The 10 best pancakes in Des Moines

Look no farther you found the best, from their staff to the food and even their customers. Everyone is so friendly and the food is delicious. Big portions and worth every penny (and some). If you get Amanda you’re lucky but everyone is wonderful and attentive. Love but the whole family, toddler included.

We had a nice first timer experience here. The place was still relatively busy for late on a Thursday morning so that is encouraging. It is dated and fun. Overall it looks like the place could use a once over on the clean scale, but the ‘divey’ feeling added to the fun experience. The wait staff was friendly and loud while they bantered with the regulars and making us feel welcome . Out waitress was friendly and helpful. We were close the the window to the kitchen so we got to see a lot of yummy looking food come out. The prices were fair and the food was all pretty good. Pancakes were massive and slightly undercooked. But everything else was on point.

You must visit The Waveland Cafe when you're in the area. Our service we received by Haley was personable and friendly. Our food was also fast to come out after we ordered. The portions are good and the food has amazing flavor. The Cafe itself is full of a lot of fun decoration and detail that made me feel welcome. Will definitely be back when I am in town again.

The Everything Hashbrowns, give it a try. Oh, and don’t forget the gravy, it’s a must have too.👍

This is my in law’s cafe of choice. They always have to make the stop when they are in town. We got: • chicken melt w/ fries (5/5) • cinnamon french toast half order (5/5) • patty melt w/ fries; “best patty melt I have ever had. I would recommend it to anyone.” 5/5) The staff is so lovely and welcoming. It’s very cozy. All 5 of us got shirts because we are frequent flyers lol. 100000% will always come back. 🤍

One of our favorites! Food is always great! Friendly service, fun, relaxed atmosphere like you are eating with friends and family!

This place is always phenomenal. They're usually packed so we go during odd hours. We went around 12:30pm today and grabbed some seats at the bar. Once you sit down service is pretty fast. My go-to is Steak and Eggs! Everything is always cooked exactly the way I ask. The hash browns are always super crispy! Today I got a biscuit instead of toast and ordered an extra side of the gravy. YUM!!! There was so much food but I enjoyed every bite! I've only had breakfast food here. I'm sure their lunch dishes are just as good. Highly recommend!

Absolutely LOVE this place!!! We came from Wisconsin and we'd come back just for this place! It's so cute inside and out which was awesome for photos, and the food and drinks were just as good! The drinks were unique and the menu and aesthetic was all just 10/10 perfect! They also had purse hooks at the bar seats and I loved that!!

Food was amazing! Service was great! The music videos were great to pass time while waiting for food. The Loaded Dirty Bloody Mary is a must. We had Bananas Foster waffle, pancake sandwich, club sandwich and Cordon Bleu Skillet. Recommend them all! Get hashbrowns or potatoes not the fries or tater tots.

Very fun place for breakfast. I've been here twice now, both times after visiting the airport nearby. The first time was on a Sunday morning and wow, it was busy! They have a lot of seating though, so our wait wasn't too long for 4 of us. The second time I visited, it was a weekday morning and not too busy. The atmosphere is so fun, very "Breakfast Club movie" inspired. Several TVs play 80's fun music videos and it has very bright, pop art style decor. Service was fast and the menu was equally fun and had tons of options! The first time I had the crab Rangoon Benny and that was way more food than I needed and so good! The second time I had a breakfast skillet and it was also huge and fantastic. Everyone else I was with liked their selections as well.

You get a lot of food here and the prices are good! I got the Biscuit Benny and was pretty happy with it. The gravy was flavorful and had some large chunks of meat in it. My server was very friendly, and was very accommodating when I told her that I was in a hurry. If I had one complaint, it would be the hash brown. It was a little greasy for my taste.

What a wonderful find in Des Moines. The building isn’t what it appears on the inside. Awesome 80’s music being blasted but more importantly the food is amazing! The tots are perfect and the breakfast tacos were delicious. Just happened to hit the BOGO mimosa lunch 🥴 and couldn’t resist. They taste like they are made with fresh OJ but other flavors are available—watermelon, peach, creamsicle to name a few. Michelle, our server, was quick, friendly and personable. Glasses were never left empty without an offer for a refill and the service was top notch. It’s worth a visit to the East Village and it won’t be my last

A unique food menu, and lots of breakfast cocktail options. I got the Chai Tini which was great, as well as a peach/pineapple mimosa. My lox arrived quickly and was delicious. Definitely stop in here if you have the time.

This is such a fun place! The strawberry waffle with lemon curd is perfection. We visited around 1030 on a Friday and it was busy but we only waited a few minutes for a table. The food arrived surprisingly fast and the egg rolls and vegan hash were also delicious. I really appreciated how many GF, Vegetarian and Vegan options there were.

The cinnamon roll was so soft and warm and fresh and yummy. So, so good. Made sure to start with a positive! When I stepped in the gentleman at the host stand was pretty rude. Made me wait for a long time before acknowledging my presence. Then gave a big sigh before asking what I needed. Um....seating for one please. Anyhoo- server was much better and her tip reflected that. I ordered a giant pile of food and was able to eat a quarter of it. Hashbrowns were cooked as asked. Yay. Eggs=good. Toast a little overdone for mt taste. Didn't try the pancakes. Cinnamon roll=fantastic. Didn't even need that much frosting. This coming from a sugar junkie! The food came out fast after ordering. Like 5 minutes fast. Not too many diners in at 1030 on a Thursday. You can get breakfast all day, but they have other selections as well. The onion rings I saw going out looked great. Neat old fashioned decor including a counter with round stools to sit at. Milk shakes available. Bill was $28 for a mountain of food and a pop.

Was in Iowa for the first time for a wedding. Stopped here with my husband and Dad for our first meal in the state. My Dad LOVED the hash browns so much that he found his way back here on our last day in town, said they “floated off the plate” and was pleasantly surprised that they weren’t too greasy. My pesto chicken sandwich was very good but if I’m ever back I’d try breakfast. My husband’s “spicy” sausage sandwich wasn’t spicy & he didn’t expect it to be ground sausage but I think that was us not knowing anything about Iowa cuisine before ordering. The service was warm and genuinely friendly and the old time diner vibe was more charming than I expected.

50s Diner vibe. Friendly, helpful staff. I had the breaded pork tenderloin with the sweet potato fries, which were delicious. Others in the group ordered breakfast, including the cinnamon swirl French Toast. So good. Service was prompt and efficient.

9/28/25 First time visitor at the Drake’s Diner. Very cool retro vibe when you pull up to the restaurant! Was very excited to try another local spot in the DSM area (coming from Cedar Rapids). My husband is vegan, so I always have to check each restaurants menu on the webs before deciding which one we want to try. Drake’s diner had lots of great reviews with a fun atmosphere! And they have a vegan section! 🙌🏼 When I started to look at the physical menu I realized they had a lot to offer but maybe a little too much to offer. I watch a lot of Gordon Ramsey shows and all I could hear was Gordon saying, “You’ve got to focus on quality instead of quantity.” But anywho, I went with a chicken Caesar salad and my husband had an impossible burger, my kids had a pancake and PBJ sandwich. My greens in the salad was okay, not as fresh. My husband enjoyed his impossible burger, my son enjoyed his PBJ and my daughter barley ate her pancake. I thought maybe it was because she wasn’t that hungry but I tried the pancake and it wasn’t that great at all. Which is weird because I’m used to getting amazing pancakes from diners similar to this one. So that was disappointing. Overall a cool aesthetic restaurant but I won’t be coming back for the food.

The food, the service, and the atmosphere is amazing. The workers are super friendly and nice, and the food gets to you extremely fast. The atmosphere felt good, it felt as if you were in a real diner. The food tastes amazing, it leaves you just full enough. The buttermilk pancakes, the cinnamon swirl french toast, the hash browns, the chicken fried steak, was the absolute best. Don't forget to get some pie, its out of this world!

Great atmosphere! Drake Diner feels kind of like the old time diner of the past with a clean, modern look. The service was also excellent! Our server checked on us often and our food came to us quickly.. Our meals were great as well! I got a chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese, and barbecue sauce with sweet potato fries and my friend got the meatloaf sandwich with onion rings. The broiled chicken was moist and juicy and the bacon, cheese, and BBQ sauce complimented it perfectly. The sweet potato fries were also absolutely delicious! Some of the best I've had! My friend also very much enjoyed her meal. We were so full that we didn't have room for those yummy looking shakes. Hopefully, I will try one next time!

BEST ONION RINGS in the state!!! Not big, overbatterd and greasy like most restaurants...but thin cut, crispy and delicious! Don't ever change!

solid food and nice service. burgers looked nice. stroganoff was okay, not sure if I didn't care for how they made it or the dish itself. would come back again, but order something different.

They got good spicy sausage, very flavorful. A little weird I had to ask for creamer, and if I ate toast, I would have had to ask for butter or jelly too. It's not like I'm Elwoood from the Blues Brothers. I know its small nitpick, but hey, my boss never gives out perfect scores for me either. I don't think you can go wrong here. Chill vibes.

Stopped in to check the place out and grab a drink and ended up staying for dinner with excellent menu options. We even came back the next morning for a fantastic brunch experience. This place is quickly becoming one of our favorites!

I have had brunch at hundreds of restaurants throughout the US, not just 515, and nothing had ever topped Motley for me. Whether you’re going for sweet or savory, coffee or mimosas, MTS is the superior choice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I took my daughter here for her 22nd birthday. A close friend suggested the place and I couldn't have been happier. The staff was wonderful. It was the best service we have had in a long while. The food was wonderful. Their inventive flavor combinations were inspired. The cocktails were unique and refined. I had the old money their take on an old fashioned. Over all one of the best dining experiences I've had to date.

Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious. No matter what our main dish is we always get a pancake to share. Right now we are enjoying the banana pancakes! We also see the same wait staff everytime we stop in. I love seeing this because it means they are able to retain staff. I highly recommend!

The food is amazing and so are the staff. They have enormous, fluffy, delicious pancakes, and wonderful omelettes and egg dishes. Customizable with one, two, or three eggs. The breakfast potatoes can sometimes be a little salty but you really need to go here. Like soon. Get there early to make sure you don't have to wait!

First time here. The pics tell the story. Eggs and Jam is a 90s themed brunch place with fabulous food and service. Everything we ordered was so delicious, with presentation like I've never seen. The "Love Island" waffle, which was the special, was absolutely exquisite. Other meals my group tried: egg rolls, goat cheese crumble, omelette, grapefruit, and pancakes- it was all amazing. Hats off to our server who took great care of us! Highly recommend!!

This place has an amazing atmosphere. It was so enjoyable to look at the menu and see all the throw back to the 90s. I ordered the breakfast egg rolls and they were phenomenal! I look forward to returning next time I am back in Des Moines.

We are out of state and stumbled across this little gem of a breakfast place! Excellent service, quality food, and some lit music setting the perfect vibe for our morning 😎 highly recommend!! Absolutely worth every dollar 🤌🏻

The food is alright but the vibes are off. The stylized caricatures of different musicians covering the walls felt a bit odd, and more so when you dig a little deeper and find out that the artist is white. The overall experience felt disingenuous and gentrified, and upon some digging on the owners and what was supposed to be the original name of the establishment, our suspicions were validated.

Great breakfast. 1st time there. We were a 6 top, after we ate , we visited for a bit, but was asked to leave so someone else could have our table. That was odd. We were ready to go anyways

If a sports bar and a fav greasy spoon cafe had offspring, this would be it. "Eggs n Jam" scores big on every level. We were lucky to beat the breakfast rush this morning and will surely return.

Brandon was our server and had perfect recommendations, thank you for great service! Everything was good but especially the raspberry donut cheesecake.

Early Bird Restaurant hit the spot—service was on point from the moment I walked in, real attentive and friendly without being overbearing. The vibe was chill, like they actually care you showed up. And the food? Solid. Everything came out fresh, seasoned right, and portioned just enough to leave you satisfied but not stuffed. Definitely one of those spots you slide into early and leave feelin’ good about your whole day.

Food & service was great! Michelle was my server and was very attentive to me and my friend during our stop for breakfast. She made sure we were comfortable, and our food was satisfactory. Overall we had a great experience and will be back!

Great experience. I arrived early, before 7a, and sat at the counter. Michelle greeted me warmly and throughout my visit was attentive but not overly so. Michelle went out of her way to make sure everything was just right. I asked for my toast to be well toasted and buttered, and that’s what I got. Exactly. She also made me a great Latte (more on that later). The restaurant is bright, colorful, cheerful and very welcoming. There is seating to suit any party from small to large. I ate at the counter which is spacious, and there are free standing tables and booths as well. Very clean and very well organized. Beyond the regular menu they also have a seasonal fall menu (see photos) with some terrific options. The breakfast egg roll looked especially tempting. I ordered a fancy Latte which was BIG and delicious. A huge improvement on standard diner coffee. The menu is diverse and creative. The selections are entertaining to read and quite inviting. There’s a Philly cheese steak breakfast sandwich in a bagel which I was tempted to order, but instead I chose the make your own omelette so I could taste a variety of foods. I ordered a Philly steak, pork shoulder ham, and diced sausage omelette with pepper jack. Totally off the chain. Served with hot buttered sourdough bread and hash browns, this is an amazing meal. I’ll definitely visit again when I am in the area.

Early Bird in Des Moines, Iowa is an outstanding breakfast and brunch spot that truly delivers on both food and atmosphere. On our recent visit, we were seated immediately with no wait, which is always a pleasant surprise for a popular breakfast place. The restaurant has a stylish, well-designed interior with cute, modern décor, and there’s also a nice outdoor patio for those who want to enjoy their meal in the fresh air. Everything felt clean and inviting, including the restrooms, which were spotless. I decided to go all-in with the Big Breakfast Bloody — their take on a Bloody Mary that comes fully loaded with a breakfast sandwich and tater tots right on top. It’s truly a whole breakfast in a glass, and the presentation was nothing short of amazing. The flavors were just as impressive as the look, and it made for a fun, memorable start to the day. My wife ordered the avocado toast, which was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. Service was prompt and friendly without being rushed, adding to the overall relaxed vibe. Before leaving, we checked out their gift and merchandise area, which had plenty of fun Early Bird swag — a great touch for visitors. If you’re looking for a creative, delicious breakfast or brunch in Des Moines, Early Bird is a must-visit. Highly recommend for both locals and travelers.

Stopped by Early Bird Brunch in downtown Des Moines around 1230 pm and left very disappointed. Place wasn’t busy but service was slow just to get water and order food. I ordered a drink that never came and only after asking later was told they were out. They also forgot the French toast and never apologized. The food looked nothing like the pictures on the menu and honestly felt more like prison food. Overall poor service and not worth the visit.

Went here for breakfast with my wife on a day off. The place is nice, with comfortable seating, and service was good. My wife got the breakfast fried rice and hot tea. She enjoyed the rice quite a bit, even though the rice that was used wasn't a kind traditionally used for fried rice. The tea is Tazo brand, which she says is okay; they brought a very large cup of water and only one teabag, however, so it was a bit too little tea for the water. I got the steak bagel sandwich. The steak was well cooked, not dry or undercooked and the bagel was very good. I learned that holindaise sauce isn't my favorite, but it didn't ruin the sandwich. My fruit side was also very fresh, and high quality. Overall, a good place to eat, but not the best in town. Would recommend if you're in the area looking for a breakfast/brunch. Not sure how the non-breakfast items are

The food was delicious. They were not prepared for how many people were going to be there, so we waited a long time to order and get our food. (Lots of families in town for a national wrestling tournament.). We definitely feel they did their best though. Banana bread French toast, pancakes, omelet and coffee were delicious!

I had never been to Homegrown but everyone told me it was amazing. They were correct. We ordered the coffee cake as an appetizer and it was heavenly. My friend ordered honey coffee and said it was perfect. I had a scramble and she has the "Friends with Benedicts" (so clever). It's a bit noisy due to the cement floors and industrial ceiling but it's very visually appealing. Overall, a great experience. Highly recommend!

Started with the Honey Bee Latte which was good but a tad plain. Though, the black coffee is really delicious. For food we ordered the Blueberry Streusel Pancakes, Kids Funfetti pancakes, and unclear on the omelet but it was all very well liked. The food here is always very delicious. The atmosphere is a bit loud and the customer service maybe a little lacking, but overall great experience.

The food was so good! I had to try the Pop'd Hearts! Best pastry I have ever had 🥰 Everything we had was delicious! Latte' was definitely something you should order! My Husband had the Cuban sandwich & Tomato Soup! I even had a bite, more please ☺️ Will for go back for more! Lily our Server was so sweet & very good at her job!

Stopped in on our way through town and it did not disappoint. One of the best breakfasts I have ever had! So so fresh and yummy! If they sold their salsa verde by the bottle I would buy it. I got the pulled pork with eggs and potatoes skillet my husband got the egg BLT. We shared a pop tart and avocado toast. I also got a latte. All of it 10/10!

Blueberry pancakes were great! Also the chicken salad sandwich was really good. Super cute place. Loud, but not too loud. Overall really good experience.

Pumpkin bread French toast and sweet potato pancakes. Pit ham. Lattes. What a great breakfast! Great atmosphere, awesome staff. Make a reservation online cause there always busy and there's always a wait.

Absolutely Delicious!!! If you are in Des Moines or passing by, having a meal here will be totally worth it, the food has an amazing taste, is fresh, you can tell is real food, most of the ingredients are locally grown, the ambience is nice and clean, our server Yinna was genuinely kind and attentive. Making a 5 star experience.

This was an impromptu visit for brunch on Good Friday and honestly it was a pleasant surprise! The ambiance was calm and inviting. For not a lot of square footage, the place didn't feel too cramped. Only complain is that is a bit dark toward the back side, pass the bar area. The wall decors are unique and interesting, bit mixed between classic American bar and contemporary hippie-esque aesthetic. The drink we had was nice! Would definitely come back to try more drinks. The food left a bit to to be desired, but definitely not bad and maybe we just didn't order the right thing. Vegan chicken sliders were a bit dry, maybe a sauce pair could help. The fries where actually delicious, crispy but still soft on the inside (definitely recommend this one)

A super great spot! Like 10 of us came here for some fun and we had a great time! Great food options with hilarious names 😆 Got the burger and it was generous portions with the good buttermilk ranch upon request, The drinks were great and the bathroom decorations were absolutely great 👏🤣 A fun spot to check out but parking is limited Service was great and was all done fairly quickly for our large group.

Randomly found this place and decided to get some take-out. The staff and patrons here are extremely friendly! I can see it being a neighborhood favorite! Couldn't drink because I was heading into work so I got some Iggy Pops and the Joy Division burger with a side of mac. It was a 12 minute drive home and the food was still hot and delicious! They line their to-go boxes with foil so I'm sure that helps. I'll definitely come back here another time and try other menu items and drinks! The interior is so quirky and interesting! It just draws you in! But the staff and the food is what will make you stay!

Amazing find on a random Thursday evening. Very cool atmosphere with concert posters papering the wall, and music references on the menu. I had the CBGB and ChimiChurri fries. The burgers were cooked to perfection, and the burger sauce and mustard grilled burger patties make ketchup unnecessary. The chimichurri fries are perfectly crispy and smothered in tangy sauce.

Came here for brunch and had a great time. Was originally trying to go to Eggs and Jam, but it was completely packed with an hour wait. The food is great, especially the cinnamon rolls. The decor and vibe are energetic and funky. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and quite attentive. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area.

This restaurant has a funky & vibrant atmosphere, great food and drinks, and friendly service! My experience was really positive overall here & I would certainly recommend it. We went during lunch after exploring valley junction and had a variety of appetizers and entrees. Everything was really tasty :)

Food was was SO delicious. We came in for brunch. Pancakes were super fluffy and flavorful. Eggs cooked perfectly. Service wasn't great, hardly saw our server. Took a long time to order and get checks but won't stop us from coming back.

I ordered the bbq platter with bbq ribs and boneless wings, mashed potatoes with Texas toast and the ribs were very very dry and tasteless, the chicken wings tasted like mop water, mashed potatoes were lumpy with no flavor, none of the food had flavor. The toast had no butter on it and tasted stale.i was very disappointed! Waitress was great though!!! She was kind and polite!

Went for dinner tonight. We sat downstairs for 15 mi s without being acknowledged. We didn't necessarily mind because we couldn't decide what we wanted so it gave us time to look. It was extremely loud so we asked to be moved upstairs. Once upstairs the waitress was extremely nice. Three food was ok. My son's sandwich was good. Mine had to be sent back unfortunately.

Visited with a group (12 people). Wait was short. The waitress had a great personality and was upbeat. The food came out hot and was great. Kid menu had perfect options for all the kids in the group. Service was quick given the group size, and all orders came out correct.

Food was really good but the portions were small, especially the sides. We (2 people) ordered the family meal (1/2 rack ribs, 2 meats 4 sides, 2 Texas toast, 1 corn muffin). We finished everything on the platter which we've never been able to do at other bbq locations. The sides were about 2 spoonfuls each. Service was great and friendly. Everything was good other than the portion size. Most bbq places pile it high, with plenty to take home. Would definitely go back to try other things.

The only complaint was my half slab of ribs was room temperature. I've been to so many BBQ joints that do that. I do understand it's to not dry out the meats but can it at least be served warm? It was excellent, I would definitely come back I just would like my food served hot

Food was amazing! We were served by Danielle who was absolutely delightful. We were told it would be a 15 minute wait (which was fine, they have nice seats to wait at) but we’re seated in probably 5. Our food was all delicious and was out probably 15 minutes after we ordered despite it being a packed house. Highly recommend checking it out!

I had the wing combo with half mustard sauce and half BBQ rub, and the food was genuinely delicious. I also enjoyed a golden lager beer topped with an orange. Fortunately, it wasn’t too busy when we arrived, and about 15 minutes later, we received our food. While the food was amazing, the service was disappointing. We were served by the bartender, despite sitting at a table with servers actively working. We didn’t receive any drink refills and were promised to-go boxes that never arrived. The most unfortunate part of our experience involved the bartender. I was with a friend and stepped outside briefly to smoke, out of respect for the children present downstairs. When I returned, our table had been cleared, and the check was presented. The bartender claimed he had tossed our food because he was told to, but neither my friend nor I gave such instructions. In fact, we were waiting for the to-go boxes. My friend assumed the plates were being taken to be packed up. Additionally, my half-finished golden lager was discarded without my consent. My complaint mainly concerns the poor service. There’s a saying in bar culture: “Don’t take a bottle from a baby,” implying that a half-finished drink is still in use. Unfortunately, the bartender today didn’t seem to understand this. I usually tip generously—20% or more—but due to the lack of service, I left only a 5% tip on a $33 order.

Had a lovely morning eating food here. They were fast and the staff was really nice and friendly. The food was great!! Delicious!

During a very busy Sunday morning, we were seated after a very short wait, our waitress took our order right away, and we received our food quicker than expected. Delicious breakfast at a very reasonable price. The manager on shift kept things running smoothly by seating customers, helping at the register and was very friendly. Our waitress was great also!

Service was exceptional, food was tasty, I was greeted with a warm and pleasant smile. As I went to leave there was a lady on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor in the entry way. She got up to open and hold the door to as well as to tell me to be careful. As I noticed her name tag she waws the assistant manager. Never have I seen a manager doing that kind of stuff in a restaurant. Kuddos to Jenna fir going above and beyond to make Perkins look amazing and appealing. When back in the Des Moines area I will be back.

Went in for dinner with my kids and had a wonderful experience. I was treated in with a very pleasant smile by a gal named Jenna. She sat us and told us who our server would be. Our server Leila was amazing and then ended our visit again by Jenna thanking us for coming in and invited us back again. Excellent staff!

Food was amazingly delicious! Best tangler burger ever! Pie was super tasty! Great service. Greeted at the door. Quick service! Even quicker food! Will definitely be back! Thank you for an amazing dining experience!

My husband picked up an online order i did for us for dinner. We decided to add a peice of pie. This is how they put the piece in the container. It was basically thrown in and almost upside down. He said the cashier acted like it was too big of a deal or job to add it on and get it for him. The cashier had an attitude with him. I understand the store closes at 12am but dont allow people to place orders past a certain time if it is going to be an issue. We were excited thar the location is close to my husbands work and open later because he works the 2nd shift but if this is how we can expect to be treated or have our food given to us i guess we might look elsewhere. Horrible experience.

We love this place. We have been customers for 35 years. Sometime very busy, sometimes short of staff. Always the staff that is covering for double or triple positions are exceptional long term employees. We feel welcome and like returning to family by them. Awesome job Liberty, Ron and Stacy!! The McKinley Best!!