Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Des Moines area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Des Moines area by diners
Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a daily ritual for more than 290 million Americans and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.
While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.
There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.
American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.
Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
Curious about where to head near Des Moines for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Des Moines area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of Des Moines were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!
#21. Norwalk Maid-Rite
- Rating: 2.7/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 1031 Sunset Drive Norwalk, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Cozy Cafe
- Rating: 3.3/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8385 Birchwood Court Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: Comfort Food, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. The Breakfast Club - Ankeny
- Rating: 3.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1465 Southwest Park Square Drive Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Park Street Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 435 Park St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: American, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Papa Kerns Cafe
- Rating: 3.7/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 304 East 30th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Railroad Bill's Dining Car
- Rating: 3.7/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 621 Des Moines St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Drake Diner
- Rating: 3.7/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1111 25th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Early Bird - Ankeny
- Rating: 3.9/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1520 South Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Waveland Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4708 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mullets
- Rating: 4.1/5 (335 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1300 Southeast 1st St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Breakfast Club
- Rating: 4.1/5 (214 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 212 East 3rd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Cafe Diem
- Rating: 4.2/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2005 South Ankeny Blvd. Ste 800 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. 100th St Corner Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3017 100th St. Urbandale, Iowa
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Zanzibar's Coffee Adventure
- Rating: 4.3/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2723 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#7. PerKup Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2700 University Ave. Ste 324 West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Twisted Bean Coffee Company
- Rating: 4.4/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4504 Merle Hay Road Urbandale, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#5. La Mie Elevate
- Rating: 4.5/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 601 Locust St. Skywalk Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. HomeGrown - Des Moines
- Rating: 4.6/5 (353 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 555 17th St. Ste 102 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Coaches Kolaches
- Rating: 4.6/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2777 100th St. Urbandale, Iowa
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#2. La Barista Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1963 Grand Ave. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Freedom Blend Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2329 Hickman Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.
