One Iowa Restaurant Made the List of the Best BBQ in the U.S.

Congratulations to ONE Iowa restaurant for having some amazing BBQ! Smokey D’s BBQ in Des Moines was the only Iowa eatery recognized on Yelp's list of the Top 100 BBQ Restaurants for 2024! It came in at number 99.

Smokey D's BBQ actually has two different locations in Des Moines. The main restaurant is at 5055 NW 2nd Street, but there is also a Skywalk location at 601 Locust Street. The main location was the one recognized on Yelp's list.

According to the official website, Smokey D’s BBQ was founded in 2006 by Darren and Sherry Warth, but it initially started as just a backyard hobby in 2001. In 2003, the couple competed in their first BBQ competition in Missouri, and things only grew from there. The first actual Smokey D's location opened its doors in 2007 on NW 54th Avenue, but it was just a small catering kitchen with no seating. In 2010, the restaurant moved to their current location on NW 2nd Street. The Des Moines Register reports that "in all, Smokey D’s BBQ has won more than 90 state barbecue championships and more than 1,000 local, regional, and national awards."

Smokey D's is one of only seven Iowa restaurants to be featured on the Food Network show 'Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives.' It made its debut on the popular program in 2013, with the Des Moines Register reported that Guy Fieri tasted the Asian smoked wings and the apple dumpling dessert.

Smokey D's BBQ has a 4.1-star rating on Yelp thanks to 490 reviews, but it has even higher ratings on Google and Facebook. The restaurant has a 4.6-star rating on Google (5,464 reviews), and on Facebook it has 4.4.-stars (3,949 reviews). If you want to give it a try, you can check out Smokey D's menu and hours on the official website HERE.