Dig into our juicy list of the best burgers in Greater Des Moines, as voted by locals. Whether you prefer smash burgers, veggie burgers, or zombie burgers, you’ll find something made to order that makes you say “Cheese!”
*All of our Des Best lists are crowdsourced and voted by locals.*
Burger Joints
Lachele’s Fine Foods
You know how marketing photos usually make burgers look amazing, but then you order one and it looks nothing like the photo? Lachele’s Fine Foods flips the script and theirs look even better in person, which is saying something. But who cares how it looks, you’re here for how it tastes...and with gooey cheese, fresh smash burger patties, and a soft bun that practically melds into the meat, the answer is “more than fine.” There are seven different types of burgers here (plus rotating daily specials), and while The Lachele is the namesake standard, we also love The Jake and The Big Gym, both served on a potato roll that practically melds into the burger. Lachele’s was the number one vote getter by far, and the hype is well earned.
B-Bop’s
Who needs In-N-Out Burger when you have B-Bop's? (But seriously, who do we talk to about getting a Shake Shack?) B-Bop’s has been slinging classic charbroiled burgers at 11 locations for more than 30 years. The double drive-thru 1950s themed burger joint has become a lock for most of the local Best Burger awards, proving that sometimes simple is best. Besides, who are we to disagree with Jason Momoa?
Zombie Burger
Zombie Burger became all the rage a few years ago when zombies invaded the pop culture consciousness and have remained popular, because you can’t kill something this good, even if you aim for the brain. With around 25 different “gore-met” burger options (The Raygun is our personal fave), the one that made them famous is the Walking Ched, with its deep-fried macaroni and cheese bun. For those who prefer sweet to scary, they also have cereal milkshakes with fan favorites like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Crunchberry. Bone appetit!
Burger Shed
Located in Altoona, Burger Shed is a nod to the company’s first place – the popular homestyle restaurant Machine Shed in Urbandale. We’ll give you one guess as to what this one specializes in. With more than ten burgers, including vegetarian options, you can’t go wrong with choices like the Mac Attack Burger (mac and cheese and bacon jam!) and Reuben Burger. And we’ll be honest, we’re suckers for the cool BS brand on the top of each bun.
Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers
Even though it’s only been around for about five years, Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers already feels like a Drake neighborhood institution, in so much as you can’t be in the neighborhood and not make a pit stop. Follow your nose to beefy nirvana, with more than a dozen burger options, including the Fried Mushroom Swiss Burger, Pickle Burger (topped with fried pickles and gouda), and Brunch Burger (American cheese, Canadian bacon, fried egg, and smoked bacon). There are even vegetarian options for those who follow that delicious smell but want the meatless version.
Burger Shop
Recently named one of Yelp’s Top Cheeseburgers in Every State, this burger specialist is home to 17 different types of burgers (plus a monthly special), which makes a pilgrimage to Clive an essential stop for burger enthusiasts everywhere. Most of the burgers clock in at under eight dollars too, which is practically unheard of these days. All the more reason to pull the trigger on that order of onion rings that we know you’re gonna be eyeing.
Bar and Grills (and a couple grocery stores)
Barn Town Brewing
Come for beer, stay for the burgers. Their burgers come double pattied and cooked 1950s style on a flat top grill. With around ten options, including an always interesting Burger of the Month, you can go the classic route by ordering the ’55 Burger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, special sauce) or spice things up with the Barn Fire (burger patty, house chorizo patty, jalapeno relish, and queso fresco). Sub in a pretzel bun if you’re throwing caution to the wind. Pair with a pint of Neon or even a whole beer flight, because why not?
Gateway Market
They say you’re not supposed to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. One way to remedy that is to grab a burger from Gateway Market before you finish your meal planning. Of course, then you run the risk of scrapping the meal plan and just eating at Gateway Café every night. The Mushroom Swiss burger is a standout, with an 8 oz patty, swiss, sauteed mushroom and onion, and rosemary mushroom beef gravy (that’s the stuff) on a sesame bun.
Angry Goldfish
Ask for some extra napkins ahead of time, because these burgers come piled high at this neighborhood hotspot. Our faves are the Merlot Mushroom burger with swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and Merlot aioli and the Boursin Burger with sautéed onions, homemade garlic and herb infused cheese, and finished with pesto. The hardest decision is whether you should order your burger with parmesan fries or tots. (The answer is “both.”)
Ankeny Diner
Every year the Iowa Beef Council releases its list of the Top 10 Burgers in Iowa. And (almost) every year Ankeny Diner makes the list. Proving you don’t need to be trendy to be good, Ankeny Diner is as All-American as it gets. Whether you go for the Patty Melt, Maytag Burger or Rarebit Burger, these are made-to-order and made-to-please.
B&B Grocery
You’re probably not going to B&B’s Grocery for the ambience, but who needs ambience when the only thing you’re going to remember is the legendary burger anyway? Legendary as in the Quadzilla...four grilled beef patties (yes, we said four), American cheese, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, onion, and pickles and a grilled bun. Andrew Zimmerman with Bizarre Foods named B&B Grocery one of the top burger joints in the Midwest and their tenderloin earns raves as well. And before you start to get burger anxiety, they also have burgers that don’t include four patties!
Beaver Tap
Located in the quaint Beaverdale neighborhood, Beaver Tap is the epitome of what you want in your townie bar and grill. Friendly and unpretentious, with unfussy food that still knocks your socks off. And a pool table. The burgers here are cooked to order, assuring that they’ll meat your expectations. Pun obviously intended.
Places that have a great burger on the menu
Lua Brewing
This award-winning brewery in Sherman Hill is no stranger to making “best of” lists for their beer, including their legendary push pop beers – but their burgers are starting to make noise as well. The Lua Smush Burger is a master class in simplicity that begets complexity. The house-ground chuck, white American, house pickles, friend onion, and Lua sauce on a toasted bun are a flavor explosion whose mystery can only be solved by ordering more beer. And just when you think they can’t top themselves, they introduced a Rarebit Burger, served open face, that has us shaking our heads in awe once again.
Bubba
Known for their southern comfort style food, Bubba has a couple of burgers on their menu that will make you go “hubba hubba!” The Bowtie Burger ups the ante with pimento cheese and pecan-smoked bacon, served on a South Union Bakery brioche bun with bread and butter pickles. Pair with sweet potato fries or red beans and rice if you really want to lean into the Southern thing. Southern charm, Iowa nice, and mouth-watering burgers, what’s not to love?
Prime and Providence
Prime and Providence in West Des Moines has been making waves for their succulent steaks, lobster tails, coal-roasted oysters, but it’s their Black Label Burger that might just be the most decadent thing on a menu filled with jaw droppers. Made from filet mignon chopped into big cubes and covered in raclette, roasted mushroom relish, and burger sauce, it’s as good as it sounds. Insert all the drool emojis.
Django
Django is all about accessible French cuisine, but if you let your eyes wander down the menu a bit, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best made-to-order burgers in town. The Rossini is made with foie gras torchon, black truffle, demi-glace, and Gruyere; assuring that you’ll still feel French fancy even when ordering a burger. And while you’d be rightfully inclined to order French Fries at a French restaurant, we’d be remiss not to suggest upping your fry game with an order of the Poutine. It’s the American way.
Mulberry Street Tavern
Speaking of hotspots, The Mulberry Tavern, located in the swanky Surety Hotel, fits the bill with heat to spare. This date night smash burger is a two fister, with twin patties, special sauce, caramelized onion, pickle, mustard, lettuce, and tomato, all on a potato bun. It’s great no matter what you wash it down with but pairing it with a craft cocktail like Midland Manhattan will put it over the top.
Clyde’s Fine Diner
Ask Chris Hoffman, the James Beard nominated chef behind this East Village hotspot, what his signature dish is, and he’ll tell you it’s the French fries. (And we’re here to emphatically endorse that claim). What pairs best with those hand-cut russet potatoes? A burger of course. The CFD Burger is a double smash patty with American cheese, Clyde’s burger sauce, shaved onions, and pickles. Even better, on Tuesdays, you can get a burger, shot of bourbon, and a PBR for just $16. Turns out Tuesdays are the new Fridays.
Either/Or
It stands to reason that when the team behind Lua Brewing opened their new casual American fare restaurant Either/Or, that the popular Lua Smush Burger make an appearance on the menu. What we weren’t expecting was the equally delicious Fried Dunbar, which takes the double smush burger and adds a slab of homemade fried bologna to the proceedings. Impressive. Equally impressive is the space itself, which is vibey and cool enough for date night, but also family-friendly, thanks in large part to the massive, covered patio featuring fire pits, a kid’s playscape, and an acre of green grass.
Cheese Bar
Once voted the “Best Cheese Shop in America”, the Cheese Bar knows a thing or two about good cheese and locally sourced, fresh ingredients. That knowledge is dished out via their Cheese Bar Burger, with a Sakura beef patty, Alpine cheese blend, caramelized onion jam, roasted red peppers, B&B pickles, fry sauce, and greens served on South Union bread. They also typically have a rotating weekly burger special, which would be the best thing on most normal menus.
Somewhere in the Middle
One of the best burgers is served out of a coffee shop in small town Bondurant? You’re welcome. We’re here to serve, people. This hidden gem is featured on their lunch menu and is available after 10:30 a.m. until they close (most days at 2 p.m.). That’s a tiny window of time, but trust us, the flavor of this Smash Burger, served with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions in garlic chili oil, and their homemade burger sauce, is huge.
Table 128
When Table 128 moved to its new downtown location from Clive after over a year, much of the menu got a makeover. A few staples remained. The famous Brussels Sprouts, the chocolate chip sea salt cookies, and Lynn’s Burger, named after chef/owner Lynn Pritchard. You can’t leave off something as good as this. Served with pickled pear, brie, crispy onion, and Dijon aioli on a brioche bun with house cut fries, it’s worth every ounce of the hype and the wait.
Alba
Food trends come and go, and Alba, once the buzzy Des Moines dining darling, has settled into its reliably great stalwart era. There are a lot of great things about Alba...the gnocchi and pan seared scallops immediately come to mind...but it's the Farmhouse Burger that keeps it in the everyday dining rotation. Cooked to order with Swiss cheese, bourbon mustard aioli, pickles, and fried Brussel leaves on top (that put it over the top), it’s excellence personified.
