Wow!!! What a perfect stop!! Simple sandwich done perfectly!! A staff that makes you feel like family the minute you walk in the door! Couldn't have made a better stop on our road trip back home!! read more

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The kind of place you try to find in every town you visit. Giant portions of good food, local gem

Smitty's is a time machine with chrome, vinyl, and counter stools that make you feel like you should be ordering coffee from a waitress named Flo. Old-school in the best way -- you can watch them make your food, and you'll be treated right. The pork tenderloin sandwich? A beast. And I mean that lovingly. I ordered the queen size, which made me feel slightly less macho, but even that was massive. Perfectly cooked, crispy without being greasy -- it tastes like Iowa, and that's a compliment. And the onion rings? Don't even think about skipping them. They're part soft, part crunchy, kind of tempura-ish, and completely addictive. I still don't know exactly what they are, but I do know I couldn't stop eating them. Highly recommend making Smitty's a stop. Your future self will thank you. read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - The Queen Veggie Loin with Onion Rings. Really enjoyed it. - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Nice quaint little restaurant, seats about 20-25 people. The waitstaff were awesome, very friendly. They gave great recommendations and descriptions on what to eat, I ordered the queen tenderloin with chili and onions and a side of onion rings and my coworker that was with me ordered a queen tenderloin and a side of onion rings. I hadn't eaten there since I was a child and it was cool to talk with them about it. Food was on point and would definitely recommend! read more

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Well a local sent us to this place for tenderloin. This looks like a diner from the 50s. I loved the gal that took our order and provided the history of the restaurant. Obviously we had to try the tenderloin sandwich, she then talked up the coney dog so we had to try that too and then finally she sold us on the onion rings, thinly slice and boy were they delicious. The are great to eat in, but limited seating, I could also tell there were many regulars and a pretty busy to go service also. Definitely a piece of history when in Des Moines read more

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This wasn't just a meal it was an experience, a gastronomic trip into yesteryear. The tenderloin sandwiches are reward enough for dining here, but if you are of the extroverted persuasion and adept at connecting with others you can have a very entertaining and enjoyable time at Smitty's, meet all the servers, the cook, the owner and possibly even some of their family visiting. read more

Smitty's Tenderloin Shop has been a staple of south Des Moines for decades. Their tenderloins are super sized and delicious. Service is quick and the ambiance takes you back to the days of nostalgia. A great place for a sandwich treat. If you love tenderloins, Smitty's should be on your checklist. read more

It's worth stopping by... I have no idea what a tenderloin sandwich is, but it was good. The onion rings are fresh and homemade. The chocolate malt was awesome. The building is a little deceiving - it is out of the 50's but cool in a history kind of way. The highlight of the visit is the staff... Mindy and Wendy were awesome - great service, super nice, friendly, and a lot of fun. The atmosphere in this place is great read more

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3.5* (out of 5) Food: 3* Atmosphere: 3* Value: 4* Service: 4* 09/12/2023 My wife and I had stopped here several years ago after moving to the area given its history as the original king tenderloin. This time I had just picked up friends from France at the airport, they were hungry and they wanted to eat something unique to Iowa. I ordered the Breaded Tenderloin (see picture) and we shared some Onion Rings (see picture). The food and atmosphere were each average with the tenderloin served on a common high volume commercial bakery bun and the building showing its age. The flavor of the tenderloins was good and I liked that it was not greasy. The breading seemed quite dry, almost as if it wasn't even fried at all...or was re-breaded after frying. There wasn't much substance to the onion rings as is shown in the picture - they were very thin and had minimal breading. The food and ambiance reminded me of many of the small town ice cream shops I frequented as a teenager. If you are looking for value and a small-town diner experience, you will enjoy a stop at Smitty's. 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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Friendly and fast service at Smitty's! Connie ordered regular tenderloin and I ordered large with onion rings and fries. All was tasty! This was on Army Post road and near our hotel by the airport. Definitely coming back. That also had malts, shakes, and ice cream. You could tell it was a popular by the many people stopping and getting pickup orders to go. Of course there were many congrats on the wall for best tenderloin in the area!!! Hometown atmosphere too!!! read more

The food was great. I got the tenderloin, fries, pop and milk shake. Service was good. Very affordable. The seating area is cozy.

It's a go to for every visitor to DMI!!! It's always my son's first stop when he leaves the airport read more

Smitty's is a great old school grill operation that has kept it's retro vibe. Checkered floor, red vinyl chairs, glazed brick interior, the works. What's more, they have the menu to match. Smitty's has all the fried foods; tenderloins, fries, onion rings, batter-dipped mushrooms... All cooked to golden crispy perfection. Smitty's gets bonus points from me for serving regionally produced root beer and cream soda (Millstream, out of Amana) to go along with their wonderful milkshakes. Tenderloins are a bit of a thing in our area, and if that is your thing, then Smitty's should definitely be on your list of places to frequent. Things you should know: * There are also hamburgers and other items on the menu, though it is hard to imagine anyone resisting the tenderloins. * If you don't see any parking out front, you should find some out back. * There is not, as you would expect, any patio seating. However, there is are picnic tables next to the building if you want to dine outside. * At last check, Smitty's is not open for dinner hours. Shakes and malts Table service or eat at the counter read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - Smitty's "patio seating." - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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We have visited this place for many years and Friday 1/16/26 my wife and I stopped by to get 2 queen vegetables tenderloins, fries and shakes the tenderloin meat was different and red in the middle and they looked like a king tenderloin cut in half when I said something to the server about the red in the middle she said we do them different now and it's ok to eat like that After 40 years of going to Smitty's I think we are done read more

World's best chocolate malt!! Seriously! We stopped with 3 grands before a zoo trips. It was pretty full so we got the ultimate diner experience--red stools at the counter! We watched the food being cooked. Perfect for 5, 7, & 9 year olds! Kids meals included a drink & fries. We actually had to order another cheeseburger for the olders to split after they ate their first ones. Grandson loved the onion rings. My Queen tenderloin was the old fashioned pounded & cracker crumbed. Lots of onions added to it!! Papa's double cheeseburger was very good--great grilled taste! Our waitress was great with the kids. She didn't blink when they changed their minds on soda flavors. Go there & then visit the zoo!! read more

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Good service,kind staff members,food tastes wonderful 10/10 I will definitely come back soon read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - Cheeseburgers - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The Food is delicious the service is outstanding and the ambiance is like a family place. Would highly recommend this place. I eat it frequently. read more

Diner-style giant Tenderloins, Burgers, Onion rings, old-fashioned malts. It's definitely a destination. Service by fun servers, and you can see the grills and the cooks from your table. read more

Get off the interstate and find this diner by the airport. Easy to find. Classic diner. I always have a tenderloin in Iowa while traveling from Kansas to Chicago. This is one of the best. Great service. I'll be back for onion rings and a chocolate shake. Charming clean dining room where staff pays attention to details. read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - Counter with Chef over fryer- Food Menu on wall - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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my husband and I went to Smitty's around 5P to eat today. Being southsiders, we have been eating there for over 50 years! today was an exception, but the malt was not mixed up very well and they were trying to make and mix everything by hand. I'm sure they used to have a ice cream machine in the past. One of our favorites there has always been the onion rings. today, we knew instantly that something was different with them. they were slice VERY thin and were in small pieces instead of rings. they were actually cold when they came to the table. I didn't want to say anything since they had already forgotten to make one of our queen loins and we had to wait for this also. wouldn't have been a big deal but we were needing to be in Indianola soon for an appt. Plus when we arrived there was only one other person there! like I said, this was not the usual, but I really hope they go back to the great onion rings and service that they have always had over the years! read more

The best thing about Smitty's signature item, the breaded loin (in queen or king sizes), is how tender the kitchen has pounded that pork into submission. It's a long piece of meat but it goes down real nice-like. However, the bites that did NOT have the onions and yellow mustard were pretty bland, so I would stick to the queen size (or a kid's size if you can), because that was enough for a big guy like me. The rest of the food was fine, but nothing to write home about. If anything, the vibe of the place is why you go. It's a dump, but with love, and the sign, the parking lot, the staff...all of it makes you think "oh man, I'm not sure I want to be caught here after hours" but the prices and the speed balance things out. I see why it's a local institution! read more

Great find after a week on working in Nebraska and Iowa. I was looking for a local place to eat before flying out in the morning and found Smitty's. I had the King tenderloin sandwich and onion rings. Both were awesome. Perfect balance between meat and breading. Seasoned just right. The onion rings were the best. I'll definitely be back read more

I had high hopes for this place, based on past reviews and pics. However, it seemed like my sandwich and onion rings weren't done. Neither were crispy, and I could barely finish part of my meal. Back at the hotel, it hasn't been a pleasant experience. Staff was nice when around, but mostly busy. I must have caught them on a bad night read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - Queen and rings - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Pretty amazing tenderloin sandwich. If you want a slab of giant pork on a tiny Sunbeam bun you could do a lot worse. Now that I've had it I don't know that I ever need one again, but they keep it real. You'll be napping. Chili cheese loin is legion. read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - Chili - cheese Loin - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great spot if you have time to kill or wanna eat before heading to the airport! Great service, Jane was a delight! When I ordered my burger she asked if I wanted a "medium or large burger" which I'd never been asked before so I was excited to see what a "large burger" would look like.. Unfortunately it ended up being a normal sized burger, which scares me to think what a medium burger would look like.. But other than that, great service, pleasant environment with a friendly staff! read more

This place is as good as it gets! Old time diner with amazing comfort food. I had the breaded tenderloin sandwich, fried mushrooms and topped it all off with a chocolate milkshake. Good thing I do not live here, as this would be on my regular rotation and would surely show up on my hips! read more

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What do you say about an institution? Smitty's has been around, in one form or another, for close up to 70 years now. It's simple. Tenderloins, burgers and milk shakes. The tenderloins are the best in Central Iowa. Pounded down pork, simple breading, catsup/mustard/pickle/onion. It's perfect. I always get the chili cheese. I don't know what oil they use, but the tenderloins and the fries are very light, not greasy at all. The staff is very friendly (they told me to say so!) There is not a lot to say about this. Either you like tenderloins, in which case you will love Smitty's, or you don't ... We do. read more

Always fun eating the best tenderloin Iowa! I suggest the veggie loin with cheese! Excellent foot, excellent service! Love the size of this bad boy!!! I suggest everyone try this place everyday! It's amazing!!!! read more

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The best tenderloin in South Des Moines. A must stop any time I'm in Des Moines. You will not be disappointed. The King is super big so be hungry if you order it. read more

Wow what an amazing joint. I met the owner and in conversation come to find out this little joints about to celebrate 50+ years and they have been featured on Al Rokkers travel Chanel show! The owners been working there since he was 10 and he hand cuts each tenderloin and all meat is locally grown. I'm surprised more people don't know about them. Amazing family and great quality food. I love that they are close to airport so you can run get your fix and head out. read more

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Visited yesterday with my parents. Service was the friendliest, food was delicious and the cherry on top was our server helping us to our car seeing that both my parents use mobility devices, despite it being bitterly cold. It's a good thing she did too because my dad fell getting into the car and she mobilized two male coworkers to help him, literally within seconds! We are all so grateful for the staff going above and beyond. Hats off to Smitty's! read more

Best pork sandwich in the state!!! The taste is wonderful and not heavily breaded so it is good to eat and doesn't have a bunch of extra stuff. Good bun too! read more

Amazing services the best employees super nice if I could it would me 10 TTHE BEST FOOD

Ordered Kings for the wife and myself fried to perfection. Bun was fresh but smaller than the tenderloin for obvious reasons. Also picked up Amana Iowa root beer. read more

The tenderloins were huge! It was my first time coming here and based on the reviews I saw, this seemed to be the place to go. I was very impressed with the size but not the taste. It was pretty dry and not seasoned enough. Definitely needed a lot of ketchup. Not sure if that is how it's supposed to taste because it's the first tenderloin I ever had read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - Pork tenderloin King - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

For what it is? 5 stars. This hometown 4th generation restaurant really rocked. Local root beer to boot and onion rings that didn't need any ketchup. I had the "queen" size tenderloin and it filled me up just fine. My waitress, a retired nurse, made the experience that much better. She rocked. read more

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Service was excellent and the food was awesome Highly recommend not far from the airport. read more

The King Tenderloin was amazing! It is a Des Moines landmark and huge and delicious! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

Had the queen tenderloin sandwich and it was excellent. The twins gave excellent service and entire staff was friendly. Haven't been in Iowa for a while so the tenderloin sandwich was a big treat read more

Food was average, but the service was horrible. Saw mice droppings behind counter. The bathroom was absolutely disgusting. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Smitty's Tenderloins Shop - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa