While you won’t find pizzas on any of these menus, you’ll discover a delicious meal with some of the best food in the Midwest. The variety of choices will take you from Korea to Tea Thyme through an all-American steakhouse and apple orchard. These are some of the best restaurants near Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Here are three must-try restaurants near Fort Dodge, Iowa, listed alphabetically. I’ve also included a bonus option tucked away in an apple orchard.

Thank you to Visit Fort Dodge, Iowa for hosting my visit.

Gaga & Hoo Korean Restaurant

Gaga & Hoo Korean Restaurant is one of the best Fort Dodge restaurants. It features a pretty setting to enjoy some international cuisine. After spending six months in Seoul, I can attest that they serve authentic Korean cuisine.

This Fort Dodge restaurant is named Gaga & Hoo after the owner’s children. The owner’s daughter contributed the Gaga portion of the name, which means beautiful in Korean. Hoo comes from his son, meaning “the best/king” in Korean. The name reflects a personal connection to the family and highlights the significance of family in the establishment’s identity.

 The restaurant emphasizes traditional Korean cooking techniques, such as marinating meats for three to four days before serving.

My favorite starter was Mandu. The Korean dumplings were golden brown on the outside and filled with a mixture of various meats and vegetables. I also had their wonderful Bulgogi. The Korean beef BBQ features thinly sliced beef marinated in a homemade sauce and sauteed with onions, carrots, and green onions. The chef serves the beef over rice.

If you’re lucky, you’ll experience some live music from Chef Byeong-Whan Won, who plays the guitar and sings.

The restaurant offers various Korean dishes, including appetizers like dumplings and marinated Korean barbecue meats. The chef’s selections include:

• Mandu, Korean dumplings
• Dak-gang-jeong, fried chickenJeyuk Bokkeum, a popular Korean BBQ dish
• Jeyuk means pork, and Bokkeum means stir-fry
• Tteok-bok-ki, Korean rice cakes with a spicy sauce
• Kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish of fermented cabbage
• Dolsot Bibimbap, a rice dish with vegetables and meat
• Galbi, Korean beef short ribs

For beverages, they also serve ginger tea and boba.

Piper’s Pro Planning: If you don’t feel like going out to eat with the kids, place an online order for pickup.

Mineral City Mill and Grill

Mineral City Mill and Grill is known for its friendly service and is equally suitable for date nights as it is for family meals. The restaurant has a warm atmosphere with rustic charm and modern comfort, and the interior showcases local artistry and craftsmanship.

It’s a locally owned and operated family restaurant that local newspaper readers named Fort Dodge’s best restaurant.

The restaurant features a full bar with craft beer and cocktails. They also offer Sunday brunch.

Their popular dishes include smoked Iowa pork chop, New York City strip steak, Parmesan-crusted chicken, and citrus salmon. Mineral City Mill and Grill serves a variety of American cuisine, including:

• Salads
• Sandwiches
• Pastas
• Steaks
• Seafood

I ordered the smoked Iowa pork chop, which was marked on the grill. It was so flavorful, and the markings made the dish look pretty. My sides were a salad and a loaded baked potato, served with a roll, but you can choose your sides.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Mineral City Mill and Grill offers family meals to go, car-side service, and online ordering options.

Tea Thyme & Tea Shop

In Tea Thyme & Tea Shop, I saw several groups of gal pals meeting for a lady’s lunch. The atmosphere was vibrant and alive, with everyone chatting and enjoying each other’s company. The décor features flowers, lace doilies, and China teacups, reminiscent of a bygone era.  

The restaurant wants to keep its menu fresh, so it changes weekly. That means they probably won’t have what I had on their menu, but they’ll feature something equally delicious. Also, if you return next week, they’ll have something new to entice you.

The rotating menu provides an opportunity to showcase seasonal ingredients. I had an acorn squash stuffed with ham and cranberries, salad, and a slice of banana bread.

Save room for dessert! I love pie, and Tea Thyme’s dessert menu offers a wide variety. While they provide a classic apple pie with a buttery crust and a creamy chocolate silk pie, I chose the coconut cream pie. The memories of my mom’s famous coconut cream pie, frequently appearing on our family’s Easter menu, came flooding back. This pie features a toasted coconut crust and makes a fabulous gluten-free option.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Tea Thyme is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and closed Sunday.

Bonus

The Orchard Café at Community Orchards

The Orchard Café at Community Orchards sits inside a country store that features a variety of apple products. You’ll find everything from apples grown on-site to jams, jellies, and other jarred products to create your own delicious meals at home.

The Orchard Café offers lunchtime dishes like soups, salads, and sandwiches. I loved the fruity salad served with my BBQ sandwich. It had apples and grapes, along with a poppy seed dressing. I created it at home with some success, but theirs was better.

A popular dish with our group was their signature Scarecrow Soup, a creamy blend of veggies in a cheesy soup topped with Chow Mein noodles to represent straw. Pair that with one of their classic sandwiches. Then, finish lunch with a warm apple dumpling or one of their other tasty desserts. They make all their desserts with their fresh orchard apples.

Piper’s Pro Planning: The Orchard Café is a seasonal restaurant serving lunches daily from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from August 1 through December 22.

Read More: Community Orchard: A Family Fun Itinerary in Fort Dodge, Iowa

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