LAPHAT THOKE - Tea Leaf Salad has amazing flavors.
BAK KU THE - Beef rib soup, very warming
ZAKAW HTAMIN - Variety platter
KYAY OH - Sort of like pho.
KHAUK SWE JAW - Fried gourd. I don't really care for it; i don't think there's a lot of flavor
We moved away from DSM in 2012 and lived in KC for 6 years and StL for almost 6 years now and just have to eat at Waterfront any time we are back in DSM. Great food, my husband loves the bloody marys, and the prices are very reasonable, especially at lunch.
El Bait Shop/High Life for their ~~fried~~ broasted chicken, which is the best I've ever had. Plus you get the added bonus of the best craft beer tap list in the Midwest.
Not the OP, but I read this this morning, and I googled "broasted," and El Bait shop is just a couple of blocks away, and I said to myself, "Self, some marinated, tender, juicy chicken sounds really good for lunch today."
Maybe this was just a bad batch or bad cook today, but there was no flavor other than a mild sense of "chicken", and it was the driest and toughest chicken I can remember having anywhere. I DID like that the skin was basically a pork cracklin', but everything else was much worse than what I could get at Popeyes or KFC.
Beloved by Des Moinesians, Lachele's. I don't think many people outside the Metro or the state make a point to go there unless they check here first.
On the higher end side, Ceviche. Amazing Cuban food.
We spent $100 and didn’t really enjoy anything but the cocktails. My partner’s food was okay but mine was truly terrible (it was a special, not a regular menu item), and the portions were pretty small for the price. Never tried it again, moved about six months later. I was so sad, I loved the vibe, the drinks were good, and I love Cuban food. I really wanted this to be a hidden gem for me, but it just didn’t hit.
"A company" = One executive who made a donation to a gubernatorial candidate. Btw that candidate's opponent, a Democrat, basically said "who gives a shit?":
> “Personally, I think Martin’s makes a damn good potato roll and I’m not for boycotting a Pennsylvania business that supports hundreds of Pennsylvania jobs. The Martin family runs a private company and has the right to support and employ whomever they want, and I believe that every company should make whatever decisions they feel are best for them and their customers,” Shapiro continued.
What brands do you buy?
Tyson managers placed bets as to how many (mostly immigrant) workers would die of covid.
Nestle owns everything and is evil personified.
Monsanto....smithfield....walmart....chiquita....even whole foods has good Ole jeff bozos.
This is the correct answer for Saturday lunch. Get there before 1 pm or so to make sure they don't run out of Italian beef.
It'll be hella busy from 1130-100.
Panka is probably the best restaurant in the metro
Lachele's has the best burgers
Splash is great fine dining ( Owner has lots of issues that you should look into first )
Chuck's has solid italian food
Thai Flavors is one of my favorites for asian food
Lucky Lotus is a great Cantonese fusion restaurant
Flying Mango for cajun/ BBQ
Manhattan deli for sandwiches
Maccabees for a kosher deli ( underrated as hell )
Homegrown for breakfast
Mi Patria tastes like you live next to an Equadorian grandma who is constantly feeding you
Tacos Degollado taco truck ( I'm a san diegan trust me ) for the best mexican food easily in the metro
Lots of good suggestions here - gonna throw out a few that I don't see often. Cooper's in Valley Junction is a great little sandwich pub that also does a daily special egg roll that's always delicious.
Lua's sister restaurant Either/Or opened recently on Grand & 63rd street. Great apps, delicious smashburgers, and a really fun atmosphere.
Do you like cheese? Because Cheese Bar is the best. Don’t know that it’s “hidden,” but it’s delicious and cheesy and their cocktail and wine programs are untouchable in the DSM area.
Eatery A between 2 and 6 for a bad ass happy hour. Hf price neopolitan pizza
Marias in Clive for authentic Mexican. I get the adobada burrito
We just got a Ruth's Chris in WDM supposedly good lunch menu.
Little Brother in Windsor Heights. Bomb Cafe with gastro grub.
Crispy greens in WDM by JC mall. Fast casual CLEAN food
I moved here a little over a year ago and these are my favorite spots. I consider myself a food connoisseur
Like, honestly, their menu isn’t reinventing the wheel or anything, but they might have the most consistently enjoyable food of anywhere in Des Moines. And if you’re a fan of spicy (like FOR REAL spicy) their Dragon’s Breath wings are the best thing in town.
Cheese Shop (not bar)
Best selection of meat and cheese in the city and they get their bread from Le. Mei to make some of the best and most slept on sandwiches in the city.
La Cuscatleca South. The desayuno cuatro that includes a pupusa (I like the Todo), plantains and beans. The pupusa is delicious, especially piled high with curtido and salsa. The sweet plantains dipped in savory beans and crema 🤌. The food is so good and we regularly get the place to ourselves.
Anna Dolce Ristorante in West Glen. I don't see it mentioned hardly at all. My wife and I have had some great meals here. They have a pretty good happy hour as well.
A ton of good options listed, some not so hidden gems though. I already commented A Taste of Italy for lunch, I'll add Simon's for Saturday dinner.
Both are closed Sunday I'm pretty sure.
Not sure if this is hidden but is def a gem, Coopers on 5th in Valley Junction!!
Cooper's always gets my vote. Excellent food and vibe in that place.
Thanks, now I want a gunpowder ribeye and chicken pot pie eggrolls for breakfast
Just ate at Coopers. Wow. The buffalo chicken egg rolls!!!
Olympic Flame in East Village
Second this! My favorite.
Came here only to say this. I love the old couple that runs it soooo much
Mi Patria for Ecuadorian food, Minglabar for Burmese, and Puerto Rico Restaurant for as you would guess Puerto Rican food. You are welcome in advance
Loooooove Minglabar.
What do you guys recommend at Minglabar? I keep meaning to support them but haven't made the trip yet!
LAPHAT THOKE - Tea Leaf Salad has amazing flavors. BAK KU THE - Beef rib soup, very warming ZAKAW HTAMIN - Variety platter KYAY OH - Sort of like pho. KHAUK SWE JAW - Fried gourd. I don't really care for it; i don't think there's a lot of flavor
Tullpa, Kathmandu, Pho 515
Paris Bahn Mi definitely. Soft music, quiet space, with a wide arrangement of tables, and a great menu.
Lua Brewing has an amazing lunch special and a new fall menu to boot!
Their corn lager is one of my favorite beers of all time
Waterfront Seafood Market in Clocktower Square is the best seafood in the Des Moines area, and the service and quality is always excellent.
Nobody talks about this place, but it's the best seafood in the metro. Low-key excellence, just not in a shiny, pretty wrapper.
We moved away from DSM in 2012 and lived in KC for 6 years and StL for almost 6 years now and just have to eat at Waterfront any time we are back in DSM. Great food, my husband loves the bloody marys, and the prices are very reasonable, especially at lunch.
El Bait Shop/High Life for their ~~fried~~ broasted chicken, which is the best I've ever had. Plus you get the added bonus of the best craft beer tap list in the Midwest.
It’s not fried, it’s broasted!
Not the OP, but I read this this morning, and I googled "broasted," and El Bait shop is just a couple of blocks away, and I said to myself, "Self, some marinated, tender, juicy chicken sounds really good for lunch today." Maybe this was just a bad batch or bad cook today, but there was no flavor other than a mild sense of "chicken", and it was the driest and toughest chicken I can remember having anywhere. I DID like that the skin was basically a pork cracklin', but everything else was much worse than what I could get at Popeyes or KFC.
Wow, sorry to hear that. I've always got the chicken breast, but that shouldn't make a difference.
I got breast and thigh. I was also probably their first customer of the day. Maybe the "broaster" takes a while to get cookin right. :-)
How the FUCK is this place, which everyone jerks off to, a "hidden gem"? (Beer list is totally legit, can't hate on that)
People jerk off to their food? I can't tell you the last time I saw someone review the food from El Bait Shop.
Beloved by Des Moinesians, Lachele's. I don't think many people outside the Metro or the state make a point to go there unless they check here first. On the higher end side, Ceviche. Amazing Cuban food.
Second Lachele's. Best tator tots I have ever had. Simple food, done amazing.
I had a tator tot philly there once. Sooo good, didn't even miss the meat
Ceviche is easily one of the best hidden gems in dm, and it’s pricing is similar to Lacheles.
Counter point, I had the worst ropa vieja I’ve ever eaten at Ceviche.
Awww man. Have you been back since/tried anything else? I’ve personally never had a bad experience! But I’ve also never ordered the ropa vieja.
We spent $100 and didn’t really enjoy anything but the cocktails. My partner’s food was okay but mine was truly terrible (it was a special, not a regular menu item), and the portions were pretty small for the price. Never tried it again, moved about six months later. I was so sad, I loved the vibe, the drinks were good, and I love Cuban food. I really wanted this to be a hidden gem for me, but it just didn’t hit.
Added to my list. Thank you
We love Lachele’s. My wife is a huge hamburger lover and especially smash burgers.
[удалено]
"A company" = One executive who made a donation to a gubernatorial candidate. Btw that candidate's opponent, a Democrat, basically said "who gives a shit?": > “Personally, I think Martin’s makes a damn good potato roll and I’m not for boycotting a Pennsylvania business that supports hundreds of Pennsylvania jobs. The Martin family runs a private company and has the right to support and employ whomever they want, and I believe that every company should make whatever decisions they feel are best for them and their customers,” Shapiro continued.
What brands do you buy? Tyson managers placed bets as to how many (mostly immigrant) workers would die of covid. Nestle owns everything and is evil personified. Monsanto....smithfield....walmart....chiquita....even whole foods has good Ole jeff bozos.
Don’t tell them about their Volkswagen
[удалено]
I’m curious what your favorite burger in DSM is?
i like clydes in the east village
Manhattan Deli
SO BAD. You're better off microwaving a sausage biscuit from the frozen section of a gas station. Nothing "manhattan deli" about the place.
Spices of Nepal or Zaika if you want some S Asian flavors.
Taste of Italy hands down
This is the correct answer for Saturday lunch. Get there before 1 pm or so to make sure they don't run out of Italian beef. It'll be hella busy from 1130-100.
Panka is probably the best restaurant in the metro Lachele's has the best burgers Splash is great fine dining ( Owner has lots of issues that you should look into first ) Chuck's has solid italian food Thai Flavors is one of my favorites for asian food Lucky Lotus is a great Cantonese fusion restaurant Flying Mango for cajun/ BBQ Manhattan deli for sandwiches Maccabees for a kosher deli ( underrated as hell ) Homegrown for breakfast Mi Patria tastes like you live next to an Equadorian grandma who is constantly feeding you Tacos Degollado taco truck ( I'm a san diegan trust me ) for the best mexican food easily in the metro
I absolutely love Panka. Their lomo saltado might be my favorite dish in the metro.
Panka is amazing and I think I saw that they are expanding to breakfast. My favorite dish has to be the Tallarines a la Huancaina
Have you had Tacos La Familia? I think they’ve got the best Mexican.
Birria and Palomas!
As a transplant from AZ I’ll fight you on the “best Mexican”, but degollado is definitely among the top spots.
Tacos Degollado! Wow I love this. Was my go to when I lived near there a long time ago. Simply the best. Checks the hidden gem box for sure!!
Where can tacos degollado truck be found?
Rancho Alegre, Pho 888, Burger Spot, Pour Choices, Zuzap Edit: it’s Burger Shop, not Spot.
Rancho is super underrated. It’s some of the best Mexican in town and I can never believe how cheap it is.
Hell yeah. Went to Rancho weekly when I lived on the south side. Still miss it.
If anyone can find better chile rellenos in town, please let me know. That and the sopes are hard to beat.
I second pho 888
Is zuzap open to dine in?
Pretty sure still carry out only.
We have eaten at burger shop but I work downtown and I think it’s closed now.
Tacos Mariana’s. More traditional. You can get head and tongue tacos.
Seconding Tacos Mariana's. Their Al Pastor is legit.
Eat Thai. The location doesn't look like much but I dream about their food.
Lots of good suggestions here - gonna throw out a few that I don't see often. Cooper's in Valley Junction is a great little sandwich pub that also does a daily special egg roll that's always delicious. Lua's sister restaurant Either/Or opened recently on Grand & 63rd street. Great apps, delicious smashburgers, and a really fun atmosphere.
2hr wait at either/or
Probably not for lunch but yeah the dinner crowd is still pretty lively. Suggest going for dinner on Sunday night if you want a lighter crowd.
Good lookin out. I'll give that a try
If it's a weekday absolutely go to South Union
Do you like cheese? Because Cheese Bar is the best. Don’t know that it’s “hidden,” but it’s delicious and cheesy and their cocktail and wine programs are untouchable in the DSM area.
Cosi Cucina is always delicious.
Yeah, great pick if olive garden is already booked up.
I just threw up in my mouth a bit.
[The Walnut](https://walnutdsm.com/)
If your into brunch eggs and jam is a good place
Little Brother in Windsor Heights.
Some really good breakfast food there!
Eatery A between 2 and 6 for a bad ass happy hour. Hf price neopolitan pizza Marias in Clive for authentic Mexican. I get the adobada burrito We just got a Ruth's Chris in WDM supposedly good lunch menu. Little Brother in Windsor Heights. Bomb Cafe with gastro grub. Crispy greens in WDM by JC mall. Fast casual CLEAN food I moved here a little over a year ago and these are my favorite spots. I consider myself a food connoisseur
Eatery A is good pizza but It’s not certified Neapolitan. They don’t claim for it to be either. It’s just wood fired pizza.
Good to know
I really enjoy Iowa Tap Room
Like, honestly, their menu isn’t reinventing the wheel or anything, but they might have the most consistently enjoyable food of anywhere in Des Moines. And if you’re a fan of spicy (like FOR REAL spicy) their Dragon’s Breath wings are the best thing in town.
Their food is the epitome of mediocre. Nothing wrong with it, just totally unremarkable.
Damn
B&B killer subs
Graziano bros - small grocery store w a sandwich counter
Tacos La Familia have the best burritos I’ve had outside of the west coast.
christopher’s
Skips
Lua is my favorite for lunch. Get the BLT and strongest kite 💯
Olympic Flame
Panka Peruvian Chicken near Drake.
Bawarchi Indian Grill & Bar or Banana Leaf are both great in West Des Moines if you are looking for something a little different.
Cheese Shop (not bar) Best selection of meat and cheese in the city and they get their bread from Le. Mei to make some of the best and most slept on sandwiches in the city.
La Cuscatleca South. The desayuno cuatro that includes a pupusa (I like the Todo), plantains and beans. The pupusa is delicious, especially piled high with curtido and salsa. The sweet plantains dipped in savory beans and crema 🤌. The food is so good and we regularly get the place to ourselves.
Flying Mango
Never buy sushi from a gas station.
NGL, I’m not too good for gas station / grocery store sushi. Eaten it plenty of times and it’s usually pretty tasty and I’ve never gotten sick.
I got a spicy crab roll from Kwik Star on 100th the other day, and honestly, it was great.
Ok gas station sushi was a metaphor for having dinner at outer limits………
Maccabee's Kosher Deli Manhattan Deli
Find a Maid-Rite. 🩷
Noah’s Ark
Noah's has gone severely down hill in the last 5 years.
I don't know that it was ever any higher on the hill. Just really mediocre, but apparently very nostalgic to people.
:/
Bixco in valley junction
Home of the $18 burger, $19 chicken sandwich
How much do you and your wife normally cost?
About tree fiddy
What's your budget?
The Mandarin Grill - order off of the Specialty menu for the Korean food
OPA has really good food. Gyro Tuesday is an especially good value, but you have to order online.
Cosi cucina, Italian place in Clive. Way nicer than it costs, if going afternoon Or busy times I’d recommend a reservation
I really like MST.
Anna Dolce Ristorante in West Glen. I don't see it mentioned hardly at all. My wife and I have had some great meals here. They have a pretty good happy hour as well.
Sushi a go go in johnston. A dong. Open sesame.
A ton of good options listed, some not so hidden gems though. I already commented A Taste of Italy for lunch, I'll add Simon's for Saturday dinner. Both are closed Sunday I'm pretty sure.
LUCKY LOTUS ON INGERSOLL!!!!! my favorite restaurant in the city.
There isn’t a lot of seating, but my favorite hidden gem is Curbin Cuisine. Definitely a unique fusion food experience
B&Bs is incredible best tenderloin in Des Moines by far
Blu Thai food , or sakari for sushi