The Latin King

Name: The Latin King
Address: 2200 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA, United States, 50317-2522
Telephone: (515) 266-4466
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.5

4.5 (252)

$30 and under

Italian

2200 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317-2522

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 5, 2025

7:30 PM

Booked 13 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Good for business meals

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.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(515) 266-4466
Website
http://www.latinkingdsm.com/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
2200 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317-2522
Neighborhood
Des Moines
Parking details
None

What 252 people are saying

The Latin King reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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

4.5Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Iowa
Neighborhood gem
Iowa
Good for special occasions
Des Moines
Best Value
Des Moines
Good for groups
Des Moines
Neighborhood gem
Des Moines
Great for outdoor dining
Des Moines
Romantic
Des Moines
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Latin King is a cherished local favorite, renowned for "excellent Italian dinners" and "amazing food." Guests consistently praise the "wonderful service," especially from standout staff like Molly. With its inviting atmosphere and generous portions, this Des Moines staple promises a "great experience" for both loyal patrons and newcomers alike.

252 Reviews

C
Craig
Iowa2 reviews
3.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Our poor waitress was being over sat with so many tables. It took a long time to get eaten bread, and our salad was delivered with our dinner.
The Latin KingResponded 6 days ago
Thank you for recognizing your server’s effort, she truly appreciates it. We’re sorry for the delays and seating issues you experienced. Your feedback is valued and will be addressed with our team to improve guest flow and service.
Is this helpful?
C
Chris VIP
Iowa41 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent Italian dinner, zesty red sauce with the onion rings is a must.
The Latin KingResponded 6 days ago
Thank you! We’re glad you enjoyed your Italian dinner, and the zesty red sauce with the onion rings is a favorite! Hope to see you again soon!
Is this helpful?
A
Angela VIP
Iowa22 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Molly provided great service throughout our meal. The food was wonderful and generous portions were served. A local favorite!
The Latin KingResponded on June 24, 2025
Thank you for the kind words! We're glad you enjoyed the food and Molly’s service. It's an honor to be a local favorite! Come back soon and enjoy another wonderful meal.
Is this helpful?
J
James VIP
San Diego55 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and excellent service from Molly. Looking forward to our next visit.
The Latin KingResponded on June 24, 2025
Thank you! We’re so happy you enjoyed the food and Molly’s service. We look forward to having you back soon!
Is this helpful?
M
Michael
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on June 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing service, great food, solid drinks. Couple cannolis to go how ya doin
Is this helpful?
M
Michelle
Iowa11 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 14, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
This restaurant has been around forever, but I had never eaten there. The food was delicious! We had steak deburgo and two pasta dishes. We had to wait awhile to get our food, but it was worth the wait. The server and the manager apologized before we even said anything, and they offered to discount our food. It wasn’t necessary, and we thought it was a nice gesture. We will definitely go back.
The Latin KingResponded on June 16, 2025
Thank you for giving us a try! We're so glad you enjoyed the food and appreciated the service. We’re grateful for your understanding and look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Is this helpful?
A
Andrew
Idaho5 reviews
2.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
Service was poor. Food was decent, nothing special, but not bad. I wouldn’t return.
The Latin KingResponded on June 16, 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear the service didn’t meet your expectations and will use your comments to help improve the experience.
Is this helpful?
C
Carole VIP
Denver / Colorado3 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 25, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
It just isn’t what it used to be. I’m sad about it, but also sort of expected it to be different and less quality.
The Latin KingResponded on May 30, 2025
Thank you for your honest feedback. We’re sorry to hear we didn’t meet your expectations and truly appreciate you sharing your thoughts. We're always working to improve and hope to welcome you back again.
Is this helpful?
M
Michelle
Las Vegas2 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was our anniversary. We had a great meal , great food and drinks. Service was great ! We always enjoy going to the Latin King. It’s a staple in Des. Moines !
The Latin KingResponded on May 27, 2025
Thank you for celebrating your anniversary with us! We're honored to be part of your special day and truly appreciate your kind words. See you again soon for another wonderful dining experience!
Is this helpful?
A
Aimee
Iowa1 review
4.0
Dined on May 20, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Could not hear the live music that they moved inside because of the rain.
The Latin KingResponded on May 27, 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry the rain impacted your experience—we'll look into ways to improve sound indoors for future performances.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Latin King is rated 4.5 stars by 252 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 5, 2025

7:30 PM

Booked 13 times today

2200 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317-2522

Dining areas

Additional information

Neighborhood
Des Moines
Hours of operation
Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None

Website
http://www.latinkingdsm.com/
Phone number
(515) 266-4466

The Latin King

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 252 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Latin King restaurant rated?

Is The Latin King currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information