Cactus Bob's Barbecue Corral
- Neighborhood: Des Moines Metro
- 5955 Merle Hay Road
- Johnston, IA 50131
- 515-331-0057
- Price range: $$ ($9-$15)
Cactus Bob's is a must for the barbecue lover. The food is cheap and more than plentiful, the service is great and the atmosphere is friendly and laid-back. If you've got the guts, take the "Showdown Challenge." For $6 you get a brisket or pork sandwich smothered in the restaurant's special "behind-the-counter BBQ sauce" that's so hot it's kept away from the public. Eat the sandwich in 10 minutes or less without a drink, and you get bragging rights, your $6 back, and your photo on the "Showdown Wall." More than 50 have tried, but there are only seven photos on the wall.
Getting There
- Cross Streets:
- Merle Hay Road and Winwood Drive
- Parking:
- Free Lot
- Wheelchair Access:
- Yes
The Basics
- Hours:
- 11 a.m.-p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
- Cuisine:
- Barbecue and Ribs
- Price Range:
- $$ ($9-$15)
- Reservations:
- No reservations
- Dress Code:
- Anything Goes
- Alcohol:
- Beer
- Smoking:
- No
Features
- Atmosphere and Personality:
- Cozy and Fun And Flirty
- Live Music:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Features:
- Kids Menu, Online Menu, Open Kitchen/Watch the Chef, and Takeout/Carryout
- Average Drink Price:
- $1.60 for soda, $2.75 for beer
- Worth Noting:
-
Everything is made from scratch in-house
Food specialties: Homemade Smoked Beef Jerky, Seven custom specialty Hot BBQ Sauces.
- Payment Methods:
- Major Credit Cards and Cash
- Capacity:
- 60
Write a review
Rate Cactus Bob's Barbecu...
"Tenderloin"
By ron56c from Saylorville, June 1, 2010
Absolutely the worse tenderloin I've ever had. Poor cutlet...not tenderized...cooked in frier that made it taste like everything that was cook ...
Report This Review"The best BBQ in the city."
By ghostpepper from Johnston, May 31, 2010
I love this place!!! The food is always good. I eat there at least 2 times a week and have for years. I did get the wrong side dish once and the st...
Report This Review"Not as good as I had hoped...."
By DiamondB from Merle Hood, May 28, 2010
I have passed Cactus Bob's many times and have read many good reviews, including when it won top spot on the BBQ contest last year in the Datebook....
Report This Review

2.9
from 




