Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

When I was told about this place I was to excited as I tried a themed burger place like this in Ohio and it was trash. So we decided to go eat there. As we pull up the line was OUT THE DOOR AND DOWN the sidewalk. We ended up sitting at the bar. I ordered the Big kid zombie box. It came with a beer, a key chain and a burger w/fries. As the order was pushed to me I was excited and joking about the kid meal box it came in but when I opened it... the burger looked delicious. Ok words can't really explain the savory bite I took into this burger! It was Delicious! And it was amazing from beginning to end. We also ordered bacon garlic and blue cheese fries. And even those were on another level of fabulous. I highly recommend this place and the best bang for the buck I think was that big kid zombie box. The bartender at the time I wish I caught his name. But he has been there for 13 years and I as able to help me decide what to get and even shared the opinion about burger and beer.

Bravo Zombie Burger I'll definitely be coming back!

This Zombie Burger + Drink Lab can be found in downtown with (metered) street parking. There is outdoor (dog friendly) seating available.

Zombie Burger + Drink Lab was highly recommended by locals so my husband and I decided to make an order to go after visiting the State Capitol a few Fridays ago. We ended up ordering:

Big Kid Zombie Meal, $14.99 + Triple Burger add on, $2.50 + 1/2 loaded fries, $2.25 prior to tax- This big kid meal comes with a root beer float, a side of fries and a toy, which is a key chain bottle opener with Zombie Burger's logo it. My husband decided to add on the triple burger patty because he figured it would be great for the 2 of us since we were planning on sharing this meal. He also decided to add the loaded fries too (I made the mistake to use the restroom while he ordered. I honestly would not have added that). The burger was good, juicy and flavorful. I liked the cheese between the patties and the sauce or spread used on the burger. But the bun was a major fail. It did not hold up to the bun and just fell apart and was rather soggy. The loaded fries were really tasty and a good portion. I liked my root beer float (I don't even remember when was the last time I had one). The box the burger comes in is pretty cool. I thought this big kid meal was a fun experience.

Chili Cheese Fries, $8.99 prior to tax- Our chili was packed on the side since our meal was taken to go. The fries already had melted shredded cheese on it. The chili was nice and thick. The portion size of these fries is quite a lot and plenty to share with 2 or 3 people.
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(Total= $31.59 after tax + 2.75% surcharge for paying with credit card)

Please note that if you want to avoid the transactions credit card fee, pay with cash. We did not know about the fee, as we did not see on the menu or a sign that there was a fee (nor did I read in reviews from fellow Yelp members about it).

Service was friendly. Wait time wasn't too bad, especially since we ordered in person. The restaurant is decked out in zombie décor. The bathroom was also pretty cool too.

I can see why this place is so highly rated and also well liked by visitors and locals.

Fun concept, restaurant has two parts - proper dine-in and kiosk self-service. Lots of burgers and shakes to choose from.

The Cremator burger and Peanut Butter Banana shake were great. Would definitely revisit to try the others if I find myself in Des Moines again.

We dropped in during our spring break roadtrip not knowing really what to expect. The name of the restaurant peaked our curiosity and this place did not disappoint!

The burgers were absolutely delicious, cooked and seasoned to perfection. After reading reviews I knew I was going to order the sweet potato fries and they were off the charts tasty. Our server was outstanding and catered to our group of seven and her other tables like a pro. We didn't want for a thing under her care.

The vibe of the restaurant was super cool and extremely unique. Make sure to take pics with the zombies in the front, they are ready and waiting for your entertainment. The bathrooms are somewhat detached from the restaurant and require a code for use which was intriguing but that added to the entire experience.

The parking situation was almost enough to have us skip our visit but I'm so glad we took a few minutes to trouble shoot and realize that there's a very nice parking garage within easy walking distance.

We had a wonderful experience at Zombie Burger + Drink Lab. Excellent food, friendly and attentive wait staff, fun environment and very reasonable prices made for an unforgettable visit. We're still talking about how much we enjoyed it here!

Great place for burgers as the name suggests. Creative and fun names for their offerings. Ample outdoor seating with convenient parking ramp to the east side of building.

The burgers were great and large servings for the price. Definitely recommend the socket cocktail. Fast service and our waitress was great!

4.0* (out of 5)
Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 3*

07/20/2023
A group of business visitors were in town for the day and wanted to try Zombie Burger. Rather than have it delivered, we opted to delay our lunch until just before they left town so that we could enjoy a fresh, hot meal as well as the well-known ambiance of Zombie Burger in person.

For starters, we ordered Fried Cheese Curds (see picture) and 3 Pigs Nachos (see picture) to share. The Fried Cheese Curds were above average and I found the 3 Pigs Nachos to be some of the best nachos I've had - fresh, crispy chips with excellent smoked pork, cheese and other toppings make this a solid appetizer.

For my meal, I ordered a Poultrygeist with a side of Sweet Potatoe Fries (see picture). Yeah, I know, my wife made fun of me also for ordering a chicken sandwich in a place known for its burgers...but my strategy was to eat a little lighter so that I could sample one of their shakes. The Poultrygeist was delicious - crispy on the outside, very juicy on the inside and quite tasty! The same can also be said for the Sweet Potato Fries - they were cooked to perfection and quite tasty.

The only disappointment was the service, as it was average at best. It seemed that we were waiting to order and looking to catch someone's attention when we wanted something. Myself and a co-worker had empty water glasses for 5-10 minutes and finally had to catch a server walking by to ask for more water to finish our meals.

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Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

Zombie Burger and Fong's Pizza are probably two hilariously wacky places you should try out if you want a fun, unique experience at the slight expense of the quality of food! Zombie Burger, with just a few locations throughout Iowa, is completely decked out with neon signs and decorations all centered around zombies, gore, and the like. It's a ton of fun, there was a Frankenstein hanging over our table, and even their menus are like newspaper clippings with news of recent zombie attacks on one side and the menu on the other. The attention to detail is solid and I really appreciated that!

Zombie Burger gives fast casual vibes, with it's casual dining tables and chairs and a whole section of the restaurant for ordering carryout and picking it up, but there's also a bar where you can stay for a while as well, so I think this is good for something casual or for carryout, with a small or large group as well.

The menu is majority burgers and also a ton of fun shakes with a ton of punny names! What I like especially about this place is that it's super vegetarian and vegan friendly. You can substitute any beef patty with a Beyond burger (vegan) or portobello mushroom as well for a more "natural" substitute. We ended up getting the two most egregious burgers on the menu - the "They're coming to get you Barbara" burger (instead of normal buns, the burger and all the toppings were sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches) and "The Walking Ched" (instead of normal buns again, the burger and all the toppings were sandwiched between two breaded, deep fried macaroni and cheese buns)! Burgers are served in a smash burger format, so it didn't feel as hefty as I had imagined in my head. My grilled cheese buns were also mashed down quite a bit so it all appeared more flat and smaller than anticipated, which I appreciated. Regardless, I still could not finish mine!

I also got the Coke float, which was delicious! I wasn't in the mood for a full on shake and I had decision fatigue just from looking at the menu because there were so many delicious options, but the Coke float hit the spot (I refilled it with Coke probably halfway through the drink as well because the ratio was getting off kilter), but that would be an extra thing you would need to ask for.

All in all, a super fun and hilarious experience, complete with a proper story and photos to show friends about our experience here. It's the pinnacle of "stupid" food and I was fully here for it! I recommend Zombie Burger for a fun time and quick bite!

A unique experience where I get to enjoy a hamburger with a shake in a zombie-themed restaurant that is worth going at least once. The raygun burger and the human centipeach shake was pretty good. The zombie poutine was decent. The option to order from a kiosk instead from having to wait in line to order makes ordering more convenient.

Zombie Burger in Des Moines provided a memorable lunch experience on a Saturday afternoon. The immediate and friendly seating by the hostess set a positive tone, and the restaurant's unique zombie-themed décor created an engaging atmosphere, perfect for fans of horror movies. The extensive menu was a pleasant surprise, offering a wide variety of options, including a themed holiday menu inspired by Krampus.

Our waitress contributed significantly to the positive experience with her excellent service and attentiveness. The standout item was the Zombie Bride Wedding Cake shake, a delightful blend of vanilla ice cream and yellow cake mix. The Undead Elvis burger, featuring peanut butter, fried bananas, bacon, cheese, egg, and mayo, along with the They're Coming to Get You Barbara (grilled cheese burger) and chili cheese fries, were not only delicious but also visually appealing.

While the overall dining experience was excellent, there was a minor setback with the grilled cheese on the burger, which wasn't as warm as desired, and the cheese hadn't fully melted. Despite this small flaw, the overall impression was positive, leaving us excited to return. Zombie Burger is highly recommended for its unique theme, extensive menu, and flavorful offerings. We look forward to our next visit.