15 Best Restaurants in Pella (IA)

Pella is a nice city in Marion County in Iowa state, USA. It is home to longtime Dutch immigrants who settled in the area around 1847.

There are about 10,464 residents in Pella as of 2020. The city is a friendly and united community of people with close family historical linkages.

This city is home to many restaurants, museums, gardens, industrial complexes, and historical villages. It has a rich cultural heritage which is evident in the food offerings on the menu when you visit most of the restaurants there.

Unlike many contemporary American towns, Pella has more bakeries compared to eateries. This reflects Dutch people’s love for sweet treats, pastries, and confectioneries.

There are a number of good restaurants in Pella, IA, ranging from pizza hubs to steakhouses. There are also Asian restaurants, Mexican restaurants, and known American fast-food brands in Pella.

Fast food favorites like Arby’s, McDonald’s, Applebee’s, and Burger King can all be sited in Pella.

Below is a perfect list of the best restaurants in Pella, IA.

Best Restaurants in Pella, IA

1. Jaarsma Bakery

Jaarsma Bakery

Jaarsma Bakery is a family-owned Dutch bakery that has been in operation since 1898. There are the best producers of Dutch pastries and confectioneries.

There are two Jaarsma Bakery locations in Iowa: one in Pella and the other in Oskaloosa.

This bakery is the highest-rated food establishment in Pella, IA. That only implies that the bread, pies, cakes, and cookies that are served here are exceptional.

During seasonal celebrations, the Royal Family Collection or the Traditionally Dutch Collection is what you would want to purchase from Jaarsma Bakery.

This package contains a piece of each food item the bakery produces. It’s like your own jar of goodies.

Jaarsma Bakery is undoubtedly the best place to buy baked goods and pastries. The sweet-smelling scent of baked treats greets you as you pass by or enter Jaarsma Bakery.

The staff opens the bakery shop early in the morning by 6 am and closes by 6 pm every day except Sundays.

Address: 727 Franklin St, Pella, IA 50219-1619, USA Phone: +1 641-628-2940

2. Smokey Row Coffee

Smokey Row Coffee

Talk of a tasty breakfast meal and a hot cup of coffee to start your day. And you surely think of Smokey Row Coffee House if you live in Pella, IA.

Smokey Row Coffee is a splendid location for eating breakfast in Pella thus, the place is opened every early by 6 am.

This coffee shop is warm and receptive and is a good starting point for a newcomer or tourist. You can order whatever coffee type you like and food additions to eating with it. There’s a sweet Georgia brown latte, caramel latte, plain coffee, and iced coffee.

If you want further experience with this unique place, try their custom “Smokey Row Shake” or “Smokey Row Coffee Shake.” Biscuits, cookies, bread, and more are often ordered along with a cup of coffee.

Address: 639 Franklin St, Pella, IA 50219-1617, USA Phone: +1 641-621-0008

3. The Cellar Peanut Pub- Pella

The Cellar Peanut Pub- Pella

This pub received the award of Iowa’s Best Great American Beer Bar 2020 (by Craft Beer) amidst the pandemic. The Cellar Peanut Pub is always on point whether you’re in the Pella or Newton branch in Iowa.

The quality beer brands served here make it a casual spot to drink with a couple of friends. Classic American drinks are stocked in the bar section, and loads of foreign alcoholic drinks are also available. Moscow mule and root beer don’t lack availability here.

They offer the original Bloody Mary and also have their custom Bloody Mary drink. It’s a unique drink with recipes traced back to the Maryland founders of this pub.

Address: 629 Franklin St, Pella, IA 50219-1617 Phone: +1 641-628-4467

4. Ulrich Meat Market

Ulrich Meat Market

Ulrich Meat Market is a convenient marketplace for residents to buy fresh meat of all animal kinds and fishfish. Inside is a restaurant featuring well-prepared beef with a full bar offering all your daily lunch and dinner meals. They commonly serve beef, goat meat, and chicken which are prepared with aromatic seasoning.

Products to shop for or eat in the restaurant include Ulrich’s Genuine Pella Bologna, beef snack sticks (jerky beef), Ulrich BBQ pulled pork, Hickory smoked meat, and more. This meat market is one of the best places to eat in Pella, IA.

For first-timers, Ulrich Meat Market is located on the south side of Pella town square. The place is filled with historic Dutch markings and items. They operate from 8 am daily till 5.30 pm on Monday to Saturday.

Address: 715 Franklin St, Pella, IA 50219-1619 Phone: +1 641-628-2771

5. George’s Pizza & Steakhouse

George's Pizza & Steakhouse

George’s is a well-known pizza restaurant in the Pella community. It’s a family-owned business operating since 1974. Since then, it has been centered around family values and authentic pizza making from scratch.

They serve the best pizza in all of Franklin Street, Pella. George’s pizzas are available in different flavors and sizes. Pepperoni pizza may or may not be your favorite, but it’s one flavor that never loses its quality all year round.

In addition to pizza, this restaurant serves some of the finest steaks you can bite in Pella, MD. This comes as no surprise as George’s restaurant is both a pizza restaurant and a steakhouse.

You can choose to eat Duchess Burger or a chicken sandwich if you don’t feel like eating pizza.

Address: 626 Franklin St, Pella, IA 50219-1618 Phone: +1 641-628-2802

6. Windmill Café

Windmill Café

Windmill Café is one of the best restaurants in Pella, IA. Located on Franklin Street, Windmill Café is just a few feet distance from George’s.

Windmill Cafe is a classical American café for breakfast and brunch meals. They serve comfort food in the friendliest environment ever in Pella.

Some of the loyal customers are connected on their Facebook page, which is active on a weekly basis. When you walk into Windmill Café, the aroma of coffee and freshly baked foods welcomes you. There are biscuits, bacon, cheeseburger, French toast, rolls, and French fries to choose from.

Most breakfast foods at this café are moderated priced and customer service oriented. They open as early as 5.30 am and close on or before 3 pm.

Address: 709 Franklin St, Pella, IA 50219-1619 Phone: +1 641-621-1800

7. Vander Ploeg

Vander Ploeg

This is a good bakery that has been in operation for more than eight decades, founded in 1847.

Vander Ploeg Bakery makes Dutch Letters, a special Dutch pastry that the Pella locals enjoy. This place is undoubtedly one of the best places to buy baked goods and pastries.

The environment is hospitable, cozy, and kid-friendly. This place is a perfect small-town bakery for foodies.

Whether it’s bread, Dutch letters, bacon cheeseburger, or donuts, Vander Ploeg Bakery is a perfectly situated bakery for everyone in Pella.

Opening and closing hours are 5.30 am and 6 pm respectively on Mon-Sat. However, you may check out their website and Facebook page for more information on their offerings.

Address: 711 Franklin Street, Pella, IA 50219 Phone: +1 641-628-2293

8. In’t Veld’s Meat Market

In't Veld's Meat Market

In’t Veld is a fully functional meat market in Pella, Iowa. The meat market received the 2021 award for Iowa Tourism.

The place gets busy sometimes, but there is a section where you can relax to enjoy some prepared beef or barbeque. Delicious food items from the Butcher’s Brewhuis Deli Menu are many people’s favorites.

As aforementioned, the building houses a small restaurant for lunch and dinners. You can expect to see a beef burger, In’t Veld’s Pella Bologna, bratwurst, Dutch spiced beef, and homemade salads.

There are soft drinks available for customers to take in as they relish soft meat derivatives.

Products to shop for or eat in the restaurant include beef snack sticks (jerky beef), BBQ pulled pork, Hickory smoked meat, and more.

The In’t Veld’s meat market is among the best places to eat in Pella, IA.

Address: 820 Main Street, Pella, IA 50219 Phone: +1 641-628-3440

Wondering places to eat in Chino Hills, CA,  for a fun experience? Here is a guide on the best restaurants in Chino Hills, CA.

9. El Charro Mexican Grill

El Charro Mexican Grill

El Charro Mexican Grill is the home of grilled meat and seafood in Pella, Iowa. This food establishment should not be confused with one of the three other El Charro food establishments in the US. This particular Mexican restaurant in Pella is unique for its high-quality food service.

The environment is very relaxing, with a few Mexican designs to the interior décor. There is a great selection of Mexican food and margaritas to pick from. What you eat at El Charro partly depends on whether you just want to grab a quick bite or sit for a full meal.

Chips and salsa are perfect for a quick lunch while working in the office. While chimichanga, burrito, steak, and chicken fajitas are good as sit-down lunch or dinner meals.

Grilled fish, fish tacos, and chicken barbeque are also common foods served in the restaurant. When you eat your selected food, you can order top-shelf margaritas to go along with your food.

El Charro Mexican Grill doesn’t offer a home delivery option, but anyone is free to walk in and buy a takeaway.

Address: 514 Main St Suite A, Pella, IA 50219 Phone: +1 641-628-2307

10. Brew Coffee House

Brew Coffee House

This is one of the top coffee shops you can walk into in Pella, IA. Brew Coffee House features a full espresso and bar with offerings such as teas, milk & chocolate shakes, smoothies, lattes, and salads.

There is the availability of iced tea, iced matcha latte, beetroot latte, and caramel macchiato.

Breakfast meals you can order here include breakfast cinnamon rolls, bread, sausage roll, and breakfast sandwiches. Top any of these with freshly brewed coffee, and you’ll rock your morning!

Of course, just like all coffee shops, the Brew Coffee House has comfortable seats for you to enjoy your breakfast gracefully. Else there is also the option of packaged takeaway if you’re hurrying to work or school.

The restaurant open by 7 am every day except on Sundays when they open by 8 am. It is also one of the best Pella restaurants.

Address: 626 Franklin Street, Pella, IA 50219 Phone: +1 641-621-0068

11. Liberty Street Kitchen

Liberty Street Kitchen

This restaurant is a classic American restaurant where contemporary comfort cuisine is served. Liberty Street Kitchen made it to the list of top restaurants in Pella, IA for two reasons.

First is the great food served here, known by the hundreds of positive reviews of customers. The other reason is the friendly atmosphere of the locality and the affordable prices of food.

Liberty Street Kitchen’s exclusive chef Alex Gabrielson and general manager Mike Roederer have made this place an irresistible spot for eating. The menu showcases a lot of delicious starters, dinner meals, desserts, and cocktails.

They offer finely baked bread, craft beer, Iowa Corn Chowder, fish tacos, portobello fries, and Caesar salad. These are just the menu highlights of this top Iowan restaurant.

But if you head to their website or follow one of their social media handles, you’ll see all this restaurant offers. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with their seared Atlantic salmon together with Liberty’s signature cocktail drink.

Address: 705 E 1st St, Pella, USA Phone: +1 641-628-9967

12. Yamato Steak House of Japan

Yamato Steak House of Japan

Yamato Steak House of Japan is the best Japanese restaurant in Pella, IA. Who says you can’t enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine in Pella? Well, you can do so at Yamato without going to Japan.

This is one of the unique restaurants in the Pella community because of its ethnic design, food, and values.

The restaurant environment is warm and cozy, which is fantastic for family dinner nights. They serve a variety of Japanese cuisine at Yamato Steak House.

Some food on the menu includes hibachi noodles, hibachi steak, fried rice, sushi, tofu, surf & turf, soups & salads, chicken, and several Japanese entrees.

Without the need to repeat it, Yamato is the top restaurant to be at in terms of Japanese food. The ingredients used in their food are always freshly sourced and healthy. And the positive reviews reveal that the food service is high quality.

Check out their website and select your meal from their menu. You can add this restaurant to your list of best Pella restaurants.

Address: 1590 Washington Street, Pella, IA Phone: 641.620.9988

13. Applebee’s

Applebee's

Applebee’s® is a fast food restaurant chain with several branches nationwide, including a branch in Pella, Iowa.

Applebee’s Pella has been in operation since its founding in 1980. Applebee’s Pella opens daily by 11 am and closes by 11 pm on weekdays but at midnight on weekends.

This restaurant is a great place to eat an affordable lunch or dinner with family and friends in Pella.

The food from the kitchen here lures customers to want to buy more and enjoy themselves in an informal setting that the restaurant provides.

What to expect at this restaurant is a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, steaks, beverages, beers, and cocktails. Chicken wings & fries and a bottle of cool beer is a good lunch bite at Applebee’s.

Great food, affordable prices, and a vibrant informal atmosphere are what Americans like about Applebee’s.

Address: 1600 Washington Street, Pella, IA 50219 Phone: 641-620-8646

14. Cantaritos Grill & Cantana

Cantaritos Grill & Cantana

We love the Cantaritos Grill and Cantana because it is one of the best Mexican American restaurants in Pella, IA. Upon entering, you’ll notice that the restaurant is vibrant and full of flavors, aromas, and textures.

Although being the second to the last on our list, Cantaritos is still one of the top Pella restaurants.

Mexican beers and margaritas never run out in this Iowan eatery. Handmade tortillas and fresh guacamole are two exceptional meals to order in Cantaritos.

However, the menu highlights foods like soups, salads, tacos, grilled shrimp or chicken, sandwiches, nachos, fajitas, chips and salsa, and burritos.

The meals are prepared with the traditional Mexican family recipe. Thus, this implies that what you eat here has the authentic taste and ingredients it should originally have. No artificial additives or extreme seasonings are used in the kitchen.

They open by 11 am and close by 9 pm every day.

Address: 1205 Washington Street, Pella, IA 50219 Phone: 641-628-1112

15. Breadeaux Pizza

Breadeaux Pizza

Breadeaux Pizza is an Italian pizza restaurant on 1st street, Pella, Iowa. It is a small pizza chain serving pizza in Pella, Oskaloosa, and five other towns in Iowa.

They serve pies and sandwiches along with pizza offerings.

Breadeaux Pizza has an excellent order delivery service in most branches in Iowa. The pizza sold comes in different flavors.

Two of the most requested pizzas are pepperoni and beef pizza. There is dessert, cinnamon, milkshake, soda, and beverages to go with your pizza if you like.

Their operating hours vary on different days of the week but be sure to order between 11 am and 8 pm.

Address: 803 E 1st Street, Pella, IA 50219 Phone: 641-628-2809

Would you want to know places to eat in Tehachapi, CA? Here is a guide on the best restaurants in Tehachapi, CA, worth visiting.

Plan a Trip to Pella

If you’re a foodie hoping to explore Dutch cuisine, then Pella is a great place to be.

The authentic Dutch recipes here produce the best foods originating from the Netherlands. You should know that Iowa has some awesome food contributions to American cuisine.

Foods that are unique to the state of Iowa include the original maid-rite sandwich, breaded pork tenderloins, and Iowa corn chowder. So if you are in Iowa and haven’t tried these iconic foods, go try them out!