Staff is energetic and friendly. Food is great and is not overly priced. Also had numerous excellent experiences with takeout orders read more

We stopped here during a road trip and it did not disappoint. The service was amazing and the food was fresh and delicious. read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Who doesn't love the simplicity of Carnitas Street Tacos doubled with fresh cilantro. Onions, and pulled braised pork highly seasoned -- simply delicious. The cheerful team of wait staffer's voices ring out in chorus"Hola" as you enter for your environmentally satisfying experience. The wait is minimal as they serve up a heaping portion of authentic Mexican Rice and your selective choice of a very flavorful meat. The smell, friendliness and music makes you want to chat longer as you continue to be caught up in the rapture of good people and the smell of delicious food. read more

See all

(5 out of 5 sombreros) Don't let the worn-down shopping center fool you - Monterey Mexican in Clive is a hidden gem! Step inside for a fiesta of flavors and friendly service. The moment you sit down, you're greeted with homemade chips that are light, crispy, and dangerously addictive. While the standard salsa plays it safe, spice lovers can request the hot stuff for an extra kick. I dove into the sizzling fajitas, while my dining companion, Kim, opted for the chicken chimichangas. Both dishes hit the spot, showcasing Monterey's consistently well-prepared fare. Wash it all down with their house margarita - a solid choice that doesn't disappoint. Service is quick and comes with a smile, ensuring your Mexican food cravings are satisfied without a long wait. Whether you're in the mood for a casual dinner or a quick lunch, Monterey delivers reliable, tasty Mexican cuisine that keeps locals coming back. Pro tip: Save room for those irresistible chips, but pace yourself - they're so good, it's easy to fill up before your main course arrives!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Sorry no good pictures. I was too hungry apparently! read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

A few things have changed and asking if the meal is okay is one thing, but refilling water or chips is really standard. I feel like the last time I was here it was cleaner- it felt a bit dank and could use a scrub down. I asked about drink specials as it was happy hour time of the day- and he just said "no specials." My first time in a Mexican restaurant that didn't have a margarita special or beer special. Not impressed. Once every 2 yrs is often enough. read more

See all

Honestly a tad shocked at how many 5 star reviews this has. I used to enjoy coming here as a kid but recently I have regretted my decision. Staff seemed like they couldn't care less if I was there, food wasn't great, was cold with unmelted cheese. It was super loud couldn't hear my friend across the table. read more

This has been our go to spot for 10+ years. Food is always great and staff is always super nice and helpful. 10/10 would recommend

5 stars and well deserved too ! Great staff. Great tasting food; great portions...value for money Indeed.

This is one of my go to spots... But something is slipping. I'm shocked I haven't reviewed Monterrey before because I've eaten here for years. It would have easily gotten five stars. Lately the food has been watery. The cheese sauce has the consistency of broth and I think that's bleeding over to the other dishes it's used in. I loved the pollo Monterrey and the Guadalajara special but now they are almost inedible because of how soupy it is. Both dishes are meant to be scooped up into tortillas. You can't do it without making a mess. Hopefully this straightens up and I can update this review to five stars. But we've been eating at Hildago and Mi Mexico more and more.... It's too competitive of a market to coast in just because you've been around for years. When money is tight it's the little things like cheese sauce that will push your customers to go someplace else. P.S. I really miss Mazatlan. Same owners as Monterrey, but the location has unfortunately closed. read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Burrito Monterrey. - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

See all

Bf and I decided to go to lunch at one of our favorite places but in a different location. The music was light and fun. Lighting was perfect as well as the aesthetic aspect within the restaurant. I grew up in a Mexican restaurant so I always enjoy seeing different pieces of Mexican arts. We were seated right away, got our drinks, chips and salsa fairly quickly. It was semi busy as it was around 1pm which was a little after lunch rush. We ordered queso to eat with the chips and as usual it was amazing. Within 10 minutes of us placing our order we got our food. I ordered the fajitas volcan which is my absolute go to for this place! If you like lots of color, and flavor mixed w shrimp this is the best choice! My bf ordered the cheese steak burrito, he said it was delicious as well. read more

See all

Ordered Fiesta fajitas (lunch)... EXCELLENT! Service was very good; ambiance was "odd" because after their 'lunch rush' -they turned off the music. (Oddly quiet with no customers AND, No music playing) read more

Food- 10/10 has always been outstanding for as long as I can remember. Service- 10/10. Great! Very attentive and caring. Ambiance- 10/10 Mexican music playing but not so loud that you can't talk! read more

Excellent service!! Everyone is so friendly. This is the BEST local Mexican restaurant .

Food was not very good and more made someone who would eat Taco Bell. The Chili Toreado was about the only thing that was good. read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Chile Con Carne Chile Chiles Toreados - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

See all

The menu is standard crap, but if you know how to order properly, it doesn't get more authentic! Trust me on this: OrderTheChickenSoup. This soup tastes identical to a soup my old babysitter, Alejandra, used to make. It is served scalding hot, with a slight sheen from the rendered fat, and oils from the limes and chiles. The broth is super rich and homey and tastes like it's been slow cooked for days. The carnitas are crisp without the jiggly gristle that a lot of places overlook. Whether you order tacos, enchiladas, taquitos, burritos or chimichangas, request that they be made with the carnitas and you will not regret it. Ask for "salsa mas picante, por favor" if you want what's really going on. This by-request salsa will clear your nose and make you sweat, but it's a small price to pay for that taste! read more

Monterrey has excellent food. The salsa is wonderful with their tortillas chips. We're longtime customers and we have never had a bad meal there. The staff are all friendly, polite, and helpful. read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Tortilla chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

See all

This used to be my go-to Mexican food restaurant. The frozen margaritas are amazing. But last night myself and two family members were there and experienced an unfortunate meal. I had a fajita bowl with dry chicken and chewy steak. Another family member had the same issue with their fajitas. The chicken in the enchiladas was dry and tasted old. I gave extra stars for the waiter who was very friendly and helpful. Hoping it was an off night for the food. Disappointed. read more

Their food is great and flavorful, made with very fresh ingredients. Service is very good and fun, they give you free dessert for your birthday and you wear a sombrero. The ambiance is fantastic and very bright, with lots of fun colors and old pictures. I would recommend people who like Mexican food and whoever is visiting the west Des Moines area to come here. read more

I love Monterray! They're always fast and very consistant on quality. During the pandemic, the staff is all wearing masks. I always feel welcome when I come here and often the same man takes my payment and tells me "see you tomorrow!" I've had a variety of their food, queso, burritos, steaks, fajitas, chicken, etc and I haven't had a complaint about any of it. During the pandemic they are even doing take out Margaritas. 10/10 do recommend. read more

This is by far our favorite Mexican restaurant in the metro area. The salsa is amazing! Our favorite dish is the Hawaiian fajitas: steak, chicken, shrimp, bacon, peppers and onions grilled with a slice of pineapple on top. Heaven! The blended margaritas are fantastic, and the service staff is incredibly friendly. We probably go several times a month. read more

5 star service, very friendly and welcoming staff. Very clean place to eat, and the food is delicious ordered steaks tacos, huevos rancheros, and soup chicken. They were all very good. Would definitely come back in the future! Very good experience overall read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Got seated at a booth. Pictures above, an horchata and staff wearing masks due to covid procedures. - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Food is great. Service is fast. Online menu is no longer current. So if you are ordering carry out ... be safe and order a # combination

We were greeted immediately when arrived. They were quick to bring our drinks and chips/salsa. We arrived at 11:45 on Sunday and was disappointed to learn you can not order off their lunch menu on Sundays. My husband normally orders the lunch speed during the week which is not available at all on Sundays. My order I was able to get via a' la carter but of course instead of costing $6.50 lunch price it was $7.49. We required additional time to review the menu after learning we couldn't order off the lunch menu. The waiter returned 10 min later and seem to be argumentative regarding what we wanted. Once the food arrived the portions were much larger than what we expected for lunch. The food was hot and delicious. read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - The guacamole has chunks of avocado in it. - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

When you can't figure out what you want to eat, there is always Mexican around the corner and Des Moines has some great places! I have never been to Monterrey before so we thought we would give it a shot! It's big with lots of seating and lots of staff members taking care of biz! Right when we got sat down, we had a massive basket of chips and a giant bowl of salsa right there! The chips and salsa were great, and could have eaten way more but we held ourselves back for the meal! I ordered Veggie Fajitas with no sour cream and cheese making them vegan! They were great, the tortillas were huge and you could fill them up way more then normal 3 little ones most places give you. The veggies were a great mix, and almost tasted grilled. They had a nice smokey flavor to then, and not a lot of grease! I dug it. The beans, rice, and guac was great too! Ashley ordered a combo meal and it came out a little cold, so we told the waiter and he made her a new one, no questions asked and was very very polite about it. It was great service! I'm happy they took care of it, even on a crazy busy night! With 1 beer our whole meal came to 22 bucks and the service was great! I will run to this border again! read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Tried a new item and was pleasantly surprised. Very tasty. Friendly staff. Mango margarita was smooth. My son got the choripollo and enjoyed his meal too. read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Trying a new entree....homemade tomatillo sauce.... San Jose special - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

I have been coming here for 19 years and I have always been pleased with the service and the food. Fast and inexpensive. They do big groups and it's also a great place for a date. read more

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant - Number 22 all chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Rush lunch hour! We made it in right about 11 ish for early lunch. A group of 5 of us were seated right away. The ambience is great and bright. We sat by the windows and there was a tv above us to watch but it wasn't turned up. We all put in our orders and the food came out fast and hot. They waiter was very kind, kept our waters filled and we all enjoyed our meals very much. We even had enough time after our quick lunch to do a little shopping right after. read more

My co worker and I are going on a Mexican restaurant adventure in the Des Moines area. We are grading the restaurants based on the choriqueso and salsa. This is the first restaurant we decided to review and it didn't disappoint. My only negative is the choriqueso was mostly chorizo and not a lot of queso. Salsa is bomb and the fajitas were amazing! Somewhat run down decor but nothing terrible. Out of 5 * Choriqueso Salsa Bethany 4* 5* Bender 4* 4* read more

Tacos all day errday, right? I love MEXICAN FOOD. Price: Look to spend about $9/meal Parking: Lot, easy to get to. Service: Pretty chill. Order at the table then go to the register to pay. The waiters were nice. Food: boo. Bad. It just didn't taste good. It didn't even taste mexican. Notes: No complaints. Overall: There are better places for tacos. read more

See all

Plus = service was extremely fast. Minus = food was mediocre. Minus #2 = our server seemed more interested in sweeping the floor than attending our table . We always see lots of cars there and wonder what we're missing. We won't be rushing back. read more

After I visited and left I felt like I just had food made by god and was also surprised how fast the food came to us, and the taste of the foods were the best. read more

Typical Mexican restaurant at reasonable prices. Nothing really extraordinary about it though.The waiter was great at checking in on us. The steak was a little overdone so it was dry but all in all it was a good experience. read more

See all

I'm giving this a 5 for being *exactly* what is promises: cheap, fast, delicious Mexican food. I drive across town for take-out, even though there is another Mexican restaurant right across the street from me. There is not great ambiance - the place is super fast paced, loud, bright, and crowded. However, it has awesome, awesome Mexican food for really low prices. The staff is friendly, prompt, and all over the place. They run this place like an ant colony. (Where do they all come from?!) The food is always fresh, always predictably good, and fast. Not a date place - unless you like 'em fast and cheap, in which case, this is probably right in your budget. ;-) read more

Clean, fast friendly. El restaurante mejor en Des Moines. Paco and Luis are the best.

By far the worst so called Mexican food I have ever had. I'm from Arizona and Mexican, so maybe I just expect better standards. I will say that service is fast. However they brought out my plate first, and my girlfriends 5 minutes later. Flavor was bland at best. The so called salsa tasted like tomatoes sauce. I did ask for hotter salsa. They brought out a bowl of slightly better salsa, but not much better. I smothered all of my food in it to give it some sort of taste. My girlfriends fajita chicken tasted like seasoning from box. Presentation was worthless, nothing looked appetizing at all. I'd rather slam my hand in a car door before I eat at Monterrey's again. This place makes me sad that this is what is passed off as Mexican food in Iowa. Save your money, and avoid Monterrrey!!! You will get better food from Taco Bell. read more

Fast and clean great service and delicious food. Their chicken soup is the best I have ever had! Great fresh salsa, great fajitas, and great everything else. We have not had a bad meal or dining experience in the years we have been coming to this restaurant! read more

A five star Yelp review doesn't mean a place has a stuffy maître d', a prix fixe menu, and an extensive wine list. It just means the place does what it's supposed to do. Everyone needs a great local Mexican joint in their arsenal. Monterrey fits the bill perfectly when your craving will only be answered by some cheap, quick, delicious Mexican food. It is truly the quintessential Mexican restaurant, and perfectly executed. It's loud. It's brash. A romantic spot, this is not. And yet, people love it. This place is always busy, and somehow I've never once waited for a table. My food always comes unbelievably quick. The hosts and servers are friendly and efficient. And the food? It's rather good. You'll get a hot basket of tortilla chips before you get completed seated, as well as a heaping bowl of their salsa. Their salsa is amazing -- possibly the best in town. As for the menu, I'm a fan of both the Carne Asada and the Pollo Loco. Both involve some thinly sliced meat, smothered with grilled onions, and served with all the fixings. And the Pollo Loco also has that white cheese sauce on it, which I can only assume is laced with crack because it's so addicting. Monterrey is cheap, fast, and delicious. The chips are warm, the margaritas are cold, and the vibe is always upbeat. read more

The girls would always want to come here for lunch when I worked in Clive, and if the food wasnt half bad I would never go back again. If you are a female with a pulse, don't go here. You will be hit on by every waiter that works there, no matter if you have a wedding ring on or not. It gets to the point to where it is harassing and annoying when you are just tying to eat your food. Now let's get to the food, which by the way isn't a prize either. The chips, salsa and queso are about the only thing that is good. The California burrito and fajitas taste like the only things that are halfway fresh. The enchiladas and tacos always come out like they've been microwaved, and the food always comes out mysteriously quick, like between 3-5 minutes quick. Do they not make food fresh? This place you can skip....choose something else. read more

Well, the service is SUPER quick... But that's about all I'll say that's a rave for this place. Oh, and I guess I could also add that there is plenty of parking. Very disappointing (i.e. really just bad) margaritas. Mine tasted watery, and I complained, so they added a bit of alcohol, but not any kind of enjoyable flavor. Mediocre food... it was ok, but nothing particularly interesting. Service may have been quick, but the waiter and host were not particularly friendly. The cashier guy seemed rather cranky, actually. read more

So, I compare every mexican restaurant in Des Moines to Los Cabos because I love it there and it's Iowa so basically the best we've got around here. My friends and I went to the newer Monterrey on Mills Civic Pkwy and I was skeptical at first. It was my first time there. I had been to the one in Clive only once a very long time ago and never went back because well, it was nasty. I liked the ambiance of the new location very much. We got in right away. The place eventually got super packed and we had to flag down our waiter a couple of times and he forgot a couple of things. But, they were super busy so I'm not going to hold it against them. The menu had some different items on it that were nice to see. I had the shredded beef burrito which was really good, beef was kinda salty but I like that. Chips were good and fresh and the salsa was yummy. Clearly they make it there. I like Los Cabos's salsa better but this was still very good. Beans and rice were the usual, same everywhere but I did like the rice better here. It was more substantial with little bits of veggies in it. We also ordered margaritas on the rocks. They were just right for me. Not too strong not too weak. We were way tipsy by the time we left : ) Overall, I still love Los Cabos but I would go to Monterrey anytime. I was pleasantly suprised. I'll probably try the churrizo and chicken dish, which looked really different and my friend loved it. I still wish we had an AUTHENTIC mexican restaurant here. Until then I'll just to to Monterrey and Los Cabos : ) read more