SOUTHEAST SIDE
Siamville Thai Cuisine
3635 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
319-364-1955, siamville.com
Nestled into the back corner of the Town & Country Shopping Center, Siamville is one of those spots that’s easy to miss but hard to forget. It’s the perfect place for a casual lunch date, with a pad thai that’s right at the ideal intersection of sweet and savory, and curries to suit every preference — mild and sweet to blow-your-top spicy. The space is never too busy, the service is friendly, and the whole restaurant has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that will keep you coming back over and over.
Fancy’s
3531 Mt Vernon Rd SE, Cedar Rapids
319-899-3112, instagram.com/fancysnewyork
They say that pizza’s hard to get wrong, and I’m inclined to agree, but while any old cook can slather some red sauce on a bread platter, there are few that reach the apex of high art you’ll get at Fancy’s. The chewy sourdough is encrusted with high-quality ingredients you’d almost want to eat on their own, if not for the fact that they work so well together. Locally sourced sausage, wild ramps, capicola and more await you on pizzas so generously sized you’ll be eating them the next morning, too.
Coyle’s Hibachi
3847 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
319-249-1375, coyleshibachi.com
Charming ’70s vibes abound inside Coyle’s, though the tastes are fully up-to-date. Hang out at the bar and fill up on all your favorite rolls, or take a plate to go — they’re delectable either way. Personally, I recommend the salmon hibachi: a generous helping of perfectly flaky salmon nestled on a bed of fried rice, drizzled with the precisely correct amount of teriyaki sauce. Stop by their brick-and-mortar location on First Ave or keep your eyes peeled for their bright red food truck. No matter where you eat it, you can’t go wrong.
—Malcolm MacDougall
NORTHEAST SIDE
Tomaso’s Pizza
2706 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
1204 7th Ave #101, Marion
1061 N Center Point Rd NE, Hiawatha
tomasos4me.com
Chicago, Detroit, New York — and the Cedar Rapids metro. Pizza destinations are made by restaurants like Tomaso’s. This hometown chain has been tossing fresh, saucy, hot and downright good pies for decades. Their Detroit-style Mombo Combo was even featured on Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Prefer the other cities’ styles? Tomaso’s has an impressive New York thin crust and Chicago deep dish, too.
Nara Thai
1725 Blairs Ferry Rd # 102, Marion
319-200-4004, narathai.net
Nara’s cozy atmosphere makes for a great place to soak up some warmth in the colder months, but the Thai food cravings will keep you coming back all summer. From drunken noodles (pad khee mao) and various pad thai options to curries and stir-fries, Nara has hit the mark across the bill. Order a dim sum platter or spring rolls for the table, sip on some Thai tea and try your best to pick only one noodle entree.
Willie Ray’s Q Shack
266 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
319-206-3806, willieraysqshack.com
Willie Ray Fairley’s philanthropic efforts are legendary, drawing headlines and celebrity accolades since 2020 for rolling his mobile smoker into neighborhoods affected by derechos, tornados, floods and hurricanes, providing free meals to hundreds in need. Lucky for every type of customer, Fairley makes tender, mouth-watering, fall-off-the-bone barbecue, along with tasty sides such as homemade potato salad and baked beans seasoned to perfection. Having outgrown its original 2019 shack, the Q now has a dining room of its own on Blairs Ferry Road.
Loosie’s
1611 32nd St NE, Cedar Rapids
319-200-1002, loosiescr.com
Move over Maid-Rite, there’s another loose meat sandwich spot in town! Opened in 2019 by former Ottumwa residents Norm and Sandy Wilkerson, Loosie’s strives to be as quintessentially Midwestern as the historic Canteen Lunch, Ottumwa’s loose-meat legend (their sandwiches are called Canteens). Loosie’s menu is made up of classics like potato salad, baked beans, mac and cheese, tenderloins and, of course, their namesake sandwich — all homemade! Enjoy within their TV-free, farmhouse-style dining space, or book their food truck for your event.
—Mady Stano
NORTHWEST SIDE
El Super Burrito & Lupita’s Bakery
3300 Johnson Ave NW, Cedar Rapids
319-366-1181, elsuperburritoandlupitas.com
Blink and you might miss this Cedar Rapidian staple, housed inside a quaint and unassuming building. This dual restaurant-bakery is known for its burrito ahogado, a “super” burrito stuffed with your choice of meat (the carne asada is one of their most popular), cheese, rice, beans and lettuce, and smothered in their famous green salsa. It’s large enough for two people, but can be purchased in a “mini” version if you’re feeling less ravenous. Their full bakery presents made-from-scratch Mexican desserts like fresh flan, churros and tres leches, perfect for any fiesta.
—Madelyn Orton
SOUTHWEST SIDE
Café Saint Pio
99 16th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids
319-200-1000
This airy, sun-drenched cafe in Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village has a tightly edited coffee menu, ensuring a quality drink visit after visit — but with plenty of flavored syrups to suit your tastes. The breakfast and lunch options are, in my opinion, the real winners here. House favorites include the biscuits and gravy, the Goats + Bees Griller (a goat cheese and hot honey situation), and the egg salad sandwich, cut into triangles like any good sandwich should be, with potato chips and pickle on the side. The rotating quiche specials are always intriguing; I’m talking pickle-cauliflower-ham-dill-goat cheese and beet-cauliflower-carrot-feta quiche.
Mikhael’s
1426 6th St SW, Cedar Rapids
319-366-3644, mikhaelscr.com
Mikhael’s exists in my mind as the Cedar Rapids version of the Seinfeld diner Monk’s. I’m not sure exactly why, since they don’t bear much physical resemblance, but it’s a vibe. Just like Monk’s, Mikhael’s feels like a spot for “regulars,” though the warm and friendly staff make sure anyone enjoys their experience. Open seven days a week, this family-owned breakfast and lunch joint serves hungry patrons Shipwrecks, perfect pancakes, hamburgers and tenderloins alongside other classic diner fare. There’s no Big Salad on the menu, but no matter what you order, you’ll leave full and more than satisfied.
Mai Pho
2315 Edgewood Rd SW, Cedar Rapids
319-396-4337, maiphocr.com
Mai Pho is a little Vietnamese gem hiding in the strip mall maze of Cedar Rapids. Offering a range of plates from pho to bun, stir fries to rice dishes, the menu has plenty of options for all palates without feeling totally overwhelmed by choices. The food is well-executed, layered with fresh, herbaceous flavors and textures. Dining at the dark tables and booths provides a cozy, private space to enjoy your meal, and the service is prompt and friendly. Finish with a boba tea of your choosing and you’ll walk away happy and refreshed.
—Frankie Schneckloth
The Flying Wienie
103 8th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids
319-861-3036, theflyingwienie.com
If you think you can only find tasty hot dogs at the ballpark, you’ve clearly never been to the Flying Wienie! The owners moved to Cedar Rapids from Chicagoland in 1989, and just one bite of their Chicago dog proves they know what they’re doing. They also serve up ribs, gyros, sandwiches (their Italian beef is the best!) and tasty fried appetizers like fries, onion rings and mushrooms — all inside an adorable red shack with a yellow airplane parked on the roof.
—Madelyn Orton
MARION
Crab Attack
796 11th St, Marion
319-363-1175, crabattack.com
Feeling crabby? Attack that mood in Uptown Marion, where Crab Attack hosts Cajun seafood boils to make the crawdads sing. Customize your boil to make it hot, mild, garlicky or barbecuey, and load it up with corn, potatoes, noodles, lobster tails and whatever else you want to feast upon. Their soulful menu also includes catfish and shrimp with grits, po’ boys, jambalaya, salmon alfredo pasta and crab legs for dayyyys.
Frydae
743 10th St, Marion
319-200-4550, finallyfrydae.com
This is ice cream worth screaming about on social media — if you can stop yourself from digging in long enough to take the picture. This sweet-and-salty snack spot is a favorite of locals and out-of-town visitors alike. Nom on their loaded fries or lunchtime chicken sandwich, and top it off with one of their milkshakes, malts or sundaes. Frydae’s ingredient options put even froyo joints to shame: almonds, pecans, cheesecake, cotton candy, frosted animal cookies, Fruity Pebbles, mini doughnuts, streusel, Nutella, sour gummies, toasted marshmallows and so much more.
—Mady Stano
This article was originally published in Little Village’s 2024 Bread & Butter special issue. Don’t see your favorite restaurant or neighborhood on the list? Let us know at editor@littlevillagemag.com.
