Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Des Moines

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

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

Prairie Canary Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (324)

$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

GabrielVIP

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

We loved this resto. Great creative fresh and delicious. Knowledgeable warm and patient wait staff.

Wasabi - WDM

4.6

4.6 (11)

$30 and under

Sushi

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

We are committed to offering the freshest sushi, seafood, and Asian dishes in the greater Des Moines region. Join us at Wasabi West Des Moines to savor a delightful mix of flavors paired with exceptional service.

Top review

KATHY & MIKEVIP

Dined on Mar 31, 2025

We’re excited to have Wasabi in West Des Moines. Our food was great and the service was top notch!

Wasabi - Waukee

5.0

5 (63)

$30 and under

Sushi

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Wasabi is located at 9500 University Avenue in West Des Moines. Chefs at Wasabi serve the highest quality New York style sushi, Japanese fusion dishes. Unique custom cocktails and more.

Top review

Kimberly

Dined on Apr 13, 2025

Brussel sprouts and orange chicken were delicious!

The Latin King

4.6

4.6 (234)

$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

Janelle

Dined 2 days ago

Great experience food service value were great! Only complaint music by our table was very loud and made it hard to converse.

Eatery A

4.8

4.8 (557)

$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

MarikaVIP

Dined on Apr 23, 2025

The large selection of vegetarian options is so great. Service might have been considered slow, but allowed for uninterrupted conversation.

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4.4

4.4 (67)

$30 and under

Sushi

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Wasabi serves the highest quality sushi and Asian dishes in the Des Moines area.
Hours of Operation:
Monday thru Thursday 11:00am to 9:30pm.
Friday and Saturday 11:00am to 10:30pm.
Sunday 11:00am to 9:00pm.
Social Hour Monday thru Friday 3pm - 6pm.

Top review

Lori

Dined on Mar 23, 2025

Awesome, friendly attentive server! Great food and atmosphere!

Destination Grille

4.8

4.8 (413)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Grimes

About the restaurant

Welcome to Destination Grille. A contemporary, upscale yet casual restaurant that reminds us of travels and destinations around the globe. We are an experience like non-other!

Please join us Monday through Saturday from 11am-9pm and Sundays 11am-8pm.

Don't forget to join us for a night cap Fridays and Saturdays, our bars remain open until 11pm on both levels!

We have a lot of options with a fabulous ambience on each level, but it can be overwhelming your first time, please call if you have any questions!

Top review

TomVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Enthusiastic staff, great food and atmosphere. Recommended local restaurant in Grimes.

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Popular dish

STUFFED MUSHROOM

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Des Moines

4.5

4.5 (225)

$30 and under

Sushi

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

Dined on Apr 16, 2025

Best Sushi Place in town! Everything is so fresh and delicious! The service is outstanding!

801 Chophouse – Des Moines

4.9

4.9 (3225)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Downtown Des Moines

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, enjoy beautiful views and excellent customer service at 801 Chophouse. We value our guests and want to give you the best dining experience possible. Our restaurant has only prime USDA steaks, paired with innovative side dishes and an award-winning wine selection from around the world to create an upscale dining experience you won't find anywhere else in Iowa. 801 Chophouse is the premier steakhouse in Des Moines and even offers private dining room options. Book a reservation online or via phone today.

Top review

Jonna

Dined 1 day ago

We went for my husband’s birthday dinner before going to a show at the Civic Center and it was absolutely amazing! The staff and server we phenomenal and the food ever more!! We have found a new special occasion dinner location! Thank you for everything!

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Popular dish

Grand Marnier Souffle

Popular dish

Roast Prime Rib

Popular dish

Sliced Prime Rib au jus

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