Restaurants in Ames

“My daughter's graduation was here and the facility was very nice! Modern, secure, clean, plenty of seating. Convenient bathrooms and vending machines and food stand.”

“5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ To start, the food is amazing! Each dish was incredible! Everything had so much flavor and was put together very well. Portion sizes are great for the price as well. The chicken was super tender and juicy with just the right amount of teriyaki sauce, in my opinion. Each sushi roll was put together very well with equal proportions. Not too much of one ingredient to overpower the rest. The dumplings were delicious and perfectly crispy on the outside. Not to mention the sauce that came with them was to die for! The service was great! Our waitress was very patient and helped us figure out what appetizers to get, since it was our first time in. She explained everything in detail and her recommendations were perfect! She even made our drinks (I forgot to get a picture of the strawberry lemonade) and they were awesome! Inside wasn’t too loud or crowded and it’s laid out quite nicely. There’s even outdoor seating, which isn’t neglected by the wait staff. Some places tend to “forget” about the customers outside but they didn’t do that here. All of the staff were attentive and polite. Even with the bar being next to the table we were sitting at, it didn’t feel crowded inside and the tvs weren’t too loud. • Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen • Happy Hour Golden Salmon • Pork Dumpling with Dumpling Sauce • Philadelphia Roll • Edamame • Rock N Roll • Honey Rainbow • Ultimate Chocolate Cake • Turtle Cheesecake • Dragon Berry Mojito • Chicken Teriyaki w/Rice Pics in comments👇🏻”

“Always excellent service, food, and drinks. Great atmosphere. Aunt Maudes is our favorite restaurant in Ames.”

“Great customer service, amazing cocktails. This is a little hidden gem perfect for a fancy girls night or a romantic date.”

“I truly can't say enough positive things about Prairie Moon Winery! We had the absolute best staff working our wedding and Kacie was wonderful to work with. She was super helpful and responsive. Hands down the best vendor we worked with! Everyone at Prairie Moon made sure our social day went smoothly. The staff was wonderful and upbeat the entire time. Not to mention the winery it's self is beyond beautiful. 10/10 recommend this stunningly gorgeous venue for your wedding. It didn't disappoint us at all. We loved every bit of it! Thank you all at Prairie Moon Winery.❤️”

“5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ To start, the food is amazing! Each dish was incredible! Everything had so much flavor and was put together very well. Portion sizes are great for the price as well. The chicken was super tender and juicy with just the right amount of teriyaki sauce, in my opinion. Each sushi roll was put together very well with equal proportions. Not too much of one ingredient to overpower the rest. The dumplings were delicious and perfectly crispy on the outside. Not to mention the sauce that came with them was to die for! The service was great! Our waitress was very patient and helped us figure out what appetizers to get, since it was our first time in. She explained everything in detail and her recommendations were perfect! She even made our drinks (I forgot to get a picture of the strawberry lemonade) and they were awesome! Inside wasn’t too loud or crowded and it’s laid out quite nicely. There’s even outdoor seating, which isn’t neglected by the wait staff. Some places tend to “forget” about the customers outside but they didn’t do that here. All of the staff were attentive and polite. Even with the bar being next to the table we were sitting at, it didn’t feel crowded inside and the tvs weren’t too loud. • Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen • Happy Hour Golden Salmon • Pork Dumpling with Dumpling Sauce • Philadelphia Roll • Edamame • Rock N Roll • Honey Rainbow • Ultimate Chocolate Cake • Turtle Cheesecake • Dragon Berry Mojito • Chicken Teriyaki w/Rice Pics in comments👇🏻”

“Great supper, server was super nice.”

“Our overall visit was ok. Our food came and with all the extra dishes that we had stacked up ready to be picked up sat at the end of the table where the person on the end had to turn their plate end for end just to sit it on the table. The food runner left with an empty tray saying that she would send somebody back to pick up the dishes. The food got cold real fast. They never came back so we stacked the dishes on the neighboring table when those people left. Prolly won't get another 155.00 from me.”

“Relocated from Hawaii so finding Poke bowl here in Iowa and is realky good.”

“The food is always hot, and the front end keeps tables cleaned and available. Pizza requests are cooked relatively fast and there's almost always the piece of fried chicken you'd like (yes, even a plethora wings!).”

“Stopped by for lunch during road trip (weekday). We both got bento boxes; really liked rolls and fried rice. I liked my husband's teriyaki chicken more than my teriyaki steak. Great service and price.
Would definitely stop by again if happen to be in the area.”

“E had my daughter's baby shower here. Clouds is on the 7th floor and there is designated parking in the parking garage. It's such a beautiful place with yummy food. They are so nice and go out of the way to help make your event special. The wall of windows looks over the whole campus. We could see the Heartland Baptist Church's steeple at 3333Stang road!
We will be back”

“Honey garlic wings. Traditional. Period.”

“love the atmosphere! the menu options are wonderful, and the wait staff is amazing! my whole family loves coming here!”

“Great food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“This place is top-notch. We’ve been working our way through their menu and have been blown away each time. The fried tilapia on the weekends is incredible. You simply can’t go wrong, they’re the best around.”

“The BLT Panini is hands down the BEST sandwich I’ve ever had! All ingredients were so fresh and delicious! The peanut butter smoothie is always one of my favorites! Thanks for another wonderful meal 👍🏼”

“Very surprised by the atmosphere of this location. No one greeted me at all and it was my first time here. I had to greet them and ask them if i just wait here (pick up preorder) and i got a weird look with a yes. Only came for an order because my nieces and sil love this place. didn’t enjoy the vibe of it all.”

“We used to love this restaurant but every time we order there is something missing and they have a different excuse every time.”

“Think in your head of the perfect cozy (yet rustic) breakfast spot. Then picture the best iced cafe beverage and homemade crepe both made to perfection. That place you pictures? Yeah, that’s Lockwood Cafe. Bonus points for AMAZING service, welcoming atmosphere and charming location.”

“This restaurant is my guilty pleasure food to eat. Pancakes are something I would never go to a restaurant for but OHH!!! These pancakes taste like dessert! Everything I’ve tried has been great. Prices are fabulous. Staff are friendly. Service is quick. Haven’t tried the non-breakfast items but why would you when there’s PANCAKES! Only negative is they aren’t open for dinner during the week. Oh and the coffee drinks are great.”

“Absolutely stunning food! We had pavlova, spinach raspberry cake, and a quiche. All of it was amazing. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. They have all sorts of descriptions of the food on the walls that give a history of the food from Ukraine. As someone from Minnesota, I would come back here just for this place.”

“One of my favorite places! The staff is always so friendly and welcoming. The sandwiches are top notch, and the restaurant is so clean! Can’t say enough great things about this place!”

“I have never had anything in this genre better in Ames. I am from over an hour away and Le’s is a must for us. I recommend the steamed dumplings, spring rolls, Le’s fried rice, pig ears, and actually everything I have ever had is great! The owners, help, and cooks are really kind and polite.”

“Good food and atmosphere even at 3 am”

“Best ambience, service and food in Ames!!!”

“Definitely recommend to meat lovers……and of course the cornbread. Great atmosphere, delicious foods, and waitress was great.”

“1+1 has the best bubble tea and food in town! We love stopping by and the staff is so friendly! 10/10 recommend!!!”

“food is always good and they have the best frozen margaritas”

“Tasty pho and boba tea. The place was busy and Jimmy provided excellent service. Very impressive work. Thank you for making it a great experience! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“Best food in Ames! Has been our goto spot for over 20 years.”

“The only place to get Tennents lager in The Midwest! Cool bar, great atmosphere, and on the day we went it was insanely hot out, and their air conditioning was running like a boss and it felt great inside. Great time!”

“food is always good and they have the best frozen margaritas”

“Amazing custom cakes! In love with how this turned out!”

“The shepherds pie was so good that I was sad when it ended. 10/10.”

“I've been to many boba shops and this one is by far one of my favorites! Very welcoming environment and delicious drinks, a regular spot for my friends and I!”

“The Owner is Very nice and the Games they have bring me back to My ChildHood Days.”

“I've been itching to get to Roni's for years now! I was so excited when they finally opened one up in Iowa! I got noodles, pulled pork, corn, extra cheese, and garlic sauce with a side of cheesey garlic bread and it was so good. It was way more food than I could eat so I took half home for my husband to enjoy. It was kind of pricey but we got two meals out of it and it was so good! We'll definitely be back!”

“My favorite food is grapefruit. I’m kind of a snob when it comes to grapefruit flavored things. Marmalade Moon’s grapefruit ice cream is delicious. 10/10 That flavor and this place are perfect. Don’t change a thing!”

“My fave go to Burger 🍔 place!”

“Good tasty bowls. The only negative is the Shredded Crab is fake and not posted on menu. Pleasant staff and honest when questioned about their crab. Also, I would have preferred the chicken used in the meal would have been freshly grilled. Instead pale processed diced chicken is used. This place could be a goldmine if they just upped their game a bit.”

“Fantastic cook thanking his staff. Exceptional service by all! Ames, Iowa.”

“food was great. the bar tender was great too fun to talk too”

“Best pizza in town and that includes their yummy crust. A top three place to dine if visiting Ames.”

“AMAZING PLACE TO GO GET PROTIEN AND A REFRESHING TEA!!! Wish I still lived around so I could see LIZ💛‼️”

“Food was excellent! Waitress needed to be more attentive. We ordered appetizers and she brought 4 plates—there were 5 of us. Asked twice for another plate. Two in our group ordered burgers. Asked for ketchup when food came. She brought it after the burgers were eaten. Guess she wasn’t focused on serving!”

“In my opinion, Great Harvest has the best cinnamon rolls in the world.
Their breakfast sandwiches with the cheese biscuits are delicious too, and the staff is always super friendly. I love coming here for a quick casual breakfast or lunch.”

“Excellent wine selection, some of the best cocktails we’ve had, and the owners and staff are so friendly. We love coming here for trivia night too!”

“We had Sunday lunch with a friend family. They have a Mexican buffet, which is not common in Ames. From the $14.99 buffet, I enjoyed the guacamole, the queso fondido, the Monterey beef - which is grilled with peppers and onions, the soft flour tortillas and the hard corn ones, and many other items including a variety of deserts such as strawberry in fresh cream. One of the kid complained that the buffet has no ice cream. The tequila on the rocks was generously balanced, with ice on the rim of a thick glass that kept it at the right temperature during a long and enjoyable meal. Service was attentive and friendly. I haven't tried their wine list or their coffee, but this is for my next visit. This hidden gem is a welcome addition to Ames dining.”

“Great coffee and environment. Odd entrance in the back.”

“Memories of my past college days”

“Joy’s mongolian is the best Chinese food in town. Joy herself is super kind and is always willing to go the extra mile. You can tell every dish is made with love and care, and i’ve never had a bad experience”

“Authentic Thai. I only get one dish. Pad nam prik pau chicken. Basically bell peppers and chicken srir fry with white jasmine rice. I've been eating here for over twenty years. Always consistently good.”

“great place! Been years since I've been here!”

“love the blended matcha and everyone is always so nice ❤️”

“We drive about an hour away from home (on Sundays, because our church is right between here and our home) to eat here. This is easily the best and most authentic Chinese food I've ever had in Iowa. There's nothing like it in the Des Moines metro area. They also are great about making custom dishes and modifying things to various tastes, as well as recommending good new things to try!

My favorite is the dry-braised beef in spicy sauce hot pot! I can't get enough of it!”

“Besides great coffee, there is a plant shop in the back.”

“I got 4 beef tacos (which was plenty), but wished I had gotten 10! 😂 They were fantastic! Hubby got quesadilla. He said it was great! Nice job! We will be back!”

“Great smoothie! Great place to meet with people!”

“Authentic; I really enjoyed my dinner.”

“It is a complete hidden gem nestled right above Ames. It has something for everybody. If you like a sour they have a sour. If you like a sound they have a sound. Unbelievable views. If you go on a nice Friday afternoon when it's about 80° you couldn't ask for a better view. Staff is always kind and well attentive . And to add even more awesomeness to it. They have live music and food trucks occasionally. So if you're looking for a wonderful place around aims to grab a beer and relax and listen to music, eat from a food truck or just be this is the place to be”

“My 4 granddaughters & I and I Luv the Cobb salad 😋”

“What can I say about Cafe Beaudelaire? I love it! It's been my favorite spot in Ames since 2006. My favorite dishes are the Feijoada, the Original Bauru, and the Yuca Fries. It's a great place to have a Guinness and celebrate life with friends.”

“Best breakfast burrito in Ames 🤩 & always great customer service!”

“So many options and so yummy!”

“I'm having some bad health flares today. I brought my service dog in with me, but didn't have her marked because I just didn't have it in me to put her vest back on. Legally, she doesn't have to be marked, but not having her vested often causes problems with untrained businesses. No problem at all here. The man greeted me very cheerfully, and I couldn't help but smile despite feeling like crap. The pizzas are great. Lots of toppings. I also ordered one pizza without cheese, which seems to throw some places off. He just did it without question or trying to up sell me on their vegan cheese. Much appreciated!”

“Torrent is a very nice, clean, and fun neighborhood brewery. They menu is great for being a smaller establishment, beer is delicious, and events are fun and entertaining.”

“I worked here while in high school in the '70s and enjoyed making the ice cream sundaes and running the cash register back when it was on Lincolnway. Hickory Park has maintained its quality of bbq & ice cream over all these years and is a must-eat place for anyone living in or visiting Ames!”

“Seriously one of the best hot dogs ever!”

“We go for birthdays and we always have great service and the food is really good. Love the lasagna and pizzas.”

“Dave Slade Trio were great!”

“An excellent place for a few high end drinks. Excellent liquor selection with a few beers, so something for everyone. Bartenders are very knowledgeable and are will to be creative should you see a spirit you like on the shelf that isn't on the menu.”

“First-timers today. We ordered the Big Lamb Gyro, dolmas and french fries, and are very happy to recommend this place. Portions were large and the food was extremely fresh, but the thing that impressed me and raises Omar’s versions above other similar places was his seasoning. Subtle, not overpowering, but distinctive. Dolmas touched with just enough lemon, gyros well-balanced with tzatziki, hot sauce and some other flavors I couldn’t quite identify, subtle flavoring of the lamb. I was prepared for a pretty standard, ho-hum gyro, but this was much more. Worth a return trip.”

“Checks all the boxes. Best place in town.”

“Only 4 stars because some of the food was a little less fresh than I would like but still pretty tasty. They had great fruit options and very good baked salmon in a garlic lemon sauce.”

“I brought my son in today for his Birthday and they gave us a free meal and he also got a free shake! We could not thank them enough! My son loved his shake and we loved the food! (It was a first visit for both of us)!”

“I need a ride now I want to go there now and I am NOT driveing”

“Best Mexican in Story County!!”

“fabulous. food was great and the restaurant was clean. staff was very kind too. highly recommend 👌 👍”

“Jeff’s Pizza is so yummy! I’m a vegetarian and there are so many vegetarian options. Thank you Jeff’s Pizza for so many choices!”

“Best burrito in Ames! My Arizona burrito was perfect, please never change.”

“Awesome staff and food! Our daughter spilled her smoothie and they were all so kind and understanding that they helped clean it up and gave her a new kids smoothie. Awesome consumer experience and great staff!! Thank you for making our night! You all rock. 10 out of 10 recommend.”

“Our team had such a great experience with West Street Deli in Ames! The sandwiches were absolutely delicious – fresh, flavorful, and packed with so many tasty options that everyone found something they loved. From the bread to the fillings, every bite was top-notch. It was the perfect choice for our meeting, and it made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend them if you’re looking for a lunch that’s both convenient and wonderfully satisfying!”

“Other than it being loud (over 40, hard to have a convo) such great service, great (strong) drinks, fast food and good quality! Will definitely be back! Was super impressed with how friendly and attentive the staff were!!!”

“Food is great, but two orders in a row, we have been shorted on sauce and pitas that we paid extra for. Strongly recommend to avoid using the online order because it will be filled incorrectly and there is a steep surcharges”

“Definitely one of the best places to get something to eat on the Iowa State University campus. Today there was the option of steak with rice or fajitas, and obviously your boy got both options and can you guess? They were both delicious as balls. The desserts are also pretty great, the strawberry ice cream is goated it makes me want to scream without the s.”

“I drove 220 miles to have potato cakes. The dummies in Minnesota decided to not serve potato cakes any more and replace them with crinkle fries. I've see stupid moves before but this takes the cake. Literally”

“May House is back!! Food was so good especially the Da Lu soup. Get over there and show Mai some love.”

“My first time eating here and I’ll definitely be back!! The best cashew chicken I’ve had in a really long time- so flavorful!”

“Authentic Mexican food like carnitas y tamales! A little taste of home!”

“I love Mr. Burrito! Hands-down the best burrito in Ames. They are the loveliest family and always so kind to all of their customers. Great food and amazing small business owners. A true staple of the Ames community!”

“Amazing food, hearty Mexican street tacos, burritos and enchiladas”

“Nice Starbucks right next to campus! Suprised to see one so close to a campus that clean and swinging! Keep up the good work staff! And keep in rocking the great tunes!”

“Great experience this time! Clear communication delivery and mutual understanding, warm food and even an eye for details! I got prompt service and and heartly smile, nice eye contact and was even told to wait briefly well preping order! Great job to you and your team!!

I will be back to add additional 5 stars as to see if changes stand tall and this isn't just a lucky day.

Thank you! No stress, no mess, and prompt service as you place your request!
(As of May 20th 2025)

(Outdated experience, prior: Got a bangle, and butter. Was a bad experience before May 2025.)”

“Clean location. New menu is good. I had the Cajun Shrimp Fetticini, it was spicy and tasty. My wife had the Pulled Pork BBQ Mac & Cheese. The BBQ sauce was a little sweet for both of us. I suggest asking them to cut the BBQ sauce in half.”

“over 60 years my mom and dad took me to the Tip Top when it was a resturant Great burgers”

“It is seriously still the best, fresh food in Ames!!! A quick delicious place to go.”

“Very friendly for 1st timers traveling through! Couldn’t be nicer! It’s like going back to an old time bar- not modern just clean , nest & well preserved! We enjoyed watching the Cubs game, cheap drinks !”

“Excellent place to eat. It's not just for the students anyone can come enjoy the food and atmosphere. We have Starbucks drinks and milk shakes. The fry seasoning is especially good. We make the burger sauce in house with fresh ingredients. The grilled cheese sandwiches are great! We offer falafel vegan burger option. Great restaurant!”

“The food is enjoyable, offering a wide range of options. I appreciate the cleanliness and peaceful atmosphere. However, today, a few dishes seemed overly salty, but that could be an isolated occurrence.”

“Excellent food and great service!”

“I'm a foreigner, visited my son who is studying in ISU. Was there from 3Feb 2022 till 18Feb 2022. Went to the place almost every other place. Love the place, its small, cosy and people are friendly. Will make a point to visit it again, when i return. Love the pancake and their cheese omelette.”

“Got to love Arby’s.. It’s a 50/50 risk your order may be screwed up, but if they have cherry turnovers it makes the order screw up bearable”

“Been coming here to the ISU campustown Blaze almost once a week for over a year. They were so busy tonight with online orders so it was a bit of a wait to get our pizzas however the staff remained friendly and positive and greeted each customer as they came in.”

“We got the steak bento with Cali roll and steak Ramen. So good, perfectly seasoned.”

“Got the emmenecker burger really good 2 pieces of hot chicken but overall good 5 pounds of meat and waffle fries, waitress was really pretty just left a couple minutes ago and can still taste the burger it was that good”

“The food is good (in both places)
And the service is quick and an excellent place to study the atmosphere I'd odd since you essentially have a cafe and a Greek restaurant smashed together but both atmospheres are nice just an odd combination
Good place to people watch as well but beware of protesters as it's right by the library and people like to protest there
(Thankfully they arnt protesting the cafe)”

“I went to BNC for first time today and was very impressed with the service. Every employee I encountered was polite and eager to assist.”

“I ordered catering this weekend for a bridal party as they got ready for their big day. The sandwiches were delicious, but the service was even better! The staff went out of their way to make the process as easy as possible, allowed me to pick up before they opened, and they even provided 2 sets of condiments. The best part…..they did that without me asking. When I ordered the staff explained the boxes and I said two would be great, so I have one for the bride suite and one for the groom suite. They went out of their way to make sure it was perfect and it was!!”

“Best bartenders in town, awesome service and a fun upbeat environment to spend your nights at!!”

“Perfect service...perfect new building...perfect coffee ! Thanks a bunch !!!

Parking: It's okay, a bit cramped.
But, coffee is worth it!!!”

“5 stars for the staff. -1.100 stars for the guests. love the bread. my favorite in the area even over hyvee fresh stuff. slim 5. wont regret. my carrier always cuts it in half with a bike tire. quirky folks in campus town!”

“The staff was friendly and knew their business. I liked the way they were able to "up the sale". Promote that team.”

“The food was really good. I’m actually from New Orleans and I know exactly what crawfish supposed to taste like this Lady season the hell out of that crawfish even though I’m pretty sure it was frozen but that’s only because I’m a professional big back lol definitely check this place out. I recommended hands-down 10 out of 10.”

“A favorite spot we like to go to on our drive down to NE. Food is always great and coffee is fantastic!! Owner and staff are warm and welcoming. Location is prime with gas station for an all in one road trip stop.”

“I accidentally ordered a pizza for the wrong day, and they remade it for me at no charge. I was able to pick up my pizza today without payment ng anymore, and it was so so delicious! Thank you Papa John's for your graciousness and amazing service.Also, there's a really good deal right now for a free medium Pizza when you buy one large.”

“Excellent food and great service!”

“Best Sports Bar and Grill in Ames!”

“Love Love Love this place! The food is awesome and always hot and yummy! Best place for sandwiches that we’ve found!”

“This place is great! Delicious coffee and pastry, friendly staff and service, and a design that is second to none. I’ll be sure to come back whenever I’m in Ames.”

“We had our Christmas party there today and everything was perfect! The staff did an exceptional job of making sure our needs were met. And the breakfast entrees were Delicious!! Thank you to all of you!”

“The food is wonderful. Best Indian food we've had here in the US. Portions are generous. Take away, eaten the next day, is still delicious.”

“Absolutely the best scooters I’ve been too, the drinks are always delicious, the service is always fast! All of the people who work at this location are always the nicest as well! 10/10!! 😁☕️”

“I love Mr. Burrito! Hands-down the best burrito in Ames. They are the loveliest family and always so kind to all of their customers. Great food and amazing small business owners. A true staple of the Ames community!”

“Café Milo THANK YOU! Welcome to the South side!! 😊”

“Very filling but so good👍🏼”

“The food amazing , the food was full of flavor and lots of cheese. The staff were friendly and not over priced. The tomato soup was the best I have had”

“We had to stand for our wait even while there were a lot of empty seats available. There were also a lot of other people standing waiting to be seated and the entrance is very small for that many people. But beyond that, it was a good experience.”