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    Iowa's Best Burger Cafe

    4.1 (72 reviews)
    InexpensiveBurgers
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Iowa's Best Burger Cafe Photos

    IOWA'S BEST BURGER CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Iowa's Best Burger Cafe

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    Iowas Best Burger Cafe does not disappoint.

    What a welcome respite from the never ending fast food chains. Great food. We had 1/2 lb cheese burgers with everything. Fresh LTO. And fries. Made to order. Eat inside or at the picnic tables outside. Surrounded by farm. One of the better meals we had on a 10 day trip to Wyoming. I usually pack a lunch but not today. So glad we wandered by.

    Rohan D.

    A rather bold name choice, but honestly it's the best burger I've had in Iowa. Might be the only burger I've had in Iowa though. They have stamped postcards that they will mail for you, the sell duct tape (only Black), and they have clean rest rooms. They also sell gasoline, and these were the things I needed on my way from Des Moines to Rantoul, Illinois. Yes, I needed a good burger and fries, stamped postcards that someone would mail for me, a clean restroom, duct tape (black), and also a cup of coffee. It was a fun road stop, the people working here are friendly and efficient. They also have ice cream, which I most certainly didn't need because I'm lactose intolerant, diabetic, and on a road trip, but I had some anyway.

    K S.

    Iest we recall this is a truck stop cafe. This is a truck stop cafe. With that sad the fast food menu is awesome with nifty burgers and real Iowa tenderloins. nice hard ice cream menu as well. Plenty of seating outdoors amongst the sheltered picnic tables overlooking scenic Interstate 80 or you can squeeze into one of the booths inside.

    sal C.

    Food was good and prices were not much more than a regular grocery store. Scott cares so much for his customers when he didn't have laundry detergent he went to his house for some at no charge. It's well manicured grounds and cleanliness was superb. By far one of the best stops on our 3000 mile trip!

    The old little gas station Burger Cafe.
    Kevin D.

    #59-2021 The Iowa best burger and Cafe located at the old gas station stop over outside of Newton Iowa on interstate 80 approximately 45 minutes east of Des Moines. About the turn of the century circa 99 in the 2000 they put a campground in here which stays full a lot some people like staying here. The little gas station is just basically like a KOA store you walk in there they got soda they got beer and they got snacks and that's about it it's very small. Real Cafe is hooked right up you walk right in and there it is. I haven't been here and probably close to at least 3 years or more usually when I'm trucking across 80 and they're either not open yet or they're closed. They still close at 9:00 p.m. this is such a small town in the middle of nowhere once you get off the interstate Kellogg's about a mile up the road but it's one of those towns where they roll up the sidewalks at night. Walking in I was greeted and perused the little menu they have and decide to go with an old-fashioned big half-pound burger bacon cheese lettuce tomato ketchup mustard no pickle or onion. And the diet Pepsi fries with no salt. they doing four of no refills on drinks you 50 cents I said fine whatever. Was definitely nice and clean everything was wiped down small and quaint dining room always has been they do not open for breakfast. Okay the nasty cans. Could definitely do a little better bathroom detail indeed. They are unisex bathrooms one horse stalls lock the doors. although they were kind of skunky and funky. Luckily I just had to whizzarino had I needed to have a seat I would have trucked up to loves 5 miles down the road LOL. They have basic sandwiches I think next time I come through I may either try the pork tenderloin or the Iowa pork chop it sounded pretty good if it's open when I'm coming through here they have shakes and mulch and soft serve ice cream they now also have fresh made deli sandwiches better available too made on site. My burger came out I was very impressed half pound two patties quarter pound patties stacked with everything I wanted on it. was delicious nice and juicy couldn't complain there the fries crinkle fries with no salt or excellent too just like I remembered it's all in all my visit was really satisfying for what it was and I left with a happy tummy ready to roll some miles. Was a about 90 almost summer day temperature wise but the good thing was the air conditioners do a great job it was very nice cool and comfortable in there also.

    Iowas best burger at a gas station? We shall see!
    Judy S.

    My boys and I were heading west on 80 through Iowa and I began to Yelp looking for a little place to stop and grab something on the way through. Found this little joint and had to give it a try. It's conveniently right off the interstate however you would never know it's here. I gave them a call and ask them to recommend to me a couple burgers. My plan was to order ahead to grab and pick up as we got gas and then head out. Found out that the actual spot is inside a gas station. So very convenient, I needed gas anyhow. It is definitely a dive, a little grease joint. But it has a lot of history. That said, they can clean it up a bit. The burgers are basic. You can get it with everything on it meaning lettuce, tomatoes,pickles ketchup.... and they had a few different choices of cheese I believe American, Swiss or pepper Jack. But other than that no specialty burgers. Which is fine, I mean really, what are you expecting it is a gas station. Got our gas and went inside to pay and grab our burgers. I called 20 minutes prior to us getting there and ordered ahead giving them our eta. Apparently I should've said can you not put the burgers on for at least 10 minutes, everything was cold, my boys didn't even touch the fries. So the burgers. I definitely would not call them Iowas best burgers. But that said they were good, even cold.

    Menu January 2023

    Forgot to add the pictures when I stopped by going on the last trip. The prices reflect the last year of inflation but are comparable to other restaurants. The burger was cooked how I like it and the toppings added to the flavor. The fries were good and the amount was fine for me. We will be stopping again soon.

    Matt U.

    What a great find for a late afternoon lunch! We saw the sign for this spot a couple miles out and it seemed like a place worth checking out! It's located inside a gas station and has a surprising amount of seating for the size of the place. It's operated by a very nice bunch who are definitely excited about what they're doing! The burger we had was solid, but the best part of our meal was the tenderloin! They advertise that it's "not made with fritters", but rather from true pig and it tastes the part! Not gigantic, but good size and seriously good. Fries were excellent and the ice cream was solid with 16 flavors available! Currently they have the "Samson" challenge which is a journey that includes two quad burgers and fries in 30 minutes. Your treasure is a t-shirt and getting your name on the wall of fame! Overall, a great place to stop for a quick lunch when traveling on I-80! You won't be disappointed!

    Supposed to be a pizza burger ... it's was a tenderloin with cheese ,lettuce,onions & pickle .. no pizza sauce no mozzarella cheese.

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    11 months ago

    Amazing ice cream! Flavors you would have never thought of. The lemon crumble was fantastic! Size small was like two scoops.

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    This is Iowas best burger cafe.......it has been confirmed. Don't look elsewhere just eat here.

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    2 years ago

    It is everything they said it was. Small great burger and fry place with ice cream and homemade milkshakes.

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    8 years ago

    Fast, convenient and very courteous! Got d food at a great price. We had cheeseburgers and fries. Tasty!

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    6 years ago

    Best little burger cafe. Hits the spot. Great food. Excellent ice cream and Shakes. A must atop along I-80!!

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    6 years ago

    Best food reasonable priced dip ice cream. Best burgers and Tenderloin great fries. Right off I-80 at exit 173. Well worth the stop

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Iowa's Best Burger Cafe

    Review Highlights - Iowa's Best Burger Cafe

    This little diner is located inside of a gas station at the Kellogg, IA exit on I-80 between Grinnell, IA & Newton, IA.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

    The Flying Elbow - The Double Brisco Burger

    The Flying Elbow

    4.7(56 reviews)
    25.5 mi

    In town for some personal business and had time to kill so we decided to find a local place for…read morelunch. Per my usual when it comes to deciding factors, the name drew us in to The Flying Elbow. Super cute place - simple. Very clean. Straightforward. The menu is on the wall, above the same counter where you order. Staff was helpful and friendly. My husband got a burger - The Patterson. The gentleman taking his order was kind enough to switch out the bread since my hubs isn't a fan of jalapeño. He recommended Texas toast, which the hubs was grateful for and he LOVED it. It was just the right amount of messy, juicy, and YUM. I got the all-beef hotdog with chili, cheese, and green onions. It was delicious. My only recommendation would be putting the cheese under the chili so that it melts (or run it under the broiler for a sec) and gets super gooey. Otherwise, the chili was awesome and tasted great with the dog. I'd definitely get it again. BUT, the kicker of the whole meal, the absolute "must go back" item was the tots. HO. LY. COW. We got one order to share and just figured we were getting regular old tator tots. But NO. The order was six tots that were each about the size of a ping pong ball and they were the MOST epic little flavor bombs. I know they had potato, cheese, and bacon in them ... not sure what else they add to create that little ball-o-flavor but MAN. If you're in the area, this place should be on your list of "must try." If you're not, those tots are worth the trip.

    Love everything about Flying Elbow! Their portions are huge! I usually end up taking some home…read more We live outside of Marshalltown but gladly drive the extra miles to go there

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    The Flying Elbow - Seating

    Seating

    The Flying Elbow - Definitely a Contender

    Definitely a Contender

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    Good fries

    Fishback & Stephenson Cider House - Lions Bridge Ale

    Fishback & Stephenson Cider House

    4.6(17 reviews)
    67.5 mi

    Coming to visit family in Fairfield, I had heard of a newer cider brewery and restaurant that…read moreserved great food and cool cider flavors. That was underselling it - this cider house is awesome! I love that there are so many different fruit flavors in their ciders. My personal favorites were the watermelon and apricot. There is also a great selection of burgers all the way from your classic cheeseburger down to a no-meat burger, each with its own unique toppings. I got the 'Merica Burger and didn't even have time to take a picture because I just scarfed it down. They have a great selection of sides too - chips, slaw, potato salad, or a glass of your favorite cider! We will definitely be coming back to the Cider House every time we are back in town. Great food and great drinks!

    I've been a few times. The ambiance is great, it's delightful to sit outside in warm weather, and I…read morelove that they support live music. My only complaint is that food service is kinda slow and the way you order food and drinks is kinda clumsy. It's almost like the food is an afterthought to what was originally intended to be a bar. I recently made the mistake of going on a Friday night at 7pm. They were busy and there were about 10 people ahead of us in the line. It took 30+ minutes to reach the order window, at which time we were informed it was an hour and a half wait to get our food. Why couldn't a manager or a staff member inform the people standing patiently (as the line was steadily growing) of the wait time before we got to the window? Completely unacceptable lack of customer service. Once you actually get your food, it's great, and the bar service is pretty efficient. Great selection of drinks.

    Photos
    Fishback & Stephenson Cider House
    Fishback & Stephenson Cider House - Sky above r restaurant

    Sky above r restaurant

    Fishback & Stephenson Cider House - Flights of all 8 ciders - pineapple, apricot, peach, berry, grapefruit, cherry, green apple, and watermelon

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    Flights of all 8 ciders - pineapple, apricot, peach, berry, grapefruit, cherry, green apple, and watermelon

    The Classic Deli and Ice Cream Shoppe

    The Classic Deli and Ice Cream Shoppe

    4.6(79 reviews)
    23.6 mi
    $$

    Kicking off my vacation series of reviews in Iowa, I wasnt sure what to expect from The Classic but…read morewhen Dad says he wants a tenderloin sandwich you just gotta follow along. The Classic is just that, a beloved local spot in downtown Brooklyn where the friendly service and delicious food made for a truly memorable dining experience! The staff made us feel right at home from the warm greeting at the door to the server's helpful recommendations. The menu offered plenty of options, including daily specials. My tacos were delicious and bursting with flavor. Whether you live nearby or just passing through - i would definitely recommend making a stop here.

    "Classic Hospitality, Delicious Eats (Just Bring Your Beans Memory)"…read more I recently stopped at The Classic Deli & Ice Cream Shoppe in Brooklyn, Iowa--and wow, what a treat. I've read up on the history: this place has been a local staple at 120 Jackson, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and yes... ice cream. That kind of variety is always a good sign. (theclassic.us) From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed. The hosts and staff treated us like old friends, checking in and making sure we had everything we needed. The service alone is five-star worthy ... friendly, attentive, and warm. We ordered a chicken melt, chopped sirloin with au jus, and a selection of desserts including peach pie, chocolate pie, and lemon meringue. Everything was tasty and felt freshly made. The prime rib was flavorful and juicy, and the pies were a perfect sweet finish. They have a whole variety of ice cream flavors, which we didn't try this time but will definitely sample on our next visit. The only downside was that the baked beans we ordered were forgotten, which was a small letdown since they're one of my favorite comfort sides. That's the only reason this review is four stars instead of five, because everything else was truly delightful. If you're passing through Brooklyn, Iowa, The Classic is absolutely worth a stop. The food is satisfying, the service is kind, and the cozy small-town charm makes it feel like a comforting pause in your day. I will definitely be back, and next time, I'm not leaving without my baked beans and a scoop of ice cream!

    Photos
    The Classic Deli and Ice Cream Shoppe
    The Classic Deli and Ice Cream Shoppe
    The Classic Deli and Ice Cream Shoppe

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    Iowa's Best Burger Cafe - burgers - Updated May 2026

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