Very rude customer service and the pho was very bland. The waiter rushed me and didn't even give me time to pick my order. I was treated differently than other customers (white people). read more

I found this place with my handy dandy yelp app on my phone! Yay!! I was so excited about coming to this place, the other people on the plane were laughing at the fact that I was excited about coming to Des Moines. Hey I happen to like Iowa! Came here at lunch with a friend and the meal was ok. Almost missed the place because it doesn't look like a restaurant. Look for the plain red brick box like all the other red brick boxes near it. Yeah see what I mean? The place was very busy for lunch but still was sat and received the food in a timely manner. Pho was just ok. Nothing stellar. Next time I'll be trying something else. Most meals were about 7 dollars!! Wow! That's about the price of appetizers back in SF, not the main course! It's nice to be in the fields. =) read more

Easily my favorite restaurant in Des Moines. I like it , not only for the incredible food, but they actually have a separate vegetarian menu with a plethora of options. I enjoy the spartan atmosphere with kitschy Buddhas and hit it up at least once a month and is my first choice to bring visiting friends. The service is excellent and fast! I keep trying to work myself through the menu to try everything but keep getting 23c , my favorite there. Also, try the spring rolls - incredible! read more

You'd be a dong to not like A Dong. Prices are reasonable, the menu is vast, and they dumb things down to the point where all you have to do is say a number and food will eventually appear. Bubble teas are great. Tiger beers are (not) made with real tiger. I've always enjoyed stopping in and only have a couple of hold ups. Most things that I've ordered happened to include mushrooms despite no mention of that on the menu. I guess I should just start saying, "no mushrooms please" whenever I order literally anything, just to be safe. Also, while everything that I've ever put into my mouth from A Dong has tasted various degrees of good, a couple of things have smelt terrible - that's never fun. Still, if you want to load up on good grub and are in the area, then there are worse things to digest than A Dong. read more

My favorite food in Des Moines. I lived here for 6 years and would eat there at least twice a month. Probably would have been more often, but they only took cash at their old location and I was a poor college student living off credit most of the time. The food is dirt cheap, fresh produce, fantastic noodles and meats. Even the seafood seemed fresh for a land locked state. It always seemed like a fairly authentic experience (with the caveat of never having been to Vietnam) and not a dumbed down westernized version of Vietnamese food. Great vegetarian options, expansive menu, not just eggrolls and pho. The staff is attentive and friendly. This may be the best Vietnamese food I've ever had. I go out of my way on westbound road trips to stop here. read more

Never disappointed with any dish I have ever gotten here. Vast menu selection, prepared very fast and HOT. Order the fermented lime drink and a frosty Tiger and enjoy! Just like the name, the food is serious! read more

First off, stop reading this and go look up A Dong's Facebook page. I'll wait. It's so hilarious and run by someone who works at the restaurant. If that didn't pull you in, the giant menu with tons of options should. I usually go with my old stand bys of pho, cream cheese chicken rolls and Vietnamese style coffee (omnomnom) but I was vegetarian for Lent and I had so many options to choose from here! They also have a dessert drink that is made of beans, paste and grass or something, at least that's what it looks like, and even that's surprisingly good! So... What am I saying? Read their facebook, go to their restaurant, eat all their yummy food, and leave happy. You're welcome. read more

Yes, it seems we have the best Vietnamese food in the DSM. I'm actually from San Francisco. With all due respect to all of Iowa, I'm going to have to pull rank and say that I know what I'm talking about when it comes to Vietnamese food. This place is really rather good, although unfortunately named. Clean dining room, quick service. Food always satisfies. read more

"Meh. I've experience better." pretty much accurately describes my reaction to the food at this place. I ordered the Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe with meat and veggies) and the beef Pho. The crepe consistency was lacking and got soggy pretty quickly. There wasn't much seasoning in the innards of the crepe and no pickled cucumbers/carrots on the side. That being said, they were generous with the meat filling. The Pho was pretty disappointing. The broth was bland, and I was honestly surprised at how small the portion was. Pho is supposed to be given in a heaping bowl with lots of broth! I had the put (watery..tsk tsk) Sriracha sauce into my pho to make it more passable. Service got a little spotty when it got busy, but understandable. Everyone was friendly, but the food was on the bland side. read more

After eating here, all I could think is "DONG! Why have I passed this place so many times and not eaten here?" Definitely my loss until today! My wife suggested this place and I am sure glad she did. A Dong offers an incredibly diverse menu. Amazingly fast service, cheap prices and delicious taste makes this a new favorite place on my list in terms of Asian food. Try the egg rolls - they are fantastically prepared, light and served with a slightly sweet/tangy dipping sauce that is a perfect complement to the egg roll itself. Even my kids (12 and 9 years old) loved their meals - if you are a parent of children that age, you understand what an achievement that is. If you are in Des Moines, you need to get out there and try this place. It is fantastic! read more

So I ate a bowl of pho at A Dong a long time ago and it was very bland so I haven't been back. I decided to go back and give them another chance but boy oh boy was I disappointed again. The word of the day in this review is bland. Everything we ate was bland. I ordered a iced coffee with condensed milk and said...there's no way this could be bland, but it was! The coffee they used was very watered down. This coffee drink is supposed to be super strong and flavorful! Now on to the pho dishes...my girlfriend got the special which comes with everything and I ordered my usual beef and meatball pho. My bowl of pho was so small that I had to ask our waiter if they mistakenly gave me a kid's bowl. Nope, that was their normal sized bowl for pho. So disappointing...pho is supposed to be in a big bowl so you can enjoy the broth and have room to mix in the goodies. Though I didn't really want to enjoy this broth. It was watery and had no depth in flavor. Plus side was that they gave me plenty of meatballs. I had to ask for my beef since they forgot. I just kept looking at my bowl thinking I've eaten cereal in bigger bowls! Super disappointed with my dining experience. Though I've heard they have better vermicelli and rice dishes so maybe I'll try that...but I'm afraid they'll be bland. read more

A Dong Restaurant - Spring rolls. Quite small and full of lettuce and rice noodles. Small pieces of shrimp too - Vegetarian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I've said this out loud many times - "the best restaurant in Des Moines." The menu is huge. The service is usually very fast and the hot tea is amazing. I haven't tried any other Vietnamese restaurants in Des Moines so I may be biased. My wife is vegan and there are lots of options for her. Fun to memorize your favorite dish by # read more

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! The renovation is beautiful. The decor, floors, wood. So lovely :) We arrived at 5:45 and there was a pretty long line but it moved quickly. It's a busy place! We ordered pork egg rolls which were the bomb.com. I usually get the spring rolls so it was nice to try something new. I ordered the 119, coconut curry with beef and rice. It's listed as a popular item and I see why. Delicious! I also ordered the hot French press coffee. When it arrived I realized I had no idea how to make the coffee. Nothing a little trip to YouTube couldn't fix. It was the 2nd best coffee I've had. I'm wondering now if it's theirs specifically, or if I have missed the train on French press the whole time. My dinner date ordered the 79 (I think) with hot tea. The tea was super hot but once it cooled down he really enjoyed. He ate all of his food and helped me with the coconut curry. The service was a little thin tonight but the food still came out incredibly fast. Altogether our bill was $22. For the portions, the price, and the flavor this place is a treasure! read more

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I love this place. Very fresh, very tasty. I haven't had Vietnamese food anywhere else, so I can't compare, but according to others it holds up well. I almost exclusively order off the vegetarian menu (and it's pretty extensive), I did once try a soup with fish balls in it, and I can say that I won't try it again. Soup was fine, fish balls are not for me. The bubble tea is fun and yummy. The place is sparkling clean and very spacious, and the staff is super friendly. read more

I really don't understand how this restaurant has so many stars... There are SO many other Vietnamese restaurants in Des Moines that are way better options. That's being said, I feel that the food is sub par. Everything I have ever ordered from A Dong has been bland. If you've never had good Vietnamese food, I suppose you wouldn't know the difference. read more

I was amazed at how efficient this place runs. We ordered two bowls of pho, and they were out in less than 10 minutes. What whaat?? My boyfriend loves the pho here. The broth is tasty, noodles are tender, meat is plenty, plus there's lots of seating and clean bathrooms. What's not to like? read more

I like the Dong! Considering the limited Vietnamese restaurants in Des Moines, A Dong is a nice option for lunch or dinner. I usually go for lunch and really enjoy the veggie menu. Very friendly service. read more

I recently visited A Dong for the first time since they reopened. I was not disappointed. The menu is large but I knew what I wanted (PHO!). The service is always quick. The food is still as good as I remember. Maybe next time I'll be ready to try something besides the pho - but let's be honest, a large bowl of the best, flavorful broth in Des Moines is hard to not get. read more

Wasn't sure about this place when my girlfriend introduced me to it during lunch one day. But I was definitely surprised when we were seated within 2 minutes during the lunch rush. I was again surprised when our food came out of the kitchen promptly (5-10 min). Then there is the food, with all that speediness they showed at first I was a little worried. I was wrong, I decided to order the A Dong Pho as a test to see how the rest of their menu might hold up. It was great, the meat was perfectly cooked, even the meatballs (which can be scary to some not used to Asian cuisine) were tender and not rubbery. The broth was well balanced on its own (though I tend to drown it in Sriracha), and the noodles seemed freshly cooked. My girlfriend is a vegetarian and was very pleased with the number and variety of veggie dishes. 5/5 only complaint is that it can be a little busy, but that's just because everyone knows how good it is. read more

Do Not order pho, the instant pho is better. The broth lacks the aroma of cinnamon and ginger, tasted like something they use for all soup entrees. While the basil were fresh, they did not have culantro (saw teeth herb). The restaurant catered to an American pallet. Even the cilantro is set aside. For $7 I received a small bowl. Am spoiled by Denver's pho (large and flavorful) and Minnesota's offerings. The place is clean and spacious... read more

No problem seating a group of 12 without a reservation - awesome. No attitude from the servers when over half of said large group had high maintenance order requests or no idea what they wanted. Pho was popular at our table. Presentation is fun with veggies/mix ins brought out separately. I had some delicious Udon noodle dish with chicken and cucumber and bean sprouts. The spring rolls were delicious. Bubble tea was a favorite. Very jealous of my friend that ordered some awesome looking chicken curry soup recommended to her by the waitress. This was my first experience with Vietnamese food -- I hope to go back again to try pho for the first time. read more

HOW could you help but love a place called "A Dong?" Cute and catchy and memorable restaurant name...but the food was very, very good. The staff were very friendly and the food was delivered piping hot in just minutes. HUGE menu...it took longer to choose the meal than it did to arrive at the table. I had a stir fried shrimp dish with cashews and vegies that was pretty "ok." A friend had a chicken and vegie dish (but I don't remember which one!!) which was outstanding. Hubby had rice noodles with chicken and lemon grass which was also very good. The spring rolls were fresh and tasty. Very happy with the meal...it was inexpensive too...and I'll definitely plan to go back next time I'm in Des Moines. read more

Always delicious! Their Vietnamese is slightly Americanized, which isn't a bad thing. 89 shrimp is a MUST, every single time I go. As well as the number 25 and/or the chicken pho. They have an extensive vegetarian menu and also serve desserts and bubble tea. They're also open late, until about 10:30pm daily but are closed Monday's. After the fire, the menu stays consistent. Yum! read more

A Dong Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

So to start I love this place. I go here at least once every week and the Service, staff and food are Stellar I love this place they have a very nice variety of Vegetarian, Vegan and Meat options. I as a meat person love the 1. Special Pho it has a variety or meat has some green onions and Of course Noodles and I also love the roasted boneless duck I would mainly stick to Pho not Pricy.Enjoy!! read more

SWING AND A MISS!!! Seriously, this was hands down the worst Asian cuisine I've ever had. Run, run away quickly. There are so many fantastic restaurants in town (see my suggestions below). Here's why I didn't like A Dong: The egg rolls and spring rolls lacked a good flavor. My husband had a cashew chicken dish that tasted like bad chicken noodle soup. My beef dish was bland, scratch that, bad, it was just bad. Here are a couple other restaurant suggestions: Sakari (just west of Downtown), Fongs (off Court Ave.), House of Thai (Urbandale), or Haiku (Drake Area). read more

It's open again and not only is it still the best food around, but now the place looks even better! It still has the very extensive menu, including a whole separate vegan/vegetarian menu. I tell everyone this: you will find a dish at A Dong you like. 100% guarantee. I cannot recommend A Dong enough. read more

A Dong is a delicious stop going to or coming from a show at the beautiful Hoyt Sherman. Our server was patient and took the time to explain the entrees on the large menu. The food came quickly and was hot and fresh. read more

It's funny, this place completely bewildered me the first time I ate there. Back in the day, I was a 16-year-old vegetarian in a Bob Marley t-shirt, and I'd never had Vietnamese food in my life... there really wasn't any in my little Iowa hometown. I ordered a big fat bowl of vermicelli with tofu and vegetables and a mystifying sauce. I had no idea what to make of it. Fast-forward a whole bunch of years... A Dong moved out of its original dive a long time ago, and actually has some style now. I developed a Vietnamese food addiction in San Francisco. And guess what? A Dong might actually be better than Tu Lan or Sunflower in San Francisco, and it's definitely better than anything I've had in NYC. And I didn't just get lucky: I ate with four other people. We ordered a total of seven dishes. (Yes, we're gluttons.) Bring friends so that you can eat off their plates, and don't even think about eating here without getting a bowl of the yellow curry stew... one of the best dishes I've ever had anywhere. No disrespect to my friends at Boi, but if A Dong opened a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, I'd be a much, much happier man. read more

A Dong is always delicious and has been so diligent in keeping their customers safe and happy! They have a delicious vegetarian and vegan menu, too! read more

We were passing through and stopped here for lunch. At first glance this place was great, very clean and bright. The service was quick but the food was underwhelming. Everything was very bland. I didn't know lettuce had a flavor until I tasted the spring rolls. I tried to get some flavor by drowning it in the peanut sauce but somehow that was even bland. My crab soup ( Bun Rieu) was not very authentic; it had imitation crab and preboiled shrimp. I had to put more lime, fish sauce, and sriracha to get any flavor. This was the first Vietnamese restaurant that I have been to where they obviously cut corners to please the masses. read more

This is a nice restaurant and very clean. The staff was friendly and it had a nice family vibe. However, the food was tasteless and bland. I would agree with the other reviews that say this is not authentic Vietnamese food. read more

One of my first favorite Des Moines restaurants before we moved here. As a long time vegetarian now vegan I have always loved Vietnamese cuisine. They have a two page veggie menu - but beware! The lemon sauce had fish oil in it! My fall back is 16c and second choice is 14c. I love the soups. My only small quandary is that they don't have spice levels-but every table comes equipped with a bottle of siracha. Tasty, tasty!! read more

Always great food and service. The Vietnamese coffee alone is worth the trip! They're always very polite and explain ingredients or make substitutions to fit the customer. A very nice family business we are happy to support. I look forward to their dine in eating again soon. read more

They were very nice. I got the pork egg roll and chicken fried rice. Very oily though, will request for less oil the next time.

Man I wish I could give half stars - a solid 3.5. I am NOT a fan of their pho at all - noodles were soggy and the broth lacked depth of flavor. I will say their rice dishes are more stand out and their curry noodle soup was also tasty. There rare beef salad was pretty good. Service was ok. Very busy for lunch on the weekdays. read more

How can I even express my love for A Dong into words? It'll be hard, but I'll try, because you need to understand how great this place is. A Dong has over 100 items on the menu, and this is not your typical Cantonese. This is well crafted, fantastic food that is always a work of art. There is so much work that goes into keeping this restaurant running, and it's the staff where it really shows. The food is fast, inexpensive, quality and handcrafted. This is the only Viet restaurant where the rare beef in your perfectly-sized bowl of pho will melt in your mouth. It's the only place where the broth is so fresh and so heartwarming, that it can temporarily cure any ailment or illness you have. This is the place that mixes a peaceful atmosphere with a flavor-punch, in the best way. A Dong makes gourmet, Asian soul food and that's the best I can describe it. Let it be known that this restaurant was a victim of a fire in 2015, kept their loyal customers in the loop with lighthearted humor and came back stronger than ever, with open arms. They offered free food for the opening, buffet style, for fans lining down the street. They have been rejuvenated, they are grateful for their customers and they love what they do. This is a DSM MUST-GO. read more

Vietnamese food is certainly a taste to be acquired. It's infinitely versatile and unique, so the quality of the food you receive is generally left up to the creative tastes of customer. That said, the base ingredients, noodles, rice, broth, whatever it may be need to be quality. And A Dong, I have never had a meal that was disappointing. Their ingredients are always fresh, flavorful and fantastic. The service is fast and precise. Due to my frequent visits, I have become friendly with the staff, I can honestly say, I have never had poor service, a rude waiter or a delay in delivery of my meal. I would recommend A Dong to anyone looking for a quality Vietnamese eating experience. My favorite dishes are the Chicken Pho, The Lemongrass Chicken and for something lighter for the Summer the Pork Bun with and eggroll is a great meal!@ read more

A Dong is a really good culinary experience. Granted the service can be a little long at A Dong, but it's the best Vietnamese in this area of the Midwest. We wanted to make dong jokes (which we do every time we are driving to the restaurant) but don't want to detract from a sweet little establishment that has kept going for years. We always look forward to the vermicelli bowls and everything lemongrass with tons of fresh herbs. The owners are friendly, portions are good sized and the price is right. Don't be intimidated, give A Dong a try. read more

Located in the Sherman Hill area, A Dong's is a DSM institution specializing in Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian food. With a menu that is pages long you will have a hard time making a selection. Whatever you choose be prepared to see it being served in a short amount of time. Is this place good? Yes. I find Vietnamese food to be less spicy and flavorful than Thai or Chinese. In short I find this place serving good, hot, and freshly prepared Vietnamese food. read more

The waiter was pleasant and the place was clean and bright. The food wasn't really good for Vietnamese food. The grilled pork wasn't freshly made I could tell that it had been cooked beforehand because it was hard. The flavors of the items we ordered was bland whereas Vietnamese food is normally very flavorful. Wouldn't really recommend this place. read more