The Absolute Best Takeout Restaurants in Des Moines

Everyone eats takeout in Des Moines, but not all takeout is created equal. Some nights demand Zombie Burger’s decade-perfected fried egg smash, and other nights call for the quiet, garlicky warmth of Open Sesame’s Lebanese toum.

The city’s pickup game runs from wood-fired pizzas with proper char to a late-night lifeline like Lucky Horse, where tender carnitas save you after a long week. We ate from Lachele’s smash burgers to Purveyor’s Spanish small plates, and we’ve got the grease-stained bags to prove it.

So clear your counter, set the table, and read on. Your next meal is twenty minutes away.

Lachele's Fine Foods

Highlights
Best smash burgers around
Loaded chili cheese tots
Friendly, chatty service
Quick, hot takeout
Cool, upbeat atmosphere

Lachele's Fine Foods gets takeout right. You order, you wait a few minutes, and you leave with a bag that smells like a backyard cookout. The smash burgers are the best in town, with those crispy, craggy edges that make you wonder why anyone bothers with thick patties. The loaded chili cheese tots are a full meal on their own, and they travel well. The staff chats you up like you are a regular, even on your first visit. Everything comes out hot and quick. The atmosphere is upbeat, even from the pickup counter. Go hungry. Leave happy.

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Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen

Highlights
Fast, friendly service
Spectacular wood-fired pizzas
Top-tier nonalcoholic drinks
Unique, delicious veggies

Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen turns takeout into a small ceremony. You call ahead, and by the time you arrive, your pizza is boxed and waiting, still radiating heat. The crust has that proper char, blistered and smoky, and the toppings taste like they were chosen with intent. The veggies are the surprise; you will actually crave roasted broccoli or whatever seasonal thing they have. The nonalcoholic drinks are top-tier, not an afterthought. Service is fast and friendly, which matters when you have a hungry family in the car. This is pizza you will think about later.

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Open Sesame

Highlights
Warm, familial service
Gorgeous interior decor
Delicious, fairly priced food
Authentic Lebanese offerings
Genuine love in cooking

Open Sesame feels like a home you get to visit. The service is warm, the kind that asks how your day is and means it. The interior decor is gorgeous, but you are there for the food. The Lebanese offerings are authentic and fairly priced, from the garlicky toum to the perfectly pillowy pita. You taste the care in every bite; there is genuine love in the cooking. Takeout does not dim the experience. The flavors hold their own on the drive home. You will find yourself planning the next order before you finish the first one.

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Bar Nico

Highlights
Entire menu is gluten-free
Happy hour is unbeatable
Fresh, chef-level cuisine
Homemade tortillas and churros
Friendly manager and staff

Bar Nico is a lesson in how takeout should work. The entire menu is gluten-free, which is a relief if you need it, but everyone else will not notice. The homemade tortillas are soft and warm, and the churros are a sweet ending you cannot skip. The happy hour is unbeatable, even for pickup. The manager and staff treat you like a friend, not a transaction. The cuisine is fresh, chef-level, and travels beautifully. You get the feeling they care about every plate, whether you eat in or out. That is a rare thing. Savor it.

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Buzzard Billy’s

Highlights
Huge portions, amazing flavors
Friendly, attentive service
Helpful recommendations
Fast, delicious food
Worth a return trip

Buzzard Billy's serves portions that could feed a small army. You order one entree and realize you have lunch for tomorrow, maybe dinner too. The flavors are bold and unapologetic, with that Cajun kick that makes your eyes water in the best way. The staff is friendly and attentive, and they will steer you toward the best dish if you ask. The food comes out fast, hot, and packed with care. This is a place you return to, not because it is trendy, but because it is consistently good. Your fridge will thank you.

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Zavy Kitchen

Highlights
Curry packs serious flavor
Kind, attentive service
Creative sake cocktails
Local Vietnamese staple
Worth a return trip

Zavy Kitchen is a local Vietnamese staple for a reason. The curry packs serious flavor, with that deep, spicy richness that lingers on your tongue. You will want bread or rice to soak up every drop. The service is kind and attentive, even for takeout. The sake cocktails are creative, but save them for when you can sit down. The food travels well, and the portions are generous. This is comfort food with a backbone. You will find yourself craving it on a cold Tuesday. That is the mark of a place worth returning to.

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The Stuffed Olive Des Moines

Highlights
Generous shareable portions
Excellent mocktails and drinks
Friendly, attentive service
Great for group chats
Cozy, welcoming atmosphere

The Stuffed Olive Des Moines is your new group chat destination. The portions are shareable, which means you do not have to agree on one thing. You get the big spread, and everyone wins. The mocktails and drinks are excellent, so you can toast without the hangover. Service is friendly and attentive, and the staff makes sure your pickup is smooth. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, even at the door. This is a place to gather, even if you gather at someone's living room. Call ahead. Bring friends. Eat well.

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Lua Brewing

Highlights
Great beer and patio
Friendly, knowledgeable service
Solid burgers and tofu
Perfect pre-show dinner spot

Lua Brewing is the perfect pre-show dinner spot. You grab a burger and a pint, or the tofu if you are that way inclined, and you are out the door before the opening act. The beer is great, and the patio is a nice place to linger if you have time. The staff knows their stuff; ask them for a recommendation and they will not steer you wrong. The burgers are solid, the tofu is a pleasant surprise. It is casual, quick, and dependable. For takeout, it does the job without fuss. You will be back before the next show.

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Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers

Highlights
Affordable, quality comfort food
Unique, inventive menu twists
Friendly, helpful service
Tender carnitas, tasty flatbreads
Open late, easy takeout

Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers is a late-night lifeline. The prices are reasonable, and the food is comfort done right. The carnitas are tender, the flatbreads are tasty, and the menu has those inventive twists you do not expect from a burger joint. The staff is friendly and helpful, even when the rush is on. You can order online, and it is ready fast. This place stays open late, so it saves you on nights when nothing else sounds good. It is not fancy, but it is honest. That counts for a lot.

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Local Bites

Highlights
Friendly staff asks about allergies
Reasonable prices for filling meals
Great weekend spot to relax
Korean fried chicken standouts
Helpful explanations of ingredients

Local Bites is the kind of place that asks about your allergies before you order. That is rare, and it matters. The staff explains the ingredients, so you know exactly what you are getting. The Korean fried chicken is a standout; crispy, saucy, and worth every calorie. Prices are reasonable, and the portions are filling. It is a great weekend spot to relax, but the takeout is just as good. The food holds up on the ride home. You will leave full, informed, and planning your next visit.

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Zombie Burger + Bird

Highlights
Best meal in four days
Fun, inventive burger combos
Great shakes and sides
Consistent quality across decades
Worth every Des Moines visit

Zombie Burger + Bird is the best meal you will have in days. It has been a constant for decades, and it still delivers. The burger combos are fun and inventive; you can get a burger topped with mac and cheese or a fried egg, and it works. The shakes and sides are great, especially the fries. The quality is consistent, which is harder to find than you think. Worth every Des Moines visit. You will crave it when you are away. Do not fight it. Just order.

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Purveyor

Highlights
Expert wine and cocktail pairings
Knowledgeable, attentive service staff
Authentic Spanish small plates
Take-home deli and wine options
Consistent quality across visits

Purveyor is a takeout experience that feels like a night out. The Spanish small plates are authentic, and the wine and cocktail pairings are expert. The staff knows their stuff; they will ask what you like and then nail it. The take-home deli and wine options are a bonus; you can grab a bottle for later. Consistent quality across visits is a promise they keep. The food travels well, and the flavors stay bright. This is a place for when you want something a little special, without the fuss. Enjoy it.

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