Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives - Des Moines metro
- Thread starter CloneGuy8
- Start date
Cactus Bob's in Johnston. Awesome BBQ that seemingly no one knows about.
Mi Patria was actually featured on DD&D, never been there myself but could be a good place to start.
Flame in Johnston
Love this place.
El Rey Burrito another hidden gem in Valley Junction. Barn Town's food is stupid good and their beer is right behind it. Cozi Cucina isn't a dive but their cheese cake and lobster bisque are incredible.
The Big Steer next to Prairie Meadows. It's nice and clean now after the purge. Also, Applebees is decent.
If you haven't had pizza at Bordenaro's on SW 9th, highly recommend. You might even see the guy walking his goat on the way.
For my brother's birthday he introduced me to The Cheese Bar. They make amazing pastas and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Flying Mango on Hickman East of Merle Hay (NW of Drake). Mix of BBQ, Cajun and Caribbean. Got to have collard greens.
El Michoacano on Merle Hay and Urbandale Ave is the best little Mexican restaurant.
The wife and I ate there once a couple years ago. It was the worst BBQ we’ve ever had. The ribs she ordered tasted like they were cooked a couple days before and reheated in a microwave(rubbery) and the brisket I ordered was chewy with no flavor. I was shocked to see they were featured on man vs food. Maybe it was just a bad day for them and the normal pit masters were gone or what, but it was atrocious.
Flying Mango and Mi Patria are 10/10 places to eat as others have already stated. Both I believe have been featured on diners, drive ins and dives and rightfully so. Just amazing food. The owner of Flying Mango was walking around and sitting and talking with customers when we were there the first time and is a super nice guy. Can’t recommend that place enough.
A Taste of Italy is a gem for sandwiches, tucked into a strip mall in Clive/Windsor Heights.
Simon's is amazing.
Just trying to think of things not downtown.
Simon's is amazing.
Just trying to think of things not downtown.
Being next to Camp Dodge, I've eaten there more times than I can count and have never had a bad experience. I'm guessing that was an outlier because I've never heard anyone else say they didn't like the place.