The Best Mexican Food in Des Moines, Sorted by Craving
Ask ten people in Des Moines where to get the best Mexican food and you will start an argument that outlasts the meal. Somebody will say a taqueria on the east side. Somebody will defend a local institution that has been doing one specific thing since the sixties. Somebody will insist the correct answer is a truck in a parking lot, and honestly, that person is often right. The best mexican food in des moines is not one restaurant. It is a category with genuine depth, which is not something people expect from Iowa.
Here is the honest version, sorted by what you are actually in the mood for.
We run short-term rentals across Central Iowa, which means we answer the "where should we eat" question constantly. This is the list we actually send.
The taquerias people argue about
Tacos Mariana's lands at or near the top of almost every Des Moines list, year after year. It is the one that shows up first when locals start naming places, and the reviews skew toward people saying it tastes like something from their childhood. That is usually a good sign.
El Michoacano carries the highest rating of the bunch, though on a smaller number of reviews, and recent visitors keep using the word authentic without irony. The place was renovated not long ago, so it is in good shape.
Fernando's Mexican Grill and Tacos La Familia both show up consistently on the same lists with solid ratings. Neither is trying to be clever. Both do the fundamentals.
Tacos Tarascos on Douglas Avenue is another name that circulates among people who take this seriously.
The truck
Tacos Degollado is a food truck and it rates higher than most of the brick-and-mortar competition. This is the thing about Des Moines Mexican food that surprises visitors: some of the best of it is not in a building. If you see it parked, stop. Trucks move and hours vary, so this is one to check before you drive.
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The Des Moines institution
Tasty Tacos needs its own paragraph and a small warning. It is a genuine local institution with several locations around the metro, and the thing it is known for is a flour taco that is not like anything you will get elsewhere. Traditionalists will tell you it is not authentic Mexican food, and they are correct. That is not the point. It is a Des Moines food, the way loose meat sandwiches are an Iowa food, and trying it once is part of understanding the city.
Go in expecting a Des Moines thing rather than a Mexico thing and you will enjoy it. Go in expecting a taqueria and you will be confused.
The correct order for a visitor is one taqueria, one truck, and one Tasty Tacos. In that order, on different days.
Sit-down and margaritas
Tequila Restaurante and Cantina gets singled out for Mexico City style tacos and is the easier pick when you want a table, a full bar, and a group that cannot agree on anything. El Patron shows up on the longer metro lists as well.
If what you actually want is a long dinner with drinks rather than four tacos on a paper plate, start here.
Cheap and fast
Henry J's Taco House rounds out the budget end alongside Tasty Tacos. These are the ones for a quick weeknight run rather than a destination meal.
A few practical notes
- Check hours before you go. Several of the best spots keep their own schedule, close on days you would not expect, and are not always diligent about updating the internet. A phone call saves a wasted trip.
- Cash is still useful. Especially at trucks.
- Review counts here are small. A 4.8 on sixty reviews and a 4.2 on two hundred are not really comparable. Read a few recent ones rather than trusting the number.
- The east side rewards wandering. A lot of the best taquerias are not where visitors naturally end up.
If you are staying in the metro and want the rest of the food map, our guides to the best tacos in Des Moines and the best restaurants in Des Moines cover more ground.
One more thing
Des Moines food surprises people. Visitors arrive expecting corn and leave talking about a taco they got from a truck on a Tuesday. That gap between expectation and reality is most of what makes hosting here fun, and the Mexican food is the clearest example of it in the city.
Go find the truck.
Des Moines Mexican Food FAQ
What is the best Mexican restaurant in Des Moines?
There is no single answer, but Tacos Mariana's and El Michoacano come up most often among locals for straight-ahead taqueria food. Tacos Degollado, a food truck, rates higher than much of the brick-and-mortar competition. Pick based on whether you want a table or a paper plate.
Is Tasty Tacos authentic Mexican food?
No, and it does not claim to be. Tasty Tacos is a Des Moines institution known for a flour taco you will not find elsewhere. Think of it as a local Iowa food in the same way as a loose meat sandwich. Worth trying once for the city, not for the cuisine.
Where do locals get tacos in Des Moines?
The east side has a concentration of taquerias that visitors rarely find on their own, and the food trucks are genuinely competitive with the restaurants. Tacos Mariana's, El Michoacano, Tacos La Familia, and Tacos Tarascos all come up regularly.
Do I need cash for Des Moines taquerias?
It is worth carrying some, particularly for food trucks. Most sit-down restaurants take cards without issue, but trucks vary and a small amount of cash removes the question entirely.
Should I check hours before going?
Yes. Several of the best spots keep their own schedule, close on days you would not expect, and are not always quick to update listings online. A quick phone call is the difference between dinner and a wasted drive, especially for the trucks.
