(This story originally ran in 2023 and was updated in 2025.)
Burgers are standard fare on restaurant menus in Des Moines. Even the most posh restaurants serve a version of this iconic dish.
The versions on this list span hamburgers found at a diner, at a burger specialist and at one of the top restaurants in Des Moines, among others. Find a high-end burger made with chunks of filet mignon, smash burgers, smushed burgers, griddled burgers, and steam burgers on this list.
Here, a look at 14 iconic burgers that you can always turn to in the Des Moines metro area.
Did we miss your favorite burger? Send me an email at sstapleton@gannett.com with your top picks and where to find them.
Alba
The farmhouse burger, $18.50
Alba in the East Village specializes in farm-to-table fare and changes its menu seasonally to take advantage of fresh produce. The farmhouse burger remains one of the best in the city with fried Brussels sprouts leaves, Swiss cheese, and a bourbon mustard aioli. During happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. in the bar area, snag one of three $8 burgers such as the Alba burger with caramelized onions and bleu cheese, the Lil’ Danny burger with cheddar and pickled red onions, or the classic burger with tomato, onion, cheddar and a house pickle.
Location: 524 E. Sixth St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-244-0261 or albadsm.com
Angry Goldfish Pub & Eatery
Hangover burger, $13
It’s a slice of breakfast on a bun. The hangover burger at the Angry Goldfish lives up to its name with hash browns, bacon, an over-easy egg and cheddar cheese. It even comes with a bloody mary dipping sauce on the side. Do order it with the tater tots. Other options include a Boursin burger with sautéed onions, the Asian PB and J burger with Thai peanut sauce and spicy strawberry bacon jam, or the AG burger with two patties and cheese. Gluten-free buns are an additional $1.50. Any burger can be a veggie burger
Location: 2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-288-2358 or angrygoldfishdsm.com
Barn Town Brewing
Brewer’s burger, $16.49
Beer and burgers make a perfect couple, and the burgers at Barn Town Brewing include two patties griddled on a flat top. The Brewer’s burger combines bacon, a fried egg, and cheddar and tastes closest to the burger you might make in your own back yard. Others include a version with brie and bacon, the bacon blu with bacon compote and blue cheese crumbles, and the croque-madame with grilled ham, Swiss, a sunny-side-up egg, and stoneground béchamel. Sub a gluten-free bun for an additional $2. Sub no-meat black bean patties for no charge.
Location: 9500 University Ave., Suite 1110, West Des Moines
Contact: 515-978-6767 or barntownbrewing.com
Bubba
The Bowtie burger, $16
Bubba, the Southern restaurant in downtown Des Moines, only has one burger on its menu, but it’s an ode to down South cuisine. The Bowtie burger comes topped with pimento cheese and pecan-smoked bacon on a brioche bun. You can add a fried egg for an extra dollar. Find it at brunch, lunch and dinner.
Location: 200 10th St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-257-4744 or bubbadsm.com
Clyde’s Fine Diner
CFD burger, $14
Every diner should have a burger, and the elevated diner Clyde’s in the East Village offers a fine version. James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef Midwest Chris Hoffmann makes it tough to order anything besides the burger on his menu. The CFD burger features two patties, American cheese, the restaurant’s own burger sauce, shaved onions, and pickles. You can also find a veggie burger with field roast vegan cheese, greens, shaved onion, and Dijonnaise, as well as an optional vegan bun and Dijon for $15. Order a vegan and gluten-free bun for an additional $2. On Tuesdays, you can score a burger with a shot of Evan Williams Bourbon and a PBR for $16.
Location: 111 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-243-3686 or clydesfinediner.com
Gastro Grub & Pub
Bacon jam burger, $18
Gastro Grub & Pub owners Sean and Andrea Gleason created their own food truck that they converted into a restaurant in Waukee. Novelty seems to be their middle name. This savory burger comes topped with bacon jam to make it a little sweet, but the two beef patties, pepper jack cheese and arugula cut down on that. Do go all out and order truffle fries on the side. The combination is a classic.
Location: 1378 E. Hickman Road in Waukee
Contact: 515-300-2460 or gastrogrubpub.com
Lachele’s Fine Foods
The Lachele burger, $12
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The namesake Lachele burger cooked on a griddle comes with the standards: pickles, onions, romaine lettuce, and American cheese on a sesame seed bun. No, it’s not a Big Mac; it’s much, much better. Cory Wendel named the restaurant for his wife, Lachele. Gluten-free options available as well.
Location: 2716 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-330-6876 or lacheles.com
Lachele’s Fine Foods in Highland Park
Jake’s Something, $16
Tell every burger in the state to move over. This French onion steamed burger rises to the top of every burger list out there. While diners can find three of the smash burgers from the Lachele’s menu on Ingersoll Avenue, the steamed burgers are something new. The Jake’s Something comes with mushrooms, caramelized onions and mozzarella, which creates the perfect pull. Add some Dijon mustard and mayo on a potato roll for the dynamite combination. Try the curly fries while you’re at it.
Location: 3619 Sixth Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-330-6876 or lacheles.com
Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers
Cheeseburger, $12
Diners can choose from 12 burgers on the menu at Lucky Horse near Drake University, and the restaurant typically offers a burger of the month that rotates. Try the cheeseburger that includes a 7-ounce patty and American cheese, or go with the fried mushroom Swiss, bacon cheddar, or Dogtown burger with hot pepper bacon jam and smoked Gouda. Gluten-free buns are available for $2.
Location: 2331 University Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-381-9088 or luckyhorsedsm.com
Lua Brewing
Lua smush burger, $17.50
The brewery in Sherman Hill has found a following not only for its Iowa beers and Climbing Kites THC sparkling water, but its smush burger. Pull a chair up at a table on the patio and order the burger with two house-ground patties, fried onions, American cheese, Lua sauce, and pickles. The restaurant also has an Impossible meat version.
Location: 1525 High St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-630-5311 or luabeer.com
Mulberry Street Tavern
MST double burger, $20
Mulberry Street Tavern inside the Surety Hotel boldly claims to have “the hands down best burger in Des Moines.” And it is pretty good with grilled onions, sriracha pickles, American cheese, mustard and caper mayo. It’s worth trying.
Location: Surety Hotel, 206 Sixth Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-985-2066 or suretyhotel.com/mulberry-street-tavern
Prime & Providence
Black Label Burger, $39
This steakhouse from Dominic Iannarelli and Cory Gourley in West Des Moines goes over-the-top with its version of a burger. Really, the Black Label burger is more of a filet mignon chopped into big cubes and then swaddled in raclette, roasted mushroom relish, and burger sauce. During cocktail hour from 3 to 6 p.m., it’s $25, or $18 as sliders. Diners can also go for a less fancy burger, the bar burger, topped with white cheddar cheese and triple cooked bacon on a sesame bun with fries for $18 in the bar area.
Location: 595 60th St., Suite 100, West Des Moines
Contact: 515-644-6805 or primeandprovidence.com
Table 128
Lynn’s Burger, $19
Beloved Table 128 from chef and owner Lynn Pritchard returned to action, this time south of downtown Des Moines on MLK Jr. Parkway. While a new rendition of an old favorite gave Pritchard a chance to explore new menu items, he did bring his namesake burger back. A little pickled pear, a slather of creamy brie, a crunch of crispy onion, and a dollop of Dijon aioli on a brioche bun give this burger its character for lunch and dinner.
Location: 220 S.W. Ninth St. in Des Moines
Contact: 515-674-2080 or table128bistro.com
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab
Zombie burger, $7.99 for a single patty, $10.50 for two patties, and $12.99 for three patties
When people outside Iowa think of restaurants in Des Moines, they inevitably mention Zombie Burger, which earned a cult following for its zombie-themed menu. The GoreMet Bashed Burgers, as they’re called, come with a choice of one, two or three patties. The namesake Zombie burger comes with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and red onions, but other novelty names include the East Village of the Damned with a breaded mushroom and cheese croquette, the 28 Days Later with blue cheese and caramelized onion, and They’re Coming to Get You, Barbara with two grilled-cheese-sandwich buns, American cheese, caramelized onion, and bacon. Vegan diners can request the veggie nut patty, Beyond meat patty or grilled Portobello.
Location: 300 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines; also at Jordan Creek Town Center, 101 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines
Contact: 515-244-9292 or zombieburgerdm.com
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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: Love a good burger? Here’s where to find some of the best in the Des Moines metro
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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