Jethro's BBQ
Iowa's BBQ institution — pit-smoked and made from scratch
Tagline AI-written from public sources. Not verified by the business.
(515) 630-6374Last verified Apr 23, 2026
About Jethro's BBQ
Jethro's BBQ was founded in 2008 by Bruce Gerleman, a lifelong Iowa native and president of Gerleman Management since 1980. Drawing inspiration from a tour of famous BBQ spots around Austin, Texas, Gerleman opened the first Jethro's near Drake University where all recipes were made from scratch.
Jethro's soon gained national attention when it was featured on "Man vs Food" and was named the "Manliest Restaurant in the Midwest" by Men's Health Magazine and the Discovery Channel.