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Jethro's BBQ
3102 Forest Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311
Uber
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Main Menu
Brunch Menu
Beer Menu
Main Menu
Our food is made from scratch. Freshness is never compromised.
Fixin's First
Jethro's House Made Sauces: Jethro's Original, Georgia Mustard, Carolina, Alabama White, Garlic Parmesan, BBQ Rub, Buffalo, Chili Teriyaki, Hot BBQ, Hot!! Buffalo, Raspberry Habanero and Ghost.
Amazing Slow Smoked Wings
Hard wood smoked, fried to a crispy finish, tossed in your choice of sauces with a blue cheese or ranch dressing.
- 10 Wings $13.95
- 20 Wings $25.95
- For all Drummies or Wingies per 10
- $2.00
Buster's Shrimp
Flash fried sweet shrimp, buffalo style are Jethro's favorite or pick from one of our house made sauces.
- Half Lb $10.95
- Full Lb $18.95
Bayou Pickle Chips
$7.95
Thin sliced pickle chips soaked in buttermilk, lightly breaded, flash fried crispy with chipotle ranch.
Fried Cheese Squares
$8.95
Aged white cheddar with our special country coating, served warm and gooey with our double secret chipotle ranch.
Chicken Tenders
$9.95
Country fried chicken tenders, tossed in your choice of sauce, or have it on the side for some real dippin' fun.
Quesadillas
$9.95
Fresh flour tortillas, layered with cheese and smoked chicken, with pico, guacamole and sour cream.
Jethro's Rib Taster (4 Bones)
$10.95
Jethro smokes them all day; then he pours on sweet bourbon glaze and serves 'em with fries.
Bubba's Boneless Wings
Tender white meat chicken soaked in buttermilk, lightly breaded, flash fried to a crispy finish and served with your choice of sauces for dippin'.
- Half $9.95
- Full $12.95
Texas Bacon Burger Sliders
$10.95
House brisket burgers, topped with Texas bacon, American cheese and secret sauce.
Onion Rings
$8.95
Sweet onions hand cut, soaked in buttermilk, lightly breaded, flash fried and dusted in our famous rub.
Smoked Chicken Nachos
$10.95
Fresh fried corn chips dusted with secret spice smothered with white cheddar sauce and shredded cheeses, topped with house smoked chicken and finished with black bean corn salsa, fresh jalapenos, pico, guacamole and sour cream.
Waffle Fry Nachos
$11.95
Just like our Smoked Chicken Nachos, but we substitute waffle fries smothered with white cheddar sauce and shredded cheeses, topped with house smoked chicken and finished with black bean corn salsa, fresh jalapenos, pico, guacamole and sour cream.
Soup
Jake's Spicy BBQ Steak Chili
$5.95
Large bites of aged steak and smoked beans make this chili uniquely Jethro's. Topped with cheese, sour cream and fresh jalapenos.
Gramma's Gumbo
$5.95
Smoked chicken and sausage. This stuff is good! No road kill in it!
Jethro's Biggest
The World Famous Adam Emmenecker
$24.95
(As seen on Man Vs. Food) Take the challenge today! The Missouri Valley Conference's "Most Valuable Player of 2008" loves this sandwich. It's big "really big" just like all of those "really big" shots Adam sank in the Bulldog's magical MVC Championship Season of 2008. Start with our huge pork tenderloin, add two Angus steak burgers, top it with slabs of Texas brisket, apple wood bacon, fried cheese and finished with buffalo chicken tenders. Smother this mountain with melted cheddar cheese and white cheddar sauce, with your choice of side. This could hurt you! A sandwich fit for the MVP. Remember your "Emmenecker Challenge" experience with a custom T-Shirt. All "Emmenecker Challenge" attempts must be made with waffle fries.
The Jethro
$16.95
Chosen as Food Network 's Favorite Bacon Bite and featured on Discovery Channel 's United States of Bacon. This isn't for everyone. It is porktastic. It is ginormous. We start with our famous tenderloin and add Carolina style pulled pork, house smoked pit ham and a double order of thick slab bacon. Choose your side and then go for it, but remember, we warned you.
Iowa Premium Beef Thick Burgers
1/2 pound Angus steak burger, sourced locally with choice of side. Add your favorite cheese (American, cheddar, Swiss or pepper jack) +$1; Add coleslaw, sauteed onions or mushrooms +$1; Add additional meat or bacon +$2.
Papa's*
$10.95
We always start with a fresh ground 1/2 pound Angus steak patty, grilled to perfection. Choose your favorite cheese; we'll bring the lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle.
Double Up*
$12.95
A fresh ground 1/2 pound Angus steak patty, topped with chopped Texas brisket, sauteed mushrooms and onions, melted cheddar cheese and cheese sauce.
Bacon Grilled Cheese*
$12.95
A fresh ground 1/2 pound Angus steak patty, with three strips of bacon and American cheese with yummy garlic parmesan Texas toast.
BBQ Burger*
$11.95
A fresh ground 1/2 pound Angus steak patty, topped with pulled pork tossed in Jethro's Secret BBQ sauce, pepper jack cheese and crispy onion strings on a freshly baked bun.
Amazing House Smoked Meats
Jethro wakes at sunrise each morning and builds the fire with oak and hickory planks. Then he slowly smokes Iowa's finest meats. Each dinner comes with two sides and a corn muffin or white bread. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, smoked sausage, turkey (carved or shaved), pit ham (carved or shaved), pork belly (+$1), brisket (+$1) (sliced or chopped). Add a 1/4 pound of Jethro's amazing house smoked meats* (+$4).
Dinners for 1
- Full Slab Baby Back Ribs $24.95
- 1/2 Slab Baby Back Ribs $17.95
- 1 Meat (1/2 Lb) $11.95
- 2 Meats (1/4 Lb Each Meat - 1/2 Lb Total) $13.95
Dinners for 2
$25.95
Choose 4 sides, Half Slab baby back ribs & 2 meats.
Brisket Platter
$18.95
Slow smoked sliced brisket, chopped brisket & smoky sweet burnt ends.
Ribs and Wings Combo
$18.95
Three baby back ribs & 5 wings.
Ribs and Burnt Ends Combo
$17.95
Three baby back ribs, and smoky sweet burnt ends.
Bi-Wingual Platter
$15.95
Bubba's boneless wings and 5 slow smoked Jethro's wings.
BBQ Sandwiches
BBQ Sandwiches
Pick one of your favorite house slow smoked meats with one side and your choice of white bread or a freshly baked bun. It comes plain, but you can get saucy at your table.
- $8.95
- Make It a Melt $10.95
- Add Coleslaw*
- $1.00
- Add Additional Meat or Bacon*
- $2.00
Boss Hog
$11.95
Pulled pork tossed in Jethro's Secret BBQ sauce with Texas bacon, crispy onion strings and pepper jack cheese on a freshly baked bun.
Boss Chicken
$11.95
Pulled chicken tossed in Jethro's Secret BBQ sauce with bacon, crispy onion strings and cheddar cheese on a freshly baked bun.
The Melts
"Better Homes & Gardens" Melt
$11.95
Better Homes and Gardens" Magazine's August 2009 Issue selected this melt as their favorite BBQ dish in Des Moines. "A unique combination of Swiss and American cheeses melted on top of Carolina pulled pork and smoked turkey.
The Des Moines Melt
$13.95
Triple decker of pit smoked ham, pork belly, and bacon. Served on grilled Texas toast with melted cheddar and American cheese.
Brisket Bacon Melt
$12.95
Texas brisket, bacon, Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms and onions on griddled rye toast with 1000 island dressing.
Sandwiches and Vittles'
Texas Dip
$11.95
No French spoken here! Chopped Texas brisket, smothered with melted Swiss cheese, topped with sweet bourbon glazed onions, with a side of BBQ jus for dippin'.
Roscoe's Buffalo Chicken Wrap
$10.95
Buffalo boneless wings, crisp lettuce, tomatoes and blue cheese or ranch dressing all wrapped up in a fresh flour tortilla.
The Big Clucker
$11.95
Chicken breast coated in Jethro's secret breading and tossed with buffalo sauce, topped with blue cheese and bacon. Served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato and bread & butter pickles.
The Big Club
$12.95
Piled high with smoked pit ham, hickory smoked turkey and thick slab bacon on Texas toast with Swiss and cheddar cheeses, lettuce, tomato and mayo.
Pork Tenderloin
$9.95
It's as big as the plate! Pounded flat, fried crispy and served on a toasted bun with onion and pickles.
Crispy Chicken
$10.95
Tossed in Jethro's secret breading and served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, creamy mayo and bread & butter pickles.
Blackened Salmon Sandwich
$12.95
Cajun blackened Atlantic salmon with lettuce, tomato, onion and tartar sauce.
Green Stuff
Jethro's House Made Dressings: Blue Cheese, Chipotle Ranch, French, Cranberry Vinaigrette, Honey Mustard, Ranch, 1000 Island, Fat Free Italian.
Sally Sue Southwestern
$11.95
Crisp greens, topped with smoked chicken, cheddar and Jack cheeses, black bean corn salsa, pico, guacamole, sour cream and tossed in our double secret chipotle ranch, served in a crispy taco shell.
Becky Sue's Crispy BBQ Chicken
$11.95
Crisp greens, tossed with tangy honey mustard dressing, topped with our country fried boneless chicken coated in our Jethro's BBQ sauce, tomatoes, onions and shredded cheese.
From the Garden
Crisp greens, tossed with your choice of dressing, tomatoes, croutons and cheese.
- $6.95
- Side Salad $4.50
- Add Salmon
- $8.95
- Add Smoked Chicken
- $4.00
- Add Pulled Pork
- $4.00
Made From Scratch Side Dishes
Campfire Baked Beans
Mashed Potatoes with Country Gravy
Mac and Cheese
Jalapeno Cream Corn
Cottage Cheese
Coleslaw
Potato Salad
Apple Sauce
Fries
Waffle Fries
Green Beans
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato Fries
+$1
Side Salad
+$2
Fried Pickles
+$2
Onion Rings
+$2
Cup of Chili or Gumbo
+$2
Homemade Dessert
Buster's Big Chocolate Cake
Layers of fudgey, gooey delight.
- $8.95
- 1/2 Piece $5.95
Wilma's Fried Apple Pie
$5.95
With vanilla ice cream.
Soft Drinks
Jethro gives free refills on all soft drinks.
Diet Pepsi
$2.50Mtn Dew
$2.50Diet Mtn Dew
$2.50Sierra Mist
$2.50Dr. Pepper
$2.50Mug Root Beer
$2.50Ice Tea
$2.50Hot Tea
$2.50Coffee
$2.50Made to Order Omelets
Made to Order Omelets
$10.95
With hash browns and choice of toast (white, wheat, marble rye, biscuit or English muffin)
The Oink, We Dare You!!!
Sixteen extra large eggs, folded with a pound of Jethro's smoked pit ham and a double helping of American and white cheddar cheese sauce. Is it the largest ham 'n cheese omelet ever!
Bulldog
$24.95
Texas brisket, sauteed onions and peppers, topped with aged cheddar cheese.
Denver
$24.95
House smoked chicken, sauteed peppers & onions.
Carolina
$24.95
Carolina style pulled pork, breakfast sausage and bacon.
The Piglet
$24.95
Pit ham, American & cheddar cheese sauce.
Downhome Skillets
These are not your ordinary hash browns. These are Jethro sized hash browns. Extra large, smothered.
Des Moines*
$11.95
Topped with slab bacon, breakfast sausage, and pit ham. Then we smother 'em with cheddar cheese.
Jake*
$11.95
We load Jethro's World Famous Texas brisket, pepperjack cheese, sauteed mushrooms and onions on top of our crispy hash browns.
Create Your Own Omelet or Skillet
Choose three of Jethro's ingredients from the list below to create the ultimate omelet or skillet. Don't worry, you can add in extra ingredients for $0.95 each. Meat: Bacon, Sausage, Brisket, Ham, Pork; Veggies: Mushroom, Onion, Tomato, Green Pepper; Cheese: American, Cheddar, Swiss, Pepperjack, Cheddar sauce.
Create Your Own Omelet or Skillet
- Omelet $10.95
- Skillet $11.95
Breakfast Vittles
The Jethro Breakfast
$14.95
Start with a ginormous tenderloin, top with hash browns, three extra large eggs scrambled with bacon, Carolina pulled pork and pit ham, and choice of cheese and toast.
Spike's Breakfast Nachos
$10.95
Best in Des Moines! Crispy waffle fries smothered with cheese sauce, topped with three extra large scrambled eggs with your choice of one of Jethro's amazing slow smoked meats, shredded cheese, finished with pico, guacamole and sour cream.
Game Day Breakfast*
$13.95
Our made from scratch biscuits and gravy, Texas style hash browns (that's topped with chili and cheese) and three eggs (any style).
Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast*
$8.95
With two extra large eggs (any style).
Buttermilk Pancakes
$8.95
Three of Grandma's made from scratch, large buttermilk pancakes, griddled hot and piled high, served with your choice of meat.
French Toast
$8.95
Thick cut bread, hand dipped in Jethro's own vanilla cinnamon batter. Grilled and served with your choice of meat. Yummy!!!
The Jethro Burrito
$10.95
Scrambled eggs with smoked sausage, pico, sour cream, guacamole topped with cheddar cheese sauce. Comes with hash browns.
Breakfast Quesadillas
$9.95
Flour tortillas layered with cheese, scrambled eggs and your choice of smoked chicken, Carolina pulled pork, or hickory smoked bacon, with pico, guacamole and sour cream on the side.
The Earl of Egg Sandwiches*
$8.95
Two extra large eggs (any style) with your choice of pit ham, slab bacon or sausage patty with American cheese on Texas toast. Comes with hash browns.
The Cowboy Breakfast*
$12.95
A full half pound of our famous Texas brisket and two extra large eggs (any style). Comes with hash browns and choice of toast.
Papa's Breakfast*
$9.95
Two extra large eggs (any style), your choice of meat and either buttermilk pancakes or French toast.
Grandma's Breakfast*
$6.95
Two extra large eggs (any style) with your favorite side of meat and your choice of toast.
*Thoroughly cooking foods of animal origin such as beef, eggs, fish, lamb, pork, poultry, or shellfish reduces the risk of food born illness. Individuals with certain health conditions may be at higher risk if these foods are consumed raw or under cooked.
Omelets
served with hash brown & choice of toast. bread options: white, wheat, marble rye, biscuit & english muffin
Chicken Philly
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with house smoked chicken, sauteed peppers & onions smothered in white cheddar cheese
Bulldog
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with house smoked texas brisket, sauteed onions & peppers topped with aged cheddar cheese
The Big Texan
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with our texas style brisket, sauteed mushrooms & hashbrown potatoes topped with swiss cheese
Anna Kay
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with sauteed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, topped swiss cheese
Carolina
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with carolina style pulled pork, breakfast sausage & bacon
Denver
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with pit ham, peppers & onions
Cajun
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with smoked corn, tomatoes, green peppers, andouille sausage then topped with pepper jack
The Piglet
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with jethro's house smoked pit ham, american & white cheddar cheese sauce
The Chicklet
$8.95
3 extra large eggs folded with house smoked chicken, american & white cheddar cheese sauce
Breakfast Vittles
don't forget to add a hash brown for $1.95
Breakfast Quesadillas
$8.95
flour tortilla layered with cheese, smoked corn pico, scrambled eggs & your choice of smoked chicken, carolina pulled pork, or hickory smoked bacon, with guacamole & sour cream on the side
The Earl Off Egg Sandwiches
$6.95
2 extra large eggs any style with your choice of pit ham, slab bacon or sausage patty, american cheese on an texas toast. don't forget hashbrowns
The Cowboy Breakfast
$8.95
a full half pound of our famous texas toast brisket & two extra large eggs any style & choice of toast
Biscuits & Gravy Breakfast
$8.95
house baked butter milk biscuits topped with sausage gravy & two extra large eggs any style
Papa's Breakfast
$8.95
two extra large eggs any style, you choose the meat & either butter milk pancakes, or french toast
Granny's Breakfast
$6.95
two extra large eggs any style with your favorite side of meat & your choice of toast
The Hillbilly Burrito
$9.95
extra large eggs scrambled with smoked sausage, hashbrown potatoes & smoked corn pico with guacamole & sour cream, topped with melted cheese
Bulldog Breakfasts
The Jethro Breakfast
$14.95
we start with our ginormous tenderloin top it with hash browns, 3 extra large eggs scrambled with bacon, carolina pulled pork & pit ham, all topped with your favorite cheese with a side of toast
Spike's Breakfast Nachos
$9.95
best in des moines! crispy waffle fries smothered with white wine cheddar cheese sauce, topped with three extra large eggs scrambled with your choice of one of jethro's amazing slow smoked meats, shredded cheese, finished with smoked corn pico, guacamole & sour cream
Game Day Breakfast
$10.95
our made from scratch biscuits & gravy, texas style hash browns (that's topped with chili & cheese) & 3 eggs any style
Uncle's Stack
$12.95
jethro's uncle keeps a shovel next to the stove to flip these extra, extra large blueberry pancakes topped with butter & whipped cream with your choice of meat
The Oink
$15.95
"we dare you". 16 extra large eggs, folded with a full pound of jethro's house smoked pit ham & a double helping of american & white cheddar cheese sauce. it may be the largest ham & cheese omelet ever
Jake's Hash
these aren't your ordinary hashbrowns. these are hillbilly hashbrowns. extra large, smothered in jake's favorite toppings & two extra large eggs. these aren't your ordinary hashbrowns. these are hillbilly hashbrowns. extra large, smothered in jake's favorite toppings & two extra large eggs. toppers - (each $0.95): cheese or cheese sauce, chili, sauteed onions, gravy, sauteed peppers, carolina pulled pork, mushrooms, chopped texas brisket, diced pit ham, andouille, chopped bacon, tomato
Des Moines
$8.95
bacon, sausage, pit ham & cheddar cheese
Jake
$8.95
brisket, mushrooms, sauteed onions, pepper jack
Cindy Sue
$8.95
sauteed peppers, onions, mushrooms & swiss
Jasper's
$8.95
sauteed peppers, onions, andouille sausage & granny's gumbo
Daily Specials
All Specials Are Dine In Only
Monday - Free Beer!
Ask For Details
Tuesday - 1 Wing
$2.00Tuesday - Gin or Vodka Tonics
$3.00Wednesday - Mug Night
$7.00
Select Beers
- Fill
- $4.00
Thursday - 1/2 Price Bubba's Boneless Wings
Thursday - Domestic Beer Bottles
$2.50Friday - Margaritas and Long Islands
$4.00Saturday - Mason Jar Cousin Cocktails
Brunch 9:30-2
- 32oz $9.00
Sunday - Super Tall Boy Cans
Brunch 9:30-2
- 24oz $4.00
Cousin Cocktails
16oz Mason Jar $6
Grandma's Lemonade
Whiskey, Lemonade, Sweet 'n Sour & Triple Sec (Refreshing & delish!!)
State Fair Lemonade
Vodka, Triple Sec, lemonade, Sierra Mist, splash of simple syrup and a fresh lemon wedge
Juju Juice
Jethro's classic cocktail made with Limoncello, Pomegranate, lemonade and cranberry
Blue Bulldog
Vodka, UV Blue & Blue KoolAid, this ain't for weaklings!! A favorite of all Drake fans!!
Planter's Punch
Captian Morgan spiced rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, with a splash of grenadine
Lake Water
Vodka, Gin, Triple Sec, Sierra Mist & a splash of lime (Just as refreshing as a dip in the Lake!!)
Tornado
Captain Morgan, Malibu and silver rums with pineapple, orange juice, and a splash of grenadine
Milky Way
Tuaca, Irish Cream, Coffee Liqueur, vodka and milk. Danger!!
Redneck Tea
Sweet Tea Vodka mixed with lemonade and iced tea. An Arnold Palmer with a kick!!
Bootleg Tea
Whiskey and Peach Schnapps with a splash of Pepsi and sweet 'n sour
Watermelon Tea
Like a fresh slice of watermelon in a glass made with Watermelon Pucker, Vodka, pineapple juice and Sierra Mist
Drake Tea
Mixture of liquors with a kick!! Pomegranate, Grape, Vodka, Blue Curacao, cranberry, sweet 'n sour
Ankeny Kicker
Vodka, lemonade and pineapple juice. MMM Good!!
Crawfish Cruiser
Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Strawberry Pucker, lemonade & strawberry puree
Local, Craft & Import Bottles
Buckler N/A
Corona
Corona Light
Heineken
Peace Tree, Red Rambler
Local Brew
Domestic Bottles
Bud Light
Budweiser
Coors Light
Mich Golden LT
Michelob Ultra
Miller High Life
Miller Lite
MGD 64
Tall Boy & Craft Cans
Bud Light
Budweiser
Busch Light
Coors Light
Miller Lite
Oskar Blues
Dale's Pale (12 Oz)
Redd's Apple (16 Oz)
Stiegl Radler (16 Oz)
Strongbow (14.9 Oz)
Tallgrass 8-Bit Pale (16 Oz)
Toppling Goliath, Psuedo Sue (16 Oz)
Local Brew
Local, Craft & Import Beers
Angry Orchard
Backpocket, Slingshot
Local Brew
Blue Moon
Boulevard Wheat
Confluence, Des Moines IPA
Local Brew
Confluence, Seasonal
Local Brew
Guinness
New Belgium Fat Tire
Odell 90 Schilling
Peace Tree, Blonde Fatale
Local Brew
Peace Tree, Ohhh Pale Lager
Local Brew
Sam Adams, Seasonal
Shiner Peach
Stella Artois
Stone Delicious
Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat
Toppling Goliath, Dorothy
Local Brew
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General Info
Payment Types
All Major Cards
Cuisine
BBQ
Meals
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Hours
Monday:
11:00am - 10:00pm
Tuesday:
11:00am - 10:00pm
Wednesday:
11:00am - 10:00pm
Thursday:
11:00am - 10:00pm
Friday:
11:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday:
9:30am - 11:00pm
Sunday:
9:30am - 10:00pm
About Us
Welcome to Jethro's BBQ, serving award winning homemade food and "Amazing Slow Smoked Meats." Our meats are slow smoked over oak and hickory chips in a 750 lb. smoker, ensuring that our meats are always smokey, juicy and tender. Our entire menu is made from scratch daily in Jethro's kitchen. In 2009, Better Homes and Garden Magazine chose Jethro's BBQ as it's favorite BBQ. The Des Moines Register chose our delicious baby back ribs as their favorite, and our Amazing Slow Smoked Wings were chosen by the readers of Cityview Magazine as the #1 Wings in Des Moines two years in a row.