Where to eat for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Des Moines metro in 2023
The holiday season is upon us, and if the thought of planning a special menu just for Christmas seems daunting, fear not. Some of the restaurants of Des Moines have special menus just for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This year, three restaurant conjured up a special brunch menu just for Christmas Eve, while another handful of places put together menus and buffets of holiday dishes. We even pulled together a list of restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that are serving their regular menus.
Here's a look at where to eat for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Des Moines metro. Always call in advance to ensure that hours didn't change.
AJ’s Steakhouse
The restaurant at Prairie Meadows offers a three-course Christmas menu with starter options such as jumbo shrimp cocktail, a Caesar Salad, potato croquette, lobster bisque, or antipasto trio with prosciutto-wrapped melon, a Caprese salad, and olive tapenade crostini. Entrée options include a slow-roasted prime rib with au jus, filet mignon (available Oscar style for an additional $15), cherry-glazed ham and bourbon brown-sugar turkey breast, seared sea bass, or cheese tortellini. For desserts, diners can choose chocolate lava cake, eggnog cheesecake or chocolate peppermint cake. Dinner is $60 for adults, $19 for children age 11 and younger from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Location: Prairie Meadows, 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona
Contact: 515-957-3535 or prairiemeadows.com/dining/ajs-steakhouse
Either/Or Eatery & Patio
The new restaurant from the brewers behind Lua brings a holiday brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Look for dishes such as a mushroom or bologna Benedict, corned beef hash, chilaquiles, or French toast, all for $12 to $14. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are marked on the menu. Call ahead to put your name on the wait list.
Location: 6222 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-214-1831 or eitherordsm.com
Lua Brewing
Speaking of Lua, the brewery in Sherman Hill also has a Christmas Eve brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Location: 1525 High St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-630-5311 or luabeer.com
Mullets
Mullets in Uptown Ankeny has a Christmas Eve brunch with prime rib from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sides and dessert come with the meal for dine in or takeout.
Location: 617 S.W. Third St., Suite 103, Ankeny
Contact: 515-655-7956 or mulletsankeny.com
Opa Italian & Greek Dining
Opa is open Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a buffet featuring creamy shrimp, manicotti, chicken piccata, chicken meatballs, garlic knots, pasta alfredo, lamb and chicken souvlaki, pizza, and all-you-can-eat dessert for $24.99.
Location: 2800 University Ave., West Des Moines
Contact: 515-433-3088 or opawdm.com
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Valley Pub
Head to Valley Pub on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Christmas Day from 3 p.m. to midnight for roast and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. The whole menu will be available as well.
Location: 3781 EP True Pkwy., West Des Moines
Contact: 515-630-5388 or valleypubwdm.com
More: Leave the milk and cookies for Santa. Here are 6 holiday pop-up bars to try in Des Moines.
Places that are open but don't have a special Christmas menu
This is certainly not a full list, and always call in advance to ensure the restaurant is open.
The Angry Goldfish, 2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines, is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-288-2358 or angrygoldfishdsm.com
Benchwarmers Sports Bar & Grill, 705 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, is open on Christmas Day from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Contact: 515-965-2556 or ankenybenchwarmers.com
The Dam Pub, 2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-279-4449 or dampubdsm.com
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 150 S. Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, is open from 2 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Contact: 515-457-2916 or flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/ia/west-des-moines
Fun Chinese Cuisine, 1875 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, plans to be open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-964-9303 or funchinesecuisine.com
Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet, 1801 22nd St., West Des Moines, opens at 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with an $18.99 buffet featuring 250 items.
Contact: 515-267-8383 or hibachigrilliowa.com
JJ’s Tavern, the newcomer at 975 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, keeps the kitchen open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve and with a limited menu from 4 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-214-1590
More brunches to check out: 21 great brunches to try in the Des Moines area right now, including Early Bird, Eatery A
Los Laureles, the Mexican restaurant at 1518 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines, is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-265-2200 or loslaurelesiowa.com
Luddy’s Tavern, the new German restaurant at 106 S.W. State St. #100, Ankeny, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Contact: 515-777-4690 or luddystavern.com
Mulberry Street Tavern, the restaurant inside the Surety Hotel at 206 Sixth Ave. in Des Moines, is open on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for brunch and 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner, and then from 5 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-985-2066 or suretyhotel.com/mulberry-street-tavern
Ninja Sushi & Ramen, 765 S.E. Alices Road in Waukee, is open to 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-987-6663 or ninjawaukee.com
Pally’s Bar & Grill at 1800 N.W. 86th St., Clive, opens the kitchen and bar at 4 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-252-9805
Proudfoot & Bird inside the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 1000 Walnut St., Des Moines, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-957-2400 or hotelfortdesmoines.com/dining/proudfoot-bird
Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 950 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve and from 3 to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-416-6080 or ruthschris.com/west-des-moines
Sully’s Irish Pub, 860 First St., West Des Moines, is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Contact: 515-255-9970 or sullysdesmoines.com
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, X, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Best places to eat on Christmas Eve, Christmas in the Des Moines area
