Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Des Moines by diners

Asian food is having a moment. Nearly 3 in 4 United States counties have at least one Asian restaurant, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data as of March 2023. While those are mainly Chinese, Japanese, or Thai, diners are increasingly trying other cuisines from the continent. That's brought Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, and Filipino food to the forefront of diners' culinary explorations.

Asian flavor combinations tantalize diners' expanding palates with flavorful sauces and a variety of spices. Those who like to turn up the heat love the different ways each country infuses pepper and spice into its food, from Korean gochujang sauce to Vietnamese chilies and fiery Indian peppercorns. Other dishes like Filipino chicken adobo and Vietnamese pho all pack a savory punch of umami.

The use of fresh ingredients and fermented foods like miso and kimchi brings a healthy aspect to many Asian cuisines. Unique fruits such as kumquat and yuzu also expand the range of flavors restaurants can bring to foods and drinks.

Many diners also like Asian foods because of their fun factor, with Korean barbecue and Chinese hot pot dishes offering communal experiences.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Asian restaurants in the Des Moines area using data from Yelp. Data is as of Aug. 6, 2025. Businesses were filtered to fall under at least one of these categories: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian/Pakistani, Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, Pan Asian, or Asian fusion.

Restaurants selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews, and within a 10-kilometer radius of Des Moines were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 10 locations nationally, based on our Yelp data, were not included.

China Cafe

1 / 30

#30. China Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 5969 Merle Hay Road Ste B Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

All Phở You

2 / 30

#29. All Phở You

- Rating: 4.1/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4120 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

De Rice

3 / 30

#28. De Rice

- Rating: 4.1/5 (79 reviews)
- Address: 8430 Birchwood Court Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: Thai, Chinese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Pho 515

4 / 30

#27. Pho 515

- Rating: 4.2/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 801 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

China Chef

5 / 30

#26. China Chef

- Rating: 4.2/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5010 Southwest 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

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Pho 85 - Ankeny

6 / 30

#25. Pho 85 - Ankeny

- Rating: 4.2/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1701 Southeast Delaware Ave. Ste 200 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

TNT Vietnamese Restaurant

7 / 30

#24. TNT Vietnamese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3452 Martin Luther King Pkwy Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Silk Elephant

8 / 30

#23. Silk Elephant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (87 reviews)
- Address: 2410 Southwest White Birch Drive Ste 108 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Blue Sushi Sake Grill

9 / 30

#22. Blue Sushi Sake Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 316 Court Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Roots 95 Craft Kitchen & Bar

10 / 30

#21. Roots 95 Craft Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 8705 Chambery Blvd. Ste 700 Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Asian Fusion, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Lucky Lotus

11 / 30

#20. Lucky Lotus

- Rating: 4.3/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2721 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

China Dragon

12 / 30

#19. China Dragon

- Rating: 4.3/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2351 Sunset Drive Ste 103 Norwalk, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Eat Thai, Thai Eatery

13 / 30

#18. Eat Thai, Thai Eatery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1821 22nd St. Ste 103 West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Akebono 515

14 / 30

#17. Akebono 515

- Rating: 4.3/5 (313 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 10th St. Ste 120 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Pho All Seasons

15 / 30

#16. Pho All Seasons

- Rating: 4.3/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1311 East Euclid Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Wasabi

16 / 30

#15. Wasabi

- Rating: 4.3/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8481 Birchwood Court Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

C Fresh Market

17 / 30

#14. C Fresh Market

- Rating: 4.3/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 801 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Grocery, Meat Shops
- Read more on Yelp

Fawn's Asian Cuisine

18 / 30

#13. Fawn's Asian Cuisine

- Rating: 4.3/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1107 East University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Rolling Wok

19 / 30

#12. Rolling Wok

- Rating: 4.3/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1534 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Hokkaido Ramen House

20 / 30

#11. Hokkaido Ramen House

- Rating: 4.4/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2732 Southeast Delaware Ave. Ste 310 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Ramen, Sushi Bars, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

Vietnam Cafe

21 / 30

#10. Vietnam Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (95 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3800 Merle Hay Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Teriyaki House Japanese Grill

22 / 30

#9. Teriyaki House Japanese Grill

- Rating: 4.4/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 1802 Southeast Delaware Ave. Ste 108 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

W-Tao Sushi

23 / 30

#8. W-Tao Sushi

- Rating: 4.4/5 (434 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 Walnut St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Japanese, Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Sam's Fine Food Egg Rolls

24 / 30

#7. Sam's Fine Food Egg Rolls

- Rating: 4.5/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3300 Southwest 9th St. Ste 4 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Zavy Kitchen

25 / 30

#6. Zavy Kitchen

- Rating: 4.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 111 East Grand Ave. Ste 101 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bars, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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Kathmandu Restaurant

26 / 30

#5. Kathmandu Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7225-7229 Apple Valley Drive Windsor Heights, Iowa
- Categories: Indian, Himalayan/Nepalese, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Red Chillez Indian

27 / 30

#4. Red Chillez Indian

- Rating: 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 1701 Southeast Delaware Ave. Ste 300 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Indian, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Basic Bird

28 / 30

#3. Basic Bird

- Rating: 4.6/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2607 Beaver Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Korean, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine

29 / 30

#2. Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine

- Rating: 4.7/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1409 23rd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Pakistani, Indian, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

Amruth Indian Grill

30 / 30

#1. Amruth Indian Grill

- Rating: 4.8/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 9974 Swanson Blvd. Clive, Iowa
- Categories: Food Stands, Indian, Food Delivery Services
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 323 metros.

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