Barbecue Lovers’ Guide: Downtown Des Moines

BBQ lovers: This one is for you! We’ve put together a guide to finding the best barbecue in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). After all, who doesn’t love tenderly smoked meats, classic and unique sauces and the perfect homestyle sides to round it all out? You don’t want to miss this comprehensive roundup of barbecue favorites that is sure to lead you straight to all the best ribs, pulled pork, chicken, brisket, smoked sausage and more in the heart of Downtown DSM.

Downtown Des Moines Barbecue Restaurants

These Downtown Des Moines restaurants offer everything you’re looking for when it comes to barbecue. Des Moines may not have our own barbecue style like Kansas City or Memphis, but that doesn’t mean Downtown Des Moines isn’t still in the business of offering amazing places to get your barbecue fix.

Jethro’s BBQ All Stars

Jethro’s barbecue has been a staple in the Des Moines metro for over 15 years. The Downtown Des Moines location, Jethro’s BBQ All Stars, opened in 2023 and sits just down the street from Wells Fargo Arena and across the street from the Iowa Events Center campus. The perfect spot to grab a barbecue bite after a concert, show, conference or convention. You’ll find a barbecue lineup full of pit master favorites like pulled pork, Texas brisket, burnt ends, baby back ribs and more. (And, hello! Don’t forget to snag a side of mac ‘n cheese.)
downtown.jethrosdesmoines.com

Mullets

Near the intersection of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers and right off the bike trail, Mullets offers a fun and upbeat vibe, amazing food and drinks and a patio with a beautiful view of the Downtown Des Moines skyline. Mullets boasts a comprehensive menu that includes all day breakfast and all the smoked barbecue favorites. Unique menu items of note include Burnt Ends Benedict and the Brisket Breakfast Taco!
mulletsdm.com

Smokey D’s BBQ

Known for its competitive barbecue, the Smokey D’s location in Downtown Des Moines can be found in the skywalk. Belly up to a menu selection that includes award-winning ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, smoked sausage, sliced brisket, smoked turkey, burnt ends and (lots! lots!) more. And don’t forget the array of yummy sides to choose from like baked beans, coleslaw or jalapeño corn.
smokeydsbbq.com/pages/skywalk-location-menu

Events & Festivals with Barbecue in Downtown Des Moines

These Downtown Des Moines Festivals & Events are one-of-a-kind opportunities to find the barbecue you crave. Mark your calendar so you don’t miss out on enjoying the barbecue scene in Downtown Des Moines.

BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark

Held annually in June, gather around with other barbecue enthusiasts for an afternoon at Principal Park savoring samples of delicious barbecue, sipping on craft beers and enjoying live music and entertainment. All proceeds from the event support food banks across Iowa (event pictured at top of page).
iowapork.org/community/contests/bbq-brew

BBQ & Hot Sauce Festival

Mark your calendar for Friday, August 23 – Sunday, August 24, 2024, taking place at Riverview Park just right outside of Downtown Des Moines. Celebrate your love for BBQ and hot sauce at this can’t-miss festival. Enjoy barbecue, hot sauce, food and drink, live music, entertainment and more.
everybodysfavoritefestival.com

Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market

Don’t miss out on everything barbecue the Downtown Farmers’ Market has to offer. Make sure to take note of which Saturdays these Market vendors are serving up delicious barbecue from May through October: Uncle Wendell’s and Young Guns Sauce Creations (shown directly above). And don’t miss the Winter Farmers’ Market!
dsmpartnership.com/desmoinesfarmersmarket/saturday-market

World Food & Music Festival

Coming up Friday, August 23 – Sunday, August 24, 2024! Voted one of the top best food festivals across the nation by USA Today, you can’t sleep on Downtown Des Moines’ World Food & Music Festival—especially when it comes to BBQ flavors! Festival BBQ vendors to look out for include Filipino Store and Leachmon Pit Stop BBQ but be sure to peruse the full vendor lineup for other vendors serving up even more global flavors (we’re looking at you, Korean BBQ fans!).
dsmpartnership.com/worldfoodandmusicfestival

Speaking of Korean BBQ, we think you might also be interested in this blog on where to find the best fried chicken sandwiches in Downtown Des Moines.

Barbecue Food Trucks in Downtown Des Moines

Keep an eye out for when these food trucks make a stop in Downtown Des Moines, serving delicious barbecue on wheels!

Hawaiian Grill

Here’s a twist on BBQ for you! This unique, family-owned food truck is all about made-from-scratch barbeque food, but their specialty is Hawaiian flavors (photo shown directly above). Give it a go!
facebook.com/p/Hawaiian-Grill-Food-Truck-100057308656354

Peggy-O’s Food Truck

Delicious smoked meat sandwiches and side dishes made from scratch. This food truck makes frequent stops at Confluence Brewing Co. in Downtown Des Moines.
facebook.com/peggyosfoodtruck

Smokey D’s BBQ Food Truck

All the classic barbecue smoked meats you know and love, made available on the go!
facebook.com/smokeydsbbqfoodtruck

Hey! We think you might also be interested in this blog on great food trucks and where to spot them in Downtown Des Moines. Because…yum!

Explore even more Downtown Des Moines festivals and events and plan your next visit Downtown with these parking and navigation resources.