Lachele's is a classic DSM spot you have you to try. Atmosphere is a small diner, burgers are great. I went vegan 2 years ago and haven't eaten there since then, until I found out they had a vegan burger. Normally would give a 5 star for their menu, but had to notch it down a bit for the vegan burger. When I go to a burger place I want the full greasy experience. They have a vegetable forward burger that just doesn't mimic the real experience. So while I appreciated it, and it was solid and left me wanting more. Truly I just wanted a smash impossible burger with their seasoning. They also serve it on Texas toast, which I wish they'd have an actual bun too. Tots are vegan naturally, and they make great tots. Overall I love Lachele's, but with a few tweaks they could really nail it. read more

If you are looking for a good and tasty smash burger drive over to Lachele's on Ingersoll in DSM. The chef team serves up hot, fresh, well seasoned made to order burgers that check all the boxes for a meaty smash burger in an atmosphere that is neighborhood friendly with a very casual vibe, limited street and back parking, small dine in area at a very reasonable burger rate for the area. read more

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A small little place with a big personality for burgers. I love sesame seed buns so if you dont...maybe don't go. Tots were good and crispy. Ask for and pay for your ranch at the counter when you order. Not a big spot so it's crowded with not a lot of space but the food is totally worth the wait! read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

My wife found this place, she reads a lot and an author owns it. Small and quirky!! Very well done burger!! So simple and yet so much flavor!! I got the uncle Denny and it was great, just the right amount and very tasty! Looks like only street parking. I'll definitely stop by next time I'm in Des Moines. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Good spot for a smash burger and some good tots. The inside was packed and definitely could have used more seating or space for ordering. The food was delicious, tater tots had the perfect crunch. Service was great, the lady taking our order helped our group of four get seating by asking a group of two if they would consider moving to a place for two. Very kind. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We beat the Sunday rush and if you can do that, you're lucky because the line starts forming and stays consistently that way. You order at the counter when you walk in. We chose the bar to sit at. It's fun to watch them cook. It's a cool vintage-ish diner to eat in. The smash burgers are insanely good. The combo of flavors is crazy. I veered off and got chopped chicken and it was to die for with their toppings. The tots weren't spicy but they were crispy. My husband liked the chili Mac. I'd personally put hot sauce in it. Can't wait to go back again. Every day they have a special sandwich too so pay attention to that!! read more

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Very tasty smash burgers! A small, Smashburger place. Friendly staff, tasty burgers, delicious seasoned tots. The tots have a spice kick to it. Clean place, and great festive interior. It can get very busy. read more

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Came to Lachele's on a Friday night and I got Mr. World Wide with tots and my hubby got The Big Gym with fries and these smash burgers hit the spot! The burgers were well seasoned, the ratio of patties to bun and toppings was very well-balanced, and the fries and tots were well fried. Extra crispy tots, just the way I like them. I also got the IPA on tap and it was nice. They also have a great selection of cane sodas, pop, and sparkling waters. Service is fast and friendly, as you order up front and they bring you your food. And going to Lachele's is like stepping into a 50's diner with a modern twist. Very approachable and delicious! Will be back! read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Mr. World Class and The Big Gym - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great burger place off Ingersol in Des Moines. Not a huge dining area but a nice use of their space and a really cool vibe. Service was excellent and very good with Guten sensitivities. Fries and Tots have a dedicated fryer and the gluten free bun was toasted in a separate pan/area. Both burgers we exactly what you want in a good burger. Juicy, some texture, cooked just right and the perfect blend of burger to bun to topping ratio. Highly recommended. The fries were cooked perfect and the tots come with a spice on them. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Double Cheeseburger and tots. - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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My boyfriend and I decided to try this place after hearing so many great reviews. We stopped just after 5pm on a Friday night and it wasn't busy. We walked in and were greeted right away. We were offered menus and help if we had any questions. A lot of the burgers looked good, but for first timers my boyfriend and I both went with the Lachele. We both thought the flavor of the burger was good and enjoyed the LFF sauce. I liked my burger, but it didn't blow me away. The prices aren't bad, but truthfully I would rather just go to Culver's or BBops for the same experience, quality, and price. I got fries that I wasn't overly impressed with, and my boyfriend got seasoned tots that he liked. They give you a large amount of both. We asked for ranch, but they don't have any. Instead they offered a house sauce that was described as a garlic parmesan. It was a little much for us and we would rather of just had some ranch. One thing that deters me from going anywhere on Ingersoll is parking. It wasn't too bad on a Friday, but we did have to walk a little ways which isn't fun when it's chilly and windy out. In short, this wasn't my favorite burger I have ever had, but it is a good place if you are in the area. Th service was outstanding and the employees clearly work hard. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I'm not a burger connoisseur. I don't know what to look for in a good burger, so I go based on what I think a burger should be; the best is one that satisfies my soul. One that makes my arteries and liver forget the abuse they suffered. Lachele's is that burger. A classic burger joint. It's surprisingly clean for a greasy spoon, with surprisingly kind service. Crowded but quick I had the frankenator (a special) with tater tots. Always get the tater tots. I miss frank now too. read more

Had a quick pit stop from Omaha to Minneapolis and this was a good choice. No nonsense burger place that pays attention to details. I went with the special which was pretty good but I should have gone with the traditional burger like my mom did. Both were great bites. It was quick service and it had a cool decor. Recommended! read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

My sister brought me here while I was visiting and yum! Super casual and fun. We were there midweek during the day, so seating was prompt and friendly. I understand why they're known for their smash burgers, mine was delicious. Drink menu was great, very unique, and the Fiona was so tasty. Service was just right and the playlist was also amazing read more

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Great service. Delicious burger, I got the Lachele. The patty was thin for my taste and I should have ordered an extra patty. But I am on a diet and the size was perfect! Tons of Tater tots... yummy yum yum! I was on The Fitz side and Loved the vibe of the place. read more

If you're in the DSM area, you HAVE to go to Lachele's. There is truly no burger place I have eaten at that holds a candle to Lachele's. I don't even live in Des Moines but when I come I always try to hit them up. The Lachele and the Yoshi are my current favorites, they leave you feeling satisfied and all warm and fuzzy inside, and the chili Mac is always worth the $2 up charge. (makes for FANTASTIC leftovers!) I have been to places with burgers more expensive than Lachele's with less than a fraction of the quality. I don't know what kind of sorcery they're using to make such a good burger every time but color me impressed. If I was on death row, THIS would unquestionably be my last meal choice. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - The lachele, chili Mac - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This was literally the best thing that has ever been created. The Lachele burger is the best burger in the state of Iowa. We got our food very quickly and trays were taken right after we were done. Very cool environment with high vibes and lots of history. 10/10 read more

What the heck -- 5 stars! While in Des Moines for work, I stumbled upon Lachele's Fine Foods--a modern, hipster diner specializing in made-to-order smash burgers. The atmosphere was inviting, and I couldn't resist trying the Lachele burger with two patties, adding an egg on top The burger was something else. The smash patties had perfectly crispy edges with a juicy center, and the added egg brought a richness that tied everything together. Each bite was a flavorful mix that made me understand why this place claims to have the best burgers in Iowa If I had to find a fault, it would be that the patties were a touch salty. Not enough to ruin the experience, but noticeable. Paired with a cold beer, the total came to $24, which felt reasonable for the quality and portion size As I left, I couldn't help but think that unexpected finds like Lachele's make business trips a bit more enjoyable read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Went to Lachele's Fine Foods, the most recommended burger restaurant in Des Moines, to pick up a snack before resuming our 5 hour drive for the day. We arrived in the mid-afternoon and we were the only customers in the building! We found the the interior to be very modern and clean, but eye-catchingly retro-themed. We placed our order at the front ala counter service. For faster service in peak times, they even have a takeout window in the front of the store. The service is fantastic - we only ordered a single burger since we weren't hungry enough for a full meal and they offered to slice in half for us. We didn't realize they would be serving on different plates and also splitting the side! A nice surprise. The Lachele ($12) - The burgers here are legitimately great. A lot of people don't like smash burgers because many places overcook and oversalt the burger, resulting in a patty with fantastic lacy and crispy edges, but a bone dry interior. Lachele's balances the crisp and the moisture levels perfectly and as a bonus, the burger isn't overly salty. We sat right in front of the grill and were able to watch them work their magic - they put the puck of ground beef on the cooktop, and after smashing the daylights out of it, they cook it, flip it, put the cheese on top and add a squirt of water to steam and finish everything up under a lid. To assemble the burger, they add a good amount of veggies and condiments, and pairs that with a great fluffy, lightly toasted sesame bun, giving a perfect bite every time. We were basically not hungry at all going in, but by the time we finished, we were regretting not getting a second burger. (5/5) For the side, we chose the tots - in this case, seasoned with possibly garlic powder and paprika. They are well fried with a great crisp and craggy exterior, yet the interior is still fluffy and tender and not dried out at all. They aren't too salty and honestly are some of the best cooked tater tots I've had. I definitely recommend Lachele's Fine Foods for a fantastic smash burger! Bathrooms - Two all gender individual rooms. read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed this place! A cute hole in the wall diner vibe with loud music. It has limited seating so beware of that during peak hours. As for the burgers, they are great smash burgers. Only thing is that it felt quite greasy, they seem to over butter the buns and on top with the oil from the burger makes it feel a bit heavy. I normally prefer fries over tots, but their tots are extra crunchy. Would still go back and try something new. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The best burger I've had in Des Moines. Can't rave about it enough. The workers were all really nice! There isn't a lot of space to sit inside, so best not to come at peak times if you're looking for a spot. read more

Best grilled cheese and burger I've had! Welcoming cool vibe great for all. Service was top notch and the overall quality was an A+!! The Tots were delish. read more

The best smash burger I've ever had! Great fresh, tender beef seared and seasoned to perfection. Thank you Yelp for coming through as I rolled through Des Moines! I might have to return for the cheese steak on the way home. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Double bacon cheeseburger & fries - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I now schedule my therapy appointments around lunch time, because I just love these burgers. I've always ordered the same thing. the specials just never are what I want on the days I go, but uncle denny never disappoints. always good service and great food. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - uncle denny burger. - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I'd been wanting to try Lachele's Fine Foods for a while, and it did not disappoint! I went with the special, and it was amazing--fresh, flavorful, and just really well done. The place has such a great vibe, and the staff were super friendly and welcoming. You can tell a lot of care goes into everything they make. Definitely worth the visit, and I'll be back for sure! read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Cute diner that has a cool twist on modern and retro at the same time. It's a very small joint and not the best with a big group. The food was okay, I got the Hot Rod but made it "ditch the bun" style with tots. The chicken as cooked nice and tender, but the tots were so salty! I ate the toppings which was the chicken, cheese, arugula, etc. the tomatoes are so finely diced that you couldn't taste it because it got over powered by the cheese and the salty tots. We also got the Big Balandran. It was nicely made with tender steak combined with cheese and mushroom for a nice umami taste. But the tots were yet again very salty. I'm not sure what they did but even our friends that were there with us said their fries were salty as well. Over all the place was ok, but probably won't be going there soon again read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Ditch the Bun Hot Rod - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Went in, ordered, got food 10 minutes later, enjoyed every minute of it and the vibe was great too!

I've been wanting to try this place for a long time and finally got the chance. I have to admit, I'm struggling to figure out what all the hype is about. First, the building is very small. I believe they only have 3 tables, plus maybe 8 counter stools. No big deal - we didn't have to wait long fora table. I ordered the Chili burger And my husband got a chili dog. My burger has so much mustard in it, I could hardly taste the meat. The chili, as far as I could tell, was nothing more than loose meat. No beans or tomatoes or sauce of any kind to indicate chili. Also no flavor. I had a hard time distinguishing the "chili" from the actual burger patty. The chili dog looked the same - a hot dog covered in loose meat. The seasoned tater tots were quite delicious - hot and fresh and perfectly crispy. The staff was all friendly and attentive, service was great. All in all, I'm in no hurry to go back. read more

4.25* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 4* 02/16/2023 Saw that this place won best Burger in town (specifically recommending the Smashburger) in Cityview, so asked our neighbors to join us and ventured downtown for dinner after the big snowstorm. Given the name, I was expecting a fairly high-end and expensive place - so was a little surprised when we walked in to see a colorful retro-diner decor. While one of the servers shared that a previous reviewer had made disparaging remarks about the workers appearance, I've shared in my online profiles that I enjoy servers with some character, opinions on the food and a story to tell. I found the atmosphere to be quite inviting with friendly and professional workers looking for ways to be of service to their customers. Given the award and recommendation for smashburgers, I ordered the Uncle Denny (see picture). I loved the soft, moist bun and found the Duke's mayo & pepper jelly to be the perfect level of spice to complement the smashburger and bun. The included fries were also very good - great combination of crispiness on the outside, yet soft inside. My wife ordered The Big Gym with Tots (see picture) and also enjoyed it - commenting especially on how good the tots were. She liked the fact that the tots were nice and crispy on the outside and not soft / soggy. Our neighbor ordered the The Chili Charles (see picture) open-faced chili burger on Texas Toast and also enjoyed it. Admittedly, it looked so good that I think that is what I will try on our next visit. The pricing, including $5 tap beers, seemed reasonable and the burgers were top-notch. A great retro-diner experience that you will want to try! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com read more

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This place looks like a small hole in the wall and there's not much seating at all but they have the BEST burgers!!!

Food was okay, tasted more mustard than anything else on it and I think there were more sesame seeds than there was bun. Service was friendly and prices were reasonable. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Empty restaurant at opening except for the group of us congregated blocking the entrance. So I took a table and a smart mouthed cashier made some comment as I passed. I was just getting out of the doorway while my wife grabbed menus for us to look at before going back up to the register. Another server made a comment about how they would seat us after we ordered. Ridiculous. I mean, I could understand if the places was packed and no seating was available. No problem. Based on our last bad experience we won't go back and certainly won't recommend to others. read more

Oh my word that's a good burger. Love the atmosphere and the food. Really fun place, can get really busy so there can often be a wait but absolutely worth it! Absolutely must go if you haven't! read more

Looks like a hole in the wall but don't be fooled! Give it a try. Delicious veggie burgers, tots and salad. The house dressing is a creamy garlic parmesan. Wish I could have taken home a bottle of that magic potion! Tots were spiced nicely--crunchy and not greasy. Sesame buns were so fresh. All 5 of us were still talking about our food experience two days later. read more

I've been here a couple times since moving to the area in July and it's one of my favorite burgers of all time. The employees are always so kind and helpful! Love Lachele's! read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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What a rockin' place. The vibe here was great. I could tell the folks behind the counter were enjoying their work and they treated me really well as I sat at the counter to wait for my order. I was here to try one of their hot dogs and I went with The Judy. It had spicy giardiniera, LFF sauce, a fistful o' fries, green onion, and American cheese on a hoagie. This was a MASSIVE dog with loads of toppings. Here's the thing: the spicy giardiniera had way more heat than I was expecting. About halfway through I scraped off the remaining giardiniera but all of the spicy juices had soaked through the dog. Every bite was a spicy bite. Made it a little bit harder to enjoy BUT I recognize that is *my* taste preference so that's on me. I'd definitely return to Lachele's especially to try some of their amazing looking burgers. read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Exterior signage - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Lachelle's is simply put. Delicious. The burgers are incredible, and the sides round out the flavors beautifully. Ask for a recommendation if you're going for the first time, you won't be disappointed! The vibes of the restaurant are incredible. It is a cozy space with an awesome bar space and tall tables. You feel at home right away, and comfortable to dig in! What are you doing still reading this? Go on over there! read more

Lachele’s Fine Foods - Lachelle's burgers and tots! - Burgers Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Absolutely delicious! Great atmosphere, fun staff! Was cool to sit up at the bar top and watch them in action.

Had my last meal there last night before being homebound following a complicated surgery today. Glad I passed on Oak Park for better food. But they didn't have a $100.00 banana split. read more

We went in to get a drink while we were waiting for a table across the street. The staff were inviting and interactive. Their tables were also full and we went to the bar. We were enjoying ourselves and decided to stay and eat. All 5 of us were very satisfied and glad we stayed! I will be recommending this to friends! read more

Food is delicious! Fries are pretty salty but if that's your thing it's done well. Great vibes and the service was awesome!