Taco Johns, I love you. I do. When I think back on the best experiences of my life, my first trip to Iowa ranks in the top 3. I ate a lot of taco Johns' potato oles when I was there, so this place holds a special place in the nostalgia center of my brain. I can't describe to you to depth of adulation I have for the potato oles. I could probably write a sonnet, but I'll never try... because I don't want to know for sure that it's in me to write a sonnet about what is essentially a seasoned tater tot. Suffice it to say, though, that I had never before, nor have I ever since, found such a delightful snack at any fast food restaurant that I've ever been to. Now, this is a big deal. Maybe not for you, but definitely for me. In a dark world where places like McDonald's flavor their french fries with some kind of secret beef extract, and places like Taco Bell have nary a vegetarian option in sight (I'm cautious of their beans, regardless of what they tell me), Taco Johns is a big shining lantern lighting the way for vegetarians everywhere. Except in California where we don't have Taco Johns. For the sake of complete transparency, though, I've never had anything else here... Come to think of it, I've never really even looked at the menu. Do they even sell tacos here? I don't know. I just know that Dan told me I was going to love these potato things, and then he ordered some for me. After that, I didn't need a menu. However, this might mean that there is really nothing else here I can eat. I also don't really care. There are other restaurants in Ames where I can get a salad. read more

The manger Lucas seemed like he didn't know what he was doing, and made my time very unpleasant

This one is just for these mixed berry lemonades. I made them dirty. Sooo, sooo good! The wild berry is raspberry lemonade taste. The strawberry is just that. And I had the sweet cream added to both and they are so good! I ordered in the app and picked up through the drive through. Friendly staff. These prices were somewhere around $4+ for the large size, including the sweet cream and today was a bogo on them. Clean. Lot parking. MarcyDiner'sTantrumScale 5/5- NoScreamingKids. I also got a regular crispy taco, so CyHawkApproved. read more

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Unfortunately, our experience here was terrible. Normally, we're willing to give a spot a second chance, but that's not an option here. All of our food was borderline inedible; some of it we couldn't even choke down, so we had to throw it away. The crispy tacos were about all that we could stomach, and they're nothing special. The super burrito was made extremely small and barely had anything in it. We also got some sort of queso burrito (I can't remember exactly what it was called) and it tasted like sour cheese while smelling like feet. Upon ordering, the employee that took our order was very unpleasant. He wasn't outright rude, but he definitely did not want to be there, and it showed. It seemed as if we were annoying him throughout our ordering process simply by placing an order and "making" him work. He also had no idea what was in any of the menu items we asked about, which giving him the benefit of the doubt, he may have been new. While waiting for our order to be up, we noticed how dirty the inside of the restaurant was, even though they weren't busy at all. The first table we went to sit at was covered in something sticky, almost as if they wiped it down with syrup. The bathrooms were an absolute nightmare as well. Between the smell and the filth, I wound up just holding it. Hopefully other people's experience here goes better than this. read more

The people who actually make the food usually do a pretty good job. Its the counter help. I probably waited 2 1/2 minutes and no one ever came out to take my order. STG COVID was 6 years ago and fast food service in that time has just PLUMMETED! The price, the quality the service is just HORRIBLE nowadays. I just left. I just won't put up with it anymore. The workers have such a chip on their shoulder and seem to be clueless as to why they receive a paycheck. read more

We do not recommend this place because we ordered a super burrito combo as we are vegetarian. We told them remove the meat and replace it with beans in 2 other super burritos but instead gave us bean burritos. After confronting and talking with them we asked them to change them to a super burrito. The person working went back to change it but instead just opened the wrapping and added veggies to it throwing the other wrapper away and putting a new one just to show that she "made a new one" which was very infuriating. Also a super burrito combo should only cost $10.49 but instead they charged us $14.49 a whole extra 4 dollars. For stuff we didn't ask for and falsely charged us like we told him to remove the nacho cheese and large drink but instead he kept it and charged us for it. The ambiance was mediocre and the bathrooms were disgusting. Charging us on all of the stuff like even asking to add a little onions as they forget them and even changing the size of our drinks and charging us more. I would recommend you not going to this franchise of Taco John's in Ames, Iowa, every other Taco John's were good but this one. Also the customer service was absolutely unacceptable and shitty. read more

The food was terrible. Potato Oles were over seasoned and fried in old oil. They were bitter and left a bad aftertaste. Fried chicken tacos shouldn't even be a menu item. Over cooked over breaded chicken nuggets in a tortilla. Doubt I ever eat at Taco John's again. read more

The employees were very courteous, the one that took our order was prompt, friendly and very courteous! The food was above board for a fast food restaurant and would recommend this to everyone! read more

Cheese and potato sums up the place. Whatever I ordered had 70% cheese and 30% of the actual Mexican flavors. The only reason to dine in here would be the price. read more

Sometimes they get it right. This time I order a beef burrito, emphasizing the 'fff'. So of course I get a bean burrito. The lackadaisical guy supposed to be putting it in the bag is sitting there for 30 seconds making the same hand motion between the scale and the bag but won't put it in. Last time no one else ahead of me and it takes 3 min plus to make a burrito. read more

Road Trip!! We travel a lot on weekends, and Taco John's is one of our regular fast food shops. This weekend we found ourselves in Ames, Iowa. Fast service, clean restaurant, good hot food- just what we wanted. We ordered tacos and potato ole's- don't forget the cheese sauce. read more

Taco John's - Fast Food Near Me - Ames, Iowa

What's the point of asking if you want sauce for your tacos if they always forget to put it in. I wouldn't mind once but this happens every time I go there. I guess I will be going to taco bell from now on!! read more

Writing this review from the drive through line cause I got all the time in the world to kill. Total time in line was 29 minutes. I'm surprised my order didn't cost more by the time I got up to the window due to inflation. Ridiculously understaffed. read more

Not 5 stars due to some inconsistency. A couple times I've gotten not so fresh potato ole's or tiny burritos. But overall they're always really friendly at this location. At one visit during the drive through recently they gave me someone else's order by accident. Not only did they fix the order but included a "sorry" note inside the corrected order with a coupon. Students: show your ID for a discount! read more

For a fast food joint its a solid four stars. The food tastes good and comes fast. No matter what you order here you will get some thing that tastes good but it is a little pricy for fast food. read more

Taco John's - Fast Food Near Me - Ames, Iowa

This is a new Taco John's. The old one was a few blocks away. The new one is big, clean, has better parking, has a bathroom you can get to without leaving the building and knocking on the back door. That said, I preferred the old one. There was an intimate relationship with the employees. Now most of them are hidden from the customers and you don't get to bond with them. It is standard fast food fare. read more

So, the drive through was broken. The sign showing this was nowhere NEAR the drive through speaker OR on the menu. We pulled up to the window and were asked to come inside. 20 minutes later, we got our order because of the utterly incompetent moron making food while forgetting the whole "fast" part of the equation. Our order wasn't just wrong. I ordered no onion because I CAN'T EAT IT. We didnt figure that out until we were on the road because by this point, I was late for work. So what did I get? A scrambler with the right meat and EVERYTHING on it. So not only was I late for work, I got no breakfast. So thanks for the GI issues and making me late. read more

Potato Oles! Ole! Taco Bravo...man, they had the best Mexican food in the state back in the 70s!

Ordered 2 soft shell beef tacos and received some nasty burrito with olives. I cannot stand olives. Why is it so hard to make simple food? You want paid more than minimum wage, but can't even give people the right food. Won't be back to this location and neither will any of my friends. read more

Besides the drive thru being a little weirded out this is a nice place. Easy to order and friendly service. Food was hot and fresh and just as I ordered. Recommended and will more than likely return. read more

I well go else were I do not like there food there to hi pice for a little amount u get and your food give to u cold no stare they should be shut down potato to salted no thank u ewwwww no stars read more

This was our first time at this Taco John's. We were greeted and served by exceptionally professional and polite staff. The beef burrito was very good as were the tater-tots, quesadillas, and taco salad. Interior is fresh, clean, and new. ISU students and alumni receive 15% off with Student ID or alumni card. read more

Awful, received full tacos... full of lettuce and a little cheese.. no meat to speak of... took pix to verify sent to to, corporate, received coupons in mail, went to redeem a second chance of sorts, same thing again... been 2 years havent been back since... read more

Normally we like Taco Johns for a quick meal. But last night, a Thursday, they had 7 employees working and hardly any customers. The staff was bored and messing around. As we were eating I watched them. I mentioned to my hubby that we should be concerned about the food. The staff's hands were in their pockets, messing around with their clothes, a broom, the counters, taking money, and everywhere else. AND handling food. I never saw them wash their hands ever, EVER. Now, a day later, we're sick. I won't share the details, but we have food poisoning. BEWARE. read more

I love this Taco Johns. Super good for fast food tacos. I recommend the grilled taco or go on Taco Tuesday!

I'm sure the food is normally pretty great, but yikes, I'll probably never go back there. Friends and I went up to the doors, realized it was about ten minutes before they would close the dining room (window is open later), but only two of us were getting small orders and thought it wasn't so bad since there were some people still sitting in the dining room, and we had only brought cards and no cash. So we hurried in. Lady in the dining room came up in a huff and I quickly apologized that we came in so near to close because she looked so upset to which she responded "Uh, yeah." Guy behind the counter was shaking his head noticeably as well and made us all feel rather uncomfortable. My friend and I quickly ordered and the lady made it harder than it really needed to be and mispronounced my name a number of ridiculous times before she got it right. We got our food and quickly left. While we were leaving, it looked like the lady went up to the people who were still in the dining room, with about 5 minutes before closing, and rather rudely ushered them out. On top of that, my food was very cold. I was a waiter for five years and had numerous people come in minutes before close, and this was at a sit down restaurant, not a fast food joint with a window still open for service well into the night. I'm glad we hindered her closing process when it wasn't even time for them to close. read more