Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss, and Thousand Island get stacked high on a made-to-order Reuben here. Turkey can even step in for the corned beef if you want a twist.
That sounds like a sandwich with a plan.
The setting matches the sandwich. Picture chrome on the outside, neon glowing above, and a counter lined with round stools inside.
This Iowa spot leans hard into its midcentury diner style.
The sides deserve a shout too. Onion rings get hand-breaded right on the spot.
Sweet potato fries and a house salad are also on deck.
I love a place that treats a classic sandwich with real respect. It makes me wonder what else this kitchen takes seriously.
Spoiler: the pie case has opinions too.
This Reuben Arrives Piled High And Ready To Steal Your Week
Corned beef leads the charge on the Reuben at Drake Diner. Tangy sauerkraut, melty Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing join the party.
The sandwich gets made to order, so it doesn’t sit around waiting for you. The menu describes it as big, and the stack backs that up.
Not a corned beef fan? The kitchen lets you swap in turkey instead.
That small option opens the door for picky eaters and curious friends alike.
A Reuben lives or dies by balance. Salty meat, sour kraut, creamy dressing, and gooey cheese all need to pull their weight.
This version keeps all four classic pieces in the lineup. No weird add-ons are trying to steal the spotlight from the basics.
Here’s a smart tip for first-timers. Order the Reuben as listed before you start experimenting with turkey.
That way you get a true baseline for the sandwich. Then you’ll know exactly why it keeps popping into your head on random Tuesdays.
Bring a friend who orders something different. Trading bites is basically a diner tradition, and you’ll want backup anyway.
Pick Your Sidekick Carefully Because Every Option Has Fans
Four choices stand between you and a complete Reuben plate. You can grab Diner fries, sweet potato fries, homemade onion rings, or a house salad.
The onion rings get the most attention, and for good reason. They’re hand-breaded on the spot, which means nobody pulls them from a frozen bag.
Those rings run thin and crunchy rather than thick and doughy. That lighter style pairs well with a sandwich that’s already rich and hearty.
Sweet potato fries bring a little natural sweetness to the table. They make a nice contrast against the sour bite of sauerkraut.
Classic Diner fries are the safe pick, and safe isn’t a bad word here. Sometimes a Reuben just wants its old reliable buddy.
Feeling a bit virtuous? The house salad comes with dressings made in-house.
My advice is simple. If you’re dining with someone, each of you should pick a different side.
Then split everything down the middle like a fair-minded diplomat. You’ll test more of the menu without ordering three plates.
Spicy homemade chili is also on the menu if you want a warm start. Soup before sandwich never hurt anybody.
Chrome, Neon, And Round Stools Set The Mood Before You Order
Shiny chrome wraps the outside of Drake Diner, and neon lighting adds a glow. The look follows the classic streamliner diner style from decades past.
Inside, the 1950s theme keeps going strong. Booths line the room, and a counter with round stools waits for solo diners.
That counter is a great choice when you’re flying alone. You get a front-row seat to the action and quick access to the staff.
Booths work better for groups and long conversations. They also give you room to spread out plates and steal fries.
The whole style feels playful without turning into a costume party. It’s retro with polish, sometimes described as upscale retro.
Total seating covers up to 207 guests across inside and outside spaces. That’s a lot of room for a diner, so you’ve got options.
Photos are almost required here. The chrome and neon basically beg for a picture before you head in.
Just don’t spend so long posing that your Reuben gets lonely. Snap fast, then sit down and eat.
Nice Weather Calls For The Screened-In Patio
Seventy-five seats wait outdoors on a screened-in patio. That’s a big chunk of space dedicated to fresh air and sunshine.
The screens are the clever part. You get the breeze without inviting every bug in Iowa to share your sandwich.
A Reuben tastes just as good outside as it does in a booth. Maybe better, honestly, when the weather cooperates.
Breakfast outdoors is also a solid move. The diner opens at 7 a.m. every day, so early birds can grab a patio table with coffee.
Groups might find the patio easier for spreading out. More room means fewer elbows bumping into syrup bottles.
Spring and fall in Des Moines can bring some lovely mild days. Those are prime patio days, so keep an eye on the forecast.
When a server asks inside or outside, you’ll have a real decision to make. Neither answer is wrong.
Inside offers the full retro show with chrome and neon. Outside offers sky, breeze, and a slightly more relaxed pace.
Try both over a couple of visits. You’ll likely end up with a favorite and defend it loudly.
Pancakes At Dinner? The Clock Has No Power Here
Breakfast runs all day at Drake Diner, which solves a lot of family arguments. One person can order the Reuben while another digs into pancakes.
The breakfast lineup goes well beyond basic eggs. Cinnamon swirl French toast, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and waffles all appear on the menu.
Homemade cinnamon rolls deserve their own moment too. They work as a morning treat or an afternoon pick-me-up.
All-day breakfast is great news for late sleepers. Rolling out of bed at noon doesn’t mean missing out.
It’s also handy for anyone who just isn’t in a sandwich mood. Diner menus should be flexible, and this one is.
Here’s a sneaky strategy for a weekend visit. Order a Reuben and a cinnamon roll to share.
You get savory and sweet in one sitting. Nobody has to choose between lunch and dessert disguised as breakfast.
The kitchen clearly treats breakfast as a main event, not a side hustle. That says a lot about how much care goes into the rest of the menu.
Half-Pound Burgers Make A Strong Case For Round Two
Fresh-ground daily and broiled to order, the half-pound burgers here mean business. They’re a strong reason to come back after you’ve tried the Reuben.
The Bulldog Burger nods to the nearby university mascot. It comes with Monterey Jack cheese, sautéed onions, and mushrooms.
Then there’s the Maytag Burger, which feels very Iowa. It uses Maytag blue cheese, a famous product from the Hawkeye State.
Blue cheese fans will want to put that one on their list. It’s bold, tangy, and proudly local.
Homemade meatloaf is another comfort classic on the menu. It’s the kind of dish that tastes like a cozy Sunday.
Fresh salads with house-made dressings round things out. So there’s something for lighter appetites too.
A smart plan is to treat the Reuben as visit number one. Make a burger your mission for visit number two.
Your sides can rotate as well. Onion rings with the Reuben, sweet potato fries with the Bulldog, and so on.
Before long, you’ll have a personal ranking. Everybody needs a hobby.
Save Room, Because The Shakes Are Not Messing Around
Hand-packed shakes and malts carry a big reputation at this diner. The word legendary gets tossed around, and the menu leans right into it.
A chocolate malt here has even been called heavenly. That’s high praise for something served with a straw.
Made-from-scratch pies and cakes also fill the dessert lineup. Daily specials rotate, so the options can change from visit to visit.
That rotation is good and bad news. Good because there’s always something new, bad because you can’t plan your whole life around one pie.
Shakes are a popular topic among Drake Diner fans. Malts and onion rings also get plenty of buzz.
So a Reuben, onion rings, and a malt is basically a greatest-hits album. That’s a plate worth building a day around.
Too full after your sandwich? Ask about getting pie to go.
A slice of homemade pie in the fridge later is a great gift to your future self. Future you will be grateful.
Splitting a shake is also totally acceptable. Two straws, one glass, zero shame.
A Neighborhood Favorite With Roots Back To 1987
Bill Knapp opened Drake Diner in 1987. He modeled it after San Francisco’s Fog City Diner, aiming for upgraded comfort food in a casual setting.
That idea still shapes the place today. Classic diner dishes get a little extra care without losing their friendly spirit.
You’ll find it at 1111 25th St, Des Moines, IA 50311. That puts it just south of the Drake University campus.
Being near campus gives it a lively neighborhood role. Drake students have long brought visiting families here for a meal.
That makes sense when you think about it. Parents want something comfortable, and students want something tasty that isn’t the dining hall.
The diner is family-owned and operated. It takes pride in making newcomers feel welcome right away.
Nearly four decades in, it remains a familiar stop in Des Moines. That kind of staying power doesn’t happen by accident.
If you’re visiting Iowa for a campus tour or a weekend trip, it’s an easy add. Your schedule can probably fit one great sandwich.
History tastes better with Thousand Island anyway.
Time Your Reuben Run Right And Late Cravings Are Covered
Monday and Tuesday wrap up early at 3 p.m. Plan a lunch visit on those days, or you’ll be staring at a closed door.
Wednesday and Sunday stretch until 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday go even later, closing at 10 p.m.
Every single day starts at 7 a.m. So breakfast people never have to wait around.
Those later weekend hours are great for a dinner Reuben. They’re also perfect for a late shake after a movie or event.
The neon looks especially fun once the sun goes down. Evening visits give the chrome a whole different glow.
Here’s a practical tip worth remembering. Double-check the hours before driving across town, especially early in the week.
Nothing stings like a sandwich craving with nowhere to go. Trust the calendar, not your hope.
Drake Diner makes a fine stop for travelers passing through Iowa too. It opens early enough for a road-trip breakfast.
Or swing by late for dinner before heading to your hotel. Either way, that Reuben will be waiting, piled high and ready to follow you home in your thoughts.
