The Waukee Brief
Waukee's sit-down breakfast scene is still small, but it is growing with the town, and there is a genuine local gem in Old Town plus a metro brunch name at Kettlestone. Here are the Waukee spots, and the West Des Moines options a short drive east when you want a bigger brunch.
Local go-tos: Littleleaf Luncheonette (from-scratch breakfast & lunch in Old Town), The Breakfast Club (a Des Moines brunch favorite, now at Kettlestone Central), and The Coffeesmith (espresso and breakfast croissants on Alice's Road). Most are morning to early afternoon, so check hours.
The Littleleaf Luncheonette is the one worth the trip: it brought a decade-vacant Old Town storefront back to life with a downtown revitalization grant, and it is one of the highest-rated tables in town. The Breakfast Club is the newer, brunch-forward option out at Kettlestone, and The Coffeesmith covers a lighter, coffee-first morning.
Waukee's breakfast options are still few, so for a full weekend brunch it is worth the short drive into West Des Moines, where spots like Early Bird and HomeGrown draw the metro crowd. We'll flag every new Waukee breakfast opening in the weekly Brief.
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Waukee's local breakfast picks are Littleleaf Luncheonette in Old Town, a from-scratch breakfast and lunch spot in a restored century-old storefront, and The Breakfast Club at Kettlestone Central, a Des Moines brunch favorite that opened its Waukee location in 2026. The Coffeesmith on Alice's Road is the move if you want espresso with a breakfast croissant. Hours vary, and several spots close in the early afternoon.
For a full brunch, The Breakfast Club at Kettlestone Central serves the savory, sweet, and boozy end of the menu, and Littleleaf Luncheonette does a from-scratch morning in Old Town. For a bigger brunch scene, the West Des Moines spots just east, such as Early Bird and HomeGrown, are a short drive away.
Yes. Littleleaf Luncheonette in Old Town is the local, from-scratch pick, tucked into a lovingly restored century-old building brought back with a downtown revitalization grant. The Coffeesmith is the independent coffee shop for a lighter breakfast.
Most breakfast and brunch spots are morning-to-early-afternoon places, so they often close in the early afternoon. Hours differ by restaurant and day, so check the specific place's website or social media before a late-morning visit.
Yes. The Coffeesmith on Alice's Road pairs handcrafted espresso with made-to-order breakfast croissants, and Littleleaf Luncheonette serves coffee with a full from-scratch breakfast in Old Town.
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