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    Flying Mango

    4.4 (456 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Flying Mango Photos

    FLYING MANGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Flying Mango

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    Reviews With Photos

    Devin S.

    We were in the mood for something new and exciting, as usual. After a quick search, one of the first spots that caught our eye was The Flying Mango. The name immediately grabbed my attention--it's unique and intriguing. A quirky name like that usually promises some equally unique food, right? [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place itself is a small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant that could maybe fit 50 people at most.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When you first walk in, you pass by the kitchen and a small bar, with the dining area located on the opposite side. [[HIGHLIGHT]]When we visited, it was pretty quiet--just us and one other group--so the vibe was laid-back and relaxed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server got us seated quickly and was incredibly attentive to everything we needed. She was, without a doubt, the highlight of our visit. Her exceptional service was the main reason for the high rating I gave this place, because if it were solely based on the food, it wouldn't have scored nearly as well. One of my friends ordered a couple of adult drinks, but they ended up sending them back because they just weren't good. Now, let's talk about the food, which is probably why you're reading this. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes--or at least that's what they called them. The pulled pork sandwich was fantastic. They definitely know what they're doing with their BBQ. The pork was sweet, tangy, and spicy all at once, and the bread was perfectly baked with just the right amount of warmth. However, the mashed potatoes? They can keep those and take them back to wherever they got them. They weren't good at all. In fact, none of the sides really impressed anyone in our group. My so-called "garlic" mashed potatoes didn't have any garlic flavor whatsoever, and honestly, it seemed like they only had butter in them. They definitely need to rethink that recipe. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall, I wouldn't come back for the food, but I would return for the customer service and relaxed atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The team there really knows how to make you feel welcome, and that goes a long way. If they ever bring their food up to the level of their service, this place could be something special. Keep up the great work, and hopefully one day the food will match the fantastic vibe you've already got going on.

    Cajun Catfish with sides of sweet butter cornbread and red beans and rice.

    Was super excited to try this place since I love southern food. They are not open until 5pm, which worked out for us. Got seated right away. Super friendly staff, and knowledgeable. Told us the specials for the day. Went with the Cajun catfish and shrimp pontchartrain in crawfish sauce replaced the rice for the sweet potato noodles per suggested. Shrimp were cooked perfectly. And good size. Wished they would have removed the tails. The sauce was tasty but crawfish was over done, which made them a little chewy. Glad we stuck with the noodles because the rice on my red beans and rice was crunchy! The red beans and rice overall were horrible: it was as if they just pour the beans over the rice instead of all being cooked together. Bland. The goat cheese grits were bland to say the least. None of the goat cheese flavor came through other than the smell. The mashed potatoes were as unappealing to the taste as to the eyes. Looked like they have been sitting under a heat lamp and were brownish. Overall, disappointed since I had seen a lot of great reviews.

    Sazerac
    Aaron I.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]The food and atmosphere were great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The owner Mike was very kind to each table and gave us a great recommendation on a house special: Shrimp Pontchartrain "Mike's way". We also ordered the redneck surf n turf which was a great mix of Iowa meat and Cajun cuisine.

    Chicken Creole
    Todd B.

    4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 5* 01/27/2024 Almost a year since our last visit and yet another delightful experience. Tonight we started with a Mango Margarita drink while waiting up front (see picture). For our main course, my wife ordered Shrimp & Grits (see picture) with Chicken Creole (see picture) and loved them, while I opted for the Chicken Dinner (see picture). The Shrimp & Grits were quite rich and the Chicken Dinner was just plain a LOT of food, so we both enjoyed leftovers the following day. We have come to expect great food at The Flying Mango and tonight was no different!

    Red beans and rice
    Heidi H.

    I had not been here in many years. We walked in and were greeted right away. They asked if we had called ahead, we had not. The hostess said it would be about 20 min but offered us a table to wait at and order drinks while we waited. Before we could order a drink we were led to a table. Our waitress was named Sara. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She told us about the specials and took our drink order. We ended up splitting the pick two special. 3 ribs and decent size portion of brisket. The ribs had a little kick on the backside of the flavor. We both thought the ribs were great. Per Sarah's suggestion we ordered the goat cheese grits. We both enjoyed those. My dinning partner liked the red beans and rice the best (I'm not a red bean/rice fan in general) we also tried the catfish cakes. My dining partner got the mago margarita and I got the berry margarita. Both were good, however my berry one was the better of the two. It had a nice balance of sweetness and tartness. A gentleman came by as we were getting ready to leave to check and see how our dinner.

    What Guy Had
    Jekeia C.

    So, I have always heard great things about the Flying Mango, so I wanted to finally try it. The service was great, once you enter, they have a little waiting area where you can review the menu and/or get a drink. The actual dining area was very crowded and loud due to the open and limited space. For my entrée I tried the Shrimp Pontchartrain, and it had the potential to be good, but I think the gravy was overcooked, so it had an intense burnt flavor. However, they provided great service by offering me the opportunity to try another dish. My server was also very apologetic. I tried the Cajun Catfish which came with cornbread and two sides. I chose grits and mashed potatoes. The catfish had good flavor, the mashed potatoes were ok and the butter on the cornbread was delicious and enhanced the taste. The grits had a unique taste almost like rice. The parking is not the best, there is limited parking at the actual location and then there is a parking lot across the street with limited parking as well. It's clear from my experience that the Flying Mango is dedicated to providing exceptional service.

    Jerk Jerk - Spiced Pulled Pork Sandwich with veggies side
    Andrea W.

    We tried Flying Mango for a girls night out with friends. It is interesting that when you enter the restaurant you enter through the kitchen first when arriving- we had a big group and they wouldn't seat us till we were all present. Upon being seated we were taken to the back dining area that was less hot than standing in the kitchen area. Service was good. I ordered the jerk spice pulled pork sandwich with a side of veggies that we were told was Brussels sprouts and asparagus. No asparagus in it at all, the veggies were over cooked and mushy. Not my liking at all. The pulled pork was delish and had a great flavor!

    The Jenny, smoked brisket on a bed of greens, apples,and onions with a side of cornbread.
    Neal R.

    For over 6 years whenever I come to Des Moines I always make sure I get here. I travel across the country and think their smoked brisket "The Jenny" is the best in the country. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a Cosy little restaurant that is consistently good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff is warm and friendly and even the owner stops by your table to see if everything is right. This is the way a restaurant should operate. That and being that I love to support small businesses.

    Grilled Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
    James M.

    Flying Mango is a small intimate locally ran restaurant in the heart of northern DSM. First time here, as a family, ordered up various offerings. All the food was amazing and very delicious. My only forewarning is the Creole was Spicy hot, but the once again amazing flavor! Definitely a must go location, I'll go back and try something more calm....

    Bloody Mary
    Tim H.

    We visited on a Friday evening and called ahead when we were about 20 minutes out! The hostess greeted us and was so pleasant to talk to and we were seated immediately. The dining room was full and it was a cozy room with lots of conversation and delicious smelling food. After a few minutes with the menu, we ordered drinks. I ordered the bloody mary and my partner had the Mango iced tea. Both drinks were fantastic and the bloody mary had a piece of sausage and grilled shrimp. For our meals, we ordered the brisket platter with asparagus (veggie of the day) and the coleslaw. I ordered the Louisiana Platter that came with sausage, creole chicken, red beans and rice and cornbread. We shared our plates so we could have a taste of ALL THE THINGS! It was all incredible. We love creole cuisine and savored every bite. The brisket was flavorful and so tender. The andouille sausage was spicy and delicious paired with the red beans and rice. Don't walk, RUN to Flying Mango!

    Chicken Dinner Potato of the Day (mashed red with goat cheese) Corn Bread with Cinnamon Honey Butter

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    7 years ago

    Awesome!! Great Food Atmosphere and Drink specials a little pricey but worth the trip

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    The food was okay, staff not exactly friendly, and food is overpriced for what you get.

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    Page 5 of 12

    Ask the Community - Flying Mango

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    Smokey D's BBQ

    4.0
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    Had to stop on my way through Des Moines. If you love BBQ don't miss the chance to eat at Smokey…read moreD's. Jalapeño Cheddar Hot links were so amazing. Smokey, cheesey and a little kick. So tasty and juicy. I should have bought two orders because my friend wanted to eat all of it. Brisket burnt ends were amazing! The bark was so yummy. Brisket was moist and Smokey. Perfect size, too. Pulled pork was also juicy and Smokey. Pork at other places can dry out quickly, but not at Smokey D's. It was filled with flavor and I couldn't stop eating it (until I had eaten all of it). Baked beans were very tasty and good. Coleslaw was just the right creamy sweetness to keep the palette clean. Not pictured was the two orders of garlic toast I ordered after eating the piece that came with the plate. Overall a sweet 10/10 from me, or as a BBQ judge, I give it all straight 9's.

    We were early, right at opening, party of 2. The smell alone lets you know you've been invited for…read moresome good BBQ. The lady at the counter, she's got your back and is very friendly helping you through the menu. Staff all around is super nice and helpful! The food just can't be beat when it comes to BBQ in DSM. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple spots, but Smokey D's knocks it out of the park with their consistency and quality, every single time. Thanks for the grub! See you for our next birthday lunch!

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    Leachmon Pit Stop BBQ

    Leachmon Pit Stop BBQ

    4.5
    (20 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    This is 5 star food in our great city. The owner is humble and has so much to be proud of! They…read morewere out of many things in the day we tried, but that won't stop us. They have a board of items listing what they're out of. I had the brisket sandwich with fries and mac and cheese. The sandwich was everything you want brisket to be. Tender, succulent, perfect crust and loaded on a grilled bun. The fries were great and had some delicious rub/seasoning on them. The mac and cheese was different than expected, but in a good way. Rotini noodles, cheesey, perfectly seasoned. You need to go. They're not open all days of the week so check yourself so you don't end up brokenhearted. Go. Eat. Indulge. Tip well. Thank me later.

    I stopped by and checked out Leachmon's today. I live in Clive and for some reason I never made it…read moreover when the location was in Valley West Mall before they moved over to NE 14th. Dumb me. Lol Fair warning the pin on Apple and Google maps is a little off. The restaurant is in the corner of the building nearest to NE 14th. I want to say there was a Family Cafe or something like that there before... I was greeted right away by a young lady who was updating a sign board. Seating is a horseshoe shaped bar as you enter. In a dining area off to the Left there are both low and high top tables with chairs and a few booths. I went a little unconventional for BBQ... A cheesesteak combo with fries and mac n cheese and a golden fried catfish combo with fries, fried okra, and a cornbread muffin. My order was placed to go and the wait wasn't long. I'd seen someone post a picture of their cheesesteak a while back... This is something I am unnaturally passionate about. I was stationed in Philadelphia PA for about two years. The metro has a lot of steak and cheese sandwiches, but not many true cheesesteaks. The picture I saw looked legit so this was a must try for me. As they would say in Philly these are served "wit" so if you don't want onions make sure you let them know. It did not disappoint! The chop on the flat top was traditional and not just strips of more or less stir fried beef. The roll...while not entirely traditional...does its job. Soft enough to the bite, but firm enough to hold everything together and it didn't get soggy. It fits the mold of a true cheesesteak. The catfish is fried in seasoned corn meal. Mine was a thick nice fillet. If you don't like catfish because it tastes "fishy" this is not for you. It's not tilapia or a different mild white fish. You're going to get exactly what you ordered. I loved it! But I love catfish. The only thing that would have made it better was if it was whole and bone-in. The mac n cheese was made with a fusilli style pasta. A little funny to the eye but the taste is beyond reproach. Some of the best mac n cheese I've had in a long time! The fries and fried okra were cooked perfectly. I have plenty of those left over. Hopefully they reheat up well in the air fryer! Don't make the same mistake I did by waiting so long to stop by Leachmon's! The gentlemen working in the kitchen know what they are doing and are serving up some good food! https://www.facebook.com/pitstopbbqia.leachmon.7?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://www.lpitstopbbq.com/

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    Rib Tips, Macaroni and Cheese Balls and Coleslaw.
    Rib Tips, Macaroni and Cheese Balls and Coleslaw.
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    Big Al’s BBQ

    Big Al’s BBQ

    3.6
    (41 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    We stopped here for dinner as we really enjoyed the Adel location (one of my 5* ratings) and wanted…read moreto try out the new location. In comparison, we were disappointed with the food at this location, but did enjoy the live entertainment as well as the friendly, attentive staff. I ordered the wings (see picture), as we really enjoyed them at Adel, while my wife ordered the medium Pork Tenderloin. The wings weren't as smoky as what we remembered from Adel and I believe they were fried too long (crispy, dry and the meat shrinking / pulling away from the bone). Given the Top 5 rating for his Tenderloins, our expectations were high and we were left disappointed. The portion was small (see picture) and there didn't seem to be a distinct smoky flavor. If you order the Tenderloin, I would recommend trying the large size in hopes that it is a bit more juicy and smoky. The highlight of this visit was the Blueberry Cobbler for dessert (see picture - delicious) and Jesse and the Medicine Men's live entertainment in the bar area (see pictures). Jesse mingled in the crowd during break and was a good enough singer / entertainer that we moved to the bar for another drink and listened through their last song. He did some great classic country music and really seemed to enjoy entertaining us. Todd's FAS: Food: 3 Atmosphere: 4 Service: 4 If you found this review helpful, please click on 'Useful'.

    We had seen reviews for this bbq place for awhile and decided to try it. The first thing we noticed…read morewas a sweet note on the door from the restaurant owner (you'll have to eat there to find out what the note says but it made us feel even better about giving it a try). Inside of the restaurant has a very laid back country feel and has live music on some evenings. We were there early so was sat on the bar side of the restaurant. Our waitress was so sweet and when we told her that was our first time there, she was kind enough to share what her favorites were with us. We ordered onion rings, the southwest burger, potato salad, Mac n cheese, burnt ends, andouille sausage, and brisket. Burnt ends were best we had in Iowa so far! The other dishes were pretty good...not the best we ever had but still delicious. The downfall to the night was the price of the Moscow mule we ordered. Cost was $15 for a copper cup that was mostly ice. Had I known it was going to cost that much, I wouldn't have ordered it. We'll be back to try some of their other dishes and maybe plan it while we're able to listen to some live music!

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    Pulled pork, chips and Macaroni salad

    Flying Mango - bbq - Updated August 2026

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