Coming from a Singaporean, this place is almost like a taste from home . Although the char kuay…read moreteow does not have wok hei ( meaning life of wok, and is a Smokey transfer of fumes to food) it was still a good plate of food The curry puff, Nasi lemak and Portuguese tarts are seriously good Compliments to the chef . Job well executed and well done.

Hawker Kitchen brings authentic Malaysian street food flavors right into the heart of Des Moines,…read moreand it's a spot that feels both comforting and exciting if you're craving Southeast Asian dishes. Char Kueh Teow This dish stood out immediately which has a smoky wok hei flavor (the "breath of the wok") coated the flat rice noodles, giving them that deep caramelized edge that's hard to find outside of Malaysia. The prawns were plump and juicy, and the mix of soy, garlic, and chili gave just the right balance of savory and spicy. Fresh cucumbers and pickled vegetables on the side added a refreshing crunch, making each bite balanced and addictive. Laksa Rich, creamy, and fragrant, the laksa broth was a highlight. The curry coconut base carried layers of spice without being overwhelming, and every sip warmed you from the inside out. The noodles were cooked just right, with toppings that tied it together from seafood to herbs. It's the kind of bowl that makes you pause between spoonfuls just to savor the aroma. Satay The chicken satay had a lovely turmeric and lemongrass marinade, grilled to a slight char that locked in the smoky flavor. Tender on the inside with crispy edges, it paired perfectly with the bold, nutty, and slightly spicy peanut dipping sauce. The cucumber slices on the side helped cut through the richness, just like you'd get back at a hawker stall in Malaysia. Overall Hawker Kitchen is a gem for anyone looking for authentic Malaysian comfort food in Des Moines. Portions are generous, flavors are bold and true to their roots, and the variety on the menu makes it worth repeat visits. If you're new to Malaysian cuisine, start with the satay and char kueh teow; if you're a fan already, the laksa will feel like home.

Hands down the best Chinese food in Ankeny without a doubt. My family goes nowhere else. Service is…read morealways good the food is hot and they make it very quick. Never have issues with what we ordered and there could be a long line and they will make sure you are taken care of. Plenty of seating to dine in if you want.

We had high hopes for this restaurant. It was pretty busy, which is usually a good sign…read more Unfortunately, our experience was not positive. We ordered two appetizers--egg rolls and pot stickers, which were good. The egg drop soup was decent as well, so we were excited to get our entrees--broccoli beef and vegetable lo mein. The dishes LOOKED amazing and fresh, but they smelled like a dirty ashtray. I dont know if the wok was dirty or if something had been burnt, but it tasted terrible. We left both meals on the table after one bite. I'd like to think this was a one-off, but given how bad the food was, we won't be giving Lucky Bamboo another chance.

One of the best restaurants in Ames. Good sushi and some of the best fried rice I've ever had. A…read morebit pricey but worth it.

Food was excellent as well as the service I will be going back. upscale environment, but not…read morepretentious, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Their yaki udon (chicken) is amazing. Travels really well too. Recommend adding some sriracha. I…read morefound the regular ramen bowls well made but I'm not a huge ramen fan. The rest of the menu is solid.

Got two Hidden leaf bowls. It cost over 50 dollars for them. The meat was so dry and chewy and…read morethey didn't add any chili sauce to it. Small portions and very bland. I'm so disappointed. I've heard nothing but good things about this place. Staff was super nice and the store looked cool, the food just is not worth the price. I've had better ramen in the mall.

Tried Vietopia (carryout), and overall...we left a little confused…read more The wings were honestly the highlight--really, really good. Didn't get much "lemon pepper," but still super flavorful. Potstickers were just okay. The dipping sauce didn't do them any favors--this felt like an easy upgrade they're missing. Imperial Egg Rolls were the biggest letdown. At $17 for three, I expected something memorable...they just weren't. Pad Thai landed squarely in "average." Grilled Honey Roast Chicken Egg Noodles was a mixed bag. The chicken itself was delicious, but the noodles were pretty bland--and oddly, they didn't really work together. Royal Fried Rice was a win. The combo of BBQ pork, sweet sausage, and shrimp came together really well. Seafood Noodle dish was unfortunately pretty bland. All in all, a few bright spots, but not a place we're rushing back to--though I'd reorder those wings without hesitation.

If you are looking for a unique experience to try a different style of vegetarian pho with tofu…read morethen Vietopia of E. P. true near Jordan Creek is the place. The entrees are well portioned. My favorite style of Pho is Soft meats. The tenderloin is too chewy but flavorful. The soft poached egg and the fresh veggies are phenomenal. The service is great with the wait staff being very attentive. However they were out of Mocktail offerings which is not good when more gatherings are opting for non alcoholic flavors. They need to stock up for millennials and the genzeers who want options. The total vibe was very peaceful and it allowed you to sit and think.

Innovative food at a reasonable price. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable about the…read morevarious items on the menu. Upscale but casual atmosphere. We were not that hungry so went with a number of small plate options: a pear and blue cheese flatbread, an order of amazing roasted brussel sprouts and a handheld Korean style BBQ Pork Banh Mi sandwich. Lots of other items on the menu we wish we could have tasted. Great place to go and share dishes.

I ate there today with a friend, and our server was excellent and I want to make sure she knows…read morethat. However, the music is very, very loud, it is hard to converse because of it. I had asked her twice if they could turn the music down, which she did ask the guy behind the bar, I don't know if he was a bartender or a cook, but I heard him say what do they want, I've turned it down four times. Well, yes, I did overhear that I was sitting very clause to the bar. It was very rude of him, and I had been very kind and requested that the music be turned down some. The food was pretty good, I had the fig and creamy goat cheese flatbread. Overall, it might be a very good place for other people, rudeness is not acceptable.

Last night we had one of the best Asian meals we've had in a long time. Fawn's has been on my list…read moreof places to try for many years but for some reason we had never tried it. We try one new restaurant each month just to keep things fresh, so this time I suggested Fawn's. I'm really glad we did. I had heard so many great things about the food so I was excited to try it. When I saw the menu, though, I was a little nervous because they serve Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Laotian food. In my experience, restaurants that try to serve all kinds of Asian food rarely do one or all of them well. I ordered Pad Thai and my husband got Evil Jungle Prince. I was very pleased. It was the best Pad Thai I've ever eaten. It was SO good! My husband loved his dish, too. It had chicken and vegetables with a spicy sauce made with red curry and coconut milk. The prices were very reasonable and the portions were huge. We each got two meals out of our dinners. I love it when that happens. The place isn't fancy. It's in a small strip mall and doesn't look like much from the outside. Inside it's very clean and well-kept. There's not much for ambience besides two flat screen TVs. It doesn't matter because it's the food that really stands out. The service was excellent, too. My husband had his iced tea refilled twice without even asking. Great affordable food and good service. What more can you ask for? If you love Asian food, give them a try. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes.

I stopped here with a few coworkers over lunch. We were greeted and seated right away. As a table…read morewe ordered crab rangoons and egg rolls. Both were yummy and I would order again. I ordered the Mongolian beef and enjoyed it. It was very saucy which I love. It also comes with a side of white rice. My coworkers order the Pho and both ate all of it. Good service, good, food. I would definitely stop here again for lunch

Great portions, clean space, and the staff was so friendly!! We ordered to go but decided to eat in…read morethe restaurant, since we knew we'd have leftovers, and they still checked on us a few times and offered us water. If I were a local, I'd definitely be a regular! Honorable mention to the reviewer who said these are his favorite crab Rangoons, he was right!

Really wanted to like this place. The woman at the cashier seemed polite but it was all downhill…read morefrom there. Walking to my table I noticed that my shoes were sticking to the floor. Then I saw the community spoons and chopsticks on the table and they were filthy. The food came and my hot and sour soup had no mushrooms or bamboo shoots (ironic for the name of this restaurant) but it did have celery. The tofu was actually ok in this soup. I ordered the Szechuan chicken and it was doused in what the cashier told me was a "homemade brown sauce", but to me it was simply liquid brown sugar. No spice whatsoever, the chicken wasn't seasoned, and the only good part about this main dish were the carrots. I told the cashier about my concerns and she said, "that's too bad, I hope you come back." She didn't offer me a replacement meal or a partial refund. I paid $20 for this experience so you don't have to. I won't ever return.

Had an absolutely wonderful meal here! My table ordered the Chilean sea bass, teriyaki steak, pad…read morethai with tofu, crispy brussels sprouts, yellowtail and scallop sashimi, edamame, vegetable spring rolls, tonkotsu pork ramen, and the Marilyn monroll. The sea bass was the best I've ever had anywhere; crispy crust and deliciously moist inside. The vegetable spring rolls were so good I wished I had gotten a second order. Brussels sprouts were leveled by my party of 4 in minutes - cooked perfectly and the sauce is wonderful. I really enjoyed the sashimi as well. The teriyaki steak was tasty, but the steak itself was very fatty and gristly. That was our only complaint as literally everything else was perfect, tasted great, and instagram-worthy plating.

Dining in or DoorDash-ing out, Wasabi is the bomb! I've never had a piece of sushi there that…read morewasn't delicious, and their pork dumplings are a must-order.

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $32 03/28/2026 We saw that Arcadia was a Top 10 Finalist for Iowa Burger of the Year, so knew that we needed to give it a try - and last night was our opportunity. Arcadia is a short drive north of Grimes in a newly developed area of Polk City just after you cross over the long bridge over Saylorville Lake. We were impressed with the new building as we drove up (told that it opened about 1.5 years ago) along with the lively, open atmosphere & modern decor as we entered the building. We started our meal with a couple of local craft tap beers - a nice selection was available. Since we came for the Burger of the Year contender, the Smashburger was one of our orders (see picture) and we opted for the Fish Tacos as our second meal (see picture). Both were delicious and highly recommended. While I offer my Kudos for offering Marshmallow Creme for a dipping sauce with the sweet potato fries (we haven't found many places that do this...and we LOVE it), my only knock is that it was way too watered down and runny - with most of it running off the dipped fries rather than sticking to them. We finished with a Salted Carmel Old Fashion...and yes, it too was delicious and highly recommended! More information on the drinks and Happy Hour specials can be found at: HappyHourDesMoines . If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

We've visited this place three or four times now and feel like it's worth the drive to Polk City…read more Today we decided to try their burger, which has recently been recognized as the best in central Iowa. It is worth the hype! Delicious! It was on our table almost as fast as we ordered! Our server was attentive and kept our water glasses full. We had a couple of cocktails and they were excellent too. They have a mix of booths and tables, and you can dine at the bar if you choose. The place is in a newer building and very clear. The parking lot is shared with a few other businesses but there is ample parking. Check it out,