Oh my gosh I cannot say enough good things about this place…read more My mom and I were here visiting from out of town the other day and we had the best time. Salsa served when you are seated. I got the birria tacos and they were delicious. They were STUFFED with birria meat and each taco had a juicy lime wedge. It came with consommé as well. Quite possibly the best birria I've ever had (and I have a lot lol). Service here was quick, informative, and attentive. Our server was very kind. The restaurant was quiet when we were there, but we ate early around 4. Something I saw was they have a new item that caught my eye: horchata iced coffee. YUM. It was too late in the day for me to grab some at the time but if I'm back, I have to try. If you are wondering where this is, it's right next to Target! So, lots of parking! They have a couple spots over there by the restaurant too.

It has its ups and downs. The food is always consistent though. And I enjoy their happy hour…read more I also like that they use Toast to pay which is nice. There are some new wait staff who are really friendly and attentive.

Just an average but lively American Mexican restaurant. They have TVs so there's games on if you're…read morelooking for that. Service was ok, there were plenty of tables at dinner on a Sunday. They have a small patio. We'll go back for a margarita at some point!

A Dark Room, the Mariachi music blaring, strong scent of men's cologne, a bar dominating the space…read moreand an atmosphere that would be welcome at any Quinceañera... but, do you really want to sit down for dinner. No.

We stopped at El Mariachi in Johnston around 6:30 and sat out on the patio, where a house swallow…read moreloudly judged us the entire time. Honestly, the patio ambiance is always pretty good here, bird commentary included. Service was a little slow, and we had to work harder than we should have just to get water, but our waiter was fine overall. Nothing bad, just nothing exceptional either. The complimentary chips and salsa were very good, and I love that they have El Yucateco sauces on the table if you want to spice things up a bit. I had the Chipotle Tacos with chicken for $13, which came with rice and beans. Kim had the #7 combo for $11, with one burrito, one enchilada, and one taco. Both meals were good, but the chicken in my tacos and Kim's burrito was seriously excellent. Tender, flavorful, and probably the best part of the meal. Kim had a small frozen raspberry house margarita for $6.25, and I had a jumbo house margarita on the rocks for $8. The house margaritas were the one thing I would probably upgrade next time. They were very sweet and not quite the stronger margarita flavor I usually prefer. They do offer several premium margarita options, so I suspect that is probably the better route if the drink is a big part of the visit. But they definitely ask premium prices! Our total bill with tip was about $54, which felt fair for two meals, chips and salsa, and two margaritas. Overall, good food, great chicken, nice patio vibe, and a solid casual stop -- just maybe spring for the upgraded margaritas if you have the cash.

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $31 04/18/2026 This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while after seeing a recommendation in a publication. The first time we stopped by a number of years ago, we decided against going in due to there not being many cars in the parking lot. That was definitely not the case last night - the parking lot was nearly full and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, as they were quite busy. Needless to say, we left quite happy to have stopped - as we really enjoyed the experience. Our initial indicators of a good Mexican restaurant starts with their margaritas and then their chips and salsa. They passed it both areas - as both were above average. We started with a Spicy Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) from the bar while we waited for our table. It was good, but wasn't very spicy. The chips and salsa (see picture) were very good - tasty, fresh salsa that was thick enough to stay on your chips and crispy tortilla chips with enough oil to indicate they were fried fresh. For our meals, my wife ordered the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture), while I opted for the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture) - both based on our waiter Omar's recommendation. Omar was great - loved his recommendations, had a great sense of humor and was quite attentive to our needs! As stated, both my wife and I loved our plates - and yes, we shared with each other as always to both confirm. The only change I made to my plate was requesting corn tortillas - as I much prefer them to flour. I just can't say enough about both plates - not only did we REALLY like them, but there was plenty to bring home for another meal. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

Street Tacos is a "thing" with the best well seasoned pork "Al Pastor" at the fairly new Faustino…read morein WDM. The owner-- who was well versed and knowledgeable "Esel" (sic) -- stated all entrees are prepared fresh daily. Each customer is quickly served chips, guacamole, beans, rice and the tender meats that provide an authentic Central American experience to remember while helping yourself to sauces that offers the customer a variety of taste to add more flavor to the marinated meats served in a variety of choices -- tender, moist, full of an array of delicate spices. As you sit and taste each dish -- you relish in the exquisite taste the brings about a satisfying calmness of total satisfaction to the peaceful environment. If you tried the one on Franklin -- buzz over and try this one to give you that well rounded palate of exhilaration.

Obsessed with their torta and tacos. They really got it going on now! I go here at least once a…read moreweek. Their staff is more regular now and very nice

Stopped on a Saturday afternoon was greeted by a very pleasant hostess, and we were able to be…read moreseated right away. Iced tea fresh and clear. We ordered some queso which was proper consistency mild and tasty. Chips were fresh and our meals were great. I ordered the Iowa harvest chimichanga with rice. Husband ordered à la carte two tacos, rice and beans. Everything was delicious the meat and the tacos and chimichanga was very flavorful. They mentioned on their menu beef sourced by Ory Brothers beef delicious will definitely be back. comfortable friendly atmosphere.

I came to this location because I LOVE the Fiesta in North Liberty and was optimistic they were…read morerelated. They are related, but Fiesta in Pleasant Hill is the shunned and estranged disappointment cousin of Fiesta North Liberty. The service was slow. The food didn't have much depth of flavor. The margaritas weren't sweet or flavorful. I will say that the restaurant was spacious and decently quiet. I may go for nachos again in the future, but there are better places to go in the greater Des Moines area.

The food outshined the service!…read more Ambiance: 4 stars Food: 5 stars Service: 2 stars Well, I came here with a friend for lunch. He loves the place and said the Gyros are fantastic. So I went with his recommendation. First impressions: The place is small and nicely located in the District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny. They have adequate seating and were only slightly busy when we arrived (I would say it was at half capacity the entire time we were there) We stood at the reception location for a while before we were 'greeted' and finally seated. We sat for quite a while before the guy with the headset to came back to take our orders. This was the weird part - he was fine, but he spoke so quietly we were not sure he was addressing us or talking to someone in his headset. Eventually we got our orders in, and we again waited. Some time later the water showed up, then after another pause the drinks we ordered were delivered, and sometime later the food showed up. He even remembered the dipping sauce which I thought I was going to have to ask for. We ate our entire meals without once being asked how things were, and eventually after the food was all gone, he came back to unceremoniously plop the bill on the table, and after another extended period he came back to process the payment. All-in-all the interaction with this guy was 'just weird'. (It was suggested that he might be the son of the owner...) He was doing his job but there was absolutely not any extra effort put in to make us feel welcome, and the total lack any real interaction was off-putting. The overall appearance of the place was nice and appeared clean, the decor was fresh and classy. However the bar area around the kitchen was very cluttered and looked like it was being used for overflow storage and it was a bit chaotic and had lots of clutter. Please forgive the fact that I forgot to take pictures of the delicious food. I got into conversation with my friend and just forgot! It was a very well made traditional Gyro with generous portions of meat, fresh hummus and a perfect portion of super fresh tzatziki sauce. I ordered fresh jalapeños and they got that right too! The side of fries were delicious as well, seasoned perfectly, crispy and fresh, and the garlic sauce...well did not lack for garlic! Wowza!! Overall I do recommend this place for the food! I will most likely return and I hope that the service will be a little better next time around.

Flavory Bistro is our go-to date night spot, and it never disappoints! It's been awhile so wanted…read moreto write another review. The Mediterranean Feast is our favorite --it's the perfect mix of fresh, flavorful dishes that gives a little bit of everything. The homemade cheese is truly something special--rich, creamy, and full of flavor. It's one of those things you just can't stop talking about after the meal! We also love that it's a family-run business, and you can tell everything is made with so much care and attention. Since everything is made to order, the freshness and quality really shine through. If you're looking for a spot with amazing Mediterranean food and a personal touch, Flavory Bistro is the place to go. We always look forward to our next visit!

Dined inside and had a great experience from start to finish. These shrimp tacos were seriously on…read morepoint, perfectly cooked shrimp, fresh veggies, sweet corn and black beans, and generous slices of creamy avocado. Every bite had great flavor and texture, and nothing felt heavy or overdone. The rice on the side was light and fluffy, and the sauces brought everything together without overpowering the tacos. You can tell the ingredients are fresh and well-prepared. Comfortable atmosphere, solid service, and really good food. El Guacamole Patio and Cantina is definitely a place I'll be back to when I want something fresh, flavorful, and satisfying.

Disappointing evening. Weak margaritas without much taste. Non-memorable food. And guacamole was…read morenot on the menu accompanying any entry!! It's only a high priced appetizer!!

Coming from Arizona, I've definitely missed those authentic Mexican flavors, and El Molcajete…read moredelivered. Everything we had was incredible. The carne asada was packed with flavor, and pairing it with the bacon-wrapped shrimp took the whole plate to another level. The shrimp tacos were easily some of the best I've had--fresh, loaded with toppings, and that sauce they put on them was seriously out of this world. The service was just as impressive as the food. Everyone was attentive, welcoming, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. I honestly can't think of a single thing that was lacking. Great food, authentic flavors, phenomenal service, and an overall top-tier experience. If you're in Ankeny, definitely stop by and give El Molcajete a try. Moving here from Arizona and finding a gem like this was a huge win. My wife and I already know this is going to become one of our regular spots. Easily a 10/10 experience! Can't complain the ambiance was a nice open concept.

This is my stepdaughter and her husband's favorite Mexican restaurant in their hometown, so we…read morestopped in as a group of 6 on a Friday night. We were seated right away and ordered a pitcher of Skinny Margaritas. They were VERY tasty, well-prepared, and a good accompniament to our chips and salsa. They bring out both mild and spicier salsa, and of course there are options for guac and cheese sauce. For dinner we got a variety of dishes. Two of the group shared a bowl and it was enough for them with leftovers. I got the Loco Burrito, and it was easily 2 meals for me. Others got tacos and shrimp, and everyone enjoyed their dishes. Service was excellent, and the staff worked together to keep things moving right along! I believe this is an old Golden Corral Building, so there is a lot of seating, and a bar right when you walk in the door. Great food and drink!!