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Trending Restaurants in Iowa

Monthly discoveries · Places on the rise

Good places keep getting better. Discover restaurants making the biggest gains in Restaurant Score and find a new favourite for your next visit.

calendar_monthScores as of October 9, 2026

The Restaurants on the rise

Leading monthly increases · Iowa
Illustrative image: Destination dining room
74.5
#1

Des Moines Iowa

Panka Peruvian Restaurant

trending_up+55.9pts
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Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
72.6
#2

Iowa City Iowa

NutriSport & Smoothie

trending_up+54.5pts
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Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
71.9
#3

Knoxville Iowa

Lucky Buffet

trending_up+54.4pts
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More restaurants gaining ground

Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#4

JB's Corner Grill

place Waterloo, Iowa

trending_up+52.3pts
69.0
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Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#5

Knight Bites

place La Porte City, Iowa

trending_up+50.8pts
67.8
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Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#6

Taza Fresh

place Ames, Iowa

trending_up+50.4pts
67.2
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Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#7

Blended

place Dyersville, Iowa

trending_up+50.2pts
67.0
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Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
#8

Smoke N Firehouse No. 20

place Ringsted, Iowa

trending_up+46.6pts
61.6
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Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
#9

Lloyd’s Pizza Gelato & Cocktails

place Asbury, Iowa

trending_up+45.4pts
66.7
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Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#10

Guanajuato - Antojitos Mexicanos

place Storm Lake, Iowa

trending_up+42.3pts
56.4
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Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#11

Plate and Palette

place Anamosa, Iowa

trending_up+41.9pts
55.8
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Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#12

Wingstop

place Des Moines, Iowa

trending_up+41.6pts
74.1
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Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#13

Sakura Express

place Bettendorf, Iowa

trending_up+40.4pts
75.4
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Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
#14

El Encanto Restaurant

place Sumner, Iowa

trending_up+39.0pts
52.0
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Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
#15

712 Eat + Drink

place Council Bluffs, Iowa

trending_up+36.8pts
84.5
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Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#16

Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant

place Council Bluffs, Iowa

trending_up+36.4pts
65.9
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Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#17

Arby's

place Urbandale, Iowa

trending_up+36.2pts
72.3
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Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#18

Arby's

place Sioux City, Iowa

trending_up+34.6pts
75.4
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Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#19

Palms DSM

place Des Moines, Iowa

trending_up+34.4pts
76.3
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Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
#20

Butcher’s Brewhuis & The Asylum Bar

place Pella, Iowa

trending_up+34.4pts
68.0
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Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
#21

Pub 52

place Sergeant Bluff, Iowa

trending_up+33.6pts
60.9
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Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#22

Taco John's

place Ottumwa, Iowa

trending_up+32.6pts
69.7
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Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#23

Hy-Vee Deli

place Grimes, Iowa

trending_up+32.0pts
57.4
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Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#24

Taco Bell

place Ottumwa, Iowa

trending_up+31.8pts
63.7
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Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#25

Bubba

place Des Moines, Iowa

trending_up+31.4pts
77.7
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Progress you can see.

A little context

Trending follows the largest positive changes in Restaurant Score over a monthly comparison. The current scores are dated October 9, 2026; the comparison target is September 9, 2026. The nearest earlier weekly observation, up to 14 days before that target, supplies each restaurant's starting score.

Changes are measured in points. This list reflects score growth; our restaurant rankings in Iowa offer another way to discover places by their current score. Explore the scoring methodology for more context.

Follow your appetite.

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