The BBQ Map
Best BBQ in Iowa
Iowa may not be the first state that comes to mind for barbecue, but its smokehouses hold their own — from family-run institutions to ambitious newcomers putting a local spin on smoked meat. Here are 5 of the best BBQ restaurants Iowa has to offer, hand-picked and mapped for easy planning.
Iowa doesn't have one single barbecue tradition tied to its name the way Texas or the Carolinas do. Instead, the state's smokehouses tend to draw on the country's major regional styles — Texas brisket, Kansas City's sweet tomato sauce, Carolina-style pulled pork, Memphis ribs — filtered through whatever the local pitmaster grew up eating or trained on. That makes Iowa's BBQ scene more of a patchwork than a single style, but the best spots still smoke low and slow over real wood, the same as anywhere else.
5 restaurants mapped & rated 🔥 View on Interactive MapCentral Texas-style craft BBQ in a renovated gas station surrounded by Iowa cornfields along Highway 17. The pitmaster smokes meats overnight with wood cut from their own backyard — brisket, ribs, burnt ends, and turkey served fresh pit-to-plate daily. Voted Best Restaurant 2026 by USA Today and Best BBQ in Iowa by Food & Wine.
Mississippi-born Willie Ray Fairley made national news feeding storm survivors with his smoker. The ribs are in best-ever territory, and the heart behind the food makes it taste even better.
Award-winning BBQ served in the beautifully renovated Historic Train Depot in downtown Ames. The menu is a love letter to barbecue — juicy brisket, candied bacon, jalapeño hush puppies, and cornbread pudding — all paired with 24 rotating craft beers on tap and signature Aguas Frescas cocktails.
Traditional Texas-style barbecue from an Iowa State alum who spent seven years in Houston before bringing brisket back home to Boone. 'Taste As Big As Texas' since 2004, with sweet potato pie, lemon chess pie, and the Sloppy Jimmy as menu standouts.
Winners of over 90 state BBQ championships and 1,000+ regional and national titles, including the 2010 BBQ Pitmasters TV Show and World Champion honors at the American Royal. Famous for burnt ends, ribs, and a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich — plus the best horseradish potato salad on the prairie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best BBQ restaurant in Iowa?
Based on Google ratings, Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew in Luther is the top-rated BBQ restaurant we've mapped in Iowa, currently holding a 4.8-star average. That said, "best" is personal — check the full list above and look at what each spot specializes in before deciding.
Does Iowa have its own barbecue style?
Not a single defined one — Iowa isn't typically grouped with the major regional BBQ traditions (Texas, Carolina, Memphis, Kansas City). Its smokehouses tend to blend those established styles rather than follow one regional standard.
How many BBQ restaurants are on The BBQ Map in Iowa?
We currently have 5 BBQ restaurants mapped in Iowa, each with a real Google rating, address, and description. We add and verify new spots regularly.
How do you choose which restaurants make the list?
We look at real Google ratings, review volume, and reputation — prioritizing restaurants with strong, consistent feedback over a large number of reviews rather than a handful of five-star outliers. We also remove restaurants that have permanently closed or relocated as soon as we confirm it.