It’s almost time to ring in the New Year, and if you’re a foodie in the Hawkeye State, here’s a fantastic Iowa dining bucket list to help you plan your year around the best meals you can find. Each of these famous restaurants has its place in Iowa lore, and you’ll appreciate the history and love how each dining room spotlights Iowa’s iconic cuisine.
- Hamburg Inn No. 2, Iowa City
Wikimedia Commons/Farragutful
Google Local/hikaru moriya When the Hamburg Inn No. 2 opened in 1948, the owners could not have predicted tha more than 70 years later, it would be one of the most famous restaurants in the state. Enjoy breakfast at the ‘Burg, stop by for lunch, or enjoy a dinner followed by their legendary pie shakes. Read more about it right here.
- Go Fish, Princeton
Facebook / Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill
Facebook / Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill Go Fish is one of Iowa’s most scenic restaurants. Enjoy a meal overlooking the beautiful Mississippi River from the tiny town of Princeton. You can drive up, or bring your boat! Read more about it right here.
- Bonaparte Retreat at Meek’s Mill, Bonaparte
Google Local / Kristen K. Haines
Tripadvisor / Hillsboor Traveler Bonaparte Retreat is located in a historic grist mill in the Villages of Van Buren County. They serve up homestyle Midwestern classics, like pork chops and tenderloins. Dining in this old Mill is like taking a step back in time. Read more about it right here.
- The Chicken, Orilla
Facebook / The Chicken Orilla
Facebook / The Chicken Orilla The Chicken is an eggciting restaurant that Iowans have been flocking to ever since it opened. It’s located right off of the Great Western Trail. Instead of staying cooped up at home, hit the trail and head here for a delicious meal. Read more about it right here.
- Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids
Google Local / Kelly Spencer
Google Local / Darryl Wiegand Saucy Focaccia is a beautiful modern restaurant that’s known for serving outrageously tasty burgers and loaded fries and tots. Their fry specials include pepper jack and bacon, chili cheese fries, tex-mex fries and more.Read more about it right here.
- Alohana Hawaiian Grill, Ankeny
Facebook / Alohana Hawaiian Grill
Tripadvisor / chuckl244 Alohana Hawaiian Grill is a taste of the tropics right here in the Midwest. Enjoy some of the most delicious Hawaiian dishes you can find stateside, all served with rice so you can mop up all of the flavorful sauces. Read more about it right here.
- Bluff Lake Catfish Farm, Maquoketa
Google Local / Jeremy Murphy
Facebook / Bluff Lake Catfish Farm Bluff Lake Catfish Farm is the place to go for fried catfish in the Hawkeye State! This scenic fishing farm started off as a small stocked lake and soon blossomed into the famous restaurant that it is today.Read more about it right here.
- St. Burch Tavern, Iowa City
Facebook / St. Burch Tavern
Facebook / St. Burch Tavern Some of the best cheese curds in Iowa are served at St. Burch, thanks to Dan and Debbie’s Creamery. You can’t go wrong when you order a meal here, but their house specialty is the fish and chips. It’s one of the best meals you’ll have in 2020.Read more about it right here.
- Americana, Des Moines
Facebook / Americana
Facebook / Americana Head to Americana for brunch and you’ll be so impressed! Their Bloody Mary bar is out-of-this-world, and you’ll appreciate their take on classic brunch favorites as well.Read more about it right here.
- Pullman, Iowa City
Google Local / Mike Thompson
Google Local / Kramer Cirineo Pullman Diner is a railcar themed restaurant that serves up classic American comfort food. They make delicious biscuits and gravy and serve up hearty meals that are sure to please even the pickiest foodie.Read more about it right here.
- Northwestern Steakhouse, Mason City
Facebook / Northwestern Steakhouse
Google Local / Juliana Bartlett Northwestern Steakhouse is located on the outskirts of Mason City. This longstanding chophouse serves steaks Greek-style, which makes them stand out from the rest of the award-winning restaurants in the state. You’ll love your meal here, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you walk in.Read more about it right here.
- Brazil Terra Grill, Des Moines
Google Local /
Facebook / Brazil Terra Grill Brazil Terra Grill is a south American steakhouse that serves an endless selection of meats. Try as much of the beef, lamb, pork, and chicken as you want and you’ll find yourself dreaming about this meal for weeks.Read more about it right here.
- Unkie’s, Thor
Google Street View
Google Local / Carlos Rivera If you’re looking for an amazing prime rib, head to Humboldt County and eat at Unkie’s. This legendary dining room serves up the best prime rib in the state.Read more about it right here.
- Three C’s Diner, Corning
Facebook / Three C’s Diner
Tripadvisor / Little Paint Three C’s Diner is a small family owned restaurant that serves up one of the best tenderloins you’ll ever try. Their BPT has won several awards over the years, and locals love it.Read more about it right here.
Where will you dine first in 2020? Tell us in the comments below!
Wikimedia Commons/Farragutful
Google Local/hikaru moriya
When the Hamburg Inn No. 2 opened in 1948, the owners could not have predicted tha more than 70 years later, it would be one of the most famous restaurants in the state. Enjoy breakfast at the ‘Burg, stop by for lunch, or enjoy a dinner followed by their legendary pie shakes. Read more about it right here.
Facebook / Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill
Go Fish is one of Iowa’s most scenic restaurants. Enjoy a meal overlooking the beautiful Mississippi River from the tiny town of Princeton. You can drive up, or bring your boat! Read more about it right here.
Google Local / Kristen K. Haines
Tripadvisor / Hillsboor Traveler
Bonaparte Retreat is located in a historic grist mill in the Villages of Van Buren County. They serve up homestyle Midwestern classics, like pork chops and tenderloins. Dining in this old Mill is like taking a step back in time. Read more about it right here.
Facebook / The Chicken Orilla
The Chicken is an eggciting restaurant that Iowans have been flocking to ever since it opened. It’s located right off of the Great Western Trail. Instead of staying cooped up at home, hit the trail and head here for a delicious meal. Read more about it right here.
Google Local / Kelly Spencer
Google Local / Darryl Wiegand
Saucy Focaccia is a beautiful modern restaurant that’s known for serving outrageously tasty burgers and loaded fries and tots. Their fry specials include pepper jack and bacon, chili cheese fries, tex-mex fries and more.Read more about it right here.
Facebook / Alohana Hawaiian Grill
Tripadvisor / chuckl244
Alohana Hawaiian Grill is a taste of the tropics right here in the Midwest. Enjoy some of the most delicious Hawaiian dishes you can find stateside, all served with rice so you can mop up all of the flavorful sauces. Read more about it right here.
Google Local / Jeremy Murphy
Facebook / Bluff Lake Catfish Farm
Bluff Lake Catfish Farm is the place to go for fried catfish in the Hawkeye State! This scenic fishing farm started off as a small stocked lake and soon blossomed into the famous restaurant that it is today.Read more about it right here.
Facebook / St. Burch Tavern
Some of the best cheese curds in Iowa are served at St. Burch, thanks to Dan and Debbie’s Creamery. You can’t go wrong when you order a meal here, but their house specialty is the fish and chips. It’s one of the best meals you’ll have in 2020.Read more about it right here.
Facebook / Americana
Head to Americana for brunch and you’ll be so impressed! Their Bloody Mary bar is out-of-this-world, and you’ll appreciate their take on classic brunch favorites as well.Read more about it right here.
Google Local / Mike Thompson
Google Local / Kramer Cirineo
Pullman Diner is a railcar themed restaurant that serves up classic American comfort food. They make delicious biscuits and gravy and serve up hearty meals that are sure to please even the pickiest foodie.Read more about it right here.
Facebook / Northwestern Steakhouse
Google Local / Juliana Bartlett
Northwestern Steakhouse is located on the outskirts of Mason City. This longstanding chophouse serves steaks Greek-style, which makes them stand out from the rest of the award-winning restaurants in the state. You’ll love your meal here, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you walk in.Read more about it right here.
Google Local /
Facebook / Brazil Terra Grill
Brazil Terra Grill is a south American steakhouse that serves an endless selection of meats. Try as much of the beef, lamb, pork, and chicken as you want and you’ll find yourself dreaming about this meal for weeks.Read more about it right here.
Google Street View
Google Local / Carlos Rivera
If you’re looking for an amazing prime rib, head to Humboldt County and eat at Unkie’s. This legendary dining room serves up the best prime rib in the state.Read more about it right here.
Facebook / Three C’s Diner
Tripadvisor / Little Paint
Three C’s Diner is a small family owned restaurant that serves up one of the best tenderloins you’ll ever try. Their BPT has won several awards over the years, and locals love it.Read more about it right here.
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Address: 214 N Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52245, USAAddress: Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill, 411 River Dr, Princeton, IA 52768, USAAddress: Bonaparte Retreat: Bonaparte, Iowa, 713 1st St, Bonaparte, IA 52620, USAAddress: 4221 SE Orilla Rd Suite A, West Des Moines, IA 50061, USAAddress: 5100 Fountains Dr NE #100, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411, USAAddress: 802 SE Oralabor Rd Suite 128, Ankeny, IA 50021, USAAddress: Bluff Lake Catfish Farm, 9301 95th Ave, Maquoketa, IA 52060, USAAddress: 127 Iowa Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240, USAAddress: 1312 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USAAddress: 17 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USAAddress: 304 16th St NW, Mason City, IA 50401, USAAddress: Brazil Terra Grill Steakhouse, 2800 University Ave STE 405, West Des Moines, IA 50266, USAAddress: 222 N Ann St, Thor, IA 50591, USAAddress: 300 9th St, Corning, IA 50841, USA
