The Des Moines metro is gearing up for one of its biggest years of dining growth, with more than 15 highly anticipated restaurant openings slated for 2026 and beyond. From national names making their Iowa debut to beloved local brands expanding into new neighborhoods, this year’s lineup showcases the region’s evolving taste for flavor-packed dishes, modern café culture and family-friendly destinations.
Coffee fans can look forward to Atlas Café and at least three new Dutch Bros locations, while global cravings will be met with the arrival of national chains such as Bonchon, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar and Wayback Burgers. Local favorites, including Mullets, Purveyor Restaurant & Wine Market and Charlotte’s Kitchen, continue to scale up, and new restaurants such as Canopy and San Miguel Eatery promise fresh takes on brunch and Mexican cuisine. Whether you’re after comfort food, quick takeout or a new weekend hangout, 2026 and even 2027 are shaping up to be standout years for metro dining.
Le’s Chinese Bar-B-Que
Anticipated opening: March
Address: 2831 Douglas Ave., Des Moines
A longtime Des Moines institution, Le’s Chinese Bar‑B‑Que at 1600 Second Ave. has earned a devoted following for more than two decades thanks to its authentic Cantonese-style barbecue, flavorful roast duck and deeply seasoned broths. The restaurant’s rotisserie-style duck — available whole or half — remains its signature, earning praise from diners who describe it as exceptionally tender with balanced sweetness and spice. Le’s also serves roast pork by the pound, fried rice, lo mein and comforting noodle soups, offering a no‑frills, flavor-forward menu rooted in tradition.
Marv’s Mainstreet Dive
Anticipated opening: March
Address: 804 Main St., Norwalk
Marv’s Mainstreet Dive is one of the newest restaurants announced for the growing Norwalk Central district — a major mixed-use development bringing sports facilities, hotels, retail and dining to the Highway 28 corridor. The City of Norwalk confirms Marv’s Mainstreet Dive as one of five restaurant projects planned for the district, placing it among the next wave of openings attracting both locals and visiting families attending the new SportsPlex and Fieldhouse. Expect a casual, community-minded restaurant built to serve game‑day crowds, travelers and Norwalk residents as the area’s entertainment hub continues to expand.
Bonchon
Anticipated opening: April 30
Address: 6880 EP True Parkway, West Des Moines
Bonchon brings its globally famous Korean fried chicken to West Des Moines, marking a major arrival for fans of crispy wings brushed in soy‑garlic or spicy glaze. Known for its Korean comfort‑food favorites — including bulgogi, japchae and fried rice — Bonchon blends fast‑casual service with bold flavors and generous portions. The new EP True Parkway location gives the metro a fresh international option in a high-traffic corridor, making it a likely go-to for both quick takeout and family dinners.
Jungle Tea
Anticipated opening: May 16
Address: 2726 Douglas Ave., Des Moines
Jungle Tea is an emerging woman-owned café specializing in tea, dessert drinks and grab-and-go treats. The shop plans to offer tropical-inspired boba tea, including milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies, fresh sugar cane drinks, shaved ice cream and croffles, a hybrid pastry that combines a croissant and a waffle, topped with fresh fruit.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Anticipated opening: Spring
Address: 4206 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale
Moe’s Southwest Grill is bringing its bold, customizable Southwestern flavor to the Des Moines metro with the opening of its first area location at 4206 Merle Hay Road in Urbandale. The fast‑casual brand — known for its playful personality and crowd-pleasing “Welcome to Moe’s!” greeting — specializes in fully customizable burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and salads. Each order comes with free chips and salsa, one of the chain’s signature perks. Diners can build their ideal meal with proteins like steak, chicken or tofu, plus fresh toppings, salsas and house-made queso. Menu favorites include the Homewrecker burrito, packed with rice, beans, shredded cheese, guacamole and pico de gallo.
Purveyor Restaurant & Wine Market
Anticipated opening: Spring
Address: The Meridian, 7001 Westown Parkway, Suite 100, West Des Moines
Purveyor Restaurant & Wine Market from Michael LaValle and his LaValle Hospitality Group blends a polished dining room with a curated wine bar featuring wines on tap, available by the glass or growler inside the new Meridian Event Center & Catering. The restaurant promises a warm, modern space where customers can pair thoughtful small plates, salads, flatbreads and seasonal entrées with a rotating selection of accessible, international wines. A retail component will allow visitors to browse bottles, ask questions and purchase favorites to take home.
Canopy
Anticipated opening: September 2026
Address: 4001 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
Canopy is slated to bring a relaxed, sun-filled breakfast‑and‑lunch experience to Ingersoll Avenue, adding to the corridor’s growing lineup of neighborhood dining spots. Planned as a casual, airy café, Canopy from the owners of Oak Park aims to serve thoughtful morning and midday dishes such as grain bowls, scrambles, sandwiches, salads and seasonal baked goods. Expect a focus on wholesome, ingredient-driven fare paired with espresso drinks, teas and fresh juices. The space also includes a small market.
Charlotte’s Kitchen
Anticipated opening: September or October 2026
Address: 1165 S.E. University Ave., Waukee
Charlotte’s Kitchen moves into its fourth brick-and-mortar space, expanding its menu of creative chicken-focused dishes to Waukee. Expect signature sandwiches ranging from Nashville hot to Thai-inspired variations, along with crispy tenders, rotating specials and sides like cheese curds and seasoned fries.
Atlas Café
Anticipated opening: 2026
Address: The Meridian, 7001 Westown Parkway, Suite 100, West Des Moines
Atlas Café from Michael LaValle and LaValle Hospitality Group joins The Meridian Event Center & Catering, a new events space in West Des Moines, as a bright, modern coffee shop designed for all-day traffic — from early‑morning commuters to remote workers and weekend lounging. The café plans to spotlight pastries from Doré Bakery along with a lineup of fresh sandwiches, salads and grab-and-go options. Expect a warm, contemporary space with lots of natural light, ample seating and a focus on high-quality coffee drinks that go beyond the basics.
The Breakfast Club
Anticipated opening: 2026
Address: 2285 Grand Prairie Parkway, Waukee
The Breakfast Club brings a cheerful, all-day brunch personality to Waukee with a menu centered on sweet‑and‑savory comfort food. Expect decadent pancakes, oversized breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, waffles and loaded hash dishes — along with modern brunch cocktails and playful seasonal specials. The vibe leans upbeat and social, making it ideal for families, weekend meetups or a pre-errand breakfast. The location in the East Village will also move to a new spot in the same neighborhood sometime in 2026.
Dutch Bros Coffee
Anticipated openings: 2026
Addresses: 4800 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines; 4019 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines; 315 N.W. 36th Drive, Ankeny
Dutch Bros Coffee — the high-energy, drive-thru coffee chain with a cult following — is entering Des Moines in a big way. Its first confirmed location replaces the former Fazoli’s at 4800 S.E. 14th St., converting the site into a 986-square-foot drive-thru-only shop. A second location, announced in February 2026, will open on Merle Hay Road with a double drive-thru to handle high volume. A third Des Moines metro location is in the planning stages at 315 N.W. 36th Drive, Ankeny, as the chain continues its rapid 2026 nationwide expansion. Expect signature drinks — Golden Eagle breves, Caramelizers, Annihilators and Rebel energy drinks — plus the brand’s trademark upbeat “broista” culture.
Mullets
Address: 1105 S.E. Pleasant View Drive, Waukee
Anticipated opening: 2026
Mullets — the beloved, high-energy local restaurant known for its hearty breakfasts, Bloody Mary flights and upbeat ’80s/’90s vibe — is expanding again with a new metro location. Mullets heads to Waukee, where it will become the brand’s fourth restaurant. Also of note, the original Mullets location in Des Moines plans to open for dinner in May.
San Miguel Eatery
Anticipated opening: 2026
Address: 2525 Grand Ave., Des Moines
From restaurateurs Carla San Miguel and Blanca Plascencia — who is behind El Fogón and El Guacamole Patio & Cantina — comes San Miguel Eatery, a modern Mexican concept anchoring the redeveloped Howard Johnson site on Grand Avenue. With an $18.3 million property remodel underway, the restaurant plans to spotlight chilaquiles, pancakes, charcuterie-style Mexican tapas, tres leches cakes, craft cocktails and specialty lattes. The space is expected to balance tradition with trend, offering a vibrant dining room, bakery program and bar experience.
Sunset Lounge
Anticipated opening: 2026
Address: 60 School St., Carlisle
While Sunset Lounge currently operates its popular adults-only smash‑burger bar on Sunset Drive in Norwalk, a new LLC filing indicates expansion is underway under Sunset Lounge Carlisle LLC, suggesting a Carlisle location is in development. Based on the Norwalk model — a 21-plus lounge with an upgraded patio, scratch-made burgers, creative sides like deviled eggs, Graziano sausage fingerling dip and rotating weekday specials — Carlisle can expect an elevated but approachable bar‑and‑grill experience. The Norwalk restaurant is known for strong happy‑hour traffic, game‑day specials and a modernized space with non-smoking patio rules, hinting that the Carlisle location will follow suit.
Taste of New York
Anticipated opening: 2026
Address: 7450 Bridgewood Blvd., Suite 215, West Des Moines
Taste of New York shifts just a few doors down from its original location into the former Scratch Cupcakery space — a move that brings a bigger dining room, expanded kitchen, new pasta offerings, a service counter and a full bar. Owners Lou and Joy Savelli say the new space will help them meet demand while elevating the experience for dine-in customers. The original location will remain in use for a future concept. Expect the same New York-style slices, stromboli and garlic knots the restaurant is known for, but with added room, upgraded ambiance and new specialties.
Wayback Burgers
Anticipated opening: 2026
Address: 1165 S.E. Alice’s Road, Waukee
Wayback Burgers — the fast‑growing national chain known for its hand-pressed burgers, thick milkshakes and playful “inverted cheeseburger” — is officially expanding into Iowa, with its first metro location planned for Waukee. The franchise, operated by Meet and Priti Patel, marks the brand’s debut in the state and is part of a broader nationwide expansion that has seen rapid growth over the last several years. The Patels chose Wayback for its friendly atmosphere, strong brand identity and reputation for quality, signaling a high-energy opening when doors officially open. Customers can expect a menu packed with classic cheeseburgers, stacked sandwiches, chicken tenders, fries, onion rings and hand-dipped shakes — all served in a casual, family-friendly setting.
Yard House
Anticipated opening: April 2027
Address: 130 S. Jordan Creek Pkwy., West Des Moines
Arriving in early 2027, Yard House will bring its signature blend of globally inspired pub fare and one of the country’s largest draft beer lists to the Des Moines metro. Customers can expect more than 100 taps, a lively sports‑bar atmosphere and an expansive menu featuring burgers, tacos, salads, bowls and shareables — all served in a modern, music-driven space. Its late-night hours and large dining room make Yard House a strong candidate for pre-game meals, weekend gatherings and happy-hour meetups.
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
Anticipated opening: 2027
Address: Jordan Creek Town Center, 101 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines
Kura Sushi, the national conveyor‑belt sushi chain, brings its tech-driven dining experience to Jordan Creek Town Center in the Panera Bread space. Customers can expect a lively, futuristic environment where plates glide past at eye level and a digital ordering system delivers specialty rolls, ramen, desserts and drinks via an automated track. Known for its efficiency and family-friendly appeal, Kura offers a mix of traditional nigiri and inventive sushi items, plus playful features like collectible prizes for hitting plate counts. This high-profile opening is set to bring something entirely new to the metro’s sushi scene — and will likely attract lines on day one.
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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 15 most-anticipated restaurant openings in the Des Moines metro
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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