You may think international food is scarce in Ames or that the versions of it served here are inauthentic, but that simply isn’t the case in Ames. Restaurateurs offer a wide variety of cuisine styles at various locations around town. If you are new to Ames, or haven’t explored it much yet, we are here to give you information on international dining.

Asian

If you’re looking for Asian food, look no farther. Ames has it all. From Japanese to Mongolian, there are so many options that it may be hard to choose just one.

Fuji Japanese Steak House is a great choice for those seeking dinner and a show. Guests can sit around the hibachi grill and be dazzled by chefs flipping ingredients through the air and onto plate.

If you have a big appetite, head on over to the Mongolian Buffet. In addition to a buffet of prepared American and Asian favorites, it offers freshly made sushi. It also has a grill area where you can choose fresh ingredients to be cook right before your eyes.

For more of a traditional Asian restaurant experience, check out Mandarin Chinese Restaurant, Chinese Home Style Cooking or May House Cuisine. All of these restaurants are close to campus or near CyRide routes.

Mexican

The next most commonly available type of ethnic cuisine available in Ames is Mexican.

El Azteca offers traditional favorites at two locations, one in Somerset and one in east Ames. La Fuente is a great place to go with friends. While dining there, guests can take the Monster Margarita challenge, which puts them in the running for a free T-shirt.

European

Italian food is especially popular in Ames. One index of its popularity is the profusion of pizza restaurants around town. The most traditional of these is Vesuvius Wood-Fired Pizza, which offers wood-grilled pizza with fresh toppings.

There are also many Italian restaurants with options other than pizza. Lucullan’s Italian Grill on Main Street has a variety of dishes to offer, as does Ge-Angelo’s and Valentino’s, both of which are located in Northern Lights in north Ames.

Beyond Italian, you can visit Dublin Bay and get a taste of traditional Irish foods, such as soda bread.

Brazilian

Don’t miss Café Beaudelaire for a unique Brazilian dining and drinking experience that you can have in the heart of Campustown.