Barbecue Restaurants in Iowa

Our guide to barbecue restaurants in Iowa

American barbecue means meat cooked low and slow over wood smoke, and every region has its own rules. Central Texas is about beef brisket with a simple salt-and-pepper rub; Kansas City does a bit of everything with a thick sweet sauce; Memphis is known for ribs, wet or dry; and the Carolinas are pork country, with vinegar or mustard sauces.

Many barbecue joints sell meat by weight until it runs out, which is why the best places can have lines before opening and “sold out” signs by mid-afternoon.

Opening hours

Based on 9 barbecue restaurants in Iowa with published hours, the typical weekday schedule runs from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. 56% are open on Sundays, 11% are open seven days a week and 11% stay open until 10 PM or later.

Prices

Across 6 menus from barbecue restaurants in Iowa, the median item costs $9.50; half of all priced items fall between $4.00 and $15.00. The most common menu sections are Sides and Desserts.

Services

Of 621 barbecue restaurants with detailed profiles in our guide: 99% list “dine-in”, 94% list “good for kids”, 92% list “delivery”, 85% list “accepts reservations”, and 78% list “high chairs”.