The staff was incredibly helpful and professional and polite. The food was top notch and maybe the best Asian cuisine I've ever had. We had chicken curry, edamame, vegetable tempura, chicken patties, general Tso's chicken, kung Pao chicken, and miso soup. We arrived close to 8pm for dinner and we were the last to leave around 9pm Saturday night. I highly recommend this place if you've never had it before.

Went there a couple of days ago. I always order fresh veggie spring roll. It used to be huge enough to share with someone. Now, it looks so sad and soggy and small. I'm very disappointed. The main dish was alright. Shrank as well, though.

Great spot for Asian food. The quantities here are always generous and a lot of times leave with a to go box. The food is great, and they seem to have greatly improved since their snafu with the food inspector. They have a lot of options in their menu and everyone will definitely be able to find something they like. I really loved the yellow curry and the ambiance here is perfect for a date night!

I hadn't been here in over 5 years, so it was a nice surprise to know that the food and service are still great. I enjoy having menu choices. I went to lunch for my birthday and had a fantastic time. The waitress brought out mini-cheesecakes to celebrate my day.
We were seated immediately. There was a steady flow of hungry people, but no long lines. The food was fresh and hot. We were served immediately after ordering.

The herb crusted catfish was FIRE!!! So, so good. Spring rolls- great. Des Moines roll delicious. Yellow curry with duck- super yum. Kids chicken nuggets- normal. LOL.

We dined at 7 on a Monday night. 2 adults and 1 child. The restaurant was like a ghost town. It was weird!!! Seated in bar area, because most other areas were closed off.

Server was attentive, but seemed to be the only person working so even with the quiet atmosphere, she was struggling to do everything by herself. Total for appetizers and 3 meals $87.

Cozy and welcoming atmosphere. HUGE menu. Clean. Handicap accessibility. Plenty of parking.

Unique concept, combining Japanese, Chinese, and Thai options on a menu. Great customer service from Sao, our server. Had I not been on a tight schedule, would have explored their appetizers, most notably the Spicy Edamame. Loved my Pad Thai with chicken dish, spicy meter of 4 on a 1-6 scale and tasted great. Good pricing, spacious parking lot.

Everything we ate was spectacular. The food came out fast, the staffs hospitality was very helpful and friendly. All of the ingredients tasted fresh and expertly cooked. The perfect place for some GOOD Thai.

As soon as we walked in I knew it was going to be a great experience. The atmosphere was great, the staff was friendly, and when we got our food, it was the best thing about this place. I ordered the house salad and orange chicken, being thoroughly impressed with both. The house salad was a great blend of tastes and vegetables, the orange chicken being a tangy, sweet, slightly crispy dish sent from heaven. The staff was always friendly and patient, being able to feed our party of around 15 people. If I'm in the area, I'm definitely coming here again.

Yummmmmmy food!

seating is a little wonky, you feel like you are display. no music, so everyone can hear your conversation. Other then that the food was good!

Unique concept, combining Japanese, Chinese, and Thai options on a menu. Great customer service from Sao, our server. Had I not been on a tight schedule, would have explored their appetizers, most notably the Spicy Edamame. Loved my Pad Thai with chicken dish, spicy meter of 4 on a 1-6 scale and tasted great. Good pricing, spacious parking lot.

Their food is consistently good. Love their sticky rice and chicken with vegetables. Just a yummy place to eat

Used to be a great place at their old location, the crab Rangoon was out of this world. But at their latest location, things have changed. The last 2 times I've been there in the past month or so, both the pad see ew and pad Thai have been terrible.. smelling something awful, not supposed to smell rank! Ate them anyway, the pad see ew tasted better as I ate more thankfully, but the pad thai was worse. Having a stomach ache all day today, not feeling the best.. most likely food poisoning.. do not go here! I'll make the drive to iron wok in west des moines, loads better than this!

A true staple.

It used to be excellent. I downgraded it to three about 3 years ago for thinning sauce and decreasing flavor stopped going. We finally tried it again September 2024 and back up to four. And now January 2025 up to five star again

The food has changed lately. I had veggie delite and the sauce is not even close to the same. This has been my go to here for years. Service was great. I am not sure if I will return based on how much the taste has changed.

Excellent food 😋

Over-charged by $3 (or 21.5%) on my dish, which also increased my tax and tip amount.
If I can’t trust you with your prices, how can I trust you with your food?!

The food is great! The green or panang curries are my go-to orders.

Pur fave for any Asian style food! They cover them all!

Amazing food , best service, friendly staff.

The crab Rangoon, lunch cashew, and lunch Szechuan chicken were all knockouts! Lovely service and a very welcoming and cozy atmosphere. Food was seasoned well, freshly cooked, and unique! Delicious and a definite new favorite for us!

Love, love, love!!

Absolutely delicious and great prices. The menu is huge - definitely going back!
Update several months later:
Still solid! The prices went up a bit, but that's not a surprise. Delicious food, quick and friendly staff!

Really enjoy this place. I had the Lo Mein noodles, and they were some of the best I've ever had. The waitstaff are quite friendly as well.

We had a very bad experience at cool basil. First of all they never asked about what drinks we need, we had the food soo salty. So I had to ask the waitress to look into it then she asked the chef to come and talk to us he was really sweet he changed the food for us and when we were paying we were adding tip coz the waitress was already rude towards us and when we were adding tips we just snatched the machine from us and told that she doesn’t need any tip and continued the payment herself which is really really rude

Foods pretty decent but priced higher than value. Not the best place in town for sushi.

Oh my goodness! The food was fantastic!! Our server was so kind and upbeat.

The staff was incredibly helpful and professional and polite. The food was top notch and maybe the best Asian cuisine I've ever had. We had chicken curry, edamame, vegetable tempura, chicken patties, general Tso's chicken, kung Pao chicken, and miso soup. We arrived close to 8pm for dinner and we were the last to leave around 9pm Saturday night. I highly recommend this place if you've never had it before.

Food was good. Service not so good. We got there at 8 and they close at 10. At 9, we felt rushed by the staff to leave. So get there early I guess.

I have gotten the beef and chicken larb, Mongolian beef, crab rangoons, and pot stickers so far. This is hands down the best Asian cuisine in my area!! The food is well worth the price! The staff are very nice and the dining area is clean and filled with beautiful decor. If you like spice like I do, I recommend 6+ stars. If you ask the staff for extra chili powder on the side they will give it to you. 10 stars spice level will get your nose running and your lips tingling a bit. If you like good food you will love this place!!

I went to Cool Basil for dinner with a friend. It's was amazing!! The food came out fast and hot. They had a table ready for us right when we got there. I love how you can make any dish with tofu instead of meat

Went there a couple of days ago. I always order fresh veggie spring roll. It used to be huge enough to share with someone. Now, it looks so sad and soggy and small. I'm very disappointed. The main dish was alright. Shrank as well, though.

Could be cheaper

🔥 good food an service. Today was my first time an I highly enjoyed it.

Ordered stir fried yellow curry with chicken. I got a container of cold white rice and a container of greasy chicken and veggies. Disgusting to say the least.

This place is fantastic. The pork fried rice is so good and cheap toi

Nice clean place with welcoming decor. Service was fine but not on top of checking in for anything after food came. Food was good but there are places to get pad thai in Des Moines that tastes better.

Food is always excellent!! Haven't had any problems Love the sushi!!

Food is always hot and delicious.

We had such a nice waiter. You could tell he was working really hard and was so sweet.

Absolutely exceptional service from everyone. Everything on the menu is so good. Even when you want to try something new, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommend. Great for family outings, a date or just to enjoy some amazing food with great service and prices.

I don't usually complain but I had two bites of the healthy fried rice and it simply wasn't edible. It didn't even look like beef and especially didn't taste like it. Having to pay full price for something I told them i didnt like sucks. This place isn't what it used to be.

Really cute place with a huge selection! Also really nice staff who get you a new thai tea when you accidentally order the frozen one ❤️

If you're looking for a romantic, family-friendly dining experience, this restaurant is a gem! The ambiance is perfect for a cozy date night or a delightful family meal. The menu offers a fantastic blend of traditional Thai dishes and fresh sushi and sashimi. Each dish is crafted with care, bursting with authentic flavors that transport you straight to Thailand. The sushi and sashimi are incredibly fresh, making every bite a delight. The staff is warm and welcoming, ensuring a memorable dining experience. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a unique and delicious culinary adventure!

Is definitely a smart and enjoyable place to bring your spouse and children.

I usually have this delivered through DoorDash (twice this week) and I've never been disappointed! I love their crab rangoons, sesame chicken, and birthday sushi roll!

Great food and service but too warm inside. The air conditioner couldn't cool the building.

Massaman curry is not soup

Cool Basil is absolutely my favorite Thai restaurant in the Des Moines metro.

I love Thai food

Been here several times and always very good to great. Curry and sushi has always been amazing. They put cilantro in their egg drop which is new and I’m not a fan. They offered a new bowl without. Drinks are fantastic!

Came with a party of 8 for our last dinner and were treated amazing, meals all came out quickly and correctly!

Everything is worth trying here! No complaints except the service has been stretched thin from time to time

The last two times we have eaten there, I have had very serious suspicions that the “beef” there is actually not beef. I have never seen beef cook up pale like pork the way their “beef” does. Portions on their desserts are sad and come with a high price tag. We won’t be back and this used to be one of my favorite spots to eat.

We live two hours away and stop here every time we are in the area. Delicious Thai food, fantastic sushi & the best crab ragoons we have ever had. I also love their red curry! Service has always been great & their menu is huge!!! We highly recommend checking out Cool Basil!!

I had the chicken pineapple fried rice and the egg drop soup. #FUEGO sooo delicious! I added some lemon to the soup. I was left wanting more which is very unusual for me. Price is awesome! Waitress was impatient at first but then she came back with a smile. Can’t wait to come back to try more!

They absolutely made good on this mistake and deserve the stars.

I'll give a better rating after the manager fixes their mistake. They usually don't mess up my food allergy food but tonight I am eating a damn grilled cheese while my family enjoys their food from here. Very disappointed and I'm hoping I can come back and have a meal on the house since I visit so often from so far away.

We visited for lunch and everything was delicious and came out very fast. I would happily come again if I'm in the area.

Nathan took great care of us. He was really hustling to serve all of his tables. We didn't have to wait long for much. Food was fresh and flavorful. We really enjoyed it.

A comfortable and warm setting, welcoming. The service is immediate and friendly. The food comes hot and fresh cooked to perfection. The menu is very extensive. Portions are generous.

Dined at the Clive location on 8.2.24. Beautiful restaurant with an extensive menu. Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented.
Team member Rak J. made our dining experience extra enjoyable.

Always get food to go so I don't know what it's like eating in the kitchen or restaurant. But the food is very good and always hot. They have Japanese and Chinese as well as other dishes from around southeast Asia. Good place to get Asian food.

Great food and service! Everything was top notch!

I was a regular at Cool Basil, but my recent experience has left me concerned for food safety and customer service. While chewing my pad thai, I noticed something hard in my food and removed a piece of metal from my mouth. The waitress had served us numerous times in the past and has always been wonderful. She handled the situation professionally and kindly. She informed me that the metal was likely a bristle that fell off one of the tools used to clean their cooking pans. She talked with management and suggested they not charge us for the meal. However, management decided to replace the meal and only were able to offer a discount of $4.48. By that point I had lost my appetite due to the incident & barely ate any of it. Management did not approach our table to speak with us personally. The incident raised serious concerns about food safety, and the lack of a more significant gesture from management only reinforced these worries. I will no longer be returning to Cool Basil.

Something’s changed. And it’s not good. I’ve eaten here multiple times over the years but this last week was the last time. I never write reviews but I have to share my experience. The sushi was ok the rice on it was soft and mushy, the beef teriyaki entree was a kid size it was the smallest portion I’ve seen for an entree and for the price not worth it. I’m not sure if they changed ingredient suppliers or cooks but this was not good anymore. Not to mention the horrible stomach ache and **** the next day. Sad to say I won’t be eating here again the quality is not what is used to be.

Hands-down my favorite restaurant in the Des Moines area

Food is always great. It took almost 10 minutes to have the waiter stop by the table. We ordered a roll as a appetizer and it came out after the food.

I don’t have anything good to say about my experience here.

This is our new go-to spot if we can't decide on food, there is so much selection on the menu, and it's all been really delicious. If you like spicy, don't be afraid of the Thai Hot 🔥

Super fast service and the food was top notch. The server was very friendly. So far best oriental restaurant in DSM area.

We dined at Cool Basil and ordered tempura shrimp, yellow fried rice, and special yellow curry. The fried rice and yellow curry were just okay in taste, but they served the tempura shrimp appetizer in a small bowl with only three shrimp, which was not appetizing at all. A big no for the shrimp tempura at this place.

Excellent yellow chicken curry.

7/2/24
Its always been good but today everything was ridiculously tasty! The waitress said they'd updated their sauces. The Tom Yum noodles especially were great. Service was excellent as usual.

2022
Great food, especially the Tom Yum soup. Basil rice is tasty too, and the service continues to be excellent. Larb is also great.

Ok food and drinks. For Iowa it's not bad

Good food. Good service. Good atmosphere.

I have ordered their honey chicken with fried rice, veggie lo mein, chicken wings every single time I have been there my food has always been fresh and hot and fast. I have had excellent service everytime. I have been there probably 5 different times for dinner and for lunch. No better place in town to go but this place!!!! Yum I can't wait to go and eat there a 6th time.

If you want fresh fried rice with colorful vegetables as steamed tomatoes, onions and parsley then this is the place to get a heaping palate full of tasteful goodness. The prices are average, parking good and service is fast. The new menu has a plethora of options for vegans and those who want to taste all the intoxicating flavors!

This is my favorite restaurant. The Spicy Girl Roll is the best.

Pad Thai. What more can I say. Love the food here.

Sat on the patio my companion share a curry dish and cocktails. I had the sashimi with a seaweed salad and crunchy California roll. I loved that the menu said mock crab as I am sensitive to shell fish. I love not having to ask. Good all around although my iced tea was bland.

Beware if you are ordering online for takeout. Usually the food has been really good and our orders are accurate. But lately that has not been the case. I ordered a tofu dish and ended up with chicken. My partner requested no egg and got eggs in his food. I ordered 'no spice' and not only was it the grittiest curry I've ever had, it was also spicier than anything I've had from them.

Just ordered through DD. Ice Cold food and I am not that far away. Unusually small portions.

Everything we ate was spectacular. The food came out fast, the staffs hospitality was very helpful and friendly. All of the ingredients tasted fresh and expertly cooked. The perfect place for some GOOD Thai.

I decided to try something different in what I normally order. I was not disappointed at all!!! Th food was amazing!!!! Staff amazing!!!!

Ordered basil chicken fried rice.. looks like home made fried rice. Patches of white rice. It should had stir fried equally and right amount of veggies without visible white rice.

I'm thai. I would say the food at Cool Basil are superb.

Great food and service.

Very good food and the service was superb

Very slow processing of DoorDash order, have to wait 20+ minutes for small order of 2 items

I’ve been here a lot but this time everything was absolutely excellent and the service phenomenal. Really impressed best restaurant in DSM

Some of the best Thai food you’ll find!

Loved the pineapple fried rice asked them to make it as spicy as it gets

Food is alright, but oftentimes too sweet. Nothing special, but solid service and atmosphere, and pretty solid pricing. Always have food to take home after eating!

The food is always great and they have a lot of delicious gluten free options! I brought some friends with last night and they loved the food and said they'd definitely be going back for more! Prices are reasonable too!

It's hard to beat Cool Basil's Thai food. That said, timing of food and drinks are a bit off. Drinks and appertizers were ordered at the same time but Drinks where not brought to the table until after we finished appitzers, placed order for dinner, and even then Drinks didn't arrive until about a minute ahead of the main meal. Maybe I am being too critical, but typically Drinks come out first or with apps.

Don't order your appetizers and entrees at the same time! The food at Cool Basil remains top notch, but the last TWO times I've visited, I've had my entree dumped on the table before my soup was even cool enough to eat. If you order everything at the same time, you will get it all at the same time because no one stops to think that you don't want your food to get cold. Wait until they BRING your appetizers, and THEN order the rest of your food.

The herb crusted catfish was FIRE!!! So, so good. Spring rolls- great. Des Moines roll delicious. Yellow curry with duck- super yum. Kids chicken nuggets- normal. LOL.

We dined at 7 on a Monday night. 2 adults and 1 child. The restaurant was like a ghost town. It was weird!!! Seated in bar area, because most other areas were closed off.

Server was attentive, but seemed to be the only person working so even with the quiet atmosphere, she was struggling to do everything by herself. Total for appetizers and 3 meals $87.

Cozy and welcoming atmosphere. HUGE menu. Clean. Handicap accessibility. Plenty of parking.

My first time in Des Moines, I was glad to see a highly rated Thai spot. I ordered through Uber eats and food was delivered in a timely manner. The food was well packaged. I order chicken satay, chicken red curry and beef prik khing.
The chicken satay was decent 3/5 and could use some flavor.
The chicken red curry was awesome 4/5, I ordered 4 ⭐️ for spiciness but wasn’t that spicy. But dish was delicious.
The beef prik khing was the highlight of the night, 5/5 had absolute flavor and spices were strong. I ordered it as 5⭐️ in spiciness and it perfect. Paired with rice, it was great.
All in all, it was a great meal and would def eat here again.
If you are in town for a good Thai meal, go here now.

Have been here twice in the last two weeks. Enjoyed every bite!

The menu is very extensive!
So many great choices.
Very good service and the servers were so polite.

My go-to spot for Asian takeout. It’s consistently delicious and hot and stays fresh. The appetizer sampler is a banger, and I love their desserts!

A bit dirty

Was sat quickly for a larger group, received service promptly and got appetizer as she was still taking our dinner order! Fresh amazing made to order sushi 🍣 😋 😍

This is the second time I've tried Cool Basil for carryout and both times they have messed up the order. Tonight's order had no rice,.which was supposed to be included. I drove back to get the rice and let them know it was not included with my order. It's freezing cold out and their parking lot was super icy. There was not one word of apology, sorry for the inconvenience,.etc. Someone just walked in the back and came back with a packet of sticky rice that was wrapped in plastic and they just slapped it in my hand and left. Really poor service.

Great service, food delicious 😋
Very friendly people.

I had the pumpkin curry with chicken level 3 spicy, and it was wonderful! Lots of flavor and just enough spice. I would definitely recommend it!

Great! Served as a special moment in time.

Always good food, fast service and great atmosphere.

Good curry, especially the massaman curry. Really good flavor and spicy level 1 is already spicy enough. Good portion sizes, good customer service, fair pricing.
Would recommend.

Great lunch specials

Excellent food and service impeccable!

This place is great. I got sushi and it was very good. The menu is huge, so if you're an indecisive eater like me, be prepared, lol.

Dinner for 4. 3 plates show up was told mine was almost ready 10 minutes later I'm told they are remaking it because it got dried. 10 minutes later tell waitress to cancel if it hadn't been started

I had an awesome time at cool Basil! The food came super fast, within 5 minutes of ordering. It was delicious, and I could finish my whole meal. Plus, they've got vegan options, which is fantastic! Definitely coming back.

Crabrangoon are sweet as honey. Ordered Thai
tea got some weird slushy drink. Rice does not come with prik khing but it was spiced perfect. Ok, I added another star because the weird slushy thing was delicious.

Had eaten here for years dine in and carry out and liked it. Recently we ordered our favorite dishes for pick up. My dish was horrible to the point of being inedible. Color and ingredients were off and missing.
I called the manager who at first didn’t believe me. She asked that we bring it back and she had another dish prepared. Given that we had to ret, w really think the price should have been returned. It was not. We will not return.

Its good

Still good 1/20/24

Pretty good food, their sushi is alright. What i come here for is their curry dishes

From curries to sushi, every time I have dined here I have found a new favorite. 10/10 recommend!

I believe everyone was very satisfied the food was excellent the service perfect.

Bland food and an extremely upset stomach. Go to any other local Thai restaurant for better food. Bummer 😞

Very good Asian food. Cool Basil is very consistent. Their menu is huge and their service is great. Highly recommend.

I’ve enjoyed the larb, pineapple fried rice, and the avocado green curry is amazing.

A great thai food restaurant. I typically go to DeRice, this restaurant has the about the same quality of food for half the price. Dining in is great. Our server was very attentive and accommodating to our questions and request.
Take out is a hit or miss it seems. I order take out and they messed up my order giving me someone elses food. When I called about the messed up order, they wanted me to bring the food back as exchange for my correct order. A weird request considering I brough the food all the way home and back, but I was glad to get my correct order.

This restaurant is amazing!
Great decor, process and the quality of the food is incredible. I was surprised at the portion sizes and there was more than I could finish (have leftovers!).
Highly recommend you stop by and enjoy the experience!

Overall I enjoy the food at cool Basil and would definitely return. The Thai tea was good, the spring rolls were excellent. My wife got the catfish and loves it. I got the Red Curry with chicken which I enjoyed.

Always great service and quality and quantity of food. Fast and hot. Delicious.

My partner and I both got pad thai! It was soooo good!! I love the egg drop soup. Staff is very friendly! Highly recommend checking it out

A reliable family restaurant. Always accommodate our large group 12 to 22. Food is great. Service normally very good but was a bit undertrainrd understaffed the last visit

The food and service were great.
Will visit here more often.

New favorite restaurant. Decent amount of food for the price, plus its delicious. Wish they had a hotter spice level

Looks like the place has been remodeled and looks good.

One of the best Thai restaurants around Des Moines, IA.

Really great food. Lots of choices.