better off saving a lot of money and just getting sliced brisket sandwiches with fries.
Here are a few more photos from our visit.
Chad-Burnt to a T
TVWBB Super Fan
Most BBQ joints in Iowa dumb down the flavor and smoke. Talked with multiple people that own BBQ joints, and they all say they have to kill the smoke and flavor because they want it nutral for most that don't understand real smoke flavor. That's no BS. I told em I'd rather go out of business then serve it that way.
If you ever roll through Iowa again, stop at Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew in Luther. Not the best, but far better than Smokey D's. Small town so don't blink. Also has motorcycle museum behind the restaurant. Never entered that building so can't comment.
If you ever roll through Iowa again, stop at Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew in Luther. Not the best, but far better than Smokey D's. Small town so don't blink. Also has motorcycle museum behind the restaurant. Never entered that building so can't comment.
I know nothing about it. It's buried in the "Not Into BBQ?" section of the menu board, I didn't even notice it!
Without really talking to commercial pitmasters, I've figured for years that their time constraints wouldn't let them make 'cue like I make here at home. And your reasoning is why I'm really not considering opening a food truck.
I went to look up where Luther, IA is...... and the 2nd search term that appeared as an autofill was 'luther ia bbq'.
Go to Texas, you'll find some amazingly delicious barbecue coming out from commercial pitmasters. It can be done, it is being done. Any place on the Texas Monthly Top 50 list is a good place to start.
