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    El Mariachi

    3.7 (111 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Business Info

    EL MARIACHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - El Mariachi

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mikhala F.

    This spot has LEVELED UP lately! I've been here a few times over the past year when visiting home, and man, they used to be good when I grew up in Johnston but now they are crushing it! Some highlights: The free chips and salsa are plentiful, and the salsa flavor is on point. Ya gotta get the queso for the table...duh! Prices are very reasonable and their plates and platters are HUGE. The best deal they have is $22 margarita pitcher - which was brought out to us in a HUGE pitcher with three marg glasses already full! That's a steal! Service is so speedy, friendly, and fun here. I love the ambiance inside. Plus, they just added a huge new patio which is gorgeous! Why are the bathrooms also so pretty?? This is THE Mexican spot in Johnston!

    T-BONE MEXICANA. TONS OF VEGGIES UNDERNEATH. DECENT SIZED STEAK.

    I've been here about 5 times. It Never disappoints. Great margaritas, salsa, steak dishes, fajitas, and bean dip! Seafood burrito was good, but different, red inside.

    Camarones a La Diabla
    David R.

    I thought I was going to an Italian restaurant, wasn't paying attention to my gps. Glad I came here! Good atmosphere, with attentive wait staff. I usually get the Camarones a La Diabla at Mexican restaurants. I was brought chips and salsa to start off. Good flavors in the salsa, and the chips were warmed and plentiful. I could not believe the amount of shrimp on the plate! Wow! Good flavors, good quantity, and good prices. I would recommend this place to anyone wanting Mexican food in Des Moines!

    Chicken fajitas
    Rachel Z.

    Love this place!! It has the best food, service, and atmosphere! I got the chicken fajitas, and they're the best ones I've had anywhere. The portions are also huge, so I leave with leftovers!

    Margaritas L/ Chicken Rice Lunch
    Jaci S.

    Amazing! This is the husbands all time favorite and he's been dying to show me it for a while - I can understand why now! The service was super kind, making us laugh, and very personable. The chips & salsa were incredible (first thing we notice 10/10) and the margs, he got a pitcher and was living his best life!! First time having a margarita and for sure won't be the last. The food was served extremely fast, and we will be visiting again! Thank you! Loved it here!!

    a table full of mexican food
    Miranda S.

    Ordered. Looked great! I ordered 3 dips. And then bf ordered the special dinner. We got guac which I ordered. Cheese meat dip which I ordered. And his meal. Plus a cheese quesadilla & salsa No queso. So that's fine. Things were missing with replacements lol. It was all good & timely said was going to be late but only took 30 minutes.

    Jalapeno Margarita my favorite drink here

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I love this place every one is so nice. The food is amazing. It is a great environment to eat. This is my favorite place to eat.

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    1 year ago

    they are the best! great food and great margaritas always so fun here. with very family friendly place!

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Service is excellent. Mexican food is Mexican food if you know what I mean. They do a great job

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    Page 1 of 3

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    Tullpa Restaurant - Beef stir fried

    Tullpa Restaurant

    4.8(37 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    I've been curious about this place for a long time so I finally tried it for dinner tonight with my…read morehusband. Like probably most Americans, I haven't tried a lot of South American cuisine so I didn't know what to expect. I guess I was expecting something like Mexican food. Well, it's definitely a lot different than Mexican food. Peruvian food isn't very spicy and the seasonings are different, yet still tasty. There a big Chinese influence on Peruvian food, too. I got the Lomo Saltado, a popular Peruvian dish with stir-fried beef, onions and tomatoes served with rice and French fries. My husband got the Chaufa al Wok, an oriental Peruvian fried rice with chicken. The fries kind of threw me at first. I wasn't expecting that. The dish was very good and had a nice flavor. My husband loved his dish and thought it was delicious. With both of our dishes it was interesting to see how much of a Chinese influence there is. What my husband absolutely loved the most is their homemade horchata. It tasted different than Mexican horchata so he asked what was in it. Our server said it was made was cacao beans instead of just rice and cinnamon. It had a pale brown color to it, too. I also liked the seasoned corn nuts that came with two different sauces--a sweet one and savory one. We both thought the prices were a little high but not so much that we wouldn't come back. The service was very good. Our server was friendly and helped us decide what to order. She was very knowledgeable about the menu items. At the end of our meal both she and the owner (I think) asked us how we liked everything and if there was anything they could have done to make things more enjoyable. I mentioned that my food came out much earlier than my husband's so I was almost done by the time his came out. The owner apologized for the wait and we really appreciated that. They also serve empanadas, pupusas and tamales. We're going to try these the next time we come back. Someone at the table next to us ordered the pupusas and they looked yummy. We were pleasantly pleased with how tasty the food was despite being a lot different than what we were expecting.

    Every time we pass through Des Moines we have to stop here…read more A small family run restaurant that is excellent. Great food and great service. Don't miss it! The Arroz Con Mariscos is excellent and has a lot of seafood in it. Awesome flavor. My husband loves the Chaufa Al Wok too. The Strawberry pop is a don't miss.

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    Tullpa Restaurant
    Tullpa Restaurant - Fried Calamari w yucca

    Fried Calamari w yucca

    Tullpa Restaurant - Strawberry pop from Ecuador

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    Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster - Charbroiled oysters

    Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster

    4.5(70 reviews)
    8.7 mi

    I have dined here twice with friends and both experiences were amazing…read more Do yourself a favor and show up for Happy Hour. My hubby gets the oysters and I get the shrimp cocktail with huge shrimp! The drink selection is great. I've had their Wisconsin style old fashioned and their NA blueberry mojito. Both were delicious. The service is always professional, friendly, and helpful in making selections. We are going to be regulars!

    4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $46 03/04/2026 This was the choice of our son and daughter-in-law for our treat for their Birthdays. The food has been great on each of our visits and tonight we had the extra treat - enjoying a shared Smores dessert (see picture)! Tonight, we decided to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials and enjoy a few shared appetizers at the table, so started with 6 Shrimp Cocktail (see picture) and Cheese Curds (see picture). Both of them were very good, so we decided to also try their Raw Oysters (see picture) - which were also very good. For our dinner, my wife ordered the Lobster Roll (see picture) and while we weren't quite sure what form it would take, we were both pleased what was brought to the table, as it tasted great! I decided to go with the Walleye Wednesday special (see picture) and found it to not only taste great - but was a very generous portion of walleye!

    Photos
    Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster
    Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster - S'mores smoked dessert! 9/10. The only things that would have made it better would be a berry compote on top.

    S'mores smoked dessert! 9/10. The only things that would have made it better would be a berry compote on top.

    Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster - Walleye

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    Walleye

    Trostel's Greenbriar - Halfway through the gunpowder ribeye

    Trostel's Greenbriar

    3.8(138 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    I was excited to try this place as so many people recommended it. We went on a weekday in the mid…read moreafternoon and it seemed like only one person was taking care of everyone. We waited for quite a substantial amount of time for everything. When our food arrived, I thought the taste and proportion sizes in comparison to the price were not comparable at all. I ordered the soup & sandwich. While the French onion soup was nice, it wasn't anything that made me want to come back. The sandwich was very dry and didn't have much flavor. Our drinks were never refilled and it was hard to flag down the waitress to get the check to leave. Personally, I have no desire to return. I felt like I've received much better food and service at other establishments like The Urban Grill. I hope you're experience is better than mine!

    An old school dining experience, with plush booths, a darker interior, a solid menu, and a good…read moresetting. Our night got off to a poor start because our table wasn't waited on for the first 20 minutes as there must have been confusion regarding who had the table. I admittedly never recovered, but the company was so darn good I maintained and didn't get pissed. I wish they repaired it earlier. Eric, our eventual server, tried to salvage us, but we were no longer captured by the venue due to the delay. Enjoyed my Chicken Tortellini, liked sampling some of my fellow family members' dishes. I might give them another try, but this visit was not what I anticipated.

    Photos
    Trostel's Greenbriar
    Trostel's Greenbriar - Lamb Chops

    Lamb Chops

    Trostel's Greenbriar - Bit O'Honey dessert cocktail

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    Bit O'Honey dessert cocktail

    El Mariachi - mexican - Updated May 2026

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