Restaurants in West Des Moines
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Best Restaurants
“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!!!”
“The atmosphere and drinks are top notch. I can't say the same for service. Apparently it is acceptable to not ask if our group would like anything else AND for the tab to be tossed on our table while walking by? Yes, I am still that person that tips at least 20% because I understand we all have "off" days but that is no excuse. It would have been 100% if the service was there.”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“Fleming’s is our go to for special occasions! Best service ever!”
“A go-to cozy neighborhood staple that never disappoints. Amazing specialty cocktails, great juicy burgers and best salmon in town.”
“I went in the morning with a big group of 12, and we all had a great time. Even though we were a big group, the staff took care of us with no problems. They greeted us warmly, took our orders quickly, and checked in on us throughout the meal. The service was friendly and well organized, which made our get together really enjoyable. We all had a wonderful experience and can’t wait to return.”
Restaurants with Delivery
“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!!!”
“Chowrastha Indian Grill & Eatery serves delicious Indian food with rich flavors and great portions. The ambiance is cozy, and the service is friendly, making it a great spot for a satisfying meal!”
“This is our first time here and it was amazing! The atmosphere is straight out of the 80s/90s and being a GenX it was awesome! Even the menu was a flash back to the past. The food was phenomenal! Their breakfast potatoes were to die for and I don’t do hash browns usually. Chelsey S was a top of the line server. The only minor complaint was the hostess didn’t know if they served Pepsi or Coke products. Just seemed odd her not knowing. I would hands down recommend this for a breakfast place.”
“This is my most favorite place in Iowa!! I even celebrated my graduation here and since moving to LA whenever I come back home to visit…you know I’m coming here🤗🤗amazing service, AMAZINGG curated food, absolutely gorgeous atmosphere/interior aesthetic. Could not recommend this place more! I already want to go back😊”
“Delicious! Sushi and sashimi we have had has always been fresh! No kids menu but they had helpful suggestions! My kids eat sushi and sashimi so I didn’t have any problems! Sesame chicken is also delicious! Pad Thai is good! I love the Korean fried chicken “starter”… so good and the sauce is on point!!! 🤙🏽”
Online Reservation Available
“My 9 year old son and I visited the week after Christmas. We are from out of town and looking for unique experiences in Des Moines and this fit the bill. The baristas were so friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was cozy. The cats were obviously the highlight for us. We enjoyed our hour watching them play, skitter around and interact with eachother. Core memories made for sure.”
“I went in the morning with a big group of 12, and we all had a great time. Even though we were a big group, the staff took care of us with no problems. They greeted us warmly, took our orders quickly, and checked in on us throughout the meal. The service was friendly and well organized, which made our get together really enjoyable. We all had a wonderful experience and can’t wait to return.”
“This is my most favorite place in Iowa!! I even celebrated my graduation here and since moving to LA whenever I come back home to visit…you know I’m coming here🤗🤗amazing service, AMAZINGG curated food, absolutely gorgeous atmosphere/interior aesthetic. Could not recommend this place more! I already want to go back😊”
“We have dined here so many times, I've lost count. Our favorites are the Chipotle fettuccine pasta, guacamole, salsa, flautas, the Las Alegres special, quesadillas, and of course, the margaritas 🍹. Small group or large, they can take care of your table without missing a beat. We will be back again and again!”
“Delicious! Sushi and sashimi we have had has always been fresh! No kids menu but they had helpful suggestions! My kids eat sushi and sashimi so I didn’t have any problems! Sesame chicken is also delicious! Pad Thai is good! I love the Korean fried chicken “starter”… so good and the sauce is on point!!! 🤙🏽”
“you’re looking for a refined Indian dining experience with an upscale atmosphere, Bawarchi stands out for more than just presentation. The menu thoughtfully blends North and South Indian cuisine, with a strong focus on its tandoor selection. From classic favorites to their “heat stroke” tandoor options for those who enjoy bold flavors, everything is well-balanced and layered rather than overly spicy. There’s also impressive inclusivity on the menu — plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options that don’t feel like afterthoughts. Each dish is crafted with intention, making it easy to host diverse groups for corporate dinners, celebrations, or date nights. During the summer, live dosa and chaat stations add an interactive touch, bringing authentic Delhi-style street flavors into a polished, elegant setting. The beverage program complements the experience beautifully, featuring a strong collection of high-end scotch and a curated wine list that pairs seamlessly with the cuisine. Overall, it’s a sophisticated dining destination that combines authenticity, variety, and a premium atmosphere — ideal for those who appreciate quality across the board.”
“Had a small group (9pp) attending an informal Porsche car club pre-drive planning meeting at Biaggi's last night. I had made minor arrangements with Jeff Duncan (Managing Partner) and Whitney Webber (Event Planner) and they were most professional and accommodating to my requests. Pleasure to work with! The food and drinks were very good and and our server Tiffany did a great job being professional, attentive, and personable. The pricing of the menu items is surprisingly low to me providing an exceptional value as well. Highly recommended!!!”
“Lovely restaurant for a special occasion. We celebrated our 40th anniversary. Wait staff was superb. Attentive, but not overbearing. The food was delicious. Melt in your mouth steak. Special chocolate dessert on the house for our celebration. Plan on going again.”
“We always have a great time at Gilroy’s, but tonight went above and beyond! When our server found out we were celebrating my birthday, not only did she bring me a dessert on the house, but she also brought me a birthday card signed by the staff and a coupon for my next visit. She even caught that I’d ordered a vegetarian meal and a mocktail and tailored the coupon accordingly. It was so thoughtful and I wish I would have caught her name because she was truly incredible and deserves a shout out!”
“We stopped in for a much needed family dinner with it 6 &4 year old and 6 week old and were nervous about making it through the meal with good behavior. Everyone from the servers, bartenders, and even guests showed us the greatest kindness and most understanding and the food (specifically the prime rib) was a complete 10/10. We might be back every Friday”
“I came there on a Saturday and had the prime rib special. My steak was cooked to perfection. For dessert I had the smore. 😋👍👍”
Takeout Restaurants
“We had dinner there tonight and I also had one of the Iowa mules. I don’t think I can recommend this place enough! Most places either make the drinks too strong but they taste gross or not strong enough and you don’t get your moneys worth, but this was probably the best mule I’ve ever had. Also the food was delicious and on a Saturday night we had no wait!”
“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.”
“I went to Super Quick Liquor Store the other day from a friend’s recommendation of the Krispy Krunchy Chicken and it did not disappoint!!! The fried chicken was some of the best that I’ve had in the DSM area! I got a biscuit and jambalaya and they were so delicious! 10/10 will be back”
“Every other Pancheros is trash, and then this one has the best burrito in Des Moines, and sadly yes… I’ve eaten at the food trucks, some good sit downs, but this tortilla is unbearable and the staff does an incredible job of rotating the product and keeping everything hot. It’d be an interesting competition to see a few of the food trucks have this tortilla, but they don’t. Fight me ;)”
“We have gone to McAllister‘s deli many times over the years and over the past few years, the portion sizes had been decreasing. This last time, they were greatly improved, much to my approval! Throughout our visits, the food has been high-quality and hopefully things are back to moving in the right direction.”
“Had a small group (9pp) attending an informal Porsche car club pre-drive planning meeting at Biaggi's last night. I had made minor arrangements with Jeff Duncan (Managing Partner) and Whitney Webber (Event Planner) and they were most professional and accommodating to my requests. Pleasure to work with! The food and drinks were very good and and our server Tiffany did a great job being professional, attentive, and personable. The pricing of the menu items is surprisingly low to me providing an exceptional value as well. Highly recommended!!!”
“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.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“The atmosphere and drinks are top notch. I can't say the same for service. Apparently it is acceptable to not ask if our group would like anything else AND for the tab to be tossed on our table while walking by? Yes, I am still that person that tips at least 20% because I understand we all have "off" days but that is no excuse. It would have been 100% if the service was there.”
“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! 🙏”
“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.”
“Each visit is more exceptional than the last! Staff are amazing, the atmosphere is great, and our anniversary was well thought out by the club. Thank you!”
“Had a pickup order, had the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, food was ready very fast and was one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. One small gripe is I wish it had a little more of the hot oil.”
“Lovely restaurant for a special occasion. We celebrated our 40th anniversary. Wait staff was superb. Attentive, but not overbearing. The food was delicious. Melt in your mouth steak. Special chocolate dessert on the house for our celebration. Plan on going again.”
Cheap Eats
“I'm extremely picky about boba so it can be hard to find boba places that I like, and I thought I had found my favorite boba place... and then I tried Zenko and now other boba will never beat it lol. I'm a very routine-order person so I've only ever tried the black sugar milk tea with boba here, but I lowkey just never bothered trying any of their other drinks simply because this one is so good. Most of my friends who do like several of their drinks also tend to gravitate towards the black sugar milk tea as well, though, so I feel validated in always ordering the same drink over and over :) It's also so cozy and fun inside all the shops--I've been to three of the locations and they all have the same relaxing vibe, lots of plants and soft music.”
“My pizza was very tasty. Nice chew on the crust, good fresh cheese wish it had some brown on it. Hot honey pepperoni with white sauce is very good sauce mixes together very good. Service was good could have more variety of beer. No dark beer on tap. Shelf next to High tops are dusty and had Nats flying around.”
“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.”
“As you walk in you are immediately greeted by a friendly staff with a welcoming attitude which is also uttered as you leave. My wait staffer — Shaquille - was very professional and delivered my appetizer of dumplings along side a bowl of steam rice. As you circle the grill masters there are a variety of fresh options from proteins, veggies, soups, sauces and desserts. The grill masters grill your select dish to perfection as you circle around to grab your pleasant smelling creation. The atmosphere is trendy suitable for all gatherings to socialize with an upbeat crowd where there is suitable parking with a reasonable budget friendly menu for most diets.”
“The Chayo’s and their quesabirrila tacos are always at the top of my list when I was a delicious and quick meal. I stopped by there tonight and didn’t realize I left my wallet until they were so generous enough to come drop it off at my house. Great food and people!”
“We always have a great time at Gilroy’s, but tonight went above and beyond! When our server found out we were celebrating my birthday, not only did she bring me a dessert on the house, but she also brought me a birthday card signed by the staff and a coupon for my next visit. She even caught that I’d ordered a vegetarian meal and a mocktail and tailored the coupon accordingly. It was so thoughtful and I wish I would have caught her name because she was truly incredible and deserves a shout out!”
“We stopped in for a much needed family dinner with it 6 &4 year old and 6 week old and were nervous about making it through the meal with good behavior. Everyone from the servers, bartenders, and even guests showed us the greatest kindness and most understanding and the food (specifically the prime rib) was a complete 10/10. We might be back every Friday”
“Fresh OJ & grapefruit juice for your refreshment needs, with a covered patio or tables out front in the sun. A simple bar, clean and friendly, Charlies is a WDM institution. Bring cash!”
“Olive Garden is one of those places where I go in planning to eat a normal meal and leave wondering why I have enough leftovers for the next two days.
The food is consistently great, and you can tell a lot of it is made fresh. The gnocchi soup is hands-down my favorite thing on the menu. If they ever start selling it by the gallon, I'm in trouble. The endless soup, salad, and breadsticks deal is one of the best values around, and somehow those breadsticks always disappear faster than they arrive.
The servers are always friendly and generous with the cheese. In fact, I usually end up with enough grated cheese on my pasta to qualify as a side dish by itself. I've even joked about buying one of their cheese graters because I love it so much.
The lemonade is excellent, although I may drink it faster than the staff can refill it. If you're looking for an appetizer, get the Fritta... something. It's like a mozzarella stick that leveled up—crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and absolutely delicious.
Top it all off with one of their desserts, and you'll leave happy, full, and probably carrying a to-go box. Olive Garden never disappoints.”
“This is the super fun place and all the bartenders have always been super friendly and very accommodating. Whenever we stay at the Drury we go to The Operating Room. The husband won a new stuffie for the cats 😂”
“We love this place, and the food. We’ve Been here multiple times. But today 7-11-2025, we showed up at 9:10pm and were excused out the door because the front greeter stated to us that they stopped dinning at 9pm. The waitress in-front of him looked like she felt bad and was wanting to sit us down, but the male greeter gave her a grin. The Hours for this place is 11am-10pm. What a way to loose business right at your door! Very disappointed with this !”
“Popped in to see what was offered, amazed at the number of flavors to choose from of both coffee and tea! A great cup of dark sidama and sample of Peru to try later, and I don't think I have had better anywhere else! Initially mild, no acidity, but offering the rich flavor that only true dark roasts can offer when done right. I will be back, and have convinced friends and family in the area to try them out, too.”
“I came to Hearth of Salt, but doors shared entry point so ended up at BeerStyles. Server was attentive, friendly, and responsive. I ordered the Marto Sherbert Groover (sour) that was very good! I tried the Japchae Noodle bowl with grilled chicken added. I’ve had similar clear sweet potato noodle dishes in the past, but these were a bit dense compared and slightly chewy. There was little sauce and veggies, plus it was hard to stab or spoon from the small bowl served in. Presentation could be improved and a bit more added flavor. All in all a good experience with solid service and atmosphere fit for conversation among guests.”
“I love a good dive and this place checks all the boxes. Big TVs. Pool table. Golden tee. Cheap beer. Great deals. Wall of liquor. Slot machines. ATM. Regulars a dime a dozen, but you wouldn't trade a single one of them away. They have a roller dog machine, was not on while I was there. The bartender tolerates everyone guff and makes sure everyone's still laughing. 10/10”
Latest Reviews
“We had a great experience today Paul our server was excellent oh, you did a great job from start to finish really appreciate it is great customer service. My brother was very impressed with the Durango Burger said it was the best burger he is ever had in his life. My cheeseburger with bacon was very good as well took the way I like it. Appreciate the great service and hospitality and food that we enjoy.”
“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.”
“We purchased a package deal as a Christmas present for our family. Went Friday night & we all had an absolute time!! Kaylie is who helped us get things set up & was there & made sure we were taken care of! She was awesome!! From age 65 down to age 6 we all loved it! Everyone was so friendly waiting on us & accomodating!! Thanks for a great Christmas get together! Highly recommended!!”
“Chowrastha Indian Grill & Eatery serves delicious Indian food with rich flavors and great portions. The ambiance is cozy, and the service is friendly, making it a great spot for a satisfying meal!”
Most Popular Restaurants
“We had a great experience today Paul our server was excellent oh, you did a great job from start to finish really appreciate it is great customer service. My brother was very impressed with the Durango Burger said it was the best burger he is ever had in his life. My cheeseburger with bacon was very good as well took the way I like it. Appreciate the great service and hospitality and food that we enjoy.”
“Chowrastha Indian Grill & Eatery serves delicious Indian food with rich flavors and great portions. The ambiance is cozy, and the service is friendly, making it a great spot for a satisfying meal!”
“Our first time at Texas Roadhouse on Mills Civic Parkway.Our children had recommended it to us.Busy at 2pm Sat afternoon.Small wait.First thing I observed was the atmosphere.Very light-hearted and the employees actually seemed to really enjoy their workplace and the vast amount of patrons coming into eat. We were seated and almost immediately our server Maddi was there for our drink/ appetizer orders. There was some Birthday singing being done for various customer's special days.Food was served as soon as salads were done.Very nice salad almost like a mini main course salad.We had steak and barbecue chicken with steak fries and fresh vegetables.The dinner was excellent everything was fresh That was supposed to be fresh and the steaks were excellent done just right!!Everyone thanked us and wished us a good evening.I would recommend this Texas Roadhouse to anyone wishing to have a very good delicious reasonably priced meal.”
“Very good food and great service. Now I know restaurants are trying to turn over tables but when like no one is there what's the rush? Second time (not here 2 times) in a short while that we get up to go to bathroom and after we asked for a to go box, personnel take all our stuff at the table including food box. Now, I will say that when I went to go get the check paid (didn' t do before to signify that I was coming back) after bathroom viisit that took a little while, they did replace it free.
We did think that the sign near the bathrooms was great 😁 .”
“We had dinner there tonight and I also had one of the Iowa mules. I don’t think I can recommend this place enough! Most places either make the drinks too strong but they taste gross or not strong enough and you don’t get your moneys worth, but this was probably the best mule I’ve ever had. Also the food was delicious and on a Saturday night we had no wait!”
New Restaurants
“The food was amazing. We tried a couple different items (check photos to see what) they were are very tasty.
Only disappointment was how unclean it was. The tables were all dirty as well as the seats, trash cans were completely overflowing, and the area around the trash cans looked like they have never been wiped down.”
“Simple stated, Incredible”