Panka Peruvian Restaurant Reverses Closure After Flame Group Partnership

Key facts

• Panka Peruvian Restaurant at 2708 Ingersoll Ave., Suite 200, Des Moines, had announced closure by April 29.
• Owner Mariela Maya, who grew up in Lima in a family of restaurateurs, opened Panka in 2019.
• The restaurant became known for dishes like lomo saltado, citrus ceviches, and pisco-based cocktails.
• Panka was named to the Des Moines Register's Essential Restaurants list.
• Maya closed a fast-casual offshoot, Panka Peruvian Chicken near Drake University, in 2024 after opening it in 2023.
• The Flame Group, a local hospitality entity, partnered with Maya to keep the restaurant open.
• The closure reversal was announced via a Facebook post by Maya on Wednesday.

A Reversal on Ingersoll Avenue

Panka Peruvian Restaurant, a fixture of Des Moines' dining scene since 2019, will not close this month after all. Owner Mariela Maya announced Wednesday that a partnership with the Flame Group has allowed the restaurant to remain open, reversing an earlier decision to shutter by April 29. The news comes just days after Maya had confirmed the closure, citing the mounting pressures facing independent restaurants. The about-face has surprised regulars and industry observers alike, offering a rare lifeline in a period marked by high-profile departures.

The Partnership That Saved Panka

Maya revealed the partnership in a Facebook post, writing: "This partnership brings new strength, new opportunities and continued commitment to serving the community we love." She thanked guests, team members, and supporters, adding: "To our guests, our team and everyone who believed in us, thank you." The Flame Group, a Des Moines-based hospitality operator, has not disclosed the terms of the deal. The collaboration allows Panka to continue operating at its Ingersoll Avenue location, preserving a restaurant that had become a cultural landmark for Peruvian cuisine in central Iowa.

A Culinary Ambassador for Peru

Maya, who grew up in Lima in a family of restaurateurs, opened Panka in 2019 as part of a wave of restaurants introducing Des Moines diners to Peruvian flavors. The menu features classics such as lomo saltado, citrus-forward ceviches, and sauces built around ají peppers, alongside a bar program centered on pisco-based cocktails. Over nearly seven years, Panka developed a loyal following and earned a spot on the Des Moines Register's Essential Restaurants list. For Maya, the restaurant was as much about cultural expression as hospitality, deepening the city's familiarity with Peru's layered culinary traditions.

The Challenges of Independent Dining

The initial closure announcement highlighted the difficulties facing independent restaurants in Des Moines. Maya cited rising costs, labor pressures, and shifting dining habits as factors behind the decision. Panka joined a list of recent departures that includes Django and Americana, underscoring the challenging moment for full-service restaurants. Maya had briefly expanded with Panka Peruvian Chicken near Drake University in 2023, a fast-casual offshoot focused on pollo a la brasa, but closed that location a year later. The Flame Group partnership now offers a path forward for the original restaurant.

What Comes Next

Panka Peruvian will continue serving at 2708 Ingersoll Ave., Suite 200, with contact available at 515-244-1430 or pankadsm.com. The restaurant remains open for diners who wish to revisit favorite dishes or toast with a pisco sour, now without the urgency of a final goodbye. The partnership with the Flame Group signals a potential model for other struggling independents, though the specific terms remain private. For now, Des Moines retains a restaurant that helped define its Peruvian food scene.

The bottom line

• Panka Peruvian will remain open after a partnership with the Flame Group, reversing its planned April 29 closure.
• Owner Mariela Maya announced the reversal on Facebook, citing new strength and opportunities from the deal.
• The restaurant opened in 2019 and became known for Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado and pisco cocktails.
• Panka was named to the Des Moines Register's Essential Restaurants list during its seven-year run.
• Maya closed a fast-casual offshoot, Panka Peruvian Chicken, in 2024 after one year of operation.
• The closure reversal comes amid a challenging period for Des Moines' independent restaurant scene, with other high-profile closures like Django and Americana.