A lovely addition to Waukee! You don't often find a breakfast/lunch restaurant that truly has a…read moreunique menu with fun twists on classics. Plus, an amazing coffee bar! The ambiance in this place is great. Lots of natural light and elements with fun pops of color. Plenty of seating. We ordered the breakfast burrito, Croque madame, and cereal milk latte. The breakfast burrito was drenched in delicious sauce and was a generous portion. The Croque madame was also exceptional. The milk bread really took it to the next level. Side salad was nice and fresh. The latte was also amazing, not too sweet, nice fresh espresso that wasn't over extracted. The servers were sweet and attentive. No notes! Overall, this was a breath of fresh air. Definitely deserves a try if you are in the area!

Let me start by saying I've never been so excited to visit a restaurant after seeing photos of…read moretheir food online. I travel constantly for work, and this place instantly reminded me of something you'd find in L.A. -- I genuinely forgot I was in Iowa. How does Waukee have a restaurant this good? I went with my fiancée, full of anticipation, and it completely lived up to the hype -- and then some. The breakfast sandwich was absolutely insane. I promise it tastes every bit as good as it looks. It's hands-down the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. I've eaten at incredible spots in Denver, LA, New York, and Chicago, and none of them compare to what's happening right here in Waukee, Iowa. Mine was the pork katsu with miso aioli -- life-changing. I seriously sat there afterward thinking, Where has this been my whole life? My fiancée ordered the dill sandwich, and it was equally phenomenal. The fries might be the best in all of Iowa. We kept looking at each other in disbelief that this level of food was in our own backyard. I finished my latte so fast I didn't even get a picture of it. If you're even thinking about going, just do it. This place is incredible -- easily the best spot in Iowa right now.

Great bbq to be had at Kue'd Smokehouse!…read more I am a big Smokey D's fan but my cousins said this place was just as good and I have to say I'm a convert. Some things were better, others not as good, but good overall. Great brisket and burnt ends were ok but a little light on the smoke to be honest. The pulled pork was dry in some places and nice and juicy in others. The smoked Mac and cheese is mighty tasty and not too bitter from the smoke. Glad we tried the redneck nachos. They are made on house made potato chips and are a very unique treat. Also great bbq sauce! The original and spicy have excellent flavor. Glad to have another bbq spot in the DSM area to go to!

There's a particular smell that good barbecue joints carry -- the low, sweet perfume of wood smoke…read morethat clings to your clothes long after you leave. It's the smell of patience, of time, of a pitmaster standing watch over a stubborn hunk of meat for half a day or more. Walking into Kue'd, I was hoping for that smell. What I found instead was something a little more complicated. I ordered a half pound of brisket and a half pound of burnt ends, with a side of poblano creamed corn -- thirty-two bucks all in. Not bad. In the modern barbecue economy, where smoked meat is starting to cost what a decent steak once did, that's a respectable number. The brisket arrived looking the part. Sliced, tender enough, with a decent beefy flavor. But the first bite told a different story. Where you expect the deep campfire soul of smoked meat -- that unmistakable bark, that blackened, peppery crust that whispers of hours in the pit -- there was... nothing. No bark to speak of. No smoke that lingered. If someone had told me it was roast beef pulled from an oven instead of a smoker, I wouldn't have had much evidence to argue otherwise. It wasn't offensive. It just wasn't barbecue. Then came the burnt ends. Now these were the reason to be here. Juicy, tender little cubes of beef with the kind of bark the brisket should have had in the first place -- dark, caramelized, and deeply smoky. The fat rendered just right, the meat pulling apart with that perfect balance of resistance and surrender. Each bite carried the flavor of the pit that the brisket seemed to miss entirely. The regular barbecue sauce was solid -- sweet, balanced, and clearly designed to complement the meat rather than smother it. The vinegar-based sauce, on the other hand, promised Carolina but delivered something closer to pancake syrup. Sweet, thick, and missing the sharp, nose-tickling tang that vinegar sauce is supposed to bring to the party. The poblano creamed corn was good -- comforting, creamy, with a mild pepper warmth -- but it played things a little too safe. One note, pleasant but forgettable. Like a song that never quite reaches a chorus. Still, when you step back and look at the whole tray -- a pound of meat, a side, and change left in your wallet -- the value is hard to argue with. Not every barbecue meal has to be transcendent. Sometimes it just has to be honest. And here's the thing: those burnt ends? They were honest. Next time I walk into Kue'd, I'll know what to do. Burnt ends again, no question. Maybe some pulled pork. And I'll give the baked beans and potato casserole a shot -- because every barbecue place deserves a second look, especially when they've already proven they know how to get at least one thing very, very right.

Pulled up to Capriotti's while heading back to Omaha (from Des Moines) expecting a solid sandwich,…read moreand they definitely delivered -- anything with turkey here is a guaranteed win. Ambience and customer service were just... there. Nothing offensive, nothing memorable. It's giving "get your order and go," which honestly works if the food's this good. If you're in it for the sandwich game, don't let the dry vibe throw you off -- the flavor makes up for the rest.

The sandwiches were absolutely incredible--honestly some of the best I've ever had, no question…read more But the wait was beyond frustrating. We were driving through from Colorado back to Minnesota and did everything right: ordered online a full 30 minutes ahead so we could just swing in and pick up. We arrive, my sister (who also ordered ahead online) is already walking out with her food. My brother orders in-person right when we get there, and his sandwich--plus two other walk-in customers' orders--come out before ours even starts being made. We ended up waiting over another 30 minutes. More than an hour total from when we placed the order. What is the point of online ordering if the system doesn't hold your spot in line and just lets in-store orders and later arrivals jump ahead of you? It completely defeats the whole purpose. Still... those sandwiches really were exceptional. Almost worth the headache.

Sandwiches are my favorite thing to eat--seriously, I could give Joey Tribiani a real run for his…read moremoney. The sandwich I had at Cheeba Hut last night is easily one of the top three sandwiches I've ever had. I'd give this place tens across the board--food, service, atmosphere, everything. Can't wait for our next visit.

Finally made it out for a sammie and it was great. You order when you walk in and they bring it…read moreto you when it's done. There's also a drive-through available. Many, many options to choose from. It was hard to decide. I went with the Mediterranean Greek one and the flavor combo was fantastic. My husband went with a roast beef one. He liked it, but wants to try others. The decor is fun and they have great names for the food. There's also a bar you can sit at and order alcoholic drinks. We will be back.

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $40 04/17/2026 It is becoming a bit of a broken record...as this place is in the top-tier favorites in the area. Tonight, we met with friends before a concert and enjoyed the food and drinks. I started with a Blind Tiger tequila drink (see picture) along with Fried Babybel (see picture) - both very good. For our dinner, my wife ordered Steak Fajita Tacos (see picture) and I went with the PB&J Wings (see picture). Not only were all of the food and drinks fantastic, but we also caught the end of Happy Hour, so we also saved some cash on several of our plates!

Gastro Grub & Pub is a must try! Went here with some family and everything about the place was…read morefantastic. The atmosphere in the restaurant on Saturday was buzzing, and it's in a strip mall-ish type complex with tons of other great things, like breweries nearby. On top of that, their wait staff was extremely friendly, lively, and quick to check in. For my meal, I ordered the chicken pita with fries and it was incredible! The portion sizes were great, the fries were crispy, and the chipotle aioli that came with the fries was the cherry on top. Definitely worth a visit if you've never been!

We were in town for a basketball tournament and had a team dinner at a nearby restaurant. My…read morehusband saw, Chickin Lickin, and was like I want to try that! So the next day, we did! And we were so glad that we did! We ordered a combo 2 which came with wings. Chicken tenders, and 3 sides. Chose the soy garlic sauce and for the sides got the bulgogi fried rice, egg fried rice, and corn. One of the kiddos also wanted a Korean dog, so got one of those too. Everything was sooooo good!! The chicken wings and tenders were huge!! The chicken had the perfect crunch and the sauce was delicious. Service was very friendly and patient as we decided what to order. They greeted each person that walked in quickly and friendly. I loved that the restaurant has a sink to wash your hands before and after the meal right in the dining area! As I went back there to wash my hands, I noticed that they have a pay it forward area! Customers pre-purchase items and others in need can redeem them. Love that thought! Overall, loved the food and experience at Chickin Lickin! Will definitely go back next time we are in the area.

Stopped in a few times recently, service is very good, friendly staff, they are very upbeat…read more Layout is good in the restaurant, typical fast food layout, convenient to have to go boxes laying out. The chicken is pretty good, we typically order wings, the flavors are good, the wings are pretty large and usually cooked well. A decent place to grab a quick bite for sure.

Will be back for sure Best sandwich in a long time…read moreNo skimping on meat At a lot of sandwich places, I tend to order double meat. Just too much bread in proportion to meat at most places. No need to double up here. The Betty's was thick and juicy. Perfect proportion of bread to meat. Was somewhat reminiscent of a Cuban with mustard and pickles. Very light, almost falling apart bagel. Delicious! Best sandwich I have had outside of the actual Manhattan!

As a New Yorker, this is the closest thing I can find in Des Moines that's like grabbing a sandwich…read morefrom my bodega down the block. They've got wide selections of sandwiches and honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them. The Manhattan is my go-to (Corned Beef, Ham, Salami, Coleslaw & Swiss with Mustard, Mayo & Pickle on an Onion Bun) but I always sub the onion bun out for a hero bun. Every flavor works well with each other, the coleslaw is sweet and contrasts well with the saltiness of the meats, the crunch from the pickle, and finally the mustard cuts into all of them for a beautiful clash of senses in your mouth. Other sandwich pictured is their Tuesday, it's a daily special sandwich you can get on any day. The special pricing won't apply if you get it on another day obviously. The Tuesday was hearty and the cheese on top of it was seasoned well. The peanut butter brownie, very decadent! I don't even like brownies but I always try to snag this one whenever I'm here! Service here is always prompt and helpful. The ambiance does a great job at pulling on the community aspect you feel at your local corner store in NYC.

The service was fine. I didn't know what to eat so I ended up getting a sandwich. Then I found a…read morespider in it. Ahhhhhhh I think I ate it

This Jimmy's is always freaky fast! The $10 meal deal is the bomb. Keep up the good work!read more