Road Trip Through Pocahontas County? Here Are Are My Dining Recommendations

I plan road trips with two things in mind: Local attractions and local food. This spring, my road trip to Pocahontas County, Iowa, focused on seeking out the area’s life-sized kaleidoscopes. But we had to eat, right? We found wonderful, locally-owned restaurants throughout the county to keep us fed and satisfied on our kaleidoscope hunt. Keep reading for my suggestions!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Discover Poco. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own. This post may include affiliate links. 

My restaurant suggestions fit well into this itinerary for exploring Pocahontas County. It’s assuming your homebase is Pocahontas, making breakfast in town a convenient option. 

Great breakfast options

There are two types of breakfast travelers: The “Grab & Go” type and the “Sit Down & Savor” type. There’s a place for each of those travelers in the county.

Aspen Leaf Coffee is right on Main Street in Pocahontas. It’s great for inventive espresso drinks and smoothies in the morning, and if you’re hungry for more, they have light breakfast options. I got a strawberry yogurt parfait and caramel roll. The pastry was so large, I needed some help from my daughter! The coffee shop also offers breakfast burritos and croissant sandwiches.

Aspen Leaf is the best option if you’re short on time, but you can totally stay for a while to sip your drinks. The comfy couches around the fireplace encourage lingering.

If you’re hungry for a larger meal, and perhaps an endless pot of coffee, try Family Table, which is also in Pocahontas. This is the place to go for skillets, eggs made-to-order, and some seriously good pancakes. 

Lunch and frozen treats

We were on the go around lunch time, so we needed a place that was quick and good. Our kaleidoscope hunt included a stop in Fonda. HWY 7 Cafe is a burger and fries kind of place located near Fonda’s kaleidoscope. They also happen to have an ice cream menu. Both the lunch and the after-lunch sundae hit the spot! My daughter and I both agreed: HWY 7 had the best fries of the whole road trip.

There wasn’t much of a wait for our food, but it was enough time for us to scope out the decor. A hodgepodge of old license plates and car memorabilia covered the walls.

Dinner and dessert

My favorite dining experience during our trip to Pocahontas County was at Odd Fellows on Main Street in Pocahontas. It’s a stylish gastro-pub that manages to be both a spot for families and for friends headed out for the night. Think chicken fingers (my daughter’s pick) meets ribeye steak sandwich options.

Odd Fellows could be your whole night. They have a golf and hunt simulator that you can reserve by the hour. 

The county also has several Mexican restaurants. We tried El Amigo, also a Main Street Pocahontas staple, but I heard Abuela’s Mexican Restaurant in Laurens is a solid choice, too.

El Amigo is a colorfully-decorated restaurant with a huge menu. I tried the fajitas and my daughter ordered a chicken quesadilla. Careful not to fill up on the chips and salsa before your entrees come out! The portions are huge, so there’s a good chance you’ll be leaving with leftovers.

If you’re still hungry after dinner, El Amigo has a dessert menu that includes flan, sopapillas and churros. My daughter and I split the churros, which came with some chocolate dipping sauce and whipped cream. 

Whether you’re spending a weekend in Pocahontas County or just passing through, I hope you enjoy a meal or two there!