Harbinger ★ 4.7
A vegetable-forward small-plates restaurant drawing on the chef's travels through southeast Asia, with a menu that follows the seasons and the farmers
OrderSeasonal chef's tasting menu, Southeast Asian-inflected small plates
12 restaurants in Des Moines, editor-picked for restaurants open monday. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Des Moines.
Alba ★ 4.6
Chef-owner Jason Simon's East Village anchor has delivered imaginative seasonal American cooking since 2008, earning a James Beard Restaurant Award
OrderMarinated hanger steak, Braised lamb shank, Pan roasted halibut
Lua Brewing ★ 4.6
Voted the number one brewpub in the United States by USA Today in 2025, Lua in Sherman Hill earns the recognition with a precise beer programme spanning
OrderSmash burger, Kimchi deviled eggs, Flatty Monster tenderloin
Centro ★ 4.3
George Formaro's downtown Italian anchor occupies a former Masonic temple with open kitchen, white tablecloths and framed vintage Italian posters.
OrderKill-Bill Pork Tenderloin, Coal-fired pizza, Handmade pasta
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse ★ 4.3
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).
OrderSteak de burgo, Filet mignon, Veal Sinatra
Smokey D's BBQ ★ 4.2
Competition BBQ team turned brick-and-mortar champion with 200+ competition awards. The pulled pork and brisket plate are the benchmarks; four sauce styles.
OrderBeef brisket, St. Louis-style ribs, Burnt ends
Eatery A ★ 4.1
A rustic neighbourhood room in the Avenues with a large patio and a wood-fired oven, channelling herbs and spices from Spain, Italy, Morocco and Egypt.
OrderWood-fired pizza, Mediterranean small plates
Bubba ★ 4.1
Downtown Des Moines' Southern comfort destination pairs fried chicken, jambalaya and Southern fried catfish with an extensive brown-liquor selection.
OrderButtermilk fried chicken, Chicken and waffles, Shrimp and grits
Fong's Pizza ★ 4.1
The Chinese-tiki pizza bar Des Moines made its own: crab rangoon pizza, General Tso's chicken topping, and conventional pies in a bar format.
OrderCrab Rangoon pizza, General Tso's pizza, Tiki cocktails
Hessen Haus ★ 4.0
A full-scale German beer hall in downtown Des Moines with 50 German beers on draft and over 100 in bottles, claimed as the largest German beer selection
OrderWienerschnitzel, Currywurst, Schweinshaxe
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab ★ 3.9
East Village's theatrical burger destination: zombie-themed patty combinations, deep-fried mac and cheese buns, and a Drink Lab serving cocktails.
OrderMac and Cheese burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, Spiked milkshakes
Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company ★ 3.9
The original Des Moines craft brewery since 1996, serving reliable American food and a small-batch experimental programme alongside the house ales.
OrderFrench onion soup meatloaf, BBQ chicken pizza, Handcrafted house beers
