Restaurants & Food across the Des Moines metro
Inclusive and diverse-owned restaurants & food businesses across the Des Moines metro, not just the city itself.
Des Moines eats in a few walkable pockets. The East Village sits below the Capitol, Court Avenue carries the downtown evening, Ingersoll Avenue runs west from it, and Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines is its own strip. The downtown farmers market is a real part of the food scene and a good number of smaller food businesses sell there rather than from a dining room. Check how to order before you travel.
Featured
1Top placement
Enhanced
3Boosted placement
Sponsor the Restaurants & Food page in Des Moines. One Category Sponsor per city, credited on this page and on the Des Moines hub.See sponsorship
Where they are across the Des Moines metro
Each listing sits at its street address when the owner has shared one, otherwise at its ZIP or town.
Businesses on the map of Des Moines
- Banana Leaf, Des Moines (town center)
- Chef Artis, Des Moines (town center)
- El Toreado, Des Moines (town center)
- Vietopia Asian Fusion, Des Moines (town center)
Eating out in Des Moines? Start with these.
Short guides to finding a table worth the trip, from neighborhood counters to the farmers market, and how a good review helps the kitchen you liked.
Guides for eating out
Reading picked for restaurants & food and for the Des Moines metro.
Women-Owned Restaurants Near Me: How to Find, Support, and Review Women-Owned Places to Eat in 2026
13 min read
Fall 2026 Farmers Markets: Finding Diverse-Owned Food Vendors Near You
10 min read
How to Write a Review That Actually Helps Diverse-Owned Businesses in 2026
9 min read
Black-Owned Businesses in Des Moines to Support in 2026
4 min read
Coming up
Where to be around Des Moines
Pride and cultural festivals nearby, and the heritage and awareness dates on the calendar.
Keep exploring
More across the Des Moines metro
Each photo is from a listing in that category.
Notes
Signed, dated pieces about the places where we spend our money, and who they are built for.
This WeekThis Week: Pride in Atlanta, a Parade in Philly and an Empanada Showdown in Ybor
Five things worth knowing for Oct. 2 to 11: Atlanta Pride, National Coming Out Day in Philadelphia, an empanada contest in Ybor and new listings.
Luke · October 2, 2026
70 Million People, One Label: What "Hispanic" Can and Can't Tell Us
Read more
The Menu Is a User Interface
Read more
Maybe "Authentic" Is a Terrible Word
Read moreRestaurants & Food in Des Moines: questions people ask
How many restaurants are listed across the Des Moines metro?
Four right now, in Des Moines. The list grows as businesses are recommended, checked and added.
What makes a business inclusive on Inclusivity.org?
Every listing shows why it is here, with a source you can check: the owner's own statement, a public listing such as a chamber directory, or a recognized certification. Some are owned by the communities they serve and some are allies who welcome everyone. We never list someone's identity without a source.
Do restaurants in Des Moines take reservations?
Many do, and plenty are walk-in only. Some kitchens here are takeout, catering or food-truck operations with no dining room, so check how each one takes orders before you go.
How can I ask about allergies or dietary needs?
Call ahead rather than asking at the table, and ask how the kitchen handles cross-contact, not just whether a dish contains an ingredient. Small kitchens are often very accommodating when they know in advance.
Is it free to be listed?
Yes. A basic listing is free, and owners can claim and update theirs at any time. Featured and Enhanced listings get more room on the page, and being listed never depends on them.
How do I suggest a restaurant that is missing?
Use Recommend a business at the bottom of this page. We research every suggestion, and nothing goes live until it has been checked.
Know a restaurant we're missing?
Tell us who they are and we'll do the research. Nothing goes live until we've checked it, and we never list someone's identity without a source.