Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Des Moines

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best value restaurants in Des Moines? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cooper's On 5th

4.9

4.9 (137)

$30 and under

American

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Cooper’s on 5th is a great place for Lunch & Dinner. We have had the pleasure of being West Des Moines’ first Craft Cocktail Bar. Join us for our amazing food menu & award-winning cocktail program. Classic & Reimagined Americana comfort food paired with one of Des Moines’ original & highly awarded craft cocktail programs. Great beer, wine, and martinis.

Top review

Catherine

Dined 3 days ago

If you're seeking a warm ambience and friendly servers, check out this wonderful restaurant in Valley Junction - West Des Moines!

Prairie Canary Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (317)

$30 and under

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Prairie Canary Restaurant & Bar serves comfort food with local flair in a historic building on Main Street in Grinnell, Iowa. Prairie Canary was opened in September 2012 and is currently owned by Chef, Paul Durr. Located in the city of Grinnell, also known as “The Jewel of the Prairie” and home to Grinnell College, Prairie Canary provides a gathering place where guests can enjoy Midwestern flavors in an inviting, understated atmosphere that speaks to the colors and textures of the Iowa prairie.
Prairie Canary Restaurant & Bar is all about being local. From the name of the restaurant to the dishes on which the food is served, effort was taken to showcase local talent and area producers. Enjoy your meal on hand-thrown plates and bowls. Sit at hand-made hickory tables. Savor farm-fresh produce grown just miles away. Sip on an Iowa wine or pint of beer. We look forward to seeing you!

Top review

Matt

Dined on 10 Nov 2024

Great food and attentive waitstaff. Overall fun evening.

Discover more

Popular dish

Iowa Chop

The Latin King

4.7

4.7 (209)

$30 and under

Italian

Des Moines

About the restaurant

The Latin King restaurant was founded in 1947 by Rose and Jim Pigneri, who immigrated from Terravecchia, Italy to Des Moines. Rose and Jim wanted to bring authentic Italian fare to Des Moines and began this undertaking in earnest upon selling their home to finance the Latin King restaurant lease, which had previously operated as the Cinderella Sandwich Shop (circa 1930) and the Chanticleer Restaurant (circa 1937). Pigneri named the Latin King after New York City’s Latin Quarter and operated the Latin King for 35 years, notably taking only 10 days of vacation time during his tenure. Pigneri sold the Latin King to his third cousin Bob Tursi in 1983.

Top review

Callen

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent food prepared perfectly. Professional servers. We were celebrating my son’s graduation from college and couldn’t have picked a better place. Highly recommend.

Fresko

4.8

4.8 (1187)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Des Moines

About the restaurant

“Fresko” meaning “fresh” inspires our creation of seasonal menus made from locally sourced ingredients. Fresko makes natural food from the bounty of Iowa farms whenever possible. The culinary team prepares product from start to finish applying natural time honored techniques with care at every step. This enriches the flavorful and nutritious product we serve and benefits our community. Fresko believes we are what we eat and eating well means living well.

Fresko features a splendid assortment of original cocktails with a deep spirits menu and a beer program with sixteen beers on tap in addition to bottles and cans. Fresko's wine menu focuses on quality selections at a great value to our guests.

Top review

HalVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Great place. Excellent menu and well prepared. Reservations handled well.

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (36)

$30 and under

American

Johnston

About the restaurant

Welcome to ROOTS 95 Craft Kitchen and bar! Mora is taking the "Craft" part of the name very seriously. As it suggests, craft food emphasizes handcrafted, chef-driven food (versus cookie-cutter menus you see everywhere), made from fresh, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, often with globally inspired flavors.

In addition to the entrees, you will find globally inspired pastas, handhelds, small plates & flatbreads.

Top review

Jill

Dined on 13 Dec 2024

We had a wonderful experience with great service, and fabulous food and drinks!

Discover more

Experience

Happy Hour

Experience

Ladies' Night every Thursday

Experience

Wine Down Wednesday

Eatery A

4.8

4.8 (541)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Eatery A is Des Moines's destination for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Perfecting simple dishes that focus on local, quality ingredients, we strive to offer our guests exotic flavor profiles that let the ingredients take center stage.

Top review

Julie

Dined on 9 Dec 2024

With a reservation we got seated immediately. Pasta and pizza arrived in a timely manner. Was delicious and good size portions. Highly recommend.

Discover more

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Clive, IA

4.7

4.7 (1196)

$30 and under

American

Clive

About the restaurant

Experience the perfect fusion of award-winning wines, Napa-style tasting rooms, and modern casual dining at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine influenced by international flavors from our scratch kitchen. Each dish is expertly paired with our selection of wines for the best food and wine match. Whether you explore the tasting room for a pre- or post-dinner adventure or join the world's largest wine club, we believe in the power of food and wine to create lasting connections. Dining reservations are highly recommended, but walk-in guests are always welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis. Gluten-free and vegetarian dishes are available.

Top review

Jeff

Dined today

Great food, great service, loud in the restaurant

Discover more

Popular dish

House-Made Truffles

Popular dish

Cooper's Hawk Chocolate Cake

Experience

Brunch & Bubbles | Saturdays & Sundays 10am – 2pm

The Stuffed Olive - Des Moines

4.7

4.7 (777)

$30 and under

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

The Stuffed Olive is about the entire “Martini & Tapas Experience.” From your favorite classics to new and exciting blends you’ve never seen before, you’re sure to find a cocktail to love on our vast martini menu. Add a warm, comfortable atmosphere, great wines, beers and top-shelf spirits, and The Stuffed Olive will become your favorite place to start, end or spend your entire evening. Our tapas menu offers appetizer-sized portions of globally influenced entrees, for a sampling and sharing dining experience. Pair tasty tapas with your favorite martini for happy hour, dinner or a late-night snack. We welcome you to sit back, relax, enjoy great food, good conversation and your favorite martini. Welcome to the Stuffed Olive!

Top review

KirkVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always good food and good service. A great place!

Discover more

AJ's Steakhouse at Prairie Meadows Casino

4.6

4.6 (1098)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Des Moines

About the restaurant

AJ’s Steakhouse proudly serves renowned Iowa steaks and chops, seafood and poultry in a classy, yet comfortably casual, atmosphere. Located inside Iowa's premier gaming and entertainment venue, AJ's Steakhouse at Prairie Meadows invites you to enjoy some of the best American cuisine you'll find anywhere in central Iowa. We promise that our outstanding menu and attentive service will leave you truly satisfied.

Join us soon for an unforgettable dining experience you won’t find anywhere else. Check out our full menu online. Then stop in and indulge yourself with all that our award-winning chefs can prepare for you.

Book your next big event at the AJ’s Steakhouse Party Room. A comfortable room, elegant table setting, customized menu with world-class wines, and dedicated staff providing gracious service.

Top review

Jon

Dined on 13 Dec 2024

My first time taking my wife here for her birthday. She had the De Burgo and enjoyed it very much. If you want to have a quiet dinner together, this is a great place with excellent food. I would definitely recommend.

Discover more

4.8

4.8 (407)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Alba offers a creative culinary twist on traditional American cuisine. Dishes are prepared using fresh seasonal ingredients, the finest cuts of meat, and the freshest fruits, vegetables and herbs. Our menu changes often, we invited you to join us to discover a new favorite.

Top review

BillVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great service, incredible food. All the dishes were excellent. The Beef Stroganoff was the hit of the night!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Des Moines

Explore more Diners' Choice lists