Finding comfort food in Des Moines isn’t hard if you know where to look. Check out these 10 soul-filling restaurants that’ll warm you right up in the winter.
The cooler months call for snuggling under warm blankets and sipping hot cocoa, as well as putting together the cutest cold-weather outfits, including your favorite boots, scarves, and toboggans. But sometimes you want to warm up outside of the home, and it’s only natural. No one wants to feel suffocated in their home all the time (and that’s even truer with so many people working from home nowadays).
If you live in or near Des Moines, you’re in luck. This beautiful metropolis has myriad places where you can warm up and have a good time, from libraries to museums. Oh, and we have many restaurants serving scrumptious comfort food that will make you feel like you’re being hugged from the inside with each bite. What else could you possibly need in that case?
Local foodies have already named the best restaurants in Des Moines, but in the name of feeling as comforted as possible during winter and early spring, we’re honing in on comfort food specifically. With that established, let’s take a look at 10 highly rated Des Moines restaurants that are filling stomachs and souls alike.
1. Good Eatins
Address: 5418 Douglas Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Good Eatins gets its name earnestly. This Southern restaurant serves up some serious soul food six days a week, feeding the masses freshly fried chicken and catfish, slow-cooked greens, sinfully indulgent macaroni and cheese, and more. But if you want true comfort food, you have to go for the chicken and dumplings. Has a dish ever been as warming as chicken and dumplings? Don’t forget an order of sweet potato pie, strawberry cake, or peach cobbler before you leave, either.
On Google, Good Eatins has an impressive 4.6-star rating. Reviewers champion the food quality and flavor, as well as the friendly staff. “I believe they have the best collard greens I have ever had, anywhere. The catfish was also excellent, and the service was amazingly attentive,” one reviewer shared. Another called Good Eatins’ dishes “REAL soul food.”
2. The High Life Lounge
Address: 200 SW 2nd St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Where Good Eatins is slinging Southern classics, The High Life Lounge is cookin’ up Midwestern treasures that are sure to bring back memories. Its menu includes delicacies like Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies, Mom’s Pot Roast, Taco Salad, Pizza Burgers, and more, as well as fun treats like Poutine. It’s safe to say everyone will find something they love here.
And the reviews prove it. “Great comfort food menu, friendly atmosphere,” one reviewer wrote on Google, where The High Life Lounge has 4.6 stars, while others have harped in about loving the restaurant’s charming ‘70s-inspired decor. Another pro mentioned in many reviews is the lounge’s wide variety of beers. If you like trying new brews, this is the place to be. That’s certainly a fun way to warm up!
3. Angry Goldfish Pub & Eatery
Address: 2301 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
The Angry Goldfish Pub & Eatery is one of the highest-rated restaurants on this list, having earned a coveted 4.7 stars on Google based on thousands of reviews. The eatery’s website describes its grub as “elevated bar food,” and it’s sure to leave you satiated, warm, and cozy, whether you’ve had a drink or not. Here, you can order Chili Cheese Fries, Bruschetta Chicken Sandwiches, Cinnamon Rolls with Chili, Pork Medallions with a Whiskey Honey Glaze, and so much more.
This restaurant’s high rating is exemplified in the many reviews whose writers noted that they’ll soon return. “Great neighborhood bar vibe, fantastic food and great service. My son and I had the $10 burger and pint special. We loved the Asian PB &J burger,” one guest wrote, adding, “We’ll be back!” Curious about how cozy this restaurant will really make you feel? There’s only one way to verify it for yourself!
4. Bubba
Address: 200 10th St Suite 606, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Bubba promises downhome flavors in a downtown locale, and with its tagline (“Southern Comforts, Supper, & Spirits”) including the word “comforts,” you may just leave feeling like you ate at your grandma’s house. Each dish here is special, with classics like macaroni and cheese including pimento peppers and deviled eggs containing pecan-smoked bacon. Don’t even get us started on the white cheddar grits.
Reviewers agree that this spot is top-tier. “The fried chicken was by far the best I’ve ever had and the sides were top notch! The chicken pot pie was also amazing,” one wrote on Google, where Bubba has 4.5 stars. Other reviewers like the frog legs, gumbo, bloody Mary, and more.
5. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
Address: 665 Grand Ave Ste 100, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
By now, we’ve established that comfort food and Southern food go hand in hand, even outside of the South. Enter Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, another excellent restaurant sending out plate after plate of classic meals that will keep your stomach full and smile full. Tupelo is a seasoned eatery that uses fresh, high-quality ingredients in its “scratch-made” dishes, earning a lovely 4.1-star rating. Its menu includes iconic appetizers like Fried Green Tomatoes and Southern Fried Okra, sandwiches that come with biscuit gravy, chicken and waffles, sweet potato pancakes, and so much more.
Google reviewers are quick to note their recommendations for first-time visitors. “My husband and I went here for lunch and ordered the siracha honey chicken and waffles and the sweet tea chicken sandwich. They both were so good and had great flavor,” one shared in their review. A separate reviewer was surprised by the quality of one particular dish, writing, “I don’t know how you make fried green tomatoes that good and that consistently.” Color us intrigued!
6. Cooper’s on 5th
Address: 227 5th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Cooper’s on 5th is closed twice a week and has split shifts most other days, but don’t let those hours prevent you from giving its food and vibe a try. Cooper’s on 5th specializes in comfort food that will please your palate and stomach alike. Examples include the French Onion Filet, Cajun Meatloaf, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, Eggroll du Jour, and Crab, Artichoke & Spinach Dip. Is your mouth already watering like ours is? There’s a reason this restaurant has a 4.6-star rating from over 800 reviews.
Reviewers are quick to note that the food here is delicious. “The food was phenomenal!!! We had the pork nachos, Sonoma chicken sandwich, and Cajun catfish tacos. The quality of food was top notch,” one visitor shared. However, they’re also quick to note that reservations are encouraged because the restaurant is on the smaller side—and you’re going to want to guarantee your seat.
7. Mulberry Street Tavern
Address: 206 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday: 6:30 a.m.-12 a.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Mulberry Street Tavern is the resident restaurant at the Surety Hotel, and it’s garnered a 4.2-star Google rating over the years. This restaurant is warm and inviting, which is amplified by the dark wood tones throughout its dining room. While you enjoy the ambiance, you can nibble on filling meals like Scotch Eggs, Pappardelle Pasta with Oxtails, French Onion Soup, and more. These dishes are about as cozy as they come!
Don’t sleep on the appetizers here, either. “Ordered the cheese curds and they were like nothing I’ve had before. The coating was very light & flaky and [the] cheese was so good,” one guest shared in a review. Some reviewers go often, including consecutive days, because they love the food so much. “This place is great! The food is delicious. We went here 3 times 3 days in a row,” another reviewer noted. That’s our kind of foodie!
8. Now or Later Restaurant
Address: 3750 E University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
With 4.5 stars on Google and many warm dishes on the menu, Now or Later Restaurant is about as cozy as restaurants can come in the winter—and it knows it. In a January 2026 Facebook post, Now or Later Restaurant wrote, “It may be freezing outside, but we’re still here serving up hot meals to warm up your belly,” before adding that its “homemade Broccoli Cheese soup” was ready for the day. Yum! Other menu items here include Fried Chicken Livers, Manicotti, Chicken Cordon Blue sandwiches, and more.
Reviews of Now or Later Restaurant make it sound like you can’t go wrong here. “We had onion rings…very good, I had the cavitelli with Grazianos sausage, which I loved and my husband had a very good tenderloin,” one review reads. Meanwhile, others recommend the chicken Parmesan, Tuscan chicken, and the hot beef sandwich.
9. Drake Diner
Address: 1111 25th St, Des Moines, IA 50311
Hours: Monday-Tuesday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Drake Diner has been a comfort food hotspot since the ‘80s, and it continues to make guests feel like family decades later. As its name suggests, Drake Diner offers classic diner fare that’s always fresh, always hot, and always served with a smile. You can order everything from egg platters to bacon cheeseburgers and chicken Parmesan. And you can’t miss out on the Cake Shake, which features decadent chocolate cake blended with milk and vanilla ice cream. You may want to save the shake for the warmer months, though, if you’re looking to warm up!
Drake Diner’s Google review is quite impressive, persisting at 4.5 stars despite being open for so long. The secret to such longstanding success seems to be consistency. “One of the best diners I’ve eaten at in a long time,” one reviewer noted, while others noted that they’re repeat customers who never have bad experiences here.
10. Vibes Kitchen & Bar
Address: 1303 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
From Fried Pickles to Pork Belly Bao Buns and Crab Rangoons, all the appetizers you could ever need can be found comfortably at Vibes Kitchen & Bar. Of course, this restaurant goes beyond apps, serving Salmon Burgers, myriad wings and burgers, Poboys, Patty Melts—the list goes on. And if you’re looking for a fruity drink that will warm you right up, check out The Green Mermaid. This cocktail features Midori, Malibu rum, orange juice, and lemonade for a perfectly bright, citrusy pop.
Vibes Kitchen & Bar has 4.2 stars on Google, and reviewers rave about the staff and food alike. “We stopped at this bar randomly in passing and had the best time ever. I can honestly say it was one of the best nights of my life,” one reviewer shared, adding, “From the yummy apps, to the amazing tower drink, and the great staff, we just truly enjoyed ourselves and the cozy vibes.”
