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.

The restaurant is very clean and quaint (super cute). They had music playing, which would typically…read morebe fine but we couldn't hear our waitress/server so that was a struggle. We just leaned into her as much as possible and she was happy to repeat herself. We ordered the mojarra frita con arroz y ensalada, chicharron peruan, and patacone. We got a ton of food with our order. I LIVED how crispy and crunchy the yuca fries were.I liked the variety of hot sauces they offered us. Looking forward to coming back to try other dishes.

I came here based on a Yelp's suggestion and I have no regrets!…read more The restaurant it is small but feels cozy and warm. You can tell it is own by a local person and they take pride on their work. The restaurant it is just spotless and they have a full bar. Being from South Florida, you find Peruvian restaurants all over. But I am glad they are here because the flavor it is just great! Fast, freshly cooked food and you can't beat that. The service is friendly and concern that you are taken care of. If you want a traditional peruvian cuisine, look no further than this restaurant. I had the lomo saltado and it is steak, sautéed with onions and tomatoes with some magical flavor sauce on a bed of fries and a side of rice . If I could give them 10 stars, I would! As the Terminator would say "I'll be back!"

Thankful for this dining experience, as it combined great food, a unique menu, and excellent…read morecustomer service. I suggest getting reservations, but we were able to get a table for four walking in early on a Saturday. Never felt rushed throughout. Unbelievably good Lomo Saltado, and sampled each of my family's dishes. Our server, Felipe, was outstanding, and we also appreciated the table visit from Mariella, the manager, who explained some of our dinner items. One of the better restaurants in the Metro!

My husband and I came into town to see our son at college and take him to dinner for his birthday…read more We made our reservation for 6:15 at about 4:30. The restaurant did not open until 5. We were pretty excited about it, because it was a birthday dinner, and our son had spent the last summer in Peru for an internship and was eager to try this out. We showed up at 6, and it was obvious we weren't going to be able to get in early, which was fine. My husband waited to check in, while my son and I waited in the car, since there is no waiting area and barely any room, especially since some other diners were waiting as well, presumably for their 6 pm reservation. It was clear it would be awhile, since the tables were all still full. Around 6:15, another group crammed their way into the small entryway. At 6:30, they had some empty tables, so they finally acknowledged everyone waiting. The 6:30 group asked for their table, and my husband interjected to say we had a 6:15 reservation. The host informed him that we were not on his list and did not have a reservation. My husband showed them our confirmation email and the OpenTable app we used. The host stated that he does not check for more reservations after 5 pm and we clearly had made the reservation too late. (Note: I said we did it at 4:30, so this was clearly not when he looked). The host informed my husband that there was no reservation, and we would not be seated, and he didn't care that we had a reservation since it clearly was made too late. My husband protested, and the host turned his back to him and walked off shaking his head. We were not seated, and he did not return. So we did not get dinner. My advice to you: Making a reservation here will not guarantee you will be seated or served. We had to find somewhere else to eat for my son's birthday, and all the other options we had turned down for this one were booked. Also, they are bad at estimating dining times. They will not acknowledge you until there are open tables, even to check you in, and you may wait for some time after your scheduled reservation.

A friend suggested this place, and he was on target, as now I have eaten there twice!…read more Located in a West Des Moines strip mall, the storefront is without fanfare with a large parking lot. I wasn't wowed until I sat down, and then now...POW, some of the best food I have enjoyed here in DSM. First, great customer service throughout, as our server was impeccably good. My first visit was for lunch, and I thoroughly enjoyed empanadas, Papa Serrana, and other items. It was delicious, unique, and superb. That prompted a second visit, this time for dinner. I loved the Homado Con Mote, spectacular flavor with pork, white corn, rice, and potato. It was sensational. So much taste, such great options. The interior is not flashy, but it doesn't have to be, as the food quality, unique menu, and excellent customer service pushed the bar extremely high and maintained it.

I enjoyed getting to try a new to me place. My husband and I shared an order of the empanadas to…read morestart with. The cheese ones with a sprinkle of sugar, as recommended, was definitely my favorite! I enjoyed the beef one and did not care as much for the chicken one. I asked the waiter what I should get as I was torn. Of course I don't recall what it was, but I enjoyed it. I'm not usually a plantains person, but I really enjoyed them with this dish. It was very filling and flavorful. My husband ordered a spicy dish and enjoyed it as well. Our waiter did a great job with our large group. He was friendly and provided a ton of recommendations we were all happy with. The bathrooms were clean, as was the rest of the restaurant. I will go back, especially for the cheese empanadas.

Great vibes and attitude here, everyone friendly and attentive service. Jack at the bar is great…read moreand the tequila old fashioned is one of the best cocktails I've had outside of Chicago. What a bonus to get authentic birria here too, not always can be trusted at more frou frou Mexican places like this!

Food is overpriced for the amount, service is meh. Its An Applebees with a Sombrero, go to a…read morefoodtruck in the East side. Google what "Malo" means.. well deserving of its name in my opinion. Not quite mexican either more like POCHO food.