The 5 best dishes we ate in Des Moines in June, from Portobello fries to bacon jam burgers

Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
·4 min read
Paris Banh Mi has a sizzling beef special with everything from a fried egg and pate to beef and sausage.
Paris Banh Mi has a sizzling beef special with everything from a fried egg and pate to beef and sausage.

Des Moines has its share of excellent food available from fancy dishes at upscale restaurants to comfort food favorites and everything in between. While our guide to the essential restaurants can set you in the right direction, sometimes you just need to rediscover an old favorite restaurant, or try something new. Here, find out about the best dishes we ate in June.

Try a Vietnamese spin on breakfast

Sizzling beef special, $14.99: I love breakfast so I can make it a meal anytime. Think of this dish as a way to taste a variety of proteins served Vietnamese style, from nobs of beef and a sausage link to a small meatball and a fried egg. The dish comes with a baguette that's nice to dip in the sauce on the plate.

Get it: Paris Banh Mi opened earlier this year in Windsor Heights with a combination of sandwiches on baguettes, Korean corn dogs (try the version with crispy ramen on the outside for $5.75) and milk teas and slushies. Find it at 6601 University Ave. in Windsor Heights. Give it a try Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This take on the French dip uses prime rib

I'm a sucker for French dip sandwiches, so this prime rib sandwich was right up my alley.
I'm a sucker for French dip sandwiches, so this prime rib sandwich was right up my alley.

Prime rib sandwich, $15: If there's a French dip on the menu, I find it difficult not to order it. This prime rib sandwich satisfied that craving with an au jus on the side for dipping. I even tried to make it healthy with a salad on the side, and that was a good salad. Ironically, I went to this place to try a burger and ate a sandwich instead.

Get it: Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers sits near Drake University at 2331 University Ave. in Des Moines. Stop by from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for this tasty dip.

Eat a burger slathered in bacon jam

The bacon jam burger at Gastro Grub & Pub is rich and luscious.
The bacon jam burger at Gastro Grub & Pub is rich and luscious.

Bacon jam burger, $17: Ever since I ate the biscuit topped with tomato jam at Motley School Tavern in Beaverdale, I've been on the hunt for savory jams. So finding a burger capped off with bacon jam really called my name. It was a little sweet, but the beef patties, pepper jack cheese and arugula cut down on that.

Get it: One of the first stories I wrote at the Des Moines Register was about the novelty dishes that Gastro Grub owners Sean and Andrea Gleason created on their food truck. Still love that fried chicken and mashed potato waffle cone.Gastro Grub & Pub opened in its non-roving location at 1378 E. Hickman Road in Waukee in 2018. Stop by every Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. You can also grab happy hour every Wednesday through Friday and Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Make the switch to Portobello fries

Portobello fries at Centro are crave-worthy must-orders. You can even get a half-order.
Portobello fries at Centro are crave-worthy must-orders. You can even get a half-order.

Portobello fries, $9.99 or $13.99: The first time I tried this dish was at Liberty Street Kitchen in Pella, and I became an addict. Seriously, I crave these simple fried fingers of Portobello mushrooms with a truffle aioli and chipotle dressing on the side. Yes, you can get a half-order, but why not go for a whole serving?

Get it: Italian favorite Centro is becoming my go-to for everything from brunch to dinner before a show, and rightly so. Chef George Formaro is one of the best in the business. Find it at 1003 Locust St., Des Moines, every Monday through Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

More: How Centro became a Des Moines restaurant staple from celebrities to caucus power tables

Spice up brunch with a Southern scramble

Brunch at Tupelo Honey.
Brunch at Tupelo Honey.

Bacon and sausage cast iron scramble, $15.95: Kick off your weekend with this brunch dish with a kick of its own. Peperonata, a side dish from southern Italy that uses sweet summer bell peppers cooked down in olive oil, anchors the heat in this dish that features chopped bacon, breakfast sausage, cheddar cheese, green tomato aioli drizzle, and scallions. Do order the loaded cracklins on the side; they're divine.

Get it: Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar at 660 Grand Ave. in Des Moines serves its brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. When it's nice outside, make a beeline for the patio.

More: The 6 best dishes we ate in the Des Moines metro area in May

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Have a dish she should try? You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Best dishes at Des Moines restaurants in June 2023