The problem is that Des Moines actually has some pretty good ethnic fare, but those restaurants don't seem to be frequented by anybody but the ethnics & maybe the Drake crowd. Native Iowans like their staples & their chains.
That being said, my sister-in-law found a Bosnian place in West Des Moines called Saraj that, while cuisine-wise not my cup of tea, seemed authentic & quite good. Maybe the best mushroom soup I've ever had, and the Bosnian gyros looked every bit like a torta with shawarma meat--decent. I had the grilled meat platter which basically consisted of a huge amount of cevapcici (sausage) and a chicken breast--the former was tasty, the latter dry as toast. Other items like lamb shank or Bosnian-prepared tilapia are only served on certain nights (and we were there at lunch) & I probably would've preferred either of those.
Saraj
1300 50th St., Suite 206
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515-255-1133