Des Moines has its share of excellent food available from fancy dishes at upscale restaurants to comfort food favorites and everything in between. While our guide to the essential restaurants can set you in the right direction, sometimes you just need to rediscover an old favorite restaurant, or try something new . Here, find out about the best dishes we ate in September into October at restaurants across the Des Moines metro.
Birria grilled cheese at Hi Fi Brew Lounge
Birria grilled cheese, $16: Ever since I figured out that making a grilled cheese sandwich slathered in mayo before hitting the griddle makes the best version of this handheld dish, I’ve been a little obsessed about finding even more ways to make it better. Enter birria, the traditional Mexican stew that originated in the state of Jalisco with its fall-off-the-bone tender meat, in this case, beef. I could make it at home but it’s so much better when someone else does the hard work. Combining birria with a grilled cheese using pepper jack and American cheeses makes this adult version of the kids’ (and my) favorite cold weather dish.