50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Des Moines

“grabbed breakfst at the breakfst club in ia n it totally hit the spot. food came out hot fresh n plenty of it. coffee was good too. staff was upbeat n kept things movin even when it got busy. chill vibe all round — def a spot id swing by again for a mornin boost.“

“I ordered the Thai Peanut Buddha Bowl and the Limeade. Jen clearly pours passion into her meals. I would highly recommend ordering. 🫶🏼“

“Fuzzy's crew totally nailed it! Mad props! Their menu's kinda wild, right? Like, tons of choices and I got this food allergy thing, BUT... The cashier was super cool, helped me find something safe to grub on. And the food? Seriously mind-blowing! Fuzzy's DSM? Man, they didn't disappoint! I'm definitely heading back for more!“

“Great burgers some of the best“

“The chicken sandwich is fire and the staff is great“

“BBQ Meatloaf was delicious and the service was good. Very cool decor.“

“Highly recommend food by K&G Digital 360! 10/10“

“Have been going to Smokey D’s for about 10 years now, and the food is always delicious. I went today and was shocked at the improvement in customer service. My husband and I always joke that we go for the food so we ignore the customer service, but today was extremely different. Huge shoutout to Mr. Juan who checked on my table multiple times and sincerely talked to us. This is the first time I didn’t have to ask someone for a to go box. Keep up the great food and reward the new and improved staff!“

“First I feel like I have to say there is no where to park and the wait is long even on a Wednesday night. Inside is dark and loud and cramped. My ham and bean soup was very good! Stuffed mushroom appetizer was ok but not worth the $10.50 price. My steak was ok-I’ve had way better. Waitress said I should ask for it well done since the cook usually undercooked the steak and it turned out more done than I would have liked it but the waitress never came over to ask… The asparagus had that woody flavor. Potatoes were good. My bf let me try his onion rings and meatball sandwich and both were very good! Cake tasted old… the staff is very nice but looked a little overwhelmed.“

“It's always fresh. Everywhere else I could get chinese food from, the vegetables are always a bit wimpy and taste like they've just been steamed. Sam's veggies actually have some char on them!“

“Amazing food and great service!“

“We had our Holiday party there on Saturday January 20th. The food was good, and the staff was excellent.“

“Best service in DesMoines“

“THE LADY THE WAITED ON ME WAS REALLY NICE AND THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD. I WILL BE RETURNING“

“We recognize Chris for going above and beyond at Wasabi Waukee on September 23, 2025.

We were facing an urgent issue with our keg cooler that was impacting draft service. Chris not only helped diagnose and repair the cooler on the spot, he also assisted with swapping in new kegs, confirming lines, pressures, and temperatures, and ensuring every tap was pouring correctly before he left. His professionalism, technical know-how, and willingness to stay until the job was truly complete prevented service interruptions during a busy period and saved us product waste.

Please pass along my thanks—this is exactly the kind of partnership we value. Chris represented Confluence exceptionally well.

Thank you,
Rhiannon King
General Manager, Wasabi Waukee“

“love the experience! great burgers and shakes, plus the staff went above and beyond by finding my daughter's shirt that we left behind and mailed it back to us! this staff is TOP NOTCH!“

“The people are fantastic! I went for lunch while I waited for the plane, they were busy, and I was worried I might not have time to eat. The kitchen cranked it out, I was so impressed!“

“Great food and beer, and very friendly staff. We come here every time we visit Des Moines!!“

“We ate here for our anniversary during restaurant week and it was a great experience. We felt celebrated and appreciated the complimentary wine. The food was phenomenal- especially the arugula was and the pork and polenta. The only downside: the 70 year olds next to us who were very shouty- but perhaps their hearing aids could not accommodate. Will definitely be back!“

“Such a cool vibe! Amazing food and service— will definitely go back again! 😊“

“A party of five of us visited on 1/8/25. We asked for a table in back as there was live music by the bar and we wanted to be able to talk together Our server was excellent - wish I had gotten her name Food was amazing - we got brussel sprouts, sliders, French fries w Parmesan, stuffed mushrooms, and spinach artichoke dip All came out timely and very good! We had martinis and all were very delicious and also came out quick I’ve been here about six times before and it’s always great Good patio area too Definitely a great place!“

“The waiters are very accommodating. Good food and services.“

“Amazing pizza. So delicious. Tons of options and super friendly staff. Wish it wasn’t almost 2 hours away but will definitely be coming back when we are in the area again.“

“Incredible great tasting pies and amazing consistency. The flavors are intense and it's a refreshing change from the current pizza 🍕 industry! Life is way too short for cheap, unloved 🍕 so I definitely recommend Trumans“

“We had an amazing evening at Panka Peruvian restaurant this week with a BIG surprise at the end. We are having our first son! We carefully chose this place to celebrate our anniversary the last few years and our intimate gender reveal, because of the extraordinary experience they give us each time. It's really not just the food that they give us. They always give us a time we will never forget.“

“5 star family classic eatery.“

“The gnocchi is a very memorable dish. Soft, fluffy pillows of heaven. I don’t regret eating the entire dish AND ordering the lava cake. Easily ranks in my top 5 favorite DSM dishes.“

“Great environment ( inside and out) to grab a beer and relax. Lots on tap to choose from. Never had one I didn’t like. Staff is friendly and happy to be there. Highly recommend.“

“Absolutely love this place! Last year, I became a fan at the Farmer's Market so I was glad when they opened a brick and mortar so close to me. I'm from Houston and we have a large Caribbean culture so I know good Caribbean food. And Palm's is it here in DSM. Great food and drinks, and exceptional service.“

“There is nothing better than The Library! They have a great selection of drinks and beers, incredibly fresh and tasty food, and amazing service! The small, cozy atmosphere just makes me happy!“

“Great environment, excellent food and friendly staff. Will definitely be back next time I’m in the area!“

“Staff was great in helping the family celebrate my moms 50th! I have never had a poor experience in the times I have been there.“

“the foods always great and very tasty..... old school iowa here and damb good“

“Wonderful food, drinks, and atmosphere. 2 of the 3 ladies I brought to dinner are southern belles, and they were reminded of home by the food. Great first experience. We will definitely be back again. A+ in my book.“

“Our family is on a tour of all 50 states and we stopped in here since it had such great online reviews! It did not disappoint! The Sarah’s Revenge sandwich was the best sandwich I’ve EVER had!“

“Amazing food and at a reasonable price and not a bad wait time.“

“Nice people great pizza very clean“

“It had been a few years since we’d been to Lucca and I can’t for the life of me understand why. We had an absolutely fantastic experience there last Friday and are already planning our return.

We’d decided to do a fancy night on the town with friends (the kind where you dress up for no good reason) and liked the look of Lucca’s prix fixe menu. We arrived at 8pm sharp but our table wasn’t quite ready so the wonderful hostess got us drinks and made us comfortable in the seats near the door. She checked on us several times and we’d honestly have been fine waiting there all night. But they soon seated us and we had an amazing dinner. Four courses, including dessert, for $57 per person. The NY strip alone might cost that at another restaurant. All dishes were delicious and we were impressed at just how wide the selection was.

Once again, the service took dinner to another level and we loved the ambience. Plus, you step out into the East Village and have a million options for the rest of the night.

Exceptional job, Steve Logsdon and crew; it’s no wonder you’re still making national lists after so many years in business. We will absolutely return soon. Highly recommended.“

“Brownie says: I don't ever feel out of place here. The bar owner ( Jeff ) and his entire staff are the best...“

“3/1/25 I ordered delivery My order was grilled chicken sandwich on sourdough bread with fries. The sandwich was very good and lots of great flavor. Herb fries were good too. I also, ordered the pretzel Bread Pudding, it was terrible dry and hard even with the carmel sauce. Bad choice.
8/10“

“this is a fantastic place!!! food is incredible, atmosphere is awsome, and the owner is top notch. if it is a large group of a date this is the place to go“

“love this place! great food, great staff, great service! my coworkers and I go every Monday and Katie has our drinks on the table before we even walk in!“

“The Birria Pizzadillia was phenomenal. 20/10 would get again!“

“I believe the manager that helped us with our reservation was named Jess. She. Was. PHENOMENAL! She had organized a proposal after our dinner. Out server, the cooks, the manager….everyone did such an amazing job at making it a beautiful night! The drinks were outstanding, the food was cooked perfectly, and I will definitely be back when I go to Des Moines again!“

“Awesome food and great service.“

“The food here is great and the atmosphere is so fun. Currently, the seasonal menu (winter 2025) has Yo's Wontons which are in an excellent sauce. I also enjoy the bing bing wraps and drunken noodles.“

“Hands down my favorite bar. All the bartenders rock, the space is cozy, the drinks are actually reasonably priced, and they don’t skimp on the liquor. If it’s a busy night it can be HARD to find seating, but that’s most bars to be fair. Highly recommend“

“from cincinnati ohio. work trip here in des moines. was looking for a laid-back place to just chill at and was so impressed with the staff and patrons. thank you for a great chill night out“

“Literally the best tacos in existence.“

“We have been to visit The Republic several times and have had a phenomenal time each visit! The staff are second to none! Ask for Nicole Ripperger for great service!“