Updated 2026/09/12

The Best Restaurants in Des Moines, United States (2026)

Compare 30 restaurants in Des Moines, United States, averaging 4.52 stars on Google Maps. The typical listing has 620 reviews, so the ratings below reflect real customer volume rather than a handful of opinions. 83% maintain a website. Most are clustered around Indianola, Pleasant Hill. Rankings combine Google rating, review volume and website popularity, keep one entry per brand, and refresh automatically as our data updates.

30 businesses ranked4.52 average rating

Top picks

Rank 1

Gursha Ethiopian Grill

4.8(565)
62.6

GURSHA ETHIOPIAN GRILL characteristically consists of vegetable and often very spicy meat dishes. This is usually in the form of wat, a thick stew, served atop injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is about 50 centimeters (20 inches) in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour.

RestaurantDes Moines Website
Rank 2

Crouse Cafe

4.7(1341)
56.2

Crouse Cafe in Indianola, IA has been a family tradition since 1946, when Bob and Cleo Crouse first opened their doors serving customers in Leon, Knoxville, and Indianola. In 1963, their son Richard and his wife Bonnie continued the business, and in 1970 the cafe moved across the street to its curre

RestaurantDes Moines Website 1
Rank 3

Rolling Smoke Barbeque

4.7(431)
55.7

At Rolling Smoke Barbeque, we're serving our community with freshly cooked BBQ and a welcoming place to enjoy a meal with those around you.

RestaurantDes Moines
Rank 4

South Union Bread Cafe

4.7(326)
55.5

Airy venue for sandwiches & salads

RestaurantDes Moines Website 1
Rank 5

The Iowa Taproom

4.6(4250)
49.5

Lots of local brews in a buzzy beer hall

RestaurantDes Moines Website 1
Rank 6

Tasty Tacos

4.6(2004)
49.4

Low-key joint for homestyle Mexican eats

RestaurantDes Moines Website
Rank 7

The High Life Lounge

4.6(1868)
49.4

Bar & grill with retro blue-collar flair

RestaurantDes Moines Website 1
Rank 8

The Breakfast Club

4.6(1740)
49.4

Brunch spot for comfort food & cocktails

RestaurantDes Moines Website 2
Rank 9

Fresko

4.6(919)
49.3

Casual eatery with vegan options & a bar

RestaurantDes Moines Website
Rank 10

Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers

4.6(710)
49.3

Fresh burgers and Iowa craft beer located in the heart of Dogtown! Be sure to try the rotating featured frozen cocktails! HAPPY HOUR: Monday-Thursday 3-6pm -- $2 Classic Cans -- $5 Frozen Cocktails -- 1/2 price wine & well drinks -- 1/2 Price Select Appetizers (Buffalo Cauliflower, Onion Rings, and

RestaurantDes Moines Website 1

How we rank

  • Google rating and review volume, as a Bayesian average, so a 4.9 with 500 reviews outranks a 5.0 with five.
  • Website popularity: estimated monthly visits, an independent signal of real-world demand.
  • Only businesses with at least 4.0 stars and 10 reviews qualify, and each brand appears once.
  • Rankings recompute automatically as our data refreshes. No business can pay to be listed or ranked higher.

Full list

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants are there in Des Moines, United States?

We list 30 restaurants in Des Moines, United States that meet our quality bar of at least 4.0 stars and 10 Google reviews. The wider directory holds more, including newer and unrated businesses.

Which restaurant in Des Moines, United States is rated highest?

Gursha Ethiopian Grill currently tops our list with 4.8 stars from 565 reviews. Rankings update as new reviews and traffic data arrive.

How are the restaurants ranked?

Each business gets a composite score: 70% a Bayesian average of its Google rating and review count, so a 4.9-star business with hundreds of reviews outranks a 5.0 with five, and 30% estimated website traffic. Chains appear once. Nobody can pay to be listed or ranked.

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