The city's Italian-American heartland, still home to Graziano Brothers Italian grocery and the tenderloin shops that built Des Moines' street-food identity.
A Des Moines institution since 1947, Tursi's Latin King operates from a country-villa building on Hubbell Avenue and serves the classic Italian-American
SignatureSpaghetti with house red sauce, Chicken parmigiana, Steak de burgo
The canonical address in Des Moines for steak de burgo: a 6 oz filet in roasted garlic, basil, oregano and rich cream sauce ($44 at dinner).
SignatureSteak de burgo, Filet mignon, Veal Sinatra
One of several Jethro's BBQ locations anchoring the Des Moines smoke scene. Scratch-made sides, house-recipe sauces and a menu that spans ribs, brisket
SignatureSmoked ribs, Pulled pork, Brisket
The canonical keeper of steak de burgo, the garlic-butter-herb filet that Italian-American families from the Francis Avenue neighbourhood invented
BookWalk-in often available; weekends book ahead ahead
The Godfather of Des Moines tenderloin joints. Since 1966, Smitty's has been hand-breading and frying pork tenderloins on a flat-top griddle using family
SignatureKing Tenderloin, Hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwich
Italian-American red-sauce cooking since 1947 in a country-villa building on Hubbell Avenue, with generous portions and reliably consistent kitchen technique.
SignatureSpaghetti with house red sauce, Chicken parmigiana
One of several Jethro's BBQ locations across the metro, with the south-side address serving the neighbourhoods most connected to the city's BBQ tradition.
SignatureSmoked ribs, Pulled pork, House sauces
The heartbeat of Des Moines' Italian-American south-side community, Graziano Brothers has been supplying house-made Italian sausage, imported Italian
SignatureHouse-made Italian sausage, Imported Italian products
The most famous tenderloin shop in Iowa. Since 1966, Smitty's has hand-breaded and flat-griddled Iowa pork tenderloins using a family recipe that has
Worth the queueHand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwich
The soul of Des Moines' south-side Italian-American community, Graziano Brothers has been producing house-made Italian sausage, cured meats and Italian
Worth the queueItalian sausage by the pound, Italian beef sandwich
One of Des Moines' most-loved taquerias, El Rodeo serves birria, al pastor and a full range of traditional street tacos on the south side, open daily.
Worth the queueBirria tacos and al pastor street tacos
Founded in 1912 by Italian immigrants from the south-side community, Graziano Brothers is one of Iowa's oldest continuously operating specialty food
The south-side Italian-American corridor that shaped Des Moines' restaurant identity can be walked in a half-afternoon.
The most famous cheap eat in Iowa: a hand-breaded, flat-griddled Iowa pork tenderloin that dwarfs the bun. The King Tenderloin is under $12 including a side.
Guided tour · 1 hour
Uncover the eerie secrets of Des Moines with our captivating ghost tour, where you'll wander through the city's most haunted and historic sites under the cover of night.
