I didn’t mean to eat my way through Fairfield, Iowa, but somehow that’s exactly what happened. Noodles, falafel, burrito bowls, pastries, and ice cream… the list kept growing. Who knew restaurants in Fairfield, Iowa, could serve up that much variety? So, where did my fork (and spoon) take me? Let’s start at the beginning.
Asian Pho Bistro
My first meal in Fairfield kicked off at Asian Pho Bistro. The exterior is unassuming, just a plain building with a banner, but trust me, the food is another story. I ordered udon noodles with vegetables, and now I can’t stop craving them. The broth was packed with flavor, the veggies had just the right crunch, and honestly, I may never look at another noodle bowl the same way again.
I worked in partnership with the Fairfield Convention & Visitors Bureau for my visit, but I was on a solo road trip, so my experiences are entirely my own.
Café Paradiso
The next morning, I walked to the town square for an orange cranberry scone (yum!) and a freshly brewed iced tea at Café Paradiso, one of the most loved coffee shops in Fairfield, Iowa. Inside, I loved the vibe, especially the floor-to-ceiling mural behind the stage where they often host open mic nights and live music.
I’m not a coffee person, but if I were, this would be the place. They roast their own beans and locals rave about the Italian-inspired drinks. I’ll stick with tea though, and my iced Earl Grey was perfect with that scone.
Hungry Camel
For lunch, I headed to Hungry Camel for a taste of the Mediterranean. It’s a popular spot, so showing up right when they open is your best bet if you want to avoid waiting in line. By the way, they’re only open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
I ordered a falafel and hummus bowl with pita bread, and it was so good I’m still thinking about it. Finding food like this in small-town Iowa was the last thing I expected, but Fairfield kept surprising me. The serving was huge, so I packed half to go and happily polished it off later that night.
Scream Ice Cream Shop
For dessert, we headed to SCREAM Ice Cream Shop, where my friend swore by the Raspberry Rhubarb flavor. The scoop tub was sold out, but we snagged the last pint to-go, grabbed some waffle bowls, and dug in back at my Airbnb. On a day that hot (upper 90s), ice cream was basically a survival tool.
Bountiful Bakery
The next morning, I stopped at Bountiful Bakery, one of the go-to bakeries in Fairfield, Iowa. The case was full of fresh-baked treats made with local ingredients, and I couldn’t pick just one. I settled on a savory pesto-and-mozzarella pastry and a sweet cinnamon roll croissant, warm from the oven with the icing melting on top. To drink, I tried a fresh-brewed apricot iced tea. Apricot! Unexpected, but so good.
Taco Dreams
For my last meal in Fairfield, I headed to Taco Dreams, inside the old Harper Brush building. The place is known for its street tacos and burrito bowls, so I went with a veggie-loaded burrito bowl topped with black beans and cheese. I ate half with a fork and the rest scooped up with tortilla chips — highly recommend. To go with it, we tried a kombucha flight from Hedge Apple Kombucha, with Blue Dream, Grape, and Cherry Ginger. The Blue Dream had spirulina, which wasn’t my favorite, but the Cherry Ginger was pretty darn good. All in all, it was the perfect way to wrap up my Fairfield food tour.
Final Thoughts
Two days were not nearly enough to cover Fairfield’s dining scene. If you’re wondering where to eat in Fairfield Iowa, the answer is everywhere. From global flavors to small-town favorites, this little city delivers big, and I barely scratched the surface. I still have Turkish and Ethiopian restaurants on my list for next time. For a town of fewer than 10,000 people, the variety of food is pretty amazing.
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