Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Basic Bird

    4.5 (77 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Basic Bird Takeout or Delivery

    Basic Bird Photos

    Business Info

    BASIC BIRD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Basic Bird

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Donald S.

    There is absolutely nothing basic about this bird! When I woke up this morning, I never imagined I would find myself eating Korean in Des Moines Iowa of all places. No disrespect, but Des Moines doesn't exactly scream Korean culture. I'm not exactly a novice when it comes to Korean cuisine. I once took an entire trip to just Korean town LA. I'm in Gwinnett county Korean spots at least half a dozen times a year. Boston is also a hotbed for Korean food, which Is basically like my second home. The way I saw it, choosing to walk into Basic Bird was a high risk, high reward kinda decision. Right off the bat, there's so much to love. The dining area is playful, vibrant yellow. The menu is concise. I am a true believer in restaurants choosing a few things and doing it well. I went with the chicken wing meal which happens to come with 3 sides in addition to white rice: miso Mac cheese, fries, Korean potato salad. I also ordered the bulgogi bun for the hell of it. I don't even know where to begin....every single thing I ate was absolutely SENSATIONAL! From the creamy miso Mac to the crispy seasoned fries, and the somehow sweet potato salad?! The ribeye bulgogi in the steamed bun topped with kimchi is perfection. As good as everything is, nothing could have prepared me for the chicken itself. The crispness of the batter is simply stunning! Getting the gochujang sauce on the side and allowing the chicken to shine on its own was def the go to move. With complete conviction I can say I have never thoroughly enjoyed a Korean meal the way I did this. Flawless from top to bottom. Basic Bird....take a bow.

    CRISPY CHICKEN DUMPLINGS
    Matt M.

    What a nice little place in Beaverdale. My wife and I walked in after lunch to a clean and bright room. They ask that you place your order at the counter before you take a seat. The very helpful person at the counter asked if we'd ever been there before and the offered to walk us through the menu. They made some helpful suggestions and we placed our order. We ordered the 9 piece chicken and some chicken dumplings. The portions were large and we ended up taking half of it home. The chicken was crispy and the sides were delicious. We are already planning to return.

    9 traditional wings (double dunk and ginger buffalo), both kimchi options, and fries.

    My wife and I recently had a conversation about "our top 3 favorite restaurants," and Basic Bird was in each of ours. This food is incredible. The sides are a great balance of fresh, zippy, and light, contrasting against the rich and flavorful wings. The atmosphere is unique, and the staff is always friendly. (Ps splitting 9 wings for 2 people is the perfect lunch)

    Katelyn O.

    I stopped here while in town and i'm glad i did! I wasn't expecting to find a Korean fried chicken place in Des Moines. My boyfriend and i shared the 9 piece boneless wings and we tried their spicy gochujang and sweet honey butter sauces. I LOVED the spicy gochujang but don't think i would get the honey butter one again. For our sides we got the miso mac and cheese, Korean potato salad, rice, and French fries. The Korean potato salad really surprised me, it was delicious and my favorite of the 3 sides. I enjoyed their fries, they didn't taste greasy and had a good seasoning. The miso mac was good but i couldn't really taste the miso. My boyfriend and i agreed that the side of rice could've used some salt. Overall, this was a really good spot and the prices are great. I said to my boyfriend "if we lived in town i'd be here multiple times a month."

    Kimchi bacon fried rice
    Josh T.

    Wife and I split the kimchi fried rice and the 5pc boneless wings (w/ three sides). Great combination of flavors and texture. Personally I prefer the bone-in wings but the boneless wings were good too. A nice mixture of white/dark meat - juicy and full of flavor. The kimchi bacon fried rice might be the one of the best dishes I've had in a while. Bursting with flavor which is not the norm with fried rice (which tends to be one note). The servers were helpful -- atmosphere is great. Owners did a great job decorating inside and out.

    Daniel E.

    Let's set the record straight from the start: There is NOTHING basic about Basic Bird. It is an outstanding fast-casual option. With its parking lot and a very cool mural on a street-facing wall, Basic Bird gets your attention before you walk in the door. Then, their terrific staff lives up to its word, delivering the crispiest, crunchiest fried chicken possible. It's a fantastic dining experience. Oh my, such a great visit. Their unique yellow interior, with incredible artwork, has plenty of tables and room for groups, dates, and singles. It is clean and has a great vibe. The menu is above the order stand, and then you get a number for the food to be delivered quickly by a staffer. There are numerous gluten-free options. We loved the Honey Butter French Fries, a spectacular concoction of bacon, garlic butter, sweet corn, shredded cabbage, and crispy french fries. Our table of four couldn't get enough! I picked a BAP Bowl and was so pleased with the results. It was a superb Korean rice bowl combo of chicken, fresh veggies, pickles, spicy gochujang, and roasted seaweed topped with a fried egg. Truly amazing! We shared some yummy sides, and they were all great, especially the Korean potato salad. I met some of the staff throughout the visit, and they added to a great experience because they were genuinely nice people--special thanks to Nick for being a good person. It's my favorite place in the Metro thus far.

    Cucumber kimchi, miso Mac & cheese, French fries, rice
    Nathan S.

    Basic bird is an awesome Korean fried chicken spot in the Beaverdale neighborhood. The dining room is a bright, vibrant yellow and everything from the interior wallpaper to the exterior mural is thoughtfully decorated. They have their own parking lot so you don't need to worry about finding a spot amongst all the other Beaverdale shops. The service was quick and efficient- I think it took less than 10 minutes for my order to arrive. Each side dish I ordered was flavorful and well thought out. The chicken was fresh, tender, and had a crisp, light batter. My only suggestion would be more variety in the sauces.

    Cabbage kimchi, marinated zucchini, rice and potato salad. These are sides that came with the wing order.
    Jason M.

    Best Korean chicken in Des Moines area. Super crunchy wings. The Double Dunk sauce is a must. Honey butter fries are unique but really really good. The sides that come with the wings will fill you up. All really good. It's not cheap food, but you won't walk out hungry. My son and I can cross this one off our list of places to try. We'll be back. Easy call on this one...5 stars.

    Shawn B.

    Happy I found Basic Bird on the interwebs. We tried the the boneless wings with the "double dunk" sauce sweet and spicy. Just the right amount of sweet and tangy spices. The seasoned fries and the cheesy corn plus the cucumber kimchi. Everything was spot on. I am visiting Des Moines this weekend if I lived here, I would be here often! Highly recommended.

    HONEY BUTTER FRENCH FRIES, cucumber kimchi, miso Mac and cheese, corn cheese
    Audrey E.

    Basic bird did a pop up in Omaha and we had it on our calendar for weeks! It was completely worth the wait - everything on the table was absolutely delicious. I'm especially picky about Mac and cheese but the miso helped cut the "cheesiness" that is sometimes overpowering and brought a new depth of flavor. The sweet and spicy wings were not that spicy but that's how I like em! When asked about the gochujang wings my sister said "yum tasty" as her full review. Will be visiting again if I get over to Des Moines.

    Honey buttered French fries and bone in wings
    Christine I.

    Been a fan of the chicken here since they were a pop up back in harbinger! Food is delicious. In my opinion, their bone in wings are better. I think the crunchiness is just better held with the bone in versions. They have $1 per bone in wing every Wednesday, so that's a pretty good deal considering these wings are fairly big compared to other chains. They also serve cauliflower wings which I have yet to try! A must have recommendation is their honey buttered French fries. Absolutely out of this world! Cannot emphasize enough about it. Service is friendly. Ambience is bright. The parking lot is very small so you might have to walk a bit to get here. Walk right in and order at the counter type of thing. Such a cute spot in beaverdale.

    Loaded fries!
    Mary P.

    Yummy! What a fun place! You order from the counter, pay & they bring you your good. It's bright & cheery inside. The staff is friendly & helpful. We both had boneless wings with the double dunk sauce. It's a sweet, flavorful sauce. Sides are cold & you get 3. I had crunchy pickled daikons and loved them. The shoshito peppers were tasty-- one had some heat. Hubby liked the potato salad & cucumbers but not the Brussels sprouts. You can sub the salads for fries. We also had the loaded fries: coleslaw & cheese & corn! Delicious! Real silverware, too!! Of course we had too much food, but we like leftovers! Cheap? No. Tasty! Yes! We'll be back!!

    HONEY BUTTER FRENCH FRIES /topped with Garlic Butter Aioli , Corn, Shredded Cabbage, Scallions and with honey and garlic butter seasoning .
    Kristyn M.

    From the outside of the building, you can tell this is going to be fun. This place is thriving, viking, and busy! Beaverdale parking is a trick. Plan street parking or small parking lots to the north. Thursday evening at 5:45 a girlfriend and I went to try. We walked right up to the counter, although it was obviously busy. Only a couple tables open. We figured out the menu pretty quick. This was an order at the counter and then sit type of joint. I did still ask Grace, behind the counter, what she enjoyed. She really liked the chicken sandwich, but it says since it was our first time to try the wings. I got the boneless wings with sweet honey butter sauce. *Pretty popular in the reviews* . Then you get 3 sides. *****They are all cold. The sides are cold. ****** They do tell you, but you should know. We also shared an order of the fries. I recommend them to share 100%! They were flavored well and tasted really good. Topped with yummies. The fries came out as an appetizer only slightly before the meals. The bones chicken was really good. Big pieces of very crunchy pieces. By the time we had our food, the order line was to the door. Not for the lack speed, just the popularity. The kitchen was banging and pushing out, take out orders and table orders. We tried to eat quickly to give up our table due to the limited space. This was really good. I highly recommend and a great addition to the Beaverdale neighborhood.

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michele I.
    29
    58
    193

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great service and excellent food. Love the fusion of korean and savory sides.The Chicken Sando is the bomb. Great spot!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maddy K.
    156
    44
    26

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Iris W.
    1
    27
    43

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jimmy U.
    10
    31
    12

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Excellent service and food. I grew up in Beaverdale so the ambience was right at my alley. five star review.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Parmida P.
    246
    77
    80

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jake B.
    0
    36
    19

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Niki S.
    1
    10
    16

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Brad S.
    4
    209
    0

    2 years ago

    Food was really good, tasty chicken! Sides stole the show. We'll be back, love the location too.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Delicious food first time at this place I had the wings great great food will definitely eat here again

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Not B.
    1
    11
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Delicious, unique, and great atmosphere! Love that so many options are gluten free Can't wait to go back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Basic Bird

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Korean 605 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    GGs Chicken & Waffles

    GGs Chicken & Waffles

    4.3
    (9 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Was a little confused about where to go because the exterior didn't match the name of the business…read more But I trusted my nose and followed that amazing smell of chicken! The women who welcomed us and took our order were so friendly and the chef let us know it would take a bit because he was dropping it in hot. I was surprised to find several drummies instead of a big piece of chicken but made sharing much easier. Chicken was hot and crispy and seasoning was amazing! The waffle was good but was outshone by the chicken. Overall amazing experience and will be following this business and checking them out again!

    Chicken, Waffle and syrup, who knew!!!!! My first time eating this combination, experiencing the…read moreKitchen Space and eating from GG's Chicken and Waffles. It was also my first Yelp perks event. Instructions were not clear on what to do when I arrived. Was able to see someone was asking who were at a laptop. A man came out and announced they were going to be making our meals fresh and they would start coming out. I made the assumption he was the chef and owner. I would have enjoyed hearing the history of the business and more from the event coordinators. Hearing their story would add to my word of mouth references when someone asks what have we been doing that is new. When the food came out it was piping hot. It would have easily made a 20 minute drive home and still stay fresh. I choose the original chicken. It had good classic flavor and appearance. I was surprised it was wings and drumsticks as I was expecting a large chicken breast or thigh. The smaller chicken was easier to eat and manage. Chicken was not crisp which made it feel more home made then other restaurant too. It looked and tasted hand breaded which was a great treat and I prefer. The waffle was nice sweet add to the meal. I will definitely try this combination again. As we were eating, we were served fresh peach cobbler. It was so hot it steamed when I opened the container. I immediately stopped eating the chicken and moved to the dessert. It was delicious. Runner then cobblers I typically have. There was enough food I shared with my spouse when returning home.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Inside the space used by GG's chicken
    Inside the space used by GG's chicken
    GGs Chicken & Waffles

    See all

    Wings On Wheelz

    Wings On Wheelz

    4.1
    (8 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Wingz On Wheelz is located in the Advanced Auto Parts parking lot…read more I've been wanting to check this truck out FOREVER, but I wasn't sure if it could live up to the hype I'd heard from others. Spoiler... It sure did. I wandered down University Ave to MLK, through the construction in the Drake area, and the truck was easy to spot. I got there at about 620ish PM. There's ample parking in the lot of the auto parts store. A small crowd had built up. Some people were waiting to order...some were just waiting for their food. Social distancing was being observed for the most part. 50 cent wing Wednesdays. I'm not a big fan of a standard buffalo sauce so I really like that they have a lot of different options to choose from. Some spicy some not. Hopefully you can see the list by zooming in on the picture of the menu board. I ordered 10 garlic parmesan and 10 Cajun wings, but I didn't stop there. I had to try the shrimp and catfish too... I don't even want to talk about cost... I spent too much, but I have lunch for tomorrow. The ordering process went smoothly. I had a bit of a wait, but even though I wasn't the only one standing they kept me updated from the window and apologized for the wait when my number was called. Stellar customer service from a very busy truck. The wings were cooked perfectly. Not dry and not undercooked. The sauces and seasoning was nicely done. I like it when the taste of the chicken is complimented and not overpowered. They are a little on the small side, but if I recall correctly they are... Ahhhh... I forget the fancy word. No hormones. They're better for you and the all naturally raised wings tend to be a little smaller. It's all good. The catfish was excellent. Once again cooked perfectly. The breading had a great texture and taste. The fillet broke away easily to expose the white flesh. You could tell it was catfish, but it wasn't a strong catfish taste. I grew up eating bullheads and channel cats. It's something I love. A comfort food for me. I really enjoyed this menu item. These would be perfect for a po'boy. That being said... The shrimp. These are legit. To put anything on these, outside of just popping them in your mouth with the seasoned breading, would be a crime. I can honestly say as far as fried breaded shrimp these may be the best fried shrimp I've ever had. The breading isn't thick, and the shrimp are really nice sized. They hit a perfect balance. This truck has moved into my top three local trucks from the jump. Obviously popular from it's crowd, a good staff, and excellent food. I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to give them a try... I'll definitely be a return customer. Don't take my word for it though... Go check them out.

    Well, you know this girl is always all about supporting Black business. I had high hopes for this…read morefabulous truck with beautiful food photos. I visited on a Saturday drive into Des Moines. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time and was fresh and hot. The portions were pretty great and it looked good, but it just didn't taste that spectacular. I had higher expectations for a Black owned food truck serving in a diverse area in Des Moines. The food was cooked perfectly, but it wasn't seasoned well enough. There wasn't much flavor and pizzazz to it. If you care more about crunch then flavor, hit them up. They had a steady stream of business and people seem to like it. Sadly, it just didn't do it for me.

    Photos
    Jamaican jerk wings.
    Jamaican jerk wings.
    Garlic parmesan, WoW, and Jamaican jerk wings...
    Garlic parmesan, WoW, and Jamaican jerk wings...
    Jerk Wings

    See all

    Jerk Wings

    Basic Bird - korean - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...