Des Moines’ dining scene is on fire this fall, with a wave of exciting new restaurants, bars, and ice cream shops opening across the metro. From Korean fried chicken and Asian fusion noodles to vintage cocktail lounges and dinner theater experiences, the city is buzzing with fresh flavors and creative concepts. Whether you’re craving small-batch ice cream, a martini-inspired bar, or a New York-style pizza with a sports bar twist, there’s something new for every palate. Here’s your guide to 13 of the can’t-miss openings happening now through November — including insider details, opening dates, and where to find them.
Did we miss a restaurant or bar opening in the Des Moines metro this fall? Send us some details at sstapleton@gannett.com.
Bamboo House
The restaurant that specializes in Asian fusion cuisine at 3701 E.P. True Pkwy. in West Des Moines expands to Des Moines on Merle Hay Road across from Merle Hall Mall. The restaurant is known for mi goreng — a stir-fried noodles dish with veggies and a choice of chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp, garnished with cilantro — fried barbecue buns with pork, sesame chicken, and a fried chicken dish with a sweet and tangy sauce. The restaurant also carries pho and ramen, as well as vermicelli dishes. Expect an October opening.
Location: 3801-3809 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines
Contact: bamboohouseiowa.com
Bar Martinez
Travis Oler brings Bar Martinez to 515 Euclid Ave. in the Highland Park neighborhood of Des Moines. Oler partnered with Amner Martinez, who gets partial credit for the Bar Martinez name. A Martinez is also a classic cocktail, a precursor to the martini made with gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters. The cocktail dates back to the late 1800s. The 650-square-foot main floor will have room for 29 to 35 patrons, with a small patio in the back. In the basement, Oler has room to carve large-format ice, prepare cocktail ingredients, and create elevated snacks and desserts.
Location: 515 Euclid Ave., Des Moines
Contact: instagram.com/barmartinez.dsm
Black Cat Ice Cream
Alex and Angela Carter closed the original location of Black Cat Ice Cream in the Drake neighborhood at the end of June after the building needed extensive repairs. The couple plans to open in the former Ritual Café space in downtown Des Moines in October. Fans can find small-batch artisanal ice cream made with grass-fed natural dairy and a rotating lineup of flavors such as Killer Bee, Cereal Milk, and more. The ice cream shop offers vegan and gluten-free options as well.
Fans can still find Black Cat at its Valley Junction location that opened in April.
Location: 1301 Locust St., Des Moines
Contact: blackcaticecream.com
Chick-fil-A
Downtown Des Moines lands its own Chick-fil-A, not a food cart but a restaurant, when the new location opens in the skywalk of the Greater Des Moines Partnership Building at 700 Locust St., Des Moines in October. The stand offered Chick-fil-A’s original chicken sandwich, spicy chicken sandwich, wraps, salads, waffle fry chips, and bottled drinks during lunch hours on weekdays.
Location: Skywalk level, 700 Locust St., Des Moines
Contact: chick-fil-a.com
Chikin-Likin
The Korean fried chicken restaurant already has its original location in Waukee, but now, owner Thi Nguyen turns to downtown Des Moines for a second. Chikin-Likin opens in the Local Bites Food Hall on the lower level of the Greater Des Moines Partnership Building at 700 Locust St., Des Moines. Expect the restaurant’s double-fried, super crispy chicken tossed in sauces, along with wings, tenders, sandwiches, and Korean favorites like bibimbap and bulgogi fries. Look for an October opening.
Location: Local Bites, 700 Locust St., Des Moines
Contact: chikin-lickin.com
Empire
Fong’s Pizza departed downtown Des Moines in February for a new location in the Market District south of the East Village, but a new restaurant is set to take its place. Parent company Full Court Press, the group behind many popular Des Moines establishments like El Bait Shop, High Life Lounge, Hessen Haus, and Royal Mile, still plans to operate the location, but kept very hush-hush about what Empire will be. The sign touts cocktails and hot meals. The space originally opened in 1905 as The Empire Tavern. Expect a late September opening.
Location: 223 Fourth St., Des Moines
Contact: fullcourtpressdm.com
Highland Underground
Cocktails served in a room with a 1970s vibe come to Highland Park when Highland Underground opens in the basement of the old Klein’s Department Store. One wall features shadowboxes with mannequins dressed in vintage clothes, while the wall behind the small stage showcases old speakers, both perfect for selfies. The space, outfitted with mid-century modern furnishings and decorations, including wallpaper and wood paneling, will be moody and under-lit. Modern interpretations of classic cocktails are served, as well as fondue.
The project is from Orvis Horatio Group, locally owned by brothers Alec and Evan Davis; Dr. Austin Baeth, who has served as a Democrat in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2023; and Sam Hoyle. Alec and Evan Davis have a decade of experience working in restaurant operations. Hoyle owns the marketing agency New Tribe Media. The group also operates Dough Co. Pizza and Des Moines Biergarten. Expect an October opening.
Location: 3614 Sixth Ave., Des Moines
Contact: highlandunderground.com
The Ingersoll
Dinner theater returns to Des Moines when The Ingersoll opens around Thanksgiving. The dinner-and-a-show format brings curated dining experiences together with live theater, concerts, and comedy shows. The cabaret includes a stylish lounge and bar for cocktails before or after the show.
Location: 3711 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
Contact: theingersoll.com
Judges DSM
This New American restaurant from Kyle Pritchard, who owns Tonic, brings a craft cocktail lounge and restaurant into the former Stuffed Olive space in the Court Avenue neighborhood. Pritchard said he chose the name because of the restaurant’s proximity to Polk County courthouses, the Criminal Courts Building, and the U.S. Southern District Court. The restaurant is in its friends-and-family stage of opening. Look for a late September opening.
Location: 208 Third St., Des Moines
Contact: judgesdsm.com
Littleleaf Luncheonette
Elevated comfort food with a sustainable twist comes to Old Town Waukee at the end of September. Littleleaf Luncheonette from Mallory Holt and Ryan Nicholson emphasizes sustainability, community, and charm with a name that references native wildflowers and the idea of thriving in neglected spaces. Expect dishes like a tuna melt made with yellowfin tuna, Parlor Coffee from Brooklyn, and eventually wine bar evenings with tapas. The interior has room for around 50 diners, with an additional 30 on the glass-enclosed patio.
Location: 405 Sixth St., Waukee
Contact: littleleafluncheonette.com
The Pizza Bar
Lou and Joy Savelli, the owners of Taste of New York in West Des Moines and Waukee, plan to open a New York-style pizza restaurant with a sports bar twist in Pleasant Hill. The Pizza Bar will feature a game room, patio, and draft beer selection.
Location: 1225 Copper Creek Drive, Pleasant Hill
Contact: thepizzabaria.com
San Miguel Eatery
This modern Mexican eatery from Carla San Miguel and Blanca Plascencia — who co-owns El Fogón with two locations in West Des Moines and El Guacamole Patio & Cantina in Waukee — opens in the former Howard Johnson space on Grand Avenue. The entire property is getting an $18.3 million remodel, and the restaurant plans to focus on chilaquiles, charcuterie, pancakes, tapas, lattes, tres leches cakes from the bakery, and craft cocktails.
Location: 2525 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Contact: instagram.com/sanmiguel.eatery
Scoops by Beth
Beth Mensing raised more than $38,000 on Kickstarter toward her goal to open her ice cream shop in Highland Park. She hasn’t announced an opening date, but in July estimated three months. Mensing makes handcrafted, small-batch ice cream using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Location: 523 Euclid Ave., Des Moines
Contact: facebook.com/PintsByBeth
Taste of New York
Consider this a short move. The West Des Moines location of Taste of New York moves into the former Scratch Cupcakery space, a few doors down from its home west of Jordan Creek Town Center. Lou and Joy Savelli move the restaurant into a larger space and add new pasta dishes, a separate service counter and bar for customers, and liquor. TONY keeps its original space for something new. The sign is up at the new location, so expect the opening soon.
Location: 7450 Bridgewood Blvd., Suite 215, West Des Moines
Contact: tasteofnypizza.com
The Toasted Cone
A new ice cream shop opens in West Des Moines when The Toasted Cone arrives in West Des Moines. The shop, opening at the end of September, plans to offer freshly toasted waffle cones, premium ice cream in rotating flavors, baked treats and seasonal desserts, and gluten-free and dairy-free options. The seasonal menu and a wide variety of dairy-free Italian ices are on the menu.
Location: 9500 University Ave., Suite 2105, West Des Moines
Contact: toastedcone.com
Triple B’s
This newcomer combines a bakery, soda shop, and steakhouse in a former Jethro’s BBQ space in Johnston. Triple B’s plans to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with menu items such as burnt ends, a hot brisket sandwich, filet mignon, jumbo sea scallops, stuffed berry French toast, and breakfast nachos. The restaurant also promises over-the-top shakes, splits, sundaes, and toppings such as Pop-Tarts crumbles, gummy bears, and chocolate dips, and diners can build their own, picking flavors and toppings. Triple B’s also plans to offer a cereal bar with 29 cereal choices, topping options, and milk choices. Expect a late September opening.
Location: 5950 86th St., Johnston
Contact: bubbyb.com
(This article was updated with new information.)
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If you see a new restaurant opening or a beloved place closing, send me some details at sstapleton@gannett.com.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 13 new restaurants opening in Des Moines this fall span Korean fried chicken to ice cream
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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