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Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Des Moines area by diners

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Robert Briggs // Shutterstock
Robert Briggs // Shutterstock

Just like cuisine from any country, Mexican food is not monolithic. It isn't just combo plates and tacos. (Not that there's anything wrong with that style of food; it's delicious and is responsible for popularizing Mexican food in the United States.) But Mexican food means more than that.

It reflects Mexico's diverse population鈥攕haped by waves of immigration鈥攁nd has proliferated throughout the U.S., showcasing the cuisine in all its complexity and regionality. Mexico has, and thanks to immigrant chefs and the rise of promising culinarians of Mexican descent looking to share their signature dishes, Indigenous foodways, and ingredients from various regions, diners are reframing their idea of "Mexican food."

According to a 2024 Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data, , and nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The analysis also reveals that California and Texas are home to a majority of the Mexican American population and together host 2 out of 5 Mexican restaurants in the country.

These findings serve as a testament to the influence Mexican cuisine has had and continues to have in America. Which begs the question: Where does one go for the best old-school Mexican restaurants, loncheras slinging tacos out of a half-window, and innovative modern Mexican food pushing culinary boundaries?

To help you out, compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Des Moines area based on diners' reviews on as of February 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "Mexican" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Des Moines were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides Mexican food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 50 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite Mexican spot made the list or to discover a new restaurant to try!

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1 / 30

#30. El Fogon

- Rating: 4.0/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1250 8th St. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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2 / 30

#29. Tasty Tacos

- Rating: 4.0/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8549 Hickman Road Urbandale, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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3 / 30

#28. Bandit Burrito

- Rating: 4.1/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5340 Merle Hay Road Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Mexican
-

4 / 30

#27. LaCabana Bar and Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 1435 Army Post Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Tacos, American, Cocktail Bars
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6 / 30

#25. Primos Tex Mex Bar And Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 1140 East Army Post Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Seafood, Mexican
-

7 / 30

#24. El Maya Mexican Resteraunt

- Rating: 4.1/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 2531 Sunset Drive Ste 105 Norwalk, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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8 / 30

#23. Mojitos

- Rating: 4.1/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 802 Southeast Oralabor Road Ste 102 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
-

9 / 30

#22. Flame Cantina

- Rating: 4.1/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 1315 Southwest Oralabor Road Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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11 / 30

#20. El Rey Burritos

- Rating: 4.2/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1310 Grand Ave. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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12 / 30

#19. Paleteria La Michoacana

- Rating: 4.2/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1552 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
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13 / 30

#18. Tacos Mariana's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (191 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1305 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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14 / 30

#17. Tacos La Familia

- Rating: 4.2/5 (78 reviews)
- Address: 1610 6th Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
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16 / 30

#15. Lindo Jalisco

- Rating: 4.3/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 1810 Southwest White Birch Cir Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Vegetarian
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17 / 30

#14. Gilberto's Mexican Taco Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 400 34th Ave. Southwest Ste 104 Altoona, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
-

18 / 30

#13. Fernando's Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2650 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
-

19 / 30

#12. El Bait Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (579 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 Southwest 2nd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Bars, Mexican, Burgers
-

20 / 30

#11. El Barco

- Rating: 4.3/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8801 Hickman Road Ste B Urbandale, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
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21 / 30

#10. Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1100 North Hickory Blvd. Ste 203 Pleasant Hill, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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22 / 30

#9. Tequila Restaurante & Cantina

- Rating: 4.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2824 Easton Blvd. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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23 / 30

#8. Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2025 Grand Ave. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Caterers
-

24 / 30

#7. La Pena

- Rating: 4.4/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2010 Indianola Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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26 / 30

#5. El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 3751 Ep True Pkwy West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Bars
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27 / 30

#4. Faustinos Taqueria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 4944 Franklin Ave. Ste I Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
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28 / 30

#3. Tacos Degollado

- Rating: 4.7/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1817 University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Patisserie/Cake Shop, Food Trucks
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29 / 30

#2. Flame The Taqueria

- Rating: 4.8/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 5765 Merle Hay Road Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
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30 / 30

#1. El Michoacano

- Rating: 4.8/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 2922 Merle Hay Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Tacos
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 326 metros.

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