First time here and I think it was just ok. I got the platter which was a sausage, chicken creole on rice, and red beans and rice with sausage, and a piece of cornbread. The server was very nice, and it wasn't overly expensive which was a plus. I've had red beans and rice before but the rice here was like creamed rice or something. It was a bit odd. There was a shrimp dish, sort of like an etouffee that they made with noodles that looked amazing. I was wishing I had gotten that for sure! Overall it was a perfectly fine experience, but I don't know if I would call it Cajun or creole. Maybe a spin on it, but a less traditional spin on it. Everything besides the sausage needed a TON of salt. It wasn't my favorite experience in Des Moines, but it wasn't the worst. Overall I think it was just average. I'm willing to try it again, but I wouldn't get what I got this time. read more

If you are looking for non-traditional BBQ then this is your place. Wonderful open environment and friendly staff make it a great experience. read more

FOR THE MOST PART - everyone around me seemed to be enjoying their meals. Good for them. I dined with two friends - our waitress seemed to be a bit condescending right from the start. This did not get us started off on the right foot. I have had gastric bypass surgery. My stomach is the size of an egg now. The stomach sack can not (and will not) allow me to eat much food. The surgeons & doctors all push us (Gastric Bypass Patients) to order from the Kids Menu. I have learned to do this, and even ordering from the kids menu, half goes into the trash. I asked for a kids menu from the waitress and she ALMOST rolled her eyes (I get it - they are working for tips, and if the check is not "up there" - the tip suffers) - As a former waiter myself, I ALWAYS tip heavy, no matter what I spend on the food. She then dryly points out to me that I MAY order from the kids menu, but there will be an additional $5 charge as I am an adult. WTH? IMMEDIATELY, they have lost my business. I-M-M-E-D-I-A-T-E-L-Y-! It is sad to see a nice place do this to their customers.... She smiled weakly and said, "You can always take it home with you" (insisting I order from the adult menu) I explained I can not do that and it just goes into the trash. WHY would I spend good money on something I will throw away and not enjoy? The other two guys at my table were ordering full meals (and even desert!) - why not please ALL of your customers? The "special" of the night was "Prime Rib" - she did NOT say how much the "Special" was... both of my friends ordered the Prime Rib dinner special. BOTH were disappointed - EXSPECIALLY when the check came! 1/3 to 1/2 of the large slab of meat that was plopped on their plates - was FAT! The cost for getting a plate of jiggly un-edible fat? $44.00 (As they said, "We paid $44 for $20 of meat" Sad. The asparagus was so tough - they could not even cut it with tier steak knives! By the time we were to order, I was so incensed with the "you gotta order off the adult menu" (even after explaining why I could not) - All I ordered was a "side of Grits" ($5) As another reviewer wrote: "...there are bad grits and these were bad grits. They were beyond dry - think very gritty and minimally moist." Served as two scoops from an ice cream scooper - the two mounds of gravel (yes, GRAVEL - NOT "Grits"), never lost their scooped shapes! I could barely get one scoop down... She came up to our table and asked if I wanted to take the remaining "scoop" home with me. (To what? Fill in my driveway?) I told her no, they were awful. Her response? ......................................................................... nothing. And the food went INTO THE TRASH CAN! (Where it truly belonged.) Our table spent a total of $125.00 for three of us (would have been more if I had a normal stomach and ordered the adult meal) - Half of the food went into the trash can. An older guy was wondering around the restaurant (I am ASSUMING an owner), asking folks how the food is. ....................he never came to our table. Too bad, I would have gladly told him. (AND showed him) If you have money to burn, and would like to sample some decent BBQ - paying for a full plate and only getting half - GO FOR IT. If you have had Gastric Bypass Surgery - STAY AWAY (and I will be posting this to our GBP group pages) - I would give a bit of BUSINESS advice to this place... You lost a LOT of business over $5 "adult surcharge". read more

This place is delicious. Service was excellent. Now, for a cut and paste of what I told my friend about the place: I'm currently eating one bite of everything. Collards: fire! Nice slight vinegar tang, some good chunks of meat in it too. Country style mash: perfectly seasoned, not dry at all. Garlic bread: nice and oily. Cornbread with honey cinnamon butter: sweet, medium dense, moist, tasty (I'm not one of those people that loves cornbread Probably because it's 50% mediocre 50% bad/dry as the Sahara... But this shit is good) Pulled pork sandwich: tender, light on the BBQ sauce (how I like it) bread is a nice grilled ciabatta thing Red beans and rice: I'm biased because I don't like beans (and these ones are particularly fibrous and textured/not super soft) but the saucy bean flavor was amazing on the rice. Cajun Catfish: could use a bit more lemon. I did the best with what I was given haha it was cooked very well though, nice and flaky, tasted good Ribs: they're not fall of the bone tender but still really good, nice char on them. The BBQ sauce looks like it would be a sweet one but it's got a good dose of vinegar to it so it's well balanced. Catfish cake-good, but I'm not a huge cumin fan and it has a lot of that flavor profile. The sauce/remoulade was great though. Shrimp pontchartrain was good, but probably not worth the cost. Shrimp and rice itself wasn't particularly special... seafood gravy good, but I barely got any veggies Will be back! Will recommend to friends! read more

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Loved everything about Flying Mango! I have lived in the Des Moines area for more than 20 years and this was my first visit because my sister's husband (they live in Minnesota) watches triple D and said we needed to go here for dinner. Mike was an awesome host and shared great special stories with us. This was the best meal I had out in Des Moines! Can't believe I haven't eaten here before, but definitely will be back. read more

We knew it was a good sign when we saw the smoker in the back of the building. This was the most amazing dinner I've had in a while. The peeling paint on the outside is no indication of the surprise you find on the inside. We arrived early on a Tuesday night with no reservations. We were seated in the back room. Our server brought our water and drinks quickly. She quickly walked us through the specials and menu. I ordered the brisket salad as a healthy option ($18). I received a huge portion of the most tender flavorful juicy brisket smothering a delicious bed of fresh young greens and surprising treat of peanuts. The salad was gently coated with an light vinaigrette. The salad included a wedge of cornbread. I think this was the best salad I've ever eaten. One table mate enjoyed the Redneck platter composed of blackened catfish, ribs with sides. The other table mate enjoyed the special of pork shanks over Gorgonzola grits with corn bread. His dinner was so good that it left him wanting more. There was a line waiting for seats when we left. Recommend reservations or coming very early. This place is worth the 7 hour drive. I will be back. read more

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Love having a thai place near our home: we've been three times in the last month! My favorites are the yellow curry, delicious and fragrant pho, creamy crab rangoons, and pad Thai. Portion sizes are big! Always excited to try new items there. Definitely check it out! read more

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This place advertised Cajun & Caribbean and had great reviews. However the red beans and rice couldn't have been a real Cajun recipe . The little bit of sausage was kinda burned and the sauce tasted like a tomato base . Didn't taste any Trinity. I'm a Louisiana regular and make beans almost every Monday. Was excited to try but was honestly disappointed. Not any leftovers I wanted to take home even if it was regular beans and rice. We ordered brisket which was great, cooked well, but the 4 pieces of asparagus were blanched and that's it that's all. No salt. No seasoning. No nothing. Disappointing. The potatoes had red peppers in them i thought they'd be flavorful but no. Maybe my expectations were too high and hopeful. I love real Cajun food. And I know what it tastes like. This wasn't it. read more

Outstanding BBQ, and Louisiana Creole dishes. We will definitely visit again when we come back.

Best brisket ever! Can't say enough about the smoke meat here, ribs are incredible and the brisket is so tender but doesn't taste like roast beef. Good bark and great flavor. Will be back! read more

Love this place. Great brisket. Staff is super friendly. Cozy atmosphere. Great neighborhood joint.

I can't say enough great things about Flying Mango. From the service to the food, it's just always on-point. I've had too many dishes to mention them all. My advice, always get the grits of the day. It never disappoints. This is the only place in town that I order grits. Their service has always been marvelous and attentive. The location is fairly small, but the hosts always make an effort to seat the guests as soon as they can. Never any fuss. I absolutely love this place. read more

We loved the Flying Mango. Varied, eclectic menu. I would eat their again in a heartbeat.

So while the waitress was very lovely she was obviously overworked. But the main problem is the one item I came in for the pork tenderloin had curated side and I couldn't choose my sides and sorry to say grits with goat cheese and asparagus with the same cheese made me have a visceral reaction of disgust. I asked very nicely for cornbread and mashed potatoes something easy and already premade, hell I saved the cook grilling time. Well the nice waitress asks for me to have the chief swap them then comes back and said that the chief isn't working with her tonight. I got up and left, if I'm paying 20 buck for a pork tenderloin I'm choosing my sides. Went to Jethros half price good atmosphere and can choose my side. read more

Food was pretty good, but I was somewhat unhappy with how a product shortage was handled. There was a group of seven of us in the restaurant for my birthday. Initially, we were told there was a cornbread shortage and that only two of us would be receiving cornbread and the other five would need to select something else. This was incorrect; the other five received cornbread and myself and a friend were left to choose something else. Garlic bread was suggested--which we accepted. It was disappointing to receive two tiny pieces each; the same size as you might see in a bag of snack mix. I thought it would have been appropriate to at least throw an extra piece in for the inconvenience, offer another side, or something of that nature, but no corrective action was offered for our disappointment. The food was delicious for the most part. I'd avoid the salad that has peanuts on it--they simply open a jar of dry roasted peanuts and throw them on top. I guess I naively thought maybe they'd be chopped. Doing so definitely gives a little different texture. Meat had a very nice smoked flavor. Its apparent others love Flying Mango and it came highly recommended. Down the road, I may give it another chance, as I understand product shortages can happen, but thought the situation could have been handled better than it was. read more

Flying Mango - Pork tenderloin; red beans and rice - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Update: Latest visit was 8/6/16. We went and parked about 10min before the doors opened. People where lining up to get inside. This time was nice as we got seated right as we walked up. The occasion was special and it was my husband and I and my folks. My dad was the only one who had never been here before so it was new for him. It was all really good. I know that my dad will not forget the wasabi potato salad. He had never had wasabi before and the potatoes really had a nice kick to them. The restaurant never disappoints and the food is always really good. They haven't been around this long for no reason. read more

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I don't often give a five-star review but I feel i have to because the flying Mango has made an extraordinary effort for us to get good food yet remain safe and to have their staff remain safe as well. I want to talk a little bit about their pop-up concept so if you want to get food from the flying Mango you got to connect with them on their Facebook page and then get an email which gives you a weekly pop-up of some limited menu items you have to get your order in before a certain time on Friday and the longer you wait there is a chance that the item you want could run out. The one I participated in was before Thanksgiving and I got ribs and a bloody mary mix for drinks. What happens is you go to the order page which you can get a link from on Facebook or you can get sent an email and also has a link to the order page you put your order in and pay for it and then on Saturday you pick it up. They email you will pick up time usually in a 4-Hour span and a cell phone number to call or text when you arrive. it's pretty cool when you drive up they have a table set up you text them the number they come out and set your order on the table and you pick it up and go it's about as safe as I think you can get. Now to the food they did a great job on the ribs I like a dry rib and they have a wonderful side sauce which gives you a little bite. I also enjoyed my bloody mix. the thing is every week they have a little different items and usually their side dishes and also pies which they're really good The thing is you have to get your order in early or they'll run out, that's why I suggest getting on their email list in checking their Facebook page, but a real tip of the hat to flying Mango for providing a wonderful quality food in a really safe environment. read more

Wonderful experience from arrival to departure. Solid, friendly greeting at the door. The space was a comfortable mix of chic and thoughtful, warm, up-scale pub decor. The noise level was pleasant: Low enough to hear one another, loud enough that you felt like the conversation was private. The drink menu included both standards and fun/funky takes on standard drinks. Vermouth and rum figured centrally in several of their more interesting concoctions. I tried one of their rum manhattans. Smooth, interesting, drinkable, packed a punch. Great selection of rotating beers, too. I had Red Beans and Rice, which is a standard when I'm traveling. It was beautifully done. Substantial portion with each of the components cooked to perfection. (The red beans/sausage was clearly cooked together, but not into a homogeneous glop. The beans were tender, with lots of whole beans, and sausage was tasty.). It was served with a cornbread wedge and some fluffed sugared butter. Very tasty, recommended. My companion had the taco special for the evening. Three pulled pork and mango tacos, which they described as excellent with a mango margarita. Dessert was cherry pie and a crème brûlée. Both were sumptuous and seemed to be in-house. The wait staff was great: Attentive, but not hovering. The owner made several walk-throughs to check on the dinner guests/inquire after our comfort. To top it off, the entire staff serially thanked us as we walked out. Great place! Will be back when I'm in the area. Highly recommended. read more

Everyone loves this place so you should definitely go check it out. I almost wanted to give it a perfect 5 stars but am restraining myself for a few reasons: 1) our service wasn't great and in points left us feeling a little uncomfortable 2) $20 is a little on the expensive side for BBQ in my opinion. The sides were kind of small portions, while the main food was hearty, it just didn't make up for it. I've been to BBQ in Nashville where they load you up with more food for less money. We had the brisket. It was very delicious. However, I have had more tender brisket in the past. Maybe because their slices are so thick, it threw me off. The BBQ sauce was quite good, but I like trying different BBQ sauces at the table. Variety is the spice of life. (Also in Nashville) The sides we tried were the cornbread (I recommend), the baked apples (think Cracker Barrel style), mixed veggies (why no traditional canned green beans??), and coleslaw (the best thing... needed more of this). I'm concerned the staff got over-inflated by being on Diners Drive-In's and Dives and now they're ok with being a less than friendly with customers. Our hostess didn't smile. And our waitress made us feel pressured to order more food than we needed. She also would disappear for long periods of time (I recognize it's busy, but when you're serving the tables next to us, without giving us a nod that you see me trying to get your attention, it feels rude.) I'm sure this could've been an off-night for them. And this seems like a Lincoln gem. So definitely go check it out!! read more

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Dined here once and had an okay experience. The actual BBQ was decent, though all the sides and appetizers we got were below average. We tried the smoked chicken dip and side of sautéed veggies and didn't love either. The dip was very dry and closer to tuna salad consistency, and the chips weren't freshly made. The veggies were simple, not very well seasoned, and just a bit overcooked for our taste. They serve a hard lemonade that was delicious but it was not made in house (it was a canned drink that I can't find the name of). Parking lot is small, but we found a spot. We sat inside and so I didn't expect to pick up so much smoke, but I could smell smoke on me for two after. I didn't love this but I guess this might be common for BBQ places? Service was okay, the restaurant wasn't busy but it was hard to find staff when we needed an extra plate. - Pros: BBQ - Cons: sides and appetizers, parking can be tough as their lot is small read more

Both non alcohol and alcohol drinks were delicious!! Staff and food were amazing!! So much flavor in everything! Definite add to our list of things to do when in Des Moines!!! read more

Always the best BBQ in Des Moines! Love the Jenny Salad & my husband loves the Memphis ribs.

Great brisket and ribs!! The owner is very nice and the weight staff is super attentive!

I can't say enough about Flying Mango! I have been coming here for 15 years and it is so consistently delicious, great service, family friendly and just the tops! They have specials every night so you could get something new every time you visit. Reservations are recommended but not required. Even during the week they can have up to an hour long wait time. I would definitely say that this is probably not a good place for vegetarians or vegans but I will ask next time I am in. We eat mostly vegetarian and some fish so this restaurant works perfect for us. We did however used to eat land animals and if you love ribs, pulled pork, brisket this is the place for you. I used to always get the cajun chicken sandwich and it was delicious. They have amazing cocktails and bottled beer, but every time I'm in I just have to get there red sangria, its so great! I have had some of the best service I've ever had at a restaurant at the Flying Mango. Most of the staff has been working for the owners for years. In short if you love bbq in a quaint atmosphere with amazing service and oh.... did I mention delicious cornbread. The flying mango is for you! read more

Flying Mango - Catfish, mashed tatters and a hot date - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Come eat here. It's insanely delish. Wonderful atmosphere, even better food. If I could give them more stars I would. Don't listen to the haters this is the only review you need to see. Literally downloaded yelp to say that you reading this needs to come try this. read more

Nice atmosphere clean and relaxing ample parking After a long flight in we ordered a well deserved beer. Unfortunately, it was warm. We ordered the three meat platter to sample what was available. We had ribs, brisket and chicken with grits mashed potatoes and snap peas. All the meats with exception of the chicken was dry and over cooked. I am glad I was given water because it was very dry. We were looking forward to it because Guy Fieri had recommended. Food was disappointing. read more

Flying Mango - Dinner at the Flying Mango, Des Moines, Iowa - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Had the Jennie Salad with Beef Brisket! Wowzer. Just simple and awesome. My husband had the special, whatever it was with shrimp he said it was amazing. Heather, our server was great! On point, friendly and could answer all of our questions! read more

I am absolutely addicted to Flying Mango and the awesome food this place puts out. This is authentic southern style with some Midwest flare that is absolutely phenomenal cuisine. They offer call ahead seating that will help with the wait time. The kitchen is right up front when you walk in the door so you can see the amazing food being prepared while you are waiting. Grab a cold Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager while you wait. We started with the Brisket Mango Quesadilla which is absolutely fantastic. Try the sauce, soon you will be in love. Next I got the brisket sandwich and added some more sauce. Wow, this sandwich is a home run. The brisket is tender, perfect smoke ring, with fantastic flavor. The sauce compliments it very well. I choose the red beans and rice as a side and it was magnificent. I felt like I was back in Louisiana. Amazing food. They have a great wait staff and I am definitely going to be back because I am addicted to the Flying Mango! read more

Flying Mango - The Phenomenonal Brisket Mango Quesadilla! - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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For all the hype I hear, it was disappointing. It was just ok. Not worth the $$$ imho. We went with friends and my baby. They were pretty judgmental of my daughter, despite her not making a peep the entire time she was there. Other children were present and much louder than her. Very tight fit for table space. Dessert was great but the atmosphere stuffy and bbq lackluster. read more

This place looked small from the outside but it is actually a pretty big restaurant. I'm glad because the place was packed but we were still able to get seats for the 7 of us rather quickly. The decor was very nice and the lighting set a good ambiance. There were a lot of people but we were still able to hear each other talk. Our group ordered a bottle of red wine and bunch of apps. They were delicious, my favorite were the mussels as they tasted fresh. I ordered the pick 3 of ribs, chicken and brisket. The brisket was perfect with burnt tips and tenders insides. The sauce was really tasty and they gave a generous portion so I was done after my plate. You definitely will feel full after eating here as it's a lot of really good food you can't resist. The prices were reasonable for the amount of food you get. I will definitely come back for some good barbecue! read more

Flying Mango - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Love their food! We've been there a few times with friends and we are never disappointed. Service is great and food is amazing. Would recommend reservation as they are very busy and it's not a big place read more

Going 5 stars after our last visit...the Catfish and Chicken Dinners were amazing and the Creole Chicken / Red Beans & Rice sides were exceptional this go-round. Mike stopped by the table and visited with us a bit as we had our friend Bill in from VA who's been to over 500 of the TripleD joints that are out there. read more

Have visited on multiple occasions the past few months and I think about the chicken creole almost every day. The ambiance is great, food is excellent and staff kind and helpful! Have had both in house meals and take-out, with the same great taste. We have tried something new each time and haven't found something we don't like but I would say the chicken creole, jerk pulled pork and cornbread are my top 3! read more

Flying Mango - 1/2 rack rib dinner, chicken creole and cornbread. Fish taco (special) with red beans and rice. - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

A true gem!!!! The atmosphere, food, service all 5 star. Louisiana sampler dinner was perfectly seasoned- corn bread is a must.

We were a party of 4 and everyone was disappointed in their meals. We were excited to try this restaurant and had somewhat high expectations going in based on the reviews and the fact that it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. We wanted to like the food, two of us even ordered "What Guy Had", but the food was dry, the taste was bland, and the service was mediocre. read more

Absolutely an awesome place to eat! I currently live in the Atlanta, GA area but am moving to the Des Moines area soon and was dreading leaving good Southern BBQ. Thank goodness a friend introduced me to The Flying Mango! Thier 24 hour Brisket and Ribs are to die for! Excellent smoked taste! The best I have had since brisket in Texas. I also had the Andouille and it was very good! Their cornbread is awesome too but I was a little disappointed in the Sweet Potato Pancake (expected more of a "wow" flavor). I will definitely be going here often once I move to the area and can't wait to try more things on the menu! read more

We drove all the way from Omaha bc we had heard that this place was awesome.. We had the brisket, chicken and ribs. Service was good. The food is extremely pricy for the poor quality (shared 1 dish, 1 glass of wine and 1 beer and paid 60 dollars). The ribs and the chicken were super dry, and both tasted like gasoline from the bbq. The brisket was ok. The side dishes are nothing special, the cornbread and grits has no flavor. Not worth the trip at all read more

Five years living in Des Moines, I had heard the best things about this place but never tried it until last December. I went with my husband and my mom, who is usually not impressed by restaurants here in the US, she is an even more demanding diner than I am, so I was a bit nervous to try Flying Mango. We went on a Friday night so it was absolutely packed, but we called ahead so our wait was only 15 minutes. Just the atmosphere was fantastic, all abuzz, kind of a big city feel and also the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen area. I loved that you could see the kitchen in action! My mom and I split a the 24 hour brisket dish, with the cornbread (and delicious cinnamon butter) and the collard greens. What a wonderful decision! I really like brisket, but honestly, Flying Mango's is in a completely different league. Beautifully cooked, melts in your mouth, smokey but not overpowering, flavors on point and excellently complemented by the greens and the cornbread. Hands down, best brisket I have had in the Midwest, and a pretty legitimate contender to The Salt Lick in Texas. Des Moines should be proud of this gem! Service was prompt, attentive and friendly. This place also has a nice beer selection, I had a lager from Brazil I really enjoyed. If you haven't already experienced the Flying Mango, what are you waiting for?!? You will be so glad you did. I can't wait to return. If you are on a budget, save up some $$ and then treat yourself! read more

Flying Mango - Brisket, collard greens, cornbread: yum ! My husband got ribs, also pictured. - Barbeque Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Out of towner here. We come to DM often to visit our daughter and grandkids. Have to say the Flying Mango is absolutely one of my immediate favorites here. Just had another great meal there. Wonderful and never disappoints. read more

The food is amazing! The staff is friendly and service is excellent! Owners are on the premises and part of the staff, always there to visit and offer a hand. O read more