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Food - The Latin King, Des Moines, IA

The Latin King

4.5 (355)
$30 and under
Italian
2200 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317-2522

Make a reservation

A photo of The Latin King restaurant

The Latin King

4.5
$30 and under
Italian
Des Moines

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
The Latin King restaurant was founded in 1947 by Rose and Jim Pigneri, who immigrated from Terravecchia, Italy to Des Moines. Rose and Jim wanted to bring authentic Italian fare to Des Moines and began this undertaking in earnest upon selling their home to finance the Latin King restaurant lease, which had previously operated as the Cinderella Sandwich Shop (circa 1930) and the Chanticleer Restaurant (circa 1937). Pigneri named the Latin King after New York City’s Latin Quarter and operated the Latin King for 35 years, notably taking only 10 days of vacation time during his tenure. Pigneri sold the Latin King to his third cousin Bob Tursi in 1983.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
  • Private party contact
    our Private Event Coordinator: (515) 266-4466

Private dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Latin King.

4.5

4.5
(355)
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Iowa

    Neighborhood gem

  • Des Moines

    Neighborhood gem

  • Des Moines

    Great for fine wines

  • Des Moines

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Latin King offers a nostalgic atmosphere with "excellent food and service." Regulars praise the "old Italian recipes" and "friendly" staff. Highlights include the "tasty red sauces" and "delicious house dressing." While some service hiccups were noted, the overall dining experience remains "wonderful," making it a beloved spot for celebrations.
355 Reviews
  1. Holly

    Des Moines3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server made the experience amazing. Food was wonderful- got to meet the chef. Overall amazing experience!

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  2. Jim

    Kansas City7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Latin King served excellent, tasty food. Our server, Eva, was attentive but not intrusive. Overall a great experience.

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  3. Chris Gold

    Des Moines57 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 30, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Regulars at the King with expectations that are always met or exceeded. Red sauce never disappoints regardless of the pasta choice/order extra for the onion-rings & mozzarella sticks.
    The Latin KingResponded 4 days ago
    Chris, Thank you so much for your support! Regulars like yourself are what make the The Latin King feel like family!

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  4. William

    Washington DC1 review

    3.0

    Dined on October 10, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was fantastic. Service elements were below average at best. Water glasses ran dry - Never offered second drinks. - Dirty plates stacked on table and service never bothered to pick them up. Server forgot to bring out salads - we had them bagged and taken home instead. Desserts were brought in to-go's even though we asked for them to be served and then took another 10 minutes to bring out. Disappointing for a special occastion meal.
    The Latin KingResponded 4 days ago
    William, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and share your experience. We are very happy to hear your enjoyed the quality for our food. We also appreciate your details regarding service as we can use this to better improve all guests experience moving forward. We always appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back again soon.

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  5. Michelle

    Des Moines1 review

    2.0

    Dined on October 9, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Sent chicken back 2x, undercooked. Asked for extra sour cream and was told "that is extra", did not bring any more. Asked for Manager and they sent the head chef who did take care of my food, but my friends had already finished eating. Chef was amazing courteous and funny.
    The Latin KingResponded 4 days ago
    Michelle, Thank you for taking time to share your experience with us. We take great pride in our food quality and service and we fell short of that during your time with us and for that we apologize. We want your time with us to be seamless and relaxing from the time your walk in. We will address these service issues and be better moving forward due to your feedback. We look forward to the opportunity of our joining us again in the future.

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  6. Chris Gold

    Des Moines57 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 3, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another great meal at the Latin King. If this place isn’t on people’s regularly scheduled restaurant list-it should be. The old italian recipes are consistently great & the variety is definitely there, with a friendly team to great you at the door & and excellent wait staff.
    The Latin KingResponded 4 days ago
    Chris, Thank you for all your kinds words. Experience like yours are exactly why we love what we do! We look forward to seeing you again soon!

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  7. Michael

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 26, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Enjoyed visit to Latin King to celebrate my wife´s 60th birthday. Service was excellent, food was outstanding. Dining room a bit loud but to be expected with many younger visitors there. Really enjoy the atmosphere there and friendly service.
    The Latin KingResponded on October 2, 2026
    Michael, Thank you for joining us on such a special occasion. We are thrilled to hear the service and food highlight your time with us!

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  8. Mike

    Washington DC4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 26, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    I've eaten at The Latin King many, many times over the years. The quality of the food and the overall dining experience is always excellent.
    The Latin KingResponded on October 2, 2026
    Mike, Thank you for all your support throughout the years. Regulars like your self are what make The Latin King what it is! We look forward to seeing you soon!

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  9. David

    Chicago1 review

    3.0

    Dined on September 25, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We’ve always liked to go to Latin king. It was always a great place to go, but it had been a while since we’ve been back there. Food was a seven but the service was a bit over the top. Felt like they were hovering around our table. The person who was filling the water was on top of it, but it seemed like too much. They probably visited our table a dozen times throughout the night. The picture of water was dripping from the condensation and it dripped onto our meal. The waitress got the orders mixed up. That’s normally not a big deal but at the restaurant that has been around a long time, If you’re good, you will know who ordered what item and serve it to them. It just wasn’t relaxing, when you think of an Italian restaurant you think of taking your time and relaxing. We felt a bit rushed with all the people around our table and reaching over. The bread that brought to our table was hard. The waitress mentioned that it was left over from lunch. I asked if they could bring a different batch. I believe that they grabbed a new batch of bread and stuck in the microwave to warm it up and soften them a little We’re not sure if we’re gonna be back. It’s not what it used to be.
    The Latin KingResponded 4 days ago
    David, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I want to apologize for a rushed service. We want all of our guests to feel welcomed and enjoy their time with us. We value you the guests perspective when it comes to this manner and will make proper adjustments to ensure you and others do not have the same experience in your future visits. Thank you again for your time and we truly appreciate your support.

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  10. Stephen Gold

    Chicago13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 22, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was very good and service was excellent. The price was also very reasonable with large portion sizes. Great experience
    The Latin KingResponded on September 25, 2026
    Stephen, Thank you for joining us. We are so happy to hear the food and service highlighted your visit! Come back again soon!

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
  • Private party contact
    our Private Event Coordinator: (515) 266-4466

FAQs

The Latin King feels like a classic, family-run Italian: warm and inviting with dim lighting, multiple dining rooms and a bar area, nights with live music or large groups can be on the louder side, while other dining rooms offer a more intimate option.

Portions at The Latin King are generous, guests frequently note large servings and often take home leftovers after their meal.

Yes, The Latin King offers outdoor/patio dining, and guests frequently mention enjoying the patio and being seated outside to avoid a wait.

Yes, The Latin King accepts private parties and regularly hosts larger group events for celebrations and gatherings.

The Latin King is especially enjoyable on live‑music evenings, guests recommend snagging a table on nights with acoustic music, often noted on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.

The Latin King will accommodate families, staff have seated parties with infants in quieter corners to make visits easier for families with babies.

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, polished clothing rather than formal wear, and many guests treat visits as special occasions for anniversaries and celebrations.

Tuesdays are a treat for live music nights, while Fridays are great if you’re after the prime-rib special many guests enjoyed.

Yes, families are welcome: reviewers describe being seated with a baby in a quiet corner and note children enjoying kid‑friendly items like chicken tenders and spaghetti.

Yes, The Latin King is a popular choice for anniversaries and special evenings, with many guests celebrating milestones there.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Iowa
  4. Des Moines
  5. Des Moines

Make a reservation

A photo of The Latin King restaurant

The Latin King

4.5
$30 and under
Italian
Des Moines

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
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