Harbinger was equivalent to opening a teeming box of surprises! To preface, we had dinner during the pandemic and felt safe doing so (temperature, contact information, masking, distanced tables) while also having an amazing time. We opted for an earlier reservation and did not expect Chef Joe Tripp (James Beard semi-finalist) to be bringing out our food (definitely fangirling here). My SO and I both opted for the 7 course fauna tasting menu and everything was incredibly flavorful. +WATERMELON POKE: The watermelon was reminiscent of salmon and this was the perfect refreshing starting to begin our culinary journey! +OMELET: The amount and flavor of truffle in this is right down our alley. It sort of reminds me of Japanese chawanmushi or steamed egg. +FRENCH ONION CONGEE: This is the fusion of French onion soup and congee that I never knew I needed! It was very comforting and decadent, especially with the gruyere on top. +CABBAGE: This came out looking like a wedge of cabbage but it is very strongly pickled! I would recommend eating it in layers with everything else provided - unexpectedly delicious! +SHRIMP: The shrimp was perfectly cooked and went so well with the other components! The vegetables in this dish were surprisingly delicious for me. +PORK LOIN: The fermented hoisin sauce in this dish was my absolute favorite! Being Vietnamese, hoisin sauce is a pretty common condiment but this was the best amped up version I've had. Of course, it was delicious with all the other parts of the dish. +APPLE PIE STICKY RICE: Another fusion that I never knew I needed! I absolutely loved the texture of the sticky rice with the apples, and all the little dots of sauces/creams/etc were perfect! I particularly liked the lime flavors to brighten the dish. While it's impossible for me to choose a favorite, each dish stood out in its own right. Hopefully my pictures will do them more justice than my lackluster explanations. Harbinger is definitely a gem of a restaurant and we were so incredibly happy to have found it in our short time in Des Moines! I would recommend it to anyone visiting but am sad that I won't be able to go more often myself. read more

See all

Exceptional small plates and very accommodating for dairy allergies. Small space, so get your reservations in early. Best dairy free meal I've ever had! All but my wife's scallops were dairy free this visit !!! read more

See all

I love coming to Harbinger. The ambiance is great. The chef does a fantastic job with seasonal fresh ingredients that create one of a kind tasty menu items. read more

Portions ridiculously tiny for amount paid. They claim the price and serving sizes are their "vision" but it seems more like gentrifying traditional Asian dishes that cost a fraction of what they are charging to make, and rebranding it as "new American fine dining". The portions were so tiny that my food was cold by the time it was walked 30 feet over from the kitchen. Furthermore, the service was incredibly fake and it seemed like our waitress was only being nice for the tip. My family and I were the only customers of color that I saw there and we definitely weren't being treated the same as the other patrons there. I looked over a few times to see our waitress talking to other workers while looking in our tables direction, and it did not give out the right kind of vibes. You'd think that with the prices they are charging, they'd pay their workers better so that they wouldn't have to brown nose for tips. I am not exaggerating when I say you can honestly go to a hole-in-the-wall Chinese place and get better quality authentic food for a portion AT LEAST 5x bigger and 5x less expensive (and I'm sure it would be served to you HOT). I'm saying this as someone who is of Asian decent and has grown up with the types of food they serve here. read more

No fancy pants required. This restaurant is such a great part of the Des Moines food scene. One of the best happy hours, close to downtown Des Moines and the staff is super friendly and helpful. The Asian fusion menu offers some really unique flavors. Let's talk food from the Happy Hour menu. The Buns - the bread part itself was puffy and kind of flavorless but the inside was good. The Spaghetti Squash was excellent! It's a hot dish with lots of layers of flavors. The house White wine was okay, nothing special. From the regular menu. My husband really loved his duck egg (I thought it was too salty). I got the cauliflower dish (it's a cold dish), it was good but I wouldn't get it again. From the dessert menu. The homemade Irish Cream and coffee was great as is the Apple Pie and Ice Cream. read more

Where am I? Des Moines?? No way!!!!! We chose to celebrate our wedding anniversary here. The preschooler was with us. They did not have a kids menu. This isn't that type of restaurant. The decor: is urban romantic, looked industrial in a way but the lighting was romantic mood type. It's a perfect intimate place to go on a double date or with your hunny. Definitely not a loud rowdy crowd type. The food: I felt like I was sampling food coming out of a "Top Chef" kitchen. These are reminiscent of tapas as they are all small plates. Everyone gets a bite or two if you are sharing dishes. Each bite is packed with flavor. The server helped us pick which dishes the kitchen could make vegetarian/vegan. The corn dumplings were a favorites and so was the okra. My kid devoured it - we are clearly raising a child with a very sophisticated palate at the end of the meal she declared it was the "yummiest" meal she's ever had. We concur. read more

See all

Went here for my birthday dinner with my wife and we decided to splurge and go for the chefs tasting menu. It was 7 different courses and some of the best food I've ever had, and definitely not something you can find anywhere in Iowa but here. Definitely worth the price and we plan on coming back to do it again for our Anniversary. read more

Amazing food and service! Loved all of the small plates and the Asian-inspired dishes were all so wonderful and flavorful. The chef's tasting is so worth it-surprising and all excellent dishes. This was the best dinner out we've had in Des Moines in the past 2 years! read more

This place is the place to go for foodies! I recommend the chef's tasting. Very unique flavors with fine dinning presentation. It will be good no matter what they do and is great with the wine pairing. Excellent knowledgeable staff and cute quaint decor. read more

See all

Put this on the list of best restaurants in the country! Really. Not exaggerating. Tapioca and pecorino fritters, Duck egg with smoked eggplant, corn fitter bun and spicy yuzu tart. The flavors were unique and bold. The team tires perfect. The portion sizes were enough to satisfy your taste buds and small enough to allow me to try three dishes and a dessert on my own without feeling stuffed. The space is beautiful and conducive to either a nice, relaxing dinner or loud conversation with friends. The service was spectacular with each dish coming out with a smooth cadence and just enough tome in between. The price was unbelievably affordable for a meal of this caliber. I travel the country for work and I have not had my mind blown by food since Shaya in New Orleans years ago. I would rate Harbinger right up there with the absolute best of the best. read more

See all

Amazing cocktails and wine selection. Delicious food. Eclectic spot where everyone takes great care and pride in their craft. Thoroughly enjoyed every bit of eating here! read more

Solid food from what I remember (it was over a year ago from this review), but the surrounding new friends we made was great!

The appetizers at restaurant week 2023 were worth the trip. I started with a pretty pink watermelon cocktail that had a subtle but surprising chili kick. The corn fritters were reinvented with whole corn kernels, probably a local and native variety, which added crunchy texture along with flavor. I am inspired to create these at home if I can figure out how! The second appetizer came in a bowl with a burst of freshness - cherry tomatoes in an indescribable creamy sauce. A third appetizer was a crab filled squash blossom. All appetizers were winners. For entrees, I ordered the scallops and my friend ordered the pork. Neither were particularly memorable, a little too muted on flavor. Same for the grilled peaches dessert. I'm all for less sweet but too little and it's not delicious. The corn husk chip had a nice sugary note but I was craving a drizzle of local honey to punch up the flavor on the peaches. Overall-Harbinger is going for innovative and thoughtful dishes, and definitely their appetizers succeeded, but i would suggest punching up flavors a notch or two on their entrees and desserts. There's a wide difference between subtle and muted, and the entrees and peach desert were trying for subtle but ended up lacking on flavor. Still the pretty plating shows the effort. I look forward to sampling more of their drinks and tapas style offerings, which they seem to do extremely well. read more

See all

Such a fun experience full of thoughtfully made food. Got quite a few different things and loved every single one. Every dish is so unique and flavorful. It was very exciting wondering which of our dishes was coming up next. Expensive, yes, but a great treat to taste so many different creations. read more

Harbinger is a fantastic restaurant with a unique ambiance and a place that provided a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience. When dining here my friend decided to order the chefs tasting menu. The chefs tasting menu is a 5 course combination of items on the menu as well as items the chef is testing for the menu. The portions are relatively small however all five of the courses are actually quite filling. I ordered the chicken on the menu and was astonished as the sauce and the cooking of the chicken combined for the best chicken I have eaten in my entire life. I am very happy with this experience overall and certainly recommend anyone passing through Des Moines to give it a try!! read more

See all

This place is elusive in my opinion. The food is good but you definitely have to be adventurous and open minded. With a food background, I thought this place would win my heart but unfortunately, because of the service, it fell short. I went out for my cousin's birthday and we didn't have to wait for a table even tho we showed up about 10 min early for our reservation. The waitress took about 20 minutes to give us water and menus. Another 20 to come back for our orders and there had to have been 10-15 min between dishes- and they serve all small plates. I also asked our waitress for a tea menu or to tell me what kind of hot teas they had and she never came back with any information regarding that. She also forgot my boyfriend's drink and he had to ask 3 times. The food overall was extremely innovative and it definitely sparked interest from me. I've been to a few restaurants that share similar gastronomic styles and this one was there with the ideas, I just wish I could have enjoyed it with the proper service. Also, the space gets quite loud when packed and it's hard to keep a conversation. Would love to give this place a second try but don't want to be let down again. As of now, it's a one and done for me. read more

Best restaurant in Des Moines! And beyond! So many creative, Asian influenced dishes here. You'll truly have a feast! Service is top notch as well. Every staff member is knowledgeable about their cuisine and super helpful, friendly, and polite. Great atmosphere too. The is the place! Scrumptious! read more

Found this place through other reviews and yes, this place is totally awesome! We were visiting from Hawaii and familiar with many of the verbiage on the menu but didn't really know what to expect. The service from when you first walk in the door was awesome. Wait, before that, I had to email the restaurant as I had a party of 6. They quickly responded to my inquiry which was already a big plus for me as a guest. Ever since then, service was first class. The waiter was very patient in explaining their menu. We ended up getting the chef's menu for majority of our party with 2 of us ordering off the menu. Everyone was super happy with their meal choices. Chef's menu was excellent. Not only was the presentation of each course beautiful, but very tasty! The quality of ingredients was excellent. I don't know how he made the dessert but the mixture of mochi, pineapples, ice cream with peppercorn sounded adventurous and was surprisingly super Ono (delicious in Hawaiian)! If we ever make it back here, will definitely return!!! Mahalo harbinger for the great food, service and EXPERIENCE!!! read more

Remarkable chef! Wonderful presentation and the food is awesome. They have a very affordable wine list. Looking forward to my next visit!

We enjoyed Harbinger, the food was good, and well presented. I really enjoyed the octopus and oddly enough the way they prepare their carrots is fantastic. Our service was great, not too quick but far from slow. All around a solid place to go for a nicer meal in the Des Moines area. Plus I loved the interior of the restaurant. read more

See all

The food was phenomenal. The atmosphere and cost ended up being a bit more upscale than I anticipated. My boyfriend and I would definitely do a tasting menu at a place like this but I went with my traditionally midwestern parents. It was definitely not their vibe -- the sticker shock was apparent once they saw their portion sizes. If I were to go back, I'd definitely plan to go with my beau and do the tasting menu. My family left hungry when we didn't. read more

Excellent! It's all excellent top notch. Best in Des Moines. Excellent ambiance, service and food.

Harbinger was truly outstanding. I'm so grateful to the reviewers here for making it an easy choice when finding a spot for dinner as we drove through Des Moines. First of all, I've always loved the word 'harbinger' and was delighted the food was as good as promised. Everything we had was either very good or mind-blowingly excellent. If you get only one thing, get the fritters! From the deep, smokey flavor of the warm tomato soup beneath them, to the shockingly vibrant freshness of the cool veggies on top, to the savory, crunch of the things themselves, the vast experience of this dish had myself and my husband blown away. I would drive back to Des Moines just to get those again, that's how good they were! Other excellent dishes were the scallops, and the sweet potato steamed buns. The other two types of steamed buns (chicken and pork belly) were also very good. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the lemon grass sausage, as it struck me as a little gamey. The husband liked it tho, so no harm there. Overall, this was a great dining experience, and in our opinion, priced logically. read more

See all

Harbinger is the most INVENTIVE and ORIGINAL restaurant in Des Moines. That's it. That's all that needs to be said really. Proof used to hold that title but honestly after going to prove more than once you get a bit tired of the Middle Eastern inspired menu that changes very rarely. Everything here was on point except maybe the service which was a little rushed but I can definitely over look that given how amazing the food was. This wasn't just another new American Cuisine Restaurant. This was inventive Asian fusion that reminded me of a restaurant in New York or Chicago rather than downtown Des Moines. Make a reservation on OpenTable and bring your special someone here you will not regret it I promise. We started with the Kohlrabi okonomiyaki which to be fair isn't what okonomiyaki really is but I doubt many in Des Moines know what okonomiyaki is. What we got was basically a kohlrabi pancake veggie patty topped with pickled vegetables and duck bonito. It was an amazing start to the meal definitely got our pallets going. Next we had the Szechuan eggplant and whipped burrata. The whipped burrata was amazing, truly a signature dish, soft whipped burrata cheese with almonds and raisins. This one was 6 out of 5 stars. The Szechuan eggplant was amazing as well, perfectly spicy offset with the pickled chillies. Then we had the steam buns with pork belly. Now this is a fairly ubiquitous dish, but Harbinger does it right. The bun is soft and melts in your mouth and the pork belly is just a soft with a crispy crust. Covered with a sweet Hoisin glaze it truly was the perfect bite. We finished with a dry aged ribeye and the pork belly with sweet corn congee. Both were again amazing the dry aged ribeye popping with strong beefy flavor. The pork belly a great balance between the soft belly and sweet corn congee. We finished with a peach semifreddo and a mochi olive oil cake. The desserts were a bit disappointing, though good. They really needed to have a rich chocolate option. I will say it again this is the most inventive Fusion forward restaurant in Des Moines. It's simply amazing. read more

See all

Harbinger has always been a go-to for a comfortable and quiet dinner. Last night was no exception. For me, if I have a cocktail soon after arrival I am good. The staff was right on. The food was delicious. Fried green tomatoes, Wagu beef, beets... all good. The only issue, and this made all of us crazy was our waitresses use of pronouns. She constantly referred to "us" and "we". I wondered when she asked, "what will we be having off of the menu" if she was joining us. So annoying! read more

Harbinger is the best restaurant in Des Moines. There, I said it. The thought, preparation and execution that goes into each dish is unbelievable. The quality of ingredients used is extraordinary. Harbinger is a truly magical place. From start to finish, you are treated as a special guest. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable and kind. New silverware is provided for each course. The depth of knowledge that the servers retain of each dish, their ingredients, as well as cocktail selections can not be over looked. You feel wanted when you eat here. You feel comfortable. There is no rush to the Harbinger experience. Each dish is perfectly timed in delivery and brought out in a thoughtful flow. You have time to enjoy the ambiance, nirvana-like food and your company. Let it be known - the food is absolutely heavenly. Joe Tripp is an unbelievably talented and forward-thinking chef. His ideas are unique and endlessly flavorful. He employs many old-world techniques and ingredients, presented in a modern fashion. The best way that I can describe it is that when you eat at Harbinger, you are eating art. The food is beautiful, delicious, and the hard work of an artist who is trying to convey an idea to the public. Instead of breaking down every dish I was served, I want to implore you to go dine at Harbinger for yourself. I could tell you the subtleties of each dish, but I believe it is something you need to go explore for yourself. Part of the allure of Harbinger is in the mystery. How can the freshest ingredients be put together in such a masterful way that eating them is truly transformed into an ethereal experience? How, from start to finish, do you feel more special and pampered than ever before when dining at Harbinger? How did Des Moines get so lucky? read more

See all

I was impressed with Harbinger from the moment I entered the restaurant. Beautiful, cozy, "hygge" decoration, and outstanding music. Any restaurant that has Sufjan Stevens playing is an absolute winner in my book, as it makes the atmosphere immediately magical. Even the lighting is lovely and I liked the concept of an open kitchen. The menu is inventive and varied, with lots of creative options of flavors that I would have never thought about before. I understand that the menu changes periodically, too, so that's even better. I ordered the tapioca and pecorino fritters as an appetizer and it was great. I cannot emphasize enough how fresh the food was, and the sauce that the fritters were sitting on was an excellent complement to the texture and flavor of this appetizer. My friend had the green pea dumplings, which sounded a bit weird but once I tried them, I was blown away. Then, I had the pork shank dish, which came with the best rice I have ever tried in recent times. This coconut rice is perfection and it may have spoiled me for other rice. The flavors, once again, were nicely harmonious, subtle and delicate. This dish has a vinegar garlic sauce (it's like a little "mojo") that you definitely should put on it after you've had a few bites to give it a little kick - but again it's not overpowering at all. Maybe a bit too much cilantro for my taste, but if you like cilantro, then you'll enjoy it even more. Their bourbon and rye whiskey selection isn't incredible, but I get that it's a restaurant and not a bar. They also do have some complex-looking cocktails with ingredients like chrysanthemum infused rum which seem like should definitely be tried. I just had a rye whiskey. Didn't get a chance to try dessert because I was full. Service was attentive, though the pacing of the food was slower than usual - not bad if you are going for small plates though, because it gives you time to chat and eat and enjoy. Prepare your wallet - Harbinger has some affordable options and a happy hour but it is on the expensive side. However, it's a great option for a romantic dinner or to catch up with a good friend. read more

I've eaten at Harbinger 3 or 4 times now and I think it is hands down my favorite foodie restaurant in the Des Moines area. There are several very good restaurants in the area, to be sure, but Harbinger seems to go above and beyond in creativity and plating. I can't recall a dish that I didn't truly find delectable. Service is impeccable as well. This is truly a gem that deserves, in my humble opinion, a Michelin Star or, at the very least, a Bib Gourmand. Suffice it to say I take great pleasure whenever I come here for dinner. read more

See all

The food is amazing! Small plates, but so so worth it. One of my favorite restaurants in Des Moines. Service is also great and everyone is super friendly! read more

I have only been here for brunch, which is brand-new, but has some kinks to be worked out. The assorted dumplings were fantastic, as was the cinnamon roll amuse bouche. However, the Japanese pancake soufflé got very soggy and was overwhelmingly sweet, though initially the texture was really nice. The banh mi had a bowl with an egg just sort of sitting in a pool of chili sauce, which was a bit odd. Nonetheless, I would definitely come back for brunch after they've had a few more weeks to figure some things out. The flavors are always unique and wonderful, and I think the menu is a perfect length. read more

Harbinger - Japanese pancake soufflé with coconut whipped cream, granola, and mixed berries - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Exceed my expectation for Iowa restaurant. A restaurant is on a smaller side. We went there a bit early but they were able to sit us in right away. Cocktails were great. I ordered chef selection which were 3 selections from the menu and a special dish including dessert. My husband order 3 dishes for himself and pretty full. Everything cooked perfectly but we felt that scallop dish ate a little bit sweet since it has currant beetroots and sweet sauce. In conclusion, 5 stars for being a restaurant that tried to do something different and no burger or steak on the menu in Des Moines, IA read more

See all

My favorite restaurant in DSM. Love the intimate atmosphere. The service is always attentive but never intrusive, and the food is exceptional. They are also super helpful if you have dietary restrictions. read more

Despite living nearby, my husband and I held off on visiting Harbinger for a couple of years. Finally, for New Year's Eve, we decided we should go see what it was all about. The seven-course tasting was a true culinary experience that can be hard to find in Des Moines. The ingredients were clean and fresh in each course, and the Asian inspiration was evident in each. The limited ingredients in each dish allowed each element to shine through. What excited me even more was the mix of ingredients presented throughout the evening. Highlights included truffles, celery root with horseradish, wild mushrooms with Iowa-favorite Prairie Breeze cheddar, and a sunchoke - something that I, as a vegetarian for 12+ years, had never had before. Harbinger is certainly a vegetable-forward restaurant, but don't let that intimidate you. Order one of their finely crafted cocktails and settle in for an adventure that will demonstrate the true magic of vegetables and eating clean. read more

AMAZING! Fine dining with impeccable service. Our table of four ordered a variety of small plates and shared amongst the group creating our own unique tasting experience. Every dish was prepared with great attention to detail for taste and presentation. Staff was highly attentive, knowledgeable and fun! Craft cocktails were artfully crafted. Best dining experience I've had in years. read more

We've had our eye on this place for a long time now, and we finally made it on a random Wednesday night. I thought we would be fine without reservations, but the staff seemed upset/flustered we hadn't called. During our stay, I don't think I ever saw all of the tables full. They shoved us right away in a tiny table right next to where the waitstaff is coming to get drinks constantly. The candle wasn't lit. And then it took forever for someone to come talk to us. Sure, someone brought waters and a menu, but this is the type of menu that needs explained. We sat for an uncomfortably long time, thinking they were mad at us for coming without a reservation. Finally service arrived, and it was fine after that. We were told that all plates were made to be shared. However, they are TINY portions in weird plates. You just got a small taste of the dish. Don't get me wrong, the food is freaking fantastic. It melts in your mouth--delicious. (Except dessert, dessert was meh.) We spent well over $100 and had to go get other food later because my husband was still hungry. For $100, we should be well satisfied. Overall, I probably won't be back, but if you go, for the love of god, make a reservation! read more

Everything about this place is fantastic, nothing else to say. We did the tasting menu along with some other items between my wife and I and were floored with what we had to eat. Service is top notch, open kitchen concept is cool, just an overall great experience. To be honest, we even had some items that we didn't particularly enjoy, to be expected in a tasting, and they still deserve 5 stars based on the ones we did. I guess there was more to say, do yourself a favor and go indulge. read more

Exquisite food with a surprise ending. When the check came I thought there was a mistake, that we had received another table's bill. But the items on it matched what we had. Then I thought perhaps it was a soft opening, and everything was half price. That would make perfect sense. But it has been open for years. Under $10 a plate for this level of cookery is frankly baffling. In the end, I just tipped heavily in the hope that Harbinger is still flying high when I'm next in town. I cannot recommend it highly enough. read more

Loved this! Loved that every dish had different flavors. By far, snow crab rice with scrambled duck egg was the best part of the meal. Cauliflower was cold and surprised me. Bone marrow mouse on potatoes was interesting, I didn't hate it but it had a odd flavor/texture but I loved the mushrooms. Loved the king crab and the Sauvignon was citrusy and I wanted to not like it but it worked perfect in the dish. I loved the Korean steamed bun because of the kimchi! The sweet potato one was ok but I didn't figure I would love it. The shrimp steamed bun was good and loved the avocado on top. Butternut squash with rice congee and apple slaw was ok but I didn't like a spice that I can not identify but assume a fall spice. Each dish was different and my fellow dinner guest loved things I did not. Pork belly with spaghetti squash was amazing! A rich brown sauce with roasted seeds and WOW! Worth the wait to get in and the price. Goat cheese panacotta was good with a blood orange fruit taste. read more

See all

Seriously the best food I've had in a long time. Really light and filling but not heavy. Fun staff...amazing experience!

Unbelievable food, service, ambiance! Just perfect! Moved from Boulder to Johnston and looked up this gem. Will be frequent flyers. Topped it off with pressed coffee and their house Irish cream. Phenomenal read more