Incredible BBQ. Willie will let the smoke do the talking!
Kristi Allen
Willy Ray was super nice! I ordered brisket but they were already out for the day and the chicken is dark meat which I'm not a fan of. I'm not a fan of pork so I did the ribs which were very good. The potato salad was good. I'm not a huge fan of beans but I tried them, they were good for beans. My husband had a pulled pork sandwich which he said was very good. Very well presented.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Duanelynda “Mrs.F” Feltenberger
Being from the south, I am a big bbq lover, and when I heard about Willie Ray’s Q Shack, I had to try it. I was pleasantly surprised that he is from Louisiana, just as I am. Anyway, I usually don’t care for anyone else’s baked beans or potato salad because I have my own recipe for baked beans. But I truly enjoyed the beans and the potato salad from here and the ribs were smoked to perfection. Kudos!!
Very friendly workers. I've ate 2 times, 1st time i really liked it. The other day the ribs were tough. With so many bbq options now days I Probably won't be eating there again
Michelle Steil
Willy Rays Q Shack needs to be featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives on the Food Channel! It's so amazing & he does so many wonderful things to help others. What a giving, kind person. A true philanthropist! Thank you, Willy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Full Smoked Slab, Rib Bone, 1 2 Smoked Slab, Baked Beans and Potato Salad, Brisket Sandwich
Josh L Graveman
I just had the new burnt ends sandwich and it was delicious! Lots of flavor and really moist. I came to the sit down restaurant and would highly recommend it. Thanks for all that you do for the community and serving up great food!
Logan Jenkins
Ribs are so good. I don't find ribs I love very often, but these are perfect. I love the smoky flavor and texture. Great customer service to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Y.
I really should have been eating at Willie Ray's more before now. I first tried the place that is now Willie Ray's once or twice back when it was E-Z Fast BBQ. I have picked up food from the little hut a few times since it has been Willie Ray's, also. Willie Ray's food has always been fantastic, but I really don't like to do barbecue as take-out. (I have dogs, and bringing barbecue in the house gets them so worked up.) Now that Willie Ray's has a sit-down location, I'm thrilled! I have been twice in the past week. I'm the kind of barbecue fan that real barbecue fans complain about. I drench my food in sauce. So, the quality of a barbecue restaurant's sauce is super important to me. Willie Ray's sauce is amazing! I have tried the pulled pork sandwich, and the brisket sandwich. I would highly recommend both. Personally, I liked the pulled pork a little better, but I think most barbecue fans would prefer the brisket. The brisket has an incredibly well-developed bark. I happen to be a weirdo who doesn't like much bark, but I know most people love it. Even with more bark than I'm used to, the brisket was still awesome, though. The people who run the restaurant have been super nice on both visits, and they get you your food very quickly. So, it's a great lunch break option.
pekelvr17
I wish I could give a glowing report like everyone else. Unfortunately our experience has left me confident I won't be using Willie Ray's in the future. I ordered 16 lunches for a work function. I called on Tuesday and gave the order for Friday. I called on Thursday and confirmed the order and again stated we would be arriving at 11 to pick up our food. The food was not ready until 1130. I had 16 people at the office ready to eat food at 1130. There are lunch specials on the website for a different item each day. 8-10 dollars with 2 sides. When our total came to 260 some dollars which was 100 dollars more than I had anticipated Willie told me he couldn't run a business and make money if he sold lunches for 8-10 dollars and when I pointed out that is what his website quoted he said he wasn't aware of that and if it did then it wouldn't come with 2 sides and I said it is in writing on your website it comes with 2 sides! He basically did not care and ended the conversation. I was disappointed that someone that is so appreciative of social media recognition for the positive things he does is not aware of his own website content. He hasn’t up dated pricing so beware of pricing increase on your receipt! The least he could do is honor the price when someone questions it. In the future we will utilize a different business.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Janine Walters
You made a slow unproductive day fabulous! Great pulled pork ?
The ribs were so tender and juicy that they fell right off the bone . The baked beans had a hint jalapeños but weren't overwhelmed by them. The rib tips were divine. Everything was delicious! Well worth the stop. The staff were kind and courteous.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Full Smoked Slab
Korey F.
The brisket was outstanding. Excited that they have opened the sit down restaurant
Suzan Erem
Love how this man gives back to the community so it's icing on the cake that his food is so good! Price is a little high but I know it's going to a good person who makes Cedar Rapids a better place to live.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lily Johns
We came out to Iowa on a trip from Colorado. Amazing food. All really kind people. I miss it. Can't wait to come visit the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tristan Swanton
Drove over an hour and half claimed the business was open on 5.27.23 it was not.
Incredible BBQ. Willie will let the smoke do the talking!
Willy Ray was super nice! I ordered brisket but they were already out for the day and the chicken is dark meat which I'm not a fan of. I'm not a fan of pork so I did the ribs which were very good. The potato salad was good. I'm not a huge fan of beans but I tried them, they were good for beans. My husband had a pulled pork sandwich which he said was very good. Very well presented.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Being from the south, I am a big bbq lover, and when I heard about Willie Ray’s Q Shack, I had to try it. I was pleasantly surprised that he is from Louisiana, just as I am. Anyway, I usually don’t care for anyone else’s baked beans or potato salad because I have my own recipe for baked beans. But I truly enjoyed the beans and the potato salad from here and the ribs were smoked to perfection. Kudos!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 1 2 Smoked Slab, Baked Beans and Potato Salad
Very friendly workers. I've ate 2 times, 1st time i really liked it. The other day the ribs were tough. With so many bbq options now days I Probably won't be eating there again
Willy Rays Q Shack needs to be featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives on the Food Channel! It's so amazing & he does so many wonderful things to help others. What a giving, kind person. A true philanthropist! Thank you, Willy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Full Smoked Slab, Rib Bone, 1 2 Smoked Slab, Baked Beans and Potato Salad, Brisket Sandwich
I just had the new burnt ends sandwich and it was delicious! Lots of flavor and really moist. I came to the sit down restaurant and would highly recommend it. Thanks for all that you do for the community and serving up great food!
Ribs are so good. I don't find ribs I love very often, but these are perfect. I love the smoky flavor and texture. Great customer service to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really should have been eating at Willie Ray's more before now. I first tried the place that is now Willie Ray's once or twice back when it was E-Z Fast BBQ. I have picked up food from the little hut a few times since it has been Willie Ray's, also. Willie Ray's food has always been fantastic, but I really don't like to do barbecue as take-out. (I have dogs, and bringing barbecue in the house gets them so worked up.) Now that Willie Ray's has a sit-down location, I'm thrilled! I have been twice in the past week. I'm the kind of barbecue fan that real barbecue fans complain about. I drench my food in sauce. So, the quality of a barbecue restaurant's sauce is super important to me. Willie Ray's sauce is amazing! I have tried the pulled pork sandwich, and the brisket sandwich. I would highly recommend both. Personally, I liked the pulled pork a little better, but I think most barbecue fans would prefer the brisket. The brisket has an incredibly well-developed bark. I happen to be a weirdo who doesn't like much bark, but I know most people love it. Even with more bark than I'm used to, the brisket was still awesome, though. The people who run the restaurant have been super nice on both visits, and they get you your food very quickly. So, it's a great lunch break option.
I wish I could give a glowing report like everyone else. Unfortunately our experience has left me confident I won't be using Willie Ray's in the future. I ordered 16 lunches for a work function. I called on Tuesday and gave the order for Friday. I called on Thursday and confirmed the order and again stated we would be arriving at 11 to pick up our food. The food was not ready until 1130. I had 16 people at the office ready to eat food at 1130. There are lunch specials on the website for a different item each day. 8-10 dollars with 2 sides. When our total came to 260 some dollars which was 100 dollars more than I had anticipated Willie told me he couldn't run a business and make money if he sold lunches for 8-10 dollars and when I pointed out that is what his website quoted he said he wasn't aware of that and if it did then it wouldn't come with 2 sides and I said it is in writing on your website it comes with 2 sides! He basically did not care and ended the conversation. I was disappointed that someone that is so appreciative of social media recognition for the positive things he does is not aware of his own website content. He hasn’t up dated pricing so beware of pricing increase on your receipt! The least he could do is honor the price when someone questions it. In the future we will utilize a different business.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
You made a slow unproductive day fabulous! Great pulled pork ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork Sandwich
Restaurantji Recommends
The ribs were so tender and juicy that they fell right off the bone . The baked beans had a hint jalapeños but weren't overwhelmed by them. The rib tips were divine. Everything was delicious! Well worth the stop. The staff were kind and courteous.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Full Smoked Slab
The brisket was outstanding. Excited that they have opened the sit down restaurant
Love how this man gives back to the community so it's icing on the cake that his food is so good! Price is a little high but I know it's going to a good person who makes Cedar Rapids a better place to live.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We came out to Iowa on a trip from Colorado. Amazing food. All really kind people. I miss it. Can't wait to come visit the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drove over an hour and half claimed the business was open on 5.27.23 it was not.