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    El Molcajete

    4.3 (85 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    El Molcajete Photos

    Business Info

    EL MOLCAJETE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - El Molcajete

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    Chipotle Enchiladas
    Max L.

    Amazing food. The server was nice and he got us the food fast. And we sat outside. The people next to us were very chatty.

    Kristyn M.

    Week night margarita craving. Wanted to expand our horizons, so we knew this one was one we had not yet done before. Early enough to beat the crowds. It's nice enough that we asked to be seated outdoors at the host stand. She takes us out to the table. We are the first outside tonight. The waiter was prompt with chips and salsa. There ws 2 salsas. Mild and spicy. We did order cheese, cause why not. We ordered dinner. Hubby got the nightly special and I got a burrito. We both had house margarita. Service was good. The only thing we thought was that it was a little overpriced for what we received. 4 overall, but 3 1/2 if you take into account the bill for what we had. Not saying anything was bad, but we could get more bang for our buck elsewhere.

    Cheese sauce for the win
    Cody M.

    great location for me to come for a visit. Good margaritas is what keeps me coming back. We got in early enough to claim a patio table and enjoyed the outdoors for our dinner. Food came out hot and staff was great checking in on us a few times. I also really liked that they had 2 salsa offerings as I am a fan of a little spice. I was smiling ear to ear while we had a short wait for our food.

    Rice/Beans
    Mark O.

    Solid three, closer to a 3.5. My server, Erick was attentive and checked in regularly. The salsa served with the chips was heavy on spice and light on vegetables, which I can appreciate. It kind of reminded me of the old "hot sauce" you used to find at Diamond Dave's restaurants in the area. I was in the restaurant about 45 minutes prior to close, which may explain a couple things. Some if the rice was hard, as if it had been in a chafing dish all day. Same for the tortillas in the enchiladas, though the chicken was just fine. Green sauce was zippy without being overpowering. I'll try again earlier in the day and update appropriately.

    Flavoted mojitos
    Jaci S.

    The service was AMAZING. Everyone was incredibly personable. I know I can be a nightmare of a customer with my modifications & that of my husband as he has a more sensitive stomach. We ate everything & couldn't find anything to dislike. The food was amazing, the restaurant was busy, but, we could hear each other & our server took time to chat with us as well. Our server made our drinks himself & I was bewildered. The best friends I have ever had, they were delicious. I got myself a mojito & my husband loved their margaritas. Our server even gave us a round of shots on the house. We absolutely loved loved loved our experience & will be coming back.

    Chicken Tortilla Soup
    Hannah V.

    We love going out for Mexican and we have been on the hunt for a good place here in Ankeny, since there are so many! It is easy to find, plenty of parking, has patio seating, a bar, and feels very open inside. Service was quick and excellent. Large menu of food, drinks, and desserts to choose from. We started with the most important, queso. We both agreed it tasted like our favorite. My chicken tortilla soup was piping hot and I loved that it didn't have a lot of veggies :) Overall, a good Mexican spot, but nothing too crazy! I can see us returning in the future.

    AWESOME Seafood Burrito
    Bob K.

    Had a lunch at El Mocajete in Ankeny this past Friday, and it was like meals we've come to expect from here ... AWESOME. We arrived just as the noon rush was winding down, but the place was still pretty full. We were seated immediately, and within a minute, chips and two minds of salsa had arrived at the table. TAKE NOTE ... for an additional charge, you can have guacamole made fresh at your table. Our waiter arrived quickly, took our order, and before the basket of chips were gone, our meal had arrived. My wife had the Fiesta Burrito, and I had the Seafood Burrito (pictured.) Both were excellent. We've dined here many times, and have found the place clean, with the entire staff friendly. And yeah, even the restrooms were pretty clean, and if you read other reviews of mine, you know I consider this important, especially on a busy day when many people may be using the facilities. 5 stars for El Molcajete !

    Peach margarita
    Allison H.

    Staff was very friendly! Food was pretty average but still good. Drinks were good but not too strong

    Tostada and Chimichanga with rice & beans
    Alex L.

    Great food and service! Love the outdoor patio in the summer/fall months! The menu has many selections to choose from! We also enjoy getting two kinds of salsa with the chips too!

    Menu
    Anna J.

    We'd heard such great things about this place we had to come in and try ourselves. They have a huge menu with a large variety of options. Now typically this is a red flag for me in that the group may not be able to execute on everything, but wow we're we wrong to judge! We got a variety of items to get a sampling of the menu and each bite was perfectly seasoned. Be aware portions are big so easy to turn a meal into two! My only complaint would be with the enchilada and sauce take over on my plate, the tortilla tasted a bit too raw for my liking but that could have been due to the excess sauce.

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    2 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Plenty delicious food,good price and friendly service .you can not go wrong taking your date here

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    1 year ago

    Get the homemade guacamole! They make it right in from if you. Really cool experience! Clean inside.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    It was just ok, nothing stood out. Service was great. I thought it was a tad expensive for the quality.

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    Lindo Jalisco - Mole

    Lindo Jalisco

    4.4(31 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    Kicking myself for not getting in here sooner…read more Yelp reviews got us in the door. The food, staff and atmosphere will get us back. On a random Monday evening we decided to stop in. The special was written on a board by the door. The Guava Margarita caught my eye. We were quickly sat and here is how it went. M: Mexican cuisine is outstanding here. A: All you can eat chips and salsa brought to your table. Great Salsa. R: Recommendations from the bartender/server for his favorite meal. G: Guava Margarita is a must have. A: A large menu to choose from. R: Reasonably priced restaurant I: I had to fight my husband off my meal. T: Tasty meals thrilled us. A: A full stomach is how we left Hubby ordered Burrito Carnitas with steak, onion, bell pepper, topped with green sauce, cabbage & melted Jack cheese. The bartender/waiter told me he had the Carne Asada:Charcoal grilled sliced skirt steak served with guacamole, roasted onions and jalapenos. Comes with the same cabbage and beans. The flavor was amazing. I fought off my husband off my plate. It was enough food for 2 meals and did not disappoint. Amazing. This meal was a little more than I usually get, but I might have started something.

    Tried Lindo Jalisco today and honestly this was a really solid spot. Every dish had great flavor…read moreand came out fresh and hot. The fajitas were sizzling when they hit the table with generous portions of chicken, steak, shrimp, and vegetables cooked perfectly. The enchiladas were loaded with flavor, covered in sauce and cheese, and paired really well with the rice and beans. The restaurant has a nice open concept with plenty of seating and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to sit down and enjoy the meal. Service was quick, food came out hot, and overall the experience was smooth from start to finish. Definitely a nice change of pace for Ankeny and a spot worth checking out if you want solid Mexican food with good portions and flavor. Will definitely be back to try more items on the menu.

    Photos
    Lindo Jalisco - Cheese dip.

    Cheese dip.

    Lindo Jalisco - Kids quesadilla

    Kids quesadilla

    Lindo Jalisco

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    El Molcajete - mexican - Updated May 2026

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