Basic Bird

Basic Bird has some amazing food! We went on a date to grab some late lunch after a busy morning. Service: Wonderful Food: Excellent Drinks: Nice Vibe: Fun We ordered items we usually would not. I got the kimchi rice wrapped in an egg. She ordered the instant ramen salad. We also ordered the sweet fries. The cashier/server made some excellent suggestions and were patient with us having good conversation. I highly recommend the wings or chicken tenders. There isn't a bad sauce, just pick one for your mood. The potato salad, kimchi and fries are all excellent sides. Our dishes were fantastic and we enjoyed them! We are looking forward to going back 😍

Listen up!!! This is my favorite now okay 😆 my fiance and I ordered those awesome fries, loaded with lots of flavor and cheese and ordered Kimchi cabbage and cucumber, came with a side of rice but not just any kind of rice the seasoning they used on it actually threw me for a shock so meaning great taste, also kid friendly high chairs and more chair available if you have additional members seating along with you, the name Basic Bird doesn't give justice for how great the food is lol and I like that. Mac and cheese was pretty buttery and cheesy tasting so im actually not made at because my 1 yr old like it, but I will say Mac and cheese is just missing a little umph in it but still over all good regardless. Hannah was our waitress and she answered any questions we had and also gave us a sample of the Lava sauce !!!! May I ADD OMG GRRREATTTTTT❤️ 😍 💖 WE ORDERED 18 WINGS AND NEED I ADD THAT LAVA SAUCE COMPLIMENTED THE WINGS MORE AND STAND OUT MORE!!!!!! you know the chicken is great when my baby boy cried for more okay !! lol a. Lade came in she was a door washer and she even had to ask out the fries. AGAIN I MUST SAY 10/10 !!!!!!! PARKING IS FREE, SMALL LOT BUT INCASE IT IS FULL OTHER PARKING LOTS AND STREET PARKING IS AVAILABLE AS WELL. I'm not saying their was no handicap parking but perhaps I may have over looked it. I will say if you are in a wheelchair the tables are low energy and entering the building is still easy accessible to get in and out for sure. Back to the meal the amount paid for 2 ppl to share answered have left overs for later ran about 70, but.......... keep in mind the portion of food you get you can share if you want . Basically it's al about what you get and how much you plan to eat of course, but it is worth it ok you will not be disappointed. Clean environment. Nice and quiet and just over all great vibes and energy 😌 we will be coming back again soon 💋 😘 Thank you BASIC BIRD NOW IT'S TIME TO EXPAND YOU COMPANY TO THE EAST NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE NC TO BE EXACT WE WOULD VERY MUCH SPEND AND ADORE THIS TYPE OF EATING :) LOL BUT SERIOUSLY JUST A THOUGHT TO PUT OUT THERE IN CASE YOU WERE THINKING OF EXPANDING.

I wasn’t expecting to find a Korean fried chicken place in Des Moines. My boyfriend and i shared the 9 piece boneless wings and we tried their spicy gochujang and sweet honey butter sauces. I LOVED the spicy gochujang but don’t think i would get the honey butter one again. For our sides we got the miso mac and cheese, Korean potato salad, rice, and French fries. The Korean potato salad really surprised me, it was delicious and my favorite of the 4 sides. I enjoyed their fries, they didn’t taste greasy and had a nice seasoning. The miso mac was good but i couldn’t really taste the miso. My boyfriend and i agreed that the side of rice could’ve used some salt. Overall, this was a really good spot and the prices are great. I said to my boyfriend “if we lived in town i’d be here multiple times a month.”

UPDATE June 28, 2025 (5*): We were craving Korean Fried Chicken and my husband had never been so I decided to give Basic Bird another try. It was pretty dead tonight, but also within an hour of closing. The person at the counter graciously gave us time to scour the menu--letting us know they were available for any questions. The menu was slightly different than the first time I went so I had to re-evaluate. Today was such a different experience than 18 months ago! The food was hot and juicy, thoroughly cooked, deliciously flavorful, and perfectly seasoned! And, the chicken was wonderfully crunchy! It checked all the boxes! The Sweet Honey Butter sauce is still 🔥🔥🔥They even added some hot sides to the menu which were fantastic! The staff said that they went through some changes (dredging methods, processes, got rid of eat-in only dishes, etc...) And, it seems that it has really played in their favor. Will definitely be back. January 20, 2024 (3*): At first glance, the interior is super cute and cheery. We came in around 5:30pm on a Saturday evening. The line was already long and there were no tables available so 3 out of the 5 of us stayed to order takeout. This is not a sit-down establishment, it's counter service where you order and then sit down with a number. The tables didn't turn very quickly but there is some high counter seating if you're coming there alone or with one other person. We were a group of five so we wanted to chat and catch up. Their middle menu is strictly dine-in only so I ordered the Cheesy Rice Dumplings (Tteokbokki) for the three of us to share while we waited for the takeout. That was really tasty. The rice cakes had the right cook and texture and the sauce with the cheese and brussels really complemented each other. For my main, I got the boneless wings in the sweet honey butter sauce as well as the traditional bone-in wings in a mixture of the sweet and spicy sauces (double dunk). The sauces on the chicken were good but the chicken lacked the typical, famous crunch that Korean Fried Chicken has. I've had Basic Bird previously. They would serve out of Harbinger on Sundays (before they opened their brick and mortar location). THAT, WAS AMAZING!!! This, was nothing close. My meals came with 3 sides each, so I got all of them. They're all cold which is typical in Korean cuisine, but I did not like the marinated brussel sprouts cold. The shishito peppers are also not good cold. The pickled daikon was too thick and chunky to accompany the small bites of chicken. The cucumber kimchi was alright, but too sweet. The only two that everyone loved were the potato salad and cabbage kimchi. As added insight, but with no factor playing into my own assessment or rating. Two of my friends got the chicken sandwich. The other two got wings. The girls with the chicken sandwiches felt that their chicken was largely undercooked. Three of my friends subbed french fries for an upcharge and didn't get any. By the time they realized they weren't in the bag we were already at the house. And, if you call, you're unable to reach a human so we would've had to drive back. All in all, this visit was a miss. Maybe they were just having an off-day. They were super busy, and it seems that they're under-staffed. They were also out of a few things we wanted to try--the chicken and kimchi dumplings and the chicken and chive dumplings. I'll give it a few months and go back. I was disappointed this time but I know what they're capable of.

Eaten here many times and the food and service have always been great! I usually order the chicken sandwich with double dunk sauce, potato salad, and cucumber kimchi (pictured). Would eat again!

The food was very good and the wings are bigger than expected. The food came out fast and the sides are good proportions. I had the double dip(Left) and pineapple jalapeno(right) wings. The pineapple jalapeno was my favorite and the mack and cheese was fantastic. Overall my experience at the Basic Bird was fantastic and I strongly suggest that you give it a try.

Food here was awesome! I really like my honey butter boneless wings, the corn cheese, mac and cheese, and potato salad. Fries were also awesome. Yellow is my favorite color so loved the decorations in the restaurant as well :) My boyfriend really liked his food as well. I’m sure we will go back!

This is definitely the best Korean fried chicken I have ever had. The kimchi is wonderful and the rice is perfect. Side dishes were big portions. I wish I had known this place was here sooner. Gluten free.

There is absolutely nothing basic about this bird! When I woke up this morning, I never imagined I would find myself eating Korean in Des Moines Iowa of all places. No disrespect, but Des Moines doesn't exactly scream Korean culture. I'm not exactly a novice when it comes to Korean cuisine. I once took an entire trip to just Korean town LA. I'm in Gwinnett county Korean spots at least half a dozen times a year. Boston is also a hotbed for Korean food, which Is basically like my second home. The way I saw it, choosing to walk into Basic Bird was a high risk, high reward kinda decision. Right off the bat, there's so much to love. The dining area is playful, vibrant yellow. The menu is concise. I am a true believer in restaurants choosing a few things and doing it well. I went with the chicken wing meal which happens to come with 3 sides in addition to white rice: miso Mac cheese, fries, Korean potato salad. I also ordered the bulgogi bun for the hell of it. I don't even know where to begin....every single thing I ate was absolutely SENSATIONAL! From the creamy miso Mac to the crispy seasoned fries, and the somehow sweet potato salad?! The ribeye bulgogi in the steamed bun topped with kimchi is perfection. As good as everything is, nothing could have prepared me for the chicken itself. The crispness of the batter is simply stunning! Getting the gochujang sauce on the side and allowing the chicken to shine on its own was def the go to move. With complete conviction I can say I have never thoroughly enjoyed a Korean meal the way I did this. Flawless from top to bottom. Basic Bird....take a bow.

The food is ok super small sides 5 wings for 13.00 The flavor pf the hot and sweet I had was ok. My daughter said the wings taste like donuts Quality of wings not very good. Nice people Small space way too small I probably won't be going back. But if you like crispy wings they foresure have that.

I stopped here while in town and i'm glad i did! I wasn't expecting to find a Korean fried chicken place in Des Moines. My boyfriend and i shared the 9 piece boneless wings and we tried their spicy gochujang and sweet honey butter sauces. I LOVED the spicy gochujang but don't think i would get the honey butter one again. For our sides we got the miso mac and cheese, Korean potato salad, rice, and French fries. The Korean potato salad really surprised me, it was delicious and my favorite of the 3 sides. I enjoyed their fries, they didn't taste greasy and had a good seasoning. The miso mac was good but i couldn't really taste the miso. My boyfriend and i agreed that the side of rice could've used some salt. Overall, this was a really good spot and the prices are great. I said to my boyfriend "if we lived in town i'd be here multiple times a month."

Basic bird is an awesome Korean fried chicken spot in the Beaverdale neighborhood. The dining room is a bright, vibrant yellow and everything from the interior wallpaper to the exterior mural is thoughtfully decorated. They have their own parking lot so you don't need to worry about finding a spot amongst all the other Beaverdale shops. The service was quick and efficient- I think it took less than 10 minutes for my order to arrive. Each side dish I ordered was flavorful and well thought out. The chicken was fresh, tender, and had a crisp, light batter. My only suggestion would be more variety in the sauces.

Wife and I split the kimchi fried rice and the 5pc boneless wings (w/ three sides). Great combination of flavors and texture. Personally I prefer the bone-in wings but the boneless wings were good too. A nice mixture of white/dark meat - juicy and full of flavor. The kimchi bacon fried rice might be the one of the best dishes I've had in a while. Bursting with flavor which is not the norm with fried rice (which tends to be one note). The servers were helpful -- atmosphere is great. Owners did a great job decorating inside and out.

Let's set the record straight from the start: There is NOTHING basic about Basic Bird. It is an outstanding fast-casual option. With its parking lot and a very cool mural on a street-facing wall, Basic Bird gets your attention before you walk in the door. Then, their terrific staff lives up to its word, delivering the crispiest, crunchiest fried chicken possible. It's a fantastic dining experience. Oh my, such a great visit. Their unique yellow interior, with incredible artwork, has plenty of tables and room for groups, dates, and singles. It is clean and has a great vibe. The menu is above the order stand, and then you get a number for the food to be delivered quickly by a staffer. There are numerous gluten-free options. We loved the Honey Butter French Fries, a spectacular concoction of bacon, garlic butter, sweet corn, shredded cabbage, and crispy french fries. Our table of four couldn't get enough! I picked a BAP Bowl and was so pleased with the results. It was a superb Korean rice bowl combo of chicken, fresh veggies, pickles, spicy gochujang, and roasted seaweed topped with a fried egg. Truly amazing! We shared some yummy sides, and they were all great, especially the Korean potato salad. I met some of the staff throughout the visit, and they added to a great experience because they were genuinely nice people--special thanks to Nick for being a good person. It's my favorite place in the Metro thus far.

Great wings with excellent flavors. We will definitely be back. Don't skip the fries.

Best Korean chicken in Des Moines area. Super crunchy wings. The Double Dunk sauce is a must. Honey butter fries are unique but really really good. The sides that come with the wings will fill you up. All really good. It's not cheap food, but you won't walk out hungry. My son and I can cross this one off our list of places to try. We'll be back. Easy call on this one...5 stars.

Happy I found Basic Bird on the interwebs. We tried the the boneless wings with the "double dunk" sauce sweet and spicy. Just the right amount of sweet and tangy spices. The seasoned fries and the cheesy corn plus the cucumber kimchi. Everything was spot on. I am visiting Des Moines this weekend if I lived here, I would be here often! Highly recommended.

Basic bird did a pop up in Omaha and we had it on our calendar for weeks! It was completely worth the wait - everything on the table was absolutely delicious. I'm especially picky about Mac and cheese but the miso helped cut the "cheesiness" that is sometimes overpowering and brought a new depth of flavor. The sweet and spicy wings were not that spicy but that's how I like em! When asked about the gochujang wings my sister said "yum tasty" as her full review. Will be visiting again if I get over to Des Moines.

Oh bummer! My son is home for spring break so we decided to finally try Basic Bird and they are closed to do repairs from a recent incident (car crashed into their front window) . I have heard nothing but positive things from anyone who has gone - and they all seem to also have this on their regular rotation. Can't wait to try. Prices at first glance seemed a little high (whose aren't these days) but when you look closer at the amount of food you get, this seems like a legit deal. 3 sides plus rice! The beer prices are reasonable too. I'm for sure showing up hungry

Been a fan of the chicken here since they were a pop up back in harbinger! Food is delicious. In my opinion, their bone in wings are better. I think the crunchiness is just better held with the bone in versions. They have $1 per bone in wing every Wednesday, so that's a pretty good deal considering these wings are fairly big compared to other chains. They also serve cauliflower wings which I have yet to try! A must have recommendation is their honey buttered French fries. Absolutely out of this world! Cannot emphasize enough about it. Service is friendly. Ambience is bright. The parking lot is very small so you might have to walk a bit to get here. Walk right in and order at the counter type of thing. Such a cute spot in beaverdale.

We had a late dinner at Basic Bird, and it was excellent. We ordered the 9 piece boneless (double dunk) with cabbage kimchi, cucumber kimchi, and the shishito peppers. We also ordered the honey butter fries. The chicken and fries were piping hot and had excellent crunch and flavor. The chicken had a sweet heat with while the fries had more of a sweet richness that paired so well together. The kimchi was fresh and SOME heat but not as much as we would have preferred. The shishito peppers were excellent and had a subtle heat to them. Overall, we had SO MUCH food and we were so satisfied for the price we paid. Service was great, and we had plenty of seating to choose from. We loved the decor and the use of live plants inside to make it feel hip and homey. Can't wait to come back for more!

This place is awesome. I'm from LA and frequent Korean spots I know-town pretty often and this place definitely has dishes inspired by traditional Korean food. The ambiance is clean, staff is friendly, food comes out in a timely fashion. The bone in and boneless wings are a hit, got the honey butter and gochujan flavors. Sides are also pretty authentic, my favorite was actually the potato salad. Kimchi fried rice is also awesome. The only thing I have is that the food is overly salted. The flavors and spices are strong (as it should) but you really need something more bland to break that salty taste. My reco is an option for white rice, so the chicken and ban chan can be paired with it without feeling too salty. I've been here twice already and will definitely come back. So excited that Des Moines is getting more cultural food! Someone do authentic Chinese or dim sum next ;)

Yummy! What a fun place! You order from the counter, pay & they bring you your good. It's bright & cheery inside. The staff is friendly & helpful. We both had boneless wings with the double dunk sauce. It's a sweet, flavorful sauce. Sides are cold & you get 3. I had crunchy pickled daikons and loved them. The shoshito peppers were tasty-- one had some heat. Hubby liked the potato salad & cucumbers but not the Brussels sprouts. You can sub the salads for fries. We also had the loaded fries: coleslaw & cheese & corn! Delicious! Real silverware, too!! Of course we had too much food, but we like leftovers! Cheap? No. Tasty! Yes! We'll be back!!

We ordered the 9-piece boneless (double dip) with rice, fries, scallion pancake, and two drinks. $77 after delivery. Decent food, but not as flavorful as reviews had led me to expect. The gochujang and honey butter get tiresome after a few bites, but the chicken itself was juicy and tender. Really wish they would add some spice/heat to it. Rice was standard and the fries were kind of soggy. I expected the scallion pancake to be a traditional thin chinese or japanese style pancake with scallions in it; instead this was just hundreds of small pieces of scallions strung together with a thin flim of batter. Not very appetizing and hardly with the $8 price tag. Had high hopes, given all the media attention, but it won't be for me again unless they find a way to make their flavor more interesting.

I have wanted to try basic bird since they opened. I had been putting it off since everyone said the lines were out the door. Man, am I sorry I waited. We went on a Saturday at lunchtime. There was a big line. However, the line moved fast, and a table le opened up right after we ordered. We started with the fries....OMG. they were amazing. I definitely could have stopped after that. I ordered the boneless, and my companion ordered the bone in. Each came with three sides. Wasn't the biggest fan of the Brussel sprouts....but I think that is because I like my Brussel sprouts warm, and these were cold. My favorite side was the cucumber kimichi. The table next to us ordered the fried rice. I definitely want to try that next time.

From the outside of the building, you can tell this is going to be fun. This place is thriving, viking, and busy! Beaverdale parking is a trick. Plan street parking or small parking lots to the north. Thursday evening at 5:45 a girlfriend and I went to try. We walked right up to the counter, although it was obviously busy. Only a couple tables open. We figured out the menu pretty quick. This was an order at the counter and then sit type of joint. I did still ask Grace, behind the counter, what she enjoyed. She really liked the chicken sandwich, but it says since it was our first time to try the wings. I got the boneless wings with sweet honey butter sauce. *Pretty popular in the reviews* . Then you get 3 sides. *****They are all cold. The sides are cold. ****** They do tell you, but you should know. We also shared an order of the fries. I recommend them to share 100%! They were flavored well and tasted really good. Topped with yummies. The fries came out as an appetizer only slightly before the meals. The bones chicken was really good. Big pieces of very crunchy pieces. By the time we had our food, the order line was to the door. Not for the lack speed, just the popularity. The kitchen was banging and pushing out, take out orders and table orders. We tried to eat quickly to give up our table due to the limited space. This was really good. I highly recommend and a great addition to the Beaverdale neighborhood.

I love every part of this place. It has such fun ambiance with it's bright colors and artwork. We tried all the sides and they were all amazing. I think the brussel sprouts were my favorite and I could eat them daily. They were flavorful and cooked to perfection. The regular wings were good, but the cauliflower wing are the thing of dreams. They were perfectly fried and seasoned. I love out of town, but will come back just to eat these wings. The service was great and quick. Staff was knowledgeable about the menu. I really enjoyed being able to have a Korean adult beverage as it really completed the meal. I would recommend this place for a fun date night or a place to catch up with friends.

I went here for the first time after hearing a co-worker describe her experience. She talked about the pickled taste of the sides and that the taste lingered and she did not like it. The more she described how much she didn't like it the more I wanted to try it! I like pickled and fermented foods like kimchi and I love wings. This restaurant is clean and the staff is super friendly. I've been back several times for the bone in wings with rice, and choice of three sides. I've tried all the kimchi, pickled, and marinated sides now. All have a strong taste that is unfamiliar to me, but a nice change. The Korean potato salad tempers all those strong tastes perfectly. I'm wondering if my co-worker skipped this part of the meal.

Ambiance: Cute and bright. Good for brunch and a semi quick meal. Service: Friendly and accommodating. Taste: The chicken wings are crispy, flavorful, juicy, and jumbo. We got the double dunk. And the honey butter flavors. The cauliflower "wings" were okay. I'm not a fan of the dry rub, it didn't have much flavor compared to the sauced wings. It's the same seasoning they use for the fries. It's more like a futikake seasoning. But they were crispy and well cooked. The sides were sour and not the nice sweet spicy fermented sour. It's more American pickle like. Especially their radishes. The kimchi and the cucumber kimchi were soft, limp, and not spicy. The peppers were actually good. It had a subtle heat to it. Not too spicy. Overall:It's good. But skip the sides.

4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5* Service: 4* 02/10/2024 I read about the Basic Bird opening in the Des Moines Register and immediately added it to my Want to Go list. We first stopped by on a Saturday night around dinner time and decided we didn't want to wait in line because it was very busy. We got our chance a few weeks later by making plans to stop by before the rush...getting there before 4pm. I liked the fun paintings on the building as we walked up (see pictures) and the interior was quite bright, lively and inviting (see pictures). If you didn't know, the pictures will make it obvious that this is a fast-food restaurant...albeit one with high quality food and a selection of tap beer as well as other canned alcoholic beverages. Because of the fast-food format where you order at the counter and very basic (yet highly lacquered) interior, tables and chairs, I did deduct a point each for Atmosphere and Service. As for the food, both myself and my wife really enjoyed our choices. My wife opted for the Sandwich Meal with Brussel Sprouts, Korean Potato Salad & Shishitos peppers (see picture). I opted for the 5 Piece Boneless Meal with Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage Kimchi & Korean Potato Salad (see picture). As we always do, we shared bites of each others plates and both of us really liked most all of the offerings. We both preferred the Double Dunk sauce (on her sandwich) over the Spicy Gochujang sauce (on my wings), as we didn't think the Spicy Gochujang had much spice or flavor. The same could be said for the Shishitos, as they didn't have a lot of flavor. If you love juicy, crispy chicken and don't mind a fast-food format, you will want to try Basic Bird. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

Went in with my son this week to try this raving new spot out. We walked in and it was popping busy but we ordered our food and was surprised how fast they were. The service was fantastic. The people were so nice and helpful. I ordered my son some fries because what kid doesn't love fries. I got the 5 piece boneless chicken and I mentioned I had a gluten allergy and they recommended I get the dry rub or the sweet honey butter but I couldn't decide so I got the dry rub with a side of the honey butter. For sides I got the shishito peppers, cucumber kimchi and potato salad. The brought out the fries first which was perfect my son went right in and started eating. He loved them because this talkative boy of mine stayed quiet the entire time he ate almost. I tried them myself and enjoyed them also. The boneless chicken dry rub with the sweet honey butter side was HEAVENLY! I thought to myself before coming in oh I probably won't eat them all and can save some to share with my husband when he comes home. I was wrong I cleaned my tray up. I ate the whole thing. They were crunchy and juicy at the same time (*chefs kiss quality). The rub was the perfect Korean flavor with the spices and sesame seeds. I mean this place stole my heart. The sides all were perfect combination with my food. I was surprised the peppers had a sweet taste to them rather than spicy and I love them. Highly recommend to everyone! Especially my gluten free peeps you will love this place as much as I do now.

Two words: SO GOOD. I love the ultra crispy crunch of Korean fried chicken and Basic Bird absolutely nails it. The double dunk sauce (combo of sweet honey butter and spicy gochujang) is definitely the way to go. Shared a 9 piece with my boyfriend. With the three sides, it was more than enough for us to feel satisfied. Also shared the honey butter fries and they are sinfully delicious. You can't go wrong here.

Delicious wings. Mediocre banchan. Previously yummy fries. Fries have greatly decreased in size since my last visit on April 28th. Same price as before, but insane size difference. I wouldn't mind the size decrease if there was transparency in the new sizing - I.e. large fry for $8 and small fry for $5. But not saying anything feels weirdly sneaky. Chicken is genuinely delicious. Wonderful crunch and good mouth feel. I do think the gochujang could be much spicier but it's tasty at least. $1 bone-in Wing Wednesday is a fantastic deal. Banchan (cold sides) are fine. Nothing special frankly. They almost taste close to something at an actual Korean place, but the more you try them the closer the flavor feels to fusion - which it is. This is a fusion restaurant and their flavors reflect that, but if you're looking for something authentic this won't be it.

I have been waiting for this moment for literally years... in 2020 I found myself in Des Moines for an interview with Iowa Public television and was looking for a lunch spot after. I heard about this Korean fried chicken place out of Harbinger, and got it to go. I still remember sitting in the sculpture garden devouring this delicious chicken and sides. I'm so stoked that they now have their own brick and mortar. My recommendation, definitely do the double dunked sauce option and you absolutely have to get a side of cheesy corn.

This is the best Korean fried chicken I've ever had. I've been coming here since they were first serving during covid at Harbinger and haven't been able to find Korean fried chicken as good since moving. The portions are more than enough for one person. Employees are also very helpful too. I mentioned I was moving on my last visit and wished I could try the weekly flavor before I left. The manager(?) went to the kitchen and brought out the seasoning they used for the weekly flavor and gave it to me for free. I'll definitely be visiting Des Moines and this will be one of my first stops.

Stopped in on Valentines and had a short wait to order. Easily found a table to sit at and food came out quick. The loaded fries were perfectly crisp and loaded. Very tasty! The fried rice was different but tasted good. Wrapped in egg, cooked well, and large in portion size. Also tried some chicken we a couple different sauces/seasonings. The cold sides for the chicken were a little weird. We prefer our Brussels hot. Shishito peppers were tasty. Extra food reheated well in the air fryer the next day! Staff was friendly and working hard. Place was steady busy and there was ample parking.

We heard that a new Korean chicken place opened in Des Moines and knew we had to see if it was really authentic Korean chicken. To our pleasant surprise, it WAS! It's very challenging to find restaurants in Des Moines that serve amazing Asian food. Thank you Basic Bird for coming to Des Moines! Tried the boneless chicken, double dunked (IYKYK ), cabbage kimchee, cucumber kimchee, Korean potato salad, bim bap, and their honey butter fries. So so good!! Everything was fresh, veggies and fries crispy, and the flavors complimented the dishes so well! The restaurant is in a smaller place so fills up fast. Cute deco and simple, nothing over the top. High top and table seating available. You will have to wait in line to order, but trust me when I say, it's worth the wait!! Once you order, they'll give you a number and you seat yourself. They also have a nice variety of beverages to choose from! We'll be back again!

Excellent service and food. I grew up in Beaverdale so the ambience was right at my alley. five star review.

I usually wait a few weeks before trying a new restaurant that has just opened because it's usually crazy busy and they most likely have a few kinks to work out with the waitstaff and the service in a new space. But I was so excited to try this place that I couldn't wait and I'm so glad I didn't. My husband and I went tonight on their opening weekend. It was busy as expected and the line was almost out the front door but everyone in line was being patient and friendly and it smelled so good! I really love the decor and look of the place. The bright yellow walls are so cheerful, along with the neon lights and bright furniture. The exposed brick on one of the walls is a nice touch. Everything looks inviting and well thought out. I liked it immediately the moment I walked in. We waited in line about thirty minutes before we got to the counter to order. Being Korean I had high expectations. I had already read several glowing reviews so I was expecting nothing but the best. Oh my gosh, the food is wonderful! I got the five-piece boneless chicken with the double dunk sauce. That's a combination of their sweet honey butter sauce and their spicy gochujang sauce. You can get each of the sauces separately but I wanted spicy and sweet and it was wonderful! For me it's always about the sauce. If something doesn't have the right sauce it can ruin a good meal. They totally nailed it with the sauces. It comes with three sides so I got cabbage kimchi, soy garlic shishito peppers and Korean potato salad. My husband got the bacon and kimchi fried rice. We both absolutely loved all of our food so much. I wanted to lick my plate because everything tasted so good. The shishito peppers were tangy and vinegary and perfect. The chicken was tender and had a great crunchy coating with that yummy sweet and spicy sauce. I didn't know what to expect with the potato salad but it was delicious, too. I would order the same thing again but I want to try everything on the menu. While this isn't like the traditional Korean food I ate growing up, I totally loved it. It was more like Korean street food but it was executed perfectly. The kimchi wasn't the best I've ever tasted (that would be my mom's) but it was still good. I think if my mom were still alive she would have loved this food, too. We didn't experience any issues with our food or the service. In fact, the two guys we saw serving the food were doing a great job hustling, all with smiles on their faces and super friendly, too. I'm not surprised because the owner is a seasoned pro, being the owner of Harbinger and Little Brother, too. The prices are very reasonable and the flavors are unlike anything else in Des Moines. This is our new favorite restaurant now and we will be back again and again.

Great service and excellent food. Love the fusion of korean and savory sides.The Chicken Sando is the bomb. Great spot!

Good to great chicken wings, amazing fries and potato salad, AVOiD the Brussels! BRING YOUR OWN RANCH. Came here on a weekend around 1130, it was packed with lines out the door. Wait in line was about 25-30 minutes! Make sure you and your party split up and one person reserves a place to sit otherwise you will eat in your car. Food came out in about 15 minutes, so that's a 45 min wait... anticipation is building at this time. I ordered the double dunk and they were great BUT...they need ranch, blue cheese or something creamy to dip into! Without that the flavor of the wings get too much and you won't want to finish them. No lie if I go again I will be bringing my own ranch into the resto. The potato salad for me was amazing but you have to like egg in your potato salad, it's almost equal parts. Brussels sprouts inexplicably tasted like soap YUK! Kimchi is super unspicy. So unspicy that my kids could eat it. Which I guess is the point here, they want to make Korean food more approachable. Wish there were spicier options though. The fries eat almost like a salad in the best possible way. Lots of different textures and flavors. I will be back! But I won't wait 45 minutes.

Parking: They have a small lot of their own, otherwise this area is kinda tricky for parking in general. Atmosphere: incredibly cute and well done with their branding with their signature yellow on everything from the walls and signage to straws and to-go boxes. Also has fun characters from a local artist (Nic Roth) painted on walls and the side of the building. It's such a fun, full of life vibe but still modern with a warm and cozy feel with the brick wall. Seating: it's a small-ish space but has a really good variety of seating especially for the size. It has lots of bar top seating, low table tops, then low tops half booth/half chairs. Service: it's fast casual where you go up to the counter, order your food, grab a number, then they bring it out to you. Extremely helpful and friendly at the counter and it was PACKED in there with a long line and our food still came out really quick. Food: SO GOOD! Chicken was juicy and the coating was crispy and the sauce was filled with flavor. All the sides were great. I loved the Korean potato salad and was OBSESSED with their honey butter fries. A legit must-try. If you've been thinking about trying this place out, this is your sign to go immediately. DSM needed a place like this and it's perfect for beaverdale.

What a fun joint! The staff are amazingly helpful and the service is second to none. The vibe is hip and swanky... it is super clean and the staff are always cleaning the table immediately after a guest leaves. I had the the wings with the dry rub and had a side of cucumber kimchi, Korean potato salad both were so good. I would order again! My friend had the bacon and kimchi fried rice and they liked it too. The other guest were Uber nice and shared their reviews on what they got too. I encourage you to run not walk to this hip new place!

Clean, crisp ambiance with delicious food. The cost is a bit high but the food is worth it.

Loved this cute little restaurant! We tried the honey butter fries, corn cheese, and bone-in wings with the half/half sauce (can't remember what it was called). The sides we got were the kimchi, zucchini, and daikon. We loved the honey butter fries, and the chicken had a very crunchy skin that was nice. Corn cheese didn't have as much flavor as I was hoping, but was still very good, and the daikon was our favorite side. In retrospect, we thought it would've been better to order boneless than bone-in wings because the crunchy skin made it hard to eat the bone-in wings. Also, I've tried lots of kimchi and it didn't pack the same punch as others I've tried, not my favorite. Only other complaint is that the acoustics are BAD, it was very loud despite there only being about 10 people inside while we were there. Overall though, I would go again.

Went for the first time yesterday while passing thru Des Moines. Absolutely loved it! Judging from the looks of the outside I didn't have very high hopes, but the food is delicious. We shared the chicken sando which is a fried chicken sandwich that comes with three sides. There are alot of sides to choose from and it is difficult to narrow down the choices. We got pickled daikon, miso mac & cheese and potato salad. The miso adds an interesting taste to the mac & cheese, I love miso so it was a hit. The potato salad has Korean influence in the flavor so that was great too. The daikon is lightly pickled and provides a fresh light side dish to the fried chicken sandwich. We also shared an order of honey fries that had garlic aoli, honey, cabbage, corn and cheese on top. An unusual combo for sure but it works. We almost could eat them all, it is a big plate. You order at the counter here and get a number and they bring your food out, so it is a very casual atmoshere, just like we like it. If only we didn't live several hours away in Missouri we would be back often. Maybe they will expand south? :)

Food is BOMB and always a fun place to visit while in DSM. My favorite is the boneless wings with the dry rub. You get three sides with the entrees and you can't go wrong with any of them. The design is cute as heck, can't wait for their window to be fixed, someone crashed through it.

I had the 5 piece boneless wings with honey butter sauce and they were excellent. Chicken was moist and perfectly breaded. The sides were very good. Mac n cheese, kimchi and fries were so so good! Will definitely be back!

It's elevated fast food! Americanized Korean food... the food (especially the fried chicken and cauliflower) were good for like three minutes and then it got cold and I started feeling sick. Don't over order and only eat when hot! It's a super cute place though and they were really nice because I had a big group and we were really loud (hence the four stars instead of three). I would only recommend it if you are craving fried chicken and eat really fast. Also the kimchi wasn't that great and a little too dry and the cabbage didn't feel that fresh.

Fabulous food in a great quirky setting! The bap bowl and the chicken dumplings were perfect. Loved the choice of veggies in the bowl and the sauce for the dumplings was perfect. First time I have tried soji, crisp and clean. Thanks for the whole set up!!

We tried their sweet honey and sour bone in wings and they were AWESOME, their Bap bowl was so good, their kimchi cucumber and cabbage Kimchi was amazing, our son loved their pickled Diakon Would highly recommend this place!!!

The space is small (and the ambiance overwhelmingly yellow in my opinion), but the parking lot is convenient and staff are pretty nice. The dry rub fried chicken is decent and tastier than the spicy gochujang; it's crispy and well cooked, though not super flavorful. The ranch has extra seasoning in it, but it still isn't very flavorful. However the combination of ranch and the chicken is decent. The fries are good, and the rice is great! As for the sides, the marinated Brussels sprouts are okay, but the cucumber and cabbage kimchi tasted very old and not in a good fermented way. Would probably go back for the chicken and rice. - Pros: easy parking, great sticky rice, decent chicken and ranch - Cons: sides

Food was really good, tasty chicken! Sides stole the show. We'll be back, love the location too.

Gluten free options are readily available and from my experience Celiac Safe! I ordered dry rub, mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts and kimchi. A must try if in DSM and you might crave this food later! ;) Inside is unique and v. cute. I will say staff wipes down tables quickly to get tables open and that was very appreciated! It can get very busy inside the location for sitting and chatting, might be more like in/out quick eat location!

Food was so so good. Loved the Korean fried chicken! My friend had the honey butter and I had the special sauce version. The honey butter French fries were so so delicious, sweet, salty, and crunchy! The sides were a nice cleanser each bite of Korean fried chicken! If I ever am back here I'll try and stop by for these again or try a new one I haven't done.

This food was excellent, and the Korean sides were much bigger than I anticipated- I ordered a 9 piece but I shouldn't have- there was way more than I could eat. My husband and I could have split my dish, but he had the bap bowl, which he reported was excellent and my son had the chicken bites a fries (also very good, he says). Staff was nice, too, tables were clean art and decor was pretty cool, too.

Basic Bird is my new favorite restaurant. Great food, chicken is crispy and flavorful, sides are delicious and accompany the chicken perfectly. Cannot wait to come back over and over again.