Summer 2026 is barely underway, yet the Des Moines metro is already charting one of its most eclectic seasons of restaurant growth in recent memory. A dozen newcomers are poised to open before fall, and together they sketch a clear portrait of where the metro’s dining scene is headed: more global, more convenience‑driven, more dessert‑forward and more confident in the expansion of homegrown brands.
The most striking shift comes from the surge in international flavors, especially from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Two new Laotian‑leaning restaurants, a revived Thai favorite, expanded Vietnamese menus and Iowa’s first Yemeni coffee house signal a metro that’s embracing deeper regional specificity rather than broad “Asian fusion.”
At the same time, Waukee, Ankeny and West Des Moines continue to attract fast‑casual growth, with drive‑thru‑only Dutch Bros, a new Pancheros with a second‑make line and Charlotte’s Kitchen extending its fried‑chicken footprint west. Convenience isn’t just a perk any more — it’s a defining feature of how suburban diners want to eat.
Dessert is having a moment, too. Home Sweet Cone brings premium ice cream to Ingersoll, while Nothing Major blends cocktails and late‑night sweets into a playful downtown bar. Add in Cuvée’s Champagne lounge and Lux Café’s upscale Asian fusion, and the metro’s nightlife is diversifying right alongside its daytime dining.
With only a month gone from summer, these 12 openings show a metro leaning into global flavors, suburban expansion and new ways to pair indulgence with efficiency.
Charlotte’s Kitchen
Charlotte’s Kitchen is expanding west with a new Waukee location slated to open in September or October 2026, bringing its popular fried chicken sandwiches, tenders and comfort‑food sides. The restaurant, which currently operates three metro locations and a food truck, has built a strong following for its crispy chicken, house‑made sauces and rotating specials. The Waukee expansion will offer both dine‑in and carry‑out service, with a menu centered on its signature sandwiches, loaded fries and family‑friendly combo meals.
Cuvée
Cuvée, a Champagne lounge and tapas bar, opens in the former Cafe Madeleine space later this summer. Anthony Wolvers, chef David Baruthio’s former sommelier, and his fiancée, Angela Wakely, plan to open the restaurant with a Champagne-forward menu, European-style small plates and a lounge-driven atmosphere. Karston Ausborn, who cooked beside Baruthio in Café Madeleine’s open kitchen, will lead the culinary program.
Dutch Bros Coffee
Dutch Bros Coffee is making its way into the Des Moines metro, preparing to launch its first wave of Iowa locations as its famously loyal “Dutch Mafia’’ fans eagerly await opening day. The first location opens in Des Moines this summer, according to a publicist with Dutch Bros. At least seven locations are planned across central Iowa, and the first confirmed Dutch Bros is taking over the former Fazoli’s at 4800 S.E. 14th St., transforming the site into a 986-square-foot, drive-thru-only coffee shop. The location is close to opening.
Hoang Khao — Lao & Thai Cuisine
The family behind the former Pad Thai Garden, which closed in West Des Moines in 2023, opens a new restaurant in Ankeny with Laotian and Thai dishes. Hoang Khao takes over in the former Curbin’ Cuisine space. Look for Laotian dishes such as khao piak sen, Laos’ iconic chicken noodle soup; laab, a minced meat salad flavored with herbs and toasted rice powder that is considered one of Laos’ national dishes; khao poon nam pa, a classic Lao curry noodle soup; and seen lod moo, a traditional Lao dried and fried pork jerky. The restaurant also serves Thai dishes such as pad Thai, pad see ew, tom yum and red, green, yellow and panang curries.
Home Sweet Cone
Home Sweet Cone, the ice cream shop with locations in Waukee and West Des Moines, plans to open in the Star Lofts on Ingersoll Avenue, taking over a space on the western side of the building that was previously planned to become the new home of Bistro Montage. Founded and owned by Colleen Strohmaier, the shop serves premium, small-batch ice cream made with high butterfat and all-natural ingredients.
Lux Café
Lux brings an upscale Asian fusion restaurant and cocktail bar to the Kettlestone district in Waukee. The dining destination plans to have a patio, as well. So far, the restaurant has teased pho and sushi.
Mullets
Mullets expands its footprint with a Waukee location opening in late July or early August. The original location opened in Des Moines in June 2010, with views of the downtown skyline and Principal Park. John Royer bought Mullets in 2016 from the Des Moines restaurant operators Full Court Press and began franchising locations, with the 2024 opening of Mullets in Ankeny.
Mullets is best known for hearty, Iowa-style American breakfast and brunch, along with bar-and-grill staples. The menu includes classic breakfast plates such as biscuits and gravy, pancakes and omelets; signature comfort dishes like chicken and waffles, country-fried steak breakfast and a variety of breakfast burritos; breakfast nachos, specialty hash brown plates and eggs Benedict; and sandwiches, po’boys, burgers and some pub-style fare. Of course, photos of its namesake decorate the walls. This location plans to be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nothing Major
The space next to Des Moines Athletic Club on Locust Street in downtown Des Moines turns into Nothing Major, a new bar with ice cream from Des Moines Does Things owner Nick Tillinghast. The bar in the Equitable Building plans to lean playful and casual, serving cocktails, slushes and small‑batch ice cream, with late‑night dessert baked into the plan. Tillinghast just applied for his liquor license for the space.
The opening means the speakeasy Good News, Darling will close behind Tillinghast’s Hello, Marjorie, which he opened in 2017 in the former Register & Tribune building, creating a midcentury‑inspired lounge named after his grandmother that would eventually land on USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year list and help redefine expectations for cocktail bars in Iowa.
Pancheros Mexican Grill
Des Moines-area Pancheros franchisees Shelly and Tyson Robinson open their third metro location of the Iowa-born restaurant. The new location in Waukee spans 2,600 square feet with two of the newer features at Pancheros: a second-make line and a drive-thru pick-up window for customers who order online. The fresh-Mex chain is famous for its made-to-order burritos, bowls and quesadillas, and presses its tortillas fresh on a dough press. Look for it opening the first week of September. The couple also owns the West Des Moines location, which Shelly Robinson’s father, Joe Ward, opened 22 years ago, as well as the Johnston location, which will close in September for a quick remodel.
Pho-Dee-Licious
China Place in Des Moines’ Drake neighborhood closed in June after 25 years. The owners retired, passing the restaurant to their son, who is renovating the University Avenue space to open Pho-Dee-Licious, featuring their original Chinese dishes alongside expanded Vietnamese and Laotian menus.
The Station
The Station is set to expand with a new Urbandale location opening in August in the former home of the Beerhouse, which closed in February after 11 years. The Station, known for its neighborhood bar feel, approachable menu and sports-friendly atmosphere, adds its second location, with a space designed for casual dining, gameday gatherings and family-friendly service. The menu is expected to include burgers, wraps, appetizers and pub-style comfort food, along with a full bar and ample TVs.
Yemnella Coffee House
Yemnella plans Iowa’s first Yemeni coffee shop, coming to the Jordan Creek area of West Des Moines. The cafe is bringing authentic Yemeni coffees as well as handcrafted drinks in a traditional atmosphere.
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The 12 biggest restaurant openings this summer in the Des Moines metro
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
