50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Des Moines

“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!“

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

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

“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!“

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

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

“Simon’s in Des Moines is absolutely incredible. The food was beyond amazing — every bite was flavorful and perfectly prepared. The service was outstanding, even though they were busy. What really stood out was the personal greeting from Simon himself. That level of care says so much about how much he values his guests. The atmosphere was welcoming and energetic, and I truly felt appreciated the entire time. Highly recommend!“

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

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

“Amazing food and great service!“

“5 star family classic eatery.“

“We had an amazing evening at Panka Peruvian restaurant this week with a BIG surprise at the end. We are having our first son! We carefully chose this place to celebrate our anniversary the last few years and our intimate gender reveal, because of the extraordinary experience they give us each time. It's really not just the food that they give us. They always give us a time we will never forget.“

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

“Went for the first time last night and was blown away by the flavor they pack into their food! Great quality for the price and they give you so many different foods with your meal. I got the pastitsio and it came with soup, salad, Greek fries, orzo, a little spinach feta pastry. 10/10“

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

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

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

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

“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!“

“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!!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“Food is always tasty, and the service is consistently great. The owner is super kind and really goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable and taken care of. I especially like going around noon when it’s quieter and not as busy—everything comes out fast and fresh. If you’re in the Beaverdale area, it’s definitely worth checking out.“

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

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

“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.“

“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“

“Savory, rich, and oh so good! The staff made our experience over the top. We will be back.“

“What a great atmosphere and the food was amazing. Will be back many more times.“

“Incredible great tasting pies and amazing consistency. The flavors are intense and it's a refreshing change from the current pizza 🍕 industry! Life is way too short for cheap, unloved 🍕 so I definitely recommend Trumans“

“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.“

“Their pizzadilla is amazing!! Only place that I have found this and it’s wonderful“

“Best service in DesMoines“

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

“Our family is on a tour of all 50 states and we stopped in here since it had such great online reviews! It did not disappoint! The Sarah’s Revenge sandwich was the best sandwich I’ve EVER had!“

“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.“

“First timer! Food was amazing 🤩 definitely try the onion rings with Kelly’s Mayo! Will be back“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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“

“My wife and I just visited here again last night, and I feel remiss about never having shared a review. We've eaten many meals cooked by Chef Baruthio, and he has never once disappointed us. We enjoyed his prior restaurant (Baru 66) when it was still around, and we’re delighted that he’s back in town with his new concept - Café Madeleine.
Like other reviews mention, the setting is small and intimate, and the service is warm and personable. The carefully curated seasonal menus are creative and delicious. Each course is well presented and includes a detailed description from the chef himself. We recommend including the suggested wine pairings, which further elevates the experience. The Café’s sommelier does a great job finding wines that harmonize well with each course, and you will likely be enjoying selections that aren’t commonly available locally.
In short, if you’re looking for a special dining experience and you appreciate great food, you should give this restaurant a try. Des Moines has several excellent high-end restaurants, and we’ve been fortunate enough to visit each of them, but in our opinion, you won’t do better right now than Café Madeleine.“

“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“

“love this place! great food, great staff, great service! my coworkers and I go every Monday and Katie has our drinks on the table before we even walk in!“

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

“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.“

“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“

“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.“