This Restaurant Arguably Has the Best Chicken and Waffles in Iowa

In Iowa, food traditions run deep… and deep-fried. This state is famous for enormous breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, those crispy frisbees of Midwestern pride that hang off buns like they’re trying to escape. You'll also find scotcheroos: chewy, peanut-buttery, chocolate-topped squares that somehow manage to show up at every church potluck, school bake sale, and funeral lunch. They’re sweet, a little sticky, and unmistakably Iowa.

But when it comes to breakfast? That’s where things get a little quiet. There’s not a signature morning dish that screams Iowa like a state-fair breakfast on a stick, is there? So let me introduce you to a place that’s making the case that Iowa—not Georgia, not Tennessee—should be famous for chicken and waffles.

Say hello to Railroad Bill’s Dining Car.

You’ll find this unassuming gem tucked in the northeast corner of Des Moines’ East Village, a neighborhood that feels equal parts artsy and working-class, polished and scrappy in all the right ways. It’s the kind of neighbrohood where vintage shops sit next to tattoo parlors, and where it’s perfectly acceptable to spend your Saturday morning thrifting, sipping a cold brew, and pretending you’re in an indie movie about self-discovery. A few blocks away, the Des Moines River snakes through the city, and the gold dome of the state capitol glints like it’s got secrets.

Then there’s Railroad Bill’s: a spot that looks like it time-traveled from the 1950s and brought a few modern ideas along for the ride. The sign is simple. The space is cozy without being cramped. The vibe is unfussy, comfortable, and, above all, human. The staff are genuine and quick with a smile and make you feel like you’re at your cousin’s house, if your cousin happened to be really good at frying things and didn’t judge you for ordering hash browns as a side… and then again as a second side.

And yes, you’re here for the chicken and waffles. This dish deserves its own sermon. Imagine a plate where a perfectly golden, crispy-skinned fried chicken breast rests proudly on a thick, fluffy waffle. Then it’s all hit with a maple cream sauce: rich, silky, and just sweet enough to make your eyes do that half-closed thing. This isn’t fast food. It’s food with weight and purpose.

If you wander off the main path (and I recommend you do), there are plenty of other reasons to fall in love here. The John Henry is a hearty monster of a meal: fried chicken blanketed in sausage gravy, because restraint is not on the menu. The Hash Brown Platters are exactly what they sound like—giant, glorious mounds of crisp potatoes topped with eggs any style. Feeling creative? Build your own platter. Feeling reckless? Try the Breakfast Nacho Slinger—home fries and sausage drowned in cheese sauce and finished with sour cream, avocado, and pico de gallo. It’s the edible equivalent of a mic drop.

If you lean plant-based, Railroad Bill’s doesn’t leave you in the lurch. The vegan menu reads like someone actually cared about it, not an afterthought, but a full-on breakfast arsenal. The Vegan Gravy Train Slinger loads up home fries, cheese sauce, tempeh sausage gravy, and tofu scramble in a way that would make even carnivores pause. The Vegan French Toast, made with ciabatta and dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, proves that decadence isn’t exclusive to dairy.

Lunch? Sure, if you’re still hungry (and honestly, you probably will be). Try the Fried Chicken Sandwich if you’re loyal to your bird, or go full Dagwood with a triple-decker club that feels more like a personal challenge than a meal. There’s a Country Club sandwich with more meat than a weekend smoker, and a Vegan Billy’s Cheese Steak that somehow makes peppers, onions, and plant-based steak taste like they’ve been grilling in your dreams.

Railroad Bill’s is more than a diner, y'all, it’s a microbusiness run by Optimae LifeServices, giving job opportunities to folks who might not get a fair shot elsewhere, like folks facing barriers like mental health challenges, disabilities, or a history of incarceration. The staff get one-on-one coaching and support, and it shows. There’s care in every corner of this place, from the way your eggs come out just right to the way your server actually seems to like being there. That’s not small stuff.

If you're planning a trip to Iowa (or even if you live down the street and have somehow missed this spot), make it a point to visit Des Moines. Stop by the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, take in some weird and wonderful public art, and then head to Railroad Bill’s for a breakfast that just might become your new gold standard. Come for the chicken and waffles, stay for the coffee, leave with your belt loosened and your faith in humanity slightly restored.