The food here is really really good. However, the man who is the server is always so rude. But not to everyone. He's either super friendly to his tables or super rude. I haven't figured out what it depends on since we are really polite people and good tippers. His wife is very kind tho. I wish we dealt with her more. read more

OMG how did i miss giving a review to this Pho is amazing here and i think i mightve tries half of the menu here,, i used to go here quite often the only thing bad bout this place is parking though ,, u could find some where on the road but it still sucks,, as far as food awesum read more

I may be in the minority on this one, I thought this place was just okay. The pho was just alright, not the best I have had, but it is not bad either. Two others I have been here with liked it though. The eggroll were okay, nothing too special though. I also had a stir fry dish, was also just okay. See for yourself, you may like it as many others. But in my opinion its just alright. They do have a large menu, so I am sure you can find a few things to try. As the default star rating says "A-OK." read more

A Dong used to be my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in town, but I'm sorry to say it no longer is. My husband and I went there for pho the other night and it was nowhere near as good as it usually is. The broth was clear like water and at first I thought it was a mistake. The broth really tasted like it was missing something. There was no flavor to it at all. The meat was still good, but that didn't help the broth any. The last time we went there and ordered pho it didn't taste as good either, but it wasn't this bad. We wondered if maybe they weren't simmering the broth all night like they did before the fire in the restaurant. However, they still have other good things on the menu like their egg rolls, pork spring rolls and vermicelli noodle bowls. I would never come back for pho, though. If you want some really good pho, try Vietnam Cafe at the Merle Hay Mall food court. It's the best pho in town. I'm serious. Don't discount it because it's in a food court. They also have good service and their food comes out quickly. I would give them four stars for their service. The owner is always friendly and remembers us every time we come in. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and looks great since they rebuilt it after the fire. I'll still come here, but there are a lot of other Asian restaurants that I would probably think of first. read more

I had eaten here once early on when I first came to Des Moines a few years back, and with my extensive knowledge on Vietnamese restaurants through experience, this one was below the standard I was used to. The menu and food options were the same as most other Vietnamese restaurants, however the food taste was a little different. Had no issues with staff, they were accommodating. Location is very good obviously being close to downtown and Sherman Hills community. Price is good, affordable for everyone. I would try it again to see what changes have been made from the last couple of years. read more

A Dong Restaurant - Spring rolls! Tasty! - Vegetarian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

When it comes to Vietnamese in Des Moines, this is the place! The kitchen caught fire a few years ago and they had to close for a while for repairs. When it reopened it was basically a brand-new restaurant. The menu is massive and the veggie section is large itself. In my opinion they have the best pho in town. Service is very quick and prices are very reasonable. When you have a hankering for some comforting Vietnamese food you can go wrong with A Dong! read more

My wife and I have been frequenting A Dong for years, and absolutely love it! We started bringing the kiddos here as soon as they were old enough and now it's one of their favorites too. A longtime staple in the area since 1989. We often get the same waiter we've had for decades. He is very pleasant, friendly and loves kids! In fact, whenever we dine there without, the first thing he says is, "Where's your kids?" He always makes sure to give us extra fortune cookies to take home for them My favorites are #62 and 119 w/ duck. My wife really enjoys the pho. Egg rolls and spring rolls are top notch. Have tried many flavors of the bubble teas and they are all yummy! If you need a lil pep in your step the Vietnamese iced coffee will get ya going. So glad they're still around after all these years. Having been through a fire and then COVID, their survival is a true testament to how well they are cherished by the community. read more

I tried A Dong for the first time with my family. We've all had pho before and that seemed like just what we needed for a cold, fall day. We were seated fairly quickly, but then we sat for a long time before someone finally came by to take our order. It seemed like they needed one or two more people? Once we finally ordered, the food came fairly quickly. The pho was just okay. It was pretty bland (I tried my S/O's). I actually had the #24. It was okay. It's described as coming with a lemongrass sauce, which I checked was also listed in the vegetarian portion of the menu, and I thought it was safe to not have any fish oils. Boy was I wrong. Thank god it came on the side because that was the fishiest, nastiest sauce I've ever tasted. With a good sauce, you shouldn't be able to taste the fish oil, and why is it called lemongrass in the first place?! Anyway, I ate my bun dish sauceless, which was fine. Also, when you're ready to go, you just go up to the counter and pay. They don't bring a bill to the table, but they know who you are and what you had. Between the service and food quality, I don't think I'll be back. read more

The shrimp summer roll and the sauce that comes with it was kinda bland. Pho was mediocre , the broth was not as rich as it should be and I didn't care for the cuts of meats on mine,they did not look appetizing to eat . The bubble tea was good but make sure to ask them in to go cups because you get like 20% less if they put in regular glass. Also I was waiting for my check for like 15 minutes and then I realized they don't bring the check to you ,you have to pay at the counter. Overall it was just a decent experience, not the best but not impressive neither. read more

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It upsets me to give A-Dong 3 stars but after my visit today I'd say it's a fair assessment. I've been here 2 or 3 times before and felt I finally had a better judgment of its quality and service. I'll start off by saying that staffing needs some MAJOR work. We were seated after a ~10 minute wait and then proceeded to wait an additional 15-20 minutes to be greeted by a server, given we had to flag one of them down. My S.O. and I ordered the pho special and were equally disappointed with it. Trust me, we KNOW good pho. The portions were smaller than what's normally served and the broth was just upsetting; it REALLY lacked flavor. I also wish this place had a more obvious system of closing out checks because more than likely you'll find yourself waiting around until a server (if you're lucky to even see them again after you're served) directs you to the host to close out. This restaurant has potential but until then, I'll probably look elsewhere for some authentic pho. read more

A Dong Restaurant - A-Dong Pho Special (~$7.5) - Vegetarian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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66;89;109;129; these area few of the numbers you should put into rotation at your next visit. Who am I kidding, you can't go wrong with any number. Clean and calm. Refreshing on a date or on your own. Ideal for any day of the week. read more

Everything always tastes very fresh. Love the hot and sour soup. Lots of things I look forward to trying.

A Dong is a Des Moines classic- the menu is huge with a TON of veg/vegan options. I usually get their veggie curry stew with vermicelli noodles (+ chili oil x2). The staff has always been so welcoming and delightful. They also make *incredible* Viet coffee that reminds me of coffee I had every day in Vietnam. I prefer black (den), but the condensed milk coffee (sua) is the more traditional sweet sweet dessert coffee, which is probably more popular- tastes like ice cream almost. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

This place made me so sad, lol. The pho tasted like those instant pho packets you get from the Asian store lol. Biggest disappointment had to be their portions though. $10+ something for a KID size serving. Also don't expect them to give you a ton of protein either. 2 meat ball for all of you lol. Customer service sucked here too, we never got our waters refilled. It's safe to say I probably won't be coming back to this joint. But I really got a kick out of all their self made certificates lol. read more

Adong is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Des Moines. Large menu to choose from and I've never been disappointed with anything I've gotten there so far. Staff is super friendly and their twitter account is pretty witty as well. It can get busy during dinner hour but that doesn't seem to slow down service. Only "complaint" I would have is that they kinda skimp on rice. Otherwise, very solid option. read more

A Dong Restaurant - Marinated beef cubes! - Vegetarian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Yum the food here is fantastic!!! Especially the spring rolls and crab Rangoon!!! The bubble tea is heavenly!! I really love how refreshing the coconut us!! It has a nice amount of fruit and bubbles in it!!! The pho is so smooth and full of flavor!!! This is one of the best I have had in Des Moines!!! There is plenty of noodles and meat!! The rare steak is the way to go!! The staff was amazing!! Super friendly!! And glasses never went empty. The restaurant is clean and nicely updated after the fire! So happy I got the opportunity to come here!! They were very accommodating to our group. Great experience and i can't wait to come back and try more!! read more

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Their food is delicious, with a wide variety of vegetarian and dishes with meat. This is one of many businesses hurt by Covid, and they can't open up to serve people. Their employees never came back. They do a great job of takeout, though, so trying to help support them that way. read more

First time visiting here today I had a spring roll and pho with rare and well done beef the food was delicious and the service was extremely fast and even better the prices are very reasonable I will be returning here often read more

Pho #1 was unimpressive. Perhaps the worst beef I've ever put in my mouth. In fact, yes. Also, Terrible service. #73 was good.... If you like lemongrass. Which I do. But my husband did not. Look at this "meat"???? Really? Disgusting. We were never asked how it was. We were ready to tell them honestly and did not get the opportunity. Therefore I believe they do not care and I will tell you. read more

A Dong Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Stopped by this place on a road trip and SO glad I did. I'm Vietnamese, and I live in a west coast area with a predominantly Vietnamese population. Now this is good viet food- even better than a lot of restaurants out where I live. My fam got the Tom Cang Rang Muoi, Com Vit Quay, Bo Luc Lac and Bo Bia Chay. The portions were large and had a good serving of vegetables. The service was very good- they came to check up on us and the food came out so quickly. The bo luc lac, for example, had a lot of beef that was NOT overcooked and tough but was a done medium and juicy. The menu is extensive and well-marked with their specialties. There's a small parking lot behind the restaurant. read more

I know I'll get destroyed for this review but let me say that I remember when A-Dong first started in old building close to where Smokey Row is now. It was the first and only restaurant that served Pho at the time. I remember how you park in the back building and walk through the back door, passed the kitchen to get to a table (if one was available). About 90% of the customers were Asian. At that time, the food tasted like real authentic SE Asian food and the Pho was legit! Today, A-Dong is not the same A-Dong that I grew up with. Today's A-Dong is A-Dead to me. The food is geared towards American taste buds and it seemed to have lost it's authenticity. Take the Pho for example: tasteless! I would never recommend pho to anyone if they went to A-Dong. All the other dishes are very bland in my opinion. The only dish that I will order over and over again is Banh Cuon (#92-94). They are the only restaurant that serves this dish which happens to be my favorite SE Asian dish. I'm sorry A-Dong if you take offense to this review. It's just that I grew up loving a different A-Dong and unfortunately, today's A-Dong is not the same. But I will always come order Banh Cuon from you. You're the only place that serves it! read more

I've been eating here for 30 years. 16c is the way to go for vegetarians, very flavorful and satisfying. Spring rolls and pho are good too, if you eat meat. Service is attentive, restaurant is very clean. read more

There are so many options at A Dong, so there is something for everyone! Its great to see a full 2 pages of vegetarian options as well. I had the Shrimp and Lemongrass bún, vermicelli noodles topped with cucumbers, herbs, shrimp, and more! I loved this dish, it tasted cool and fresh! I'm glad there were a lot of sauces and spiced on the table, which helped bring up the dish to a more spicy level. The prices are also incredibly cheap for the portion and quality of the food. Loved this place! read more

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This place lived up to all of the great gossip around town. I had the chicken vermicelli bowl and shrimp spring rolls. So delicious! Also loved the avocado boba smoothie. They have many items to choose from and I will need to go back a few more times to try all of the things I couldn't fit in my belly! You won't be disappointed. read more

i'm a bit familiar with Vietnamese restaurants, having gone to the ones up on Argyle in CHI. This place does not have the same manic ambiance as those (yay!), and the service was friendly & judicious. I got the #88 rolls and #28 Bun dish. The rolls were a bit light, i felt. Loved the Bun dish! Partner got chicken broccoli and enjoyed it. We would get these dishes again (maybe not the rolls). Limeaid is keeper! I did not experience any sewer smell, btw. read more

I love A dong! Best tasting, fresh and extra large vegetarian menu. Been coming for 27 years.

My friends were not big fans of this place but because it had 4 stars on Yelp I thought I would try it. When I walked in everything looked nicer and bigger than most Vietnamese restaurants. But I noticed something different. It was all white people. I am white myself so I am not discriminating, but when there are no people of the ethnicity of the restaurant that you are at, it is a big red flag. Ordered the Pho and spring rolls as that is a good test for any Vietnamese restaurant. My pho was in a small bowl. Spring rolls had no basil or flavor. And pho tasted bland. To make the story short, this place is not very good if you regularly eat Vietnamese food. Perhaps if you are clueless it is good. So good luck. read more

I'm new to Des Moines so I didn't know what to expect in terms of Vietnamese food, but I was pleasantly enthralled with my food here. I got spring rolls, Vietnamese coffee and one of their specialty bowls with coconut curry sauce and roasted duck. It is delicious and really filling!! Also, their house fish sauce is superb! read more

A Dong Restaurant - I couldn't help eating this before I got a chance to take a pic lol - Vegetarian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This is my go to for a well-priced vegan meal. My very favorite is the stuffed tofu made vegan. The staff is friendly and the food is always high quality and consistent. The space is clean and bright. The service is always timely as well. read more

Great service and great pho! Haven't tried much else on the menu. Good ambiance. I'm here when bone broth is calling me.

I enjoyed my time here. I saw that they had a "nhau" menu (food meant for imbibing alcohol with), which got me excited. I ended up enjoying banh cuon and bo tai with some Heinekens (was feeling like an OG Vietnamese). Thoroughly enjoyed it. Some people walking by my table was peeping me, which was odd, but understandable because I was drinking beer and eating alone. Some of the staff was talking in Vietnamese and would mention how entertained they were seeing a young guy drink beer and joyously eating, which was kind of funny. Reminded me of my family. Definitely coming back to try more food. read more

Have I seriously not reviewed these fantastic people until now? Well THAT'S ridiculous. Ah, A-Dong. The same familiar people always greeting, seating and serving you. The atmosphere is relaxed and let's face it, pho is the quintessential hangover food so it's fantastic that you don't feel awkward showing up in your pajamas and leaving your sunglasses on inside. But this place is so much more than that. Whether it's a family outing (this place is super kid-friendly), a date night or just a stumble in to recover from a long night out, A-Dong has you covered. Their pho is fantastic, but their menu is much more dynamic than that. They have a huge variety of seafood, chicken, duck, pork and steak dishes of the noodle, soup and rice varieties. They have an extensive assortment of specialty entrées. They have AN ENTIRE OTHER MENU of vegetarian appetizers, entrées and sides. They have bubble tea. They have an impressive coffee and tea menu. They have dessert beverages. They have beer and wine. I have been under the weather this week and was craving micronutrients, lean protien and iron so I deviated from my regular menu choices tonight, and I'm so glad I did. So, in the vegetarian appetizers which I've always just skimmed are these steamed spring rolls, filled with a warm, marinated blend of seared, shredded tofu, shredded jicama and shredded carrots and holy balls. You don't get that empty filler feeling you get with shredded lettuce and vermicelli, and the flavor profile is SO much more dynamic and complex. I legit feel like I've been cheating myself. I got another order to go. I got those and a rare beef salad, which I didn't know existed either. The beef was a little overdone, so they just boxed that up for free and I got their hot and sour soup, which was also hugely surprising, not at all American style and crazy delicious. It was full of fresh veggies and shrimp in an amazing broth. A-Dong is an affordable Des Moines institution, and it's not hard to see why. One downside: parking sucks. read more

We had pork egg rolls, fresh shrimp spring rolls, pho rau cai, and wonton soup. All excellent! Orders out in least than 10 minutes - very fast, cheerful service. read more

This is my favorite place to eat out of anywhere in the world. Stuffed tofu is the best dish. Boom!

This is my favorite Asian restaurant in DM and I've never been disappointed with either the food or the service. Their Pho soups are outstanding as are any dish you order from the menu. Everything is always cooked to perfection. I highly recommend A-Dong to anyone that likes Asian cuisine. read more

Currently forcing down the Postmates order I just got because I have nothing else to eat. I feel like IF there's any flavor in this food, it's straight from a bottle. The shrimp and broccoli is bland and syrupy and the broccoli is raw. The udon dish came completely deconstructed with piles of raw ingredients. The shrimp spring rolls each contained, count 'em, 2 shrimp (with big empty spots for shrimp #3 and #4, filled with shredded lettuce). Sauces all taste like they came straight from Sysco. Inedible. read more

I eat here regularly but, something isn't quite right about this restaurant. Some days I come and it smells like heaven and then the next day it smells like raw sewage. I don't understand?!? Is it something they cook that smells awful? That being said it's pretty good. I like anything with their lemongrass sauce. They have bubble tea too so that is a plus. The best part is their Facebook page, it's freaking hilarious. read more

Never disappoints! We have come for years and the food, the service, the people .... all fantastic! Love the shrimp and cream cheese thingamabobs (89), new discovery: chicken fried rice! Best ever and not dry! I feel like I could eat off the floor here!!! Learned about how they took care of employees after the fire/during renovation.... integrity! One of my favorites!! My teens love the Pho! read more

Very rude customer service and the pho was very bland. The waiter rushed me and didn't even give me time to pick my order. I was treated differently than other customers (white people). read more

Holy mother of delicious food. I am going to keep this post brief... because there isn't really a whole lot to say other than this is what of the best meals I have had IN MY LIFE. On day 2 of a cross country road trip, we were coming through Des Moines around dinner time on our way from Michigan to Omaha, NE. We started yelping and honestly had a hard time trying to decide where to go... so we figured we would go here because whether it was good or bad, the name "A Dong" added a humorous stop to our trip... so we walked in honestly not expecting much. Legit, some of the tastiest food I have ever put in my mouth. I ate there a week ago now and I am still thinking about it. I would go back to Des Moines just to eat there. Amazing Vietnamese food in Des Moines, Iowa? Who would have thought?! GO HERE IF YOU WANT YOUR MIND BLOWN. read more