Zombie Burger - Drink Lab
300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Zombie Burger - Drink Lab Menu
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Address :
300 E Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA, 50309 - Phone (515) 244-9292
- Website https://www.zombieburgerdm.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
- Mon : 11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
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Gabe W.
Awesome place for creative burgers. Fun theme and large space downtown. I had the Walking Ched with grilled chicken. Should be renamed the heart stopper. Deep fried mac&cheese buns, mac&cheese topping, grilled onions, and cheddar cheese. The mac sauce was really good and creamy, reminded me of bechamel. They have about 20 unique sandwhiches that can be ordered Single Double or Triple patty. All sandwhiches can be substituted with grilled chicken or veggie patty. French fries are to DIE for.
(5)Marty M.
Just love the burger all I can say.
(4)Gavin G.
We stopped in on a Wednesday around 1:00 to find a wait time of 30 minutes for our group of three. No big deal; after reading other reviews, I expected worse. However, we quickly figured out that if we would brave the unseasonably chilly temps, we could order counter service and seat ourselves outside. We watched many tourist families leave because of the wait and not understanding this 2nd system to dining at Zombie Burger. It's confusing for new visitors, but I imagine it serves them well during a busy downtown Des Moines lunch rush. The gentleman running the counter service line was quick, but didn't seem like he was ready to deal with the uninitiated and answer questions about the menu. Again, no big deal, but it could have been a better experience. The food was completely forgettable. The meat had no flavor at all and was rather dry. The French fries were fine. Zombie Burger seems to be relying on a dozen clever trick toppings and "crazy" milkshakes to fuel their business. However, the toppings weren't anything special either. It seems to be working, but I couldn't find a reason to go back. If you can get a quick bite, go for it, but temper your expectations.
(3)Mrs T.
I am so glad that we stopped here. What a fun experience! The burgers are amazing and the shakes are so good! You can't go wrong here! You can get a simple burger or something that you will never forget!
(5)Andrew D.
Burgers are excellent. Haven't had a bad one yet. The selection is tough with such a plethora of delicious options that have creative zombie themed names. Coming at the right time is key. It can be very crowded during peak hours. Defiantly a must eat for visitors to the city.
(5)Bela S.
I was teetering between 2-3 stars on this one. The themeing of this restaurant is grade A, right down to the rest room signs. The menu is a newspaper informing the locals of a zombie outbreak. How cool is that?!? All of the menu items are also themed after our favorite zombie movies, and the names (and stories) are quite clever, really. Unfortunately my infatuation with this place ended right there, hence the two stars (at the end of the day, you pay to eat, right?). The food was just ok, and we have been here twice to give it a second chance. Nothing was BAD, but nothing was so wonderful that I can't wait to be back. By that I mean to say you can get these burgers, salads, etc. almost anywhere you go. I'd rather pop into a Chili's or something if I am craving a nice big burger. If you have never been, it is worth going to at least once for the themeing alone. I would expect to see something of this caliber in Hollywood around Universal City walk, but was surprised to find it in downtown DSM.
(2)Rufus M.
Great burgers and variety of choices for everybody. You are surrounded by cool zombie art if you eat inside too. Our group all got different burgers and the entire everyone thought they're food was amazing.
(5)David B.
After moving to Des Moines in April, I knew that one of the places I needed to check out was Zombie Burger...I wanted to see what the hype was all about. The first attempt was a bust seeing how the wait was long, but I was bound to prevail. After some much thought I wanted to attempt this feat again and stick out the wait. The wait was still long, but in what it seemed to be no time at all we were seated, had some appetizers and then that glorious moment came and our main course arrived! I can say that it lived up to the hype! There shakes were awesome and the burgers well some of the best! If you have a sense of adventure and want to try different and some odd combinations involved with the creation of these burgers give it a shot, I don't think you will regret it.
(5)Tom T.
Probably the most overrated restaurant in Des Moines. I give it a resounding "NOPE."
(2)Sammy L.
Amazing burgers and a great staff. I get the 8 the dawn if the dead. It's awesome. Pro tip: get fancy sauce to put on the burger.
(5)Eric L.
OMG this is awesome. Food to be undead for!
(4)Caroline M.
I'll keep it real. I could really do without all the zombie crap. With that said, it's not too hard to block it out, and put all of your focus on their insane menu. Sooooo many options. I love the portobello mushroom "burger" option. You can also do beef, chicken, or veggie. My current fave is the burger with brie & prosciutto, with the mushroom base. Yeah, the bun situation is a little odd....but it seems to work. They totally have me as a life long (or as long as I'm in Des Moines) customer strictly for the boozy milkshakes. The cinnamon toast crunch shake with Rumchata is STELLAR. Service is friendly and attentive. I've only gone at off peak times, so it may be a different story at 7pm on Saturday night...maybe not! It's a bummer fries are an additional $$ side option, but quite honestly, I didn't miss them between the awesome sandwich and booze shake. Mmm.
(4)Diana A.
Service was fine and pretty fast. The place is really neat... The burgers taste good but not the best in town. Their menu is very creative but was not impressed with the flavors and my fries were not fresh.
(3)Ryan R.
Burgers are obvious the biggest thing and they are awesome! They have an amazing beer list which has some really interesting things which will make you wanna come back. Service was very good. The Biggest issue was that the management is clearly more concerned with cramming as many people in the building at one time in order to make money, it is a bummer that it was so crazy in the bar area. So if you go on a weekend it gets crazy and the way the building is designed it is confusing and you will find your self lost and confused and in the way of the servers up until you find a seat. All in all worth going back to multiple times!
(4)Megan H.
Zombie Burger is fun, fun, fun. Yes, it's ridiculously popular so you'll probably have to wait. Well, don't you WANT to eat somewhere that so many people obviously love? And it's not just for the clever concept, the cool decor, the spiked milkshakes, or the funny menus printed to resemble newspapers with zombie stories (I really enjoyed last week's menu spoofing RAGBRAI). The food is actually pretty darn good. When Zombie Burger first opened, I went crazy and ordered a ton of fried food (it's sort of their specialty). Ohhhhhh was it ever good, but ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh did my stomach hurt. I actually didn't go back for a long time because I started trying to eat healthier, and I just didn't think ZB fit into that plan. Then I took a closer look at the menu. No, you don't just have to get the cheese-slathered burgers between the deep fried mac & cheese buns (though I won't judge if you do, that stuff is delicious). ZB also has two kinds of veggie burgers OR a grilled portabella which you can sub for any burger on the menu. Even more, you can sub a bed of greens for the bun and make your own improvised zombie salad. Maybe not QUITE as fun, OK. But my stomach thanks me for making more responsible choices. I'll still indulge in one of those insane burgers every once in awhile, but it's nice to know there are options! Other good stuff at Zombie Burger? The Brussels sprouts. The fries. The fried pickles. The awesome beer selection. The servers, most of whom have been there since the place opened (our server last week told me they have zero turnover because they all love being there so much). Oh, yes. The spiked milkshakes. Delicious. I love this place! So does everyone else! You'll love it too.
(4)Ri T.
It is a great place to grab a drink. I love that you can also get food pretty late.
(5)Cathy E.
Best burger place in the Midwest. The food and the staff are awesome!! If coming any where near Des Moines it's a must do
(5)Zach B.
I love Zombie Burger. Fun atmosphere. Great, unique food. Always a good time. Usually a long wait but downtown Des Moines has lots to see while you wait. You must visit if you are in Des Moines.
(5)Diana B.
Always a great food experience
(5)Seleen T.
Had the best burger in my life over here. I got the walking ched and I wished they had a restaurant here in Chicago! I got the single patty and that made me full for the rest of the day. It's 2 fried macaroni patties with mac n cheese and a patty. I also got a drink too and it was awesome. I would totally drive 5 hours everyday for this burger lol! Soo good! Going here is a must! All the servers were really nice and it seems like it is always packed here. Cool theme as well and it's right next to the Capitol if you are doing sight seeing.
(5)Kyle J.
We have been told by alot of friends to try this place and all I can say is it awesome. I love the burgers and they have some great appetizers.
(4)Tyler H.
love the food! dont like the shakes that much though.
(4)Dave W.
Went on Sunday with my g/f and 2 of her friends from out of town. I always enjoy the food. The waiter, Marty, seemed like he completely hated being there and was bothered by us despite our friendly and happy demeanor. Marty was rather surly until he brought our check and seemed to be trying to plaster on somewhat of a smile to sway us toward leaving a decent tip. Three of our party ordered shakes that didn't come until about 15 minutes after the food arrived; Marty came to ask us how everything was and I mentioned that the shakes hadn't come yet and he just kind of rolled his eyes and walked away without saying anything. The rest of the staff was friendly when they brought our food and shakes. Maybe he was just having a bad day. This was my first time having Marty as a server (have seen him there before, so I know he's not new), and hopefully the last. I'm a big craft beer aficionado, but the beer prices are quite a bit higher than other places. Again, great food always! Would have given it 4 stars if we'd had better service.
(3)Lianne N.
Fried pickles for the win. The burgers were good, but I don't think I'd have been as sold without the fried pickles. I'd have liked to try the fried brussel sprouts. Everything in this place is ala carte, and it's not cheap. However, the table service (we didn't try the other side) was nice and the food was satisfying.. and very inventive in its variety! LOTS of fried options to clog your arteries.
(4)Sofie C.
Shared the raygun burger, basket of fries, and brussel sprouts with my girlfriend. It was more than enough food. We could've skipped the fries. The wait was 45 minutes but we asked to be seated at the bar and were seated right away. We got there a little before 2 and the crowd died down by the time we were done eating. Sitting near the bar area also allows you to watch the movies they're streaming. Overall the food was tasty, great customer service. They could get a better system for separating the ppl checking in and those who are waiting to be called for seating. They just have everyone standing in the center of the walk way breathing on each other and blocking the way, then new ppl who walk in walk straight to the front of the line like idiots rather than getting in line to breathe on the rest of us.
(4)Apple C.
One of my buddies treated me to lunch here. While I'm not the biggest fan of burgers, I definitely think this is a great place to visit in Des Moines. When we arrived, the restaurant was packed! Luckily there was space to eat outside. The host at the register was a bit grumpy, however our server was super friendly! I ordered a vegetarian burger( I don't remember the name but the patty was made from breaded portabella mushrooms stuffed with cheese ) a basket of fries to share with my buddy, and a Carrot Cake Milkshake. I wasn't crazy for the burger, when I bit into it, the cheese stuffed side the breaded patty leaked everywhere, and was overpowering. The fries were also thin, and soggy. On the other hand, the Carrot Cake Milkshake was very yummy! Overall, I don't think I'd come back since I'm not a burger person, but it's an interesting place, and it's definitely worth a visit!
(3)Steve G.
Creative and well executed. Definitely has the obvious punk vibe going with the zombie theme but it's not overdone so the average eater won't feel alienated. Speedy service and it was tasty!
(5)Sam A.
Great place! I had the Undead Elvis! I think I would have preferred pan-fried bananas to deep fried. Didn't did the shakes, but they looked awesome! Bonus: you can get liquor in them! The server was also very nice
(4)Josh D.
Love this place!
(5)Dana N.
Ahhh!! How I missed this place! It's been awhile since Ive been here, by awhile I mean ever since I graduated from UNI I haven't been back until recently coming back from Chicago. Burgers are good as always! Nice and messy! ALWAYS a plus when adding an egg to it! =D Still wish they would had fries with the burgers, but oh well. And of course the shake are still as yummy as I remembered! Just wish I would have stayed a bit longer. Pricing for the burgers are fair, I personally think it's fair for the type of style and protein. Beer pricing for bottles could be a dollar cheaper. And of course, I think they should add more taps. But they do have a large selection of bottled beers.
(4)Krissy W.
Des Moines, you have impressed me! I love, love, loved Zombie Burger. It's such a fun concept. I can see how some could think it's overkill, but it didn't bother me. All of the burgers are named after zombie movies or video games, and although many of them are gluttonous enough to cause a heart attack (check out the Walking Ched), there are some more sophisticated options as well. It's tempting to try all the 20+ options. Good thing I don't live here! And the beer list! Who would have ever thought a place like this would have such an impressively curated collection? Not only were there many good choices, but there were many fantastic craft beers priced $4-5 (full price). Sweet! Finally, go to the bathroom when you're here. Trust me, just go.
(4)Drew F.
Elvis is still alive here, left filled with joy. I'm definitely going back for seconds the next time I'm in Des Moins
(4)Kerri M.
We ate there for the first time yesterday (9/27/14). It was so worth the wait! The explosion of flavor in every bite was so worth the wait and the price! We'll definitely be returning!! I had the They're Coming to Get You, Barbara and my husband had the Undead Elvis. We split a loaded fry basket and both had a shake to go.
(5)Paul G.
omg! stop what your doing and get to this place! it's time for best burger you'll ever eat! don't forget to double tap!
(5)Andrea T.
Came here on a Friday for lunch. The line was to the door but surprisingly, we only waited in line for 10-15 minutes. We noticed there were plenty of people waiting for their food and no open tables. We heard numbers in the 60's being told their food was ready and wondered where we would be at. We watched as huge burgers (due to the toppings, not the meat itself) came out of the kitchen which helped us determine how much food to get. This place is not very reasonably priced. Burgers range from $4.99-$11.49 and Shakes are $5 and Floats are $4. I went with the 'East Village of the Damned' single burger. I had a hard time picking out which shake I wanted to try but went with the 'Chocolate Nutella Marshmallow' one. I ended up being number 99. A long way to wait until I get my food. The shake came up first and boy are they thick. Tasty but thick! We finally got a booth and table to sit at. Do not plan on sitting with the group you came with. A max of 4 can sit together. My massive burger came out and I was surprised to find a deep fried huge round thing in it. It was the mushroom and cheese thing. The lettuce was tiny as was the tomato. I questioned how I could fit the burger in my mouth. Some how I managed to take a bite and cheese oozed out of the fried thing. It was a MESS! The burger was ok but I got sick of the mushroom cheese thing. I was very greasy by the end. I had to take my shake with me and boy was I happy I did not buy a side. The others with me had the 'Walking Ched' which is a heart attack in waiting. He took half of it with him. The 'Zombie Burger' which is nothing too crazy, 'Planet Terror' which they said the fried ranch had a strange taste and I cannot remember what the other one had. They also had shakes. I honestly, felt sick due to how much grease and unhealthy food I had just eaten. I learned how they came up with the name of Zombie Burger. It's because of the noises your stomach makes the rest of the day. You sounds like a zombie! Not sure I want to come back again.
(3)Brooke P.
Totally fun place, its all about the funky zombie theme. Burgers are actually pretty good and the beer selection is not bad. Sometimes some snotty service but others have been very nice. Overall a great place to go once or twice a year.
(4)Stephen C.
First time there on 4/19. Food was great, Service poor. But there's more. We had reservations for 10 only to have the manager badger us about how many were going to show and when. When we explained that we might not all sit together we assured him that was alright because people were literally coming from all over the country. After we explained it to him he then started badgering others in the group about the same thing. Making it very clear that a reservation at 11 PM at night for this many was too hard and he had no staff. Then, 16 people showed up and WE ALL ATE AND DRANK. Why is this important. 4 people of our group showed up late, (they drove from out of state.) and he would let them in because "There are already too many non-paying customers." My friend and I walked around and found 8 empty tables and only two people at the that weren't eating. The food was good but I will never go back. And neither will anyone in our group.
(1)James V.
Ok, this place is amazing an crappy all in one. I only say this for a few reasons, let's start with the positives, #1 the place is called zombie burger thyself says enough. #2 The design of the place looks like a zombie horror wonderland ,but still stays family friendly. #3 the menu design is beyond original. #4 the food item selection is not only tasty ,but extremely original and makes it so hard to decide. Now here are a few negatives. #1 The staff is very pretentious and almost rude at times. #2 I was stared at rudely by some of the servers #3 the server took almost 30 mins to bring me the check , mind you the resturaunt was not busy to equal the lack of service.
(3)Jayne M.
Zombie Burger has a huge following and I've been there a few times to see what it's all about. Atmosphere is pretty loud so don't expect to be able to hear everyone in your party speaking. If you order a burger, be warned it does not come with any sides. Pretty pricey. I do love the Dead Moines burger with a side of brussel sprouts (with truffle aioli) but have not tried any shakes or alcoholic drinks so can't really speak on that front. Typically has a pretty good wait time too, so try to go on weekdays instead of busy weekends.
(3)Sandy B.
I love the atmosphere. I love the burgers (I just think they should make them a bit bigger) and I love that every Sunday night I can go watch The walking Dead!! ^_^
(5)Laura L.
Don't make the mistake of trying to eat the Walking Ched with your hands -- you're just going to wind up with bright orange cheese leaking all over your fingers. It was definitely a burger unlike any I'd had before, and if you're craving something greasy and salty, there's no better option. As I stared at the decimated remains of my Ched, I wondered to myself what exactly I had just eaten... We also had the Raygun, which in comparison tastes SO healthy lol. The guacamole gives it a hit of yummy freshness. I'll be back for you, spiked s'mores shake!
(4)Joseph C.
Easily one of the most entertaining restaurants with an awesome theme I've ever been to. From the restaurant decor (breakfast at Tiffany's poster became"breakfast is Tiffany") to the menu which included all sandwiches named after some sort of zombie theme (the walking ched and the t-virus burger), food was made to please the palate as well as to get you inspired for the zombie apocalypse! Would definitely recommend going early to try the chocolate Nutella Shake since they only have a limited amount each day. Awesome job, zombie burger!
(5)Tyler H.
This place was awesome!! I got the "Sarah's Revenge" burger and it did not disappoint. Do not worry about upgrading to a double tap. The single is plenty to fill you up. I'm in town for a week and will probably be back!
(5)Laura G.
I really love this place! The atmosphere is great, and the food is delicious. All the staff is really nice and helpful. I'm glad that I've been able to visit friends in Iowa and go here several times.
(5)James Z.
I have yet to find something I didn't like at Zombie Burger. When my daughter or granddaughter stop in for a visit they always want to go there. My last visit I tried the tenderloin as I am a connoisseur of them. I was far from being disappointed as it ranked up there as one of the best I have had. The sheer size of this sandwich is unbelievable and yet the taste and quality was great. Everybody was happy this day. I waited outside for them to open. This was a good thing because minutes after were seated there was a line and a wait to get in. I always believe if there is a large crowd there is a reason for that crowd. Zombie Burger proves my theory right.
(5)Jeff B.
Always a fun time with good creative food. I had the Dead by Dawn burger and it was quite tasty. Our table ordered 3 baskets of fries (different types) and for the 11 of us it was just about the right amount. Very large fry portions in the baskets. Seating can be a challenge for larger groups, but they were able to get us in without reservations surprisingly fast. Recommended place for casual, yet unique food. Out of towners in our group really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Only negative comment from the table was that the portabella mushroom on their burger was very small and they wouldn't order it in the future. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Thumbs up!
(4)Michele M.
I love Zombie burger! My hamburger was cooked to order and delicious. I got a gigantic basket of fries too and topped it all off with a crunch berry shake. Yes it's 15 degrees below zero and I still wanted one of their shakes! High praise.
(5)Elizabeth A.
The service isn't as great as it should be. Though this place does have a unique variety of burgers, the sides do not come with the burgers so the price is probably higher than it should be. The chicken salad however is very nice. Experience wise, its a fun place to hang out for a few drinks if you are in downtown Des Moines.
(2)Allen P.
OMG. THIS PLACE IS SO GOOD. I ordered the "Undead Elvis" which is a burger with peanut butter, fried banana, american cheese, mayo, and egg. The ONLY reason I tried it was because I have never had a burger with peanut butter and fried banana in it. To me, that's just weird, but I was curious to see why it was on the menu so I gave it a shot. HOLY SH*T. That has got to be one the best burgers I've ever tried! I don't know what it is, but everything just went so well together. Each freakin' bite man. I also ordered a spiked cake shake, I think it was called Zombie Bride. It was vanilla with yellow cake and MANNNN..MANNN..that shake was so damn good, and it gave me a pretty good buzz too lol. Anywho... as far as the decor goes in this place.. it looks really sick..They've got like zombie comic strip art on the walls and the menus were daily newspaper styled articles with a zombie attack theme. 5 STARS for sure and I will definitely be back to try other drinks and interesting gourmet burgers they got on the menu.
(5)Jamie M.
The atmosphere here is pretty cool, if you're into the whole zombie thing that's popular right now. Of course, if you're going to a restaurant, you're interested in the food, so I'll cover that more. There is a huge variety of "eccentric" burgers- like a bun made of fried mac and cheese, an Elvis-inspired sandwich with peanut butter and fried bananas, etc. Interesting, but really, the weren't that good. I had the mac and cheese thing the first time i went there, and honestly it was kinda gross. I was reminded of the Jim Gaffigan bit about the hot pocket- "Did i eat it, or rub it on my face?" The fries were basically potato jerky- dried out, chewy potato strips. You get a ton of them with your basket, but I'm not convinced that's a good thing. Since I work within walking distance to this place, I've been here several times since that first visit- other people kept wanting to try it. It seems they're getting their fries a little better, but they're still kinda chewy. I now stick to a more mundane burger without any gimmicks, and they're average to good. We still go here over lunch, but it's one of those "Where do you want to go?" "Zombie?" "yeah, i guess, unless someone has a better idea". There's usually a wait over the noon hour. If we can get in within 5-10 mins, fine, if not, we always go somewhere else and never regret it.
(2)Paul P.
On a cold and blustery May day with a barely a soul to be found on the street, I was warmly greeted at the door and seated at the bar of a nearly full restaurant. My enthusiastic bar maid had a medley of beers in front of me within moments and without ambivalence offered her personal recommendation for the best meal. The whole vibe was a hoot, the menu was a riot, but the food was so good it was worth a trip all by itself. The manager came over and spent 10 minutes explaining the concept behind the bar, the source of the meat and the food preparation. I'm left asking myself, how have I never had smash burgers so good? More than a job, the staff showed passion for the product and a commitment to excellent service. Definitely worth a trip.
(5)Alexandra Z.
Amazing! We were passing through one evening on our way out west, and needed a bite to eat. We were going to grab subway and hit the road, but I made my bf stop here. The food came out super quickly, and was amazing! They have so many creative choices for burgers (I got the Walking Ched), and cute names! The drinks are also super-yummy, with equally cute names (Zombie-Bride-Wedding-Cake, anyone)? I am going to have to find an excuse to go back to Des Moines. Oh, and can I say the menus were awesome, with a Zombie Newspaper printed on the back? Our server let us take some to go to send to our friends. Great prices too.
(5)Hollie D.
I read about this place a few months ago and wanted to go, but you can't really just go to Des Moines to go to one restaurant. Fortunately, my boyfriend wound up having to go to Des Moines for work on my birthday....which means that this happened. The wait, while ridiculous, was totally worth it. I liked that they just texted you when your table was ready. Cocktails were delicious (dark & stormy), beer selection was nice. We got the fried Brussels Sprouts, which were really good with the Sriracha mayo (is there anything Sriracha can't do, honestly). Poutine was a little meh, but the blue cheese garlic fries were really good, and really garlicky. I liked that the burgers are smashed (in my opinion, a much better option when you're topping them with a lot of stuff, unlike the meat pucks you'd get somewhere like Kuma's). The buns were nice and squishy, but still really sturdy. Overall a good experience, although for a while, I never thought I was going to eat again.
(4)Jeff C.
I am glad that I went to this place but I don't think that I would seek it out in a return visit. The positives are that it is a very unique concept in all aspects: the decor, the menu, the food, etc. The basic building block for the menu is the burger of course and there are all kinds of combinations of things they put on the burger that you will absolutely not get anywhere else. But once I got past the uniqueness of the menu, the food just wasn't that great. I like a good burger and the problem was that the other ingredients that were on the burger completely overshadow the burger itself to the point that I couldn't really taste or appreciate the burger. The burger itself is a small burger and is expensive for what you get. The burger comes with nothing else, no sides or anything for the price. The shakes are awesome and worth the trip for those alone.
(3)Matt M.
Everything was great. I had the Trailer Trash Zombie and my gf ordered the Dead Moines with an egg. Both burgers were awesome. We also tried the fry combo - interesting and delicious.
(5)Jorge M.
Very creative concept to the apocalyptic hype from the last few years. I like the option of a full service dining experience or counter service at the establishment. Moreover, the menu is extensive and very creative such as the Dead Moines Burger and Soylent Greens. Milk shakes were good but not the best. This place was busy on a Sunday evening being that it was one of the few restaurants open in downtown.
(4)Matt W.
I only gave this place 3 stars becuase although the food was decent it just was not anything spectacular or out of the ordinary as far as burgers and fries go. The prices are a little high also but my Bacon zombie burger was good just nothing special and the fries were just bland at best. It's a popular spot and I have only been ther the one time but I wasn't able to try any other items while I was there as my friends and I wanted shakes but they weren't selling them for some reason that night?? Red Robin is better IMO for a great burger!
(3)Rj N.
Wait to get a table was around an hour, but totally reasonable considering it was a Saturday evening. Once we got sat down, the service was lightning quick and our server was awesome. My wife and I got fried pickles, the flamethrower burger, the trailer trash zombie burger and a basket of fries with the house dipping sauce. All of it was fantastic and we'd totally go back for our next cheat meal. Prices are totally fair for the quality of food and service.
(4)Elwood B.
Eating here reminded me of that line in My Cousin Vinny, "have you heard about the small cholesterol problem here in the US" - or however it goes. Zombie Burger is about what you would expect: crazy burger and milk shakes (including alcoholic milk shakes) in a restaurant that takes the zombie decor to full effect. The food itself is completely unlike anything I've had before (we got two burgers: one with grilled cheese sandwiches for the hamburger buns and one with fried mac n' cheese patties for the buns) and they were super tasty, but I think each meal was about one person's caloric intake for the entire day. The milkshake was meh - not good, not bad - just seemed excessively large. Fries were yum - and again - a huge serving. If you can go on a week night when it's not as crowded, take the time to really look around at the decor, because there are all sorts of little details that amused us, like where zombies broke the glass on one of those "break glass in case of emergency" fire extinguisher covers.
(4)Danny B.
This was our first visit here and I know that we will be going back. The service provided by our server, Tasha, was excellent. She spent the time to review the menu and make recommendations on what to try. The chocolate cake shake was very good and a must have again. There are many different burgers to try, depending on what toppings you want. The Bloody Bayou was very good with excellent flavors and spices. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a different kind of burger. If you just want plain burgers, this place is not for you. When there, don't forget to have an adult shake before you go.
(5)Mazen E.
Came here with a large group from work and had a good time. Between our group we tried a lot of burgers and none disappointed. The faves were the unshed, Dead Elvis, and I had the Raygun. The Burgers were good size and you can get 1,2,or 3 patties. All the flavors magically worked together( who would've thought banana, pb, bacon, and mayo go well together) The Raygun had guac, bacon, and spicy mayo. All the burgers have lots of cheese on them. Make sure to stab anything fried so you don't cause injury to your neighbor by squirting them with hot cheese! Gotta try the fried pickles, and the Nutella milkshake. Great experience overall
(4)Kenny N.
Do order your food to go. Don't order the poutine to go. This place was crazy packed when we arrived. We were on a tight schedule. Fortunately, our friend has been here before and knew about the to go counter. We ordered and got our items in less than 5 minutes. Remarkable! My La Horde burger was great. Flavorful burger, great bacon, pungent goat cheese. The poutine was too messy and I didn't get a fork. It's great they packed the fries separately from the gravy and cheese curds. Recently, poutine cheese curds have been disappointing. Either they're melted, too soft, or drowned in gravy (zombie). I need some squeek, some texture, something that tells me that could stand alone. Overall, I would go back for the burgers and maybe other appetizer items. Rawr!
(4)Kristy L.
My husband and I stopped here on our way back home to Cedar Rapids based on a co-worker's rave review. I had the Dawn of the Dead burger and my husband had the Zombie Burger. Both were excellent. The fries were very good and the sauce ( a combo of mayo, ketchup, sriracha) was also good. The service was quick. We intentionally planned to be there after the normal lunch time after reading many reviews about the wait time. We would definitely go again.
(5)Jim F.
Interesting place to visit if you are in Des Moines. I really like local establishments, and this fit the bill nicely. This is not the place to go if you want health food, so I embraced all the good unhealthiness -- shake and burger with some sort of oozing cheese crouton on top! All of the food was solid, but I expected a bit more bang for the unhealthy price I was paying. Overall, I'd go again, but might pass the the oozing cheese thing.
(3)Donald Y.
This is just based on the fact that they do somehow get a good selection of beers on tap, even some I have never seen at El Bait Shop, which really boggles my mind...
(4)Steffon C.
Wow! Huge beer selection, one of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Fantastic atmosphere as well. Would drive 200 miles for this!
(4)Suze A.
Zombies? Check. Seemingly crazy burger topping combinations? Check. Almost willing to drive nine hours to return and get another burger? Check! My husband and I stopped at Zombie Burger after driving nearly 11 hours from Colorado on our way to Michigan. Our friends in Des Moines suggested we'd really enjoy it, and they were right! We arrived just before 5 pm and were sat right away (it was a Friday night). Our waiter was helpful with his suggestions, one of which was the Dead Elvis, which my husband got. I really wish there was a place like this back home. I'm almost surprised by the people who seem to think a zombie themed restaurant is gross/creepy. Did you not read the name? What do you think "zombie burger" means? The names of the food have to do with movies or pop cultural zombie references, but none of them were gross by any means (there's no "dripping flesh" burger). If you think it's a gross name, don't go there. It's not that difficult. Overall we had a great time, and the staff was super accommodating of us and our friends and their 1-year-old. I'm still considering that nine hour drive.
(5)Jessica E.
I'm from KC but visit DM often to see my boyfriend so when he told me there was a new burger place, I was excited to try it. We went when it was still fairly new and having some experience in the restaurant biz, i know it'll take awhile to get in the groove of things. The menu was definitely unique and the vibe was fun, exciting and loud. I tried The Walking Ched which included deep friend macaroni and we split an order of the garlic bacon + blue cheese fries. Both were pretty great, not the best burger I've ever had, but it was definitely at least in the top 10. We went on a Friday night so the wait was almost two hours, but we hung around the bar and got seated in less than 10 minutes. They had a good selection of beers and even offered some local brews and even some KC Boulevard. I'd definitely go back! I understand this kind of place isn't for everyone, but if you're into exciting, fresh and a different experience, I'd definitely say to check it out.
(4)Shing Yiing O.
Well well well... I am not a huge burger fan... This reminds me of shake shack in NYC!!! Same kind of feeling.. I got the burger with portobello mushroom... I kinda like it... i got the single patty.. it's just perfect for me... Their menu is kinda special... what make it so special?? you can actually bring it back as a souvenir... I don't know why.. it reminds me of Harry Porter.. where the image in the newspaper are able to move... Their menu was printed on a paper.. just like a newspaper... Since it's Zombie Burger.. It's zombie theme of course!!! There are something that caught my eyes.. such as peanut butter with bananas, eggs, and bacon... and something else... Didn't get to try that because I am not in a mood of having sweet stuff... Their smoothies is a MUST to try.. I love the nutella & marshmallow.. it's so thick that you can actually drink that as a meal.. i just took a few sips from my friend's cup... It's a nice place to hang out for a beer and a burger.. :) Instead of Macdonalds... Try Zombie Burger instead!! :)
(4)Lindsay E.
Neat place and great atmosphere. Took our 2.5 year old and one year old there. Lots to look at and music to listen to. Hubs got the burger with pb and banana and I got the t-virus. Both excellent! Had the fry basket between us and my only complaint is that the fries could have been hotter. Overall though, we had an awesome waiter and the place was great!
(4)Becca P.
My husband and I were on a cross country road trip last week and we were referred to Zombie Burger by a friend. We loved it. The atmosphere was fun and the food was delicious! The menu was entertaining to read, it took us quite a while to pick our burgers. In the end my husband ordered the weekly special, which was a play on the ray gun burger that is on the normal burger and I ordered the burger that had pulled pork, ham, and fried jalapanoes. We liked it so much that on our way home we had to stop again! We loved it so much that we tell everyone to go if they are ever in Iowa!
(5)Dan B.
Brains, brains, brains! Zombie want BRAINS! That may be the first thing you think when you walk into Zombie Burger + Drink Lab in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The motif is zombie all the way with spikes, axes, and picture after picture of flesh craving zombies on the walls. I felt like I had stepped directly into an issue of The Walking Dead. Kind of an odd concept for a place that serves red meat. Boy of boy, do they serve red meat! When you add in the Burger of the Week, they have 25 burger choices available as a single, double, or triple. When my friend Tim and I were there recently, I went with the Raygun (Monterey jack, fried jalapenos, caramelized onions, bacon, guacamole, chipotle mayo), while DP chose the Undead Elvis (peanut butter, fried bananas, bacon, American cheese, fried egg, mayo). Everyone in our group quite enjoyed their burgers. I won't say it's the best burger I've ever had, but it is the best I've had in Iowa. Now, on to the booze! The drink menu at Zombie Burger + Drink Lab is very creative and fits right in with the theme. Drinks with names like Zombie King, Red Death, Gangrene, and Blood Tang let you know you're in a zombie themed bar. Of the drinks we tried, Tim was a fan of the Dark + Stormy (Kraken Dark Rum, ginger beer, lime). A nice refreshing cocktail after a 4 hour drive from the Cities. I, on the other hand, had to try The Abyss. A jet-black, house made Bloody Mary, served with a pickle finger, meat stick, and an eyeball (a green olive stuffed inside a peeled radish). This my friends was the oddest/spookiest drink I've ever had served to me. The bartender warned me that some folks don't care for The Abyss because of its slightly fishy flavor. Why fishy you ask? Because they use squid ink to turn their bloody mix black. Yep, squid ink! Tim and I agreed that it was a very flavorful and potent Bloody, and we could not see drinking more than one. However, the presentation was great! If you like adventurous cocktails, then I would definitely recommend Zombie Burger. Not only do they serve tons of signature cocktails, martinis, and margaritas, but they have a great beer selection and Brain Freezes (aka spiked milk shakes). We did not venture down the milk shake road, but next time we're swinging through Des Moines I bet we will. One thing a road trip through god forsaken Iowa will produce is the need for a drink, and when you've had as much corn field as you can stand, we suggest you give Zombie Burger + Drink Lab a try!
(4)Monica S.
Is the zombie craze over yet? This place is going to look very dated, very soon.
(2)Anna B.
Waited a little over a half hour for our table. Waitress was nice and accommodating to all of us ordering then changing our minds. I had the Raygun: single patty, monterey jack cheese, fried jalapenos, caramelized onion, bacon, guacamole and chipotle mayo. SO DELICIOUS! The bun was JUST the right size for the burger. When the food nitially came out -- a few people at our table commented about how the burgers looked little. They are small but MIGHTY! Small around, but HUGE in flavor and complexity. I split a basket of fries with friends--we couldn't finish them. Baskets are HUGE! Fries were probably my least favorite part of my meal -- they left a little to be desired. Maybe we just got an off batch? I ate with 7 other people-everyone liked their food. Got to taste the chocolate cake batter shake- YUM! Seriously tastes like licking the beaters from making a chocolate cake (not that I've ever done that...). All in all- great place. Awesome set up, football on the bigscreens, menu design was killer, food lived up to expectations, and amazing drink options. Next time I'll save extra room for a shake or a beer! I WILL return!
(4)Laura P.
The whole zombie thing is cool. The surly waiter thing is cool. The whole place is cool. But in that NOT cool kinda way. The burgers are down home good. Weird combos, lots of carmelized whatnot. Poutine. Meh a little pretentious but whatevs, you are trying to be cool so I gets it. Forgot my burgers' name but it had prosciutto on it and RAW (not carmelized) onions. Yeah, ok. It was good. The decor is like a 1997 loft party, that's cool it's my era so I dig it. My family was impressed so that was all that really mattered. If I lived here I would probably try to get a job here 'cause I think my attitude would be perfect for the place.
(4)Krystle T.
2nd time I've been here! So yesterday, I went to Zombie Burger at about 6:20 PM. When we got there, it wasn't too crowded, but after I ordered my food, TONS of people came in! I ordered an un-burger called the Apocalypse ($4.99) which was a breaded mushroom and cheese croquette with tomatoes and lettuce. I like the buns on the burger because they're really thin and light! I wasn't sure what a croquette was, but it was delicious! The cheese was oozing out of the croquette. I also ordered a side of vegetarian chili ($2.99). That one was okay.. it was rather small, but filling. I would definitely order the apocalypse again. I just wish it wasn't fried. Overall, the service was alright. Seating is hard to find in the take out section and the wait was too long in the dine-in section.
(4)Patrick P.
Believe everything you are reading about this place. My thanks to our server Joe who passionately recommended They're Coming to Get You Barbara and Dead Moines Burgers with Buffalo Bacon appetizer. I was honestly blown away by the rich flavors. Who would have guessed burgers as super decadent food. I don't think ill be able to ever eat a Big Mac again. Iowa should be proud.
(5)Sarah C.
As my Yelp profile says, Zombie Burger would be my choice for my last meal. I'd sit at the bar and talk Firefly and Dr Who with the staff. (This has actually happened :) Excellent burgers with a variety of non-typical toppings. Fantastic sides. Great wait staff. Very reasonable prices, especially when you see the portions. The salads are gigantic.
(5)Compass-Rose X.
Ok, the thought of pairing Zombies with hamburgers is very gross. It was hard to ignore the decor and zombie ambiance. It's not grotesque or over done, but it's a little creepy and unappetizing. The menu is fantastic, a ton of creative and most importantly appetizing options. I had the Raygun burger and liked it. The only thing I didn't like was the hamburger bun, it was like eating play-doh, very doughy and out of place when served with a very well done burger patty. I think a toasted bun would have been perfect, but that's just me, being crazy and liking cooked food. The deep-fried jalepenos on the burger were great. I didn't like the zombie service, the tatted up hostess was not happy that we asked to be seated at a big table, and when we moved to a larger table (rather than accept the cramped spot she stuck all of us in) she exclaimed rather loudly "Oh, why even ask me, looks like you decided to move anyways..." Yeah, not very nice. I didn't know zombies could have power trips. Our waitress was strange, not personable at all. A lot of tragic, creepy little wanna-be hipster zombies running around providing inconsistent service. These people do not know how to serve a table. A novelty, for sure. Good food if you can tolerate the crap service. Which I can't, so it will become one of those "been there done that" places in Des Moines for me. It earns one star because service and attitude are it's weakest links.
(1)Charles S.
We waited 45 minutes only to find a large wad of hair in our cheese curds. Our server swore and we still had to pay for our whole meal. Never ever again.
(1)Phillip Y.
First off, we waited an hour and a half to get seated. At 2:00, we were chatted up by the waiter who got our orders in fast. I had the Raygun burger which I thought was overrated. Personally, the Swampfox in Knoxville fared higher to me with their firecracker burger. Prices were ok but the wait was insane for an average burger.
(3)Cody K.
Food was good. Surprisingly the appetizers and other food was better than the burgers, but burgers great as well. The patio area was nice on a sunny day. My kids liked it as well.
(4)Kellie M.
I thought this place would be awesome, and it was not. Not even close. They smash their burgers on the griddle, which makes them flat and dry. The condiments were placed unevenly, so on my burger, the first bite was FULL of bleu cheese, to the point where I was gagging. After that, there was barely any bleu cheese on the rest of the burger. I didn't know I was going to have to open my burger to fix the placement of the condiments. I figured that was the kitchen's job. The other burgers were "meh", which is totally unacceptable when the bill came up to $30 for three, with one basket of fries among us. Speaking of the fries... they tasted like the fry oil was months old, and there was so much salt on them that after a few fries, we couldn't eat them anyway. So, at around $6 per burger, plus $2 for a small drink, and another $6 for a basket of fries, I say you can do better elsewhere. Way, way, way, WAY better.
(1)Elise S.
Have you ever wondered to yourself: "Gee, what would happen if I ditched the bread on a burger and used grilled cheese sandwiches or deep fried macaroni and cheese patties in their place?" Personally, I had not. But we're all unique snowflakes and maybe you have. I digress. Zombie Burger is the home of novelty burgers - everything from your basic lettuce-tomoato-mayo-sesame burger all the way through a dizzying array of calories in the form of ranch and bacon and the rest of the kitchen sink. Most of the combos are well-done and unique, but truth be told they can range from "the perfect amount" to "I can't believe I ate the whole thing". There. I warned you. I wish that you could select doneness on the burger. It's a bit of a bummer to be in the middle of agriculture land and be stuck with a well done burger patty from who-knows-where. The service can be really hit or miss. A few times, I had a totally awesome server and a few times I felt like I couldn't get the time of day. Prices (I think) are reasonable for the crazy amount of food you get, but I get that not everyone may value a deep fried cheese and mushroom croquette at the rate I do. Economy of scale? Go and judge for yourself, though. And try to tell me the signs for the bathroom aren't completely awesome.
(4)Cassie M.
We drove up from KCMO just to go here. I really dug the atmosphere and the concept. Tip: call ahead on the weekend to get your name on the list. Everything was tasty, and even though the food came in less than 6 minutes all of it was lukewarm except for the cheese curds. I'd go back and give it another try though!
(4)Erin T.
The food is ok, but it feels like i've got a concrete block in my stomach every time I go there.
(2)Katrina M.
Was in town for a few months for work with my fiancé and was looking for a place after 9pm to grab a bite. This was the ONLY place open!! Glad it was. This establishment offers a major twist on your typical American Hamburger. I wanted to try something new so I ordered the Mac n Cheese "burger" Imagine taking Mac n Cheese and deep frying it into the shape of a hamburger bun. Then imagine doing it twice and sticking a ground beef patty and "fixins" inside and serving it up. This burger was inventive but not great IF you are on a diet. The décor is enough to visit this place. Zombies and other "creatures" fill every space of the walls and ceilings. The staff is friendly and this is truly a theme establishment. My fiancé went there a week ago and ordered a concoction called the "Three Little Pigs.. Nachos" He raved about it. He is a picky eater and likes "MEAT" so this was right up his alley. They take the best part of pork and slow cook it in different ways, and pile it ontop of nachos with cheese etc. Best thing he ever ate! Check it out, at least you can get a really cool sticker from them.
(3)Suzanne C.
This should be the next big franchise. I was visiting from San Diego and am blown away that this place isn't everywhere is the US. If you are a zombie fan of any kind you will love this place. The burgers are ridiculously good and the names of the menu items are awesome. Love tjis place so much I bought 3 t-shirts to take back to California with me!
(5)Laura G.
I can't be sure if I am giving it five stars 100% for the food taste or just for all the darn creativity. Super fun concept and a fun place to take friends and people from out of town. I love the Undead Elvis which has egg and peanut butter on the burger. If you want to try some really interesting flavor combinations and don't mind splurging on an obscene number of calories in one sitting... then come in and treat yourself. The drinks are really interesting too. Some people might say its all a bit pricey, but its a great place to kick of a weekend evening of entertainment. We need lots of more creativity and fun ideas and things to do.. so my hat is off to Zombie Burger. I am giving it five stars for the total experience.
(5)Otis K.
I think this place is a little overhyped and the only reason it's doing so well is because of all the publicity they had before opening, the whole zombie gimmicky theme that is a really popular trend in the hipster world of today and also it's association with a few upscale restaurants here in Des Moines. I think this place is only good for getting drinks because they have some pretty cool milk shakes and specialty drinks (served with or without alcohol) The couple times I've been here the waiter/waitress have just been okay. Nothing special they check up on you every so often but not very personable. The food well... It's not so great, burger was dry and that wasn't only mine the people I was with also agreed that their burgers were just not that tasty. They had a lot of selection but it all fails if the meat you're getting is just not good. I'm actually a little surprised that when I drive by it I do still see a lot of customers so I don't know if they're there just for the drinks or they may actually like the food. I don't know if I just have a different palette than others but in my honest opinion I have had better burgers at chain restaurants. I don't want to say it's all bad. I do like the whole ambiance and having 2 sides of the place having a more of a fast food feel or a restaurant dine in experience.
(2)Jim D.
Excellent theme and unique burgers. Honestly I was expecting red robin burgers with new names. I was surprised to find that wasn't the case. Very good food and new appetizers. Drink Lab has a craft beer menu that is very impressive and I picked a unique product from San Diego. Heck it took me 10 minutes the beer menu was so impressive. My brew was well within its freshness date so that impressed me too being the former brewing consultant that I am. Stop by if traveling through Des Moines or if resident.
(5)Kate N.
We had the Dead Moines burger, and it was so.freaking.fabulous. Seriously, one of the best burgers I'd ever eaten. The fries were also smashing. I wasn't a huge fan of my nutella shake (it felt oddly gritty). Despite being a hopping lunch time crowd, our service was fabulous. This is one restaurant that I am looking forward to visiting again. Too bad that's not likely to happen for some time!
(4)William S.
A virtually endless selection of delicious burgers. Zombie Burger has great decor, a really fun and upbeat atmosphere and a really cool menu. The menu is made like the front page of a newspaper chronicling the mayhem of a zombie invasion. Opening the newspapers reveals an almost endless selection of quality burgers with very creative names (i.e. Dead Moines, Undead Elvis, Better of Ched). Be forewarned, this place is not for the health conscious. Almost everything on the menu is fried or includes a fried variation of something that might otherwise be health (i.e. fried bananas). Since this was my first time at Zombie Burger, I thought I'd go for something completely new - at least in terms of my burger selection. I ordered the Undead Elvis which comes topped with a fried egg, peanut butter, fried bananas, bacon, American cheese, and mayo on an absolutely delicious bun. Very tasty, but that is just a bit too much on a burger for me. The prices were very reasonable except for drinks. Domestics and drafts are reasonably priced but imports can get a bit pricey. So, based on first impression, I'd say that Zombie Burger is a definite win. Come hungry, leave your fried food concerns at the door and watch out for the attack....
(3)Sadeq K.
They have a wide verity of burgers....loved the burger and the chili was good too... I would go back next time I am in town...
(4)Bob P.
The food here is amazing, and the atmosphere is great. The only drawback is that it is ridiculously busy all of the time.
(5)Chris N.
This place had me at Zombie... The burgers are great nonetheless. I respect a business owner that takes a niche risk and this worked out great. I will always come here when I return to Des Moines..
(5)Kenny S.
First...I love Zombies and this place is decorated with them everywhere. Second...the burger list is unbelievable. I had a burger sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches! It's unbelievable! The service was great. I have dined in the dining room as well as the fastfood part of it. Both are great. Fries are delicious as well. My advice is go big or go home. You never know when the Zombies are gonna come for real and you won't be able to get burgers like this!
(4)Joseph L.
I can say nothing but awesome things about this place in Des Moines. Menu is amazing. Very creative and fun. I ordered the "They're coming to get you Barbara" cheeseburger and it was out of this world. A must have is the Poutine. This will be the first place I go back to whenever I visit Des Moines again. You can't go wrong with this place unless you have zero creativity in your body
(4)Patrick M.
If you're a burger fan, this is the right place. Also has an impressive selection of beers. For side orders, go with the fried brussels sprouts.
(5)Ray B.
Usually I avoid theme places, but they pull it off well. Solid service and good food. Worth checking out!
(4)Haley R.
In the Des Moines hipster paradise that is the "East Village" lies the hipster mecca that is Zombie Burger. There has been a lot of hype about this restaurant since it opened, but I never really had any desire to go there. Zombies aren't my thing. (Neither, for that matter, are hipsters.) On the search for a good burger in Des Moines, though, we decided to give it a shot. There was a short wait for our table and the hostess took our phone number down on an iPad and said they would text us when our table was ready. It seems a bit impersonal but, then, they are zombies. The text came a couple minutes later and we were escorted to a table by the window, out of the way of the rest of the restaurant and nowhere near the bloody cobwebs that hang in some of the windows. The burgers are cleverly named after zombie flicks and local bands (the Envy Corpse burger) and they all looked pretty good. I finally decided on a Zombie Burger - burger, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Zombie Burger sauce - and my boyfriend had the Pittsburgher, topped with ham, egg, cheese, fries, coleslaw, and Mayo. The burgers at Zombie Burger aren't made to order, meaning you don't get a choice of how well done you want your meat. They cook 'em through and they cook 'em fast and top them and have them to your table in no time flat. And they're fine. Nothing spectacular. The patties themselves aren't huge, neither in circumference nor thickness, but I wouldn't say that's a bad thing, especially with the number of toppings on some of their concoctions. The fries were good and you could tell they were homemade, and I fell in love with the Zombie sauce, which I couldn't taste on my burger despite the menu's insistence on its presence, but a side of which came with our basket of fries. We both got shakes to go, after drooling over the shake list while reading the menu. I got the rice krispie treat shake. This is better in theory than it is in practice, meaning marshmallow creme is incredibly difficult to suck through a straw. After it had melted quite a bit it was better and you could actually taste the rice krispie treat flavor coming through instead of just vanilla ice cream. My boyfriend ordered the s'more shake and it had a very chemical or metallic flavor to it. Our server said it probably had to do with the metal stirrer on the shake maker, and she kindly offered to replace his shake and remove the shakes from our tab. We were happy to pay for it, but he ordered a vanilla shake as a replacement. It tasted fine at first but he started to taste the metallic flavor again and came to the conclusion that it was probably the ice cream (he thought mine tasted funny too). Overall, if you're looking for a decent burger, this is a decent place to get a decent burger. If it weren't for the zombie shtick, I would say it was more than a decent place to get a decent burger.
(3)Lonnie Z.
This trendy eatery deserves a second chance to win me over. Preferably when I'm not in a hurry to get somewhere else and rain doesn't eliminate the outdoor seating option. I love the theme and execution. The food was quite tasty and I particularly enjoyed the texture of the hamburger bun. I didn't try one of their creative frozen drinks, but my daughter loved the Crunchberry concoction.
(4)V S.
Very pretentious servers, and super greasy food. the burger was the worst, almost like a chain. I do not understand how such a nice place can have such horrible service! yuck, that makes the whole meal bad!
(1)Hil H.
This place has such potential. It's a really cool spot, so you should think about visiting, but the food is not worth the wait. The burgers are just too much. The drinks are really excellent - love the Tallahassee - but the place is hyped so much and it's so busy, it's really not worth the wait. The food comes out cold a lot of times, and if it's not cold, you get a cheese croquet that will literally give you burns.
(2)David F.
I think there is a lot of spot on review of this place already so I'm just going to bullet point this because I disagree with some of what is here. Agree: *Excellent gimmick and design sense *family friendly *Excellent menu concepts, very inventive *Sides were amazing. Great fries, and lots of options. *actual burger was just OK. If it didn't have the gimmick it would have been very ordinary Disagree *Service. I thought the service was outstanding, and not pretentious, just busy. I had the "They're coming to get your Barbara" because it's my favorite line from one of my top 5 favorite movies. It was too much cheese. Or rather, too much homogeneous cheese. It's a cheese burger where the buns were replaced with grilled cheese sandwiches. All of it American Cheese. Mix it up a little and it would have been much better. I think the price was very good for what you got. I would have spent a few dollars more for some top notch ingredients. Stars off for: Just a so-so burger. Not absolutely blowing me away. I'm tough on giving out that 5th star.
(3)Cara S.
Soooo, I just moved to Des Moines about a month ago and heard awesome things about Zombie Burger from a cool chick who cut my hair. I totally wanted to go with my boyfriend, but when I logged into Yelp to look at the menu and see what the reviews were saying, I almost decided not to try the place out because of the negative things many people were saying. After going there and having some freaking amazing food and leaving with my boyfriend just about unable to move, thanks to the Walking Ched burger, I wanted to come back and tell everyone how awesome Zombie Burger was!!! Maybe they've gotten better in the last month or so, maybe I got lucky, or maybe I'm just not very demanding... Either way, The service was great! Our waitress was sweet and funny and other workers even refilled our waters when they saw they were getting low. We went around 5:30pm on a Thursday and the place wasn't close to full, although our waitress told us that they do get really busy sometimes and that it isn't really the best place to bring a party of 20 and expect immediate seating. Oh and I paid 40 bucks for a double burger, chicken sandwich, fry basket, poppers, a beer, and a cocktail. Good deal to me! Anywho, bottom line is: Totally check out Zombie Burger! The jalapeno poppers were awesome, the burger was great and super filling, and my chicken sandwich was rather amazing as well. Sooo, go! :)
(5)Matt F.
Had a great lunch here on Saturday. My wife, my 4-year-old and I sat at the bar. Their beer selection is top notch. Wife had the Pittsburger (as usual) as it was great (as usual). I tried the Raygun burger. I asked for no onions and the waitress said she put in my order as "no onions" but it came with onions. Ah well. The waitress/bartender was very apologetic and offered to replace it, but I just scraped them off. We also got a basket of fries to share (Wow, SOOOO many fries!). Service was good, food was great, beer was cold and tasty. We've had some service issues in the past here, but the bartender/waitress was very attentive and friendly this time around. Will happily come back again.
(4)John K.
went here back in March while on a college visit with my son...took 5 out for dinner. The wait was a bit long (could be more organized-reservations would help) but worth the wait. REALLY good burgers and reasonably priced. Wait staff was very nice, fast, and efficient. The food was excellent! Only getting 4 stars due to the wait.
(4)Lindsay B.
I'd rather have my brains eaten than eat here again. Aaaarghhh! Sorry for the cheese, but that's what you get at Zombie Burger. They took the approach of flavoring everything on the menu using only fat and salt. Which saddens me because the menu seemed to have so much potential. I had the Mushroom Apocalypse, Zombie Poutine, and S'more shake. The only thing special about this meal was the way the artificial cheese goop exploded out of the fried "mushroom" patty when I bit into it - I imagine the same way my brain would explode under the pressure of a zombie's bite. Lucky for ZB, all things zombie are hip enough right now that they can lure in a 30-minute wait's worth of suckers at 3:00 on a Wednesday afternoon to pay $25 for a little zombie kitsch and a puddle of grease. Don't fall victim to the zombie burger like I did!
(2)Tabbi P.
Is this place good? Absolutely! Is this place good for you? Heck no! The main draw is the burgers. They have a huge selection with toppings you would not think to try or combine. The Walking Ched uses fried mac & cheese as the bun. All the burgers can be ordered in single, double or triple so if you leave hungry, it is your own fault. Fries are ordered separately and can be ordered with a variety of toppings. An order of fries is huge and is easily enough to feed 3-4 people. The app menu also has fried brussel sprouts which were great. We also sampled the buffalo bacon but were not super impressed. It is hunks of bacon with fried ranch and buffalo sauce on top. The buffalo sauce overpowers the rest of the dish in my opinion. The beer menu is extensive but one must try the milkshakes. All of the milkshakes can be ordered with alcohol. The wedding cake shake is good enough to commit crimes to obtain. The Nutella Marshmallow shake is also great. You will wait for a table but it is never a horrible wait. The service is good but a little disjointed. The shake delivery is a little on the slow side at times but the staff is fun which makes up for it. Also considering how trendy this place is, how packed it always is, and how amazing the food is, it is really affordable dining. Two people can easily eat there for under $30 which I consider a great deal for the quality.
(5)Phillip M.
I'd been following this establishment since before they opened with a great deal of excitement and curiosity. On the return drive on one of my many adventures, I finally got the opportunity to try this place out. It's a very clean, very interesting establishment. A great number of amusing zombie related references (What a shock...), the occasional mannequin zombie, clever signs and various other things, though all in all a little small in my opinion. The menu was very clever (it's set up like a news paper) and tons of great zombie pop-culture references ranging from video games, to books, to movies, and the rest. The owner clearly knows there zombies. But, beyond that, the "zombie" shtick kind of ends of there. I was left a little underwhelmed to be honest. Granted, I'll admit, a lot of it probably was all the hype. The food was reasonably priced, and I was rather pleased that they offered multiple sizes of burger (everything was available as a single, double, or triple) so depending on the size of your pocket book, stomach, or both, it's rather easy to get what you want at a price you can afford and not have to worry about either going broke or whether or not you'll be able to finish it. Personally, I had the Dead Moines, a burger with smoked gouda, proscuitto (spelling?) and another variety of cured meat that I can't recall at the moment. The ingredients were of good quality, and the overall taste worked together very well. I'm definitely planning on sampling some of the other, very interesting burgers upon a return trip. Rivaling the burger menu was the drink menu, again more clever zombie references, with the occasional old favorite thrown in and slightly reworked. Prices are relatively comparable to a higher end bar. I ordered the brown fox, which was benedictine liqeur, a lemon twist, and Eagle Rare Bourbon (I think... it was some kind of expensive bourbon.) And it came in a brandy snifter, which was fun. At first I was a bit leary of the $8 price tag of the drink, but they definitely don't skimp on the bar fixings, and was rather pleased with my purchase. All in all, I dropped just barely under $25, which got myself and a friend a single patty burger, an order of fries (If you're paying for two, just get a whole order, rather then two sides. It's cheaper.) and my pricey, refreshing adult beverage. Overall a great experience, friendly service, good food, good drinks, reasonable (if a smidgeon high) prices. If it wasn't for the fact the hype I've been hearing this whole time left me a little underwhelmed, I'd probably actually give it 4 stars, but since it won't let me do 3.5, I'll lowball it a bit. I still strongly recommend it, just take everything you hear about it with a grain of salt and you'll be walking out plenty pleased.
(3)Ryan S.
The theme of the place is really awesome. The food isn't bad. I feel like it is a little over-hyped but I think everyone should check it out at least once. I have been there 3 or 4 times and the best thing I've had there was one of their shakes (which was epic actually). The creativity of the food is almost better than the taste of the food in my opinion. I've blogged about them a couple times (as well as many other Des Moines restaurants) so feel free to check out those individual reviews. I've reviewed the Flamethrower and The Raygun. fooddmawesome.blogspot.c…
(3)Paulette D.
Definitely worth a visit. I chalk up most of the poor reviews to the reviewers being uptight malcontents. Family stopped here on way from Minnesota to KC. Burgers were really good, kudos on the pulled pork burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, and the Zombie Unicorn (fruity pebbles and marshmallow cream) shake. We will be back next time through town.
(5)Nick K.
Love this place. If you don't care about feeling like you may have a heart attack after dinner, go to Zombie Burger. It has all sorts of deliciously weird burgers and shakes. Nothing has left me unsatisfied--I always leave feeling like one happy glutton.
(5)David C.
What a badass place, the decor is perfect the food was amazing, and the service was top notch, I had a undead Elvis double, and my girlfriend had George Romero's Pittsburgher single, the cheese fries were amazing as well, for desert we shared a crunch berry shake which was amazing as well. Can't wait to go back
(5)Shawn B.
This place is awesome. There is sometimes a wait because it is so popular but it is worth the wait. This is somewhat pricier compared to other burger places but well worth it. I went on a Sunday around 1115 and there was not much of a wait. This changed very quickly and around 1130 there was quite a line to be seated. The wait staff is busy but still attentive. The burger is awesome but you may need stents put in before you leave. The fries were seasoned great and really good. The menu is very imaginative and it was hard to choose because of all the things that I wanted to try. There is a great beer list to choose from and a list of milkshakes and deserts. If you dine inside it can be a bit loud but dining outside seemed to rectify that problem.
(4)Pete K.
Awesome Burgers! Try some of the unusual "Fries" too!
(5)Mark O.
Food was awesome wait staff would be better at a Mickey d's or delivering pizza. Horrible service, LONG waits to get seated. Host was pretty much a zombie so way to go with the theme. Order it to go and save yourself some time.
(4)Erin F.
This place offers an interesting and delicious variety of burgers to choose from. Amazing fries and fun atmosphere too! My only complaint was the long wait for a table. We finally opted for a seat at the bar and the bartender had a bit of an attitude. At least the food was good!
(3)Peter D.
After I ate the We're Coming to Get You Barbara, I started looking for apartments. Because I never want to live anywhere that I can't eat these burgers. Also the staff is pretty hot (not that it matters or anything).
(5)Ben T.
I'm not going to lie to you, this is my first review on Yelp. In order to get my review career started in the best possible way, I find it necessary to begin with the best place I have been to recently. This place is (pause for effect) Zombie Burger. The only place where two of my favorite things in the world have been combined. Honestly, I did not think zombies and burger could go together so well. But they did. My wife and I have just completed a 2 week road trip to visit the Midwest and visit family primarily in Iowa. One of our stops was in Des Moines where my aunt and uncle recommended the above mentioned restaurant. While the place was crowded upon arrival, the service was so excellent that we did not have long to wait. When we sat down at our table, we were greeted by Newspapers at each chair. To my surprise, I discovered that these were the menus where the burgers on the menu had such clever names as "Juan of the Dead" and "Dead Moines" I had the "Fulci" which had prosciutto, brie, caramelized onions, and raw onions, and truffle mayo. My wife had a "Juan of the Dead", green chile + cheese croquette, Monterey Jack cheese, caramelized onion, chipotle mayo. Being at a gourmet burger joint, I expected what normally occurs in a gourmet burger joint in Miami. The burger being just large enough to be impossible to fit into my mouth then have its contents spill onto my plate. Upon finally completing my burger, I would feel so full my stomach would feel like an over filled balloon ready to burst. Not at Zombie Burger! At this place the burgers were significantly smaller. Not too small, mind you, just large enough for there not to be the contents of my burger on my plate. The burger was delicious, perfectly proportioned, and my hands were relatively clean at the end of the meal. My burger, while staying together, had a delicious blend with the prosciutto and brie. My wife, upon receiving her burger was advised by the waiter to stab her croquette to keep it from, in all seriousness, from "exploding." She punctured a hole in it, and once she did, the cheese flowed out like St. Helens upon unsuspecting townsfolk. I almost thought godzilla was going to come out at any second. She took one bite and her eyes went wide with surprise "this is the best burger....... ever" and set it down. At which point I picked up the burger and tried it for myself. My eyes rolled back in ecstasy. My burger was delicious, hers was out of this world. I felt myself transported from our burger joint to Tibet where I met with various monks showing me the secret to immortality lying in that very burger. As immediately as I left, I returned back to Des Moines. I wanted to travel back to the monastery, but my wife had selfishly finished her burger on her own. Presumably for her to do some meditation on her own. We have not as of yet discussed our experiences with our burger. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I would make another pilgrimage to taste another of those burgers. And also to visit my family.
(5)Tiffany W.
We absolutely loved Zombie Burger. The burgers are very creative and extremely delicious - I love how you can choose between beef, chicken, portabella mushroom etc. The fries are fantastic - I haven't tried the specialty fries yet because I can't get past the "deliciousness" of the plain ones with the awesome sauce. I am also very impressed with the selection of beers available (draft and bottle), as well as the bar tenders knowledge of each of them. Yes, it is not easy on the waistline but it is a burger joint - you shouldn't expect it to be. I highly recommend Zombie Burger. We have been twice now and will definitely be back for more!!!!
(4)Natalie T.
FUN! FUN! FUN! This is the only restaurant I've patronized where I was already planning my return visit before I even stepped foot in the door. A group of 5 colleagues and I went in for a business lunch on Friday at noon, and the meal made my day! The creative menu alone was so overwhelming I decided I would need follow-up visits just to try everything that looked appetizing. This idea does not depress me in the least! Although I was initially turned off by the "Burger" in the name, I was ecastatic to learn that ZB offers four sandwich options, half of which are vegetarian-friendly: Hamburger, chicken, veggie burger & portabello mushroom. With singles starting at just $5.99 (double and triple options are available, but I don't know anyone who was able to finish those in our group), the bill was much wallet-friendlier than I had anticipated. We started off with two appetizers, which was plenty for our group of 6. The fried pickle slices were battered, but not too much so, and the jalapeno poppers appeared hand-breaded with fresh peppers and a smoky raspberry sauce. We also split a couple of "adult" milkshakes among 5 of us, with the consensus being that the Zombie Bride (vanilla ice cream & cake batter) was the winner (the Tallahassee Twinkie/cherry Kool-Aide was Pepto Bismol-esque). By the time our main dishes arrived, our palates were perfectly primed for more deliciousness. We were not able to finish in under an hour, but since the boss was there to foot the bill, it was an enjoyable meal. As a fan of hot & spicy food, I look forward to returning as soon as possible to try out more of Zombie Burger's menu (the Flamethrower lived up to its moniker) ~ but next time, I'll be going after work when I'm not on company time.
(4)Vikash S.
This place was crazy busy, and I'd say the food is decent. More of a shock factor with the combinations offered in sheer number and uniqueness. A myriad of different burger and fried hot dog options, and shake options as well. I ordered fries, got charged for coleslaw, brought it up to the cashier, and got both in my order. Win! It is a bit of a wait, but where else are you going to try crazy burger toppings like the 'Undead Elvis' (fried bananas, fried egg, peanut butter)???
(4)Tommy T.
OK, we finally tried this place on a Tuesday night and didn't have to wait at all for a table. Once we decided on what to order, our food was out in about 5 minutes too. I am not into the Zombie stuff that seems so popular right now, from TV shows to movies, etc. but have never really given it too much thought.......until this night. For some strange reason, I felt kind of sick to my stomach reading the menu. Titles of the items are related to movies like 28 Days, etc. and the combination of ingredients just started to sound gross. I ended up choosing a burger with onion rings, blue cheese and buffalo sauce. The meat patty itself has a nice fried taste and had crispy crunch to parts of it. The bun was a squishy mess, after I picked up the burger the first time. I don't know if it was the grease or what, but I immediately lost my appetite. The french fries are the long thin kind and were nicely cooked. I decided to give the food options one last try and ordered the Smores Shake with a shot of the alcohol option. It arrived and looked like a clogged sewer and was so thick we could barely get it up the straw. It also didn't taste like a Smore, but like a thick cake mix. Our server was nice and personable, but we will not be back for the burgers again. Maybe we will give the hot dog a try next time.
(2)Steve K.
Arrived about five in the afternoon on a Saturday and had a ten minute wait. First time here, must be very popular. It was busy so we chose to eat at the bar. The staff was busy but very friendly and helpful with questions about the menu. Nice beer selection, craft and imports. I started with the reindeer fuel, a chocolate porter. Some porters and stouts have a subtle hint of chocolate. Not this one. Be warned, it is very chocolate, more so than anything I've ever drank before. A nice selection of burgers, something for everyone. Well, maybe not zombies, I didn't see any brains on the menu. The fries come in a large basket so one order is probably enough foe two.We will definitely come back again.
(4)Paul S.
It's very good. More hype than actual substance, in my opinion, but the burgers are good, the fries are plentiful (if a little soggy, most of the time), the shakes are delicious, and the prices are surprisingly fair for what is basically Des Moines' version of a tourist trap. I think they have over-complicated most of their burgers, and as a result most of them are just jumbles of flavors that all mush together, but it's still a very good burger served pretty quickly for a legitimate price. If you leave hungry, you did something wrong!
(4)lttlod i.
First off let me just say how much I eagerly anticipated the opening of this restaurant. Let me also say that when a new cool restaurant opens in Des Moines I typically force myself to wait a month or two before I try it out so they can work out the kinks and the crowds can subside along with the hype. After ignoring my typical routine and instinct I went yesterday anyway. The verdict, I kinda wish I had the patience and waited. This place was packed. I mean totally friggin packed. I went at 4:30 on a Saturday thinking that I'm being super cool and smart avoiding the crowds but people were flocking, just like zombies ironically, and it was non stop busy in both dining rooms. One dining room is more of a fast food service and the other is a sit down waited on situation but you get access to the alcoholic shake menu. We opted for the get it quick since the wait at the dining room was 20 minutes and super super crowded. So here's my take on my experience so far: 1. Decor: In fast service area not very zombie like. A few small framed pics on the wall but more loft like than anything. I guess we saw zombies if you count people waiting for their food lol. We peeked in the dining room and there was some very cool art on the walls. I would sit in the dining room next time for sure. Plus, I would like to get effed up on some liquor-shakes. 2. Wait: I totally expected to wait on our food. Everyone was. The kitchen was slammed. I was watching how the manager and staff was handling the pressure and they did a really good job. We were in and out in an hour which is not bad for a spanking new restaurant. I got my shake first, my friend got hers with her food. Our food came shortly after. You have to realize the kitchen is sending out a ton on the other side of the place too in the other dining room. 3. Food: Menu looks totally amazing and creative! I ordered the Dead Moines. It was funny when the lady behind me kept calling it "Dead Moinessss." Newbie lol. Comes with Prosciutto, nieman ranch ham, gouda, and garlic mayo. It was tasty with a yummy bun but the burger was luke warm, dry and underseasoned. I thought it had been sitting for too long on the grill and under the lamp! The prosciutto was dry and hard little bits more like bacon sprinkled on the burger but the ham was yum and juicy. I accidentally ordered the fry basket instead of side fries so I ate a lot of fries. They were good shoestring like and served with dipping sauce. Nothing special however. I ordered the Tallahassee shake which consisted of a blended twinkie, vanilla ice cream and cherry Kool aid. MMMMM! Never had a blended twinkie before now! 4. Price: I thought it was a decent price for the single burger and fry basket I ordered. I do think 5 bucks for the small ass shake I got was a total rip off and probably won't get another one of those anytime soon unless it has liquor in it. Make that size shake 3 bucks and I'll reconsider : P Overall I left with a $15 tab. Worth it? At this point no, but give them a few months and I bet it will be. Overall, interesting experience. I thought they did a good job for being that packed. The manager was clearly spent but kept his cool. Orders came out slowly but I saw a ton of people working their asses off in the kitchen just to keep up. I think quality will get way better in the next few months. Will I go back? Absolutely! I want to see what some of those other burgers taste like and see if the quality raises. Will I get a burger again? Hells yeah but I would like to try the chicken and portabello mushroom along with the yum looking salads and a frigging deep fried hot dog. Will I order a liquor-shake? I don't think I even need to answer that. Do I like asking and then answering my own questions? Most definitely!
(3)Justin B.
I wanted to hate this place when I was asked to go because I am a firm believer that if you place so much emphasis on a theme, the quality of the food will have to take a back seat. I went anyway, and was very surprised. The most important items (food) was fantastic. I had the flamethrower burger and it was excellent. The fry baskets are huge and the dipping sauce was great. The environment was nice, but I can see how in 3 years when the shine leaves this place and the excitement is gone it is going to get old. The staff tries too hard and kinda comes off too cool for school. It will be interesting to see if this place will be around in a few years when everyone in town has experienced this themed restaurant. The one thing this place has going for it is the great food and location.
(4)Mark B.
Fun place, cool theme and food that will have me return. It was a well done homage to Zombies and it was fun to try to spot all the different references in the menu items and the decor. It was much more than just a gimmicky theme place. The burgers were genuinely good and the drinks that we sampled were pretty decent also. If you like burgers this is a place to try something different. They have a lot of choices and some fairly innovative combinations. If you can think of it they probably have something close. Give it a try!
(4)He And She I.
These hamburgers will remind you of what you used to get at the drive-in, years ago, when they started with fresh meat, and cooked it when ordered. I don't know that it was worth the wait we would have had if we hadn't gone to the "order at the counter for take out" counter.
(3)Erica H.
We had a great experience. We went on Wednesday, one day after opening. We waited in line for a bit to eat in the dining room - probably about 30 minutes total. We probably would have waited 5-10 minutes more for a table, but they gave us the option to sit at the bar, and we jumped on it. The bartender was friendly and helpful, despite being very busy. Unfortunately, with how much business they'd done, they didn't have all the ingredients to make a spiked milkshake (next time!), but he did provide a tasty microbrew on tap for my husband and a kitschy mixed drink (complete with lychee/blueberry "eyeball" garnish!) for me. We split the fried pickle slices, which I found delicious. The breading was as light as fried breading can be, and the pickles were thick and juicy! We also split a basket of fries - nice, crisp shoestring fries with "zombie sauce". They were okay, but the pickles would have been enough. I think I'll skip the fries next time. I ordered the "28 Days Later", which had a delicious garlic mayo sauce. My husband ordered the regular Zombie Burger, but got a double. We both thought our sandwiches were great! The patties are "bashed", so they were thin, crisply seared on the outside, and seasoned. My only complaint is I think they got a bit heavy-handed with the salt in the burgers - it didn't taste bad, but I was SO THIRSTY! We were served and done in under an hour, and were provided entertainment and prompt, informed service from our bartender. We'll be back!
(4)Hugh J.
This is an update to my first review when I gave this place 1 star. I returned last week for dinner and there were some changes that I saw to qualify my bump up to 3 stars. First, they weren't completely out of everything damn thing this time. So that was cool. Second, we happened to get a waiter that didn't seem to hate his life and his job. That was also cool. As for the food, I got the Walking Ched. The food is still the same from last time. It's really not that great. Is it good? Yes. Is it good enough to justify the price? Absolutely not. I know that for many people, they feel as if they're paying for the "experience" as well. To that I say...what "experience"? Zombie decor and cutesy themed food names don't embody an experience of any sort. I guess I came back to do an update so my rating constitutes a fair review, as opposed to my original review for when the restaurant first opened. I don't think I'll ever return, however. Also, the shakes are still a rip-off.
(3)Melissa D.
Just ate here last night and thought this place was pretty good. I've definitely had a better burger, but for what's available in the Des Moines area, it is probably one of the better places to go. I had the Zombie Burger with a fried egg. I thought the buns could be better, I liked the fact that they were thin, but they just got too soggy. My favorite thing they offer is the zombie sauce, it has a nice zing. I like the theme of this place and the fact they don't overdo it. They also have a great patio area and the fact that it's in the East Village has an appeal.
(4)Shawn F.
The deep fried mushrooms were awesome!!!
(5)Trisha H.
Went here on a Sunday & it was great. When we showed up around 1pm they said it would be about 45-50 mins for a table for 6 & they text you when your table is ready. It was my husband, myself & our 4 kids. Because they text your phone it gave us the freedom to walk around the downtown area. We were able to walk up to the Capitol building & back just in time to get the text our table was ready. We walked up & our table was set w high chair ready. The staff was friendly & the service was pretty fast. We got fried pickles for an app, which were good. I got a zombie unicorn shake & I could have eaten two! Husband had a burger, I shared one w my 8 yo son & we got 2 kids meals. Also got the bacon, blue cheese & garlic fries. You must get those! Everything was good & if we lived in the area we'd be regulars. Be aware the place is packed & I think it always is based on other reviews. There is a walk up & order section where the seating is first come first serve or an area where you can wait to be seated. I would expect a wait if you want to sit but with the texting option it's not like you have to hang out on the corner. Unless you want to. :)
(5)OneSentenceReview R.
Undead Elvis and cereal in my milkshake blew my mind.
(4)Liz A.
I went here on a Friday during an off peak time and I waited months after it opened to let the craziness die down. There was a 30 min wait - wow - but slick as ever, they use a little iPad and can send you a text when your table is ready (you have 5 minutes to get back). I had the wedding cake shake (pretty good), Goat Cheese & Jalapeno peppers (pretty good!), and Raygun burger. The burger was decent - Im not sure it's the best I ever had. I might consider going back here for the take out, which they have a nice quick take out section on the northeast side of the restaurant. I doubt I will wait 30 minutes to go here again though.
(3)Sean M.
Very much enjoyed my Trailer Trash Burger and accompanying fries. Great atmosphere. Service was also first rate - very attentive without being over bearing. However, the real stand out was the Maple Bacon shake. Unreal.
(5)James W.
A lot of choices (for burgers) but not much flavor especially for the price. I had Sarah's Revenge and there was so much potential there but half the things were put on raw and fell off instead of being incorporated with the burger. The big thing here for me was the meat; it just wasn't flavorful. Maybe the butter cow would have been better? I think this place gets a lot of attention since it's the only place of its kind in Des Moines. It is worth it to go once but I would not go back unless I wanted to try sitting at the bar (maybe).
(3)Joe M.
Normally I am not a fan of gimmick diners and I would typically prefer a well prepared normal burger to the current trend of overthought burgers but this place really had it right. I ordered the Dead Moines that consisted of smoked gouda, prosciutto, ham, and truffle mayo. I all came together really well and surprisingly did not overpower my taste buds. Definitely would come back if I am ever in Des Moines again.
(5)G K.
This place is fun and entertaining, but one can easily over do it. While visiting my husband's family in Des Moines, I was in search of things to do. I can across Zombie Burger as a destination for DM. The place is very fun and got some crazy burger combinations. Down side, they don't take reservation so the wait can be long. As a matter of fact, this is regularly mentioned in other reviews. Be prepared. Also, come with at least a party of 4. The fries are family size for sharing. The appetizers are not very big, but I think it is by design. The shakes are crazy and delicious. However, they are small compare to most diner shakes I am use to. With more people in your party, you get to try more things. My first visit, I had the ultimate burger. The Walking Chen is consist of 1 beef patty sandwiched between 2 fried mac-n-cheese patties, 2 slices of bacon, and I added a fried egg.....yes you read correctly. I estimate the burger must be around 5,000 cal. Adding to that, we shared an order of fried pickle and fried brussel sprouts. On top of it all, we order an order of fries and an order of fries with everything on it. The first 10,000 cal meal I've ever had. This not including any of their specialty shakes. My husband and his friends enjoyed their specialty shake; one of which is call the funnel cake shake in honor of the Iowa State Fair. I had a lot of fun at Zombie Burger, however, it is not a place that should be frequented often. It's a heart attack waiting to happen. Enjoy!
(4)Chelsea G.
My husband had the walking Ched and he loved it!!! I had the single regular cheeseburger, It was very small. If I knew the size I would have ordered the double. One basket of fries was a lot for both of us! We couldn't finish them all. Even sitting at the bar was good! the bartender was amazing! She was very attentive and filled my drink when it was only half empty. With one alcoholic beverage and a pop was only $20 (plus food) Very reasonable! I will definitely go back!
(4)Cindy C.
This place makes a juicy, delicious burger. The variety is outstanding. The fries are delicious too. You can tell the beef isn't your run of the mill beef that gets shipped from a far away place, it is fresh local beef. Even the single patty burger can fill you up, and I like eating a ton of food, not gonna lie! The staff is always enthusiastic and welcoming. If you are intimidated by the menu, the staff is very helpful in answering questions. You can tell they love their jobs. The theme is fun too. I highly recommend this place if you have a serious burger and fries craving. Can be a bit pricey but definitely worth it! I only wish there was one where I live, but it makes it that much more special when traveling through :)
(5)Jill V.
The shakes were delicious as were the burgers. The best thing is the amount of choices for burger toppings. Only 4 stars due to the cost/portion ratio.
(4)Steve J.
I didn't try the burgers... yet. I'm going to have to save up a small fortune to eat at this place. I did try one of their "spiked" shakes. I had the coconut cream pie shake. It was the best shake I have EVER had. It was also the MOST expensive shake I have EVER had.
(3)Rosie H.
Run, don't walk to Zombie Burger. Went here while visiting family in Des Moines, and came in for lunch at noon on a Thursday. We wanted to sit in the full-service half of the restaurant so had to wait 10 minutes for a table, but it was more than worth it. I got a burger called "Juan of the Dead" which featured a green chile and cheese "croquette," which turned out to mean "molten hot fried hunk of cheese that will melt all over your burger as soon as you bite into it." And I mean that in the best way possible. One of the best burgers I have ever had, and my dining companions said the same about theirs. The fries are also yummy, come in a generous portion with a tasty dipping sauce. Didn't try any concoctions from the drink lab, but the beer selection more than satisfied.
(5)Drew K.
My stars are for the atmosphere of the place, not the food. One of the worst veggie burgers I've ever had. And the Zombie Poutine is terrible, the took off my bill though since I didn't like it. Good staff though, just the chef is too concerned about the zombie theme than taste.
(2)Josh R.
The wait was not nearly as long as we expected given the amount of people in front of us. We sat outside and enjoyed a nice Iowa evening and East Village people watching. The service was pretty good, our server was very helpful and engaging with our 3 year old boy. He was knowledgeable about the drink menu and any of the beer specials. Our food came out fairly quickly and everything tasted good. We tried the Raygun burger(tasty), Fulci Burger(Tasty as well) S'more Shake w/ Chocolate Vodka(not my thing but my wife really enjoyed it), and a basket of fries. All in all the food and atmosphere was fun. We're not big into burger joints, but we'd definitely go back and eat here again.
(4)Angela N.
My family of 5 arrived mid Sunday afternoon. We were seated within 10 minutes. Our orders were taken in a timely manner and our food arrived 15 minutes later -- impressive. I agree with the other reviews that the burgers are smaller than the usual restaurant size and the french fries are lacking. However the sandwiches, 2 Sarah's revenge Dead Moines with chicken breast, 1 Cheeseburger and 1 Hamburger from the kid's menu were tasty. We also opted for a basket of the loaded fries and those were DELICIOUS! My youngest and I shared a chocolate cake shake to go and that was TO DIE FOR! Overall, it was a good experience. Definitely not for the calorie conscious, but everything in moderation. We plan on making another visit when in the area again.
(4)John V.
Great find, excellent food and attention. Fun atmosphere, will come back when in town.
(4)Paul D.
Crazy good burgers and not your average Whopper. Mine had two grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns. Lots of craft beers, cool slasher movie theme. I would definitely go back.
(5)George F.
Nothing special here! The size of the hamburgers are not monster worthy and the price is too high for what you get. The servers are very attentive though. Way too busy at lunch if you only have 30 minutes.
(2)Jack S.
The Zombie Apocalypse brought us one good thing....burgers!
(4)Melissa B.
My husband and I are from Baltimore and wanted good burgers and beer. We were not disappointed! Our burgers were cooked perfectly and were delicious, and one basket of fries was more than enough for us to split. My Nutella shake and my husband's Cinnamon Toast Crunch shake were the best shakes ever! Friendly staff, speedy service, highly recommended!
(5)Jessica T.
I really like zombie burger! I've been there a couple times and always enjoyed my experience. The theme and decor are super fun, definitely a lot to look at! The burgers have always been bomb diggity!! The one item I wasn't super impressed with was the poutine fries--the fries were great but the gravy wasn't anything special for me. The bartender (gal with dark hair and glasses) is always top notch and the drinks are perfection. Good burgers and strong drinks, need I say more?
(4)Kris D.
I read all of these reviews, and noticed a huge disparity of the opinions. Reviewers, particularly those found beyond the filter, found this place horrible, while others thought it was totally fantastic. I don't know if I've ever seen a place with such a disconnect between so many reviewers. So, I had to try it for myself. We went at noon on a Thursday. There was a 15-20 minute wait for a table. However, we were seated 5 minutes later. We were ultimately seated at a "community table", meaning, we had to dine with strangers at either side of us. This, coupled with the fact that the place is just loud in general, made it impossible to enjoy a conversation amongst ourselves. We noticed almost immediately that most of the tables were full, there were very few severs. After placing our order, and waiting approximately 30 minutes for our food, we couldn't help but notice that almost no table in the entire restaurant had food. It is a burger joint. It shouldn't be that hard to churn out the orders. There should have been a steady stream of food coming out of the kitchen. But there wasn't. The burgers are fine. They are flavorless, smashed patties cooked to a crisp, and smothered in heavy-handed toppings. The buns were unusual. I didn't love or hate them, but they are definitely different. The fries, however, are inexcusable. They were flavorless, covered in grease, and overcooked so much they were all crunchy. Because we were stuck at our "community table," we couldn't help but overhear others' reaction as well. To each side of us the customers were commenting that the food was disappointing and slow. I wish this restaurant understood quality of food and service as much as it seems to understand marketing.
(1)Jessica K.
I've been a couple of times now. I've tried their burgers, chicken strips, fried pickles and their adult milkshakes. I have enjoyed their fried pickles and the adult milkshakes. The burgers are too greasy and the chicken strips were very dry. But that milkshake was awesome. I got the birthday cake milkshake. I believe it had normal vanilla milkshake stuff, cake mix and birthday cake vodka. Sooo good. I think if I have to go back, I would eat at home first and just get the milkshake!
(3)Kelly R.
Uneven. Cheap food and long lines. Ineffectual service and interesting menu. There are better places for a burger that aren't trying so hard to be cool.
(3)Torry B.
Good atmosphere, burgers are awesome!
(5)Jeremy C.
Went for lunch on a Monday and was told there was a 10 minute wait. 25 minutes later we were seated. Ordered a highly overpriced ($9) burger. All sides are extra. An hour and a half later our food showed up. Really? 90 minutes for a burger. All the while some little brat was screaming the whole time. If you like to take 2 hour lunches, overpay and be disappointed then this is the place for you. I would rather be zombified than to eat at Zombie Burger again.
(1)Patrick F.
Sooo many choices for tasty burgers. Not "cheap" but delicious and creative. Can't wait till 2016 when I'll be i Des Moines again.
(5)Vic J.
Nice after a Zombie walk, but not the best burger in town.
(2)p d.
Really busy for a good reason. They text you when your table is ready, so you can walk around the east village while you wait. Good selection of beers, including 2 hearted. Great service, great burger including portabella and other alternatives. Very reasonable. Excellent fries.
(4)Sandra A.
Wish they'd pour some of the money they're spending on marketing into ingredients. The food was so underwhelming. A thin patty, almost raw-seeming buns, greasy, if you're going to sell basically nothing but hamburgers, and have a shtick, you best kill the food. Totally missed opportunity.
(1)jason w.
disappointing on every level. We arrive and have plenty of time to look at the menu because we had to wait ten minutes before we could order. five employees with seemingly nothing to do stood by as we waited. didn't even attempt to open a second register while the line backed up behind us. Ordered our food which took an addtional ten minutes, for one burger, one order of fries and an order of cheese curds. The fries and curds were very over cooked. all the cheese escaped the breading of the cheese curd order but the employee seemed to think it was ok to go ahead and serve them anyway. the fries were a dark brown, very crunchy, hard and overcooked. we only had thirty minutes for lunch so we asked them to put it into food containers to go which i would have preferred to do myself because a 30 second job took him another five minutes. no visible lids for the small sodas that cost an absurd 1.99 apeice so those got thrown in the trash. we were there at 2:30, no where near the lunch rush so i can only imagine how slow they are at noon. Lunch was 19.00 for two people, the food wasn't cooked well and it took way too long. I can't stand burger king but i wish i would have gone there. very disappointing for a local place. will not return., ****update went back a few months later because my girlfriend wanted it. should have followed my own advice. the food was cooked properly this time but they got the food order wrong. ordered three sandwiches for my girlfriend and her coworkers and all three were wrong, also ordered a side of cheese sauce for the fries and it wasn't in the bag. 0 for 2 zombie burger. I don't get it, love the owners other restaurants, they just need to hire better employees for zombie burger.
(1)Nathan P.
One of the most unique restaurants I've ever eaten at, and in Des Moines of all places! I have to admit I'm a bit of a fan of the zombie culture phenomenon, but the food, especially the shakes and burgers are legit. The original art on the walls and the little touches in the decor that go perfectly with the theme, as well as the awesome beer list makes this a must visit. The fries are small and crispy, which isn't my favorite kind, but they're good despite.
(5)Sarah E.
This place is what 5 guys, DMK, and Smashburger want to be. The beef was good quality, and not over-salted to cover the taste (which is one of my main complaints about the others listed). The service and organization of the place needs some work. It was very hard to figure out what line we should be in to be seated. Try the brussel sprouts. Awesome
(4)Elizabeth R.
I just went to Zombie Burger with some friends and I thought their food was pretty good. The only thing that could have been better were the slightly stale fries (possibly because we were eating at a weird time of day when they weren't expecting a lot of business?). I had just a cheeseburger and thought it was delicious, but if you get a shake make sure you have something to wash it down with. They're a lot to take in (but also very good). Overall I was pleased and would definitely go back to perhaps try the sit-down side of the business!
(4)Meghan S.
Great for vegetarians! You get to pick what kind of burger you want, and the veggie option was great. I got one that comes with bacon, so I just asked them to hold the bacon and use a black bean burger for an instant veggie option. The line's a little long, but that gives you enough time to pick. The full service/order yourself divide is a little confusing though; we accidentally sat in the full service area outside just trying to avoid the sun. Overall though I enjoyed my experience and would go again.
(4)Leon R.
I read the mixed reviews on this place and thought would give it a try it is a very cool place the whole zombie theme is cool in there and the music goes right along with it the menus are very awesome to they look like a newspaper sitting on your table and you open it up and menu on other side its really cool we went in on Saturday night around 9 30 pm it was busy but not overcrowded we only had to wait about 5 min to get seated and when you have to wait they get your number and text you when your table is ready it was loud in there but that was good for us cause it drowned out our noisy kids the atmosphere is cool its laid back all different kinds of people there you can dress up or just be casual our waitress was very good she kept our drinks refilled never had to ask for our refills she was nice to our children the whole time she wasn't rude with us about needing time to look over the menu there are so many choices so if its your first time there it will take some time to decide what to have when we finally ordered it didn't take long at all to get our food and the burgers were amazing the fries don't come with the burgers in a meal but the basket was big enough to feed my husband 2 kids and me we had to get shakes cause they had all kinds of cool flavors to choose from we chose the tallahassee flavor it's very good you have to try that flavor and it was very cheap for all that we got definitely will go back again very good place
(5)Robb F.
So so good!!!!! Very unique menu. I have been there 3 times and each time was excellent. My favorite is the "they are coming for you barbara" burger. The "walking ched" is just too intense and too much food but still worth trying. Also be sure to try the wedding cake shake.
(5)Shannon H.
I love this joint! It's fun and the food is good. There is always a crowd and OMG on the milkshakes. I usually get the basic burger, I'm a plain Jane type of girl and I think it you've got the basics down then the rest will be good. Another thing about these burgers is I'm not sick to my stomach after I inhale one. I recommend this spot to out of town guest and usually stop by for a late dinner.
(5)Kyle T.
This place is great. I travel quite a bit, so I am always looking for a unique place to stop. Combine my desire to try something new with my love for zombies made this place a "no brainer" (I'll let myself out). I didn't go to the full service area as I didn't have too much time, so I stopped in the counter service area. The staff was very helpful in making suggestions and had an overall great attitude. I went with the undead guy BBQ burger, as suggested by the guy at the counter, and was not disappointed. I will be back the next time I am in the area to try something else.
(5)Carson A.
I live right by this place and the horribly disrespectful manor their servers, especially their bartender, showed me I'll make sure that I never go to this business again. The worst bartender in the world I swear, no knowledge of any classic drinks and a real horror to deal with. Something really needs to be done about the people there or this place is doomed.
(1)Erin Q.
While traveling to Des Moines, I was highly encouraged to visit Zombie Burger--and now, I'm hooked. As a huge fan of Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead graphic novels, I felt like I was inserted into the story. All of the decor is zombie- themed, the menu looks like a newspaper with zombie stories, and all of the burgers have fun names-- I had the " Sarah's Revenge". This burger was great- caramelized onions, friend jalapeños, bacon, and a horseradish sauce. This was not a spicy burger, but it was flavorful. I also had a side of the fries, which were good, but not awesome. The bartender was very friendly, and I enjoyed getting to watch "Fear Fest" on the tv. After 8pm, they play scary movies (w/ sound), so be mindful if you have little ones.
(4)Cynthia B.
Three words: Zombie Unicorn Shake (with alcohol, of course).
(5)Cheyenne R.
We had the #5 They're coming for you Barbara. It's a bacon burger with caramelized onions. The bun is actually two grilled cheese buns. It was very cheesy! Tasty milkshakes. Reece's Puff milkshake was amazing!
(4)Chris F.
Burgers were great!!!! Shakes amazing!!!!! Service not so good....if it take 1hr to seat someone then maybe its time to expand....the food is good enough that they will have a hearty business wherever they are. Fun atmosphere, just too small for their clientele..go there with plenty of time to spare.
(5)Carlos T.
Burgers are aammaaazzzinnnggg but the staff is not fun. They are not even zombiefied. Its probably just not a fun place to work. I don't think one staffer was even remotely nice to us. Someone kept yelling the order numbers so loud you could barely eat. Limited seating too. I would totally order TO GO and give it 5 stars!
(4)Kris A.
What a fun place. Staff where in character. Burgers were very good tons of fun options. I heard the shakes are awesome, will have to try that next time I am I town.
(4)Kristyn M.
Enjoy it everyone I come. Even in the quick serve side where the food comes up quicker. Can't seen to get over the zombie sauce with my fries at every meal. The shakes are always tempting bit this tine my zombie burger was spot on but my dates the Dawn of the dead burgers egg was a little under done. Oh well still good.
(4)Maggie W.
You might turn into a zombie if you eat here regularly - it's a heart attack on a plate, haha. Ambiance: A couple of life-size zombie figures, but not much else. The place is clean and bright, though. There was a wait to be seated and waited upon, so we opted to get our food at the counter and help ourselves. Food: I got the "They're Coming to Get You Barbara" burger which has grilled cheese sandwich buns and cheese, caramelized onion, bacon and "Zombie Sauce" (aka thousand island dressing). This burger was frickin' delicious. I couldn't taste much of the 'Zombie Sauce', but it was everything a burger should be - juicy, flavorful and meaty. IMPRESSED! Hubby got "The Walking Ched" with 'breaded, deep-fried macaroni & cheese buns', bacon, cheddar, caramelized and raw onion, and mayo. Didn't care much for the mac & cheese - it was tangy and kinda strange tasting, but the burger was yummy. We shared the "Zombie Poutine" fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. The fries were delicious and the gravy was good, although kinda runny. We also shared the Chocolate Cake Shake. It was rich and delicious, but very SMALL!!! For five bucks, I expected a little more... FYI - we both ordered double burgers, but the singles would have been MORE than enough - the burgers are huge and loaded up! Zombie Burger is expensive and a splurge in every sense of the word, but a great burger joint and a fun hangout.
(4)Mohit G.
2 words to describe this place - overpriced and meh! Raygun - $8.99 for overcooked meat that distinctly tasted burnt. A combination of accompaniments that do nothing to save the day. Fried jalapenos are tame. Guacamole and caramelized onion make the sandwich hard to hold. There is no bright flavor to make this a memorable experience. Project Nemesis - $6.49 for a piece of fried mushroom in between two slices of bun. Oh, and one ring of onion and one tiny end-slice of a tomato. What a shame. The only distinct taste in this sandwich was of the oil that they used to fry the mushroom in. Also, they give a big cup of gloopy nacho cheese on the side which I could not bear to taste. The tomato end piece was inexcusable. House Fries - $3.99 for basic fries, limp and somewhat overcooked. Nothing to write home about. What a waste of a Saturday lunch. Come on guys, at least try a little bit. You can do better than this. Go to hopdoddy and learn what the customer is expecting from a premium burger joint.
(1)David N.
This place freakin' rules. How it's only 3 1/2 stars is beyond me. Great craft beer menu and specialty drinks. Food was excellent. Jalapeno and goat cheese poppers were great. My "Walking Ched" burger was great. Everyone else's food I tried was great. The music was solid. Service was decent considering the crowd. Bottom line, Zombie Burger is hereafter a staple on our future visits to Des Moines. What else can you say?
(5)Wes J.
Awesome downtown restaurant. Burger options are interesting a delicious (Undead Elvis was really good). Save room for a cereal shake!
(5)Doug L.
If you have heart disease stay away. This place will kill you. Lots of calories and fat in the burgers and shakes. It's a fun place to see a lot of interesting people but I have never said 'love it' to my meal. It is a fun experience to try but not at the top of my list to come back to
(3)Emilie B.
Really cool concept! Things I like about Zombie Burger: -Patio is dog friendly! (Or at least tolerant towards dogs- my fiancé and I have brought ours twice so far and the employees didn't seem to mind) -Really interesting menu with a wide variety of options for every type of diet/preference -I like that they have a take-out and a sit-down option within the restaurant -Their fried pickles are excellent! It's rare to find well-made fried pickles in the "North" Things I don't really like about Zombie Burger: -The Flamethrower (buffalo chicken burger) was pretty bad. The chicken was bland and barely covered in the buffalo sauce, and the onion rings were impractical on the burger
(4)Keke D.
I've been here a few times, last time we went on 9-12-14. It's a fun atmosphere, definitely a must-try if your in the Des Moines area. I work downtown so my husband popped by on a Friday and was hungry for a burger. We sat in the carry out area and he ordered the Undead Guy BBQ burger and I ordered the Trailer Trash Zombie. As always, the burgers were okay. Never looks as awesome as the picture in the three times I have been here but we ate up anyways! You know what I really loved? The blue cheese and bacon fries...OMG! If you like all of the above I highly recommend sharing some...the regular order is more than enough for two people...I dumped the ranch on top....SO SO GOOD!!!! :)
(4)Sarah S.
large menu, great atmosphere. try the zombie unicorn shake, it will change your life
(5)J V.
This place is totally bonkers - you MUST stop here if you're in central Iowa! The zombie theme is thorough and carefully crafted, like you KNOW they know their stuff when the veggieburger is called the nilbog burger. That's a deep cut! The food is totally crazy and surprising and delicious. Maybe not the best burger I've ever had, but the creativity alone gets five stars. A tasty and unique experience. The cereals shakes are also awesome, wacky and sweet. Prepare to wait in line. Going here is like an event. Definitely not something I could do on a regular basis, but it's more like an awesome treat that shouldn't be passed up!
(5)Nikki P.
Great and interesting burgers. Very filling. Love the vibe. The employees are so nice and courteus.
(4)Brey H.
Awesome people and environment! I go every Sunday night to watch The Walking dead. The food is decent, drinks are great and the service is nice :)
(5)Sandra G.
I'm not really a burger fanatic but I must say these burgers are delicious!! they're juicy and full of flavor, fresh ingredients!! it was hard to pick from their many choices on the menu. if you're in the area this is a must place to go to!!
(5)Todd J.
A small group of us literally drive from Omaha to Des Moines to have Zombie Burger. We had been wanting to try it out forever and had extremely high expectations. Upon arrival at about 11:30 we realized a downtown color run had just ended and everyone met at zombie burger afterward. We put our name in and the wait was supposed to be 45 minutes. The awesome thing about their wait list is they text you so you can walk around and enjoy downtown Des Moines while waiting. Our wait was exactly as we we were told and we were seated at the 45 minute mark. The whole restaurant as the name suggests is zombie themed also the entire staff dresses the part. We had babies with us and the staff was extremely helpful and offered slings without us asking. My wife and I had the walking ched burger which is an amazing cheeseburger with fried Mac and cheese for a bun. I ordered the "they're coming to get you Barbara" burger which is a burger with grilled cheese sandwiches for the bun. We also had the poutine And chili fries along with cheese stuffed peppers and fried buffalo bleu cheese bacon bites. Every item ordered was phenomenal. I was glad to see the food was as awesome as it was weird and not just another gimmicky burger joint. To end our meal we had a cinnamon toast crunch milkshake which was awesome as well. The service was stellar and the prices were pretty cheap. I was surprised to find it cheaper than smash burger or burger star which are by far inferior to zombie burger.! Great Example of a perfect 5 star joint!!
(5)Spencer J.
Started the night with a chicken Raygun: fried jalapeños, grilled onions, ultra-crispy bacon, cheese, piled high on chicken breast. Finished the night with a delicious peanut butter banana shake with a shot of rum. This was all fantastic, but next time I'm going for the burger with a deep-fried macaroni and cheese bun -- just don't get scared by the zombie mannequin... they got me.
(5)Ann P.
I went to Zombie Burger last week and ordered a house salad. I was served a salad with brown lettuce, tasteless dressing, and a stray piece of chicken from another salad on the menu. Partially my fault for ordering a salad at a burger place - but I think everything on the menu should be good if it is offered! I also got a burger with chicken fried bacon and fried pickles which was very good, but I was turned off by the very un-fresh salad I was served.
(2)Katie W.
How have I not written a review for Zombie Burger?! Probably because I started my Yelp account not long after I moved to San Diego...yeah, we'll say it's that. There are a few places I wish I could magically transport down here from Des Moines, and this is one of them. Yes, the wait can be long, but it's always been worth it for me. Lots of parking, awesome decor, friendly staff, and a menu that really can't be beat. Spiked milkshakes = best idea ever. The fried pickles are awesome, but you seriously can never go wrong with those. And so many burgers! Honestly, I had a hard time choosing one, but my favorite ended up being the Trailer Trash burger. Not very good for the waistline, but one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. ALL the guilty pleasure are belong to me. Except there's no ZB in San Diego. So Des Moines-ians, enjoy it for me.
(5)Michael M.
Came here with a friend last Saturday at around 2pm, and the place was packed. The line for the to go counter was almost out the door, and the table service wait was 30 minutes. We opted for a table, and the wait turned out to be more around 15 minutes. We ended up being seated on the patio, (We chose first available) and really liked the setup. The food itself is okay. I had the Raygun, which was a little on the bland side. We shared a basket of poutine fries, which were also okay, but nothing special. I had the marshmallow nutella shake, which was probably the best thing I had. Overall, I think Zombie Burger does a great job of marketing itself, and it is obviously doing very well. I found the food to be okay, but nothing I would go out of my way to get again. If you plan on hitting this place during a weekend, be prepared to wait a little regardless of whether you are going with the counter or waiter service.
(3)Ali C.
Whenever we visit friends in Des Moines this place is on the list to things to do! My husband and I split a spiked shake then get a delicious burger! Any burger with a cheese croquette is a great choice!!! You will be very full after enjoying a meal here :)
(5)Thao P.
GREAT Slice of Flavor To Des Moines Dining! A restaurant /fast food joint where zombies are the theme? I'm in!!! After hearing much hype, I came here to see what it was all about. My gosh is this place busy! Try to go during off hours when you can. They offer outdoor seating as well either indoor dining or high tables for quick self-service dining. The presentation indoors is visually appealing with the zombie statues, pictures, and references. My favorite part is how all the menu items have some sort of zombie or Des Moines reference. Love the burgers! They have the craziest, yet tasteful kind of combinations. My favorite filling is the cheese croquette they place inside burgers. It's just oozing with delicious cheese. One big downer is that the veggie patties are GROSS and bland. They need to improve that and that's why I detracted one star. The side dishes are LARGE. An order of fries is enough for a couple of people. The cheese curds are good too, but don't expect Iowa State Fair -quality curds! oh and YES, THEY HAVE SPIKED SHAKES. That means shakes with alcohol :) Overall, this is a fun place to go to and you should take anyone new to Des Moines here!
(4)Emira R.
The zombie nachos are fun to share with a group of friends. My very first deep fried flour tortilla chips--which were amazing, despite my reservations towards flour tortillas. The toppings were really tasty, the pulled pork especially. I only had a side of mac& cheese with bacon--very good. I tried some of the "Walking Chad" burger--Insane looking, but albeit good. Their chocolate shake was heavenly--it had chocolate batter, chocolate vodka, and chocolate ice cream. YUM!
(5)Scott C.
Good burger. I've been here a few times - I've got some friends who love the place - and have had both good and bad experiences. Most of the bad experiences were related to service and not the food, however. I guess I don't quite get the hype around this place. Call it "Zombie" and all of a sudden it's trendy? Either way, they've got a big selection of specialty burgers. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Jerusha E.
Delicious burgers with a variety of topping options. The meat patties can be substituted for veggie options if you're looking for something lighter. The milkshakes, specifically the spiked cereal milkshakes are fantastic. I had the cinnamon toast crunch shake with rumchata in it and I'm getting drooly just thinking about it. The wait staff is chatty but efficient even when very busy. Overall, great place for a burger!
(4)Raymond T.
Poutine is amazing as are Boom-sticks!
(5)Andrew N.
Really good food, excellent variety with so many unique choices. Fun atmosphere with good service. Can be hard to get into at times do to popularity of establishment.
(4)Zach M.
amazing food and service. I ordered the "they're coming to get you barbara" it was amazing and the cereal shakes are the best I've ever had. fun atmosphere and great food. menus are fun and interactive and always marketing for local iowa pride shop "raygun"
(5)Tony S.
Overall the experience was a little underwhelming based on my expectations. Food still pretty good, not a can't miss. Got there at 3PM, place was pretty empty but had to wait 15 minutes to be seated because of a shift change. Thought that was weird. Atmosphere was ok, was expecting more of the "zombie" theme, fell a little short on that front. I was also expecting some "crazier" menu options for burgers. Half of them are pretty basic. I had the Envy Corpse which was fantastic. The pulled pork and ham with the fresh delicious patties (burger that tasted like real beef for a change!) Was sweet, spicy and phenomenal. Fries are good too, compares to Five Guys for the fresh homade style fries. enjoyed my meal, was also impressed with how reasonable the prices were for kind of a "trendy place" in downtown DSM. Service was pretty subpar honestly. Our waiter didn't seem like he cared much or had much experience. Could have been new, not that big of deal. Will definitely try again though.
(3)Brock F.
Wow! Food was awesome and so filling you leave sluggish. If you're looking for a drink/dinner night I might suggests getting a smaller meal or passing on "The Walking Dead". One negative: the female bartender could care less about building rapport with customers. She was okay just not super friendly. Overall, a great experience. A must for all the Zombie lovers out there.
(4)Dave M.
The most unusual hamburgers you will find anywhere - and delicious! If you are planning to eat there for lunch, you can be assured that you will be having a light salad for dinner. Each time I eat here, I am stuffed! My favorite burger so far is the peanut butter (can't recall the name), but just look for it. A must stop in Des Moines.
(5)Jack S.
The Zombie Apocalypse brought us one good thing....burgers!
(4)Kyle T.
This place is great. I travel quite a bit, so I am always looking for a unique place to stop. Combine my desire to try something new with my love for zombies made this place a "no brainer" (I'll let myself out). I didn't go to the full service area as I didn't have too much time, so I stopped in the counter service area. The staff was very helpful in making suggestions and had an overall great attitude. I went with the undead guy BBQ burger, as suggested by the guy at the counter, and was not disappointed. I will be back the next time I am in the area to try something else.
(5)Carson A.
I live right by this place and the horribly disrespectful manor their servers, especially their bartender, showed me I'll make sure that I never go to this business again. The worst bartender in the world I swear, no knowledge of any classic drinks and a real horror to deal with. Something really needs to be done about the people there or this place is doomed.
(1)Robb F.
So so good!!!!! Very unique menu. I have been there 3 times and each time was excellent. My favorite is the "they are coming for you barbara" burger. The "walking ched" is just too intense and too much food but still worth trying. Also be sure to try the wedding cake shake.
(5)Shannon H.
I love this joint! It's fun and the food is good. There is always a crowd and OMG on the milkshakes. I usually get the basic burger, I'm a plain Jane type of girl and I think it you've got the basics down then the rest will be good. Another thing about these burgers is I'm not sick to my stomach after I inhale one. I recommend this spot to out of town guest and usually stop by for a late dinner.
(5)Vic J.
Nice after a Zombie walk, but not the best burger in town.
(2)Erin Q.
While traveling to Des Moines, I was highly encouraged to visit Zombie Burger--and now, I'm hooked. As a huge fan of Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead graphic novels, I felt like I was inserted into the story. All of the decor is zombie- themed, the menu looks like a newspaper with zombie stories, and all of the burgers have fun names-- I had the " Sarah's Revenge". This burger was great- caramelized onions, friend jalapeños, bacon, and a horseradish sauce. This was not a spicy burger, but it was flavorful. I also had a side of the fries, which were good, but not awesome. The bartender was very friendly, and I enjoyed getting to watch "Fear Fest" on the tv. After 8pm, they play scary movies (w/ sound), so be mindful if you have little ones.
(4)Cynthia B.
Three words: Zombie Unicorn Shake (with alcohol, of course).
(5)Cheyenne R.
We had the #5 They're coming for you Barbara. It's a bacon burger with caramelized onions. The bun is actually two grilled cheese buns. It was very cheesy! Tasty milkshakes. Reece's Puff milkshake was amazing!
(4)Chris F.
Burgers were great!!!! Shakes amazing!!!!! Service not so good....if it take 1hr to seat someone then maybe its time to expand....the food is good enough that they will have a hearty business wherever they are. Fun atmosphere, just too small for their clientele..go there with plenty of time to spare.
(5)Carlos T.
Burgers are aammaaazzzinnnggg but the staff is not fun. They are not even zombiefied. Its probably just not a fun place to work. I don't think one staffer was even remotely nice to us. Someone kept yelling the order numbers so loud you could barely eat. Limited seating too. I would totally order TO GO and give it 5 stars!
(4)Kris A.
What a fun place. Staff where in character. Burgers were very good tons of fun options. I heard the shakes are awesome, will have to try that next time I am I town.
(4)Kristyn M.
Enjoy it everyone I come. Even in the quick serve side where the food comes up quicker. Can't seen to get over the zombie sauce with my fries at every meal. The shakes are always tempting bit this tine my zombie burger was spot on but my dates the Dawn of the dead burgers egg was a little under done. Oh well still good.
(4)Jerusha E.
Delicious burgers with a variety of topping options. The meat patties can be substituted for veggie options if you're looking for something lighter. The milkshakes, specifically the spiked cereal milkshakes are fantastic. I had the cinnamon toast crunch shake with rumchata in it and I'm getting drooly just thinking about it. The wait staff is chatty but efficient even when very busy. Overall, great place for a burger!
(4)Raymond T.
Poutine is amazing as are Boom-sticks!
(5)Maggie W.
You might turn into a zombie if you eat here regularly - it's a heart attack on a plate, haha. Ambiance: A couple of life-size zombie figures, but not much else. The place is clean and bright, though. There was a wait to be seated and waited upon, so we opted to get our food at the counter and help ourselves. Food: I got the "They're Coming to Get You Barbara" burger which has grilled cheese sandwich buns and cheese, caramelized onion, bacon and "Zombie Sauce" (aka thousand island dressing). This burger was frickin' delicious. I couldn't taste much of the 'Zombie Sauce', but it was everything a burger should be - juicy, flavorful and meaty. IMPRESSED! Hubby got "The Walking Ched" with 'breaded, deep-fried macaroni & cheese buns', bacon, cheddar, caramelized and raw onion, and mayo. Didn't care much for the mac & cheese - it was tangy and kinda strange tasting, but the burger was yummy. We shared the "Zombie Poutine" fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. The fries were delicious and the gravy was good, although kinda runny. We also shared the Chocolate Cake Shake. It was rich and delicious, but very SMALL!!! For five bucks, I expected a little more... FYI - we both ordered double burgers, but the singles would have been MORE than enough - the burgers are huge and loaded up! Zombie Burger is expensive and a splurge in every sense of the word, but a great burger joint and a fun hangout.
(4)Mohit G.
2 words to describe this place - overpriced and meh! Raygun - $8.99 for overcooked meat that distinctly tasted burnt. A combination of accompaniments that do nothing to save the day. Fried jalapenos are tame. Guacamole and caramelized onion make the sandwich hard to hold. There is no bright flavor to make this a memorable experience. Project Nemesis - $6.49 for a piece of fried mushroom in between two slices of bun. Oh, and one ring of onion and one tiny end-slice of a tomato. What a shame. The only distinct taste in this sandwich was of the oil that they used to fry the mushroom in. Also, they give a big cup of gloopy nacho cheese on the side which I could not bear to taste. The tomato end piece was inexcusable. House Fries - $3.99 for basic fries, limp and somewhat overcooked. Nothing to write home about. What a waste of a Saturday lunch. Come on guys, at least try a little bit. You can do better than this. Go to hopdoddy and learn what the customer is expecting from a premium burger joint.
(1)David N.
This place freakin' rules. How it's only 3 1/2 stars is beyond me. Great craft beer menu and specialty drinks. Food was excellent. Jalapeno and goat cheese poppers were great. My "Walking Ched" burger was great. Everyone else's food I tried was great. The music was solid. Service was decent considering the crowd. Bottom line, Zombie Burger is hereafter a staple on our future visits to Des Moines. What else can you say?
(5)Wes J.
Awesome downtown restaurant. Burger options are interesting a delicious (Undead Elvis was really good). Save room for a cereal shake!
(5)Doug L.
If you have heart disease stay away. This place will kill you. Lots of calories and fat in the burgers and shakes. It's a fun place to see a lot of interesting people but I have never said 'love it' to my meal. It is a fun experience to try but not at the top of my list to come back to
(3)Emilie B.
Really cool concept! Things I like about Zombie Burger: -Patio is dog friendly! (Or at least tolerant towards dogs- my fiancé and I have brought ours twice so far and the employees didn't seem to mind) -Really interesting menu with a wide variety of options for every type of diet/preference -I like that they have a take-out and a sit-down option within the restaurant -Their fried pickles are excellent! It's rare to find well-made fried pickles in the "North" Things I don't really like about Zombie Burger: -The Flamethrower (buffalo chicken burger) was pretty bad. The chicken was bland and barely covered in the buffalo sauce, and the onion rings were impractical on the burger
(4)Keke D.
I've been here a few times, last time we went on 9-12-14. It's a fun atmosphere, definitely a must-try if your in the Des Moines area. I work downtown so my husband popped by on a Friday and was hungry for a burger. We sat in the carry out area and he ordered the Undead Guy BBQ burger and I ordered the Trailer Trash Zombie. As always, the burgers were okay. Never looks as awesome as the picture in the three times I have been here but we ate up anyways! You know what I really loved? The blue cheese and bacon fries...OMG! If you like all of the above I highly recommend sharing some...the regular order is more than enough for two people...I dumped the ranch on top....SO SO GOOD!!!! :)
(4)Sarah S.
large menu, great atmosphere. try the zombie unicorn shake, it will change your life
(5)J V.
This place is totally bonkers - you MUST stop here if you're in central Iowa! The zombie theme is thorough and carefully crafted, like you KNOW they know their stuff when the veggieburger is called the nilbog burger. That's a deep cut! The food is totally crazy and surprising and delicious. Maybe not the best burger I've ever had, but the creativity alone gets five stars. A tasty and unique experience. The cereals shakes are also awesome, wacky and sweet. Prepare to wait in line. Going here is like an event. Definitely not something I could do on a regular basis, but it's more like an awesome treat that shouldn't be passed up!
(5)Nikki P.
Great and interesting burgers. Very filling. Love the vibe. The employees are so nice and courteus.
(4)Brey H.
Awesome people and environment! I go every Sunday night to watch The Walking dead. The food is decent, drinks are great and the service is nice :)
(5)Sandra G.
I'm not really a burger fanatic but I must say these burgers are delicious!! they're juicy and full of flavor, fresh ingredients!! it was hard to pick from their many choices on the menu. if you're in the area this is a must place to go to!!
(5)Todd J.
A small group of us literally drive from Omaha to Des Moines to have Zombie Burger. We had been wanting to try it out forever and had extremely high expectations. Upon arrival at about 11:30 we realized a downtown color run had just ended and everyone met at zombie burger afterward. We put our name in and the wait was supposed to be 45 minutes. The awesome thing about their wait list is they text you so you can walk around and enjoy downtown Des Moines while waiting. Our wait was exactly as we we were told and we were seated at the 45 minute mark. The whole restaurant as the name suggests is zombie themed also the entire staff dresses the part. We had babies with us and the staff was extremely helpful and offered slings without us asking. My wife and I had the walking ched burger which is an amazing cheeseburger with fried Mac and cheese for a bun. I ordered the "they're coming to get you Barbara" burger which is a burger with grilled cheese sandwiches for the bun. We also had the poutine And chili fries along with cheese stuffed peppers and fried buffalo bleu cheese bacon bites. Every item ordered was phenomenal. I was glad to see the food was as awesome as it was weird and not just another gimmicky burger joint. To end our meal we had a cinnamon toast crunch milkshake which was awesome as well. The service was stellar and the prices were pretty cheap. I was surprised to find it cheaper than smash burger or burger star which are by far inferior to zombie burger.! Great Example of a perfect 5 star joint!!
(5)Spencer J.
Started the night with a chicken Raygun: fried jalapeños, grilled onions, ultra-crispy bacon, cheese, piled high on chicken breast. Finished the night with a delicious peanut butter banana shake with a shot of rum. This was all fantastic, but next time I'm going for the burger with a deep-fried macaroni and cheese bun -- just don't get scared by the zombie mannequin... they got me.
(5)Ann P.
I went to Zombie Burger last week and ordered a house salad. I was served a salad with brown lettuce, tasteless dressing, and a stray piece of chicken from another salad on the menu. Partially my fault for ordering a salad at a burger place - but I think everything on the menu should be good if it is offered! I also got a burger with chicken fried bacon and fried pickles which was very good, but I was turned off by the very un-fresh salad I was served.
(2)Katie W.
How have I not written a review for Zombie Burger?! Probably because I started my Yelp account not long after I moved to San Diego...yeah, we'll say it's that. There are a few places I wish I could magically transport down here from Des Moines, and this is one of them. Yes, the wait can be long, but it's always been worth it for me. Lots of parking, awesome decor, friendly staff, and a menu that really can't be beat. Spiked milkshakes = best idea ever. The fried pickles are awesome, but you seriously can never go wrong with those. And so many burgers! Honestly, I had a hard time choosing one, but my favorite ended up being the Trailer Trash burger. Not very good for the waistline, but one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. ALL the guilty pleasure are belong to me. Except there's no ZB in San Diego. So Des Moines-ians, enjoy it for me.
(5)Michael M.
Came here with a friend last Saturday at around 2pm, and the place was packed. The line for the to go counter was almost out the door, and the table service wait was 30 minutes. We opted for a table, and the wait turned out to be more around 15 minutes. We ended up being seated on the patio, (We chose first available) and really liked the setup. The food itself is okay. I had the Raygun, which was a little on the bland side. We shared a basket of poutine fries, which were also okay, but nothing special. I had the marshmallow nutella shake, which was probably the best thing I had. Overall, I think Zombie Burger does a great job of marketing itself, and it is obviously doing very well. I found the food to be okay, but nothing I would go out of my way to get again. If you plan on hitting this place during a weekend, be prepared to wait a little regardless of whether you are going with the counter or waiter service.
(3)Ali C.
Whenever we visit friends in Des Moines this place is on the list to things to do! My husband and I split a spiked shake then get a delicious burger! Any burger with a cheese croquette is a great choice!!! You will be very full after enjoying a meal here :)
(5)Thao P.
GREAT Slice of Flavor To Des Moines Dining! A restaurant /fast food joint where zombies are the theme? I'm in!!! After hearing much hype, I came here to see what it was all about. My gosh is this place busy! Try to go during off hours when you can. They offer outdoor seating as well either indoor dining or high tables for quick self-service dining. The presentation indoors is visually appealing with the zombie statues, pictures, and references. My favorite part is how all the menu items have some sort of zombie or Des Moines reference. Love the burgers! They have the craziest, yet tasteful kind of combinations. My favorite filling is the cheese croquette they place inside burgers. It's just oozing with delicious cheese. One big downer is that the veggie patties are GROSS and bland. They need to improve that and that's why I detracted one star. The side dishes are LARGE. An order of fries is enough for a couple of people. The cheese curds are good too, but don't expect Iowa State Fair -quality curds! oh and YES, THEY HAVE SPIKED SHAKES. That means shakes with alcohol :) Overall, this is a fun place to go to and you should take anyone new to Des Moines here!
(4)Emira R.
The zombie nachos are fun to share with a group of friends. My very first deep fried flour tortilla chips--which were amazing, despite my reservations towards flour tortillas. The toppings were really tasty, the pulled pork especially. I only had a side of mac& cheese with bacon--very good. I tried some of the "Walking Chad" burger--Insane looking, but albeit good. Their chocolate shake was heavenly--it had chocolate batter, chocolate vodka, and chocolate ice cream. YUM!
(5)Scott C.
Good burger. I've been here a few times - I've got some friends who love the place - and have had both good and bad experiences. Most of the bad experiences were related to service and not the food, however. I guess I don't quite get the hype around this place. Call it "Zombie" and all of a sudden it's trendy? Either way, they've got a big selection of specialty burgers. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Andrew N.
Really good food, excellent variety with so many unique choices. Fun atmosphere with good service. Can be hard to get into at times do to popularity of establishment.
(4)Zach M.
amazing food and service. I ordered the "they're coming to get you barbara" it was amazing and the cereal shakes are the best I've ever had. fun atmosphere and great food. menus are fun and interactive and always marketing for local iowa pride shop "raygun"
(5)Tony S.
Overall the experience was a little underwhelming based on my expectations. Food still pretty good, not a can't miss. Got there at 3PM, place was pretty empty but had to wait 15 minutes to be seated because of a shift change. Thought that was weird. Atmosphere was ok, was expecting more of the "zombie" theme, fell a little short on that front. I was also expecting some "crazier" menu options for burgers. Half of them are pretty basic. I had the Envy Corpse which was fantastic. The pulled pork and ham with the fresh delicious patties (burger that tasted like real beef for a change!) Was sweet, spicy and phenomenal. Fries are good too, compares to Five Guys for the fresh homade style fries. enjoyed my meal, was also impressed with how reasonable the prices were for kind of a "trendy place" in downtown DSM. Service was pretty subpar honestly. Our waiter didn't seem like he cared much or had much experience. Could have been new, not that big of deal. Will definitely try again though.
(3)Brock F.
Wow! Food was awesome and so filling you leave sluggish. If you're looking for a drink/dinner night I might suggests getting a smaller meal or passing on "The Walking Dead". One negative: the female bartender could care less about building rapport with customers. She was okay just not super friendly. Overall, a great experience. A must for all the Zombie lovers out there.
(4)Dave M.
The most unusual hamburgers you will find anywhere - and delicious! If you are planning to eat there for lunch, you can be assured that you will be having a light salad for dinner. Each time I eat here, I am stuffed! My favorite burger so far is the peanut butter (can't recall the name), but just look for it. A must stop in Des Moines.
(5)Ryan R.
Burgers are obvious the biggest thing and they are awesome! They have an amazing beer list which has some really interesting things which will make you wanna come back. Service was very good. The Biggest issue was that the management is clearly more concerned with cramming as many people in the building at one time in order to make money, it is a bummer that it was so crazy in the bar area. So if you go on a weekend it gets crazy and the way the building is designed it is confusing and you will find your self lost and confused and in the way of the servers up until you find a seat. All in all worth going back to multiple times!
(4)Steve G.
Creative and well executed. Definitely has the obvious punk vibe going with the zombie theme but it's not overdone so the average eater won't feel alienated. Speedy service and it was tasty!
(5)Gavin G.
We stopped in on a Wednesday around 1:00 to find a wait time of 30 minutes for our group of three. No big deal; after reading other reviews, I expected worse. However, we quickly figured out that if we would brave the unseasonably chilly temps, we could order counter service and seat ourselves outside. We watched many tourist families leave because of the wait and not understanding this 2nd system to dining at Zombie Burger. It's confusing for new visitors, but I imagine it serves them well during a busy downtown Des Moines lunch rush. The gentleman running the counter service line was quick, but didn't seem like he was ready to deal with the uninitiated and answer questions about the menu. Again, no big deal, but it could have been a better experience. The food was completely forgettable. The meat had no flavor at all and was rather dry. The French fries were fine. Zombie Burger seems to be relying on a dozen clever trick toppings and "crazy" milkshakes to fuel their business. However, the toppings weren't anything special either. It seems to be working, but I couldn't find a reason to go back. If you can get a quick bite, go for it, but temper your expectations.
(3)Mrs T.
I am so glad that we stopped here. What a fun experience! The burgers are amazing and the shakes are so good! You can't go wrong here! You can get a simple burger or something that you will never forget!
(5)Andrew D.
Burgers are excellent. Haven't had a bad one yet. The selection is tough with such a plethora of delicious options that have creative zombie themed names. Coming at the right time is key. It can be very crowded during peak hours. Defiantly a must eat for visitors to the city.
(5)Bela S.
I was teetering between 2-3 stars on this one. The themeing of this restaurant is grade A, right down to the rest room signs. The menu is a newspaper informing the locals of a zombie outbreak. How cool is that?!? All of the menu items are also themed after our favorite zombie movies, and the names (and stories) are quite clever, really. Unfortunately my infatuation with this place ended right there, hence the two stars (at the end of the day, you pay to eat, right?). The food was just ok, and we have been here twice to give it a second chance. Nothing was BAD, but nothing was so wonderful that I can't wait to be back. By that I mean to say you can get these burgers, salads, etc. almost anywhere you go. I'd rather pop into a Chili's or something if I am craving a nice big burger. If you have never been, it is worth going to at least once for the themeing alone. I would expect to see something of this caliber in Hollywood around Universal City walk, but was surprised to find it in downtown DSM.
(2)Rufus M.
Great burgers and variety of choices for everybody. You are surrounded by cool zombie art if you eat inside too. Our group all got different burgers and the entire everyone thought they're food was amazing.
(5)David B.
After moving to Des Moines in April, I knew that one of the places I needed to check out was Zombie Burger...I wanted to see what the hype was all about. The first attempt was a bust seeing how the wait was long, but I was bound to prevail. After some much thought I wanted to attempt this feat again and stick out the wait. The wait was still long, but in what it seemed to be no time at all we were seated, had some appetizers and then that glorious moment came and our main course arrived! I can say that it lived up to the hype! There shakes were awesome and the burgers well some of the best! If you have a sense of adventure and want to try different and some odd combinations involved with the creation of these burgers give it a shot, I don't think you will regret it.
(5)Tom T.
Probably the most overrated restaurant in Des Moines. I give it a resounding "NOPE."
(2)Sammy L.
Amazing burgers and a great staff. I get the 8 the dawn if the dead. It's awesome. Pro tip: get fancy sauce to put on the burger.
(5)Eric L.
OMG this is awesome. Food to be undead for!
(4)Caroline M.
I'll keep it real. I could really do without all the zombie crap. With that said, it's not too hard to block it out, and put all of your focus on their insane menu. Sooooo many options. I love the portobello mushroom "burger" option. You can also do beef, chicken, or veggie. My current fave is the burger with brie & prosciutto, with the mushroom base. Yeah, the bun situation is a little odd....but it seems to work. They totally have me as a life long (or as long as I'm in Des Moines) customer strictly for the boozy milkshakes. The cinnamon toast crunch shake with Rumchata is STELLAR. Service is friendly and attentive. I've only gone at off peak times, so it may be a different story at 7pm on Saturday night...maybe not! It's a bummer fries are an additional $$ side option, but quite honestly, I didn't miss them between the awesome sandwich and booze shake. Mmm.
(4)Gabe W.
Awesome place for creative burgers. Fun theme and large space downtown. I had the Walking Ched with grilled chicken. Should be renamed the heart stopper. Deep fried mac&cheese buns, mac&cheese topping, grilled onions, and cheddar cheese. The mac sauce was really good and creamy, reminded me of bechamel. They have about 20 unique sandwhiches that can be ordered Single Double or Triple patty. All sandwhiches can be substituted with grilled chicken or veggie patty. French fries are to DIE for.
(5)Marty M.
Just love the burger all I can say.
(4)Diana A.
Service was fine and pretty fast. The place is really neat... The burgers taste good but not the best in town. Their menu is very creative but was not impressed with the flavors and my fries were not fresh.
(3)Megan H.
Zombie Burger is fun, fun, fun. Yes, it's ridiculously popular so you'll probably have to wait. Well, don't you WANT to eat somewhere that so many people obviously love? And it's not just for the clever concept, the cool decor, the spiked milkshakes, or the funny menus printed to resemble newspapers with zombie stories (I really enjoyed last week's menu spoofing RAGBRAI). The food is actually pretty darn good. When Zombie Burger first opened, I went crazy and ordered a ton of fried food (it's sort of their specialty). Ohhhhhh was it ever good, but ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh did my stomach hurt. I actually didn't go back for a long time because I started trying to eat healthier, and I just didn't think ZB fit into that plan. Then I took a closer look at the menu. No, you don't just have to get the cheese-slathered burgers between the deep fried mac & cheese buns (though I won't judge if you do, that stuff is delicious). ZB also has two kinds of veggie burgers OR a grilled portabella which you can sub for any burger on the menu. Even more, you can sub a bed of greens for the bun and make your own improvised zombie salad. Maybe not QUITE as fun, OK. But my stomach thanks me for making more responsible choices. I'll still indulge in one of those insane burgers every once in awhile, but it's nice to know there are options! Other good stuff at Zombie Burger? The Brussels sprouts. The fries. The fried pickles. The awesome beer selection. The servers, most of whom have been there since the place opened (our server last week told me they have zero turnover because they all love being there so much). Oh, yes. The spiked milkshakes. Delicious. I love this place! So does everyone else! You'll love it too.
(4)Ri T.
It is a great place to grab a drink. I love that you can also get food pretty late.
(5)Cathy E.
Best burger place in the Midwest. The food and the staff are awesome!! If coming any where near Des Moines it's a must do
(5)Zach B.
I love Zombie Burger. Fun atmosphere. Great, unique food. Always a good time. Usually a long wait but downtown Des Moines has lots to see while you wait. You must visit if you are in Des Moines.
(5)Diana B.
Always a great food experience
(5)Seleen T.
Had the best burger in my life over here. I got the walking ched and I wished they had a restaurant here in Chicago! I got the single patty and that made me full for the rest of the day. It's 2 fried macaroni patties with mac n cheese and a patty. I also got a drink too and it was awesome. I would totally drive 5 hours everyday for this burger lol! Soo good! Going here is a must! All the servers were really nice and it seems like it is always packed here. Cool theme as well and it's right next to the Capitol if you are doing sight seeing.
(5)Kyle J.
We have been told by alot of friends to try this place and all I can say is it awesome. I love the burgers and they have some great appetizers.
(4)Tyler H.
love the food! dont like the shakes that much though.
(4)Dave W.
Went on Sunday with my g/f and 2 of her friends from out of town. I always enjoy the food. The waiter, Marty, seemed like he completely hated being there and was bothered by us despite our friendly and happy demeanor. Marty was rather surly until he brought our check and seemed to be trying to plaster on somewhat of a smile to sway us toward leaving a decent tip. Three of our party ordered shakes that didn't come until about 15 minutes after the food arrived; Marty came to ask us how everything was and I mentioned that the shakes hadn't come yet and he just kind of rolled his eyes and walked away without saying anything. The rest of the staff was friendly when they brought our food and shakes. Maybe he was just having a bad day. This was my first time having Marty as a server (have seen him there before, so I know he's not new), and hopefully the last. I'm a big craft beer aficionado, but the beer prices are quite a bit higher than other places. Again, great food always! Would have given it 4 stars if we'd had better service.
(3)Lianne N.
Fried pickles for the win. The burgers were good, but I don't think I'd have been as sold without the fried pickles. I'd have liked to try the fried brussel sprouts. Everything in this place is ala carte, and it's not cheap. However, the table service (we didn't try the other side) was nice and the food was satisfying.. and very inventive in its variety! LOTS of fried options to clog your arteries.
(4)Sofie C.
Shared the raygun burger, basket of fries, and brussel sprouts with my girlfriend. It was more than enough food. We could've skipped the fries. The wait was 45 minutes but we asked to be seated at the bar and were seated right away. We got there a little before 2 and the crowd died down by the time we were done eating. Sitting near the bar area also allows you to watch the movies they're streaming. Overall the food was tasty, great customer service. They could get a better system for separating the ppl checking in and those who are waiting to be called for seating. They just have everyone standing in the center of the walk way breathing on each other and blocking the way, then new ppl who walk in walk straight to the front of the line like idiots rather than getting in line to breathe on the rest of us.
(4)Apple C.
One of my buddies treated me to lunch here. While I'm not the biggest fan of burgers, I definitely think this is a great place to visit in Des Moines. When we arrived, the restaurant was packed! Luckily there was space to eat outside. The host at the register was a bit grumpy, however our server was super friendly! I ordered a vegetarian burger( I don't remember the name but the patty was made from breaded portabella mushrooms stuffed with cheese ) a basket of fries to share with my buddy, and a Carrot Cake Milkshake. I wasn't crazy for the burger, when I bit into it, the cheese stuffed side the breaded patty leaked everywhere, and was overpowering. The fries were also thin, and soggy. On the other hand, the Carrot Cake Milkshake was very yummy! Overall, I don't think I'd come back since I'm not a burger person, but it's an interesting place, and it's definitely worth a visit!
(3)Sam A.
Great place! I had the Undead Elvis! I think I would have preferred pan-fried bananas to deep fried. Didn't did the shakes, but they looked awesome! Bonus: you can get liquor in them! The server was also very nice
(4)Josh D.
Love this place!
(5)Dana N.
Ahhh!! How I missed this place! It's been awhile since Ive been here, by awhile I mean ever since I graduated from UNI I haven't been back until recently coming back from Chicago. Burgers are good as always! Nice and messy! ALWAYS a plus when adding an egg to it! =D Still wish they would had fries with the burgers, but oh well. And of course the shake are still as yummy as I remembered! Just wish I would have stayed a bit longer. Pricing for the burgers are fair, I personally think it's fair for the type of style and protein. Beer pricing for bottles could be a dollar cheaper. And of course, I think they should add more taps. But they do have a large selection of bottled beers.
(4)Krissy W.
Des Moines, you have impressed me! I love, love, loved Zombie Burger. It's such a fun concept. I can see how some could think it's overkill, but it didn't bother me. All of the burgers are named after zombie movies or video games, and although many of them are gluttonous enough to cause a heart attack (check out the Walking Ched), there are some more sophisticated options as well. It's tempting to try all the 20+ options. Good thing I don't live here! And the beer list! Who would have ever thought a place like this would have such an impressively curated collection? Not only were there many good choices, but there were many fantastic craft beers priced $4-5 (full price). Sweet! Finally, go to the bathroom when you're here. Trust me, just go.
(4)Drew F.
Elvis is still alive here, left filled with joy. I'm definitely going back for seconds the next time I'm in Des Moins
(4)Rj N.
Wait to get a table was around an hour, but totally reasonable considering it was a Saturday evening. Once we got sat down, the service was lightning quick and our server was awesome. My wife and I got fried pickles, the flamethrower burger, the trailer trash zombie burger and a basket of fries with the house dipping sauce. All of it was fantastic and we'd totally go back for our next cheat meal. Prices are totally fair for the quality of food and service.
(4)Kristy L.
My husband and I stopped here on our way back home to Cedar Rapids based on a co-worker's rave review. I had the Dawn of the Dead burger and my husband had the Zombie Burger. Both were excellent. The fries were very good and the sauce ( a combo of mayo, ketchup, sriracha) was also good. The service was quick. We intentionally planned to be there after the normal lunch time after reading many reviews about the wait time. We would definitely go again.
(5)Andrea T.
Came here on a Friday for lunch. The line was to the door but surprisingly, we only waited in line for 10-15 minutes. We noticed there were plenty of people waiting for their food and no open tables. We heard numbers in the 60's being told their food was ready and wondered where we would be at. We watched as huge burgers (due to the toppings, not the meat itself) came out of the kitchen which helped us determine how much food to get. This place is not very reasonably priced. Burgers range from $4.99-$11.49 and Shakes are $5 and Floats are $4. I went with the 'East Village of the Damned' single burger. I had a hard time picking out which shake I wanted to try but went with the 'Chocolate Nutella Marshmallow' one. I ended up being number 99. A long way to wait until I get my food. The shake came up first and boy are they thick. Tasty but thick! We finally got a booth and table to sit at. Do not plan on sitting with the group you came with. A max of 4 can sit together. My massive burger came out and I was surprised to find a deep fried huge round thing in it. It was the mushroom and cheese thing. The lettuce was tiny as was the tomato. I questioned how I could fit the burger in my mouth. Some how I managed to take a bite and cheese oozed out of the fried thing. It was a MESS! The burger was ok but I got sick of the mushroom cheese thing. I was very greasy by the end. I had to take my shake with me and boy was I happy I did not buy a side. The others with me had the 'Walking Ched' which is a heart attack in waiting. He took half of it with him. The 'Zombie Burger' which is nothing too crazy, 'Planet Terror' which they said the fried ranch had a strange taste and I cannot remember what the other one had. They also had shakes. I honestly, felt sick due to how much grease and unhealthy food I had just eaten. I learned how they came up with the name of Zombie Burger. It's because of the noises your stomach makes the rest of the day. You sounds like a zombie! Not sure I want to come back again.
(3)Brooke P.
Totally fun place, its all about the funky zombie theme. Burgers are actually pretty good and the beer selection is not bad. Sometimes some snotty service but others have been very nice. Overall a great place to go once or twice a year.
(4)Stephen C.
First time there on 4/19. Food was great, Service poor. But there's more. We had reservations for 10 only to have the manager badger us about how many were going to show and when. When we explained that we might not all sit together we assured him that was alright because people were literally coming from all over the country. After we explained it to him he then started badgering others in the group about the same thing. Making it very clear that a reservation at 11 PM at night for this many was too hard and he had no staff. Then, 16 people showed up and WE ALL ATE AND DRANK. Why is this important. 4 people of our group showed up late, (they drove from out of state.) and he would let them in because "There are already too many non-paying customers." My friend and I walked around and found 8 empty tables and only two people at the that weren't eating. The food was good but I will never go back. And neither will anyone in our group.
(1)James V.
Ok, this place is amazing an crappy all in one. I only say this for a few reasons, let's start with the positives, #1 the place is called zombie burger thyself says enough. #2 The design of the place looks like a zombie horror wonderland ,but still stays family friendly. #3 the menu design is beyond original. #4 the food item selection is not only tasty ,but extremely original and makes it so hard to decide. Now here are a few negatives. #1 The staff is very pretentious and almost rude at times. #2 I was stared at rudely by some of the servers #3 the server took almost 30 mins to bring me the check , mind you the resturaunt was not busy to equal the lack of service.
(3)Jayne M.
Zombie Burger has a huge following and I've been there a few times to see what it's all about. Atmosphere is pretty loud so don't expect to be able to hear everyone in your party speaking. If you order a burger, be warned it does not come with any sides. Pretty pricey. I do love the Dead Moines burger with a side of brussel sprouts (with truffle aioli) but have not tried any shakes or alcoholic drinks so can't really speak on that front. Typically has a pretty good wait time too, so try to go on weekdays instead of busy weekends.
(3)Sandy B.
I love the atmosphere. I love the burgers (I just think they should make them a bit bigger) and I love that every Sunday night I can go watch The walking Dead!! ^_^
(5)Laura L.
Don't make the mistake of trying to eat the Walking Ched with your hands -- you're just going to wind up with bright orange cheese leaking all over your fingers. It was definitely a burger unlike any I'd had before, and if you're craving something greasy and salty, there's no better option. As I stared at the decimated remains of my Ched, I wondered to myself what exactly I had just eaten... We also had the Raygun, which in comparison tastes SO healthy lol. The guacamole gives it a hit of yummy freshness. I'll be back for you, spiked s'mores shake!
(4)Joseph C.
Easily one of the most entertaining restaurants with an awesome theme I've ever been to. From the restaurant decor (breakfast at Tiffany's poster became"breakfast is Tiffany") to the menu which included all sandwiches named after some sort of zombie theme (the walking ched and the t-virus burger), food was made to please the palate as well as to get you inspired for the zombie apocalypse! Would definitely recommend going early to try the chocolate Nutella Shake since they only have a limited amount each day. Awesome job, zombie burger!
(5)Tyler H.
This place was awesome!! I got the "Sarah's Revenge" burger and it did not disappoint. Do not worry about upgrading to a double tap. The single is plenty to fill you up. I'm in town for a week and will probably be back!
(5)Laura G.
I really love this place! The atmosphere is great, and the food is delicious. All the staff is really nice and helpful. I'm glad that I've been able to visit friends in Iowa and go here several times.
(5)James Z.
I have yet to find something I didn't like at Zombie Burger. When my daughter or granddaughter stop in for a visit they always want to go there. My last visit I tried the tenderloin as I am a connoisseur of them. I was far from being disappointed as it ranked up there as one of the best I have had. The sheer size of this sandwich is unbelievable and yet the taste and quality was great. Everybody was happy this day. I waited outside for them to open. This was a good thing because minutes after were seated there was a line and a wait to get in. I always believe if there is a large crowd there is a reason for that crowd. Zombie Burger proves my theory right.
(5)Jeff B.
Always a fun time with good creative food. I had the Dead by Dawn burger and it was quite tasty. Our table ordered 3 baskets of fries (different types) and for the 11 of us it was just about the right amount. Very large fry portions in the baskets. Seating can be a challenge for larger groups, but they were able to get us in without reservations surprisingly fast. Recommended place for casual, yet unique food. Out of towners in our group really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Only negative comment from the table was that the portabella mushroom on their burger was very small and they wouldn't order it in the future. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Thumbs up!
(4)Michele M.
I love Zombie burger! My hamburger was cooked to order and delicious. I got a gigantic basket of fries too and topped it all off with a crunch berry shake. Yes it's 15 degrees below zero and I still wanted one of their shakes! High praise.
(5)Elizabeth A.
The service isn't as great as it should be. Though this place does have a unique variety of burgers, the sides do not come with the burgers so the price is probably higher than it should be. The chicken salad however is very nice. Experience wise, its a fun place to hang out for a few drinks if you are in downtown Des Moines.
(2)Allen P.
OMG. THIS PLACE IS SO GOOD. I ordered the "Undead Elvis" which is a burger with peanut butter, fried banana, american cheese, mayo, and egg. The ONLY reason I tried it was because I have never had a burger with peanut butter and fried banana in it. To me, that's just weird, but I was curious to see why it was on the menu so I gave it a shot. HOLY SH*T. That has got to be one the best burgers I've ever tried! I don't know what it is, but everything just went so well together. Each freakin' bite man. I also ordered a spiked cake shake, I think it was called Zombie Bride. It was vanilla with yellow cake and MANNNN..MANNN..that shake was so damn good, and it gave me a pretty good buzz too lol. Anywho... as far as the decor goes in this place.. it looks really sick..They've got like zombie comic strip art on the walls and the menus were daily newspaper styled articles with a zombie attack theme. 5 STARS for sure and I will definitely be back to try other drinks and interesting gourmet burgers they got on the menu.
(5)Jamie M.
The atmosphere here is pretty cool, if you're into the whole zombie thing that's popular right now. Of course, if you're going to a restaurant, you're interested in the food, so I'll cover that more. There is a huge variety of "eccentric" burgers- like a bun made of fried mac and cheese, an Elvis-inspired sandwich with peanut butter and fried bananas, etc. Interesting, but really, the weren't that good. I had the mac and cheese thing the first time i went there, and honestly it was kinda gross. I was reminded of the Jim Gaffigan bit about the hot pocket- "Did i eat it, or rub it on my face?" The fries were basically potato jerky- dried out, chewy potato strips. You get a ton of them with your basket, but I'm not convinced that's a good thing. Since I work within walking distance to this place, I've been here several times since that first visit- other people kept wanting to try it. It seems they're getting their fries a little better, but they're still kinda chewy. I now stick to a more mundane burger without any gimmicks, and they're average to good. We still go here over lunch, but it's one of those "Where do you want to go?" "Zombie?" "yeah, i guess, unless someone has a better idea". There's usually a wait over the noon hour. If we can get in within 5-10 mins, fine, if not, we always go somewhere else and never regret it.
(2)Paul P.
On a cold and blustery May day with a barely a soul to be found on the street, I was warmly greeted at the door and seated at the bar of a nearly full restaurant. My enthusiastic bar maid had a medley of beers in front of me within moments and without ambivalence offered her personal recommendation for the best meal. The whole vibe was a hoot, the menu was a riot, but the food was so good it was worth a trip all by itself. The manager came over and spent 10 minutes explaining the concept behind the bar, the source of the meat and the food preparation. I'm left asking myself, how have I never had smash burgers so good? More than a job, the staff showed passion for the product and a commitment to excellent service. Definitely worth a trip.
(5)Alexandra Z.
Amazing! We were passing through one evening on our way out west, and needed a bite to eat. We were going to grab subway and hit the road, but I made my bf stop here. The food came out super quickly, and was amazing! They have so many creative choices for burgers (I got the Walking Ched), and cute names! The drinks are also super-yummy, with equally cute names (Zombie-Bride-Wedding-Cake, anyone)? I am going to have to find an excuse to go back to Des Moines. Oh, and can I say the menus were awesome, with a Zombie Newspaper printed on the back? Our server let us take some to go to send to our friends. Great prices too.
(5)Kerri M.
We ate there for the first time yesterday (9/27/14). It was so worth the wait! The explosion of flavor in every bite was so worth the wait and the price! We'll definitely be returning!! I had the They're Coming to Get You, Barbara and my husband had the Undead Elvis. We split a loaded fry basket and both had a shake to go.
(5)Paul G.
omg! stop what your doing and get to this place! it's time for best burger you'll ever eat! don't forget to double tap!
(5)Hollie D.
I read about this place a few months ago and wanted to go, but you can't really just go to Des Moines to go to one restaurant. Fortunately, my boyfriend wound up having to go to Des Moines for work on my birthday....which means that this happened. The wait, while ridiculous, was totally worth it. I liked that they just texted you when your table was ready. Cocktails were delicious (dark & stormy), beer selection was nice. We got the fried Brussels Sprouts, which were really good with the Sriracha mayo (is there anything Sriracha can't do, honestly). Poutine was a little meh, but the blue cheese garlic fries were really good, and really garlicky. I liked that the burgers are smashed (in my opinion, a much better option when you're topping them with a lot of stuff, unlike the meat pucks you'd get somewhere like Kuma's). The buns were nice and squishy, but still really sturdy. Overall a good experience, although for a while, I never thought I was going to eat again.
(4)Jeff C.
I am glad that I went to this place but I don't think that I would seek it out in a return visit. The positives are that it is a very unique concept in all aspects: the decor, the menu, the food, etc. The basic building block for the menu is the burger of course and there are all kinds of combinations of things they put on the burger that you will absolutely not get anywhere else. But once I got past the uniqueness of the menu, the food just wasn't that great. I like a good burger and the problem was that the other ingredients that were on the burger completely overshadow the burger itself to the point that I couldn't really taste or appreciate the burger. The burger itself is a small burger and is expensive for what you get. The burger comes with nothing else, no sides or anything for the price. The shakes are awesome and worth the trip for those alone.
(3)Matt M.
Everything was great. I had the Trailer Trash Zombie and my gf ordered the Dead Moines with an egg. Both burgers were awesome. We also tried the fry combo - interesting and delicious.
(5)Jorge M.
Very creative concept to the apocalyptic hype from the last few years. I like the option of a full service dining experience or counter service at the establishment. Moreover, the menu is extensive and very creative such as the Dead Moines Burger and Soylent Greens. Milk shakes were good but not the best. This place was busy on a Sunday evening being that it was one of the few restaurants open in downtown.
(4)Matt W.
I only gave this place 3 stars becuase although the food was decent it just was not anything spectacular or out of the ordinary as far as burgers and fries go. The prices are a little high also but my Bacon zombie burger was good just nothing special and the fries were just bland at best. It's a popular spot and I have only been ther the one time but I wasn't able to try any other items while I was there as my friends and I wanted shakes but they weren't selling them for some reason that night?? Red Robin is better IMO for a great burger!
(3)Elwood B.
Eating here reminded me of that line in My Cousin Vinny, "have you heard about the small cholesterol problem here in the US" - or however it goes. Zombie Burger is about what you would expect: crazy burger and milk shakes (including alcoholic milk shakes) in a restaurant that takes the zombie decor to full effect. The food itself is completely unlike anything I've had before (we got two burgers: one with grilled cheese sandwiches for the hamburger buns and one with fried mac n' cheese patties for the buns) and they were super tasty, but I think each meal was about one person's caloric intake for the entire day. The milkshake was meh - not good, not bad - just seemed excessively large. Fries were yum - and again - a huge serving. If you can go on a week night when it's not as crowded, take the time to really look around at the decor, because there are all sorts of little details that amused us, like where zombies broke the glass on one of those "break glass in case of emergency" fire extinguisher covers.
(4)Danny B.
This was our first visit here and I know that we will be going back. The service provided by our server, Tasha, was excellent. She spent the time to review the menu and make recommendations on what to try. The chocolate cake shake was very good and a must have again. There are many different burgers to try, depending on what toppings you want. The Bloody Bayou was very good with excellent flavors and spices. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a different kind of burger. If you just want plain burgers, this place is not for you. When there, don't forget to have an adult shake before you go.
(5)Mazen E.
Came here with a large group from work and had a good time. Between our group we tried a lot of burgers and none disappointed. The faves were the unshed, Dead Elvis, and I had the Raygun. The Burgers were good size and you can get 1,2,or 3 patties. All the flavors magically worked together( who would've thought banana, pb, bacon, and mayo go well together) The Raygun had guac, bacon, and spicy mayo. All the burgers have lots of cheese on them. Make sure to stab anything fried so you don't cause injury to your neighbor by squirting them with hot cheese! Gotta try the fried pickles, and the Nutella milkshake. Great experience overall
(4)Kenny N.
Do order your food to go. Don't order the poutine to go. This place was crazy packed when we arrived. We were on a tight schedule. Fortunately, our friend has been here before and knew about the to go counter. We ordered and got our items in less than 5 minutes. Remarkable! My La Horde burger was great. Flavorful burger, great bacon, pungent goat cheese. The poutine was too messy and I didn't get a fork. It's great they packed the fries separately from the gravy and cheese curds. Recently, poutine cheese curds have been disappointing. Either they're melted, too soft, or drowned in gravy (zombie). I need some squeek, some texture, something that tells me that could stand alone. Overall, I would go back for the burgers and maybe other appetizer items. Rawr!
(4)Jim F.
Interesting place to visit if you are in Des Moines. I really like local establishments, and this fit the bill nicely. This is not the place to go if you want health food, so I embraced all the good unhealthiness -- shake and burger with some sort of oozing cheese crouton on top! All of the food was solid, but I expected a bit more bang for the unhealthy price I was paying. Overall, I'd go again, but might pass the the oozing cheese thing.
(3)Donald Y.
This is just based on the fact that they do somehow get a good selection of beers on tap, even some I have never seen at El Bait Shop, which really boggles my mind...
(4)Steffon C.
Wow! Huge beer selection, one of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Fantastic atmosphere as well. Would drive 200 miles for this!
(4)Suze A.
Zombies? Check. Seemingly crazy burger topping combinations? Check. Almost willing to drive nine hours to return and get another burger? Check! My husband and I stopped at Zombie Burger after driving nearly 11 hours from Colorado on our way to Michigan. Our friends in Des Moines suggested we'd really enjoy it, and they were right! We arrived just before 5 pm and were sat right away (it was a Friday night). Our waiter was helpful with his suggestions, one of which was the Dead Elvis, which my husband got. I really wish there was a place like this back home. I'm almost surprised by the people who seem to think a zombie themed restaurant is gross/creepy. Did you not read the name? What do you think "zombie burger" means? The names of the food have to do with movies or pop cultural zombie references, but none of them were gross by any means (there's no "dripping flesh" burger). If you think it's a gross name, don't go there. It's not that difficult. Overall we had a great time, and the staff was super accommodating of us and our friends and their 1-year-old. I'm still considering that nine hour drive.
(5)Jessica E.
I'm from KC but visit DM often to see my boyfriend so when he told me there was a new burger place, I was excited to try it. We went when it was still fairly new and having some experience in the restaurant biz, i know it'll take awhile to get in the groove of things. The menu was definitely unique and the vibe was fun, exciting and loud. I tried The Walking Ched which included deep friend macaroni and we split an order of the garlic bacon + blue cheese fries. Both were pretty great, not the best burger I've ever had, but it was definitely at least in the top 10. We went on a Friday night so the wait was almost two hours, but we hung around the bar and got seated in less than 10 minutes. They had a good selection of beers and even offered some local brews and even some KC Boulevard. I'd definitely go back! I understand this kind of place isn't for everyone, but if you're into exciting, fresh and a different experience, I'd definitely say to check it out.
(4)Shing Yiing O.
Well well well... I am not a huge burger fan... This reminds me of shake shack in NYC!!! Same kind of feeling.. I got the burger with portobello mushroom... I kinda like it... i got the single patty.. it's just perfect for me... Their menu is kinda special... what make it so special?? you can actually bring it back as a souvenir... I don't know why.. it reminds me of Harry Porter.. where the image in the newspaper are able to move... Their menu was printed on a paper.. just like a newspaper... Since it's Zombie Burger.. It's zombie theme of course!!! There are something that caught my eyes.. such as peanut butter with bananas, eggs, and bacon... and something else... Didn't get to try that because I am not in a mood of having sweet stuff... Their smoothies is a MUST to try.. I love the nutella & marshmallow.. it's so thick that you can actually drink that as a meal.. i just took a few sips from my friend's cup... It's a nice place to hang out for a beer and a burger.. :) Instead of Macdonalds... Try Zombie Burger instead!! :)
(4)Dan B.
Brains, brains, brains! Zombie want BRAINS! That may be the first thing you think when you walk into Zombie Burger + Drink Lab in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The motif is zombie all the way with spikes, axes, and picture after picture of flesh craving zombies on the walls. I felt like I had stepped directly into an issue of The Walking Dead. Kind of an odd concept for a place that serves red meat. Boy of boy, do they serve red meat! When you add in the Burger of the Week, they have 25 burger choices available as a single, double, or triple. When my friend Tim and I were there recently, I went with the Raygun (Monterey jack, fried jalapenos, caramelized onions, bacon, guacamole, chipotle mayo), while DP chose the Undead Elvis (peanut butter, fried bananas, bacon, American cheese, fried egg, mayo). Everyone in our group quite enjoyed their burgers. I won't say it's the best burger I've ever had, but it is the best I've had in Iowa. Now, on to the booze! The drink menu at Zombie Burger + Drink Lab is very creative and fits right in with the theme. Drinks with names like Zombie King, Red Death, Gangrene, and Blood Tang let you know you're in a zombie themed bar. Of the drinks we tried, Tim was a fan of the Dark + Stormy (Kraken Dark Rum, ginger beer, lime). A nice refreshing cocktail after a 4 hour drive from the Cities. I, on the other hand, had to try The Abyss. A jet-black, house made Bloody Mary, served with a pickle finger, meat stick, and an eyeball (a green olive stuffed inside a peeled radish). This my friends was the oddest/spookiest drink I've ever had served to me. The bartender warned me that some folks don't care for The Abyss because of its slightly fishy flavor. Why fishy you ask? Because they use squid ink to turn their bloody mix black. Yep, squid ink! Tim and I agreed that it was a very flavorful and potent Bloody, and we could not see drinking more than one. However, the presentation was great! If you like adventurous cocktails, then I would definitely recommend Zombie Burger. Not only do they serve tons of signature cocktails, martinis, and margaritas, but they have a great beer selection and Brain Freezes (aka spiked milk shakes). We did not venture down the milk shake road, but next time we're swinging through Des Moines I bet we will. One thing a road trip through god forsaken Iowa will produce is the need for a drink, and when you've had as much corn field as you can stand, we suggest you give Zombie Burger + Drink Lab a try!
(4)Monica S.
Is the zombie craze over yet? This place is going to look very dated, very soon.
(2)Anna B.
Waited a little over a half hour for our table. Waitress was nice and accommodating to all of us ordering then changing our minds. I had the Raygun: single patty, monterey jack cheese, fried jalapenos, caramelized onion, bacon, guacamole and chipotle mayo. SO DELICIOUS! The bun was JUST the right size for the burger. When the food nitially came out -- a few people at our table commented about how the burgers looked little. They are small but MIGHTY! Small around, but HUGE in flavor and complexity. I split a basket of fries with friends--we couldn't finish them. Baskets are HUGE! Fries were probably my least favorite part of my meal -- they left a little to be desired. Maybe we just got an off batch? I ate with 7 other people-everyone liked their food. Got to taste the chocolate cake batter shake- YUM! Seriously tastes like licking the beaters from making a chocolate cake (not that I've ever done that...). All in all- great place. Awesome set up, football on the bigscreens, menu design was killer, food lived up to expectations, and amazing drink options. Next time I'll save extra room for a shake or a beer! I WILL return!
(4)Laura P.
The whole zombie thing is cool. The surly waiter thing is cool. The whole place is cool. But in that NOT cool kinda way. The burgers are down home good. Weird combos, lots of carmelized whatnot. Poutine. Meh a little pretentious but whatevs, you are trying to be cool so I gets it. Forgot my burgers' name but it had prosciutto on it and RAW (not carmelized) onions. Yeah, ok. It was good. The decor is like a 1997 loft party, that's cool it's my era so I dig it. My family was impressed so that was all that really mattered. If I lived here I would probably try to get a job here 'cause I think my attitude would be perfect for the place.
(4)Krystle T.
2nd time I've been here! So yesterday, I went to Zombie Burger at about 6:20 PM. When we got there, it wasn't too crowded, but after I ordered my food, TONS of people came in! I ordered an un-burger called the Apocalypse ($4.99) which was a breaded mushroom and cheese croquette with tomatoes and lettuce. I like the buns on the burger because they're really thin and light! I wasn't sure what a croquette was, but it was delicious! The cheese was oozing out of the croquette. I also ordered a side of vegetarian chili ($2.99). That one was okay.. it was rather small, but filling. I would definitely order the apocalypse again. I just wish it wasn't fried. Overall, the service was alright. Seating is hard to find in the take out section and the wait was too long in the dine-in section.
(4)Patrick P.
Believe everything you are reading about this place. My thanks to our server Joe who passionately recommended They're Coming to Get You Barbara and Dead Moines Burgers with Buffalo Bacon appetizer. I was honestly blown away by the rich flavors. Who would have guessed burgers as super decadent food. I don't think ill be able to ever eat a Big Mac again. Iowa should be proud.
(5)Bob P.
The food here is amazing, and the atmosphere is great. The only drawback is that it is ridiculously busy all of the time.
(5)Compass-Rose X.
Ok, the thought of pairing Zombies with hamburgers is very gross. It was hard to ignore the decor and zombie ambiance. It's not grotesque or over done, but it's a little creepy and unappetizing. The menu is fantastic, a ton of creative and most importantly appetizing options. I had the Raygun burger and liked it. The only thing I didn't like was the hamburger bun, it was like eating play-doh, very doughy and out of place when served with a very well done burger patty. I think a toasted bun would have been perfect, but that's just me, being crazy and liking cooked food. The deep-fried jalepenos on the burger were great. I didn't like the zombie service, the tatted up hostess was not happy that we asked to be seated at a big table, and when we moved to a larger table (rather than accept the cramped spot she stuck all of us in) she exclaimed rather loudly "Oh, why even ask me, looks like you decided to move anyways..." Yeah, not very nice. I didn't know zombies could have power trips. Our waitress was strange, not personable at all. A lot of tragic, creepy little wanna-be hipster zombies running around providing inconsistent service. These people do not know how to serve a table. A novelty, for sure. Good food if you can tolerate the crap service. Which I can't, so it will become one of those "been there done that" places in Des Moines for me. It earns one star because service and attitude are it's weakest links.
(1)Charles S.
We waited 45 minutes only to find a large wad of hair in our cheese curds. Our server swore and we still had to pay for our whole meal. Never ever again.
(1)Phillip Y.
First off, we waited an hour and a half to get seated. At 2:00, we were chatted up by the waiter who got our orders in fast. I had the Raygun burger which I thought was overrated. Personally, the Swampfox in Knoxville fared higher to me with their firecracker burger. Prices were ok but the wait was insane for an average burger.
(3)Cody K.
Food was good. Surprisingly the appetizers and other food was better than the burgers, but burgers great as well. The patio area was nice on a sunny day. My kids liked it as well.
(4)Kellie M.
I thought this place would be awesome, and it was not. Not even close. They smash their burgers on the griddle, which makes them flat and dry. The condiments were placed unevenly, so on my burger, the first bite was FULL of bleu cheese, to the point where I was gagging. After that, there was barely any bleu cheese on the rest of the burger. I didn't know I was going to have to open my burger to fix the placement of the condiments. I figured that was the kitchen's job. The other burgers were "meh", which is totally unacceptable when the bill came up to $30 for three, with one basket of fries among us. Speaking of the fries... they tasted like the fry oil was months old, and there was so much salt on them that after a few fries, we couldn't eat them anyway. So, at around $6 per burger, plus $2 for a small drink, and another $6 for a basket of fries, I say you can do better elsewhere. Way, way, way, WAY better.
(1)Elise S.
Have you ever wondered to yourself: "Gee, what would happen if I ditched the bread on a burger and used grilled cheese sandwiches or deep fried macaroni and cheese patties in their place?" Personally, I had not. But we're all unique snowflakes and maybe you have. I digress. Zombie Burger is the home of novelty burgers - everything from your basic lettuce-tomoato-mayo-sesame burger all the way through a dizzying array of calories in the form of ranch and bacon and the rest of the kitchen sink. Most of the combos are well-done and unique, but truth be told they can range from "the perfect amount" to "I can't believe I ate the whole thing". There. I warned you. I wish that you could select doneness on the burger. It's a bit of a bummer to be in the middle of agriculture land and be stuck with a well done burger patty from who-knows-where. The service can be really hit or miss. A few times, I had a totally awesome server and a few times I felt like I couldn't get the time of day. Prices (I think) are reasonable for the crazy amount of food you get, but I get that not everyone may value a deep fried cheese and mushroom croquette at the rate I do. Economy of scale? Go and judge for yourself, though. And try to tell me the signs for the bathroom aren't completely awesome.
(4)Cassie M.
We drove up from KCMO just to go here. I really dug the atmosphere and the concept. Tip: call ahead on the weekend to get your name on the list. Everything was tasty, and even though the food came in less than 6 minutes all of it was lukewarm except for the cheese curds. I'd go back and give it another try though!
(4)Erin T.
The food is ok, but it feels like i've got a concrete block in my stomach every time I go there.
(2)Katrina M.
Was in town for a few months for work with my fiancé and was looking for a place after 9pm to grab a bite. This was the ONLY place open!! Glad it was. This establishment offers a major twist on your typical American Hamburger. I wanted to try something new so I ordered the Mac n Cheese "burger" Imagine taking Mac n Cheese and deep frying it into the shape of a hamburger bun. Then imagine doing it twice and sticking a ground beef patty and "fixins" inside and serving it up. This burger was inventive but not great IF you are on a diet. The décor is enough to visit this place. Zombies and other "creatures" fill every space of the walls and ceilings. The staff is friendly and this is truly a theme establishment. My fiancé went there a week ago and ordered a concoction called the "Three Little Pigs.. Nachos" He raved about it. He is a picky eater and likes "MEAT" so this was right up his alley. They take the best part of pork and slow cook it in different ways, and pile it ontop of nachos with cheese etc. Best thing he ever ate! Check it out, at least you can get a really cool sticker from them.
(3)Suzanne C.
This should be the next big franchise. I was visiting from San Diego and am blown away that this place isn't everywhere is the US. If you are a zombie fan of any kind you will love this place. The burgers are ridiculously good and the names of the menu items are awesome. Love tjis place so much I bought 3 t-shirts to take back to California with me!
(5)Chris N.
This place had me at Zombie... The burgers are great nonetheless. I respect a business owner that takes a niche risk and this worked out great. I will always come here when I return to Des Moines..
(5)Kenny S.
First...I love Zombies and this place is decorated with them everywhere. Second...the burger list is unbelievable. I had a burger sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches! It's unbelievable! The service was great. I have dined in the dining room as well as the fastfood part of it. Both are great. Fries are delicious as well. My advice is go big or go home. You never know when the Zombies are gonna come for real and you won't be able to get burgers like this!
(4)Joseph L.
I can say nothing but awesome things about this place in Des Moines. Menu is amazing. Very creative and fun. I ordered the "They're coming to get you Barbara" cheeseburger and it was out of this world. A must have is the Poutine. This will be the first place I go back to whenever I visit Des Moines again. You can't go wrong with this place unless you have zero creativity in your body
(4)Patrick M.
If you're a burger fan, this is the right place. Also has an impressive selection of beers. For side orders, go with the fried brussels sprouts.
(5)Ray B.
Usually I avoid theme places, but they pull it off well. Solid service and good food. Worth checking out!
(4)Lindsay E.
Neat place and great atmosphere. Took our 2.5 year old and one year old there. Lots to look at and music to listen to. Hubs got the burger with pb and banana and I got the t-virus. Both excellent! Had the fry basket between us and my only complaint is that the fries could have been hotter. Overall though, we had an awesome waiter and the place was great!
(4)Becca P.
My husband and I were on a cross country road trip last week and we were referred to Zombie Burger by a friend. We loved it. The atmosphere was fun and the food was delicious! The menu was entertaining to read, it took us quite a while to pick our burgers. In the end my husband ordered the weekly special, which was a play on the ray gun burger that is on the normal burger and I ordered the burger that had pulled pork, ham, and fried jalapanoes. We liked it so much that on our way home we had to stop again! We loved it so much that we tell everyone to go if they are ever in Iowa!
(5)Hil H.
This place has such potential. It's a really cool spot, so you should think about visiting, but the food is not worth the wait. The burgers are just too much. The drinks are really excellent - love the Tallahassee - but the place is hyped so much and it's so busy, it's really not worth the wait. The food comes out cold a lot of times, and if it's not cold, you get a cheese croquet that will literally give you burns.
(2)David F.
I think there is a lot of spot on review of this place already so I'm just going to bullet point this because I disagree with some of what is here. Agree: *Excellent gimmick and design sense *family friendly *Excellent menu concepts, very inventive *Sides were amazing. Great fries, and lots of options. *actual burger was just OK. If it didn't have the gimmick it would have been very ordinary Disagree *Service. I thought the service was outstanding, and not pretentious, just busy. I had the "They're coming to get your Barbara" because it's my favorite line from one of my top 5 favorite movies. It was too much cheese. Or rather, too much homogeneous cheese. It's a cheese burger where the buns were replaced with grilled cheese sandwiches. All of it American Cheese. Mix it up a little and it would have been much better. I think the price was very good for what you got. I would have spent a few dollars more for some top notch ingredients. Stars off for: Just a so-so burger. Not absolutely blowing me away. I'm tough on giving out that 5th star.
(3)Cara S.
Soooo, I just moved to Des Moines about a month ago and heard awesome things about Zombie Burger from a cool chick who cut my hair. I totally wanted to go with my boyfriend, but when I logged into Yelp to look at the menu and see what the reviews were saying, I almost decided not to try the place out because of the negative things many people were saying. After going there and having some freaking amazing food and leaving with my boyfriend just about unable to move, thanks to the Walking Ched burger, I wanted to come back and tell everyone how awesome Zombie Burger was!!! Maybe they've gotten better in the last month or so, maybe I got lucky, or maybe I'm just not very demanding... Either way, The service was great! Our waitress was sweet and funny and other workers even refilled our waters when they saw they were getting low. We went around 5:30pm on a Thursday and the place wasn't close to full, although our waitress told us that they do get really busy sometimes and that it isn't really the best place to bring a party of 20 and expect immediate seating. Oh and I paid 40 bucks for a double burger, chicken sandwich, fry basket, poppers, a beer, and a cocktail. Good deal to me! Anywho, bottom line is: Totally check out Zombie Burger! The jalapeno poppers were awesome, the burger was great and super filling, and my chicken sandwich was rather amazing as well. Sooo, go! :)
(5)Matt F.
Had a great lunch here on Saturday. My wife, my 4-year-old and I sat at the bar. Their beer selection is top notch. Wife had the Pittsburger (as usual) as it was great (as usual). I tried the Raygun burger. I asked for no onions and the waitress said she put in my order as "no onions" but it came with onions. Ah well. The waitress/bartender was very apologetic and offered to replace it, but I just scraped them off. We also got a basket of fries to share (Wow, SOOOO many fries!). Service was good, food was great, beer was cold and tasty. We've had some service issues in the past here, but the bartender/waitress was very attentive and friendly this time around. Will happily come back again.
(4)John K.
went here back in March while on a college visit with my son...took 5 out for dinner. The wait was a bit long (could be more organized-reservations would help) but worth the wait. REALLY good burgers and reasonably priced. Wait staff was very nice, fast, and efficient. The food was excellent! Only getting 4 stars due to the wait.
(4)Lindsay B.
I'd rather have my brains eaten than eat here again. Aaaarghhh! Sorry for the cheese, but that's what you get at Zombie Burger. They took the approach of flavoring everything on the menu using only fat and salt. Which saddens me because the menu seemed to have so much potential. I had the Mushroom Apocalypse, Zombie Poutine, and S'more shake. The only thing special about this meal was the way the artificial cheese goop exploded out of the fried "mushroom" patty when I bit into it - I imagine the same way my brain would explode under the pressure of a zombie's bite. Lucky for ZB, all things zombie are hip enough right now that they can lure in a 30-minute wait's worth of suckers at 3:00 on a Wednesday afternoon to pay $25 for a little zombie kitsch and a puddle of grease. Don't fall victim to the zombie burger like I did!
(2)Tabbi P.
Is this place good? Absolutely! Is this place good for you? Heck no! The main draw is the burgers. They have a huge selection with toppings you would not think to try or combine. The Walking Ched uses fried mac & cheese as the bun. All the burgers can be ordered in single, double or triple so if you leave hungry, it is your own fault. Fries are ordered separately and can be ordered with a variety of toppings. An order of fries is huge and is easily enough to feed 3-4 people. The app menu also has fried brussel sprouts which were great. We also sampled the buffalo bacon but were not super impressed. It is hunks of bacon with fried ranch and buffalo sauce on top. The buffalo sauce overpowers the rest of the dish in my opinion. The beer menu is extensive but one must try the milkshakes. All of the milkshakes can be ordered with alcohol. The wedding cake shake is good enough to commit crimes to obtain. The Nutella Marshmallow shake is also great. You will wait for a table but it is never a horrible wait. The service is good but a little disjointed. The shake delivery is a little on the slow side at times but the staff is fun which makes up for it. Also considering how trendy this place is, how packed it always is, and how amazing the food is, it is really affordable dining. Two people can easily eat there for under $30 which I consider a great deal for the quality.
(5)Paulette D.
Definitely worth a visit. I chalk up most of the poor reviews to the reviewers being uptight malcontents. Family stopped here on way from Minnesota to KC. Burgers were really good, kudos on the pulled pork burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, and the Zombie Unicorn (fruity pebbles and marshmallow cream) shake. We will be back next time through town.
(5)Nick K.
Love this place. If you don't care about feeling like you may have a heart attack after dinner, go to Zombie Burger. It has all sorts of deliciously weird burgers and shakes. Nothing has left me unsatisfied--I always leave feeling like one happy glutton.
(5)David C.
What a badass place, the decor is perfect the food was amazing, and the service was top notch, I had a undead Elvis double, and my girlfriend had George Romero's Pittsburgher single, the cheese fries were amazing as well, for desert we shared a crunch berry shake which was amazing as well. Can't wait to go back
(5)Phillip M.
I'd been following this establishment since before they opened with a great deal of excitement and curiosity. On the return drive on one of my many adventures, I finally got the opportunity to try this place out. It's a very clean, very interesting establishment. A great number of amusing zombie related references (What a shock...), the occasional mannequin zombie, clever signs and various other things, though all in all a little small in my opinion. The menu was very clever (it's set up like a news paper) and tons of great zombie pop-culture references ranging from video games, to books, to movies, and the rest. The owner clearly knows there zombies. But, beyond that, the "zombie" shtick kind of ends of there. I was left a little underwhelmed to be honest. Granted, I'll admit, a lot of it probably was all the hype. The food was reasonably priced, and I was rather pleased that they offered multiple sizes of burger (everything was available as a single, double, or triple) so depending on the size of your pocket book, stomach, or both, it's rather easy to get what you want at a price you can afford and not have to worry about either going broke or whether or not you'll be able to finish it. Personally, I had the Dead Moines, a burger with smoked gouda, proscuitto (spelling?) and another variety of cured meat that I can't recall at the moment. The ingredients were of good quality, and the overall taste worked together very well. I'm definitely planning on sampling some of the other, very interesting burgers upon a return trip. Rivaling the burger menu was the drink menu, again more clever zombie references, with the occasional old favorite thrown in and slightly reworked. Prices are relatively comparable to a higher end bar. I ordered the brown fox, which was benedictine liqeur, a lemon twist, and Eagle Rare Bourbon (I think... it was some kind of expensive bourbon.) And it came in a brandy snifter, which was fun. At first I was a bit leary of the $8 price tag of the drink, but they definitely don't skimp on the bar fixings, and was rather pleased with my purchase. All in all, I dropped just barely under $25, which got myself and a friend a single patty burger, an order of fries (If you're paying for two, just get a whole order, rather then two sides. It's cheaper.) and my pricey, refreshing adult beverage. Overall a great experience, friendly service, good food, good drinks, reasonable (if a smidgeon high) prices. If it wasn't for the fact the hype I've been hearing this whole time left me a little underwhelmed, I'd probably actually give it 4 stars, but since it won't let me do 3.5, I'll lowball it a bit. I still strongly recommend it, just take everything you hear about it with a grain of salt and you'll be walking out plenty pleased.
(3)Ryan S.
The theme of the place is really awesome. The food isn't bad. I feel like it is a little over-hyped but I think everyone should check it out at least once. I have been there 3 or 4 times and the best thing I've had there was one of their shakes (which was epic actually). The creativity of the food is almost better than the taste of the food in my opinion. I've blogged about them a couple times (as well as many other Des Moines restaurants) so feel free to check out those individual reviews. I've reviewed the Flamethrower and The Raygun. fooddmawesome.blogspot.c…
(3)Shawn B.
This place is awesome. There is sometimes a wait because it is so popular but it is worth the wait. This is somewhat pricier compared to other burger places but well worth it. I went on a Sunday around 1115 and there was not much of a wait. This changed very quickly and around 1130 there was quite a line to be seated. The wait staff is busy but still attentive. The burger is awesome but you may need stents put in before you leave. The fries were seasoned great and really good. The menu is very imaginative and it was hard to choose because of all the things that I wanted to try. There is a great beer list to choose from and a list of milkshakes and deserts. If you dine inside it can be a bit loud but dining outside seemed to rectify that problem.
(4)Pete K.
Awesome Burgers! Try some of the unusual "Fries" too!
(5)Mark O.
Food was awesome wait staff would be better at a Mickey d's or delivering pizza. Horrible service, LONG waits to get seated. Host was pretty much a zombie so way to go with the theme. Order it to go and save yourself some time.
(4)Natalie T.
FUN! FUN! FUN! This is the only restaurant I've patronized where I was already planning my return visit before I even stepped foot in the door. A group of 5 colleagues and I went in for a business lunch on Friday at noon, and the meal made my day! The creative menu alone was so overwhelming I decided I would need follow-up visits just to try everything that looked appetizing. This idea does not depress me in the least! Although I was initially turned off by the "Burger" in the name, I was ecastatic to learn that ZB offers four sandwich options, half of which are vegetarian-friendly: Hamburger, chicken, veggie burger & portabello mushroom. With singles starting at just $5.99 (double and triple options are available, but I don't know anyone who was able to finish those in our group), the bill was much wallet-friendlier than I had anticipated. We started off with two appetizers, which was plenty for our group of 6. The fried pickle slices were battered, but not too much so, and the jalapeno poppers appeared hand-breaded with fresh peppers and a smoky raspberry sauce. We also split a couple of "adult" milkshakes among 5 of us, with the consensus being that the Zombie Bride (vanilla ice cream & cake batter) was the winner (the Tallahassee Twinkie/cherry Kool-Aide was Pepto Bismol-esque). By the time our main dishes arrived, our palates were perfectly primed for more deliciousness. We were not able to finish in under an hour, but since the boss was there to foot the bill, it was an enjoyable meal. As a fan of hot & spicy food, I look forward to returning as soon as possible to try out more of Zombie Burger's menu (the Flamethrower lived up to its moniker) ~ but next time, I'll be going after work when I'm not on company time.
(4)Vikash S.
This place was crazy busy, and I'd say the food is decent. More of a shock factor with the combinations offered in sheer number and uniqueness. A myriad of different burger and fried hot dog options, and shake options as well. I ordered fries, got charged for coleslaw, brought it up to the cashier, and got both in my order. Win! It is a bit of a wait, but where else are you going to try crazy burger toppings like the 'Undead Elvis' (fried bananas, fried egg, peanut butter)???
(4)Ben T.
I'm not going to lie to you, this is my first review on Yelp. In order to get my review career started in the best possible way, I find it necessary to begin with the best place I have been to recently. This place is (pause for effect) Zombie Burger. The only place where two of my favorite things in the world have been combined. Honestly, I did not think zombies and burger could go together so well. But they did. My wife and I have just completed a 2 week road trip to visit the Midwest and visit family primarily in Iowa. One of our stops was in Des Moines where my aunt and uncle recommended the above mentioned restaurant. While the place was crowded upon arrival, the service was so excellent that we did not have long to wait. When we sat down at our table, we were greeted by Newspapers at each chair. To my surprise, I discovered that these were the menus where the burgers on the menu had such clever names as "Juan of the Dead" and "Dead Moines" I had the "Fulci" which had prosciutto, brie, caramelized onions, and raw onions, and truffle mayo. My wife had a "Juan of the Dead", green chile + cheese croquette, Monterey Jack cheese, caramelized onion, chipotle mayo. Being at a gourmet burger joint, I expected what normally occurs in a gourmet burger joint in Miami. The burger being just large enough to be impossible to fit into my mouth then have its contents spill onto my plate. Upon finally completing my burger, I would feel so full my stomach would feel like an over filled balloon ready to burst. Not at Zombie Burger! At this place the burgers were significantly smaller. Not too small, mind you, just large enough for there not to be the contents of my burger on my plate. The burger was delicious, perfectly proportioned, and my hands were relatively clean at the end of the meal. My burger, while staying together, had a delicious blend with the prosciutto and brie. My wife, upon receiving her burger was advised by the waiter to stab her croquette to keep it from, in all seriousness, from "exploding." She punctured a hole in it, and once she did, the cheese flowed out like St. Helens upon unsuspecting townsfolk. I almost thought godzilla was going to come out at any second. She took one bite and her eyes went wide with surprise "this is the best burger....... ever" and set it down. At which point I picked up the burger and tried it for myself. My eyes rolled back in ecstasy. My burger was delicious, hers was out of this world. I felt myself transported from our burger joint to Tibet where I met with various monks showing me the secret to immortality lying in that very burger. As immediately as I left, I returned back to Des Moines. I wanted to travel back to the monastery, but my wife had selfishly finished her burger on her own. Presumably for her to do some meditation on her own. We have not as of yet discussed our experiences with our burger. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I would make another pilgrimage to taste another of those burgers. And also to visit my family.
(5)Tiffany W.
We absolutely loved Zombie Burger. The burgers are very creative and extremely delicious - I love how you can choose between beef, chicken, portabella mushroom etc. The fries are fantastic - I haven't tried the specialty fries yet because I can't get past the "deliciousness" of the plain ones with the awesome sauce. I am also very impressed with the selection of beers available (draft and bottle), as well as the bar tenders knowledge of each of them. Yes, it is not easy on the waistline but it is a burger joint - you shouldn't expect it to be. I highly recommend Zombie Burger. We have been twice now and will definitely be back for more!!!!
(4)Tommy T.
OK, we finally tried this place on a Tuesday night and didn't have to wait at all for a table. Once we decided on what to order, our food was out in about 5 minutes too. I am not into the Zombie stuff that seems so popular right now, from TV shows to movies, etc. but have never really given it too much thought.......until this night. For some strange reason, I felt kind of sick to my stomach reading the menu. Titles of the items are related to movies like 28 Days, etc. and the combination of ingredients just started to sound gross. I ended up choosing a burger with onion rings, blue cheese and buffalo sauce. The meat patty itself has a nice fried taste and had crispy crunch to parts of it. The bun was a squishy mess, after I picked up the burger the first time. I don't know if it was the grease or what, but I immediately lost my appetite. The french fries are the long thin kind and were nicely cooked. I decided to give the food options one last try and ordered the Smores Shake with a shot of the alcohol option. It arrived and looked like a clogged sewer and was so thick we could barely get it up the straw. It also didn't taste like a Smore, but like a thick cake mix. Our server was nice and personable, but we will not be back for the burgers again. Maybe we will give the hot dog a try next time.
(2)Erin F.
This place offers an interesting and delicious variety of burgers to choose from. Amazing fries and fun atmosphere too! My only complaint was the long wait for a table. We finally opted for a seat at the bar and the bartender had a bit of an attitude. At least the food was good!
(3)Peter D.
After I ate the We're Coming to Get You Barbara, I started looking for apartments. Because I never want to live anywhere that I can't eat these burgers. Also the staff is pretty hot (not that it matters or anything).
(5)Steve K.
Arrived about five in the afternoon on a Saturday and had a ten minute wait. First time here, must be very popular. It was busy so we chose to eat at the bar. The staff was busy but very friendly and helpful with questions about the menu. Nice beer selection, craft and imports. I started with the reindeer fuel, a chocolate porter. Some porters and stouts have a subtle hint of chocolate. Not this one. Be warned, it is very chocolate, more so than anything I've ever drank before. A nice selection of burgers, something for everyone. Well, maybe not zombies, I didn't see any brains on the menu. The fries come in a large basket so one order is probably enough foe two.We will definitely come back again.
(4)Paul S.
It's very good. More hype than actual substance, in my opinion, but the burgers are good, the fries are plentiful (if a little soggy, most of the time), the shakes are delicious, and the prices are surprisingly fair for what is basically Des Moines' version of a tourist trap. I think they have over-complicated most of their burgers, and as a result most of them are just jumbles of flavors that all mush together, but it's still a very good burger served pretty quickly for a legitimate price. If you leave hungry, you did something wrong!
(4)lttlod i.
First off let me just say how much I eagerly anticipated the opening of this restaurant. Let me also say that when a new cool restaurant opens in Des Moines I typically force myself to wait a month or two before I try it out so they can work out the kinks and the crowds can subside along with the hype. After ignoring my typical routine and instinct I went yesterday anyway. The verdict, I kinda wish I had the patience and waited. This place was packed. I mean totally friggin packed. I went at 4:30 on a Saturday thinking that I'm being super cool and smart avoiding the crowds but people were flocking, just like zombies ironically, and it was non stop busy in both dining rooms. One dining room is more of a fast food service and the other is a sit down waited on situation but you get access to the alcoholic shake menu. We opted for the get it quick since the wait at the dining room was 20 minutes and super super crowded. So here's my take on my experience so far: 1. Decor: In fast service area not very zombie like. A few small framed pics on the wall but more loft like than anything. I guess we saw zombies if you count people waiting for their food lol. We peeked in the dining room and there was some very cool art on the walls. I would sit in the dining room next time for sure. Plus, I would like to get effed up on some liquor-shakes. 2. Wait: I totally expected to wait on our food. Everyone was. The kitchen was slammed. I was watching how the manager and staff was handling the pressure and they did a really good job. We were in and out in an hour which is not bad for a spanking new restaurant. I got my shake first, my friend got hers with her food. Our food came shortly after. You have to realize the kitchen is sending out a ton on the other side of the place too in the other dining room. 3. Food: Menu looks totally amazing and creative! I ordered the Dead Moines. It was funny when the lady behind me kept calling it "Dead Moinessss." Newbie lol. Comes with Prosciutto, nieman ranch ham, gouda, and garlic mayo. It was tasty with a yummy bun but the burger was luke warm, dry and underseasoned. I thought it had been sitting for too long on the grill and under the lamp! The prosciutto was dry and hard little bits more like bacon sprinkled on the burger but the ham was yum and juicy. I accidentally ordered the fry basket instead of side fries so I ate a lot of fries. They were good shoestring like and served with dipping sauce. Nothing special however. I ordered the Tallahassee shake which consisted of a blended twinkie, vanilla ice cream and cherry Kool aid. MMMMM! Never had a blended twinkie before now! 4. Price: I thought it was a decent price for the single burger and fry basket I ordered. I do think 5 bucks for the small ass shake I got was a total rip off and probably won't get another one of those anytime soon unless it has liquor in it. Make that size shake 3 bucks and I'll reconsider : P Overall I left with a $15 tab. Worth it? At this point no, but give them a few months and I bet it will be. Overall, interesting experience. I thought they did a good job for being that packed. The manager was clearly spent but kept his cool. Orders came out slowly but I saw a ton of people working their asses off in the kitchen just to keep up. I think quality will get way better in the next few months. Will I go back? Absolutely! I want to see what some of those other burgers taste like and see if the quality raises. Will I get a burger again? Hells yeah but I would like to try the chicken and portabello mushroom along with the yum looking salads and a frigging deep fried hot dog. Will I order a liquor-shake? I don't think I even need to answer that. Do I like asking and then answering my own questions? Most definitely!
(3)Justin B.
I wanted to hate this place when I was asked to go because I am a firm believer that if you place so much emphasis on a theme, the quality of the food will have to take a back seat. I went anyway, and was very surprised. The most important items (food) was fantastic. I had the flamethrower burger and it was excellent. The fry baskets are huge and the dipping sauce was great. The environment was nice, but I can see how in 3 years when the shine leaves this place and the excitement is gone it is going to get old. The staff tries too hard and kinda comes off too cool for school. It will be interesting to see if this place will be around in a few years when everyone in town has experienced this themed restaurant. The one thing this place has going for it is the great food and location.
(4)Mark B.
Fun place, cool theme and food that will have me return. It was a well done homage to Zombies and it was fun to try to spot all the different references in the menu items and the decor. It was much more than just a gimmicky theme place. The burgers were genuinely good and the drinks that we sampled were pretty decent also. If you like burgers this is a place to try something different. They have a lot of choices and some fairly innovative combinations. If you can think of it they probably have something close. Give it a try!
(4)He And She I.
These hamburgers will remind you of what you used to get at the drive-in, years ago, when they started with fresh meat, and cooked it when ordered. I don't know that it was worth the wait we would have had if we hadn't gone to the "order at the counter for take out" counter.
(3)Erica H.
We had a great experience. We went on Wednesday, one day after opening. We waited in line for a bit to eat in the dining room - probably about 30 minutes total. We probably would have waited 5-10 minutes more for a table, but they gave us the option to sit at the bar, and we jumped on it. The bartender was friendly and helpful, despite being very busy. Unfortunately, with how much business they'd done, they didn't have all the ingredients to make a spiked milkshake (next time!), but he did provide a tasty microbrew on tap for my husband and a kitschy mixed drink (complete with lychee/blueberry "eyeball" garnish!) for me. We split the fried pickle slices, which I found delicious. The breading was as light as fried breading can be, and the pickles were thick and juicy! We also split a basket of fries - nice, crisp shoestring fries with "zombie sauce". They were okay, but the pickles would have been enough. I think I'll skip the fries next time. I ordered the "28 Days Later", which had a delicious garlic mayo sauce. My husband ordered the regular Zombie Burger, but got a double. We both thought our sandwiches were great! The patties are "bashed", so they were thin, crisply seared on the outside, and seasoned. My only complaint is I think they got a bit heavy-handed with the salt in the burgers - it didn't taste bad, but I was SO THIRSTY! We were served and done in under an hour, and were provided entertainment and prompt, informed service from our bartender. We'll be back!
(4)Hugh J.
This is an update to my first review when I gave this place 1 star. I returned last week for dinner and there were some changes that I saw to qualify my bump up to 3 stars. First, they weren't completely out of everything damn thing this time. So that was cool. Second, we happened to get a waiter that didn't seem to hate his life and his job. That was also cool. As for the food, I got the Walking Ched. The food is still the same from last time. It's really not that great. Is it good? Yes. Is it good enough to justify the price? Absolutely not. I know that for many people, they feel as if they're paying for the "experience" as well. To that I say...what "experience"? Zombie decor and cutesy themed food names don't embody an experience of any sort. I guess I came back to do an update so my rating constitutes a fair review, as opposed to my original review for when the restaurant first opened. I don't think I'll ever return, however. Also, the shakes are still a rip-off.
(3)Melissa D.
Just ate here last night and thought this place was pretty good. I've definitely had a better burger, but for what's available in the Des Moines area, it is probably one of the better places to go. I had the Zombie Burger with a fried egg. I thought the buns could be better, I liked the fact that they were thin, but they just got too soggy. My favorite thing they offer is the zombie sauce, it has a nice zing. I like the theme of this place and the fact they don't overdo it. They also have a great patio area and the fact that it's in the East Village has an appeal.
(4)Shawn F.
The deep fried mushrooms were awesome!!!
(5)Trisha H.
Went here on a Sunday & it was great. When we showed up around 1pm they said it would be about 45-50 mins for a table for 6 & they text you when your table is ready. It was my husband, myself & our 4 kids. Because they text your phone it gave us the freedom to walk around the downtown area. We were able to walk up to the Capitol building & back just in time to get the text our table was ready. We walked up & our table was set w high chair ready. The staff was friendly & the service was pretty fast. We got fried pickles for an app, which were good. I got a zombie unicorn shake & I could have eaten two! Husband had a burger, I shared one w my 8 yo son & we got 2 kids meals. Also got the bacon, blue cheese & garlic fries. You must get those! Everything was good & if we lived in the area we'd be regulars. Be aware the place is packed & I think it always is based on other reviews. There is a walk up & order section where the seating is first come first serve or an area where you can wait to be seated. I would expect a wait if you want to sit but with the texting option it's not like you have to hang out on the corner. Unless you want to. :)
(5)OneSentenceReview R.
Undead Elvis and cereal in my milkshake blew my mind.
(4)Liz A.
I went here on a Friday during an off peak time and I waited months after it opened to let the craziness die down. There was a 30 min wait - wow - but slick as ever, they use a little iPad and can send you a text when your table is ready (you have 5 minutes to get back). I had the wedding cake shake (pretty good), Goat Cheese & Jalapeno peppers (pretty good!), and Raygun burger. The burger was decent - Im not sure it's the best I ever had. I might consider going back here for the take out, which they have a nice quick take out section on the northeast side of the restaurant. I doubt I will wait 30 minutes to go here again though.
(3)Sean M.
Very much enjoyed my Trailer Trash Burger and accompanying fries. Great atmosphere. Service was also first rate - very attentive without being over bearing. However, the real stand out was the Maple Bacon shake. Unreal.
(5)James W.
A lot of choices (for burgers) but not much flavor especially for the price. I had Sarah's Revenge and there was so much potential there but half the things were put on raw and fell off instead of being incorporated with the burger. The big thing here for me was the meat; it just wasn't flavorful. Maybe the butter cow would have been better? I think this place gets a lot of attention since it's the only place of its kind in Des Moines. It is worth it to go once but I would not go back unless I wanted to try sitting at the bar (maybe).
(3)Joe M.
Normally I am not a fan of gimmick diners and I would typically prefer a well prepared normal burger to the current trend of overthought burgers but this place really had it right. I ordered the Dead Moines that consisted of smoked gouda, prosciutto, ham, and truffle mayo. I all came together really well and surprisingly did not overpower my taste buds. Definitely would come back if I am ever in Des Moines again.
(5)G K.
This place is fun and entertaining, but one can easily over do it. While visiting my husband's family in Des Moines, I was in search of things to do. I can across Zombie Burger as a destination for DM. The place is very fun and got some crazy burger combinations. Down side, they don't take reservation so the wait can be long. As a matter of fact, this is regularly mentioned in other reviews. Be prepared. Also, come with at least a party of 4. The fries are family size for sharing. The appetizers are not very big, but I think it is by design. The shakes are crazy and delicious. However, they are small compare to most diner shakes I am use to. With more people in your party, you get to try more things. My first visit, I had the ultimate burger. The Walking Chen is consist of 1 beef patty sandwiched between 2 fried mac-n-cheese patties, 2 slices of bacon, and I added a fried egg.....yes you read correctly. I estimate the burger must be around 5,000 cal. Adding to that, we shared an order of fried pickle and fried brussel sprouts. On top of it all, we order an order of fries and an order of fries with everything on it. The first 10,000 cal meal I've ever had. This not including any of their specialty shakes. My husband and his friends enjoyed their specialty shake; one of which is call the funnel cake shake in honor of the Iowa State Fair. I had a lot of fun at Zombie Burger, however, it is not a place that should be frequented often. It's a heart attack waiting to happen. Enjoy!
(4)Chelsea G.
My husband had the walking Ched and he loved it!!! I had the single regular cheeseburger, It was very small. If I knew the size I would have ordered the double. One basket of fries was a lot for both of us! We couldn't finish them all. Even sitting at the bar was good! the bartender was amazing! She was very attentive and filled my drink when it was only half empty. With one alcoholic beverage and a pop was only $20 (plus food) Very reasonable! I will definitely go back!
(4)Cindy C.
This place makes a juicy, delicious burger. The variety is outstanding. The fries are delicious too. You can tell the beef isn't your run of the mill beef that gets shipped from a far away place, it is fresh local beef. Even the single patty burger can fill you up, and I like eating a ton of food, not gonna lie! The staff is always enthusiastic and welcoming. If you are intimidated by the menu, the staff is very helpful in answering questions. You can tell they love their jobs. The theme is fun too. I highly recommend this place if you have a serious burger and fries craving. Can be a bit pricey but definitely worth it! I only wish there was one where I live, but it makes it that much more special when traveling through :)
(5)Jill V.
The shakes were delicious as were the burgers. The best thing is the amount of choices for burger toppings. Only 4 stars due to the cost/portion ratio.
(4)Sarah C.
As my Yelp profile says, Zombie Burger would be my choice for my last meal. I'd sit at the bar and talk Firefly and Dr Who with the staff. (This has actually happened :) Excellent burgers with a variety of non-typical toppings. Fantastic sides. Great wait staff. Very reasonable prices, especially when you see the portions. The salads are gigantic.
(5)Laura G.
I can't be sure if I am giving it five stars 100% for the food taste or just for all the darn creativity. Super fun concept and a fun place to take friends and people from out of town. I love the Undead Elvis which has egg and peanut butter on the burger. If you want to try some really interesting flavor combinations and don't mind splurging on an obscene number of calories in one sitting... then come in and treat yourself. The drinks are really interesting too. Some people might say its all a bit pricey, but its a great place to kick of a weekend evening of entertainment. We need lots of more creativity and fun ideas and things to do.. so my hat is off to Zombie Burger. I am giving it five stars for the total experience.
(5)Sadeq K.
They have a wide verity of burgers....loved the burger and the chili was good too... I would go back next time I am in town...
(4)Jessica T.
I really like zombie burger! I've been there a couple times and always enjoyed my experience. The theme and decor are super fun, definitely a lot to look at! The burgers have always been bomb diggity!! The one item I wasn't super impressed with was the poutine fries--the fries were great but the gravy wasn't anything special for me. The bartender (gal with dark hair and glasses) is always top notch and the drinks are perfection. Good burgers and strong drinks, need I say more?
(4)Otis K.
I think this place is a little overhyped and the only reason it's doing so well is because of all the publicity they had before opening, the whole zombie gimmicky theme that is a really popular trend in the hipster world of today and also it's association with a few upscale restaurants here in Des Moines. I think this place is only good for getting drinks because they have some pretty cool milk shakes and specialty drinks (served with or without alcohol) The couple times I've been here the waiter/waitress have just been okay. Nothing special they check up on you every so often but not very personable. The food well... It's not so great, burger was dry and that wasn't only mine the people I was with also agreed that their burgers were just not that tasty. They had a lot of selection but it all fails if the meat you're getting is just not good. I'm actually a little surprised that when I drive by it I do still see a lot of customers so I don't know if they're there just for the drinks or they may actually like the food. I don't know if I just have a different palette than others but in my honest opinion I have had better burgers at chain restaurants. I don't want to say it's all bad. I do like the whole ambiance and having 2 sides of the place having a more of a fast food feel or a restaurant dine in experience.
(2)Jim D.
Excellent theme and unique burgers. Honestly I was expecting red robin burgers with new names. I was surprised to find that wasn't the case. Very good food and new appetizers. Drink Lab has a craft beer menu that is very impressive and I picked a unique product from San Diego. Heck it took me 10 minutes the beer menu was so impressive. My brew was well within its freshness date so that impressed me too being the former brewing consultant that I am. Stop by if traveling through Des Moines or if resident.
(5)Kate N.
We had the Dead Moines burger, and it was so.freaking.fabulous. Seriously, one of the best burgers I'd ever eaten. The fries were also smashing. I wasn't a huge fan of my nutella shake (it felt oddly gritty). Despite being a hopping lunch time crowd, our service was fabulous. This is one restaurant that I am looking forward to visiting again. Too bad that's not likely to happen for some time!
(4)William S.
A virtually endless selection of delicious burgers. Zombie Burger has great decor, a really fun and upbeat atmosphere and a really cool menu. The menu is made like the front page of a newspaper chronicling the mayhem of a zombie invasion. Opening the newspapers reveals an almost endless selection of quality burgers with very creative names (i.e. Dead Moines, Undead Elvis, Better of Ched). Be forewarned, this place is not for the health conscious. Almost everything on the menu is fried or includes a fried variation of something that might otherwise be health (i.e. fried bananas). Since this was my first time at Zombie Burger, I thought I'd go for something completely new - at least in terms of my burger selection. I ordered the Undead Elvis which comes topped with a fried egg, peanut butter, fried bananas, bacon, American cheese, and mayo on an absolutely delicious bun. Very tasty, but that is just a bit too much on a burger for me. The prices were very reasonable except for drinks. Domestics and drafts are reasonably priced but imports can get a bit pricey. So, based on first impression, I'd say that Zombie Burger is a definite win. Come hungry, leave your fried food concerns at the door and watch out for the attack....
(3)Haley R.
In the Des Moines hipster paradise that is the "East Village" lies the hipster mecca that is Zombie Burger. There has been a lot of hype about this restaurant since it opened, but I never really had any desire to go there. Zombies aren't my thing. (Neither, for that matter, are hipsters.) On the search for a good burger in Des Moines, though, we decided to give it a shot. There was a short wait for our table and the hostess took our phone number down on an iPad and said they would text us when our table was ready. It seems a bit impersonal but, then, they are zombies. The text came a couple minutes later and we were escorted to a table by the window, out of the way of the rest of the restaurant and nowhere near the bloody cobwebs that hang in some of the windows. The burgers are cleverly named after zombie flicks and local bands (the Envy Corpse burger) and they all looked pretty good. I finally decided on a Zombie Burger - burger, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Zombie Burger sauce - and my boyfriend had the Pittsburgher, topped with ham, egg, cheese, fries, coleslaw, and Mayo. The burgers at Zombie Burger aren't made to order, meaning you don't get a choice of how well done you want your meat. They cook 'em through and they cook 'em fast and top them and have them to your table in no time flat. And they're fine. Nothing spectacular. The patties themselves aren't huge, neither in circumference nor thickness, but I wouldn't say that's a bad thing, especially with the number of toppings on some of their concoctions. The fries were good and you could tell they were homemade, and I fell in love with the Zombie sauce, which I couldn't taste on my burger despite the menu's insistence on its presence, but a side of which came with our basket of fries. We both got shakes to go, after drooling over the shake list while reading the menu. I got the rice krispie treat shake. This is better in theory than it is in practice, meaning marshmallow creme is incredibly difficult to suck through a straw. After it had melted quite a bit it was better and you could actually taste the rice krispie treat flavor coming through instead of just vanilla ice cream. My boyfriend ordered the s'more shake and it had a very chemical or metallic flavor to it. Our server said it probably had to do with the metal stirrer on the shake maker, and she kindly offered to replace his shake and remove the shakes from our tab. We were happy to pay for it, but he ordered a vanilla shake as a replacement. It tasted fine at first but he started to taste the metallic flavor again and came to the conclusion that it was probably the ice cream (he thought mine tasted funny too). Overall, if you're looking for a decent burger, this is a decent place to get a decent burger. If it weren't for the zombie shtick, I would say it was more than a decent place to get a decent burger.
(3)Lonnie Z.
This trendy eatery deserves a second chance to win me over. Preferably when I'm not in a hurry to get somewhere else and rain doesn't eliminate the outdoor seating option. I love the theme and execution. The food was quite tasty and I particularly enjoyed the texture of the hamburger bun. I didn't try one of their creative frozen drinks, but my daughter loved the Crunchberry concoction.
(4)V S.
Very pretentious servers, and super greasy food. the burger was the worst, almost like a chain. I do not understand how such a nice place can have such horrible service! yuck, that makes the whole meal bad!
(1)Kris D.
I read all of these reviews, and noticed a huge disparity of the opinions. Reviewers, particularly those found beyond the filter, found this place horrible, while others thought it was totally fantastic. I don't know if I've ever seen a place with such a disconnect between so many reviewers. So, I had to try it for myself. We went at noon on a Thursday. There was a 15-20 minute wait for a table. However, we were seated 5 minutes later. We were ultimately seated at a "community table", meaning, we had to dine with strangers at either side of us. This, coupled with the fact that the place is just loud in general, made it impossible to enjoy a conversation amongst ourselves. We noticed almost immediately that most of the tables were full, there were very few severs. After placing our order, and waiting approximately 30 minutes for our food, we couldn't help but notice that almost no table in the entire restaurant had food. It is a burger joint. It shouldn't be that hard to churn out the orders. There should have been a steady stream of food coming out of the kitchen. But there wasn't. The burgers are fine. They are flavorless, smashed patties cooked to a crisp, and smothered in heavy-handed toppings. The buns were unusual. I didn't love or hate them, but they are definitely different. The fries, however, are inexcusable. They were flavorless, covered in grease, and overcooked so much they were all crunchy. Because we were stuck at our "community table," we couldn't help but overhear others' reaction as well. To each side of us the customers were commenting that the food was disappointing and slow. I wish this restaurant understood quality of food and service as much as it seems to understand marketing.
(1)Jessica K.
I've been a couple of times now. I've tried their burgers, chicken strips, fried pickles and their adult milkshakes. I have enjoyed their fried pickles and the adult milkshakes. The burgers are too greasy and the chicken strips were very dry. But that milkshake was awesome. I got the birthday cake milkshake. I believe it had normal vanilla milkshake stuff, cake mix and birthday cake vodka. Sooo good. I think if I have to go back, I would eat at home first and just get the milkshake!
(3)Kelly R.
Uneven. Cheap food and long lines. Ineffectual service and interesting menu. There are better places for a burger that aren't trying so hard to be cool.
(3)Torry B.
Good atmosphere, burgers are awesome!
(5)Jeremy C.
Went for lunch on a Monday and was told there was a 10 minute wait. 25 minutes later we were seated. Ordered a highly overpriced ($9) burger. All sides are extra. An hour and a half later our food showed up. Really? 90 minutes for a burger. All the while some little brat was screaming the whole time. If you like to take 2 hour lunches, overpay and be disappointed then this is the place for you. I would rather be zombified than to eat at Zombie Burger again.
(1)Patrick F.
Sooo many choices for tasty burgers. Not "cheap" but delicious and creative. Can't wait till 2016 when I'll be i Des Moines again.
(5)p d.
Really busy for a good reason. They text you when your table is ready, so you can walk around the east village while you wait. Good selection of beers, including 2 hearted. Great service, great burger including portabella and other alternatives. Very reasonable. Excellent fries.
(4)Sandra A.
Wish they'd pour some of the money they're spending on marketing into ingredients. The food was so underwhelming. A thin patty, almost raw-seeming buns, greasy, if you're going to sell basically nothing but hamburgers, and have a shtick, you best kill the food. Totally missed opportunity.
(1)jason w.
disappointing on every level. We arrive and have plenty of time to look at the menu because we had to wait ten minutes before we could order. five employees with seemingly nothing to do stood by as we waited. didn't even attempt to open a second register while the line backed up behind us. Ordered our food which took an addtional ten minutes, for one burger, one order of fries and an order of cheese curds. The fries and curds were very over cooked. all the cheese escaped the breading of the cheese curd order but the employee seemed to think it was ok to go ahead and serve them anyway. the fries were a dark brown, very crunchy, hard and overcooked. we only had thirty minutes for lunch so we asked them to put it into food containers to go which i would have preferred to do myself because a 30 second job took him another five minutes. no visible lids for the small sodas that cost an absurd 1.99 apeice so those got thrown in the trash. we were there at 2:30, no where near the lunch rush so i can only imagine how slow they are at noon. Lunch was 19.00 for two people, the food wasn't cooked well and it took way too long. I can't stand burger king but i wish i would have gone there. very disappointing for a local place. will not return., ****update went back a few months later because my girlfriend wanted it. should have followed my own advice. the food was cooked properly this time but they got the food order wrong. ordered three sandwiches for my girlfriend and her coworkers and all three were wrong, also ordered a side of cheese sauce for the fries and it wasn't in the bag. 0 for 2 zombie burger. I don't get it, love the owners other restaurants, they just need to hire better employees for zombie burger.
(1)Nathan P.
One of the most unique restaurants I've ever eaten at, and in Des Moines of all places! I have to admit I'm a bit of a fan of the zombie culture phenomenon, but the food, especially the shakes and burgers are legit. The original art on the walls and the little touches in the decor that go perfectly with the theme, as well as the awesome beer list makes this a must visit. The fries are small and crispy, which isn't my favorite kind, but they're good despite.
(5)Sarah E.
This place is what 5 guys, DMK, and Smashburger want to be. The beef was good quality, and not over-salted to cover the taste (which is one of my main complaints about the others listed). The service and organization of the place needs some work. It was very hard to figure out what line we should be in to be seated. Try the brussel sprouts. Awesome
(4)Elizabeth R.
I just went to Zombie Burger with some friends and I thought their food was pretty good. The only thing that could have been better were the slightly stale fries (possibly because we were eating at a weird time of day when they weren't expecting a lot of business?). I had just a cheeseburger and thought it was delicious, but if you get a shake make sure you have something to wash it down with. They're a lot to take in (but also very good). Overall I was pleased and would definitely go back to perhaps try the sit-down side of the business!
(4)Meghan S.
Great for vegetarians! You get to pick what kind of burger you want, and the veggie option was great. I got one that comes with bacon, so I just asked them to hold the bacon and use a black bean burger for an instant veggie option. The line's a little long, but that gives you enough time to pick. The full service/order yourself divide is a little confusing though; we accidentally sat in the full service area outside just trying to avoid the sun. Overall though I enjoyed my experience and would go again.
(4)Leon R.
I read the mixed reviews on this place and thought would give it a try it is a very cool place the whole zombie theme is cool in there and the music goes right along with it the menus are very awesome to they look like a newspaper sitting on your table and you open it up and menu on other side its really cool we went in on Saturday night around 9 30 pm it was busy but not overcrowded we only had to wait about 5 min to get seated and when you have to wait they get your number and text you when your table is ready it was loud in there but that was good for us cause it drowned out our noisy kids the atmosphere is cool its laid back all different kinds of people there you can dress up or just be casual our waitress was very good she kept our drinks refilled never had to ask for our refills she was nice to our children the whole time she wasn't rude with us about needing time to look over the menu there are so many choices so if its your first time there it will take some time to decide what to have when we finally ordered it didn't take long at all to get our food and the burgers were amazing the fries don't come with the burgers in a meal but the basket was big enough to feed my husband 2 kids and me we had to get shakes cause they had all kinds of cool flavors to choose from we chose the tallahassee flavor it's very good you have to try that flavor and it was very cheap for all that we got definitely will go back again very good place
(5)Steve J.
I didn't try the burgers... yet. I'm going to have to save up a small fortune to eat at this place. I did try one of their "spiked" shakes. I had the coconut cream pie shake. It was the best shake I have EVER had. It was also the MOST expensive shake I have EVER had.
(3)Rosie H.
Run, don't walk to Zombie Burger. Went here while visiting family in Des Moines, and came in for lunch at noon on a Thursday. We wanted to sit in the full-service half of the restaurant so had to wait 10 minutes for a table, but it was more than worth it. I got a burger called "Juan of the Dead" which featured a green chile and cheese "croquette," which turned out to mean "molten hot fried hunk of cheese that will melt all over your burger as soon as you bite into it." And I mean that in the best way possible. One of the best burgers I have ever had, and my dining companions said the same about theirs. The fries are also yummy, come in a generous portion with a tasty dipping sauce. Didn't try any concoctions from the drink lab, but the beer selection more than satisfied.
(5)Drew K.
My stars are for the atmosphere of the place, not the food. One of the worst veggie burgers I've ever had. And the Zombie Poutine is terrible, the took off my bill though since I didn't like it. Good staff though, just the chef is too concerned about the zombie theme than taste.
(2)Josh R.
The wait was not nearly as long as we expected given the amount of people in front of us. We sat outside and enjoyed a nice Iowa evening and East Village people watching. The service was pretty good, our server was very helpful and engaging with our 3 year old boy. He was knowledgeable about the drink menu and any of the beer specials. Our food came out fairly quickly and everything tasted good. We tried the Raygun burger(tasty), Fulci Burger(Tasty as well) S'more Shake w/ Chocolate Vodka(not my thing but my wife really enjoyed it), and a basket of fries. All in all the food and atmosphere was fun. We're not big into burger joints, but we'd definitely go back and eat here again.
(4)Angela N.
My family of 5 arrived mid Sunday afternoon. We were seated within 10 minutes. Our orders were taken in a timely manner and our food arrived 15 minutes later -- impressive. I agree with the other reviews that the burgers are smaller than the usual restaurant size and the french fries are lacking. However the sandwiches, 2 Sarah's revenge Dead Moines with chicken breast, 1 Cheeseburger and 1 Hamburger from the kid's menu were tasty. We also opted for a basket of the loaded fries and those were DELICIOUS! My youngest and I shared a chocolate cake shake to go and that was TO DIE FOR! Overall, it was a good experience. Definitely not for the calorie conscious, but everything in moderation. We plan on making another visit when in the area again.
(4)John V.
Great find, excellent food and attention. Fun atmosphere, will come back when in town.
(4)Paul D.
Crazy good burgers and not your average Whopper. Mine had two grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns. Lots of craft beers, cool slasher movie theme. I would definitely go back.
(5)George F.
Nothing special here! The size of the hamburgers are not monster worthy and the price is too high for what you get. The servers are very attentive though. Way too busy at lunch if you only have 30 minutes.
(2)Melissa B.
My husband and I are from Baltimore and wanted good burgers and beer. We were not disappointed! Our burgers were cooked perfectly and were delicious, and one basket of fries was more than enough for us to split. My Nutella shake and my husband's Cinnamon Toast Crunch shake were the best shakes ever! Friendly staff, speedy service, highly recommended!
(5)