ShortE’s BBQ is a neighborhood restaurant in Johnston, IA serving the best barbecue lunch and dinner in the Des Moines area. We also offer per-person buffet and family-style catering packages. We hope to become your go-to destination for great food and drinks!
Counter-service establishment offering BBQ meats, sandwiches, platters & sides, plus beer. Based on 353 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.5 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Curbside pickup ✔️ No delivery
Address:
8805 Chambery Blvd #250, Johnston, IA 50131
Phone: (515) 252-9887
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–1 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–2 PM, 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–2 PM, 4–9 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–9 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
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Reviews
Mike Hurt
Good portions and quick service. Did not love our experience. Brisket a bit dry. Pulled pork almost inedibly salty (but was super moist). Beans cloying sweet (couldn’t finish them). Sauce also very sweet but good. Corn bland.
Dr. Chad Johnson
The brisket is great, the mac n cheese is fantastic, the wings are wonderful, the ribs are pretty good (in my opinion). I’ve been a few times, and I plan to go back! Definitely worth checking out.
Dado Pavic
Best BBQ in Des Moines. Brisket and burnt ends were delicious. I just came from Texas. Home of BBQ. And this was still the best brisket I’ve had.
Janet Voshell
Really good food, I had the ham, mild cheese corn and beans, we also had the bacon bomb, my favorite was the cheese corn and bacon bombs, ham was really good as well, wasn’t a fan of the BBQ beans but I’m also picky about them. Gave atmosphere a 4 because it seems like your real close together to others. Over all I’d definitely recommend going.
Thomas Jones
We arrived at restaurant around 45 min before closing. We still had other people coming to join us. They did not rush us out and let us have time to enjoy the evening. The smoked brisket and turkey is the best I have had in the upper Midwest. If you want some good smoked bbq, this is the place.
Kevin Herndon
Wow oh wow The Brisket was amazing so tender and tasty. The burnt ends were also highly recommended and I would agree. The seasoned fries and the Spicy Cheesy Corn so good. The hidden little gem was the corn bread, if I drizzled some honey on it oh wow!! I would highly recommend you stop by when your in town. My buddy had the brisket and smoked turkey. Wow nothing is wrong here!
Chris Heff
I’m a huge BBQ fan and snob. These guys and gals DO IT RIGHT! I had the En Fuego because I like it spicy. Amazing char on the meat, great sauces, and a ton of amazing offerings. I’ll be back very soon to try the ribs. If you haven’t been, run to this spot!!
Amber Nelson
Great food! This is a hidden gem. Portions are big and good is full of flavor. I really enjoy the wings. This time I ordered the Mac and cheese with pulled pork and it was FILLING! I had to take half home. The creamed corn it really good but I’d order the mild next time, I really enjoy spicy but this was a bit much.
April Backous
By far the BEST BRISKET I’ve ever had, and I try it at every bbq place I visit. It was so tender it was falling apart and still incredibly juicy!
Grant Stephas
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I went for lunch and got the 1 meat platter with ribs, loaded potatoes, and jalapeno corn and a soda. With tip, the price was just over $24, so part of my rating comes from the expectation that you’ll get what you paid for. The ribs were average to below average, being pretty dry without a lot of flavor either. The sauce was good, however. The corn had a little kick as I’d hoped but not much for flavor otherwise. It was pretty clearly just corn from a freezer bag as it had a sort of rubbery texture. The loaded potatoes were just grocery store variety frozen shredded hash browns with a very light cheese sauce poured over.
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