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
Signature: Spaghetti 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).
Signature: Steak 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
Signature: Smoked 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
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
Signature: King 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.
Signature: Spaghetti 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.
Signature: Smoked 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
Signature: House-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 queue: Hand-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 queue: Italian 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.
Worth the queue: Birria 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.
An annual September festival celebrating the Italian-American heritage of Des Moines' south side, featuring traditional Italian street food and music.
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.