Des Moines is quietly making waves in the national culinary conversation, shedding old stereotypes and emerging as a true foodie destination. Forget what you think you know about Iowa’s dining scene; the collection of award winning restaurants Des Moines boasts today reveals a city rich in innovation, diverse flavors, and a deep commitment to craft. From wood-fired hearths to globally-inspired bakeries, these establishments aren't just serving meals—they're setting trends, celebrating local bounty, and proving that the heartland has a vibrant, sophisticated palate all its own. For the discerning home cook, Des Moines offers a treasure trove of inspiration, showcasing how local ingredients and global techniques can transform everyday meals into memorable experiences.
At a Glance: Your Takeaways from Des Moines's Culinary Scene
- Discover how Des Moines chefs creatively use local Iowa ingredients to elevate diverse cuisines.
- Learn actionable tips for incorporating restaurant-inspired techniques and flavors into your home cooking.
- Explore hidden gems and established favorites that exemplify the city's unique culinary identity.
- Uncover how cultural heritage and innovative spirit drive Des Moines's most acclaimed eateries.
- Gain inspiration to experiment with new dishes, baking projects, and global recipes in your own kitchen.
Iowa's Culinary Canvas: More Than Just Comfort Food
Iowa's culinary landscape has long been associated with hearty, comforting fare—and rightly so. Yet, beneath the surface, a dynamic transformation has been taking place. Local brands like La Quercia cured meats and Maytag blue cheese have laid a foundation for chefs who are now pushing boundaries, proving that world-class dining can thrive far from the coasts. The Des Moines metro area is a testament to this evolution, with a constant influx of new, exciting venues opening alongside beloved classics. This blend of tradition and innovation is precisely what makes the award winning restaurants Des Moines offers so fascinating and inspiring for any home cook looking to elevate their game.
Exploring Des Moines's Acclaimed Kitchens: A Home Cook's Lens
Understanding what makes these restaurants "award-winning" isn't just about dining out; it's about gleaning insights you can bring into your own kitchen. Let's delve into how Des Moines's culinary stars operate and what lessons they offer.
Mastering the Hearth & Harnessing Local Bounty
Many of Des Moines's top chefs demonstrate a profound respect for ingredients, often utilizing direct heat and local produce to bring out the purest flavors.
- Prime & Providence: Located west of Des Moines, this modern meat-and-seafood spot, under Executive Chef Dominic Iannarelli, embraces primal cooking. Nearly all dishes, from salads to vegetables, are cooked over a 15-foot wood-fire hearth. Snacks like crab cake and roasted bone marrow with brisket jam showcase complex flavors, while the reserve menu features A5 Kobe strip loin.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Consider the power of fire. While you might not have a 15-foot hearth, understanding how to grill effectively, or even use a cast iron skillet to achieve char and smoky notes, can transform simple ingredients. Think about how a quick sear over high heat (or even a smoking gun for cocktails/finishing dishes) can impart depth.
- Oak Park: Opened in 2023, this polished modern American restaurant quickly became one of the most sought-after reservations. Chefs Ian and Jessica Robertson, who honed their skills at Michelin-starred restaurants globally, create dishes using fruits and vegetables from an on-site garden. Menu items like pan-roasted salmon with smoked leeks and carrots, or a decadent $100 banana split with Champagne mousse and gold leaf, exemplify their sophisticated approach. It features a 5,000-bottle wine cellar and a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Prioritize freshness and quality. Can you grow a small herb garden? Seek out local farmers markets for seasonal produce. Also, the concept of a balanced plate with subtle smoky notes (smoked leeks) demonstrates thoughtful layering of flavors.
- Wilson’s Orchard & Farm: A short drive from downtown, this orchard offers fresh fruit picking, a cider bar, and a restaurant. Menu items like ginger-dill meatballs and tasso pork and pickled cherry sourdough pizza highlight how versatile orchard-grown produce can be beyond desserts.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Don't limit fruits to sweet dishes. Apples, cherries, and other fruits can add acidity, sweetness, and texture to savory meals like meatballs or pizza. Experiment with seasonal produce in unexpected ways.
- Cheese Bar: The younger sibling of the beloved retail Cheese Shop, this Ingersoll Avenue spot, owned by C.J. Bienert, champions Iowa cheeses and cured meats on impressive monger boards. House-made pates, jams, and crackers accompany the selection.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Elevate your charcuterie or cheese board. Focus on a few high-quality, local cheeses and pair them with homemade condiments. A simple grilled cheese becomes gourmet with good bread and spicy roasted tomato bisque.
- Alba: An East Village mainstay, Alba offers upscale American food with seasonal, rotating menus. Dishes like NY Strip stroganoff and wild striped bass highlight their commitment to seasonal ingredients and refined techniques.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Embrace seasonality in your menu planning. Visit your local market and let the freshest ingredients guide your meal ideas, rather than sticking to a rigid recipe list.
Global Flavors, Reimagined for the Midwest Table
Des Moines is a melting pot of cultures, and its dining scene proudly reflects this, often with chefs adding their unique spin or a local touch to international classics.
- Mi Patria: This Ecuadorian restaurant in West Des Moines serves generous portions of comforting dishes like empanadas, llapingachos (cheese-filled potato patties over peanut sauce), and slow-roasted pork.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Explore the comfort foods of other cultures. Learning to make a simple empanada or a hearty potato patty can be a delicious journey into new flavors and textures.
- Kathmandu: In Windsor Heights, owner Thakur Neupane offers authentic Nepalese cuisine. Highlights include samosa chaat (best with onion kulcha or garlic naan), biryanis, and curries. The chef’s special grill platter provides a spicy tandoori feast.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Don't be intimidated by complex spice blends. Start with a pre-made biryani or curry mix, then gradually experiment with individual spices. Pair your meal with fresh-baked naan or kulcha for an authentic touch.
- Harbinger: Chef and owner Joe Tripp (a James Beard Foundation semifinalist in previous years), with Executive Chef Ryan Skinner, is known for closing the restaurant annually for staff travel and experimentation. This leads to innovative, vegetable-forward dishes like Japanese turnips in local miso with confit egg yolk, or baby back ribs with cherry gochujang glaze.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Travel (even armchair travel!) can inspire your cooking. Look at cookbooks or online recipes from different regions. Also, think "vegetable first" – how can a vegetable be the star, rather than just a side?
- Lucky Lotus: This fast-casual Southeast Asian restaurant, run by six multigenerational Chen family members, excels in vegan and gluten-free friendly dishes. Fresh herbs and punchy sauces are key to their After School Fried Rice, bing bing wraps, and sweet potato panang curry.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Fresh herbs are transformative. Don't skimp on cilantro, mint, and basil in Asian dishes. Also, learn to balance the five core flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
- Crème: Opened in 2022 by Sammy Mila, this bakery offers pan-Asian-inspired items, incorporating Laotian and Thai culture. Matcha blondies, milk bread cinnamon rolls, and black sesame Oreo cake are among their unique creations.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Infuse familiar baked goods with global flavors. Think beyond vanilla and chocolate; try matcha, black sesame, or pandan in your cakes and cookies.
- Bar Nico: Opened in 2022 in the East Village, this modern Mexican restaurant is entirely gluten-free. Chef Matt Small, who studied nixtamalization in Mexico, prepares fresh tortillas daily from organic Mexican corn.
- Home Cook Takeaway: The quality of staple ingredients matters. Making fresh tortillas from masa harina is a game-changer compared to store-bought. Exploring traditional techniques like nixtamalization can elevate your Mexican cooking significantly.
- Pho 515: Named after north-central Iowa’s area code, this cozy spot serves authentic Vietnamese pho, a reflection of the Vietnamese refugee community in Iowa.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Mastering a good broth is foundational. For pho, slow cooking with aromatics creates incredible depth. Pay attention to fresh garnishes for brightness and texture.
- Flavory Bistro: In Ankeny, this Mediterranean bistro, run by chef Lisa and Hector Morales, excels at seafood paella, gyros, and platters with falafel and house-made bread.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Mediterranean cuisine is perfect for entertaining. Building a mezze platter with dips, fresh bread, and falafel is both impressive and accessible. Practice a good seafood paella for a show-stopping meal.
- Palm’s Caribbean Cuisine: Cook and co-owner Amara Sama blends Liberian and Jamaican influences in his food stand, serving spicy jerk chicken wings and jollof rice.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Don't be afraid to combine culinary traditions. Learn about different spice rubs for jerk chicken or the art of layering flavors in jollof rice.
- Malo: Housed in a renovated Art Deco firehouse, this Latin cantina is popular for its lobster corn queso, pork belly tacos, and vegan burritos.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Take beloved comfort foods and give them a Latin twist. Consider unexpected ingredient combinations like lobster in queso, or unique taco fillings.
Elevating Comfort & Craft Baking
Des Moines also excels at taking beloved comfort foods and everyday staples, then perfecting them with meticulous attention to detail or innovative twists.
- Whatcha Smokin: Located 30 minutes from downtown, this Texas-style barbecue smokes brisket, sausage, pulled pork, turkey, ribs, and pork loin daily. Sides like pimento cheese pasta salad and Nutter Butter banana pudding elevate the experience.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Learn the art of low-and-slow cooking for tender meats. Don't overlook the sides; a unique twist on a classic (like pimento cheese pasta salad) can make a meal memorable.
- 5 Borough Bagels: Inspired by NYC bagel shops, this bakery and deli offers bagels, bialys, blended cream cheeses (e.g., Sriracha-bacon), and sandwiches named after NYC landmarks.
- Home Cook Takeaway: The difference is in the details. Learning to make bagels from scratch or experimenting with flavored cream cheeses (sweet, savory, spicy) can significantly improve your breakfast game.
- Simon’s: Open since 1952, this cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant has a loyal following for entrees like cheese-stuffed chicken over spaghetti and Steak de Burgo.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Sometimes, simplicity and consistency are key. Master a few classic comfort dishes and serve them well. Steak de Burgo is a Des Moines icon worth exploring.
- Pie Bird Pies: Kristen Daily and Andrea Piekarczyk's baking business is known for intricate pastry toppings and unique flavors, like a curry-spiced pastry on butterscotch custard pie.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Elevate your baking with creative flavor combinations and beautiful presentation. Learning different pie crust techniques (lattice, decorative cut-outs) can make a simple pie a work of art.
- Pyra Pizzeria: In Norwalk, this family-run wood-fired pizza spot follows Neapolitan rules (without certification), using Italian 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. Pies cook in an 800-degree oven in 90 seconds.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Quality ingredients make all the difference in pizza. For home cooks, investing in good flour, tomatoes, and cheese, and preheating your oven (with a pizza steel or stone) to its highest temperature, will yield excellent results.
- La Mie Bakery: Next to the original Cheese Shop, this bakery supplies bread to local bistros and excels in French pastries, laminated doughs, and macarons.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Bread and pastry making are rewarding challenges. Even starting with a simple no-knead bread or perfecting a basic scone can build confidence. For advanced bakers, laminated doughs (croissants!) offer a true test of skill.
- Lachele’s Fine Foods: Opened in 2021, this burger restaurant with a walk-up window serves crispy double-fried fries and smash burgers like the Grant Plant (designed by Masterchef winner Grant Gillon).
- Home Cook Takeaway: Perfecting a smash burger is about technique: high heat, thin patties, good seasoning. Double-frying your fries makes them incredibly crispy.
- Black Cat Ice Cream: Alex Carter's shop in the Drake neighborhood offers from-scratch flavors inspired by local ingredients or Midwestern desserts, like peanut butter puppy chow or butter-flavored ice cream with fried Twinkies.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Ice cream making at home allows for endless creativity. Use local fruits, seasonal ingredients, or nostalgic dessert flavors to craft unique frozen treats.
- Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe: Famous for its massive pork tenderloin sandwich, a true Iowa staple where the meat is pounded thin, larger than the bun, and fried in breadcrumbs.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Embrace regional specialties. Learning to make a classic pork tenderloin sandwich—pounding, breading, and frying—is a delicious way to connect with local food culture.
- Clyde’s Fine Diner: Chef-owner Chris Hoffmann, a James Beard Foundation semifinalist, offers classic diner food with a modern twist, using local ingredients. Signature dishes include fried Brussels sprouts with Caesar dressing and a double smash burger.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Take classic comfort food recipes and elevate them with fresh, local ingredients. A simple diner dish can become gourmet with a chef's touch.
- Latin King: Founded in 1947, this Des Moines institution is known for its comfort food, including the city's signature Steak de Burgo and legendary strawberry shortcake.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Learn the recipes for local favorites. Recreating dishes like Steak de Burgo allows you to enjoy a piece of Des Moines history in your own home.
The Art of the Dining Experience (for Your Own Home)
Some award winning restaurants Des Moines offers focus not just on food, but on the entire ambiance and dining journey, which you can translate into your home entertaining.
- Aposto: In an 1880s Sherman Hill home, owner Tony Lemmo pays homage to his mother with Italian dishes like handmade cavatelli and crispy polenta cakes. It's an intimate date night spot.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Create an intimate dining experience at home. Focus on handmade elements like fresh pasta and thoughtful presentation. Ambiance (lighting, music, simple decor) is just as important as the food.
- Table 128: Chef-owner Lynn Pritchard relocated his popular restaurant downtown in 2024. Known for Lynn's burger (with pickled pear, brie) and brussels sprouts salad, it boasts a robust, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence-winning wine list.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Elevate familiar dishes. A gourmet burger or a sophisticated salad can be a showstopper. Pay attention to wine pairings; even a small, curated selection can enhance a meal.
- Lucca: In Des Moines's East Village, chef-owner Steve Logsdon's elegant Italian restaurant offers upscale-yet-approachable fare, including a four-course prix fixe menu.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Consider a multi-course meal at home for special occasions. Practice making one course exceptionally well, like pillowy gnocchi or perfectly seared scallops.
- Django: This downtown bistro touts "All French. No attitude. No corkage fee." It offers polished French fare like yolk-dripping croque-madame, duck frites, and bouillabaisse.
- Home Cook Takeaway: French bistro classics can be surprisingly approachable. Learn a few key techniques (roux for sauces, pan-searing meats) to bring a touch of Parisian elegance to your table.
- Bubba: Managing partner Chris Diebel’s restaurant pays homage to Southern roots with a date night-worthy atmosphere and one of Iowa’s largest bourbon lists. The menu features shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, and hummingbird cake.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Embrace regional cuisines and their accompanying beverage pairings. Southern comfort food is incredibly satisfying; learn a solid recipe for shrimp and grits or perfecting fried chicken.
- Waterfront Seafood Market / Splash Seafood: Both establishments pride themselves on flying in jet-fresh seafood daily, offering everything from live Maine lobster to sushi and caviar.
- Home Cook Takeaway: When cooking seafood, freshness is paramount. Find a reputable fishmonger. Practice simple cooking methods that highlight the fish's natural flavor, like pan-searing or baking. Don't overcook!
- St. Kilda: Owner Alexander Hall, from Australia via New York City, operates two locations offering café/bakery items and dinner. The menu includes crispy fried cod rolls, black bean veggie burgers, and avocado toasts, reflecting a modern, global café vibe.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Brunch is an art form. Experiment with creative breakfast and lunch dishes that offer fresh flavors and diverse textures, such as gourmet avocado toast or unique breakfast sandwiches.
- RoCA: On Court Avenue, RoCA serves small plates, ideal for groups, with flatbreads, fondue, and their famous Smoking Gun cocktail.
- Home Cook Takeaway: Small plates are perfect for entertaining. Offer a variety of dishes that allow guests to try different flavors without committing to a single entree. Craft cocktails can also elevate your home bar experience.
Your Home Kitchen's Culinary Upgrade: A Practical Playbook
Inspired by the award winning restaurants Des Moines has cultivated, here's how you can translate these insights into your everyday cooking.
Beyond the Supermarket Aisle: Sourcing Like a Chef
Des Moines's best chefs emphasize local and high-quality ingredients.
- Seek Out Farmers Markets: Many Des Moines chefs, like those behind Black Cat Ice Cream, Veggie Thumper, and Tarboosh, rely on local markets. Make it a routine to visit your local market for seasonal produce, fresh eggs, and artisan goods.
- Befriend Your Butcher/Fishmonger: Establish a relationship with a specialty butcher (like those supplying Prime & Providence) or fish market (Waterfront Seafood) to get the best cuts and freshest catches. Don't be afraid to ask for advice on preparation.
- Explore Specialty Stores: Visit international markets for unique spices, sauces, and ingredients inspired by Kathmandu, Lucky Lotus, or Mi Patria. The Cheese Shop and Cheese Bar highlight local dairy and cured meats, encouraging you to seek out regional producers.
Technique Triumphs: From Hearth to Home Grill
You don't need a professional kitchen to embrace sophisticated cooking methods.
- Harness High Heat: Mimic wood-fired flavors (Prime & Providence, Pyra Pizzeria, Eatery A) by using a preheated pizza stone or steel in your oven, or by mastering high-heat grilling techniques. A cast iron skillet is your best friend for a great sear.
- Embrace Slow & Low: For tender meats like those at Whatcha Smokin, experiment with slow cookers, smokers, or low-temperature oven roasting. Marinating and dry rubs are key for flavor.
- The Art of Fresh Pasta: Inspired by Aposto and Lucca, even a simple egg pasta dough can be a rewarding project. A basic pasta roller (manual or stand mixer attachment) opens up a world of fresh ravioli, fettuccine, and cavatelli.
- Perfect Your Pies: Take a page from Pie Bird Pies. Focus on creating a flaky crust and don't shy away from unusual flavor combinations like curry spice with butterscotch.
Flavor Fusion: Bringing the World to Your Plate
Des Moines's diverse culinary scene offers a masterclass in global flavors.
- Layer Spices Thoughtfully: Learn to build flavor with spices, as seen in Kathmandu's curries or Palm’s jerk chicken. Toast whole spices before grinding for maximum impact.
- Balance Tastes: Follow Lucky Lotus's lead by balancing sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami in your dishes. A squeeze of lime, a pinch of sugar, or a dash of fish sauce can transform a meal.
- Reimagine Comfort Classics: Clyde's Fine Diner and Lachele's Fine Foods show how even a burger or diner dish can be elevated with quality ingredients and a modern approach. Think about improving a simple mac and cheese (Bubba) or a grilled cheese (Cheese Bar).
Crafting Your Signature Dish: Inspired by Des Moines's Best
Ultimately, the goal is to develop your own culinary voice, drawing inspiration from these skilled chefs.
- Start with What You Love: If you adore Southern food, try Bubba's shrimp and grits. If Italian, explore Aposto's handmade pasta.
- Deconstruct & Reconstruct: What elements of a dish from Oak Park or Harbinger intrigue you? Can you recreate one component, like a specific sauce or vegetable preparation?
- Experiment Fearlessly: The chefs at Harbinger close their restaurant for a month to experiment. Take a weekend to try a new technique or an unfamiliar ingredient without pressure.
For broader inspiration on foundational cooking techniques and an expansive collection of recipes that home cooks consistently love, check out Our best home recipes. You'll find excellent starting points to build your confidence before tackling the more adventurous ideas inspired by Des Moines's culinary stars.
Quick Bites: Your Award-Winning Des Moines Dining Questions Answered
- Q: What's the quintessential "must-try" dish for a visitor to Des Moines?
- A: Without a doubt, the Steak de Burgo (found at classics like Simon's or Latin King) is a local icon, often featuring a tender beef cut in a rich garlic-butter sauce. The pork tenderloin sandwich (Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe) is another uniquely Iowan experience, featuring a massive, breaded cutlet served on a bun.
- Q: How do Des Moines restaurants manage to be "award-winning" while keeping a local, approachable feel?
- A: The secret lies in a deep commitment to quality and community. Many chefs, like James Beard semifinalist Chris Hoffmann of Clyde's Fine Diner, prioritize local ingredients and genuine hospitality. There's a strong emphasis on innovation balanced with a respect for tradition, often blending global influences with Midwestern warmth, making high-quality dining accessible without pretension.
- Q: Are there good options for specific dietary needs among these acclaimed restaurants?
- A: Absolutely. Des Moines's culinary scene is surprisingly accommodating. Eatery A is known for its ability to handle various food preferences and allergies. Lucky Lotus offers a robust vegan and gluten-free menu. Bar Nico is entirely gluten-free, focusing on fresh masa. Veggie Thumper is a dedicated roaming vegan food truck, showing the city's commitment to diverse dietary needs.
- Q: Can I truly replicate these "award-winning" flavors in my home kitchen?
- A: While you might not have an 800-degree pizza oven or a 15-foot wood-fire hearth, you can certainly adopt the principles. Focus on high-quality ingredients, master foundational techniques (searing, roasting, bread-making), experiment with global flavors, and pay attention to presentation. Many chefs, like those at Harbinger, demonstrate that creativity and passion are the most important ingredients.
Beyond the Menu: Your Next Culinary Adventure
The award winning restaurants Des Moines offers are more than just places to eat; they're laboratories of flavor, showcases of local talent, and testaments to a burgeoning culinary scene. For home cooks, they provide an inexhaustible well of inspiration. Whether you're trying to recreate a beloved dish, experiment with a new technique, or simply source better ingredients, Des Moines's dining landscape holds valuable lessons. Don't just admire these culinary stars from afar—let them inspire your next great meal, your next baking project, or your next step in becoming a more confident and adventurous home chef. The journey of discovery is delicious.