50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants Johnston

“Huge shout out to Wasabi Johnston! My daughter wanted to go there for sushi for her bday dinner last night. I called ahead and asked if we could bring in a cake, etc... they were MORE than accommodating. They said whatever we needed! They kept it a secret until we finished our dinner. Brought out the cake, lit the candles, provided extra plates, a knife to cut it and were SO kind. Thank you guys all SO much! My daughter was thrilled (and embarrassed). Excellent dinner too!“

“This was our first visit to Back Pocket. Our sever Marista was awesome. She was very welcoming and handled the lunch rush great. We will definitely be back again and hopefully get Marista as our sever again sometime. The Detroit Pizza was awesome.“

“I’ve been traveling the state of Iowa, trying Iowa barbecue hands down! the BEST Wings, chicken & the turkey melts in your mouth“

“I want to give a shout out to Early Birds restaurant in West Des Moines. Kevin was a fantastic bartender. First time I have been here. The food was amazing. I love the atmosphere. The whole concept is great. The menu… too many things to choose from. I got the Cinnamon roll French toast. Delicious. And the Hashbrown holes delicious. It was great to get an appetizer before my French toast. I have to give a shout out to Kevin as he knows everything on the menu plus he has great suggestions for drinks from the bar! Will deffinately be going back again.“

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

“My family and I recently stopped at Smash Park in Des Moines on a whim for some family fun and food. The atmosphere was laid back and our kids thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor pickle ball courts and the arcade. Food, dessert and drinks were all crowd pleasers! And to go completely over the top, we left our blanket outside and Jerry answered my phone call, went outside to retrieve it from the bench where I left it, and mailed it back to me free of charge. In a world where kindness and customer support are harder and harder to come by, Jerry and Smash Park get a 10/10 from this family!!!“

“Good beer and food, but over priced, especially with added fees.“

“I enjoy my dinner. The food was very good. If spicy food is your thing, this is your place. Also, ask for the Kingfisher Beer. You will need it. Curry Fish was my order and I enjoyed the spicy fish and the beer. One thing that could be improved would be the loudness of the room. It seemed the tile floor or something helped to make the room more noisy that it should be. However I enjoyed my visit. I would eat here again.“

“I made an order to pickup and when I walked in the door there were 5 employees and not a single one acknowledged me in any way. Not one smile or even eye contact. They were all very busy working and I get that but it only takes a second to acknowledge a customer. The cookies look fantastic and taste amazing. No complaints about the product but I do think the customer experience is not great due to being ignored by the staff.“

“Best coffee shop in Des Moines!! ☕️ Amazing local honey tooo 🍯“

“Beautiful roasts, great pour overs, delicious shots and Gibraltars. Best in the state that I’ve found! Keep it up guys. Omg and the scones…perfect.“

“Our family went out to a late lunch here today. The service was awesome, and the food was absolutely wonderful. We took advantage of their September special, and were able to try several menu items. None disappointed. They were all great. Decor and atmosphere were modern and chic. Highly recommend a visit!“

“We had Sam and Billy for our servers at the bar, they were extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Our drinks stayed full with plenty of conversation. This is the reason we continue to come back to this hotel.“

“So many delicious flavors to choose from and friendly staff.“

“Best restaurant in ankney! By so far haven’t change. Has best customer service and FOOD!“

“We are from out of town and decided to try something new. Our choice was a hit because the food was fabulous, great flavor and the service was exceptional friendly and helpful. We didn’t know what to order so the server helped us navigate the menu. I definitely recommend the food.“

“Bullseye because this place doesn’t miss! Had a craving for fried chicken and decided to grab some fried fish as well. Not a lot of talking over dinner tonight, just lip-smacking and humming some negro spirituals! There was a little glitch with the phone ordering and had to wait a little longer than expected due to the dinner rush, but hey, it was so worth it in the end. Price was right, portions were sufficient and the food was hot n ready. Wings, fish, greens, mac n cheese, and sweet potatoes!!“

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

“The staff are always super friendly and kind!“

“We don't usually eat at chain restaurants, but PF Chang's is a great place to go if you need gluten free food (or non- gluten free, too!) in a nice atmosphere with good service! They are very careful about bringing your food separately on a different colored plate, so our family of Celiacs feel good about eating here! Fun drinks or mocktails, too. Servers have always been friendly & helpful. If you want to sit at the bar & watch a game, they'll change the channels for you to the game you want to see.“

“Always friendly service, fast and delicious!“

“Olivia was great and deserves a pay raise“

“Went for the first time as we are from 4 hours away. Everything was awesome. Got seated right away. And order was taken. Food came out hot. Didn’t try the pop tart as wasn’t sure what it was. But heard it is very good. Maybe next time we get to town. Service was outstanding“

“Was able to pull in right at closing time. Staff working on the night of November 26 was very nice and accommodating. We were super appreciative of their service as we had a long drive ahead and needed a pick me up. Very thankful and pleased!“

“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“

“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“

“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 wings were amazing. Super crispy outside and juicy inside. I had the Thai Basil and son had the Honey Gochjang. Both were awesome. Hoping for the best for them.“

“The BEST sour beers I’ve had!“

“An unexpectedly large number of my family & friends descended on this fine establishment after a Celebration of Life and everyone was taken care of in a very timely & professional manner! Everyone loved their food, beverages, & the service! THANK YOU for shining a light on what was a difficult day! 🙏“

“My second time here - great ambiance, service, good, & drinks. I’ve purchased items at the connected market each time. Very handy.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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.“

“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 food and drinks! Service was fantastic, thank you to Cory and Zoey!! The kitchen team was hard working!!“

“I recently ordered the strawberry croissant and the fruit danish pastries. Both were delicious and received rave reviews from my coworkers. I needed a pick up time before work and she was great at accommodating me. I will definitely order again!“

“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!“

“Great way to wear your dog out. Staff are super in their handling of dogs. Been there a month now and no regrets“

“Hospitable, delicious, affordable, and LOCAL!“

“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.“

“excellent service,food,ambiance i will definitely come back here 🥰“

“We just stayed for one beer but this place has a great vibe, great beer and friendly staff. Looking forward to coming back.“

“Awesome beer and support their local first responders!“

“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!“

“Best damn burger ever. And I’ve had PLENTY And this place BY FAR has THE BEST burger and service. Music is a touch too loud but it’s a pub so I get it. Otherwise great! So glad I came and will becoming back. Again GET THE BURGER!! so good!!! I didn’t take a photo in time because I ate it so fast lol. Thanks for a great dinner.“

“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“

“Elegant design, wonderful wood-fired pizza, great service, who could ask for more?“

“Excellent service and food!“

“Went with my niece before an appointment. Showed up a little before 9 and Zuella was the cashier. She was very personable and polite. She had a warm feeling about her. We dined in and my niece and I both got the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. Both sandwiches were fresh and Zuella came out and checked on us. She was very hospitable. Restaurant was clean. What I did appreciate was there was a table of staff all sitting together eating behind us. Whether it was them on break or about to start/ended shift, it was nice to see they were given that time and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Great experience.“

“The staff are incredible!! Monty and I love all the helpful and friendly bar tenders! Highly HIGHLY recommend ☺️“