What's new in Des Moines dining? 10 restaurants to try.

The Des Moines metro’s dining scene is evolving at a rapid clip — and we’re here to track every standout newcomer. Each month, we spotlight the freshest additions across the metro, from inventive indie openings to buzz‑worthy national names and hidden neighborhood gems. These restaurants represent the latest wave of creativity shaping central Iowa’s ever‑changing food landscape.

Pork chashu don is seen at Toyo Ramen & Japanese Street Food on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Ankeny.

To keep the guide relevant, we only feature restaurants within their first six months of opening. As new spots debut, older ones rotate off, giving you a constantly updated look at what’s new, notable, and worth trying right now. Whether you’re in the mood for cozy comfort dishes, global flavors, or inventive desserts, you’ll find something to inspire your next meal.

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Is your favorite new restaurant missing from the list? Drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll check it out.  

Toyo Ramen & Japanese Street Food

Opened: Jan. 1

Toyo Ramen & Japanese Street Food brings authentic Japanese street fare to The District at Prairie Trail. Owned by Tashi Chompel, a Tibetan immigrant trained in Japan, the restaurant is his first venture. Inside, the long, narrow space feels warm and inviting, with light-wood booths, soft lighting, and walls decorated with maneki‑neko, lanterns, Japanese newspaper ads, and colorful food banners. Diners order at the counter while watching the kitchen in action, even passing cats “fishing” at the prep area.

The menu features ramen, donburi, fried rice, and street snacks. Starters include chicken karaage with umami mayo, pork gyoza with house-made ponzu, agedashi tofu topped with daikon and ginger, harumaki spring rolls and takoyaki with bonito flakes. Ramen options range from Hakata tonkotsu and spicy miso to classic chicken and spicy beef, with customizable toppings. Donburi bowls and fried rice round out the offerings, alongside Japanese beer and sake.

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Opened: Dec. 12

For those looking for the spiciest versions of crispy chicken in the metro, head to the new Dave’s Hot Chicken with its seven levels of heat that go from no spice to Grim Reaper. The second location for Dave’s Hot Chicken in Iowa opened in Ankeny with sliders, tenders, Dave’s Saucy Bites and more.

Customers order at the counter, choosing from items such as two tenders, two sliders or a combination of both in a meal served with crinkle-cut fries, which range from $10.49 to $14.49. Most importantly, diners select a heat level that starts at no spice and elevates to Reaper. Employees recommended the medium as a good starting point for the newbie.

Littleleaf Luncheonette

Opened: Oct. 20

Nestled in a restored brick building in Waukee’s Old Town, Littleleaf Luncheonette is a cozy breakfast-and-lunch spot with a focus on sustainability and elevated comfort food. Owners Mallory Holt and Ryan Nicholson spent three years transforming the building into a warm, inviting space with exposed brick, a skylight, and plenty of windows to let sunshine in. The menu features thoughtful dishes like yellowfin tuna melts, steak and eggs, grain bowls, and seasonal smoothies. Parlor Coffee from Brooklyn anchors the beverage program. With plans to evolve into a wine bar with tapas, Littleleaf is already a standout for its charm and culinary creativity. Now open for dinner as well.

The Empire

Opened: Oct. 2

This restaurant from Full Court Press took over the former Fong’s Pizza space in downtown Des Moines. During a renovation to repair flood damage, the team discovered the original tile with The Empire Bar emblazoned on it. The bar operated at 233 Fourth St. from 1905 to 1906. The discovery sparked an idea — opening a restaurant and bar dedicated to the former bar to create a space for breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, and cocktails made for the neighborhood. The Empire offers comfort food such as Coney dogs, chicken pot pies, sloppy joes, hot beef sandwiches, and hot ham and cheese, along with cocktails and coffee from Ritual Café.

Pizza Bar by Taste of New York

Opened: Sept. 22

Joy and Lou Savelli decided to expand their pizza empire to Pleasant Hill, opening a third home for Taste of New York with New York-style pizza crusts and Italian dishes. The 6,000-square-foot Pleasant Hill location offers a full restaurant with seated service for around 150 customers, a bar, a game room, and eventually a patio, all with a sports bar theme and plenty of televisions. Pizza still takes center stage, but the restaurant also offers wings (10 bone-in or boneless) and tenders (four to an order), baked ziti, penne alla vodka, fettuccine alfredo, and spaghetti and meatballs. The must-order? The chopped cheese sandwich with caramelized onions, hamburger, and American cheese, mixed until the cheese melts, served on a hoagie roll.

Judges DSM

Opened: Sept. 17

A craft cocktail lounge and restaurant debuted off Court Avenue with courthouse-themed décor. Judges DSM offers elevated American fare such as a double-bone pork chop, salmon, quinoa bowl, and “The Verdict” burger, as well as a full bar. This New American restaurant took over the former Stuffed Olive space in the Court Avenue neighborhood. The name is a tip of the hat to the restaurant’s proximity to Polk County courthouses and the U.S. Southern District Court. 

Mee Mochi Donuts & Soft Serve

Opened: Sept. 16

Mee Mochi Donuts & Soft Serve brought a wave of playful, creative Asian-inspired desserts to Waukee with fish-shaped waffle cones, chewy doughnuts, Korean corn dogs, and Vietnamese coffee. The dessert shop from Thi Nguyen and Angie Vu offers soft-serve ice cream in chocolate, ube (a purple yam), matcha, and cookies and cream, and that can come with taiyaki, fish-shaped waffle cones that come filled with paste such as red bean or custard, either on the side or on top of the ice cream. Mochi doughnuts —chewy, slightly sweet doughnuts made with rice flour for a unique texture — come in flavors like matcha, chocolate, ube, Biscoff, churro, crème brulee, cookies and cream, chocolate sprinkle, and glazed.

Bubbies BBQ

Opened: Sept. 8

Pleasant Hill’s dining scene got smokier with the arrival of Bubbies BBQ, a barbecue joint expanding from its original Ankeny location. Owned by restaurateur Oscar Sanchez, who also operates Filet Steakhouse and Oceanside Grill in Ankeny, Bubbies BBQ is all about slow-smoked meats and homemade sides. Signature dishes include brisket, pulled pork, burnt ends, jalapeno cheddar sausage, pulled chicken, and baby back ribs. The pulled pork, brisket, or pulled chicken can be served as a sandwich as well. Sides like jalapeño creamed corn, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans round out the experience.

Tribute Eatery & Bar

Opened: Sept. 4

Tribute Eatery & Bar, a polished yet approachable restaurant, took over the former 30hop space at the District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny. The sister restaurant to 30hop, which moved about 200 feet away into a larger space, offers a menu full of classic favorites and a bar program that leans into craft cocktails and wine. Try the Cubano and the Morty (shaved mortadella, burrata, arugula, tomato jam, and pistachio pesto on focaccia) or a lobster roll, steak frites, fish and chips with yuzu tartar sauce, roasted chicken with chimichurri, and seared scallops with corn puree and crispy prosciutto for lunch or dinner. The Ankeny location also offers Blueline Specials, nightly specials that include bone-in pork chops on Mondays and smoked ribeye on Fridays.

Faustinos Breakfast & Tacos

Opened: Sept. 2

The new West Des Moines location of Faustinos offers a Mexican breakfast menu of omelets stuffed with fajitas, birria, or carnitas; chilaquiles; and breakfast tacos. After 2:30 p.m., the kitchen shifts gears, offering tacos and other signature dishes for a late lunch or dinner. The new restaurant’s design echoes the original, with playful wall art and a family-friendly vibe.

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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 [email protected].