Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew

I've traveled all over the US and tried BBQ everywhere I go. From New York to Texas and everyone in between and this is Bar-B-Que. It's out here in Luther, Iowa just south of Boone. If you have to travel any amount of time it will be worth it. I didn't try everything but I'll tell you about what I did have. The cheesy taters are shredded taters with cheese and what flavor. I don't usually like cold slaw but this one is very good. I only had two meats brisket and sausage. The cheese sausage was pretty good. I will order regular next time. But the brisket was amazing! Juicy and tender. It would fall apart if I didn't pick it up carefully. The seasonings were out of this world. Nor sure what they are using but they better stay with it. The bark was the best part. The seasonings soaked in like the smoke ring but deeper. This is the best, even in the west, Bar-B-Que I have ever tasted. My order didn't come with fresh onions, but it did come with pickle slices and those were really good too. Don't mind the wait or you may miss this amazing experience of flavorful meats and sides. Plenty of sitting room inside and out. Just find a spot and get ready for this one. I included a picture of the brisket to show how thick each slice was. One of those slices would make a sandwich by itself. Don't let me forget the sauce. Three kinds of flavor to suite. The brisket didn't need anything $$$Enjoy!

Those Fairground Ham Balls were to DIE for. The dessert one knocked my socks off. The bald guy running the cash register at the fair was super nice! YOU GOTTA GO TRY IT. the oatmeal creampie was simply the best i have ever had.

Ended up here randomly on a road trip. My wife and I split a 3 meat plate, which made it a decent value at $30 before tip. Love that they do a cash discount! Meat was good, but next time we would do 2 servings of ribs and 1 fatty brisket and skip the pulled pork. Actually, I would get 1 sausage too but they were out when we were there. Beans and cheesy potatoes were our sides, and were great. Didn't love the Texas toast, next time would do cornbread. Kinda wish they had fried okra on the menu. Reverse osmosis water would be nice as the tap water kind of tasted like a pool. Servers and staff were fantastic!

Awesome spur of the moment stop! Brisket was insane. Ribs were great. Cheese curds were really good. Campground beans were awesome! Do not like their french fries at all - doesn't compliment the meats. Their house made bbq sauces were solid, but tasted really similar to one another. But overall awesome place! There was an hour wait when we left at 5:30.

The food is phenomenal. Fatty Brisket and smoked turkey were both moist and delicious. Every single side was tasty - my favorite was the potatoes. Great variety of local beers on tap. Friendly staff, clean bathrooms. It’s a great road trip and close to Ledges Park.

Heard good things about this place. Made the drive from Des Moines, and was not disappointed. Great laid back atmosphere, friendly service and GREAT food. I had the ribs and brisket. Both were outstanding, as were the beans and pimiento pasta salad sides.

Got lunch last Saturday, Brisket was delicious and the sauces they had was also really good. Probably the better briskets I’ve had in a while. Definitely recommend and I will be back again!

4.4* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $55 05/11/2025 Imagine my delight when my wife chose Whatcha Smokin as her venue of choice on Mother's Day! While smoked meat is not a cheap meal, Whatcha Smokin is one of my favorites - so I couldn't wait to get in the car. While you leave with your wallet a little lighter, it is hard to beat their quality smoked meat. We started off our meal with an Iowa Twinkie (see picture) and boy is that ever something that you HAVE to try! They aren't always on the menu, so get one when you can. How can you go wrong with bacon, jalapeno, pulled pork, cream cheese & ranch...and then smoked on top of that? For our meal, we decided to go with a Family Platter with both fatty & lean brisket (see picture), but wanted some extra meat to bring home so we added a 1/4 rack of Baby Back Ribs. For our sides we went with Jalapeno Cream Corn and Cheesy Potatoes (see picture) - and believe me, they were delicious. Even though we were full and had some meat to bring home, we couldn't pass up the Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin (see picture) and Coconut Cream Pie (see picture). We said we were going to bring them home for later...but couldn't leave without trying a few bites of each. As stated in my original review...you will definitely want to take your dessert of choice at the table or bring it home - they are SO good! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. 4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 5* 02/28/2023 I've been waiting quite a while to try this place as I had heard and read multiple stories about how good their smoked meats are - and finally got the opportunity to go with some co-workers tonight. Boy what a treat it was, with the BBQ meat being some of the best I've had and the service from Abby nothing short of exceptional - friendly, energetic, knowledgeable & not afraid to share her opinions! While I couldn't go 5* across the board given the plastic eating utensils, Styrofoam containers for sides and $8+ tap beers, this is truly a gem with some great character just a short drive north of Des Moines that is also set up very well for take-out. We started with a round of drinks - the tap selection was more than expected for a smaller community outside of the Des Moines metro (see pictures). For dinner, Abby was kind enough to recommend the Brisket (fatty) and Ribs (see picture) paired with Jalapeno Cream Corn (see picture) and Potato Salad (see picture). The fun little 'treat' at the bottom of the Jalapeno Cream Corn container was a few Fritos corn chips - which made a nice crunchy complement to the corn. My co-workers ordered Brisket (lean - see picture) and Brisket (lean) with Pulled Pork (see picture). Even though the meat didn't need any sauce, I enjoyed the Wildfire BBQ Sauce to not only add it to my meat and cornbread, but also bought a bottle to bring home (see picture). All of the smoked meat was delicious, with the fatty Brisket being extremely moist and flavorful (as might be expected from its name). I sampled some of the Fries and also thought they were very good - excellent flavor without the extremely high saltiness. I really enjoyed the roadhouse feel and decor throughout the building (see pictures) along with the pin board showing where their customers lived (see picture). Lastly, don't leave without sampling at least one of their Sweet Treats. Abby recommended the Oatmeal Cream Pie (see picture) as one of their originals and favorites as well as the Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin (see picture). While both are pre-packaged as per the pictures, both of them tasted fantastic and I highly recommend them both. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

I cant believe it has been since 2018 since I was here. Bigger parking lot on the north end. We arrived early in the evening before dinner and got in right before the main crowds started to get in line. It was a warmer day at the beginning of July. We were a group of 4. They wont seat you without your entire party present. Right on the HWY its a great stop for travelers and for motorcycle trips. They added an additional building on the west side with a cement dining patio in between the buildings. The big doors are open, the TVs are on, the netting is down to keep the bugs down while you enjoy your meal. The menu is vast. They also have nightly specials. Outdoor seating, the giant garage doors open. Great place for parties and a few drinks. Or there is the inside side (very small) that has some AC. We ordered the weekend special to share between ourselves. The special was a pulled pork sandwich with jalapeno cream cheese sauce of some sort. We got the house fries and ranch. S . smoked & saucy M - Meats O - Overjoyed on the tender brisket I stole from my friends plate. K - Keep the meats coming E - Eager to come back sooner for my own brisket D - Down to earth place in the middle of Iowa. Staff was great. She did a good job giving us a hard time but helping when we needed it. We left with some leftovers but it was only cause of how much food we ended up with. Id love to try the Tenderloin at some point, but the smoked meats keep pulling me back in.

4.4* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $55 05/11/2025 Imagine my delight when my wife chose Whatcha Smokin as her venue of choice on Mother's Day! While smoked meat is not a cheap meal, Whatcha Smokin is one of my favorites - so I couldn't wait to get in the car. While you leave with your wallet a little lighter, it is hard to beat their quality smoked meat. We started off our meal with an Iowa Twinkie (see picture) and boy is that ever something that you HAVE to try! They aren't always on the menu, so get one when you can. How can you go wrong with bacon, jalapeno, pulled pork, cream cheese & ranch...and then smoked on top of that? For our meal, we decided to go with a Family Platter with both fatty & lean brisket (see picture), but wanted some extra meat to bring home so we added a 1/4 rack of Baby Back Ribs. For our sides we went with Jalapeno Cream Corn and Cheesy Potatoes (see picture) - and believe me, they were delicious. Even though we were full and had some meat to bring home, we couldn't pass up the Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin (see picture) and Coconut Cream Pie (see picture). We said we were going to bring them home for later...but couldn't leave without trying a few bites of each. As stated in my original review...you will definitely want to take your dessert of choice at the table or bring it home - they are SO good! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

Struggling with our recent brutal string of wickedly cold weather, we decided to try Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew to add something positive. It turned out to be a spectacular visit, and this place is well worth the ride to Luther; it is a GREAT place featuring Texas-style BBQ! Our party of four could get parking quickly with a pair of lots, one in front of the venue and the other across the street to the north. They don't take reservations, and we were seated immediately when our party was present. There's a terrific vibe inside, excellent energy, and customer service. No frills, this place focuses on its food--casual attire, warm on this frigid night. The fun common area features a push-pin customer spot and a community board. Coca-Cola products. The BBQ aroma had me salivating for their food upon entering! They have daily specials, and they look great. On this initial visit, I wanted to sample what they did best, not a daily special. I was greatly rewarded! First, our server, Jenny, was tremendous! She was fun, helpful, knowledgeable, and kind, and she nailed every recommendation. Terrific throughout. We started with Golden Corn Nuggets as an appetizer, tasty sweet corn kernels fried golden brown and served with honey (didn't try) and ranch dressing (loved it). I chose a Quarter Rack of Baby Back Ribs as my entree; they were terrific. Perfectly cooked, delicious, and spectacular. I tried all their five BBQ sauces and liked Liquid Lava, Carolina Gold, and Wildfire the best. I'm usually not a big ribs person, but I decided to get what they are known for after Jenny's recommendation. Honestly, it's genuinely excellent. I added Texas Toast, excellent fries, and Turkey Dumpling soup as sides; each was outstanding. Doing high-end Quality Control, I sampled many items my other dinner party members enjoyed! The cheesy potatoes were excellent. Jalapeno Creamed Corn was amazing. I enjoyed their Twix Cheesecake for dessert, which was so darn good. In all, it was a sensational visit and food experience. This is one of the best places to eat in the Des Moines, Ankeny, and Ames regions.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the turkey and lean brisket. It's the BEST BBQ near my home in Ames! Nothing else even comes close. Do not waste your time going to Jethro's, Cornbred, or Hickory Park. Once you eat at whatcha smokin, everything else is a disappointment.

If you ever go to Ames Iowa, this is a must if you love BBQ. The smoked brisket can be ordered lean or fatty but to get the most flavor, fatty is the choice. So tender, juicy and flavor did not disappoint and even outdid any brisket. Also shared the BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich which was amazing as we had options of Sweet BBQ, medium, sweet and sticky, spicy and lava sweet heat bbq sauce to put on the sandwich. Cornbread was fabulous and firm. It was also busy in the full service main dining room with a 45 minute wait so we stood in line outside to order and was given a number to pick up the food when our number was called to bring back to the table. The wait was not bad at all to get the food. Advise to get here early as they run out of certain meals and call it out as they do. This was one of ghetto finest BBQ I've had, and I've been to a lot. So many choices on the menu. Meat can be ordered by the pound or nice sandwiches. Great sides to order with the meal. So if you are ever even NEAR Ames, Iowa, save the time to experience BBQ perfection and great service. A well organized operation and friendly staff.

I love to stop here when I come to Boone County, which I do often for the fantastic outdoor attractions - High Trestle Trail, Ledges State Park, Iowa Arboretum, Boone Railroad, etc. That's important to my review because I have not been here except in pleasant weather. If you love great BBQ, as it seems many people do, this is the place to be. There always seems to be a wait and then they ask where you would like to sit, with a choice of three options and usually three different wait times. The PATIO area has garage type doors that they open in nice weather and have large screens to keep the bugs out. There are TV's and a small bar. It has a sports bar feel. This is my preference and tends to have the longest wait time. The PICNIC area is just that - picnic tables outside. The wait time is usually the shortest but I believe there is a limited menu. Can be very pleasant, but can also be windy or overly sunny. The CLUBHOUSE is enclosed and has a building converted from some other use feel. There are some TV's and one small bathroom. The wait staff carry your food across the outdoor picnic area to you. It has A/C for when the weather is warm and may possibly be the best place to be in cold weather. It just has an afterthought feel about it, like they grew popular so fast they scrambled to add space. Overall, wonderful food and super spot convenient to many fun Iowa locations.

First time here and I was blown away by the size of this venue as well as how busy it was post-lunch. We were told it would be a wait to get food even though we could be seated quickly (40ish minutes) and they did not lie. We were bummed to be seated in the club house, which felt like the family zone. Service was ok and food was good but salty. Worked out well that our meals were served in to go containers since we did have leftovers but it does make me wonder about the amount of waste they produce given so much was disposable, including the silverware.

Had the family meal with ribs and fatty brisket and it was great! Will definitely be back! Cheesy potato's and baked beans are must haves!

Best bbq in Iowa. Have I eaten at every bbq joint? No. But, it's the best I've had and that's several. Brisket is top notch. The sausages always have the right texture and snap that I'm looking for in the casing. Turkey? Never dry, always moist and flavorful. Desserts? Amazing. They're a MUST get to finish the meal. Make sure you get there early on Saturdays for the beef ribs, best cut on beef outside of the cheek and they do a great job. They also provide a wide variety of sauces that should satisfy everybody's tastes. Now for the negatives, and they are impactful negatives but the fact I'm giving it 5* anyways should tell you how good everything else. Pork ribs are my favorite bbq item, and they don't do good ones. Had them twice now, and both times they were dry and overdone, one time so far gone they felt like charcoal. But everything else was so damn good we went back. Other negative is the sides, they're noting spectacular and you don't go to a bbq place for the sides, but they're all just filler essentially. Again, they aren't bad, but just take away from how good the bbq is. Service is always friendly and top notch, just a really great gem outside of my few gripes. Go and see for yourself the quality.

FINALLY made it to this amazing BBQ place!!! We went on a Sunday around 1pm and the wait was 40 mins, so we left to run an errand and came back and were seated right away. There are two buildings, the main restaurant and then an addition in the back that is like a massive shop with a bar and a bathroom and TVs. The overall vibe of the restaurant is rustic & fun. All of the employees were super nice. We were waited and greeted on at our table right away. We were starving so we ordered appetizer cheese curds that were crisp and yummy! We chose the three meat combo and ordered the ribs for all three meats and we ordered three sides, the baked beans, the hash brown casserole, and jalapeño cream corn. All 3 were delish! The corn def had a kick. The Texas toast was toasted and buttered perfectly. The ribs were cooked a lil too much and we got some burnt ones, but the flavor was there. We did order dessert and was surprised to see them come in a cellophane bag. I got A brownie with peanut butter frosting, I took it home to eat with vanilla ice cream. My husband got the OCP, oatmeal cream pie. Their homemade version is bigger and better than the store ones. Overall, def will be going back!

Had this at the Iowa state fair. It was okay. My friends said the sushi thing they got was probably their least favorite thing of the day. I got the stuffed jalepeno pepper and it was solid but nothing spectacular especially for the price.

Amazing barbecue! We recently moved to Iowa and have been disappointed at many different barbecue places we had tried. We visited Whatcha Smokin' and was blow away. Not only is it the absolute best barbecue restaurant in Iowa it's one of the best barbecue places we have ever been to. And we have been to a lot of barbecue restaurants. My husband is an amazing smoker and barbecue aficionado. Competition level. And we were both amazed at how delicious the food is at Whatcha Smokin'. I had the ribs and my husband had the ribs and the brisket and everything was perfect. If you are looking for barbecue, you absolutely have to try this restaurant. You will not be disappointed.

Middle of the week lunch, party of 2 and we were sat in the expanded Clubhouse area. The brisket is always good but I do find that it is better when served hot. This was not. Everything is on disposable products and the drinks are in a to-go paper cup. No refill offered. Looking at the meal that is walked across the alleyway with a plastic dome. it is not desirable. We definitely felt like a number- move in and out with little effort or care. Too bad, this used to be a great spot with something special, now it's shortcuts to make a buck.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. I am looking forward to my third visit soon. I have been too many bbq restaurants but this one is so good it makes me crave bbq food. The Thursday special of burnt ends is my favorite. Don't miss this simple but special and unique restaurants.

Well worth the drive from the DSM area, every thing on the menu is well executed and flavorful.

Whatcha Smokin' blew us away once again! As the Iowa State Letterwinners Club, we take pride in our guest's experience at all events. Whatcha Smokin catered for our tailgate of about 400 people on Saturday. Game days are busy, this one was HOT, and there's a million moving parts. That being said, the catering crew was communicative, timely, and personable. Their catering manager had her wedding the same day as our large event (CONGRATULATIONS!) and the team was able to execute perfectly even in her absence. All of the guests raved about the food, specifically the cheesy potatoes, and there was not a single complaint. We couldn't recommend their catering enough! Thank you for all that you do!! Go Cyclones!

This place could open in Texas and compete. I've tried other attempts at brisket in this unseasoned, mayonnaise-flavored state and this place is leaps and bounds better than the rest. This place could be 300 miles away and I'd walk to eat here. The staff could stab me in the eye with a hot iron and I'd still ask for a plate of fatty brisket. If you're not eating Whatcha Smokin', you're not eating brisket in Ioway.

Delicious brisket!! Worth the drive. Stopped here after golfing at Jester. The place was busy but so worth it.

First timer here! I always see tons of traffic here & drive by almost daily to/from work. We ordered an app, 2 meals & it was about $60. The jalapeño creamed corn is delicious & has Frito's in it which adds a nice crunch. My boyfriend had the 3 meats platter with double brisket & pulled pork. The brisket was delicious!! He said his pulled pork was good too. I ordered the double wide; living up to its name. Breaded pork tenderloin sandwich! We both brought almost 1/2 our meals home. Overall, the clubhouse concept is a tad unusual (not in a bad way). They seem to have a really good system & the food comes out hot/covered so not much more you can ask for. Service was friendly. The clubhouse did feel a little bare inside as most of the decor is on the lower 8ft-9ft. I can't wait to come back when they've got pork ribs!

Very small town Luther is kind of between Ames and Boone and despite my frequent visits over the years to both, I had no idea that Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew even existed. We found out through a real estate agent friend who suggested we try it out. And being a sucker for off the beaten track small town dining (such as Nitehawk Bar & Grill in Slater), I dragged my Dad and Brother along for Dinner during a recent evening. What a Find! Should we call this place the Bergen (an equally local steak place between Jackson and Windom MN) of BBQ? This place had Great Food (we had the burnt ends special), Great Service, and a nice selection of adult beverages. It could be argued that the entire BBQ complex (main restaurant and annex) is larger than Luther itself. It was certainly popular (the secret is out?), and the evening we were there, so was the capacity. The secret was certainly out! The main building has a nice dining room with garage doors for nice weather ventilation (maybe there was a gas station here previously), and a well designed take out area on the other end and to the right of the reception counter. I'm not sure what kind of outdoor seating is available on the other side of those garage doors, but I'm guessing this would be a great evening out on a nice summer day. As the menu is extensive (and hardly scratched during our visit), the daily specials enticing, and the drive through the Iowa countryside relaxing, I'm hoping to be back soon. Or maybe we could crash or sponsor an event considering their apparent robust event/catering business?

Go Early Or Don't Go At All We showed up at 5:00 for dinner on a Sunday. After we were seated we were presented with menus that had most of the items blacked out. They were sold out of almost everything. We ordered the lean brisket because it was one of only three menus items left. After we placed our order they came to our table and said they were out of lean brisket. Back to square one. We ordered burgers because that was just about all that was left. The burger was fine, nothing to brag about. The fries were cold. All in all, it was quite disappointing.

Stopped here while on a one night camping stop at Ledges State Park. We were both wow'd by everything about this place. The meat was as good or better than most KC area bbq. Smokey and tender. Never had I been asked on brisket if I want it lean or fatty. I got the fatty and it was awesome- just enough fat to make it wonderful! The ribs were totally fall of the bone tender with a slightly sweet bark. The sides were just enough and very tasty. To top it all off the banana pudding was absolutely the best I've had-ever (being a southern boy, that's a tough thing to say). Fast and very friendly service topped it all off. We will be back, this is truly a taste destination when traveling through the heart of Iowa.

Great Texas BBQ in Luther, Iowa. Was surprised that there was a wait time on Thursday afternoon, but now that I've eaten here I know why! Great brisket (get the fatty for flavor!). GF options were a little limited but the Frito pie was delicious. Fries have a coating so they are not GF, I liked that they were crispy but they had an interesting sweetness to them or after taste. Staff was friendly and service was fast. It's worth the trip from DSM.

First day trip of Summer 2023... this was the place to be. We went at 4 PM and it was the right choice. The BBQ was good. Get the ribs and brisket you won't be disappointed. The sides are the stars. You can't have BBQ without good sides. Get the cheesy potatoes and the jalapeño cream corn. But hold up.... Hold up. Let's talk about the desserts. The MVPs. The nutter butter banana puddin' was amazing. Like hold my spoon because I'm just going to lick it out amazing. Atmosphere - 5 stars Service - 5 stars Food - 5 stars Banana puddin' - 500 stars Glad we stopped. You should too. P.S. Arrived at 4 PM left at 7 PM - fun times.

Great food... I had brisket and an order of fries. The brisket is tender and the sauces I tried were the spicy and medium. Awesome flavors! The fries are great with a bbq type rub not salty and kinda off on the sweeter side but not too sweet. We ordered at the counter and went outside to the picnic area which looks to be new this year. We didn't wait long for the food to come. I will definitely be coming back to try more!

Popped into this establishment at 3:30 in the afternoon on a Saturday and found it to be quite busy. Service was quick and responsive. They were on top of every detail from describing specials, bussing tables to serving food and drinks. We ordered the smoked turkey sandwich, Texas Tavern, fries, jalapeño cream corn, and cheese curds. The curds were hot, gooey cheesy bites of heaven. The sandwiches were smoky melt in your mouth deliciousness. The smoked meats were not over powering, but just enough to enhance the meats. The creamed corn was flavorful but not very creamy. A bit of disappointment there. The fries however were amazing! Crispy, hot and seasoned perfectly. The food was plentiful and hot, presented on a tray, Texas style. I'm looking forward to trying other menu options in the future! We

Great BBQ in Luther. We've been there multiple times after sports activities at ISU in Ames but it can get crowded. We actually were served at closing one time but that's an exception. I also enjoyed their food when RAGBRAI went through Luther in 2023 when you can never consume too many calories. They've got plenty of parking and a folksy atmosphere.

Some of the best bbq I've had. Really fun atmosphere. We opted to sit out back at picnic tables rather than wait an hour for inside seating so we ordered at the walk-up counter. Outside was fun and chill. They had corn hope boards set up. Our party of 4 all loved our meals. We got dessert on our way out. Holy smokes, that was amazing too! Will definitely be back when we are in the area again!

Don't tell anyone. This place is amazing. Great prices too. Fried pickles were perfect fry size. Cole slaw great. Fried corn too sweet. Had to wait but worth it! Burnt ends on wed and beef ribs on Sunday. Who knew Iowa can barbecue!

Really nice people. The staff was excellent and friendly. Food was ok for the price. They have really built quite the operation there.

Best BBQ in the area. Quick, friendly service, especially for BBQ joint. This place is out in the country amidst fields of corn - ambience is how it should be.

We stopped in after an isu game on our way home. they actually had meat this time. I ordered 1/2 pound of brisket leaner cut. I got a side of those fabulous baked beans. the beans were rather soupy, but trust me I ate the soup. hubby had brisket sandwich and jalapeno corn. I tested the corn it was good. next time I need to order to have meat and 2 sides. this might be an after game thing, assuming they're open and have meat. staff was great.

Ok don't get mad! We are from Texas and I have to say this is by far the best Bbq I've ever had and it's worth the trip, service was amazing and pls try one of their Bloody Mary's. I'll never forget this pls we came in a Saturday at 1200 and Katie was amazing!!!

Mikayla gave us some great suggestions for lunch/dinner had the dinner plate with brisket and smoked sausage, jalapeño corn and cheesy potatoes. Also the brisket poutine. All were really tasty and beyond what two people could finish. Happily found this gem on our bicycling vacation of the high trestle trail. Make sure you try this place if you're in the area. Very quick, personal, above and beyond service! Reasonably priced for huge portions.

I first started coming to this place about 4 years ago, if I remember right. It was awesome! Not just good food, but also good service. I'd visit up to 5 times a week back then. Never any issues, despite not liking their tri tip or beef ribs(both were not to my liking at all, tough) I learned what burnt brisket and pork belly ends SHOULD taste like-where the sugar rub caramelizes with the fat. Like meat candy. So good! Unfortunately, over the years, either someone else is running this place, or they cut corners. I've gotten the burnt ends pork belly 3 times in 2-3 months and they were consistently NOT GOOD. Two of the times, the spices were concentrated on some pieces, but not on others. One time, the salt was so dense, it burned when I tried to eat it. All three times, the fat was all still intact, like it barely made it to "just done" stage. Not even much of a smoked taste at all. I'm incredibly disappointed. I drove a long way to get something to go(and pricey), just to find out they no longer have the wonderful meats they were famous for. Maybe they still caramelize the fat/sugar in the burnt ends brisket, but I'm not willing to pay that much to find out. The baked campfire beans were as good as I remember. Meaty. The hash brown potatoes were dry compared to years ago. Some of the staff are the same. I didn't see the two that started this place though, and I wonder if this is why "a very good thing" was changed. It's too far to drive for something you can find IN the DesMoines metro area. Lot parking here. Clean. Friendly staff. Prices are higher than average. Call ahead to make sure they have what you are wanting, as they run out fairly often, despite not being as good(they used to be award winning). MarcyDinerTantrumScale 5/5-NoScreamingKids. CyHawkApproved.

The trek over on 141 up to 17 has become a regular thing for us. But usually it's a Saturday deal.... We had some friends visiting us in the 515 from OKC so I took a few days off after the Fourth of July and we made it up there on a Wednesday. Wednesday's are the one day of the week they offer their burnt ends from their fatty brisket. As tough as it was to pass up my normal 1/2 rack plate of pork ribs.... The burnt ends were my target of choice on this trip. I was a little worried. I'm generally a lean meat guy and knew the cut these ends were coming from. I don't stick exclusively to lean meat. I like a good marbling. The charred fat on the outside of a grilled t-bone etc. I just don't like big chunks of soft fat. The burnt ends were a $16 plate I think. A good serving of ends. One side and Texas toast. I added an additional side for $3. Got to have the mac n cheese and cheesy potatoes.... I could see the fat layer on a few of the pieces. I had a moment of dread hit me. Had I just wasted my money and passed on something I already knew I liked? The fork sunk in and almost through the first piece. Obviously super tender. Cooked perfectly with excellent flavor. It was a melt in your mouth experience. Yes...there was fat. But it was a good fat. I again solidified my place in the clean plate club. Would I have preferred it trimmed a little more and for the ends to be a little leaner? Sure. But that's just me. The job they do with the meat at Whatcha Smokin continually impresses me. Only once out of a dozen trips would I say that something was a little dry. Easy to forgive with consistently great food and the top notch servers they have. Definitely worth the drive.

Had to walk from the main building to another in 20 degree weather to be seated. Meat was a bit pricey and just a couple degrees past cold. The only thing hot were the campground beans. Had to find the waitress to get the butter and honey for the cold cornbread only to get ice cold butter packets. Drove 1 1/2 hours to be extremely disappointed.

Garage style eatery with open doors on both sides. Large patio, and huge smoker out back make this a great motorcycle stop. Tenderloin was huge and tasted great. Double stacked and still bigger than the bun. Coleslaw was standard but the nutter butter banana pudding (not pictured) was outstanding!

This joint is one to visit. The food is always great and the service is on point. We happened to go this last time when they had a beef rib special and that is one of our favorites. So yes we ordered beef ribs and they were so big and tender. We both got different sides, I got the the jalapeño corn and pimento pasta salad and he got a green salad and Cole's slaw there were no complaints. The real show stopper was the cornbread! Wow, was it good. I could have made a dinner out of it. So when they ask you if you want Texas toast or cornbread every single time you need to say cornbread! I promise! If you are going as a destination dinner or you are passing by on your travels this place is worth the stop.

Everything about this place was perfect. First, of the best BBQ around. They had multiple choices for sides that all sounded amazing. Secondly, the staff was so attentive and ready to help. Third, the place was very clean and well maintained. It had a great vibe for a BBQ joint. And lastly, even their deserts were amazing and paired well with the concept. I plan on visiting this place every time I come through and highly recommend it to others

Absolutely amazing texas style bbq for a great price and amazing atmosphere and service wanted desert but was waaaay too full to indulge in anymore but as Arnold says "I will be back" 10/10

Food is fantastic. Never ever had a bad experience here! There meat is deliciously smoked and seasoned. I don't like a lot of smoke flavor on my bbq and theirs is perfect!

Multiple 5 stars. Whenever I can sneak over during my day I find my way to some excellent food. I've done both the lean brisket and the brisket sandwich with Swiss cheese. Their meats are amazing. I'm not a huge fan of their sauces but who needs sauce when the meat is that good?!? Can't wait to go back again!

Definitely gotta come again to try the rest of the menu. Service was 4/5, which is still great but they're way too busy to get personal with NOTE: She waitress was still cool as hell tho! Sup Ashley

DISGUSTING!!! I had heard great things, by many, about this place. On Sat 8/17/24 I found out myself. They were busy and I sat at the bar, small 3 seat bar with food particles strewn about the surface. I asked for a bar towel and the server responded, handing me the towel, explaining she could not reach. Which is fine by me, I would rather do it myself anyway. She was nice and gave me a couple samples of their draft I was unfamiliar with. Both times!..She totally grabbed the cup by the rim and handed to me. I tried to drink from the area her fingers did not touch. I purposely set that cup to the side to get a fresh cup, when another server asked me if I had decided on a beverage. I ordered the cider. She grabbed a new cup (whew! ).... You need to know these are the disposable, bottom fill type cups and dispenser... then she popped the cup onto the dispenser using her entire hand across the entirety of the rim... I so wanted to eat this BBQ. I travel the country for work. I frequently "add another stop" in my maps, by searching BBQ. I wonder how many get sick from their practices ??? I could not eat here. And neither should you. Disgusting.

Worth the drive. Exciting place to bring the family. Food was delicious. Service was great.

Wow! Whatcha Smokin' went from my "go to"place when staying in Boone to my never go again place. The only reason I gave 2 stars is because the food was OK, not terrible. We came early to beat the rush. I invited 7 friends from across the country who were here for the ag show to enjoy great BBQ at a friendly place. The service was rushed by an apparently exasperated waitress. After i paid the bill we were asked to leave as they had people waiting. This was not only extremely rude, after paying a large bill with a significant tip, I guess we should have been able to occupy a table for a moment. Maximizing profit at the cost of a relaxing dinner is a terrible business plan. I will not be back.

Great atmosphere, great food, they have banana pudding and a couple of other great desserts. The only problem is that my wife thinks its too smokey. Sorry, i still like it, guess the desserts help.

I went in today for the sampler. It consists of all of their smoked meats. I won't be petty, the fatty brisket and pulled pork were the truth. Normally I don't even like pulled pork as it tends to be on the bland side, especially in Iowa. This one was beautifully seasoned. Well done, Whatcha Smokin. The fatty brisket *IS* Texas style.