The food was Great,the service was okay due to our server kept calling my daughter Sir he never said mam or miss to me or my other daughter,and no name badges so I couldn't correct him,just a little Mexican boy,and we came all the way from Shenandoah IA this is our second visit I'm sure we will be back. Thank You Lisa Miranda read more

What a great experience. Had no wait being seated early on a Thursday evening. The waiter was great. We ordered drinks and then gave us ample time for us to figure out options. He suggested chicken over steak for the fajitas. This was a win cause the chicken fajitas were fantastic. I couldn't eat it all. My husband had the cazador burrito and it's one of the biggest he's ever had. We got to chatting with Gustavo and he was so kind to share his knowledge of tequila with us. It was a great experience. I'll go again just to hang with him. read more

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I came here in my continued search of finding the best Mexican restaurant in Ankeny! I came in later, maybe 8:30pm and it was dark inside but still some tables full. I think there were 2 people working the whole restaurant so service was okay. The margarita was fantastic, couldn't taste any alcohol though. My husband said the food was average, but we liked the queso. The salsa was very juicy- yay! but had a strong onion flavor. Overall, average place and seemed a little pricier than competitors. Might come back to try the lunch and drink specials! read more

Cazador - Burrito and chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

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The chips and salsa was chunky and delicious! The entrees were very good with adequate portions and our server was very attentive!

I've now been here 3 times and still come out pleased each time. It's a little out of the way for me but It's one of my favorites. I hope they keep up the great work. Also don't be afraid to sit at the bar, the bar tender has been great to us. read more

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Good food with several vegetarian options. The margaritas were good & not very strong which is how I prefer them.

This spot has an authentic Mexican feel similar to what you might find in Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas. The bar is loaded with top shelf tequila and other liquors of usual fare. The beers are what you would expect, Pacifico, Dos Equis, Corona etc. The food is delish. The steak tacos don't disappoint. I'm a fan of the place! Just off of I-35 and Delaware across from Casey's. read more

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The food was great, the service was fast and polite. I was seated very fast and it got drinks and good fast.

For tex mex in the midwest, this is really good and for a Mexican restaurant, pleasantly surprised by the taste of the cheeseburger and thick cut French fries. The chips and salsa that came before ordering were amazing. The chips were thin, crispy and fresh! The salsa had lots of fresh tomatoes in it and tasted fresh and not spicy (again we are in midwest). The Mexicano burrito was delicious with a strong chicken taste even though we got the beef. I suspect their Mexican rice has a bit more chicken broth in it than we are used to from tex mex. They were all very friendly and welcoming to us tired folks looking to get off the road. Atmosphere was authentic feeling. You can tell they take pride in their restaurant with everything being clean and decorations were great. The bathrooms were also very clean. The only thing I'd say as a negative was the water glasses - not sure if it was glass or unfiltered water but it tasted gross. I hear their margaritas and mixed drinks are delicious plus they had a great selection of Mexican and a few American beers. So next time! Would go again if out this way! read more

Cazador - Burger and fries. Ignore the thumbs down - has nothing to do with taste and quality! (FYI to myself sesame seed bun=allergic.) - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

My husband and I met friends for dinner tonight at what we thought was a restaurant we had eaten at before. Much to our surprise it was a new restaurant for us and oh my gosh was it delicious. Each one of us had a different meal and all four of us could not stop talking about the sauces and the spices that made our meals so delicious! Our waiter was just as amazing as the meal and made sure we had drinks gave, us plenty of time to look at the menu, and was so very personable. Although this is the first time we ate at Cazador, we will most definitely be returning to our new favorite restaurant in Ankeny. read more

Food was good, but charged me a 20% tip without asking and then asked to tip more. Ridiculous. Had to complain about this. I recommend to try and not tip them. read more

Margaritas are so good but food was yuck! Portions were good size but the taste left a lot to be desired

As usual, when I review a restaurant I try to describe something about my dinner that sets it aside from a similar dish at any other similar restaurant in town. At Cazador, it's easy. I simply LOVE their fish Tacos, (picture) and is because every time I've had them, (they're breaded and deep fried) the outer crust is crunchy (not greasy.) Trust me, we've all had fried fish, fried chicken, fried this or that and the outer crust is dripping with grease. Not here. AND, the chips are a bit on the thicker side, and wife and I both like it this way. My wife had the Beef Burrito Mexicano, and she loved it. We dine here lots, and always come back. Very friendly staff, clean environment, and yeah ... you knew I was gonna comment: CLEAN RESTROOMS. You won't believe the ppl who've contacted me, wondering why I mention restrooms in so many of my reviews. Well, I think it's important as the food. If the staff and Management demands the restrooms be kept tidy, then you kinda have the feel they're going the extra mile. Especially for travelers, and we travel LOTS. read more

Cazador - Fish Tacos! - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

This is favorite Mexican food joint in Ankeny for sure! I find the location convenient and parking plentiful. The hostess(es) at the front are often not the most inviting or quick about ringing out your bill but that's really my only complaint. All the waiters have been friendly, knowledgable and efficient. Their mixed drinks are really good and their liquor selection is good. The bartenders are cool. The place is always clean. The menu is laid out smartly and the options are vast - they have great house specials too! I'm one of those people who is crazy for queso and I've tried it at every Mexican food place in Ankeny.. Cazador's is definitely best. I've never had a disappointing dish from here! The chips come out warm and the salsa is fresh. The meals are large and the seating is comfortable. Bathrooms are clean and spacious. read more

Cazador - Tamales Combo (#5) - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

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Provided you stick with the Mexican food and don't try to order the few American options, you're going to be hit with the best Mexican on offer in Ankeny and perhaps the surrounding area. Delicious, friendly staff which make a point to get to know regulars. Staff mostly speak Spanish, a plus for anyone with little English knowledge. My personally recommendation: the vegetable fajitas. You wouldn't think veggies could taste that good in a fajita but you'd be surprised! Full bar, booths and table seating. Local gem all the locals go to. Also, don't be surprised with the authenticity -- they close for an afternoon siesta between lunch and dinner. read more

I have not had a craving for Mexican food in a long time so I was waiting for the moment I was to try this place out. It is located right off the interstate and share the same parking lot as two hotels. If you are staying at one of these hotels, this would be a walk across the lot to get food. One thing I noticed immediately was most of their staff were Caucasian and most of their Hispanic employees were possibly American due to their perfect English. Their menu included basic Mexican items, but also some American products for those who just wanted to keep it simple. They brought out chips and salsa first like other Mexican restaurants; their chips and salsa in my opinion were a bit subpar compared to others, but hey, it's free. We ordered our food and received the meal fairly quickly. This is embarrassing, but I completely forgot the names of the dishes we ordered, they were both chicken. My dish was chicken wrapped in deep fried tortilla with cream cheese sauce covered with American cheese. This was okay, but the chicken could have been more moist, it was shredded and kind of dry. She got the chicken dish with creamy cheese chicken and her chicken was very moist, very good. Both dishes were big portions! Big! The prices for the dishes were a bit higher than other places, but for the amount of food, it's not bad. read more

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Tried this place for the first time with my significant other and step daughter. The staff was very friendly and helpful we were greeted coming in and had a server stop by shortly after receiving the complimentary chips and salsa. We had order in and serve red our food shortly afterwards. The food was great and filling. I would not hesitate to come back and eat there again. The only reason I did not give them five stars is we had to ask for queso twice. read more

Great food! Extremely friendly and efficient staff. Love this place! 10 stars! Order the Cadillac margarita!!

I've only had the fajitas, but they are the best that I have had! Great seasoning on the chicken and peppers. The service was wonderful. Family owned and it shows. read more

Best service and food in Ankeny by far for mexican food! staff is SO nice and the food is so fast and delicious! if you have never tried their queso dip, you are missing out!! read more

The ambience was nice as well as the front desk lady. But the service and food was terrible. We ordered guacamole and it tasted like metallic, stale avocado and was over processed. When we told our waiter that we did not like the taste of the guac, he got offended and tried to tell us it was fresh. He took it away angrily. Then, my husband received his order of tacos carbon which were fine. I received my tacos-- one was chicken and the other was beef. I received soupy beef soup inside a piece of flour tortilla-- which was also supposed to be corn (Picture attached). When I told the waiter I cannot eat the tacos, he again got frustrated and refused to take the tacos back to the kitchen, said it was their restaurants style, and told me I will pay for the untouched tacos still. I wish I could say that my service was good because even with the negative food experience, I might have still went back-- however with bad food and bad service, I will definitely never come back.. read more

Cazador - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

Enchiladas verdes were bland. Maybe 2 tablespoons of tomatillo sauce. Salsa was terrible. Tomato juice, runny, with no heat. The spicier salsa was bitter. Guacamole was awful. Did not taste like avocado at all. Poor service. My water was delivered with 3 ice cubes which melted quickly. No one ever returned to my table to refresh my drink. Unacceptable. Waited nearly ten minutes after I finished my meal to get the check. Again, unacceptable. When I told the waiter the guacamole tasted bad, he became somewhat defensive and said it was fresh, with a scowl. Wrong response. read more

Tried it again. I think it was worse than the first time. Apparently nobody has cleaned since my first review in 2015. Food was still bland. I'm still convinced that all the good reviews are from people who have not traveled outside of the country line or state. This to me what I'd call Mexican food food for 1st grade. It's just bland. read more

Stopped in on a Sunday night since it was near my hotel. What a quiet place! No music, tv on low volume, people sitting silently at the bar. Seating and service were immediate. I ordered a Margarita and a chicken tostada. The margarita was basically the exact same stock margarita that you would get at any one of 1000 chain Mexican restaurants so nothing special. The tostada was huge...granted mostly lettuce but still, a full plate for less than $7. And it came out in minutes. I would definitely try this place again when I have an appetite for more of a full meal. read more

Cazador - Chicken Tostada with Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

It all started when I was a poor college student living in Ames. Chicken tortilla soup at Cazador was just about all I could afford, so I ordered it every time my friends and I felt like Mexican food. Surprisingly, the soup was actually good - a smoky broth with melty queso and generous chunks of fresh avocado. So I went back again and again, ordering the same thing each time. Powerless to overcome my tortilla soup addiction, I remained unaware of the rest of Cazador's offerings. Fast forward a few years. I discover there is a Cazador just a few minutes from my house in Ankeny. Though the atmosphere doesn't quite live up to what I remember from college, the tortilla soup is just as good. I order a cup of it every time, along with a Dos Equis draft and - at long last - I've branched out to the rest of the menu. Cazador is by no means the best Mexican food I've ever had, but it's awfully good for Ankeny. The chips are warm and light (not too thick - you can tell they are freshly made), the mole is very good, and the menu has plenty of variety. I've had better chile relleno and tamales elsewhere, but they do the basics very well and everything tastes like it is made in-house. The service is friendly and the prices are extremely reasonable. And of course, the tortilla soup is addictive. read more

Best Mexican food in town! The chips are freshly made and the queso dip is delicious. They have a wide variety of options on the menu for both lunch and dinner. The burritos are HUGE so bring your appetite. read more

Cazador - Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

I wish I lived closer to this place! We got seated very promptly on a Saturday. The waiter took our drink order and the drinks came out nice and cold. Dos Equis Amber has a special place when I'm eating Mexican food, which only made my experience better. According to my mom, the margarita was very tasty as well. For starters, we ordered cheese dip and the flat cheese, as an appetizer. The cheese dip was great and the flat cheese was buttery and stretchy. Both came out within a few minutes of our entrees coming out. I'll let it slide and tell you why....they were great! Now on to the entrees. Everything came out hot and delicious....and when I say hot, I mean that it just came off the face of the earth hot. Quesadillas were big and tasty, according to the 2 that got them. The chimichanga was not really a chimichanga, according to my daughter, who orders that at every Mexican restaurant we go to. It was basically cubed chicken and cheese, wrapped in a tortilla and fried. After which it was covered in cheese sauce. Just not the best. Now for my entree. I LOVE what I got!! The #37, pollo funditio, was awesome!!! I have been coming here for years, and don't get anything else. Why mess with a good thing?!?!? There is only one other place that I have found that makes this, and it's in Decorah, IA. Both places are aways a way from where I live, but I make it a point to not miss either place! Not fancy, just delicious!! read more

Had a terrible experience today. We were seated promptly and our order was taken in a reasonable time. Then the drinks were not delivered until our meal was delivered. I ordered shrimp and beef fajitas, but got beef fajitas. I did not see the waiter again until we were done eating. At that time I told him about the mistake, he came back and told me the cook put shrimp on my plate. I told him I didn't receive any shrimp. He told me next time to tell him before I ate the food. Basically accused me of not telling the truth. The fajitas were not good, but I would not have complained about that. There wii not be a next time, I have never had a restaurant accuse me of not telling the truth if there was a mistake in the order. read more

Very quick service, had to ask for more salsa but overall pretty attentive. I had the chicken tortilla soup as I wasn't that hungry because I ate too many chips and salsa. The soup had a smoky chicken flavor but beyond that, not much more flavor to decipher. Avocados and queso cheese added a nice creaminess. Cazador burrito was enjoyed immensely by my husband. It was quite large and tasty. read more

Ehh just okay food. All of my Ankeny friends rave about the food here but I don't get it. It's just average. The fajita chicken was marinated in some weird orange sauce and I got more onions and peppers than chicken. The chips, queso and salsa were there only great things about Cazador. read more

Came here for lunch and had been waiting a long time to try this place out. Typical mexican food, nothing stood out as being authentic and taste-worthy. I was not a fan of their beef enchiladas-The meat was not very good and did not please my taste buds. I did enjoy their cheese queso very much. Price and quantity are spot on but lack of taste overall shuts this place down for me. Waiter was nice and food came out super fast!! read more

My starter of chicken tortilla soup was great as were the chips and salsa but the entree was just "meh" due to way too much salt. The beans were the worst of the lot but the entree (shrimp and mushrooms in a slightly spicy salt) were heavy on salt too. Several glasses of water at the restuarant and a couple bottles of water at the hotel were need to rehydrate after dinner. I'd blame it on a bad entree selection but my co-worker said hers was the same. I'd come back for the soup alone in hopes of a better experience next time. read more

Great and prompt service. Nice 7-8 seat bar which is nice for a night cap if you are staying in the Fairfield next door. read more

Cazador - Yummy sopapillas - Mexican Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

The staff is wonderful. They make you feel as if you are family to them. The CADILLAC margarita is wonderful and food delicious. I was on a business trip and ate alone but I felt like I was with friends or family. Will definitely be back!! read more

I have eaten here several times. I have usually had a good experiences here. The last time I was in I ordered a dish that normally comes with meat but I just wanted veggies. They actually charge me $3 more. They saved money as meat is way more expensive than onions and peppers. I have not berm back since. There are a lot of Mexican restaurants to choose from that do not charge to sub veggies instead of meat read more

My favorite place to get mexican in Ankeny. The food is always great any time I go and they have the best queso. Their peach margarita is my favorite and I really enjoy their fajitas. The service is usually just alright, depends on which waiter you get. read more

We stopped here on our way from KC to Rochester, Minnesota. Ordered a Piccadillo chimichanga, with rice and beans, soft chicken taco and chili rellano, waters to drink. The beef in the chimi had a very strong clove flavor, which I'm not a fan of, so I didn't care for that. The chili rellano was one of the egg type not fried in a batter. The chicken in the taco was shredded, excellent. Chips and salsa were warm and fresh! Service was good. Our total came to $20 with tip. Would probably try the Guadalajara close by, next time! read more

I agree mostly with what the previous reviewer said. It's definitely Americanized Mexican, but hey, that's what most people like. Out of the 3 mexican restaurants in Ankeny (Guadalajara, El Churro), this is the best. Unless you have a coupon, you should come here for your Mexican cravings. read more

Horrible doesn't even cover the experience. Mediocre covers the food. Decent handles the service. I'm a big guy and I dislike booths. I always ask for a table. The hostess said they only have one its half booth half table. Ok sounds good. We walked past two other empty tables!?! Then they seat us and guess what the roof is leaking right above me. Standing water on the floor two booths soaking wet. And not a single employee noticed until I pointed out the seam of the ceiling was separated from itself. We moved out from under the water. The rest of the meal...meh. Yeah just meh. The ground beef in my wife's tacos was disgusting and my shrimp diavolo (supposed to be spicy) was sickeningly sweet. Before we left they had someone on the roof scraping ice off. That someone was in a cooks apron. Honestly do yourself a favor and drive on past this one. I would rather have had Taco Johns. read more

Assailed by the smell of fajitas by chance when entering, I went for the chicken. Good dish, bounteous and well prepared. Service was very good and quick, exceeded my expectations especially in the middle of Iowa. read more