Des Moines has a small but real Nepali food scene, anchored by the Bhutanese-Nepali refugee community that has grown here since the 2010s. Ten new listings just went live in the MeetNepali directory — three kitchens, neighborhood groceries, and the community anchors that hold it all together — so here's the whole roundup in one place, plus two new Salt Lake City additions from the same batch.
A quick note on how to read this guide: the first three spots are the kitchens — the places to go hungry. After that come the groceries and community spots that make the scene work, and finally the Salt Lake City additions. Hours and phone numbers come from the directory listings, but call ahead before a special trip.
1. Kathmandu Restaurant
If you ask around the Bhutanese-Nepali community in Des Moines where to eat, Kathmandu Restaurant in Windsor Heights comes up first. It's the most Nepali-primary kitchen on this list — momos, thukpa, sekuwa, and a full Nepali thali — founded by Bhutanese and Nepali refugees, and you can taste it.
Find it at 7229 Apple Valley; the full directory listing (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/kathmandu-restaurant-windsor-heights) has photos and details. Open Monday through Sunday, 11 AM to 9 PM, and the number is (515) 255-1270 — worth a call if you're feeding a crowd.
2. Spices of Nepal
Spices of Nepal does double duty on SW 9th Street: a Nepali-primary kitchen up front with an attached grocery, which is exactly the combination a homesick cook wants. The draw is the momo lineup — steamed, fried, and chili momos — and you can stock the pantry on the same trip.
The address is 4804 SW 9th St, and the listing (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/spices-of-nepal-des-moines) has the full rundown. Hours are Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM; closed Tuesdays. Phone: (515) 207-1173.
3. Chowrastha Indian Grill & Eatery
Honest label first: Chowrastha is an Indian-primary grill that also serves Nepalese dishes — not a Nepali restaurant per se. But the Nepali touches are real, including the Chowrastha Special Chicken Momos, and the hours are unbeatable: open daily, 8 AM to 11 PM.
It's at 5910 Ashworth Rd in West Des Moines; see the listing page (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/chowrastha-indian-grill-eatery-west-des-moines) for photos, or call (515) 348-1054. A solid pick when the craving hits at an odd hour.
4. Namaste Nepali Grocery Store
For cooking at home, Namaste Nepali Grocery Store on Indianola Ave is the neighborhood staple — the spices, lentils, rice, and snacks that are hard to find in mainstream supermarkets. It's at 3314 Indianola Ave, and the directory entry (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/namaste-nepali-grocery-store-des-moines) has the details. Call (515) 204-2429 to check what's in stock.
5. Bhutanese Community in Iowa
Food scenes don't grow without community infrastructure, and the Bhutanese Community in Iowa has been that backbone since 2011 — a nonprofit serving Bhutanese-Nepali families across the metro, from resettlement support to cultural programming. If you're new to Des Moines, start here: 4121 SE 14th St, listed at (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/bhutanese-community-in-iowa-des-moines), phone (515) 418-9718.
6. Hindu Cultural and Educational Center
The Hindu Cultural and Educational Center on E Army Post Rd is the Bhutanese Hindu community's cultural and religious home in Des Moines — festivals, rituals, and classes that keep traditions alive for the next generation. Visit at 1960 E Army Post Rd; the listing (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/hindu-cultural-and-educational-center-des-moines) has contact details, or call (515) 505-5538.
7. Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Iowa
Worth the short drive: the Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Iowa sits in Madrid, about 19 miles outside Des Moines, and draws Hindu families from across central Iowa for worship and festivals. The address is 33916 155th Ln, Madrid — full listing at (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/hindu-temple-cultural-center-of-iowa-madrid) — and the number is (515) 795-2635.
8. Himalayan Kitchen
This batch of listings also reached Salt Lake City, where Himalayan Kitchen is the Nepali-primary standout: steamed Himalayan momos, Nepali chili, and garlic naan at 360 State St. Hours are Monday through Saturday 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Sunday 5 to 10 PM — see the full listing (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/himalayan-kitchen-salt-lake-city) for more.
9. Namaste Nanglo Groceries
Also new in the Salt Lake area: Namaste Nanglo Groceries in Millcreek, a Nepali/Indian/Pakistani grocery at 741 E 3300 S, open daily 9 AM to 9 PM. It's the same family-run operation as the West Valley City store below — listing here (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/namaste-nanglo-groceries-millcreek) — phone (801) 467-2552.
10. Namaste Nanglo Bazaar
The family's second location, Namaste Nanglo Bazaar, serves West Valley City from 3546 S Redwood Rd — same shelves, same family, west-side convenience. Full details are on the listing (https://meetnepali.com/businesses/namaste-nanglo-bazaar-west-valley-city), or call (385) 616-9867.
Know a spot I missed? New listings go live in the directory every week — add the business or drop a comment and I'll fold it into the next update.
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