Pork. It’s an Iowa specialty, and we’re not just talking about pork tenderloin. We’re also talking about barbecue. (And BBQ and barbeque. We’re not here to quibble about spelling!) Yes, indeed; if you’re looking for some delicious, flavorful, tender, juicy smoked pork, you’ve come to the right state. Here are just a handful of some of the delicious barbeque (and barbecue and BBQ) restaurants you can find in the Hawkeye State, organized into a perfect little road trip so you can hit them all up in one single, delicious day.
1. Crazy Bob's (Hartley)
Crazy Bob's Bar B Que, 240 N 8th Ave E, Hartley, IA 51346, USA
Crazy Bob's is a cozy, hometown-style eatery with a large menu that includes a wide variety of BBQ. When the weather's nice, there's nothing better than enjoying a sticky-sweet BBQ sammich out on their beautiful outdoor patio. Learn more here.
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2. B Fabulous BBQ (Slater)
B Fabulous BBQ & Catering, 600 Linn St, Slater, IA 50244, USA
Not only do the folks at B Fabulous BBQ know how to make people happy with melt-in-your-mouth food, they also use a portion of their food sales to support Climb For Haiti. A meal here is a win-win! Or, should we say, fabulous. Learn more here.
3. The Rib Shack (Knoxville)
Rib Shack, 1102 N Lincoln St, Knoxville, IA 50138, USA
Not only does The Rib Shack serve up some delicious barbecue, and not only do they have four big screen TVs so you can watch your favorite teams on game day, but they are located right next to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum! So many reasons to visit. Learn more here.
4. The Little Green Trailer (Creston)
The Little Green Trailer Catering Services, 101 W Taylor St Suite B, Creston, IA 50801, USA
This little drive through BBQ shack in a big parking lot in Creston, Iowa, hides a delicious secret - some of the tastiest meat you can get in the area. They also cater and have a food truck! Learn more here.
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5. Bett and Bev’s BBQ (Perry)
Bett & Bev’s BBQ, Perry, 408 1st Ave, Perry, IA 50220, USA
The food at Bett and Bev's is smoked slow... but served fast! And the portion sizes are huge. A whole chicken, anyone? Learn more here.
Sound delicious? Ready to track down some good hole-in-the-wall BBQ in Iowa? Find a map of this tasty trip here on Google Maps. Want to spread out the fun instead? Try a restaurant a month for the entire year.
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