There’s no need to save your favorite meals for nights and weekends when some of Des Moines’ best restaurants offer incredible lunch specials! On those days that packing a lunch is too much to ask or you need a casual lunch hour meeting spot, check out these suggestions.
Written by Cheltzie Miller-Bailey
Edited by Shelby Sly
BEST FOR A QUICK GRAB & GO
When you only have a few minutes to snag some food and make it back to your desk, we recommend one of these options. Bonus: you can order ahead to save some extra time!
South Union Bread Cafe
- 1007 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Monday – Friday, 11 am-2 pm
This Des Moines staple has been serving up some of the metro’s best soups, salads, and sandwiches for more than 25 years. We recommend anything on their infamous, made-in-house bread; once you try it you’ll understand why! Pro tip: get there early, as lines are regularly pretty long.
Check out their menu & order online
Dough Co. Pizza
- 2330 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA or 2405 SW Birch Drive, Suite 100 Ankeny, IA
- Monday – Friday, 11 am-3 pm
One of Des Moines’ pizza favorites. Aside from also offering GF and vegan options, their ‘za is just plain good. Stop by this Drake neightborhood restaurant on a weekday, when you can snag a two-topping slice, breadstick or salad, and a drink for only $8!
Place an order from the Drake location
Cheese Bar
- 2925 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
- Open at 11 am
Call us kids at heart, but there are few things better than the gooey cheese pull on a perfect grilled cheese, which is why we’re grateful for the genius that is Cheese Bar. Swing by their cozy spot on Ingersoll during the week for that grilled cheese nostalgia or their cast-iron mac & cheese. They also have Bubbles & Bites Tuesday-Friday, 2pm-5pm.
Explore the options & order online
Hansen’s Manhattan Deli
- 3705 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
- Monday – Saturday, 10 am-3 pm
Lines may be long but the sandwiches are worth it! We can count on Hansen’s Manhattan Deli to be serving up the same awesome sandwiches that have come out of this 40-year Ingersoll mainstay. Between a Friday special and multiple vegetarian options, this classic is our go-to sandwich spot in town!
Peruse the menu + weekday deals
Gateway Market & Cafe
- 2002 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
- 8 am-9 pm every day
You might know of Gateway for its grocery store or catering offerings, but their cafe also serves as a great grab and go lunch spot. Whether it’s soups, salads, sandwiches, or full entrees, Gateway has options to fulfill any lunchtime craving. You can place a carryout order or use DoorDash! We will see you there.
Explore the options & order online
Gursha Ethiopian Grill
- 2316 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
- Tuesday – Thursday, 11 am-7 pm; Friday – Saturday, 11 am-8 pm; and Sundays 12 pm-6 pm
Next time you are in Dogtown, be sure to stop by and enjoy this authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Whether you eat meat or are a vegetarian, there is something for everyone on the menu. Their homemade injera takes me right back to Addis Ababa and their veggie sambusa (or five) is a must-have!
Explore the options and order online
BEST LUNCH DEALS
Some of the metro’s best restaurants serve up the same dishes for cheaper prices throughout the week. When you want to save some money but don’t want to limit the flavor, these are great options! You’re welcome in advance. 🙂
Lua Brewing
- 1525 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Monday – Friday, 11 am-3 pm
This Sherman Hill spot has a food menu as impressive as their brews! They focus on fresh ingredients and dietary friendly options (GF, Vegan, and DF folks, check them out!), making them a standout option for a lunchtime bite suitable for all needs. If you visit during the week, you can snag one of their main sandwiches with two sides for only $15!
Lucca
- 420 E Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Tuesday – Friday, 11 am-2 pm
We love Lucca for a local date night spot, but if you haven’t been able to talk yourself into an evening splurge at this East Village restaurant, we recommend treating yourself to one of their mid-day lunch options, all between $11-16. They offer everything from salads, to sandwiches, to their unbelievable pasta dishes. Trust us on this one and add it to your schedule pronto!
Thai Flavors
- 2301 Ingersoll Avenue – Suite 500, Des Moines, IA 50312 OR 1254 E 14th Street Des Moines, IA 50316
- Lunch Hours: Monday – Friday, 11 am-2 pm
With two locations in Des Moines, there’s literally no excuse to not stop by one of our best Asian cuisine options. They easily offer the most extensive lunch menu on our list, with a variety of options available from curry to rice dishes and even Chinese cuisine. We’ll see you there.
Take a look at their full lunch menu
BEST FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH
Looking for a place to take your team or to impress a client? We’ve got you covered with some options that are great for a dressed up (or dressed down!) sit-down lunch.
Allora Cafe
- 1459 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Lunch Hours: Monday – Friday, 11 am-1:30 pm
Located in the Krause Gateway Center, right across from the Sculpture Park, this cool cafe offers coffee, lunch, and a great place to meet with colleagues or clients. The menus change seasonally, which makes a great excuse to add this to your quarterly rotation.
Flora Café
- 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am-2 pm and Sunday brunch 10 am-2 pm
Located inside the Des Moines Botanical Gardens, you can impress your clients with this brand new restaurant from Dr. Cynthia Hoque and Chef Suman, owners of HoQ in The East Village. Although we highly recommend spending time in the gardens when you have time, admission is not required when dining in the cafe or on their patio. Flora features the sustainable farm-to-table vibe of their original restaurant!
Fresko
- 909 Locust Street – Suite 103, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Lunch Hours: Monday – Friday, 11 am-5 pm
This perfect-for-any-occasion spot is always one of our top recommendations! We love that they use locally sourced ingredients and offer an array of options from more casual wings and flatbreads to elevated seafood and more! They offer daily specials on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays plus a weekly Happy Hour from 3-6pm, which arguably offers even better deals.
Check our their menu and plan your next visit
- 220 SW 9th Street, Suite 120, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am-2 pm
We love Table 128 during lunch for an upscale feel to a meeting (or a date -whatever floats your midday boat.) Their lunch options are lighter fares and feature gluten-free, vegetarian, and dairy-free options. With a central location off MLK Pkwy and a seasonally changing menu, they recommend making a reservation even for lunch. They also have a Happy Hour every day 4-6pm. Cheers!
Out West
If you find yourself closer to West Des Moines or Waukee, here are two options along University to try for lunch.
Fresh Mediterranean Express
- 15 NE Carefree Lane, Waukee, IA 50263
- Tuesday – Saturday, 11am-8pm
If you want something fresh and on the healthier side, Fresh Med Express does a great job landing it a spot on one of our favorite locally owned lunch options in the western suburbs. Whether you go with kabobs, gyros, or salad bowls, the options are customizable and delicious. Locally owned and operated by husband and wife team: Hassan Atarmal & Jeni Betts. GF and DF menu items available as well.
Check our their menu and order online
Hawaiian Bros
- 1005 SE Alice’s Road, Waukee, IA 50263
- Sunday – Thursday, 11 am-10 pm and Friday – Saturday, 11 am-11 pm
Hawaiian Bros is known for their Lunch Plate so this new to Waukee lunch spot is a no-brainer. A lunch plate is inspired by having a hardy meal consisting of dinner leftovers. These include one scoop of macaroni salad, two scoops of rice, and a meat/veggie of your choosing. Every item on their menu is nut-free and they have plenty of gluten-free options as well. We’ll see you there!
Check out the menu to plan your visit
Need to stick within walking distance of the skywalk?
We’ve got a guide for that too! Our skywalk lunch guide lists everything you can find – new and old – just a short walk away from the office. Check out these skywalk eats whether you want to stay within it, can venture just outside, or want to go on a midday rich mom walk. Check out the suggestions and let us know if you have more.
