12 Food Stops In Iowa That Could Easily Become The Highlight Of Your Road Trip
Think Iowa is just cornfields and long stretches of highway? Cute.
The food stops along the way might have a few surprises waiting.
Where else can a road trip detour lead to the Ice Cream Capital of the World, a restaurant that has been feeding people since the 1800s, and a loose-meat sandwich with enough Iowa history to deserve its own documentary?
Then there are old-school bakeries, smoky barbecue joints, massive steaks, and roadside spots that somehow become the meal everyone talks about after getting home.
Some of these places have been around for generations. Others have picked up serious national attention without losing that local feel.
And yes, there’s even a stop where presidents have sat down for a meal.
So forget the usual “just passing through” attitude. In Iowa, the next food stop might be the reason the road trip gets remembered.
1. Breitbach’s Country Dining
Imagine a restaurant that was already serving meals before Abraham Lincoln became president. Breitbach’s Country Dining opened on August 23, 1852, making it the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Iowa.
You will find it perched at 563 Balltown Rd in Balltown, right on a bluff with sweeping views of the Mississippi River.
Long ago, this spot worked as a stagecoach stop for weary travelers. One family has run it since 1862, and the sixth generation now keeps the kitchen humming.
Fire leveled the building twice, in 2007 and 2008, yet meals kept coming from a temporary space called The Gathering Place.
Now for the good part, the food. Broasted chicken, hearty soups, and German favorites like sauerkraut and sausage fill the menu.
Their breaded pork tenderloin even won an award from the Iowa Pork Producers Association in 2012.
Save room, because the homemade pies are the stuff of legend. Food Network featured the restaurant on Feasting on Asphalt 2, and it starred in the documentary Spinning Plates.
A slice of pie with a river view tastes like 170 years of stubborn love.
2. Taylor’s Maid-Rite
Loose meat on a bun might sound strange until you take your first bite. Taylor’s Maid-Rite has been serving these crumbly, savory sandwiches since January 1, 1928.
Swing by 106 S 3rd Ave in Marshalltown, and you will step into nearly a century of tradition.
Here is a cute bit of trivia. The Maid-Rite name came from a deliveryman who said the sandwich was made right.
The first Maid-Rite started in Muscatine in 1926, but this Marshalltown shop became one of the most famous.
The founder bought the franchise for just 300 dollars back then. Talk about a smart investment!
The shop moved across the street into a new building in 1958, and the same family still runs it today.
Each sandwich starts with hamburger ground fresh daily and mixed with a secret spice blend. Grab a seat on a shiny red stool at the counter.
Watch the open kitchen work its magic right in front of you.
Add some homemade pie for a sweet finish. Simple food rarely gets this famous, and that is exactly the charm.
3. Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop
Bring both hands and maybe a friend, because these sandwiches are nearly a foot wide. Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop has been frying up breaded pork tenderloins for decades in Iowa’s capital city.
Point your GPS toward 1401 Army Post Rd in Des Moines, and get ready for crunch.
Every morning, the kitchen makes tenderloins and onion rings from scratch. Nothing comes out of a freezer bag here.
That fresh effort shows in every golden, crispy bite.
Sizes come with royal names, the king and the queen. Both hang way past the edges of the bun, so expect a delightful mess.
Feeling adventurous? Try the taco loin or the veggie loin for a fun twist.
A national magazine once praised this spot for serving one of the best sandwiches in Iowa. Inside, the cool 1950s look makes you feel like you rolled in on a vintage road trip.
Live too far away to visit often? Smitty’s ships frozen tenderloins to other states, ready to fry at home.
Still, nothing beats eating one fresh at the counter where the legend began.
4. Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe
An ice cream shop holds one of the state’s most famous tenderloin titles. Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe opened in 1995 as a seasonal spot for frosty treats.
Today it sits at 304 W 2nd St in Prairie City, drawing hungry fans from all over.
A young owner bought the shop in 2007 at just 20 years old and added a full food menu. Two years later, the Iowa Pork Producers Association crowned it home of Iowa’s best tenderloin.
USA Today took notice too.
Fans describe the sandwich as larger than your face, topped with onions and pickles. Want something wild?
The Magg stacks a tenderloin with a cheeseburger made from family farm beef. The Mingo adds Italian sausage, mozzarella, and marinara on top.
Of course, the ice cream still shines. Overload Twisters blend creamy goodness with chunky mix-ins, like the popular Pineapple Upside Cake.
During Tulip Time, look for the Dutch Letter Twister made with homemade almond paste.
Check the chalkboard for specials before ordering. Dessert and dinner under one roof is a combo worth bragging about.
5. Hamburg Inn No. 2
Ever wanted to eat where presidents grabbed breakfast? Hamburg Inn No. 2 has welcomed Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama through its doors.
This beloved diner sits at 214 N Linn St in Iowa City, just steps from downtown.
It first opened in 1948 as part of a small chain of Hamburg Inns. Only this one remains, which explains the No. 2 in the name.
During the Iowa Caucuses, candidates treat it like a must-visit stop.
Fans of The West Wing may recognize it from the show too. The diner also started the playful Coffee Bean Caucus, where guests vote for candidates using coffee beans.
Democracy never smelled so good.
Breakfast runs all day, so pancakes at dinnertime are totally fair game. Try the Iowa omelet for a hearty start.
Then order the famous pie shake, where a slice of pie gets blended into a milkshake.
French silk, Dutch apple, and red velvet cake are all tasty options. The diner reopened in October 2023 with its classic Formica tables and vintage photos intact.
Some traditions are simply too delicious to retire.
6. Ronneburg Restaurant
Grab a seat at the table, because meals here are meant for sharing. Ronneburg Restaurant serves family-style dishes inside a building with deep roots in the Amana Colonies.
Find it at 4408 220th Trail in Amana, a village settled by German immigrants in the 1850s.
Long before it became a restaurant in 1950, the building worked as a communal kitchen. Colony members gathered here for meals every day.
That spirit of togetherness still fills the dining room.
The name honors a medieval castle in Hesse, Germany. That fortress once sheltered the ancestors of the Amana settlers.
History lovers will enjoy that story as much as dessert.
Now, about the menu. Schnitzel, sauerbraten, brats, and sausages headline the hearty lineup.
The spaetzle even comes straight from Germany for an authentic touch.
Most meats come from the nearby Amana Meat Shop, and bread arrives from the Amana Bakery. Spread some house-made strawberry-rhubarb jam on a warm slice.
Passing bowls around the table turns any lunch into a cozy celebration.
Leave hungry? Not a chance in this charming corner of Iowa.
7. Jaarsma Bakery
Dessert shaped like the alphabet? Count us in.
Jaarsma Bakery has been baking Dutch treats since 1898 using recipes carried over from Holland. It sits proudly at 727 Franklin St in Pella, right on the charming town square.
The star of the show is the Dutch Letter. These flaky pastries are filled with almond paste and usually shaped like an S.
The shape honors Sinterklaas Day on December 6.
Once a holiday-only treat, Dutch Letters are now available all year long. Your sweet tooth can celebrate in any season.
Grab a few extras for the car ride, because sharing gets tough.
Back in the early days, the bakery used wood-fired brick ovens. It moved to its current spot on the square in 1948.
Four generations of one family have kept the recipes alive.
Beyond the letters, shelves hold breads, cakes, and cookies galore. Try Speculaas, a spiced Dutch cookie, or Boter Koek, a rich almond butter cake.
Bakery helpers often wear Delft blue outfits with Dutch aprons and hats.
Pella makes stepping into Holland feel easy and delicious.
8. Wells Visitor Center And Ice Cream Parlor
Welcome to the Ice Cream Capital of the World, and yes, that is an official title. Le Mars earned it in 1994, thanks to over 150 million gallons made here each year.
The Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor waits at 115 Central Ave NW in Le Mars.
Part museum and part sweet shop, this place lives in a beautifully restored historic building. Interactive exhibits let you explore a virtual production line.
You can even race virtual freezer robots.
History buffs will love the story wall. Two brothers founded Wells Dairy in Sioux City back in 1925.
Free movies play in the theater every 15 minutes.
The Blue Bunny name came from a 1935 naming contest. A young boy’s love for blue bunnies inspired the winning idea.
The parlor serves over 40 flavors, so choosing might take a while. Carry your cone up to the rooftop patio, the only one in town.
Then stroll downtown and spot over 50 quirky ice cream cone sculptures.
Brain freeze has never felt so worth it.
9. Hickory Park
Around 16,000 guests stop by this barbecue joint every single week. That number alone tells you something tasty is happening at Hickory Park.
Head to 1404 S Duff Ave in Ames, and follow the sweet smell of hickory smoke.
Since 1970, this restaurant has been an Ames favorite. Smoked beef, pork, turkey, and homemade Polish sausage fill the giant menu.
Order them as sandwiches, platters, or combination dinners.
The Saucy Southerner piles chopped smoked pork, beef, and turkey into one glorious sandwich. Feeling bold?
The Garbage Burger is a fan favorite with a funny name. The ribs smoke low and slow until they practically melt.
Then comes the real showstopper, the old-fashioned ice cream fountain. Over 50 sundaes, shakes, and malts are made with Blue Bunny ice cream.
The Turtle Sundae and Toffee Park are crowd pleasers.
Inside, the decor feels like an old saloon in a western town. Fun art and keepsakes from five decades line the walls.
Outside, a friendly cardinal statue poses for photos.
Generous portions and fair prices make every visit feel like a win.
10. Northwestern Steakhouse
Olive oil, butter, and a secret Greek seasoning walk into an Iowa steakhouse. The punchline is one of the juiciest steaks in the Midwest.
Northwestern Steakhouse sits at 304 16th St NW in Mason City, serving up flavor since 1920.
Greek immigrants first opened it as Pete’s Place over a century ago. It moved to its current home in 1954.
The name changed to Northwestern Steakhouse in 1965.
The magic starts with aged, top choice Iowa beef. Each steak cooks in extra-virgin olive oil, butter, and that mysterious seasoning blend.
The result is tender, rich, and wonderfully unforgettable.
Not in a steak mood? Chicken, walleye, shrimp, and Greek salads are on the menu too.
Be sure to order the spaghetti side, topped with steak drippings and Parmesan cheese.
Walking inside feels like stepping into old America. Cozy wooden booths, vintage movie posters, and old Mason City photos decorate the room.
A portrait of the founder hangs behind the register.
The same family still runs the place today. Some recipes deserve to stay secret forever.
11. Machine Shed Restaurant
Overalls, tractors, and cinnamon rolls the size of a softball? Sign us up.
Machine Shed Restaurant opened in 1978 with a simple promise to honor the American farmer. The original location stands at 7250 Northwest Blvd in Davenport, ready to feed the hungry.
This place is farm-rooted, not just farm-themed. Food gets made from scratch every day using hearty Midwestern recipes.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner all come with big portions.
Start with the award-winning cinnamon rolls slathered in real buttercream frosting. Seriously, plan on sharing or taking some home.
Homemade pies round out the dessert lineup nicely.
The baked potato soup is world famous, loaded with Colby cheese, green onions, and smoked bacon. Fried chicken gets seasoned with the restaurant’s own spice blend.
The Iowa Chop won a national pork recipe contest.
That thick chop comes stuffed with apple-raisin dressing. Sunday brunch fans can enjoy a popular buffet too.
Outside, vintage tractors and farm equipment make fun photo spots. Inside, farm art covers the walls.
Few meals celebrate the heartland quite so proudly or so deliciously.
12. Darrell’s Place
Small towns sometimes hide the biggest legends. Darrell’s Place calls itself the Home of Iowa’s Original Number One Pork Tenderloin, and it has the award to prove it.
You will find it at 4010 1st St in Hamlin, where Highway 71 meets Highway 44.
Back in 2003, the Iowa Pork Producers Association handed out its very first top tenderloin award. Darrell’s Place took home that honor.
Today the kitchen goes through over 200 pounds of pork every week.
Each tenderloin gets pounded thin and coated in a delicate golden breading. It stays juicy and tender inside.
The small bun barely covers the middle, which feels like part of the fun.
Opened in 1980, the restaurant has a quirky building with a past as a machine shed. Wood-paneled walls show off sports posters and newspaper clippings.
The Reuben sandwich has a big fan following too.
Save room for rhubarb pie served with vanilla soft serve. The rhubarb comes from nearby gardens and gets frozen, so pie lasts all year.