50 Best Vegan Restaurants in Des Moines

“We’re drooling over this & can’t wait to try more!!“

“We’ve been meaning to go to veggie thumper for quite some time and finally decided to go tonight! We had the samosas, Frisco melt, Philly cheesesteak, nachos and the chocolate cheesecake, we were blown away by each and every dish! Highly highly recommend!“

“Best wings in DSM! The honey garlic is a must try. Always fast and fresh.“

“First time visiting - we can’t wait to come back. Loved the food and the vibe.“

“Visited from out of town and 100% worth the stop. I ordered the Grilled Turkey pesto sandwich and the single serving Oreo cheesecake. The sandwich was bigger than I expected and was absolutely delicious, especially as a big pesto fan. The cheesecake was amazing and the best I’ve ever had. I would absolutely recommend coming here and I can’t wait to be able to go back and try all the delicious looking pastries, breads, and other desserts and foods.“

“Every time we come to Des Moines, Iowa, one of our must-stop places is The Breakfast Club. The food is always great, but what really makes it special is the service. Our waitress, Michele, helped us each day we came in and she was absolutely wonderful—so kind, positive, and welcoming every single morning. She truly makes you feel at home and starts your day off right. If you’re visiting Des Moines, do yourself a favor and stop by The Breakfast Club for breakfast and ask for Michele. We’ll definitely be back!“

“BBQ Meatloaf was delicious and the service was good. Very cool decor.“

“10/10 no notes. Been going for years, never gets old.“

“Hidden Gem! Food is excellent each time we go!“

“We had our wedding dinner tonight at Harbinger. Low-key, just the two of us. We were treated with such kindness and respect from everyone, including the chef who made concessions to his tasting menu for my wife’s sugar issues. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. We visit Harbinger we are blown away by the quality of our dining experience.“

“friendly staff, great menu selections to choose from. superb smoked meats and Cajun inspired dishes. a gem in Des Moines“

“We had our Holiday party there on Saturday January 20th. The food was good, and the staff was excellent.“

“Really yummy and fresh! Will be back :)“

“We chose Molly’s for our wedding cakes and boy did people really chow those down. The cakes for our guests were amazing, but our wedding cake was more than I could have ever imagined. They took my inspiration pictures and executed beyond belief. The cake was incredible to eat and to look at. We were speechless. I would recommend Molly’s for weddings and in general as all their items are so delicious. Thank you so much!!“

“Delicious ! Would 10/10 come back again and try all the flavors !“

“Great food and beer, and very friendly staff. We come here every time we visit Des Moines!!“

“Such a cool vibe! Amazing food and service— will definitely go back again! 😊“

“I never have been inside the building but I would have to say that this is a beautiful place to pass by and every time I walk by or stop to look at its beautiful structure I've only been met with smiles and great conversations with great people!!! Thank you for your contribution to the community!!“

“We love Smokey's the food is exceptional as is everything else.“

“The waiters are very accommodating. Good food and services.“

“I can’t say enough good things about Creme. The beverages are genuinely great, but what really sets this place apart is the atmosphere. It’s artistic, creative, and thoughtfully curated in a way that makes you want to stay awhile.

They host quarterly events, and I’ve attended a few — every single one has felt welcoming, inclusive, and full of good energy. You can tell there’s real intention behind everything they do.
In my over 20 years of being in Des Moines, I truly believe this has been one of the best additions to the Des Moines dining community. On top of that, the owner is genuinely one of the best people you could choose to support.

If you’re looking to support a local, woman-owned small business that pours heart into its space and community, I highly recommend giving Creme a try. This is a Des Moines must-have.“

“Vegan menu! Tortas were soft and delicious and the nachos were the best I ever had!“

“Everything was phenomenal from beginning to end! The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing, and our waiter in particular was so friendly and recommended the crab stuffed walleye, which was to die for! The environment was classy and intimate, yet casual enough that it felt comfortable and warm. The best part of the meal was the appetizer- the seared ahi tuna is too good for words, just trust me on this and order it! This was a great place to visit for my birthday dinner, and we definitely plan on being back.“

“Nice place. Huge selection of British beers and very good food.“

“I believe the manager that helped us with our reservation was named Jess. She. Was. PHENOMENAL! She had organized a proposal after our dinner. Out server, the cooks, the manager….everyone did such an amazing job at making it a beautiful night! The drinks were outstanding, the food was cooked perfectly, and I will definitely be back when I go to Des Moines again!“

“Lots of great reading material from newspapers, magazines-even children's books!“

“We have been to visit The Republic several times and have had a phenomenal time each visit! The staff are second to none! Ask for Nicole Ripperger for great service!“

“Wonderful delivery- they send you all the parts and you put it together to avoid over cooking the noodles or meat! HUGE thing of sides for the pho, too! Absolutely loved their *four inch long* spring rolls, as well. A large pho fed myself, my child, and still had leftovers (rare thing for my family)!“

“Wonderful food, drinks, and atmosphere. 2 of the 3 ladies I brought to dinner are southern belles, and they were reminded of home by the food. Great first experience. We will definitely be back again. A+ in my book.“

“this is a fantastic place!!! food is incredible, atmosphere is awsome, and the owner is top notch. if it is a large group of a date this is the place to go“

“The bison dinner was a work of art! This was my first time having bison and I would definitely come back for the dinner again! And their specialty drinks have great names with amazing flavor…. Staff was phenomenal and I really can’t say enough great things… Definitely a must to eat here!“

“Awesome service and awesome food 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sakari Sushi is hands down my favorite place for sushi in Des Moines! The food is always incredibly fresh, and the sushi is the best in town, no question. What really sets this place apart is the staff. They’re phenomenal, friendly, attentive, and always moving with purpose. You’ll never catch anyone just standing around; they’re constantly making sure everything runs smoothly and guests are taken care of. Special shoutout to our bartender Jake for mixing up the best drinks. His Painkiller cocktail is an absolute must-try! Whether you're a sushi lover or just looking for a great night out, Sakari never disappoints.“

“Staff was great in helping the family celebrate my moms 50th! I have never had a poor experience in the times I have been there.“

“The food here is great and the atmosphere is so fun. Currently, the seasonal menu (winter 2025) has Yo's Wontons which are in an excellent sauce. I also enjoy the bing bing wraps and drunken noodles.“

“All the servers looked happy and smiling. Our server Gavin was soooo nice!!! Would definitely recommend eating here.“

“It’s been awhile since I’ve stopped in, but each time I did, the baked goods were heavenly. The shop is cute as well, feels very spacey, but homey too.“

“This is our go to sushi restaurant in the metro! Highly recommend!“

“Great vibe, even better food. We had the bacon fried rice, when pigs fly, and wonderful morning (boxed up what we couldn't finish). This is a must stop in Des Moines.“

“I’m from Los Angeles, California, land of boutique juices. I LOVED this spot. They have convenient lists of every juice/smoothie ingredient, and even some helpful advice about what kinds of smoothies different levels of health enthusiast will appreciate. Cory, the owner, was kind, accommodating, and efficient. The drinks came quick, too - I’m used to Whole Foods wait time. If you’re in Des Moines and you like healthy juice, go out of your way to visit. (The 4-stars for atmosphere was only because there were some boxes kind of piled next to the counter. Definitely not a problem)“

“They have the best coffee and yummy food!!“

“Last week was my 1st time here, but the staff treated me like an old friend. & the pizza was amaaazing. While waiting for my food, there was a little girl who was dancing & fell (she was alright). The staff were very kind to her & even gave her a big cookie to have for dessert!“

“This place is amazing! The food is super delicious no matter what dish you get, and the staff is super friendly!! 🫶🏻💗 I personally recommend the Broccoli Chicken and Pho dishes!!“

“Nice people great pizza very clean“

“Ordered a salad for pickup, and was given the wrong one. Called back as soon as I had a chance. Ross was apologetic, kind, and reassuring. He refunded my purchase even though I ate the salad given. Excellent service, and great customer relations. Thank you.“

“Amazing food. Buffet is the best with delicious favorites. Chai tea is also a huge hit for us. They keep you coming back for more. One time you'll be hooked and planning to return.“

“Ordered the falafel plate (without feta) and an extra pita (because I like carbs) via Uber Eats to my hotel room. The grilled pita was soft, warm, and delicious. The falafel was decent, not the best I've ever had. I wish it had a little more hummus on it. The salad it came with was tasty; I liked the dressing. Overall, it hit the spot and I wanted another one as soon as I was done. Updated from previous review on 2024-10-31“

“ここのﾎﾞﾊﾞﾐﾙｸﾃｨｰ美味しい！Tried their best seller milk tea w/ boba and liked it a lot! My 1st time visiting there and checked the google reviews and saw some bad reviews about this place before I visited but the store seems clean and service was quick too although there were 5 people a head of me. I’ve tried lots of boba teas in Taiwan,Japan, Canada and Cali, I think the milk tea at 8 Degrees has good flavor😋 liked their cups and the lid too.
I’d definitely come back here if I visit Iowa next time!“

“I was so surprised when I went there and that they actually had hot sauce that was spicy. It’s so hard to find a place that has really spicy salsa ☺️“

“wonderful restaurant, great food, Angel was our server. prompt and courteous. prices are good“