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Highest-rated restaurants in Des Moines by diners

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Dreamer Company // Shutterstock
Dreamer Company // Shutterstock

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.

But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations鈥�67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.

New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.

To help you determine which spots鈥攂oth new and long-standing鈥攖o try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Des Moines, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.

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#30. Panka Peruvian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2708 Ingersoll Ave. Ste 200 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Peruvian, Latin American
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#29. La Mie Elevate

- Rating: 4.5/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 601 Locust St. Skywalk Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
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#28. B & B Grocery Meat & Deli

- Rating: 4.5/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2001 Southeast 6th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Grocery, Meat Shops, Delis
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4 / 30

#27. Proudfoot & Bird

- Rating: 4.5/5 (67 reviews)
- Address: 1000 Walnut St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
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#25. Rancho Alegre Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3308 Indianola Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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7 / 30

#24. Parlor

- Rating: 4.5/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4041 Urbandale Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Pizza, Beer Bar
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8 / 30

#23. Francies

- Rating: 4.5/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2100 Wakonda View Drive Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: American, Sports Bars
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#22. The Green Olive

- Rating: 4.5/5 (86 reviews)
- Address: 4221 Fleur Drive Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mediterranean, Breakfast & Brunch
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#20. Lucky Horse Burgers and Beer

- Rating: 4.6/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2331 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Bars, American
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#19. The Stuffed Olive

- Rating: 4.6/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 216 Court Ave. Ste 100 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Tapas Bars
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#18. Basic Bird

- Rating: 4.6/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2607 Beaver Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Korean, Chicken Wings
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#17. Harbinger

- Rating: 4.6/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2724 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American
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#15. Faustinos Taqueria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 4944 Franklin Ave. Ste I Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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17 / 30

#14. Lachele's Fine Foods

- Rating: 4.6/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2716 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Burgers, American, Diners
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18 / 30

#13. La Cuscatleca Pupuseria & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1240 East 14th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Salvadoran
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19 / 30

#12. Gursha Ethiopian Grill

- Rating: 4.7/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 2316 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Ethiopian
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#10. Maccabee's Kosher Deli

- Rating: 4.7/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1150 Polk Blvd. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Delis, Kosher, Sandwiches
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#9. Tacos Degollado

- Rating: 4.7/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1817 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Patisserie/Cake Shop, Food Trucks
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#8. Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine

- Rating: 4.7/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1409 23rd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Pakistani, Indian, Halal
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#7. La Cuscatleco South

- Rating: 4.7/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 2580 Fleur Drive Ste 101 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Salvadoran
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#6. Zavy Kitchen

- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 111 East Grand Ave. Ste 101 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bars, Bubble Tea
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#5. Freedom Blend Coffee

- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2329 Hickman Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#4. Donut Hut

- Rating: 4.8/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4941 Douglas Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Donuts, Bakeries, fast food
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#3. Tullpa Restaurant

- Rating: 4.8/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 3708 Merle Hay Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Peruvian, Cocktail Bars, Colombian
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#2. El Michoacano

- Rating: 4.8/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 2922 Merle Hay Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Tacos
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#1. Cafe con Leche

- Rating: 4.9/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 2905 Hubbell Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.

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