Updated October 1, 2026. Every place below was checked on that day against its own website or a current listing for its address and a current menu. Restaurants from the earlier version of this guide that have closed or moved away were taken out.
Most of the places to eat near Drake University sit on one stretch of University Avenue between 23rd and 35th Streets, so you can walk between them. For a sit-down dinner, go to Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen for wood-fired pizza. For Ethiopian food, Gursha Ethiopian Grill serves doro wot on injera. For a diner breakfast or a burger, Drake Diner is a block off University on 25th Street.
Drake neighborhood restaurants at a glance
| Place | Address | Food |
|---|---|---|
| Mars Cafe | 2318 University Ave | Coffee, panini, brunch |
| Gursha Ethiopian Grill | 2316 University Ave | Ethiopian |
| Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers | 2331 University Ave | Burgers, craft beer |
| Drake Diner | 1111 25th St | American diner |
| Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen | 3206 University Ave | Wood-fired pizza |
| Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine | 1409 23rd St | Halal Indian and Pakistani |
| University Library Cafe | 3506 University Ave | Bar and grill, brunch |
The restaurants
Mars Cafe
The coffeehouse most Drake students know, with panini and weekend brunch alongside the drinks. The menu includes a "Sputnik" drink, cold brew and a honey cinnamon latte.
- Where: 2318 University Ave, Des Moines
- Hours listed: weekdays 6 am-7 pm, weekends 7 am-7 pm (other listings show different hours, so check first)
Gursha Ethiopian Grill
Ethiopian food next door to Mars Cafe. Doro wot and vegetable platters come on injera, and there are vegan options.
- Where: 2316 University Ave, Des Moines
- Hours listed: closed Monday; Tuesday-Thursday 11 am-7 pm, Friday-Saturday 7 am-8 pm, Sunday 7 am-6 pm
Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers
A burger bar with a craft beer list. The menu runs from a prime rib burger to a falafel burger and cauliflower wings.
- Where: 2331 University Ave, Des Moines
- Hours listed: daily 11 am-10 pm
Drake Diner
A diner a block off University Avenue. On the lunch menu the Maytag Burger was $16.49 and the French Dip $13.99.
- Where: 1111 25th St, Des Moines
- Site: drakediner.com (opens in a new tab) | Our listing
Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen
A wood-fired pizza kitchen with a Mediterranean lean. The Fig & Honey pizza ($17) comes with goat cheese, figs, arugula and pickled walnuts.
- Where: 3206 University Ave, Des Moines
- Hours posted: Tuesday-Saturday 11 am-9 pm
- Site: hugosdsm.com (opens in a new tab)
Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine
A halal Indian and Pakistani restaurant a block south of University Avenue. The menu includes butter chicken, garlic naan and gulab jamun.
- Where: 1409 23rd St, Des Moines
- Hours listed: Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-8:30 pm
University Library Cafe
A bar and grill at the west end of the campus strip, with brunch dishes such as crab cakes Benedict and bar food such as cheeseburger nachos.
- Where: 3506 University Ave, Des Moines
What changed from the earlier version
- Gazali's Mediterranean Grill moved from the neighborhood to Clive in 2021 and closed on February 15, 2024.
- La Mie has no "Express" location. Its bakery is at 841 42nd St in the Roosevelt area, outside the Drake neighborhood.
- Jethro's BBQ on Forest Avenue closed after a fire in February 2022, and Papa Keno's on University closed in June 2020.
Sources
Checked October 1, 2026:
- Drake Diner lunch menu (opens in a new tab)
- Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen (opens in a new tab) and its pizza menu (opens in a new tab)
- Mars Cafe on Restaurantji (opens in a new tab)
- Gursha Ethiopian Grill on Restaurantji (opens in a new tab)
- Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers on Restaurantji (opens in a new tab)
- Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine on Restaurant Guru (opens in a new tab)
- University Library Cafe on Restaurantji (opens in a new tab)
- La Mie Bakery (opens in a new tab)