Hessen Haus ★ 4.0
The German bierhalle on SW 4th Street serves large steins of draft beer alongside schnitzel, pretzels and wurst. Oktoberfest in autumn sells out weeks ahead.
Signature: Wienerschnitzel, Currywurst, Pork shank
Smokey D's BBQ is a bbq restaurant in North Des Moines, Des Moines.
Editorially verified June 26, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Beef brisket, St. Louis ribs, Burnt ends
Address: 5055 NW 2nd St, Des Moines, IA 50313
The German bierhalle on SW 4th Street serves large steins of draft beer alongside schnitzel, pretzels and wurst. Oktoberfest in autumn sells out weeks ahead.
Signature: Wienerschnitzel, Currywurst, Pork shank
Horror-themed East Village burger bar with creative named combinations: 28 Days Later, Walking Ched. Thick Angus patties and milkshakes worth the trip.
Signature: Mac and Cheese burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, Spiked milkshakes
George Formaro's downtown Italian in a former Masonic temple: coal-fired pizza, house pastas and Italian-American classics in a serious evening room.
Signature: Coal-fired pizza, Kill-Bill Pork Tenderloin, Handmade pasta
Asian-inspired pizza that Des Moines takes seriously. The original crab rangoon pizza, topped with crab rangoon filling, cream cheese and sweet chili,
Signature: Crab Rangoon pizza, General Tso's pizza, Orange Chicken pizza
USA Today's number one brewpub in the United States for 2025, Lua Brewing earns the title with a serious beer programme and a scratch kitchen that takes
Signature: Smash burger, Kimchi deviled eggs, Flatty Monster tenderloin
Des Moines' first microbrewery, anchoring the Court Avenue bar district since 1996. Scratch-made food from homemade meatloaf to Reuben sandwiches pairs
Signature: French onion soup meatloaf, BBQ chicken pizza, Reuben sandwich