Spice Rasta Indian Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Ankeny

Authentic South Indian Gem in Ankeny – Spice Rasta ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s rare to find truly authentic South Indian cuisine in the Des Moines metro, but Spice Rasta in Ankeny, Iowa is an absolute gem. I lived in the area for 6 years and have tasted quite a few Indian restaurants but this one stands out..

I started with the Chicken Manchow Soup, which was rich, spicy, and deeply flavorful—a perfect appetizer to set the tone. Suggest mild or medium version if you are not in to super spicy stuff..

Coming to goat dishes - The Goat Sukka was incredible: tender, dry-roasted goat bursting with bold South Indian spices. The Goat Rogan Josh was equally exceptional, featuring fall-apart meat in a beautifully complex gravy that was just the right amount of heat and richness.

Biryani lovers won’t be disappointed either. The Mutton Biryani was aromatic, layered, and full of flavor, with perfectly cooked rice and juicy, spiced mutton. I also tried the Veg Keema Biryani, and it completely exceeded expectations—savory, well-seasoned, and satisfying even without meat.

I had the pleasure of trying multiple other chicken starters and veg and non-veg entrees as I visited with large group.. I can honestly say none of them were disappointing.. definitely a level above any restaurants you can find in the area..

Spice Rasta is a must-visit for anyone in the Des Moines area craving authentic South...

So, my first visit to Spice Rasta was a bit of a race against the clock. We were meeting a professor from Ames, and we strolled in fashionably late—around 2:00 p.m.—when the place closes at 2:30. Honestly, I always wonder if it’s a bit cheeky to show up that close to closing time—but hey, life happens! The staff was kind enough to let us know that the kitchen was winding down, so we kept it light with just drinks and appetizers instead of going for a big meal.

We had a mango lassi, some samosas, and chaat. The samosas were pretty standard and the mango lassi got a thumbs-up from my friend. My salted lassi, though, came out like a yogurt-and-salt iceberg that didn’t quite meet the mark even after a fix.

The ambiance was nice—high ceilings, decent décor, and the place was empty, so we had peace and quiet. I get that showing up half an hour before closing is a bit of a gamble. In the end, I’d say it was a “meh” first experience, but I’d definitely come back at a better hour to see the place in full swing. After all, it’s only fair to let them shine when they’re not about to turn...

If you like good food (I won’t even limit it by just saying Indian food) then you have to try Spice Rasa. If you know Chowrastha, this is their sister restaurant, with a little bit different concept and flavors.

From the moment you walk in, the decor is amazing and the service is very prompt. We were lucky to catch their grand lunch buffet yesterday, where you can try lots of different Indian dishes you might not have tried or tasted otherwise. My kids and my wife really enjoyed the grilled paneer, Gobi 65, paneer tikka masala, hariyali chicken, goat rogan josh, and of course their favorite was the mango 🥭 lassi, which I was so surprised to see on the buffet! For me, I couldn’t stop eating their chicken biryani!! Great selection of vegetarian and non-veg dishes for everyone 🥘

The food is 🔥 10/10 no complaints. I can only imagine what the dine-in is like. They will have their weekday lunch buffets starting Monday if you missed yesterday or I highly recommend trying their menu service, which I will be...