Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

Eat Burgers, Not Brains

Des Moines’ East Village is the perfect place to embrace the irreverence of a zombie themed restaurant.
- Chris Diebel, Marketing Director

Hamburgers and horror movies. Zombie Burger was created with this unlikely combination from Chef George Formaro’s two passions. Formaro worked for years developing the perfect buns and burger patty, to later find himself producing ‘Goremet Bashed Burgers’ the restaurant’s unusual burger combinations. Zombie Burger isn’t known solely for their burgers but also for their ‘Drink Lab’ and of course, its zombie theme.

Visit Zombie Burger’s quick service counter if you’re pressed for time or sit in the Drink Lab area for full service dining with family and friends. Inside, you will find many connections to other local businesses. The tables and booths are made by a local craftsman; Raygun has made a Zombie themed t-shirt and Formaro’s brother created the menu filled with zombie related news stories and advertisements for nearby businesses. Multiple murals painted by Ron Wagner present the theme of “zombies taking over the East Village of Des Moines.”

You may have noticed the hundreds of zombies shuffling through the streets of the East Village for the grand opening in August. There were about 350 people of all age groups who dressed in full costume and makeup, about 250 more zombies than expected. Chris Diebel, marketing director, believes three years ago this unique branding concept may not have worked as well as it does now. Diebel has received phone calls from around the U.S. requesting Zombie Burgers to be opened in other cities, proving its popularity. In the future, owners intend to get local zombie enthusiasts involved in occasional events centered around the zombie genre.

Zombie Burger offers an extensive and unique burger selection. There are burgers with fried macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese used as the bun and others with fried chili, peanut butter or fried banana toppings. All 21 burgers have the option of being singles, doubles or triples and come with four choices of patty types.

If you’re not in the mood for a burger, there are plenty of other options on the menu. Choose from the salads, nachos, chicken tenders, soups or deep fried hot dogs. What drink pairs best with your meal? Let’s go to the ‘Drink Lab’ to find out.

Bar manager John George is the mad scientist behind the drink menu. He also has the role of the DJ for the restaurant, playing music from different genres to match all age and interest groups of guests. George has come up with many different alcoholic drink combinations to shadow the theme of the restaurant. Not only does George come up with the drink recipes, but also the unusual garnishes to top them off. At Zombie Burger you will find eyeballs, skin and blood complementing your cocktail. Once things settle down and routines are made, George will be experimenting with liquid nitrogen to serve drinks that smoke.

If you’re not a cocktail drinker, you can always pair your dinner with a nice cold ‘Zombie Beer’. Choose from over 75 different types of beer including many Iowa brews. George considers himself a beer geek which makes him perfect for this position. He has gone through and picked the best of each style, all organized on the menu along with their alcohol content. George has also included a small description under each variety so there are no surprises with your first sip.

Zombie Burger offers ‘Spiked Shakes’, your favorite milkshake spiked with alcohol. Perfecting the consistency and flavor was a very complicated process and took a group effort to complete the recipes. ‘Brain Freeze’ shakes or nonalcoholic shakes are also available in many different flavors combining uncommon ingredients such as Kool-Aid powder, Twinkies, and cake mix.

The zombie virus has spread quickly and been embraced across Des Moines. Whether you’re in the mood for on-the-go, casual family-friendly dining or a unique nightlife option, Zombie Burger is the place to be. So step into the world of the living dead to get your dose of good beer and unique cocktails, and of course, eat burgers, not brains.