Panka Peruvian will close later this month after nearly seven years on Ingersoll Avenue. Owner Mariela Maya announced the decision earlier this year, citing the mounting pressures facing independent restaurants and has since confirmed that the restaurant’s final day of service will be April 29.
When Panka opened in 2019, it became part of a growing wave of Des Moines restaurants bringing greater attention to Peruvian cuisine, introducing many diners to its layered flavors and global influences. The menu highlights dishes such as lomo saltado, citrus-forward ceviches and sauces built around ají peppers, along with a bar program centered on pisco-based cocktails.
For Maya, who grew up in Lima in a family of restaurateurs, Panka was as much about cultural expression as it was hospitality. Over time, the restaurant developed a loyal following and became a familiar presence in the Ingersoll corridor, earning recognition on the Des Moines Register’s Essential Restaurants list.
The closure comes during a challenging period for the local restaurant industry, as operators navigate rising costs, labor pressures and shifting dining habits. The restaurant joins high-profile places like Django and Americana on a recent list of departures that underscore how challenging the moment has become for full‑service restaurants.
Maya briefly expanded with Panka Peruvian Chicken near Drake University in 2023, a fast‑casual offshoot focused on pollo a la brasa. She closed that restaurant a year later.
Until April 29, Panka remains open for diners who want one final visit — an opportunity to revisit favorite dishes, toast with a pisco sour, and say goodbye to a restaurant that helped deepen Des Moines’ familiarity with Peruvian flavors.
Where to find Panka Peruvian
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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: Panka Peruvian’s last days — what Des Moines diners should know
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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