Restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa: 10 local spots to try
A guide to 10 Des Moines restaurants in our directory, from pizza and barbecue to brunch, pub food, Mexican, Italian-inspired and Indian dishes.
10 local businesses · Updated October 2026 · From Our Local Spotlight
These restaurants cover a wide range of meals, from sit-down dinners and weekend brunch to takeout, catering and party planning. Several offer delivery or online ordering, and a few take reservations, so the listing details are a good place to start. When choosing, check whether a place takes reservations or seats guests first come, first served, especially for weekend brunch or trivia nights. If you are planning a group meal or event, ask about private rooms, catering options and menu choices before you book.
1
Baba’s Buffalo
Restaurant Des Moines, IABaba's Buffalo is a Chicago-style kitchen at 1101 Army Post Road serving fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs, wings and authentic Italian beef, with jerk chicken on the menu too. Guests can dine in or order catering for events.
2
Beaver Tap
Restaurant Des Moines, IABeaver Tap is a neighborhood dive bar and sports bar serving breakfast, burgers and a pork tenderloin alongside craft beer on tap. Reviewers single out its fried chicken with curly fries, and it hosts free pool and live music on some nights.
3
Bernardo's Burritos
Restaurant Des Moines, IAFamily-owned Bernardo's Burritos is a downtown Mexican restaurant that began as a sidewalk taco stand. Its handcrafted burritos, tacos and enchiladas are made fresh daily, and it offers private events and food truck events.
4
Centro
Restaurant Des Moines, IACentro is an Italian-inspired restaurant downtown known for handmade pastas like cavatelli and gnocchi, plus pizza and steaks. Pizza and Pint Night runs Mondays with half-price pizza and select beers for dine-in guests.
5
Either Or
Restaurant Des Moines, IAEither Or is a restaurant and bar on Grand Avenue known for weekend brunch, including cheddar biscuits, pancakes and chicken fried chicken. Its property has a covered patio, five fire pits and a dog-friendly patio, and walk-ins are welcome.
6
Exile Brewing Company
Restaurant Des Moines, IAExile Brewing Company is a downtown brewpub making lagers, sours and IPAs since 2012, paired with a scratch kitchen menu of burgers and weekend brunch. Guests can dine in, order takeout or delivery, and reserve dining room tables online.
7
Felix & Oscar's
Restaurant Des Moines, IAFelix & Oscar's is a pizza restaurant that its site describes as a 50-year love affair with pizza. It offers lunch specials, trivia nights and party packages, and you can order pickup or delivery online. Online reservation requests are not final until the team confirms them.
8
Flying Mango
Restaurant Des Moines, IAFlying Mango blends Southern barbecue with Cajun-Creole comfort food and a touch of Caribbean flair. It is known for its 24-hour smoked beef brisket and Memphis-style ribs, and it began as catering and farmers' market food before becoming a neighborhood restaurant.
9
Gray’s Pub & Patio
Restaurant Des Moines, IAGray's Pub & Patio is a downtown pub with draft beer and a patio, serving shareable plates like nachos, pretzel bites and steak bites. Wings come with a choice of buffalo, BBQ or hot honey sauce, and the kitchen takes reservations through its website.
10
India Star
Restaurant Des Moines, IAIndia Star serves North Indian cuisine with a clay-oven tandoori menu, including tandoori chicken and seekh kabab. It offers an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet on Fridays and Saturdays, plus a long list of vegetarian dishes such as dal makhani, saag paneer and channa masala.
Details come from each business’s own listing in Des Moines Local Directory. Businesses don’t pay to be in our guides.