Jethro's BBQ

Ames, IA · Barbecue restaurant

Rating
4.2/5
★★★★☆ 4.2
Reviews
20
Rank in Ames
#83
of 185 restaurants
City Percentile
40%
rating percentile
Address
Jethro's BBQ, 1301 Buckeye Ave, Ames, IA 50010
Phone
(515) 598-1200
Website
www.jethrosdesmoines.com/locations/jethros-bbq-ames
Status
Closed · Opens 11 AM

Jethro's BBQ is a restaurant located in Ames, IA. It is one of 185 restaurants listed in Ames. Its 4.2-star rating matches the Ames city average of 4.3 stars. There are 10 photos associated with this location.

About Jethro's BBQ

Jethro's BBQ is a well-known restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa, celebrated for its hearty portions of classic American barbecue. The restaurant offers a wide range of smoked meats, including ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, all prepared with signature... More

Hours

Saturday11 AM–9 PM

Customer Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0 John Whitehead · Feb 2026

Roslyn was an amazing server. She made sure that we got sat with our party of eight even though they were busy as all get out. The food was all around impressive. The ribs were surprisingly moist and the hot wings were piping hot and very juicy with a slight smoked flavor. All the sides were really good. I definitely would recommend eating here.

★★★☆☆ 3.0 Jim Crabb · Aug 2017

2025 Update: Service is spotty, about half the time I order wings from them the order is wrong. Even when I tip enough to get another order of wings. They do fix most of the mistakes though. Tried Jethro's Steak and Chop tonight, it was very good. Had the Angry Burger, with Jalapenos, and Harbenero sauce. It was very spicy, but not overpowering (I think), the double patties were cooked through, and still very juicy as I saw them running down the burger. Happy to report that the buns held together the entire time, as at other places I've had them dissolve on me, even before I got the burger unwrapped. I think it had a slice of Swiss cheese underneath the sauce and peppers, very tasty burger. Had the Sweet potato fries for an extra dollar they were tasty as well, they offer like 14 different

★☆☆☆☆ 1.0 Sharice gray · Jan 2026

Today 1/16/25 I ordered the iowa platter and 1/2 slab and boneless chicken i spent $70 and the only thing that was OK was the chicken the pulled chicken was very very dry sausage was so nasty we spit it out how you mess that up I dont know, the ham was two tiny pieces of pretty much fat, ribs where dry and had no tast most of the sides such as back beans( gross I make them better at home) fries where cold and hard, Mac and cheese i had to add salt, pepper and hot sauce in order to be able to eat it gumbo was okay also had to add sessioning the muffins where good and sweet. Will never go back there again total waste of my money

★★★★☆ 4.0 James Blackwell · Jul 2022

The establishment was nice. It has a built in game room with pool and a few arcades that can be paid for over your phone. The dining area was spacious the staff were all really nice. The only reason I give it 4 of 5 stars is because while I thought the BBQ meat was good it was lacking in flavorful sauce, honestly what is BBQ without the sauce. Oh... and in my humble opinion the fried pickles needed seasoning. 😋

★★★★★ 5.0 Ryan Murra · Oct 2025

I was surprised the food was as good as it was being a chain. I had the brisket chopped and burnt ends. Really good. Waitress was nice and effective. The only thing I can really say is that the dining area is uncomfortable to me. It’s one large room wide open with only tables. I prefer a booth and more intimate setting. Kinda feels like you’re at an event in a school gymnasium.

Accessibility & Amenities

✓ Wheelchair Accessible Entrance ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Restroom ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Seating

Services

Barbecue restaurant

Top Restaurants in Ames

NameRatingReviews
Schonert's Corporate Catering★★★★★ 5.020 reviews
Wiggy's Ice Cream★★★★★ 5.020 reviews
Labyrinth Coffee★★★★★ 5.020 reviews
Hyper Energy Bar★★★★★ 5.020 reviews
Potter’s Shoppe & Eatery★★★★★ 4.920 reviews
Piece & Freedom Bakery★★★★★ 4.920 reviews
Daisy's Drinks & Dogs - Ames★★★★★ 4.920 reviews
Morning Bell Coffee Roasters★★★★★ 4.820 reviews
Downtown Deli★★★★★ 4.820 reviews
Vinyl Cafe★★★★★ 4.820 reviews

This listing is informational. Contact the business directly to verify credentials, services, and availability.