Meet the owners
Locally owned and operated since October 2017, ShortE’s BBQ is on a mission to serve up the best BBQ in the Des Moines metro—one unforgettable plate at a time.
At the heart of ShortE’s are two backgrounds that define everything we do: Texas BBQ tradition and Iowa farm-raised values. Chris, originally from North Texas, brings the deep-rooted craft of authentic Southern barbecue—low and slow, done right. Bryan, who grew up on a farm in central Iowa, brings a respect for hard work, quality ingredients, and doing things the right way from the ground up.
What started as a friendship rooted in a shared love for BBQ quickly grew into a full-time passion. Today, that passion fuels everything we do—from smoking our meats low and slow to serving our community with heart and flavor. At ShortE’s, every plate tells a story, and every bite brings people together.
We bring traditional Southern-style BBQ to Iowa with 100% fresh meats, smoked daily (never reheated), and packed with bold, full-bodied flavor. At ShortE’s, you can see and smell the smoke rolling out of our custom-built smoker as it slow-cooks your favorite cuts to perfection.
Pair your meal with our scratch-made sides for the ultimate BBQ experience. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick lunch with counter service or settling in to enjoy table service in the evenings and all day Saturday, we’ve got you covered. And with a full bar and evening specials, there’s always a reason to stick around.
Come on in or give us a call—get comfortable, loosen that belt, and dig into a BBQ experience you won’t forget.
“Good food, reasonable prices, and great atmosphere for all families and friends. Our goal is to provide great customer service, to be a good neighbor, and establish an environment that encourages a long term relationship with our customers. Come in or call, get comfortable, loosen your belt, and get ready for a restaurant experience you won’t forget.”
– Bryan Easter, Co-owner & Master Smoker
“Good food, reasonable prices, and great atmosphere for all families and friends. Our goal is to provide great customer service, to be a good neighbor, and establish an environment that encourages a long term relationship with our customers. Come in or call, get comfortable, loosen your belt, and get ready for a restaurant experience you won’t forget.”
– Bryan Easter, Co-owner & Master Smoker
SOUTHERN STYLE,
ALL WOOD SMOKED,
AUTHENTIC BBQ.
ShortE’s BBQ is a neighborhood restaurant in Johnston serving the best lunch and dinner in the Des Moines area. We also offer per-person buffet and family-style catering packages. With casual lunch service, sit-down dinner service, freshly smoked barbecue and other delicious menu items, we offer something for everyone. We hope to become your go-to destination for great food and drinks not only in Johnston, but the rest of the Des Moines metro!
Chris and Bryan met in Okoboji, IA at the Inn Resort in the summer of 2003. Bryan, a banquet manager, and Chris, a bartender from Texas, had a conversation about their love of BBQ. Fast forward to a 2010 BBQ competition in Winterset, IA with Chris’ backyard offset smoker, the two decided BBQ was in their future. Locally owned and operated, they hit the ground running in October of 2017. Their mission is to serve the best BBQ in the Des Moines metro one plate at a time and to bring traditional Southern-style BBQ to the area — 100% fresh, smoked for the day, NEVER reheated, full-bodied smoke flavor.
Join Chris and Bryan for a one-of-kind, TRUE BBQ experience. One where you can actually see and smell the smoke rolling out of their custom smoker, as it slow cooks your favorite BBQ. Scratch homemade sides are the perfect complement to the sliced-to-order meats. ShortE’s offers fast counter service for those customers who have limited time during the lunch hour and table service starting at 2PM – with a full bar, happy hour, and evening specials – for a more relaxed dining experience in the evening. We also offer a full catering menu, as well as custom menu and pricing options. Come in or call, get comfortable, loosen your belt, and get ready for a lunch and dinner experience you won’t forget!