Cool Basil

This is my go to stop for vegan staples, as they usually have the best prices in town on things…read morelike vegan cheese, seitan, tofu, ice cream etc..They carry a decent amount of Miyoko's products, actual cultured vegan butter! They also have a nice selection of bulk goods (they actually refrigerate nuts and seeds!) including spices and pantry staples. The prices always beat Hy-Vee's health market by quite a bit. The only thing I wished they carried that they don't is Just Mayo; Vegsnaise isn't as good and is much more expensive. Their produce selection is quite small, but I don't go here for produce. They also have a huge vitamin selection, they even carry vegan d3 which can be hard to source locally. Also, they carry my fave vegan makeup brands like Zuzu Luxe and Gabriel, and they also carry cruelty free hair dye by Naturtint as well as a good selection of vegan friendly personal care products. They also hold classes here that focus on nutrition and cooking healthy meals and the employees are always friendly.

Their produce is NEVER stocked. Always wilted remains on their shelves. It's been that way for…read morequite a while. As far back as I remember. No bulk bins which also sucks. Lots of organic food. That's a plus.

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New favorite place! Great prices on organic items. Beautiful produce section. Staff is very friendly

Graziano Brothers

4.8(82 reviews)

7.4 mi

The Graziano Bros. Sausage Mobile food trailer pulled up to where I work at the Crescent building…read morein Urbandale. If you are familiar with the Des Moines metro the Graziano Bros name should be one you already know. Established in 1912 they are a fixture here when it comes to Italian sausage. The ordering process was smooth and the menu was displayed well. The wait wasn't long. I ordered the fried ravioli (beef filled) with marinara and an Italian Chop sandwich. The Italian Chop is almost exactly what it sounds like. It's served cold. Chopped mortadella, pepperoni, capicola, salami, provolone, tomato, onion, pepper rings, and lettuce. Tossed in a creamy Italian dressing. Served on a hoagie roll. The ravoli was served terrifyingly hot. Lol It's a bold tangy marinara. The sandwich is perfect for what it is. Service was excellent for a truck and typical of when there's a line. Busy. Not much time to small talk. I'll definitely be watching our food vendor schedule and trying out more items from the Graziano Bros. Sausage Mobile food trailer. https://www.facebook.com/p/Graziano-Bros-Sausage-Mobile-61572883362883/

3.9 A great old traditional Italian deli/ grocery. Not…read moreChicago, not Detroit level but we love most of it. Great Job!

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Pammel Grocery and Deli

4.6(94 reviews)

27.3 mi

10/28/25 1:00 p.m…read more Walk-in/Take Out Food: Our food was delicious! Everything was so full of flavor, and the portion sizes were great for the price. It all tasted so fresh, and the baklava was absolutely to die for! My husband was unsure as to which one he should get, so the gentleman working recommended the selection of baklava that we got. I am so glad that he did because all of it was phenomenal. Service: The service was great. I definitely feel as if they went above what would be considered basic service and were all incredibly friendly and pleasant to interact with. They were quick and efficient and definitely knew what they were talking about. Ambiance: Being a smaller international-type grocery store, it was really pleasant and comfortable to be in. The selection can be overwhelming, but not in a bad way. There is just so much to choose from, and I feel like every time you go in, you will find something new that you didn't see before. The selection of items they have is incredible. It's not overly noisy either, and it smells amazing as soon as you walk in.

I wanted to guve this place 5 stars but it falls short on communication. The store staff is amazing…read moreand very helpful but I was never told that they kitchen closes at 3 and when I came back for the food I was told the kitchen is closed and I couldn't get my food. I drove 1 hour 15 mins just to come to this place. Other than that items are well stocked and there are alot of options. The prices are fine, some are a little high and some are less than other places.

Chicken Shawarma + fries

Almond baklava, pistachio, baklava, and two others I cannot remember the name of unfortunately.

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Luna Imported Foods

5.0(1 review)

11.5 mi

I love that they carry Jerusalem Bakery bread and Milka chocolate bars. Moving into a bigger…read morelocation soon. Can't wait for that. Place has a steady stream of clientele. Ownership is really kind and welcoming.

Europa Groceries

5.0(2 reviews)

9.9 mi

So fun to just browse the shelves and impulse purchase fresh breads and cakes. The woman at the…read morecounter was so friendly and was treating each customer like a true friend. The shop is tucked away but there is plenty of free parking in the lot, so there is no excuse to not visit.

This is such a neat little market! It's definitely very European, as most of the food they sell is…read morelabeled in one of the many Slavic languages. They have such an interesting variety of food, and, as someone who is nowhere near being Eastern European, I thought it was super cool to see all of these foods I had never tried. If you love chocolate like I do, come to this store because they have a fine selection of European chocolates for great prices. Kinder bueno, anyone? If you haven't tried it, you're missing out, just saying. I would also recommend their tea selection, which is also extensive and cheap. They have everything you'd expect in a specialty grocery store, from spices to meats, from canned foods to sweets/snacks that you definitely wouldn't be able to find at any American grocery store. It truly is an excellent selection. Whether or not you are familiar with the foods, I highly recommend checking this place out. Seriously, the chocolate selection alone will knock your socks off.

Adorable sugar hearts

European imported soft drinks, Karlovacko Croatian beer.

Europa Groceries - Selection of wines from Balkans (Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Greece), Eastern Europe (Russia, Romania), Italy, Central Europe, and Argentina

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Selection of wines from Balkans (Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Greece), Eastern Europe (Russia, Romania), Italy, Central Europe, and Argentina

La Tapatia Grocery

4.3(31 reviews)

5.8 mi

Grocery stores are the lifeblood of a community, and Des Moines is so lucky to have La Tapatia! The…read morestaff and product mix here make me a big fan! I went in searching for frozen empanada dough, and Aji Amarillo. The former was easy enough to find (thank you, Goya), but even my Peruvian American friend from Chicago warned me that it's hard to find the Hot Yellow Peppers, critical to the Aji de Gallina dish from her native country that I wanted to make. And sure enough, I couldn't find it after walking all through the store! La Tapatia staff to the rescue: Through a mix of English, Spanish, and pointing-to-pictures-on-my-phone -- the staff made it a mission to help me find the Aji Amarillo. Turns out, La Tapatia had it in paste, in brine, and frozen! Can't wait to come back!

Great store for dried chilis, as well as fresh fruit & veggie. Today I'm picking up limes,…read moreavocados, cilantro & green enchilada sauce. This is a great find!

Tamales, salsa, sweet corn, huge green onions, tomatoes... lots of fresh ingredients for great prices :)

Mangoessss

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Soup ingredients

Wang's Asian Market

3.8(25 reviews)

12.9 mi

Staff member was cold and dismissive at first, but became helpful when I pointed out the missing…read moreprice tags. Mixed experience overall.

I stopped into Wang's last night for the first time. I found the market to be a little cluttered,…read morebut clean. The items in stock were plentiful for a smaller store. I walked out with some frozen pork lumpia, frozen kimbap, frozen Korean cheese corn dog, and some Nongshim gochujang shrimp crackers. My total was $36 and change. Some items were $1 or so above MSRP and some were $1 below according to Google. In line for a smaller market that doesn't order/carry huge quantities. Parking is easy with a them being in a business strip with a large lot. The owners were polite and courteous. I was greeted when I walked in and thanked when I left. She even threw in a couple of free small boxed milk drinks for paying with cash... It's nice to have for convenience here on the West side when you don't want to make the drive to C Fresh, Double Dragon, or Golden Land. And yes... In the past my inner child has had a field day with the name. Just like A Dong... But that's just me I'm betting. Lol

Storefront

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Great selection of Asian products!!

New Oriental Food Store

4.3(23 reviews)

6.6 mi

Great prices, fantastic produce options and friendly staff! Super grateful they're in the…read moreneighborhood!

Hours posted online completely wrong! Drove an hour to get here and they were closed for another 2…read morehours. Update: Store is supposed to open 12:30, it's been over 15mins and still not open. How are we supposed to pick up our UPS packages and shop if the owner won't show up?

Nice Friendly Place.

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Beef & Pork Jerky is a Must.

Brick Street Cafe

3.8(51 reviews)

3.8 mi

A group of 10 had breakfast there on a Wednesday morning. We had the best waitress. I got there a…read morecouple minutes early and one of the workers helped me move tables together. Everybody's food was fresh and tasty. My eggs were cooked exactly as I had asked. Coffee and refills came quickly. We were not rushed out of there and able to enjoy our food and visiting afterwards.

My son has been picked for the Iowa Selects Rugby team, and the tonight's practice was in…read moreBondurant. How do you kill two hours? You go out and eat...while they try to get heat stroke. Brick Street Café is easy to find. It's nestled inside of the Fareway store. Just to the left as you enter. Parking is normal for a grocery store. So no issues there... They also offer a drive-through. It's seat yourself. The seating is a combination of low top tables and chairs and booths. There are a few counter seats as well. The menu is surprisingly large. I know they won Iowa's best tenderloin in 2014...and I hadn't been here yet.... That made my decision on what to order really easy. I upgraded to a premium side of fried mushrooms. For a drink, I went with the unsweetened iced tea. Staci was my server and she did phenomenal. I had a short wait for my food. It came to the table, piping hot. Much to my chagrin there was lettuce and tomato on my tenderloin... But like any good GenXer I fixed it myself and didn't say a word. It's definitely a quality tenderloin. Nice and thick. But not too thick. A very consistent breading. They did a nice job tenderizing it. There were no tough spots at all and it just kind of breaks away when you take a bite. The mushrooms were obviously fresh out of the fryer. I've got the second-degree burns to prove it. Lol I'm okay with that because I sure don't want them cold. Everything was cooked perfectly. Service was wonderful. It's order and pay with your server at the table. I'd put the tenderloin on par with the one at the Dexfield Diner or B&B. https://www.facebook.com/share/18oQ84LDNk/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://thebrickstreetcafe.com/

The storefront inside of Fareway.

Onion rings, pork tenderloin sandwich, and cheese balls

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Signage.

Siam Table

4.4(132 reviews)

7.9 mi

Terrific Thai food, served quickly, efficiently, and kindly in a cozy environment…read more Table seating, they also do take out. Server Akaya is nice and knows her products. Loving their Pad Thai and Garlic Noodle chicken dishes. They season so uniquely and solidly, so careful of your spice level request!

Was traveling, didn't want more fast food, and found Siam Table on Yelp. Access not the simplest…read morewith road construction in the area. Staff was friendly and gracious. Ordered basil with beef. Solid, generous portion. Took some home and finished later that night. Would definitely try Siam Table again when in the area, but a different dish.

Inside

Edamame

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Thai Iced Tea

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7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Mia F.

266

9 years ago

My experience here was equal parts weird and bad. It was strange but my party (3 of us) felt forgotten. We sat for 10 min before our orders and after the time of ordering our food took 45 min to arrive, everything coming at once; entrees, soup and our appetizer shortly after or main dishes. We had noticed at one point before food came that now there were more patrons seated than when we got their and many of them were eating! Absolutely bizzaro! Our food was definitely sub par-I told myself "this is what you get for craving Thai food while in Altoona!" I even returned a veggie dish, that was literally cold and when it came back it was only warm. The waiter was unfriendly and almost seemed angry when I spoke about my cold food or asking him if we could have the check split. If you are craving Thai, travel just a bit Des Moines is full of great places. With the prices Cool Basil charges the service and the meal were unacceptable. I had eaten here once before about a year ago, and i honestly didn't like it then, and I regret trying to give it a second chance. read more

Rachel L.

Elite 21

240

623

10 years ago

So, this place is NOT affiliated with the one in Clive. At least, that's what the sign says. The atmosphere feels like a quiet seating area with a fear of talking too loudly. It's trying to be classy with candles on every table. The wait staff was very friendly even when my fellow dinner guests were trying to catch them off guard with a joke or two. They were a little slow so be patient with them. The waiter was quick to let us know each appetizer that would pair well with our main dishes. We ordered a few apps and they came out perfectly timed. Followed by our main dishes which included Pad Thai, Fried Rice, and Cashew Chicken. All were healthy large portioned meals with none of us leaving hungry. We had plenty of time to read our fortunes before we left with a full stomach. read more

Maggie M.

13 years ago

good thai food. service was ok. sushi sucks! the manager was kinda weird, he was yelling at the servers while we were eating dinner,he was really loud.made us a little uncomfortable. read more

Jamie D.

10 years ago

Food is excellent! They need more people working though this place is always busy. I try new things and never disappointed with food just service. read more

Craig G.

8 years ago

Long wait, decent food, shitty service. Fuck this place I'd rather eat Kraft mac and cheese.

Jeffrey W.

8 years ago

Greatest sushi and the owner comes out to greet you and is always there with a smile.

Kang X.

11 years ago

Great food and service. All The Time!

Cool Basil - thai - Updated October 2026

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Cool Basil

4.0

(432 reviews)

Des Moines has have blessed with so many Southeast Asian immigrants and because of that we have a…read morehuge Asian food seen. Liam Anivat is one of the entrepreneurs and drivers of the Thai cuisine part of the Asian food boom. I remember his Thai food empire at "Thai flavors: on East 14th Street long ago. He is the major owner of "Cool Basil""Banana leaf", and "Thai Flavours" on Ingersoll. The "Cool Basil" location has killed many restaurants but somehow.they are not only surviving but thriving. Cool Basil is a very large restaurant that seems always busy, and it has to do with it's it serves delicious Thai food. It has great parking, great food and excellent staff. It can be a busy place so depending on the time of day lunch or dinner you may have to wait but they move poeple through quickly. The restaurant is clean and modern the food is still great. It has similar menu items to his other restaurants. On this particular day I had Red Curry chicken. Liam has figured out consistently of his food products at all his restaurants. I've had Red Curry at all his restaurants and it's steady, regular and uniformly good. I always like to support a locally owned business. Liam has developed quite a system and serves a large number of people at all his restaurants. I had my niece and husband from out of town and they both enjoyed it. I think all of his restaurants have some healthier menu including fresh vegetable dishes. I believe they all have vegan dishes as well. Of course the restaurant has pot stickers, basil stir fry, pad thai, and other traditional Thai restaurant dishes. There is lots of variety on the menu. It's also about expectations, everyone is under staffed, so I always appreciate the service staff who are working. Having said that, the service was fast and efficient . It's also about being realistic about the food. The food was served quick and hot. I would definitely check any of his places out. If you have out of town food guests who are Thai foodies they will definitely enjoy it.

A picture perfect salad full of zesty flavors that presented a bright symphony of green apples,…read moregrilled chicken with fresh herbs from Cool Basil on 86 in Clive hits the spot with their bold house vinaigrette. The wait staff-- Ma S. -- made sure each dish was to my liking. All the customers seemed to enjoy their meal that had exotic fresh well balanced flavors that enhanced the peaceful environment surrounded by a plethora of exotic aromas from the kitchen.

Lucky Lotus

4.2

(165 reviews)

Lucky Lotus I got…read moreto know Seng and Dala Chen who previously ran Café Fuzion on the east side of Des Moines for 14 years before establishing Lucky Lotus on Ingersoll Avenue. I have many fine memories of cafe fusion. I went there once a week since they were open. The Chens were very innovative in blending different types of Asian cuisine. Seng and Dala helped open up the new restaurant. The siblings took over the major operation of the restaurant , including the theme and the menu and the concept. (Brothers Souriyno Chen (who serves as General Manager and owner) and (Kevin Chen manage the day-to-day operations), offering Southeast Asian dishes inspired by their family heritage. Both restaurants also had numerous family members helping The broader family foundation listed by the restaurant also includes (Donny Chen, and Philip Chen.) Plus numerous other relatives serving and cooking. The young siblings tried to create a clever, modern, and progressive aesthetic with counter service, an upbeat hipster ambiance, and both indoor and outdoor seating. Why maintaining the historical concept of fusion of various asian cuisines Their menu is inspired by the cuisines of Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. My favorites are,various currys, pad Thai, drunken noodles, and spring rolls. I absolutely love Crispy Rice Rolls / Nam Khao The crispy rice wraps stand out for their crispy fried coconut rice, fresh lettuce, carrots, vermicelli noodles, and fresh herbs, all wrapped in rice paper. It's generous portions and so fresh! They are served with a flavorful brightside sauce and are large enough to share or enjoy as a light meal. Other things I want to try are the zen noodle salad, and khao poon (coconut curry noodle soup). The restaurant worked hard to create many dietary options: Widely praised on platforms like HappyCow for offering fantastic vegan and vegetarian options, with knowledgeable staff ready to help navigate ingredients.They offer fun unique specialty beverages including Keule lemonade and traditional Thai tea. Other drinks include the mango dragon lemonade with mango boba or the lotus lagoon butterfly pea flower tea with passionfruit lemonade and lychee boba. Seasonal drinks like pumpkin spice Thai tea also appear on the menu. They offer unique desserts like mango sticky rice with butterfly pea flower infused sticky rice and mango guava cheesecake with mango mousse and toasted almonds. It's well worth a visit and "to go" is a good option if you wanna take dinner home. There's lots of different parking options.

We were greeted promptly by a friendly employee who answered our questions and was very…read moreaccommodating of our food sensitivities and allergies. The atmosphere was fun and modern without feeling overdone. I was happy to see that the Thai tea could be made with oat milk. We ordered the Pad Thai with chicken, Lao sausage, Dala dumplings, and Nam Khao with sour pork. The Nam Khao at spice level 3 was milder than expected but still enjoyable. The dumplings had a great texture, and while the filling was bland, the dipping sauce made up for it and was delicious and complemented the dish perfectly. The Lao sausage was sweet and garlicky, but the sticky rice was a little dry. The Pad Thai was just how I like it with fresh vegetables and not overly saucy. Parking is hard to find, and it is on a busy street. So plan accordingly. It took us about 15 minutes to find decent parking that was half a block away. We didn't mind the walking, but we thought there would be a designated parking lot. But there is not unfortunately. Overall, we had a good experience and would recommend this spot if you are looking for Lao and Thai flavors.

Rolling Wok Asian Cuisine & Pho

4.5

(53 reviews)

I stopped by Rolling Wok this past Saturday night after coming back into town after a trip to…read moreBoone. It's right off of 141 just North of the QT. It wasn't my intent to review this visit to Rolling Wok. But things change... I just know I really like their food, I was hungry, and it was on the way. A perfect storm some would say! I first tried Rolling Wok during the pandemic and their ability to offer pick up via a drive up window on the North side of the building was a great fit for that season. The food and service has always been on point! I sure wish I made it over there more often than I do... Everything comes out of the kitchen hot, fresh, and the depth of flavor is always impressive. The business is in a strip so parking is easy. It's seat yourself. Seating is a small bar and low top tables and chairs. Standard table service for ordering and payment. Love the decor and vibe here. Modern but with a hint of traditional. The menu is front and back and varies from Thai and other regional dishes, including curries, to a few standard Chinese items. We ordered the following: 2x egg rolls 1x Drunken noodles lo mein style with chicken (4-vey hot) 1x Shrimp and beef fried rice (1-mild) 1x soda (Coke products) 1x unsweetened ice tea Abby was serving us last night and she did an amazing job. I'm assuming Abby as that was what the receipt said. Even though she's helped me before I'm not sure we've ever formally introduced ourselves. I need to be better about that... I do know she's the owner's sister. As far as I could tell they were probably a staff of two last night. She was working the front by herself and I'm sure there was at least one person in the kitchen cooking. The food was great as always! The drunken noodles lo mein style is a favorite of mine! A level 4 or 5 really brings the heat... But Abby is the star of the show! So patient and personable...! Couldn't ask for a more amazing host! If you haven't been... Rolling Wok is well worth you making the short trip out to Grimes. https://rollingwokgrimes.com/

FLAVOR! Wow! I was I. The mood for something with noodles in it. But, when I looked over the menu…read morethere were so many things I wanted to try. I asked the server about the papaya salad combo and once she told me it's her family's recipe and the Lao sausage was her fav, I had to have it! My food came out perfectly! Sticky rice was perfectly made, the papaya salad had the exact amount of spice and the sausage was sooo tasty! I'm in town for business, but if I'm back again I would definitely try more of their dishes.

Ariyan

4.9

(11 reviews)

The Thai food was fresh, lots of chicken in my noodle dish. My son ordered Lo Mein with steak.read more

Ariyan is on the former Oh Sushi location in the Beaverdale area…read more Oh Sushi had an all you can eat (ayce) sushi option that I used to get about once every couple of months. After they bought the business and before rebranding to Ariyan they did away with the all you can eat sushi option. Understandable, but it's one of the things that made Oh Sushi as popular as it was. Though the variety of options was less that Izumi or other buffets who offer ayce sushi in the metro... The quality of the sushi at Oh Sushi was above and beyond. This elimination really disappointed me at the time as well as others. That being said I knew that eventually I would get to Ariyan. My daughter and I stopped in this past Saturday for lunch. Parking is available in two nearby lots and on the street. Seating is all low top tables and chairs with a bench along the South wall. The decor is the same for the most part. Tasteful and modern yet traditional. The host station is now in the Southwest corner v. the Southeast corner (closest to the door). I'm not sure why they made that change... It seems a little awkward for the host station to be that far away from the door. It also eliminated one of my favorite tables to sit at... The menu is extensive with a wide selection of sushi and rolls. They also have some typical Chinese and Thai options available. I was happy to see two of my favorite rolls still on the menu. We ordered: 1x Anger Management roll 1x Black Panther roll 1x Orange chicken (spice level 3 with white rice) 1x Miso soup (came free with our order...one of the specials) 2x Waters Service was good. The young lady serving us was attentive and seemed nice. The specials were a little hard to follow... At the time we were there they were running 15% off of select items and a free side. I'm still not sure what we ordered to get the free side... Lol I tried a piece of my daughter's orange chicken. I liked it. The sauce had good flavor. The breading was starting to fall off and I think she would have preferred it a little more crispy. The heat level for a 3 was appropriate. The base flavors of my two rolls were the same as they used to be. Same components and sauces, but there was a weird grit to both rolls. It was hard for me to pin down what exactly it was. I'm still not sure if it was just a different rice or something else... Despite the difference in texture they were both good. But not the same... I shouldn't have expected them to be. While I was overall happy with my experience at Ariyan I'm not sure it's enough to make me drive over to Beaverdale anymore. I can get similar menu options at any of the Wasabis, Cool Basil, or Mandarin closer to where I live in the metro. I realize this review is somewhat jaded since I'm comparing it to the former business model... A place I held close to my heart. I almost wish Ariyan had changed it up 100% and not tried to carry over pieces of the Oh Sushi menu and experience, but not all of it. I would still encourage you to try Ariyan out! Especially if you are close to the Beaverdale area...! It might end up being your favorite new spot for sushi and Asian cuisine! https://www.facebook.com/ariyandsm/

JJ Jasmine

3.8

(29 reviews)

I was downtown for jury duty today so I decided to have lunch at JJ Jasmine…read more This fast food stop in the skywalk was an easy choice. I was a regular customer when I used to work downtown, and before the location changed due to the Kaleidoscope at the Hub closure. I preferred beef pad Thai, paid, and got my number. I was advised there was water available in the seating area. I found a table and went to get water. The water cooler was empty. I advised the person who brought my food about the water being empty. I had to tell her about 3 times before she understood what I was talking about. That's when I realized how dirty the water class I had actually was. I saw someone going to fill the water cooler immediately. The food was great. The cleanliness of the water glass was not. Sorry, I didn't get a photo of the glass.

Food: food was good (not the best the next day) egg rolls were great!…read more Ambiance: HOT ** Warning** Service: good, asked for take out but ate some there (big portions)

Wasabi Urbandale

4.1

(12 reviews)

It was really weird going in here as I was a big fan of the original Irina's that used to occupy…read morethis space... And a big fan of Wasabi Chi...which Wasabi Urbandale effectively replaced. Staff was friendly as is usual with most of the Wasabi locations. I feel like a recognized a couple people from Wasabi Chi. We were greeted right away as we walked in. I went with a friend and my daughter, We ordered a few rolls, drinks, and dumplings. Everything was good as far as the food and the service, but I felt out of place as I found myself reminiscing about the businesses Wasabi Urbandale has taken the place of... The many meals I'd had at the horseshoe bar in Irina's...which is now gone. The special moments shared with friends at Wasabi Chi in my past. I got the feeling of being in any other Wasabi here. It's almost a cookie cutter of Ankeny, Johnston, Waukee... Not that there is anything wrong with that. Wasabi offers consistently good food and service at all it's locations. I just found myself missing an emotional connection that I wanted to feel this time.

I give 5-sushi rolls to Wasabi-Chi (you like what I did there?!) I order from this restaurant at…read moreleast once a week, and it is consistently delicious every time. I also dine-in occasionally and I love their cocktails and neon lights... especially during happy hour! Although the restaurant is never busy, this is not an indicator of the quality of food or drinks served. I think it's just in a bad location. More people should try this hidden gem of a place. The sushi is top-grade and it's a perfect place for a date night! (... with the most beautiful sunsets.)

Viet-Thai Taste

4.0

(48 reviews)

Great food. Great environment. Great service. My lunch companion said if he was dying and could…read moreonly have one last meal, he would order it from here! We are from out of town and now I want to have a reason to come to Newton just to eat here! You have a gem - enjoy it! The "small" pho was quite large and I took a whole soup container home with me. The spring rolls were the longest and fullest I've ever had and the sauce served with it was so good I put it on my egg rolls, too!

We've gone here several times and generally like it every time. Today just really hit the spot. We…read morewere on the great glass Easter egg hunt of Newton and stopped for lunch. The café is positioned in an old historical building. It makes great use of the space. We like the seating arrangement and found a booth style seating we really enjoyed. The music isn't too loud but lends to the mood. There's a kind young man who's been there the last several times. He's so respectful and attentive to the customers. Their menu is newer looking than the last time we were in and it looks really good. I always enjoy their pad Thai or their drunken noodles. Wifey got a taro milk tea today and it was the best ever. We also had lettuce wraps with chicken for an appetizer. It tasted so bright and so fresh! She's also kind of addicted to the yellow curry soup and you can see why. It's so good and comforting. We highly recommend coming here!!

Izumi Sushi And Hibachi All You Can Eat

4.4

(109 reviews)

Good overall AYCE sushi. They do not seem strict about waste, but if you ask them to not include…read moreitems you won't eat (for me it was less rice) they can accommodate. The sashimi was mixed in quality, some pieces seemed drier than others in a serving. There are a lot of options on the menu though. Teriyaki dishes,calimari,takoyaki, hibachi, etc... For what I expected of AYCE sushi the quality is on the mark. Not unexpectedly great, but also not a bad value. The interior seems pretty sharp. Darker interior with some neon. I would recommend this location, I like AYCE, for selection and flexibility. This matches what I would want.

A few people told us to try this sushi place in Clive and it was nice! We got there early and the…read morerestaurant filled up pretty quickly on a Friday afternoon. They offer their regular menu or an all you can eat option. We did their regular menu and it was nice overall. Restaurant is causal but leaves space for classier dining. On to the food: we started with the shumai and vegetable tempura. Shumai was cooked perfectly but the tempura lacked seasoning. It was still crunchy. Sushi was very fresh but served on trays with fake plastic flowers. The fake flowers are unnecessary when the sushi presents so beautifully by itself. We also tried their hibachi noodles with special sauce and it was good. Big portion of just noodles though - it does not have veggies. Tried two cocktails: lychee martini and a cosmo. Both really good but that lychee martini was something special. Deep flavors without being too sweet and overly boozy. Now the service. Keep in mind that it was not busy when we arrived. Our server did not check in as often as he probably should have. First drink sat empty on our table for a while before he finally came back around to see if we wanted anything else. He had difficulty speaking and understanding English which may have been a factor. Not the kindest person but he wasn't rude (if that makes sense). All of the other staff were polite and very helpful. Overall okay but considering all of the other great sushi restaurants in Des Moines, we will probably pass on coming here again.

Teriyaki House Japanese Grill

4.4

(53 reviews)

I had passed by this place many times, thought I would give it a try, was not disappointed !…read moreFood was a little pricey, but I had the scallop dish. It was tasty and filling and that's all I can really ask for. The staff was very friendly and helpful when I asked about the sauces. I would definitely try it again !

It might look good but don't let it fool you. Yum yum sauce? It's literally ranch. Teriyaki sauce…read moreis also terrible with little flavor. They also did forget one of our teriyaki sauces to begin with too. The Jalapeño Crab Rangoon Roll was good but it did look like it was slop shoved in a box.

Teriyaki Boys

4.4

(18 reviews)