DSM Dining: Seven Nights of Stellar Takeout
Local takeout that's a cinch to order, travels well, and tastes great at home.
Remember my recent patio-dining article? Those places were some of the most inviting restaurants I’ve found to dine alfresco.
But let’s face it. Sometimes the only place you really want to dine is on your own patio (or balcony or deck or a picnic table). When that mood hits—and you don’t want to cook—it’s good to know there are plenty of pros who will make great meals for you.
Recently, I’ve done some major digging for terrific takeout options this season.
While most any restaurant will do takeout if you ask, I focused on places that were either takeout-focused (e.g., Grateful Chef, Catering by Cyd, Nourished DSM) or places where takeout could be easily ordered online, the food traveled well, and pickup was a breeze.
And yes, I’ve personally tried them all (and took these photos), within the past few weeks, in fact.
Note that some items are day-of-the-week specific; that is, you’re not going to pick up Grateful Chef on a Monday or Basic Bird on a Tuesday; that’s why I arranged it this way. Be sure to take a look at the notes with each selection.
MONDAY: Empanadas and Ceviche from Mi Patria
Mi Patria, 1410 22nd St, West Des Moines; (515) 222-2755
I’ve been to South America a couple times, and I’d go back just for the empanadas! I love these savory pastries, and Mi Patria does wonderful versions. The pastry is light and flaky, and fillings simple and savory. They travel well and you can reheat them briefly in the oven or microwave, if you wish. Order them filled with chicken, beef, or cheese—or a trio of one of each. (I did the latter and enjoyed them all equally).
I also enjoyed the shrimp ceviche—cool, plump shrimp arrived with a classic criolla salad/salsa/relish of shaved onion, shaved green peppers, and tomatoes. The dish proved a fresh-forward treat on a warm evening.
Because the ceviche comes with a side of rice and patacones—those starchy and filling fried green plantains—we found that the two items easily fed two (especially for lighter-in-summer appetites).
Cost: $12.49 for three empanadas; $15.99 for ceviche with rice and patacones.
Availability: Any day of the week. Here’s where to order.
TUESDAY: Yum Woon Sen from Thai Flavors
1254 E 14th St., Des Moines; (515) 262-4658
OR: 2301 Ingersoll Ave.; (515) 776-7201
Thai Flavors does takeout exceptionally well—online ordering is simple, and I like the way they let you customize most dishes extensively with extra veggies and other add-ons (or remove certain things, like cilantro or red onion). It’s a bit like ordering from Noodles and Company—but the food is so much more homespun.
Yum Woon Sen brings a colorful tangle of glass noodles and red onions, green onions, and cilantro, with a choice of protein (I love the way Thai Flavors fries tofu), all flavored-up with the bright zip of lime and the heat of chili. Note this was a warm salad, and tasted good that way, though I preferred the leftovers cold the next day. One order of this dish easily served two—though for good measure, you might want to snag some pot stickers or spring rolls.
P.S.: I picked up the above dish at Thai Flavors on East Grand, but you can also order this at their Ingersoll location.
Cost: $11.95, plus $2 for my add-ons of cashews and cucumbers.
Availability: Any day of the week. Here’s where to order.
WEDNESDAY: Roasted Beet Salad from Nourished DSM
UPDATE: Nourished DSM’s salads are now available from Moxie. See info below, for details.
Nourished DSM serves wonderfully fresh and handcrafted vegetarian and vegan food. Ordering is a snap: The menu goes live on Thursdays (they’ll send you alerts to remind you, if you wish), and you pick up your order the following Wednesday. See their website for details..
I ordered the Roasted Beet Salad which arrived with all kinds of goodies: quinoa, a dried fruit-and-nut mix, pickled red onions, and locally grown greens. I loved everything about it: The beets were tender and everything was judiciously added—I appreciate salads where lettuce is just one component among other stars, as was the case here. I absolutely adored the French maple vinaigrette. It had that zip you want in a dressing, along with just a touch of sweetness that went so well with everything on the plate. Note, however, that the menu changes weekly.
Tip: This would have been a fine and filling dinner for one; however, I paired it with grilled chicken for a fine and filling meal for two.
Cost: $13
Availability: Wednesdays only, must be preordered.
THURSDAY: Something Fresh and Sane from The Grateful Chef
1938 SE 6th St Suite 103, Des Moines; Phone: (515) 901-5692
Much restaurant food is indulgent food—that’s often why it tastes so good. But when I feel like I’ve had too much food that’s generous on the meat, and/or cream, butter, cheese, and starch, the Grateful Chef calls my name. Chef Brandy Shayan’s meals are wholly satisfy, without being over-the-top rich.
I recently enjoyed a tender and moist za’atar roast chicken served with a vivid and bright green tahini sauce flavored lemon, parsley and garlic. The locally grown cauliflower, eggplant, and tomatoes, along with baby red potatoes, made for a varied and fascinating dish.
Thing is, the menu changes weekly so that dish might not be available for a while to come. That’s OK. Shayan is a master at creating this kind of thoughtful, precise food made from well-sourced ingredients week after week.
The week’s menu goes live on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. Place your order early in the week, then pick up your food on Thursday or Friday. The refrigerated meals take about 35 minutes to warm in the oven once you’re home.
Cost: $25 for two servings.
Availability: Pick up on Thursdays and Fridays (order earlier in the week). Here’s where to order.
FRIDAY: Lamb Chop Dinner from Catering by Cyd
5405 NW 78th Ct, Johnston.
I adore cooking dinner for friends, but I inadvertently invited guests to dine chez moi on very day I was scheduled to turn in a draft of my next book. D’Oh!
I knew my guests adored lamb, and I’d seen a fabulous lamb menu on caterer Cyd Koehn’s website. At $65 per person plus tax, it was more of a splurge than anything else I ordered for this story. Yet Cyd’s menu made my life so easy that day, and I was just so proud of what was on my table that night, that it was worth every penny.
The menu kicked off with a generous and varied cheese and fruit board. Next, we moved to the table, where I served the lovely lettuce wraps alongside shrimp cocktail, offering a choice of Cusabi sauce (a creamy wasabi-spiked sauce) or traditional shrimp cocktail sauce. We moved onto luscious lamb chops, cooked perfectly medium and served with an herb-butter sauce and a minted cream sauce, with elegant little green bean wraps and minted rice. Dessert was an elegant flourless chocolate cake with berries and whipped cream.
Raves all around, people! Deadline met, guests happy!
Cost: $130 for two people (I ordered for four). Cyd has many other meal options, by the way.
Availability: Pick up in Johnston or pay extra for delivery. Note that food needs to be ordered at least three days in advance, so plan ahead. Here’s where to order.
Disclosure: Cyd Koehn occasionally hires me to do freelance writing (e.g., I wrote the copy for her website). However, I pay full price when I order from her, and she does not compensate me in any way for coverage. Ever.
SATURDAY: Ribs from Flying Mango
4345 Hickman Rd., Des Moines; Phone: (515) 255-4111.
I’ve always loved the ribs here, but with so many other great menu items (from The Jenny Salad—with brisket!—to a great shrimp and grits), it’s easy to get distracted. And when I do, I’m never disappointed.
Still, for my takeout visit, I trusted that ribs would travel especially well, and of course they did. These are beauties – I love the peppery rub and the captivating smoky flavor of the texture: tender, but not falling-apart tender, the meat is yielding but firm. It’s my kind of barbecue.
Sides are great, too, of course: We enjoyed collard greens with pulled pork, those famous calico-style barbecue beans, cornbread, and the potato of the day (mashed in this case). And do try dessert: We snagged the last piece of a good, old-fashioned pineapple upside-down cake, and loved this moist, sweet beauty!
Tip: Most longtime readers know by now that I’m not someone who loves to stuff myself silly with food. We found that a half-rack, ordered with a couple extra sides and one lovely dessert, was plenty for two diners. Larger appetite? Order a full rack.
Cost: $37 for the above-pictured feast.
Availability: Wednesday through Saturday. Here’s where to order.
SUNDAY: Basic Bird at Harbinger
2724 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines; Phone: (515) 244-1314.
Joe Tripp’s take on Korean fried chicken is hardly a secret. When I went in to pick up the Sunday-only dinner, orders were lined up and the kitchen was in full-hustle mode. Fortunately, the process all ran like clockwork.
This is great food and a terrific bargain, in my book. The dinner for two comes with nine pieces of boneless chicken fried with an immensely satisfying coating around rich-tasting, irresistibly tender meat. You also get rice and three banchan (side dishes) of the day. Ours were a delightfully sweet-tinged potato salad, a tangy and bold kimchi, and a broccoli salad. It all combined for a feast of flavors and textures I don’t get every day.
Tip: Nine pieces of chicken is more than enough for two; next time, I’m going to order two more sides and stash them in the fridge. That way, a couple pieces of leftover chicken, plus the extra sides = Monday lunch.
Cost: $25.95 (for a dinner for two)
Availability: Sundays only. Here’s where to order.
Whew! That article took a lot out of me! As you can see, I do more than take photos—I give you the information you need to easily order a great meal. Please consider subscribing to help support this newsletter.
Not ready to commit to a paid subscription? It’s easy to make a one-time donation at Buy me a coffee! Your support will help me continue to cover the local dining scene.
About the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative: I’m thrilled to be a member of this collaborative. Help support the movement by subscribing to other columnists. Get a taste of what we’re up to with this overview of the many great stories published last week.
Yay, Wini!
Have you tried those the meat pies from Pie Mate Australian Bakehouse? Those sound really good. https://www.facebook.com/piematesaustralianbakehouse