Great food. Great service. Good atmosphere. We went with another couple. We will be back.read more

Closest thing to Tex-Mex this southern girl could have dreamed of. Queso "cheese dip" is top tier…read moreas well!

Excellent food, fantastic service, and lively music make the Cancun Grill and Cantina a great place…read moreto eat. It's right next to the truck stop, which is great for weary travelers who are yearning for some quality food in a nice atmosphere. The place is clean and the staff is friendly and accommodating. I really enjoyed the two meals that I had here. I had the Fish Taco plate my first visit and they were awesome. I especially liked the sauce that was provided on the side and the availability of flour or corn tortillas. Today, I had the Juevos Rancheros plate with black beans replacing the usual offering of refrigerator beans. The eggs, themselves, were smothered in a tasty red sauce. Flour tortillas were served on the side. This meal is so good that I had to force myself to not eat the last several bites of the meal as I was already more than full. Of course, there are the usual drink offerings here both with and without alcohol. I had iced tea both visits, so I cannot really comment to much more about it except to say that the tea is refreshing! In closing, I'm sure you'll enjoy your visit to this nice restaurant. Great for families, couples, and singles alike.

Always down to try a restaurant that has such good reviews. Went on. Sunday afternoon and it got…read morecrowded quickly. Ambiance: Inside it feels a little crowded with the table I sat at close to the door and the checkout counter. There is more space in the back. Service: The service was good, replacing the chips and ensuring the water was refilled. Food: The chips and salsa were good. The chips are not too salty and the salsa is mild. The queso is one of the best I've had with a light consistency. For an entree I had beef nachos which were ok but I prefer more queso. Parking: There is plenty of parking. I'll definitely be back to try another menu item.

First time here and had a great experience. Just really good neighborhood Mexican place with all…read morethe favorites. My carne asada tacos were just what I was looking for. Chips and salsa were good. Service was great. I'll definitely be back.

Real authentic Mexican food with generous side and water. Would recommend burritos ponchos. Nice…read moreambiance. Service was good , polite and efficient.

Second time with different food for me and the same for my husband. I had a chicken tamale, adobo…read morequessataco and a shrimp ceviche tostada. Adobo pork was great! Lives the quesataco! Shrimp ceviche had a lot of celery... a LOT! The tamale was good and was surprised that it didn't have sauce but it didn't need it. The masa was very moist with a good balance of chicken/masa. That orange sauce is HOT and I never think something is that hot. Wow!

DELICIOUS - our friends from Arizona informed us this was the closest food to authentic Mexican…read morethey've found in Iowa. I am SO impressed. The atmosphere was divine, with great music and bright decor. The food was delicious and we didn't have to wait long to receive our order!!! The only qualm was simply service, we never were checked in on and there was maybe 2 other tables at the time. Was just a long wait to see seen in between and when asking to fix our food that came out wrong, or for a glass of water...it was many reminders.. I never received my water.

Their food truck is hands down one of the best in Des Moines! Everything is fresh and flavorful…read moreand the portions are hefty! The picture of the Mexican corn cup on their menu is only half the size of what you will end up getting! You will get a full 16 ounces cup full! The street tacos and the nachos are highly recommended.

Food was affordable and good tasting. Like that there were options to build your own so it was…read morecustomized for our groups tastes. It was quick once we got up to the counter for getting the food. We took ours to go - which it was packaged well and easy to eat at or new location. Would return if back in the area

Everything I have tried is good not amazing and typical Mexican fare. I have had the garlic shrimp…read moresalad and enjoyed it. Guacamole doesn't have any tomatoes, onions or cilantro. Tamale is spirit open and full of shredded beef and ground beef. Sauce on the tamale is just red sauce. Carnita tacos were good but didn't have a great deal of flavor. I do love the chicken taco. That is the best thing I ordered. Rice and beans are average. Husband likes the chorizo and chicken dishes. Salsa is just average normal salsa. Had something new, chicken Diablo and it was spicey!!!!! it!

The quality of the food has gone way down since the change in owners. Sometimes the food is warm…read moreand sometimes it's not. Smaller portions for the same price. The very last time I ate there, I got super sick in the middle of the night. Vomiting and diarrhea at the same time! I had the La Villa special and the mushrooms looked off and the steak did too. I ate a few bites and threw the rest away. I'd give this place zero stars if I could. Spend your money somewhere else.

My last review was two years ago. The parking is good and accessible. Its a family owned place and…read morethe staff are friendly and always helpful. They still make their own salsas of differing heat and flavors. Its a all day taco spot .Their Birra is homemade and excellent as well as all their taco fillings being homemadeand fresh. Their chips are homemade and served warm. They make a wonderful homemade hibiscus tea. They also have Jarrittos pop. Its a cheerful place with wonderful murals.

What a hidden gem! Tucked away in a strip mall in a quiet Beaverdale neighborhood, it's easy to…read moreoverlook. I stopped for a quick lunch on a Tuesday. Taco Tuesday specials so I was able to get 2 fully loaded delicious tacos for $7. The meal included a few bites of potatoes and onions (just enough) and a small basket of chips. Great deal and good food. Only one note: they do not have any free items to drink. Bottled water is available for purchase.

Coming from Arizona, I've definitely missed those authentic Mexican flavors, and El Molcajete…read moredelivered. Everything we had was incredible. The carne asada was packed with flavor, and pairing it with the bacon-wrapped shrimp took the whole plate to another level. The shrimp tacos were easily some of the best I've had--fresh, loaded with toppings, and that sauce they put on them was seriously out of this world. The service was just as impressive as the food. Everyone was attentive, welcoming, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. I honestly can't think of a single thing that was lacking. Great food, authentic flavors, phenomenal service, and an overall top-tier experience. If you're in Ankeny, definitely stop by and give El Molcajete a try. Moving here from Arizona and finding a gem like this was a huge win. My wife and I already know this is going to become one of our regular spots. Easily a 10/10 experience! Can't complain the ambiance was a nice open concept.

This is my stepdaughter and her husband's favorite Mexican restaurant in their hometown, so we…read morestopped in as a group of 6 on a Friday night. We were seated right away and ordered a pitcher of Skinny Margaritas. They were VERY tasty, well-prepared, and a good accompniament to our chips and salsa. They bring out both mild and spicier salsa, and of course there are options for guac and cheese sauce. For dinner we got a variety of dishes. Two of the group shared a bowl and it was enough for them with leftovers. I got the Loco Burrito, and it was easily 2 meals for me. Others got tacos and shrimp, and everyone enjoyed their dishes. Service was excellent, and the staff worked together to keep things moving right along! I believe this is an old Golden Corral Building, so there is a lot of seating, and a bar right when you walk in the door. Great food and drink!!