Found this gem through Yelp! Great service and great food! Tried a variety of appetizers and entrees.

This place has continued to be great every time I'm in. It does get busy and parking can be a pain but I have not been disappointed on any of our visits over the years. They have a massive beer selection that should keep any one happy trying new drinks. They have drinks I have never heard of and they are able to keep it reasonable. Keep up the great work. read more

Nice spot to grab dinner and a beer in downtown Des Moines. Pretty extensive beer list. We started with the pretzel and we're surprised that the cheese sauce was cold. Flavor was great and the mustard was the star. My boyfriend got the Black Forest schnitzel and loved it. I got the Ruben with their homemade sauerkraut which was good. I think a bit more sauce on the Ruben would have made it perfect. We sat outside on the patio which was very spacious and had coverings to provide shade. The waitress was pleasant and recommended drinks that ended up being delicious. read more

We had company in town this weekend and promised them German so Hessen Haus was the obvious choice. Our group of four arrived about 6:15 and got a table fairly quickly after waiting ~15 minutes. Our server was quick to bring drinks out and our appetizers came out in reasonable time. After ~45 minutes we started to wonder where our entrees were (and our server). After an hour an identical order of our previously delivered appetizers appeared (still no sign of our server). She eventually appeared to say she was trying to move the kitchen along quickly. Another twenty minutes later she said we were the ticket after the next table. We asked what was going on to which she shrugged and said the restaurant was full (we'd not seen any food come out for anyone in a LONG time). Our food finally arrived more than an hour and a half after sitting down. We collectively decided they must have flown to Bavaria and back based on the excessive wait time. The food arrived warm but not hot and was otherwise good. Entrees: A wurst basket, a curry wurst, meatloaf, and a pork shank; Apps: Jumbo pretzel and beer cheese soup Bottom line: I get it. Everyone is short staffed...BUT do yourselves and your guests a favor and just have your staff tell diners the expected wait before they order. If we knew the lag time for food was 90 minutes+ we would have happily had a drink and gone elsewhere for food. Poor management! read more

Hessen Haus - Wurst Basket - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Neat building..great services... not much else to say since we didn't eat there. Bartender was nice.

My gf and I ate there on a Saturday night. Started with a "jumbo pretzel" with beer cheese - the cheese was very good and they have multiple pretzel options, I would order a different pretzel next time as this one was like one of the ones you might order from a movie theater (not a traditional pretzel), but the other kinds appeared to be that way. They have a great list of local and German beers, as well as a great food selection. I ordered an Oktoberfest beer and then a warsteiner lager, my gf got a radler. The real prize was the food, I got currywurst with knockwurst sausage and my gf got a bacon cheeseburger served on a pretzel bun with honey mustard. All were delicious! The service was a little spotty, however, the waitress mentioned they were super busy that night and indeed, the indoor seating was full. I can definitely see myself coming back and hanging out for longer to drink, as the place is very nice! read more

Hofbrau Lager on tap in DSM, ordered the Bier cheese burger open-faced on sour dough, bier cheese on the side w/ the German Red Potatoes side, added a bratwurst and started w/ the single Landjager bar snack during Happy Hour on a Tuesday. Great food, beer and staff! read more

I have lived this place since it first opened. Recently we visited to have our ore-wedding, wedding party get-together. The staff were very gracious, patient, and helpful as a lot of the guests were from out of town and few had ever had German food. read more

A hidden away place that has over 150 European beers on tap. Food had good flavor a d the portions were ample. The venue is larger than it looks. Lots of tables and lots of bar space. The only problem I see is that the staff don't seem to greet you or even tell you that it is first come first serve. Several people standing in the entrance way and not a single person serving said a word, in fact they go out of the way to walk around you and past you and almost ignore you. I understand busy, but acknowledge people. Several people left due to the lack of communication. Want to try again, maybe earlier in the afternoon or evening. read more

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Authentic German recipes made & served well. Fantastic old world looks & feel. The largest draft German beer selection I've ever seen. Very impressive! Service was great but busy. Festive feel inside and out. read more

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We came here on a very rainy Saturday but that did not deter the crowds from coming here for dinner. They do not have a host/hostess here so we felt like we had to breathe over people's necks to get a seat at the bar since it didn't seem like people seated at the tables were leaving anytime soon. Thankfully we only had to wait 15 minutes before getting two seats at the bar. As we sat down we were immediately provided menus and received great service from David. We ordered the currywurst and veggie strudel and both were really good. We also ordered a side of german potato salad which was also delicious. They have a lot of beer on draft (and bottled) and there are a bunch of TVs for games. Unfortunately because of the weather the dish reception for the tv was interrupted but the employees here were very apologetic about it (even though its not their fault). There is a parking garage located right next to the restaurant which made it very convenient for us during the thunderstorm occurring the night we came. read more

Hessen Haus - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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My date enjoyed his beer, but I wasn't too impressed with the food. I'm not exactly a connoisseur of European cuisine, but I wasn't expecting the food to be that bland. The pretzel was incredible, but the rest was merely fair. I think standard Iowa palates will enjoy. The atmosphere was lovely and the place was clean. read more

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Great food largest beer selection in Des Moines, real good German food nice wait staff, it's a place we stop at all the time. Parking is a problem so we park at a nearby parking garage read more

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Another place that I have been coming to for decades, and never reviewed? Here goes! The German beer selection is unmatched in our part of the country and every time I drink here I wonder why American brewers even bother. Yes, those guy's too. Nothing compares to real German Bier! The service has always been good here with a staff that seems a notch or two above the rest. About the food? Well, it can be very good but for every hit there is a miss. The brats are always good, and the real Veal, Weiner schnitzel is very nice. But WTF are they doing with the cheap imitation "breaded" French fries? And this is a German place, with Heinz Mustard on the table? Come on guy's. A great place to enjoy real Beer, but the food needs a tune-up. read more

Went here last night because I had a free beer from pubpass to use - my boyfriend got a beer that was $8 and he was able to use his, I got a beer in a can that was $5 but for some reason couldn't use my free beer on this - the server never told us this even though we informed her we were there to use our free beers from pub pass. Besides that - the server was slow, and rude and hardly checked up on us and I had to go find her to get my check. read more

The good: Sat at the bar to be casual and get the vibe. The food is good. For appetizer, we chose the Bacon Wrapped Pork Skewers (without the jelly, probably a good bet they're keto, but with the jelly, probably not), but they were our favorite food item of the weekend getaway. Then hubs had the schweinshaxe and I had the sauerbraten. The sauerbraten was one of the best I've eaten. It was tangy, umami, silkily covered with a gravy that I could eat by the spoonful. I skipped the potato cake underneath to stay on my eating plan, but the pickled red cabbage--so good. Hubby's schweinshaxe was okay. It wasn't rendered down under the skin as much as we like it and big chunks of fat. Bathroom was clean and appeared handicap accessible. AC was working well on a 99 degree day. The Bad: A lot of beers on their menu that they don't have. I realize they come and go, but have a rolling menu on a TV to let us know what you do or don't have. The Ugly: Dripping water from the AC until on the wall, lady slipped on it, and the bartenders are definitely overworked and slightly dismissive to guests. Hubby and I discussed having dessert, tried to catch one, but the twenty minutes it took for one of them to finally pay attention (I don't yell that I need help)--even though his stein was empty and he would have had a refill--seemed rather excessive. Decided to skip dessert there and try another place. Overall, it's German food and a nice place to sit and relax. About $70 before tax and tip, including two beers. read more

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Delicious food and great German beer selection! I had a Kolsh and a schnitzel dinner.

If you're in Des Moines sometime between November and April, it's probably really insanely cold with some violent glacial winds slapping you around. If you need a nice warm and comfy place to seek shelter, look no further than Hessen Haus! They got beer! Lotsa beer! In fact, you can order a liter of beer, which very well may numb you enough that you won't feel the cold when you venture back outside. They got yummy German food! Now I realize that's somewhat of an oxymoron... German food is not, by definition, wild and sexy. I'm half Dutch by the way... Dutch food isn't particularly exciting either... Neither is British or Irish food. Dem are cold lands where food is sustenance and you eat calories so you don't freeze to death. Wild and sexy food is what you'll find in Spain where pretty much everything is wild and sexy. Especially on the beach in Cambrils... Eerrrr, sorry, I digress. I've eaten at Hessen Haus a few times now on various trips to Des Moines and I've never been disappointed. I've had the Bavarian Stroganoff, Currywurst, and Mac & Cheese and all three dishes were really tasty. Service can be spotty when it's crowded but the staff has always been very friendly with me. So step out of the cold and grab a stool at the bar. Guten Appetit und Prost! read more

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The most amazing food. I am 70% German and it was awesome to eat here. Well I have to say I even tried a dark beer. I am not a big beer drinker but it too was awesome. So twice in one day the best food I've had in a long long time. Thank you for the great service and food your awesome.... read more

Hessen Haus - Schnitzel - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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This is a decent German place in the city. Lots of beer, the boot thing, 1 liter mugs, German beer, other beer, German food. The menu is weird. There are odd selections from Mexico, the US and Italy. I stick with the German stuff. On a Saturday afternoon expect a mix of college students sharing boots of beer and families. In the evening the families left and it turned into a beer fest. They also have that stupid stump game, which is annoyingly loud. read more

Hessen Haus - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Food was blah. Serves store bought brats. Staff was good tho. Couldn't imagine German restaurant serving johnsonvile sausage

GET THE BOOT! German beer's are where it's at y'all! Great German food as well but that's a plus!

I am part German and really really want to talk up this place, but I just can't. I've been here 3 times and I've been underwhelmed all 3 times. Food is just not that great. Large beer selection is nice and service is fair. Just not the quality of food I'd like to see. I hope they step it up a notch, would love to give them another chance. read more

Hessen Haus - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great service and German beer, food is really good too. Good happy hour. Check it out

Excellent food. The service was a little slow, but they were very busy. Great experience and definitely will be back.

My buddy loves this place. He is a big German beer fan, and loves German food, as well. If you are a fan of German beer or food, you should try this place out. The service is friendly, quick, and attentive. The biggest point is the German beer selection. read more

Before I moved away from Des Moines, I visited Hessen Haus with several of my friends and had a awesome time! When we all sat down I shared with the friendly bartender the kinds of beers I usually enjoy; he made a recommendation, I tried it, and he hit the nail right on the head :-) I enjoyed several beers over the course of the evening (I wasn't the DD fortunately) and the four of us also shared four different dishes from the food menu. Everything was good, but my hands-down favorite from that night was the black forest schnitzel - it was totally awesome! Service was exceptional, all the food was tasty, the prices were reasonable, and we all went home happy. Highly recommended! read more

Des Moines is the rough, Hessen Haus is the diamond. This place is a gem worth exploring multiple times. Nothing against the local brewers and their latest experiment who's not so distant origin story might still involve someone's mom's basement, Hessen Haus presents a true beer drinker's selection of time tested brews from the old world. The food is traditional German, and with an open mind anyone can find something pretty great to satisfy. read more

If you liked the movie Beerfest from the Broken Lizzard guys (the guys that brought you Super Troopers) and you are a fan of das boot then you need to come here. This is Central Iowa's only authentic German bar and for a $50 refundable deposit and $19 you can drink from your own das boot. There is a fun drinking game that goes with das boot and it always makes for a good time. I guess if you are really thirsty you could get das boot for your self but it's much better sharing with your friends (just make sure you go with your good friends who you know are disease free because you all drink from the same boot). If you are not feeling up to swapping spit and sharing germs with your friends and don't want das boot you can get a liter of beer (I will refrain from making a liter of cola joke from the movie super troopers) or a 16 oz. draw or bottles of beer. They have German beers, American bottled beer and Smirnoff Ice as well. I suggest when you finish das boot you lay it down on the table so you don't break it. If you don't break das boot you get your $50 back. They make you give them a credit card at the beginning and then when you pay they give you your card back. You can pay for your bill with that credit card or by cash or debit card. If you are in the Des Moines area then you definitely need to stop by the Hessen Haus. read more

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This place in one of the very few places in the whole continent with such a variety of german beers. Weihenstephan Dunkelweizen.. good luck finding it elsewhere in the US. Prost! read more

Hessen Haus - Bar area - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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In October we were visiting Des Moines and I felt an urge to find a German restaurant, as Omaha no longer has a good one. What popped up on my search was Hessen Haus. It sounded good, so we were ready to see what it had to offer. We were amazed as we entered at the busy nature of the atmosphere and finding a Favorite beer from Germany on the drink menu was an added plus. My husband and I didn't want to get 2 entrees, as that would mean extra left over, so we ordered 1 Black Forest Schnitzel, Which turned out to be the perfect amount for the two of us. The cheesy sauce was so good, and their spätzle was as good as I have had it in Deutschland! They certainly do their schnitzel right, too! If we get back to Des Moines, we will certainly return! read more

I'm so glad I found this place. I've been seriously wanting some German food for weeks. Emily at Texas Roadhouse told me about it. I message them on FB and asked if the had Erdinger Hefe, got a fast reply that yes they did. And it's served in 1/2, Full or 2 liter vessels. The jägerschnitzel was good but the red cabbage was totally on point! I'll definitely be back if I'm in town again. Ask for a growler of your favorite brew. read more

Hessen Haus - Full liter - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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You cannot believe how much old-world food and beverage are to be found here! Enjoy a great schnitzel and boot-sized lager. Have some fantastic knockwurst with a rich stout. Mix it up any way you like but be ready to be stuffed! read more

Everything about this visit was great. Staff was right on top of everything and the food was so good. The ambiance of the place was pretty authentic to what I visited in Germany. read more

I've always loved this place. So many beer options and pretty quick bartenders. The aesthetics of the place is all wood, long tables, very German. I've been to Munich before (not to brag) but they did this one pretty spot on. I don't eat much here but they do actually have good food. The last thing I've had there was the Jagerschnitzel which was okay but I think I like their Wienerschnitzel better. Not very German but their Armadillo Eggs are something to not skip. It's all about the boots though. Have 3 or more folks to challenge yourselves at the boot. If you're okay with each other's germs, it's a drinking game to pass around the boot without letting it touch the table in between. This place is just a great time but weekends can be really packed and you're standing in a very tight crowd trying to get a drink in. Warmer weather they have the patio open so who doesn't like a cold beer outside? read more

Hessen Haus - BLACK FOREST SCHNITZEL - German Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I was there just this past weekend celebrating my mom's 60th so we had this nice family get together with lots of people! They were very helpful and quick service! Much appreciated! read more

This is one of our favorite stops when we go to Des Moines. It gives off a great brew hall vibe and lots of good food. I've had most of the menu and not much I wouldn't recommend. Favorites are the Jaeger Schnitzel, bacon wrapped pork kabobs, pot roast/sauerbraten. read more

Great selection of beers! They have about 50 on tap, mostly German and according to my bartender they are hard to find. For instance, I was just having a beer, which according to her there are only 18 kegs that made it to the USA. I can't prove that number but damn, it was good beer. The food is great too. Their German food menu is not that deep but the quality of the sauerbraten was nice. Sorry, I keep gravitating towards this. Is marinated for "no less than 72 hours" and it's good. Like any other place, happy hour is where it's at with half price appetizers and cheap beer. The wait staff / bartenders have always been great but I did notice a few people that weren't at the bar have to flag down a server. I'll chalk it up to it being a bit early on a Wednesday. Overall, awesome place and I'll be back when I'm back through Des Moines! read more

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The food was pretty good but the music was terrible, and the bass ridiculously loud. Oddly, the music in the restroom was different, and much better. The service was ok. If I went there again, I'd likely get it to-go. read more

Very great German bar with many selections of on tap beer and paired well with even better food!