It was easy to get in and out without any trouble, and the food was less than desirable. The folks I was with seemed moderately satisfied with their food, however, I ordered a simple taco salad that was 95% lettuce. A little meat, a half of a slice of a tomato, and a whole lotta salad... read more

Delicious steak, rice, beans and sautéed onions peppers. Clean & classy with very nice service. Very positive experience!

I work nearby so I come here often. I'm not a huge margarita fan but these are pretty good. I usually drink Vodka and sodas and they're pretty tasty. The chips are ok (I try to avoid them so I don't get too full before the main event) but the salsa is good and we always ask for the secret spicy stuff they don't give out. We've had a smattering of the menu and it's all been really good. My boyfriend is always getting one of the burritos. The last one he got the Burrito Ranchero with chorizo and I thought it was amazing! He thought it was really great but I was really impressed. He's also had the Burrito Loco and he's really liked that. I've had the beef quesadilla (awesome),the Chile Verde (good!!!), the ChoriPollo (excellent!!!), the Enchiladas Acapulco(good!!!), and a bunch of other things. It's always fast and delicious and the service is friendly, joking with you. That's why we'll always try to make a stop there! FYI it gets really packed so get there early to grab a seat or make a reservation. I usually sit at the bar so never a wait for me :) read more

Outstanding, authentic Mexican food. The restaurant makes its own Chorizo in house! Fajitas are excellent! Great beer selection.

I ordered rice, chips and salsa, and guacamole to go. The chips weren't anything special. The salsa tasted old like it had been in a can in the refrigerator. The guacamole tasted like onions. It was puréed together. I only gave one star because the rice was particularly good. I'll never go here again. read more

Dinner is always great drinks are just as good. We always make time to have dinner there, when we are going through. The staff is friendly and service is good. Hector is our favorite Bartender. read more

El Rodeo is one of my favorite restaurants. They have really great food and their service is fantastic. Once my family and I sat down, we were given chips and salsa, which was super tasty. Whenever I go to Mexican restaurants, I always get fajitas. So of course, I got the Fajitas Jalisco. There was so much food, and it all was delicious. Our server was very quick and nice, as was all the staff. All of my family enjoyed their food too. I will definitely visit El Rodeo very soon. read more

A good choice for casual Mexican food. Lots of variety. Reasonable prices. Very quick service.

El Rodeo is currently my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Des Moines area. Good food, quick service, and low low prices. Also a good atmosphere and the ability to handle a large group at the last minute. The food is certainly not avant-garde, but it's well prepared and delicious. Give this place a try. You'll like it. read more

Bleck!!!! Super bland. Should be served in a hospital with lime jello. Won't go back for more punishment.

I have been here in several occasions. Once when they were slow and once when they were extremely busy. Both times I have had excellent service and my food came out minutes after ordering. May I recommend the choripollo. Homemade chorizo on top of chicken and covered in queso! read more

El Rodeo - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

It was very good. The food was inexpensive and our server was very kind. The food was warm and portion size was big. We had gone to McDonald's the day previous and for the same amount of food El Rodeo came out for less money. read more

I wont be back unless im Jonesin for a drink and chips. The guacamole salad I had today was rusty nearly floating in its own water and the name sake of the dish was not fresh either. I also ordered a side of rice which had clearly been held ALL day because the rice was total mush and the vegetables therein were unsurprisingly discolored and shriveled. My beer was the best part of the experience. read more

I've been coming here at least once a week since they opened 7 or 8 years ago. Never had a bad meal, always good and quick service at affordable prices. read more

Once we got seated ... The food was awesome!! Way more then I could eat. My husband had the especial fajitas... They were fabulous!! Highly recommend !!! read more

Burrito excellant, beer cold margarita was great,vegetarian combo very good . Just at entry employee on her phone and walked away .

This place was crazy busy on Cinco de Mayo. They must have expected the crowd. They were fast with drinks and we didn't wait too long to be seated. The food came out fast, was hot, and delicious. I will definitely be stopping back! read more

Good place to stop and have a nice evening meal. First time in and food was great. Flan could have been little bigger but rest of meal was great. read more

Their Vegetarian dishes ARE NOT VEGETARIAN. Their refried beans/beans have LARD in them!!!!! I've gotten sick numerous times because they tried lying and saying the Vegetarian dishes come with Vegetarian refried beans. I'm BEYOND disgusted after calling in and asking the cooks and they say that they tell people what the want to hear yet it's always lard in the refried beans. If you are Vegetarian, you won't be after eating here. read more

My family and I love this place!!! All-time favorite Mexican restaurant. Service is incredibly fast, not to mention the outstanding food. Parents say there's no better place for margaritas! read more

Really good food and excellent service. When you sit down, almost immediately there are chips and salsa on the table. I really enjoy taking my 2 yr old - service is fast and friendly. Food is simple fare, but good. Prices are very reasonable. read more

The service was terrible. The food was tasteless and we didn't finish eating our meal. We spent 80.00 for 4 people and wasn't worth it. Don't go here unless you want to waste your money or you have no other choice. read more

Best of all the Mexican restaurants in town. Very traditional menu, food is cheap and very good. Service is always attentive and fast.

Solid Mexican food ... A bit bland and unoriginal ... No mole sauce here. But very good service, reasonable portions and good prices.

DISAPPOINTED. I ordered the Acapulco Enchilada which consisted of one cheese, one shrimp, and one "crab". The sauce, the cheese and shrimp enchilada were good BUT!! That "crab" one which was not indicated on the menus as being imitation Krab was a huge let down. Our food came quickly which leads me to believe it was microwaved. I ordered a margarita, also a let down it came from one of those slurpy machines and tasted medicinal almost ban-aidie. The only good thing was our very nice waiter and that's why they have two stars. read more

Seriously, really, if you know what's good for you, just try this place. Its salsa and queso, food, margaritas, and service is unlike anything in the Des Moines area. read more

We're from Austin, Texas so we know what good Mexican food tastes like. We ate there twice while in town. I got 2 different combo plates & both were excellent. Even when it was busy we got in quickly & the service was fast. read more

Location- *Building appearance- Inside the restaurant is clean, has nice windows, and was slightly old fashion. On the exterior there were columns, unique architecture, a clear entrance, and colorful lights. *The restaurant was very easy to find. Category- *Mexican cuisine Ambiance- *Music- There was very faint music but it was so loud that you could barely hear it. *Decorations- They had good pictures, nice flowers, and the whole place was very colorful. *Lighting- The restaurant had low lighting overall but adequate lighting over the table. *The restaurant showed Mexican culture through flowers, bright colors, symbols, terracotta tiles, and awnings. Menu- *Selection- There was a lot of choices and a variety of meats but most entrees were very similar in contents. *Appetizers- We only got chips, salsa, and queso which is kinda hard to screw up. *Entrees- The entree presentation was good but the food was only adequate. *Beverages- The beverages were good and the waiter refilled them in a timely manner. *Dessert- The dessert again had good presentation, tasted good, and had unique flavors and textures. My friends and I enjoyed the restaurant because of its home-y atmosphere and pretty good food. I would not really invite anyone besides people with small kids or anyone looking for a quick meal. Personally I'd rather go to Taco Bell because El Rodeo was like fast food but in a nicer setting. read more

They closed and locked the doors 30 minutes before their closing time. I was excited to try this place next to my hotel since their menu looked good, but I didn't even get the chance. I understand most places close their kitchens early, but to close their whole restaurant? I really wanted a margarita after 10 hours on the road, but nope. Thanks El Rodeo, for literally nothing. read more

Consistently good food, very inexpensive prices, and generally good service. This is our go to Mexican restaurant.

We got off I- 80 at Clive to get to our hotel. Hungry, we wanted to eat, hit the pool and relax after dinner. EL RODEO was in walking distance. Walking into a hopping place we fretted about getting Within 10 mins we were seated with crispy tortilla chips and a picante salsa. Our orders drinks and meals taken quickly and our food came very soon after ordering. Our server was very attentive. The food was devoured by all the member s of our party. I highly recommend El Rodeo. STOP BY AND ENJOY!! read more

just had lunch here. Shadiest encounter that I've ever had a restaurant. I ordered the "lunch shrimp fajitas". Everything was fine, the fajitas were OK, but nothing special. At the end I get my ticket and it states that my meal is $9.99. I go up to the cash register to pay and the gal that is working there rings up "$14.95" (This was all I had to eat, and I was drinking a water). When I inquired about this I was told that "the server made a mistake and we're going to talk to him about it. We don't offer lunch shrimp fajitas". I then asked to speak to a manager and was blamed by the manager for not reading the menu correctly. I was then shown, by the manager, how "shrimp is not offered" and he was pointing at it, like I'm a complete idiot. Isn't it part of the server's job to inform you if you are ordering something that isn't a part of the menu? Nothing was ever said, and the server took my order and rang it up as a normal lunch fajita meal. This is by far the most UNPROFESSIONAL thing that has ever happened to me at a restaurant. I had a ticket that said it was $9.99. The server took my order normally with no issues. I ended having to pay $14.95, even though this miscommunication was not my fault. I have worked at several restaurants and could not believe that they thought it was OK to treat a customer this way, and charge them more money even after you have your ticket in your hand. I will never be going back there again. I didn't even get an apology, I got insulted for apparently not reading carefully enough on my lunch break with a friend. I cannot believe how rude these people are. Do they not know that part of their business is customer service? And no, their fajitas are NOT worth that much money, ever. Completely rude. I'm still speechless at the sheer rudeness of the manager and other staff. If I could give it a negative 10 I would. I would also note that I went to the UNIVERSITY AVENUE LOCATION read more

We use to be regulars at El Rodeo, but we've boycotted it because we got tired of the service. The bar section only has one server for the entire section, so if a big party comes in, you're screwed. Food is fast, but portions have been getting smaller and smaller. The last time we went, get got chips and salsa and no one came by for 20 minutes. We sat there with no more chips, no drinks, and no food order. We got up and left. Go to Mi Mexico! Huge portions, same prices, and the service is AMAZING! read more

We went here on a chance when the Cracker Barrel next door had a long wait. It was the best decision we could have made. The waiter was great, pleasant and fast. It started out with great fresh salsa and chips. The seasoning on all the meals was perfect and everything was fresh. We have been travelling all week and a little tired restaurant food. Everyone at our table was still glad we went. The price for what we got was worth it. Thanks for the great experience!!! Go if you can. read more

The restaurant is enjoyable and has a good atmosphere. The decor and lighting created a mexican type interior with a nice ambiance.The waiter was friendly and attentive. The menu consist of the what most Americans expect to find in a Mexican restaurant; burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas. The food comes in generous servings and is tasty, but does not stand out too much. So, overall, the restaurant is nice. With good food, a familiar menu, and a relaxing ambiance it is worth coming back to. So, while this restaurant lacks culinary adventure, its food is good and enjoyable. It is great for someone wanting to get an enjoyable meal, or a family going out to eat. read more

El rodeo is a restaurant that serves Mexican cuisine. This restaurant is in a nice location and is easy to locate because of its big sign. The buildings appearance was also very nice. The exterior has unique architecture and columns, it also has a very clear entrance and inviting colored lights. On the interior of the restaurant it was very clean, has an older fashion, and was dark with minimal lighting. El rodeo had music playing softly at the entrance but could not be heard from where I was sitting, possibly because it was very loud in the building. The decoration was a clear representation of Mexican culture, because of its flowers, bright colors, windows, painting, symbols, and awnings made with terra cotta tiles. The menu had a lot of variety made of few ingredients. As the appetizer we orders chips and salsa which was good, overall the appetizers were pretty basic. The entrees had good presentation and looked appetizing but were merely adequate. The beverages were Coke products and the waiter was good about refilling our drinks quickly. The dessert looked appetizing and was good tasting, they had very good flavors and textures. My friends and I enjoyed going to this restaurant because it has a home like feel and had good service. Although the food wasn't very impressive. I would not come again because it was nothing special. I would not bring my family or a date to this restaurant because it was dark and wasn't ideal for having conversations. I would however recommend this restaurant to large families or families with small kids because it was a quick meal, they got food out pretty quickly. read more

El Rodeo - This was my entree - Mexican Near Me - Clive, Iowa

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We used to love coming here but the service has gone down hill. Gave it another try and sorry we won't be back. From the time we ordered nothing was right. Didn't even get what I ordered and went ahead and ate it cause the waiter had an attitude. Never again! read more

El Rodeo is definitely one of the better Mexican restaurants I have been to. The menu had a wide variety of foods and beverages to choose from, there was even a vegetarian menu. The food was phenomenal. I got a taco and an enchilada, and each tasted amazing, specifically the sauce on the enchilada. The shell of the taco was very crispy with juicy, tender meat inside. The quality of service was good, however it was not exceptional. The food came out very quickly considering how busy it was. However, after receiving our food, the waiter did not come back to check in. We had to call him over to get the bill. Although the service was not the best, I still enjoyed my visit at the restaurant. I would seek out another experience like this just to be able to taste a variety of the Mexican cuisine. The environment of the restaurant was very family friendly. There was no music, very interesting decoration of pictures on the wall, and dark lighting to really gave the place a different feel. Next time I go there I would take my family with me. read more

The building can be tough to find, since it is hidden behind Wendy's, Quick Trip, and next to many hotels. The overall appearance of the restaurant's exterior is clean and simple. There is plenty of parking both in front and behind the restaurant. They have a variety of Mexican and other Latin American food. When you first walk in between the two doors, there are many free Clive and advertising magazines this makes the area look very cheesy. The front desk looks like a cabana. Standing here are your hosts and hostesses. They are ready to take your party to your table. When your meal is over, they are ready to check you out and say adios! In between the beginning and end of your meal, they roll silverware and clean the desk area. Be careful! all along the walls there are hanging pottery, chiles, and garlic. They have a massive red bench for your party to wait if needed while they are preparing your table. If you look up on the wall, you'll see foreign coins and dollars. It has an interesting ambiance they have many sombreros hanging on the walls and multicolored hanging lights. Their walls are painted with warm and traditional colors that make you feel like you're in Mexico. They did a great job of making you feel like you in a Mexico, even if it's 40 degrees outside. The dining area is almost always busy. You have the option of sitting at a table, booth, or if you want, at the bar. You will find lots of families because of the reasonable pricing. El Rodeo has a multitude of food options with appetizers, combos, kids meals, a bar menu, as well as soda, and of course complimentary chips and salsa. The food was very good and flavorful I had the Special Fajitas. This definitely is for more than one person, it came with bean and rice. The fajita contained shrimp, chicken, onion, peppers, tomatoes, topped off with skirt steak. The steak can be overly salty, but overall the meal had a zingy flavor. They do a great job of seasoning the food so you can try a multitude of flavors with every bite. Nobody in my party complained about things being overly spicy. One of my favorite items is the warm queso dip it is definitely better than at any other Mexican place. It goes great with the provided chips. My parents enjoy their margaritas, it's their specialty. I enjoy their non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri topped with fresh out of the can whipped cream. I am definitely going to return soon. read more