50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Des Moines

“We had an amazing time celebrating my daughter's first birthday. Our waitress, Myka made it such a special experience for us. I truly couldn't have asked for a better breakfast to celebrate such a big milestone. The food is delicious and the service was great.“

“If you are looking for great food and an even better atmosphere you gotta try Ritual. Perfect for meeting a friend, studying or just enjoying a book alone.“

“Fuzzy's crew totally nailed it! Mad props! Their menu's kinda wild, right? Like, tons of choices and I got this food allergy thing, BUT... The cashier was super cool, helped me find something safe to grub on. And the food? Seriously mind-blowing! Fuzzy's DSM? Man, they didn't disappoint! I'm definitely heading back for more!“

“I ordered the Thai Peanut Buddha Bowl and the Limeade. Jen clearly pours passion into her meals. I would highly recommend ordering. 🫶🏼“

“They had their food truck at my work today!! I got the Boom Boom burger and omg it is now my new favorite burger!!! Soooo awesome!!“

“The chicken sandwich is fire and the staff is great“

“First I feel like I have to say there is no where to park and the wait is long even on a Wednesday night. Inside is dark and loud and cramped. My ham and bean soup was very good! Stuffed mushroom appetizer was ok but not worth the $10.50 price. My steak was ok-I’ve had way better. Waitress said I should ask for it well done since the cook usually undercooked the steak and it turned out more done than I would have liked it but the waitress never came over to ask… The asparagus had that woody flavor. Potatoes were good. My bf let me try his onion rings and meatball sandwich and both were very good! Cake tasted old… the staff is very nice but looked a little overwhelmed.“

“Highly recommend food by K&G Digital 360! 10/10“

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

“Amazing food and great service!“

“The people are fantastic! I went for lunch while I waited for the plane, they were busy, and I was worried I might not have time to eat. The kitchen cranked it out, I was so impressed!“

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

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

“love the experience! great burgers and shakes, plus the staff went above and beyond by finding my daughter's shirt that we left behind and mailed it back to us! this staff is TOP NOTCH!“

“Aposto has a lovely atmosphere and some delicious dishes. The polenta cakes were a fan favorite as they were both light and crispy, and the sauce added a wonderful depth of flavor. For entrees, we liked the gnocchi’s lightness as each pesto lemon bite was really nice. However, the way it’s portioned makes the meal seem quite small, and there is very little crab in the dish itself. We ordered the duck special over risotto as well. The confit duck leg was cooked and spiced to perfection, but it’s accompanying risotto lacked a flavor punch.

For dessert, neither of us were wowed. They were decent and flavored as advertised, but they also didn’t quite hit the mark. We did adore our wines (especially the orange wine).“

“Beautiful space, delicious and delightful dishes! Plus the staff provide an excellent experience. I love the Ingersoll Corridor and Panka Peruvian is a do not miss. I loved the Papa Rellena from the appetizers menu and the Arroz Norteno from the Peruvian dishes menu.“

“My mashed potatoes had aluminium foil in them. They replaced but the meatloaf portion was 1/2 the size of the original. My husband's baked potato and meat on the top were cold. Server dropped the silverware and said he would return with clean. Never happened. Wouldn't recommend.“

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

“Best Chinese I've ever had. We got the orange and general chicken, crab rangoons, and pot stickers. Tasted so fresh and portions were big! The owners were SO nice and welcoming-you could tell they appreciate their customers!“

“A party of five of us visited on 1/8/25. We asked for a table in back as there was live music by the bar and we wanted to be able to talk together Our server was excellent - wish I had gotten her name Food was amazing - we got brussel sprouts, sliders, French fries w Parmesan, stuffed mushrooms, and spinach artichoke dip All came out timely and very good! We had martinis and all were very delicious and also came out quick I’ve been here about six times before and it’s always great Good patio area too Definitely a great place!“

“We recognize Chris for going above and beyond at Wasabi Waukee on September 23, 2025.

We were facing an urgent issue with our keg cooler that was impacting draft service. Chris not only helped diagnose and repair the cooler on the spot, he also assisted with swapping in new kegs, confirming lines, pressures, and temperatures, and ensuring every tap was pouring correctly before he left. His professionalism, technical know-how, and willingness to stay until the job was truly complete prevented service interruptions during a busy period and saved us product waste.

Please pass along my thanks—this is exactly the kind of partnership we value. Chris represented Confluence exceptionally well.

Thank you,
Rhiannon King
General Manager, Wasabi Waukee“

“Best service in DesMoines“

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

“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“

“5 star family classic eatery.“

“from cincinnati ohio. work trip here in des moines. was looking for a laid-back place to just chill at and was so impressed with the staff and patrons. thank you for a great chill night out“

“THE LADY THE WAITED ON ME WAS REALLY NICE AND THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD. I WILL BE RETURNING“

“Chicken is amazing and moist! Jerk sauce is also amazing! Rice and beans is spot on. Recommend adding additional beers to the bar and making the hindquarters available to order individually as I would have ordered days worth. The beer was a little warm, but not terrible. Overall, so happy to finally have a jerk chicken restaurant in Iowa with class. I will be back in a couple of days.“

“Nice people great pizza very clean“

“There is nothing better than The Library! They have a great selection of drinks and beers, incredibly fresh and tasty food, and amazing service! The small, cozy atmosphere just makes me happy!“

“the foods always great and very tasty..... old school iowa here and damb good“

“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.“

“The gnocchi is a very memorable dish. Soft, fluffy pillows of heaven. I don’t regret eating the entire dish AND ordering the lava cake. Easily ranks in my top 5 favorite DSM dishes.“

“Great environment ( inside and out) to grab a beer and relax. Lots on tap to choose from. Never had one I didn’t like. Staff is friendly and happy to be there. Highly recommend.“

“Great environment, excellent food and friendly staff. Will definitely be back next time I’m in the area!“

“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!“

“3/1/25 I ordered delivery My order was grilled chicken sandwich on sourdough bread with fries. The sandwich was very good and lots of great flavor. Herb fries were good too. I also, ordered the pretzel Bread Pudding, it was terrible dry and hard even with the carmel sauce. Bad choice.
8/10“

“Amazing pizza. So delicious. Tons of options and super friendly staff. Wish it wasn’t almost 2 hours away but will definitely be coming back when we are in the area again.“

“This is a delightful dining experience. The food is delicious, the servings are very generous, and the prices surprisingly moderate, especially as compared to other fine dining establishments in Des Moines. Pleasant, airy setting and attentive service.“

“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.“

“We are from northern Iowa came to DesMoines for an appointment. They recommended this to us for great food and boy they weren’t lying. Service was great food was fantastic, would recommend this place to all my friends. Keep up the great work!!!“

“Awesome food and great service.“

“It had been a few years since we’d been to Lucca and I can’t for the life of me understand why. We had an absolutely fantastic experience there last Friday and are already planning our return.

We’d decided to do a fancy night on the town with friends (the kind where you dress up for no good reason) and liked the look of Lucca’s prix fixe menu. We arrived at 8pm sharp but our table wasn’t quite ready so the wonderful hostess got us drinks and made us comfortable in the seats near the door. She checked on us several times and we’d honestly have been fine waiting there all night. But they soon seated us and we had an amazing dinner. Four courses, including dessert, for $57 per person. The NY strip alone might cost that at another restaurant. All dishes were delicious and we were impressed at just how wide the selection was.

Once again, the service took dinner to another level and we loved the ambience. Plus, you step out into the East Village and have a million options for the rest of the night.

Exceptional job, Steve Logsdon and crew; it’s no wonder you’re still making national lists after so many years in business. We will absolutely return soon. Highly recommended.“

“The Birria Pizzadillia was phenomenal. 20/10 would get again!“

“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.“

“Brownie says: I don't ever feel out of place here. The bar owner ( Jeff ) and his entire staff are the best...“

“Hands down my favorite bar. All the bartenders rock, the space is cozy, the drinks are actually reasonably priced, and they don’t skimp on the liquor. If it’s a busy night it can be HARD to find seating, but that’s most bars to be fair. Highly recommend“

“Amazing Tacos. Can't wait to try more things from their menu. Nice seating and polite staff. They take Taco truck to the next level.“

“Amazing food and at a reasonable price and not a bad wait time.“

“GIVE FRANCIS A RAISE!!!!!“