HoQ

Name: HoQ
Address: 303 E 5th Street, Des Moines, IA, United States, 50309
Telephone: (515) 244-1213
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.5

4.5

293 Reviews

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Top Tags:

Welcome to Hoq Restaurant! Experience delicious, sustainable farm-to-table dining in the historic East Village of Des Moines.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 25, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 2 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Farm-to-table, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(515) 244-1213
Website
http://hoqtable.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Suman Hoque
Private party facilities
We have one private dining room. It seats up to 35 people and holds up to 60 people for a reception. Please visit hoqtable.com for more information on private events and booking at HoQ.

Location
303 E 5th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Neighborhood
Downtown Des Moines
Cross street
E 5th and Walnut
Parking details
Street Parking as well as a parking garage directly behind our building.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

11-Year Anniversary Celebration
$50.00 per person
Nov 14 - Nov 18, 2023
We opened our doors 11 years ago! Come celebrate with us on November 14-18 with a special four-course menu crafted by Chef Suman for $50 per person, four optional wine pairings for $32 per person and special seasonal cocktails also available. The four-course anniversary menu will be the only available menu on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Popular dishes

Chef Soup**$11.00
Changes seasonally
Chicken & Rice Soup$11.00
Free-range chicken, rice, seasonal vegetables
Hummus & Naan**$7.00
Local garbanzo bean hummus, house naan bread
Green Salad**$13.00
Local salad greens, grilled vegetables, shaved seasonal vegetables, French lentil falafel, local cheddar, house vinaigrette

Entrees

Grass-Fed Beef Burger*$19.00
Ebersole Cattle Co. beef, local greens, local tomato jam, local sautéed onion, house pickles, organic house-made brioche bun; side salad
Salmon on Sweet Bun$17.00
Wild Alaskan salmon patty, rosemary aioli, local cabbage, organic house-made sweet bun; side salad
Free-Range Chicken Burrito$17.00
Locally raised chicken, local black beans, basmati rice, house hot sauce, yogurt crema, local cheddar, house-made flour tortilla; side salad
Momtaz Vegan Bowl$17.00
Fried rice and lentils, grilled seasonal vegetables, mom's spiced potatoes and chickpeas
Tandoori Tofu & Falafel Bowl$18.00
Local Tandoori-spiced tofu, lentil falafel, basmati rice, seasonal vegetables, lemon
Grilled Cheese & Soup$16.00
Local vegetables, Milton Creamery white cheddar, house-made brioche bread; with a bowl of chef soup
Mediterranean Bowl$17.00
French lentil falafel, roasted seasonal vegetables, Israeli couscous, olives, local greens, parsley, Milton Creamery quark cheese, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil
Chef Suman's Bowl$18.00
Local greens, grilled seasonal vegetables, free-range poached egg, shaved local vegetables, house hummus, house-made lamb sausage, lemon juice, herb oil
- Vegetarian$13.00
Chef Santiago's Feature$19.00
Rotating daily special

What 293 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.4Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Iowa
Innovative
Iowa
Healthy
Des Moines
Good for business meals
Des Moines
Innovative
Des Moines
Healthy
Des Moines
Neighborhood gem

293 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Des Moines
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food4service4ambience4
It was quite decent. Food was good ambiance was pleasant.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Seriously incredible. Their chef does an amazing job of elevating locally sourced food. From tasting bites to end of the meal drinks we were very impressed. The staff create a gentle dinning experience, relaxing and engaging.
Is this helpful?
K
Kris
Des Moines
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
Our group had salmon, lamb and steak. All were pleased with their meals and portions. The burnt carrot appetizer was nice. The wait staff was very good - prompt, fun and helpful.
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KY
KY2023
Des Moines
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very good! Everything tasted excellent and the portions were plentiful.
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LR
LoriR
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on August 20, 2023
overall1food1service3ambience2
So disappointing. We went for restaurant week 2023. I had the friend green tomato (first course), then Tempura battered gulf shrimp with Tomato Risotto.my husband had the Bangladeshi Chicken (first course) braised local sirloin and summer vegetables(main). My meal: friend green tomato was luke warm, the cheese ice cold, so the combo just did not work together, cheese not spreadable, not a lot of flavor. The shrimp were not tempura, they were blackened, and you had 3 medium size shrimp, the seasoning overwhelmed the shrimp. The risotto was under cooked, not el dente, just under cooked. Husband: meat was tough and not flavorful. He thought the vegetables were tasty. Meat portion was maybe 3-4 oz. Shared dessert- house made churros with cinnamon ice cream. The center of churros were still doughy, ice cream was vanilla. I have had better at a food truck. Service was good. We will not be back. You would think during restaurant week they would want to shine and hope for repeat clients. Nope. Underwhelmed.
HoQResponded on August 23, 2023
Lori - Thank you for taking the time to review. We apologize you did not enjoy your meal for Restaurant Week. Our menu does change often, and the menu you received Sat night reflected the changes with the shrimp. We hope our guests will bring any issues with food or service up with management directly, and we wish you would have! We would prefer to fix or make things right before you leave the restaurant. Please reach out to me directly with any further concerns - HoQ Management, 515-244-1213
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H
Hollie
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We are new to the DSM area and decided to visit HoQ for a quiet Tuesday night dinner for my wife's birthday. We had a really nice experience. Understandably for early on a weeknight, the restaurant was pretty empty. The staff greeted us, led us to a window seat, and we enjoyed prompt and friendly service the entire time. The food was delightful. We were excited to try out a farm-to-table place in support of local farmers and produce and products from central Iowa. We enjoyed the masa empanadas and burnt carrots for our starters, and for our main dishes ordered the lamb shank and braised short rib entrees. We finished off the dinner with the seasonal fruit crisp (rhubarb). Everything was cooked excellently and was very tasty. We plan to visit again in the future.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta Metro
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Nice little spot we found in Des Moines. Very pleasant experience.
Is this helpful?
J
Judy
Des Moines
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience5
It’s a bit expensive for simple food but it is quiet. My meal was around 50 for a salad , appetizer, and one glass of wine
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SZ
StevenZ
Atlanta Metro
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on July 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
HoQ is our favorite restaurant in Des Moines. Excellent food, wine selection and service
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TH
THR1959
St. Louis
39 reviews
vip
4.0
39 reviews
Dined on July 6, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
We were passing through town looking for a nice evening out. HoQ was a good choice! We were there on a down night so while the restaurant was quiet, I can't say how loud it would be if it was packed. Very friendly service, nice selection of wines & drinks. Solid menu and food prep was excellent. Solid choice for a nice evening out!
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CB
ChristianB
New York Area
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 1, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience4
I have been to HoQ 3 times now. The first 2 times I had a great dining experience from the friendliness of the staff to the knowledgeable servers and great farm-to-table cuisine. This time, however, I found the servers to be off their game. They seemed aloof, annoyed, and just not happy to be there. Everyone has an off day, so I was willing to let that slide. However, we also felt rushed (a 4-course meal in 45 minutes), had very lackluster pours of wine, and the food was not the quality I was used to. The short rib was not very tender and the chocolate dessert was dry and brittle. As I've said, the other 2 times I went everything was great so I am hoping this was just an off night.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Des Moines
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 22, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Every part of our meal was incredible. Beautiful presentation, absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend!
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L
Lynette
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is a hidden gem, anise village! The food was amazing and the service was incredible. Definitely will be going back! Love that say our table to farm, and most everything is from Iowa Highly recommend this place.
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E
Eric
Des Moines
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Jeff was our waiter, and he was extremely knowledgeable of each dish and drink served down to the type of glass the drink was served in. The meals, from starter to dessert was exactly how Jeff described them. Our party of 4 tried almost half the menu and everything brought to our table changed our minds on dining in the east village. We all have eaten at other amazing local, non chain restaurants, but HoQ has officially earned a #1 place marker for all of us. Additionally, my wife and I will be turning HoQ into our weekly date night location not just because of the extraordinary service and food, but if the caring atmosphere that each meal had such a stellar standard placed on them. Honestly, downtown Des Moines had so much construction and all of the Pride events, that almost caused us to cancel our reservation and just avoid down town, but the 3 block walk was perfect and we’ll deserved because who couldn’t use a few more steps in their day. It’s not the restaurant’s fault for the city’s construction and if I have to walk a mile next time, I will for HoQ. It was totally worth every minute and every penny.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Des Moines
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
We had reservations for 4 and they were ready when we arrived. Staff very knowledgeable of menu and offering suggestions. Limited menu, but so worth the experience, presentation and deliciousness. Great food - we’ll be back.
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PM
PaulM
San Francisco
11 reviews
vip
2.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall2food1service3ambience4
Salad with fresh greens, but way over dressed. Lettuce stuck together like soaked newspapers. Pork with spatzel sounded good but pork cutlets were the thickness of soda crackers---there was no discernable meat and they were so tough could barely cut. Spatzel was overpowered by some "green" additive. Nice venue but they need someone in the kitchen who knows food.
HoQResponded on June 2, 2023
Thank you for your visit and for taking the time to leave a review. We sincerely apologize for your experience, which is not up to our standards. We take pride in our fresh, local ingredients and friendly service, and we would have loved to have you leave happy. Please don't hesitate to reach out directly to me with any further questions or concerns regarding your experience with us. - HoQ Management, 515-244-1213
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LE
LisaE
Caribbean
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious and very accomodating to vegan and vegetarians! Nice relaxed atmosphere, we will be back!
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HB
HeidiB
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience2
The overall experience was fine but there were a couple of disappointments. They had extra tables set up in a backroom and our table was looking into an open storage area and that was the only view. The meal itself was fairly good for most of us - although the eggs benedict that one person ordered was completely overcooked. The service was very slow but we understood as it was Mother's Day. But my father-in-law had been looking forward to the creme brulee dessert all week and we ordered it, and then were told they didn't have anymore. Overall we had a fairly nice brunch and would probably try it again on a less busy day.
HoQResponded on May 16, 2023
Thank you so much for joining us for our Mother's Day brunch, it really is one of our busiest days at HoQ, and we appreciate your patience. We apologize for the issues you experienced with your table and meal. We hope you'll give us another try sometime soon. Thank you so very much for your support - HoQ Management
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s
sd69
Minneapolis
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely Mother's Day brunch & appreciated the restaurant & waitress making sure my daughter with food allergies was well taken care of
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ST
SusanTL
Houston
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Visiting from out of town and found this fabulous establishment on Open Table. Food was tasty and fresh. The menu was a welcome change from the ordinary. Beautiful presentation, very reasonable prices (would pay twice these prices in Houston for this meal) and excellent service. The burnt carrots are a must-get appetizer. Can’t wait to return.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great! No we meant to make the reservation at your downtown location. For some reason I thought you had an upstairs. Thank you
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AS
AnnieS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. Lovely place. Highly recommend!
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SB
SharonB
Lancashire
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food, ambiance and wine. Lovely dinner.
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KD
KarenD
Des Moines
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding food. Staff were professional. I love HoQ.
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LD
LoganD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Phenomenal experience and the food was fantastic!
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S
Stanley
Washington DC
21 reviews
vip
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Hoq has an interesting menu, high quality food, good service from servers who know the menu, good ambience, ok prices, and low noise level. You don't find this combination very often. It's a top choice in Des Moines.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
10 reviews
vip
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
Food is on point! Creative and unique flavors, but not too far outside the box. Presentation is fantastic! This place is on my top 5 best foodie food in DSM
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JD
JeanneD
Kansas City
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Nice dinner celebrating a friend’s birthday. Fresh food, delightful service. Cool ambiance.
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GS
GregS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Farm fresh and delicious! It was difficult to choose as the menu had so many interesting options. Our server’s recommendations were perfect. We are looking forward to going back soon!
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T
Thomas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Many great options to select from, including vegetarian options. You can tell they start with fresh ingredients.
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JA
JAMESM
Chicago
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
This restaurant's food is mainly Mediterranean, however with that being said, it seemed overpriced. The grass-fed steak was very tasteless, but the side of sweet potatoes and kale was delicious. My friend's salmon dish was very good. I do like how they bring you a little appetizer to starting the meal. The wine selection is good. However, I still think it's overpriced.
HoQResponded on April 28, 2023
Thank you for your review and for giving us a try! We use high-quality, majority organic, wild-caught and grass-fed ingredients, sourced directly from the farmer whenever possible, which all contributes to our price point. We're so happy you came in and took the time to leave a review. We hope to serve you again soon. - HoQ Team
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Des Moines
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service was fantastic and the food was to die for!!
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JP
JulieP
Des Moines
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We came back to Hoq to treat my nephew who had had a stressful week at college. We all love elegant food in a relaxing atmosphere and Hoq was all we'd hoped. We left satiated, relaxed and making plans to return. Thank you!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Coastal Georgia
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on March 31, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Great food excellent service ! Enjoyed our meals.
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RJ
RJD007
Chicago
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Both the food and the service were top rate. The ambience is very nice and the cocktails were excellent. Most surprising was that the prices were very moderate, given the high quality of the food. We will be back again soon!
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MB
MikeB
Des Moines
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Excellent flavors and creative dishes. Good wine selection.
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WS
WilliamS
Des Moines
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on March 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It has been great eating at Hoq. Love knowing sources of the food. Staff is very efficient and knowledgable of the meals.
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JK
JamesK
Omaha
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent fine dining. Our favorite in Des Moines. A little on the pricier side but well worth it. We had the lamb shanks, which were amazing, and butternut squash soup for starters. Out of this world. Our 3rd visit, and we will definitely be back!
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JP
JulieP
Des Moines
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our family had never been to HoQ and reserved a table on a whim to celebrate birthdays. We were overwhelmed by how fantastic everything was! The drinks were phenomenal, food fantastic (best lamb and salmon we had ever had) and service exceptional. We felt very pampered. They even brought a birthday treat at the end. We would highly recommend and we will be back!
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KN
KyleN
Des Moines
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 17, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
We had a reservation and were seated promptly. Service was very pleasant and attentive. Lamb Shank and Duck Confit for dinner and burnt carrots for an appetizer. The dinner was cooked very well and was great comfort food!
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

HoQ offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (515) 244-1213.

HoQ is rated 4.5 stars by 293 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 25, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 2 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

303 E 5th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309

Additional information

Cross street
E 5th and Walnut
Neighborhood
Downtown Des Moines
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Farm-to-table, Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking as well as a parking garage directly behind our building.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Suman Hoque
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://hoqtable.com/
Phone number
(515) 244-1213
Private party facilities
We have one private dining room. It seats up to 35 people and holds up to 60 people for a reception. Please visit hoqtable.com for more information on private events and booking at HoQ.

HoQ

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

11-Year Anniversary Celebration

Lamb Shank

Salmon Tartare

Green Salad

Small Plates

Chef Soup**$11.00

Chicken & Rice Soup$11.00

Hummus & Naan**$7.00

Green Salad**$13.00

Entrees

Grass-Fed Beef Burger*$19.00

Salmon on Sweet Bun$17.00

Free-Range Chicken Burrito$17.00

Momtaz Vegan Bowl$17.00

Tandoori Tofu & Falafel Bowl$18.00

Grilled Cheese & Soup$16.00

Mediterranean Bowl$17.00

Chef Suman's Bowl$18.00

Chef Santiago's Feature$19.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does HoQ offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is HoQ restaurant rated?

Is HoQ currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information