Food is good but the service from the owners not professional. My friend and I came to grab some extra food during our lunch break. We both work at the mall. My friend bought a flour tortilla got the discount and I did not. I got a corn steak taco to add to my salad I brought from home and I stated I could not eat flour because I have allergy. The lady then proceeds to put my friends flour tortilla over my box. We both were wearing our store uniform. I didn't even get a chance to say anything about my discount because he walked away from the register as I was about to pay. I don't see myself coming back if the owners are working. Their workers are a lot friendlier and don't give us the cold shoulder for ordering sides. Just not okay because we are still paying customers at the end of the day. read more

Absolutely amazing portions for the price. The service is very skillful and bilingual which is a huge benefit in the diversity of Des Moines. The environment has wonderful seating and a scope of the university area. I will definitely be coming back again read more

Fresh made Taco shells. Who knew? I was throughly impressed at the freshness of all the ingredients and meat. It was truly delectable. I got Steak Tacos and Veggie Nachos. The Queso could use more seasoning, but all in all, it was good. read more

Tough to say. I really do enjoy the food, it tastes good and isn't too expensive in the long run. However, I usually (if not always) end up with horrible food poisoning after eating here. Sometimes it isn't as bad as others, but it just doesn't sit right with me. read more

The barbacoa meat in our burritos was very tender and flavorful. That would be our reason to return. Otherwise our burritos were less satisfying than what we would get from Chipotle. My burrito tortilla was burned and tasted so. Disappointing. If we return, we will try the hot salsa instead of the spicy salsa which was (to our tastes) bland. We added hot sauce to provide some spark. read more

Fernando's is super solid and might currently be my favorite Mexican restaurant in town. The variety of meat, vegan, and gluten free options is nice and they even have their own version of kids meals (that include a surprising amount of food). Every experience that I've had there has been a good one. Fernando's perfectly fits the college town vibe (reminding me of late nights in Ames) and somehow has a coziness about it. I'm a fan. read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Fernando's now has Vegan Chorizo and brown rice! Just had my fave burrito-ever from there! read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've ordered from Fernando's a few times in the past few months through Grubhub. It's one of the Mexican restaurants that delivers to Norwalk and that's much appreciated when you have a craving and don't want to drive for pickup! The food is always fresh and good. Reasonable price. The place is really delicious. Give this place an opportunity to impress your tastebuds. read more

Got this gem tonight for dinner after a long day. Doordash delivered, which right off the bat is a plus for covid days. Guacamole was fresh and flavorful. Tortilla 4.5 stars, grilling it makes it go from a 4 to 4.5, great touch. Grilled on the opening as well to make sure your burrito stays together. Veteran move. I chose the chicken, which was very well seasoned and pulled which is the best way to eat it in a burrito. I give that a nod over Chipotle or Pancheros because of it. I got pico, corn, both beans, sour cream and medium salsa. The pico and salsa could step it up a bit but all was still good. Price was in the middle of both Pancheros and Chipotle. Honestly I would go here 10 times out of 10 versus Chipotle, and every other time over Pancheros. Glad I found this place from other reviewers! I will be back. read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Chicken burrito - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Split a fish burrito and barbacoa with a friend. My friend told me this place is known for its barbacoa. I liked both burritos but I prefer but the blackened fish more. The barbacoa had really good grilled barbaque flavor and the burrito was packed with meat. The fish was very flavorful as well. The burritos were humongous!!! See the attached photo. They packed my burritos with rice, your choice of beans, pico de gallo, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, jalapeños, and cilantro onion mixture. It was really good. Taste wise, 5/5. I get to add all of the above ingredients per my preference with no additional charge. Guac on your burrito or any dish is extra $2. You can add queso too although im not sure if that is extra. Street parking only. All methods of payment are accepted - cash or credit. You order and pay for your burritos before sitting down. Tips are welcome (they have a tip jar). I didnt see a menu attached on Yelp so I asked for a menu to secretly take a photo of but they ran out. You just tilt your head up for the bigger sized menu though. You order your burritos kind of like chipotle in which you add what you want. It doesn't come premade. They warm the bottom of the burrito so it doesn't open back up **WHICH IS SUCH AN AWESOME IDEA!!!** No one likes a falling apart burrito. Each dish costs less than $10 and to reiterate, they have huge portions. Highly recommended. Heads up though, start with salsa verde. The mild is still hot as i was slightly panting. I dont have high tolerance for spices though. I can't imagine the hot salsa. My tongue might fall off! So I suggest you gradually increase your spice level unless you are confident you can handle it. read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Top is the half sized barbacoa and the bottom pic is the fish burrito. Huge portions. Each of the of the halfsies were bigger than my fist! - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This place put chipotle to SHAME....My daughter goes to Drake and always brags on how good the food here is . Finally stopped and gave it a try. We both had burritos and they were fantastic!! From the FRESHLY made tortillas to the selection of Fillings everything was great! I honestly wish I was still in Iowa so I could go get another one. It will be my go to stop when dropping her off and picking her up from school. read more

My little sister lives in Des Moines and comes home raving about Fernandos so when I was in Des Moines earlier this fall I had to check it out. Fernandos is a divey burrito joint that offers well seasoned meats and overall tasty burritos. I'm not sure it's as life changing as my sister insists but I can see why she loves it and I'd definitely return if in the area. read more

Ive eaten entirely too much food at this place. Its miles above chipotle or any other big chain. On top of great food i also really appreciate the staff! They see me practically every day, and even know what im going to order! read more

Barbacoa tacos - drive less than 5 minutes away with them and this is what I opened my lunch to. Half grease and the tortillas are extremely soggy and inedible. Not much flavor in anything except the meat. It was descent. read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Barbacoa tacos - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This was my first visit to Fernando's and there will be many more to come! This restaurant was delicious, clean and has more options than I thought! The hottest salsa was delicious I had it on my huge chicken burrito! I definitely recommend adding guacamole it was great! Fernando was behind the counter serving up the food and he was very friendly! He warned me that the spiciest salsa has been too hot for most but I thought it was just right! This place is vegetarian friendly they offer tofu burritos but I'd double check to make sure there are vegan options. I will defiantly be back to try the tacos! Fernando said I should try the barbacoa next! read more

Let me first say that I am a transplant from Southern California. I know Americanized and authentic Mexican food. Fernando's is legitimate. Let me also say that the owner has examined every burrito that goes into a customers' hands from what I've seen - for example, he added more chicken to a burrito because it didn't look like it was enough and double-wrapped with another tortilla because a customer overstuffed his burrito. This alone to me is worthy of 5-stars. Reading some of these reviews depresses me. The pinto beans are flavorful. I'm sure they're cooked with some sort of animal bone in them (traditionally a ham hock). If you get black beans, they're traditionally vegetarian and lack that flavor only an animal can give you. To address the speed - they build the burrito then put it back on the grill. Quality takes time - and they do it right and efficiently. It doesn't take more than 4 minutes from when I order my burrito till when I pay for it. If you compare it to a sit-down Mexican restaurant (in Iowa -probably crappy), you'd pay $9-$10 with a side of rice and beans and it wouldn't be half as good... Plus you'd wait 15-20 minutes for it. Don't expect a fireplace and antique Mexican art on the walls or nice booths... This is a fast burrito and cheap. If you stay for a bit or if it's your first time here, Fernando will make you feel like a king (or queen). Love at first bite! read more

Fernando's offers good fresh tacos. I came here and ordered the seasoned beef taco. They offered three types of salsa (mild, medium, hot). The restaurant is very clean and the ingredients looked really fresh. The tacos are homemade and they show you how its flatted and cooked. Prices here are affordable. I also ordered the horchata as a drink and it was good. The place takes credit cards which is a big plus. My review loses a star because the restaurant did not offer any pork as a meat offering. read more

Traveling through and thought we'd try it. Really fresh ingredients (made each tortilla for our tacos while we watched). Not super fast because of this, but good. read more

My daughter actually recommended this place. I was a bit hesitant but after stopping by I ordered & really enjoyed my meal. The prices are good. This is way way better then chipotle I highly recommend this place. Once you eat here it's addicting as hell. So so delicious. The staff is friendly, family business & very clean. Go ahead and give it a try! read more

My first experience was great. The staff was super friendly, made the dining experience really fun, and were helpful in choosing a dish. I had veggie tacos. They come as a pair. They were very tasty. Warning: they suggested the green salsa. I agree it is delicious, but it is hot. So plan accordingly: get a soda. I can't wait to go back. read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Best Mexican spot in Iowa by a mile, been going here for 6 years now maybe even longer, the steak burritos are the best thing on the menu in my opinion, once you try Fernando's, you won't ever think about chipotle, Qdoba, or Pancheros. Highly recommended. read more

Never knew about this fine establishment until a few weeks ago. A couple of different friends have mentioned Fernando's so tonight I felt like it was the night to try. I'm a torta fanatic, so that is what I ordered. Man O' man let me tell you... The portion of meat and condiments was eye popping. Pricing is competitive, but the upside with Fernando's is the flavor. Superb flavoring, "OMG" portions with a very reasonable price. This tasty is nestled away in plain sight. I shall return to try something else. read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Chicken torta & steak burrito - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Amazing Food, Me and a friend ordered a Quesadilla with Barbacoa. The order was Quick, Came back for seconds, reasonable prices. Would come back again and Again read more

I'd like to preface this by saying that anyone with a heart condition should consult a doctor before eating at Fernando's. That being said if you like to gamble as much as I do... this is the spot for you. I had my first encounter with Fernando's this summer, a friend and I decided to grab a couple burritos for lunch. I ordered the beef and he got chicken. About 1.5 hours after consuming the delicious beefy monstrosity complete with the spiciest salsa available, I felt great and was just finishing up my work at the library. I hopped in my truck ready to enjoy a beautiful Des Moines afternoon... sitting at the light on 31st and University I felt a grumble. I thought nothing of it, after all, I had just consumed a burrito the size of a small child. However, the second I hopped on the interstate the grumbles intensified and the sweats started... (editor's note...if you get to this stage, find refuge now, it's already too late) driving like Paul Walker in The Fast and The Furious I raced to nearest gas station. At this point I was standing up in the driver's seat while profusely sweating. I whipped into the nearest Casey's... at last God had shined His light upon me. As what I can only describe as an all-out sprint the day after leg day, I reached the little boys room. To my dismay it was occupied. While clinching my cheeks tighter than the boulder in 127 Hours I took three seconds to assess my options. Two viable options presented themselves; the sink (I'm not a monster) or the ladies room. So, there I am futilely grasping the little dignity I had left while giving birth to Satan in the ladies room at Casey's. After what seemed like an eternity, I took a few deep breaths to collect myself, dapped the sweat off my forehead and exited gracefully. Second attempt about a month later...Chicken Burrito. Very good experience, spicy salsa is delicious. The third attempt, which brings me to the present. My friend and I again decided that we'd like burritos, in and out in 10 minutes the service was great. However, while sitting in contracts class I heard that fateful sound... I leaned over to him and whispered "I heard the grumble and if you start sweating you need to make a hasty exit" like clockwork approx. 2 minutes later he, as sweaty as Chris Farley in a sauna, was shimmy squatting out of the room, he was lucky and made to the restroom with time to spare.. Overall, I love the burritos at Fernando's and will be back. The explosive flavor of these hot meaty gems brings a lot of variety to the Drake neighborhood. These burritos are great for anyone who is bored with Midwestern food and wants to bring some excitement to their diet. Any day is an excellent day for a Fernando's burrito as long as you do not have a date, job interview, or court date. Please eat responsibly. read more

I really enjoyed my tacos here, a lot of topping choices as well. Tacos had a lot of flavor in the chicken and steak. I had two hot sauce, one was the hot and the other the special super hot barbocoa, really liked that one a lot. The tortillas taste great as well. Will def go back and try the rest of the options. read more

I heard really good reviews about this place so I decided to try. I ordered a steak burrito with extra pico. I also ordered a large salsa & chips. When I picked it up, the man there was extremely rude and rushed everything. When I left and got back to work. I opened and saw the "large" salsa was a very small container that wasn't even salsa. Looks like hot sauce for burrito. The burrito was very dry. The pico, the sour cream, everything was on one end of the burrito. I called and said I don't think I got salsa. He became very rude and said it was salsa and said I gotta go and hung up on me. read more

I work near Fernando's Mexican Grill and was excited to see it opening. I was growing tired of the other food offerings in the area and needed some more variety. I ventured in just 3 days after they opened. There were definitely some bumps in the road but overall it was a great experience. I had the two chicken tacos which at $4.75 were large enough to make them feel worth 5 bucks after tax. I also got a small cup of their medium salsa and a basket of chips for $1.99. The salsa is some of the freshest and most flavorful I've had from any local Mexican place in Des Moines since I've lived here. It's got just the right amount of kick. I also dressed my chicken tacos with a really great seasoned cilantro and red onion mix. I added some pico de gallo for good measure which was also fresh and tasted great. I also had a splash of their "special hot sauce" for tacos added which added just the right amount of kick and I love spicy food so that was great. The chicken was tender and seasoned well, and the flour tortillas I opted for instead of the corn option were nice and light but sturdy. The only gripe I had was with the rice which wasn't flavorful and clumped together and pastey. I went in on a Thursday, they opened the previous Monday, and I'm pretty sure they cooked the rice the Sunday before opening and were still serving the same rice. I ended up getting a side of the rice which was a $1.00, but I really only wanted a little on my taco. The girl at the counter misheard me and gave me a whole cup of the disgusting rice. Business was steady when I was there and I will definitely be coming back and highly suggest it. Just don't get the rice! read more

Fernando's Mexican Grill - Chicken Tacos and Medium Salsa with Chips. - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Sure, you could get a mediocre chain burrito from the likes of Qdoba, Chipotle, or Pancheros, but you'd be missing out on the grilled burrito deliciousness that's Fernando's. Fernando's burritos are exactly like those home-made, mission-style burritos that you find on the coasts, and while I'm not a health professional, I'm pretty certain that they may also be a hangover cure. read more

Way overpriced, but otherwise pretty good for Iowa mexican food. The staff is generally pretty friendly and they have authentic sodas.

Fernando's is a great little gem located in the Drake neighborhood. One of my favorite places in town to stop and grab a quick bite. I think I have always gotten the burrito, probably because it is always good! They have tofu as an option which is awesome and the rest of the ingredients fresh and delicious too. They are always friendly and service is always fast. read more

Always fresh and always delicious! My go to is a steak burrito. They use traditional Mexican rice and black beans. The hot salsa actually has a kick. I love that they put it back on the girl to crisp it up after rolled. Unlike chain fast food burrito restaurants, they offer barbacoa, tortas, Chile relleno, and tacos. The one thing I "wish" they did was stir everything together prior to rolling it up. Highly recommend! read more

I love Chipotle, but this place has accomplished what I thought impossible: it is a way better version of Chipotle. Incredibly fresh ingredients, assembled the way you want. The tortillas are clearly home-made. And to top it off, they slightly grill your burrito to give it a little bit of a crunchy taste. Absolutely delicious. The manager (maybe owner?) was welcoming and helpful. Maybe it was Fernando? read more

We are visiting and came by Drake to visit our old school. Stoped down the street for some lunch and found great and yummy Mexican food! They make their tortilla from scratch for each order and their guacamole is fantastic. A great spot for lunch and a place we will visit again on our next trip to Des Moines! read more

Great place to eat Tex-Mex. Flour tortillas are fresh made and awesome to the taste. I had the Barbicoa tacos. flavorful meat with choice of fixins. be sure to try the hot salsa as well as ask for the onions with cilantro with your meal. Fernando was also making chili the day I will was there. that too is Awesome! read more

We visited Fernando's for the first time today and I am happy I did! Their steak burrito as well steak sauce was out of this world and as well their chicken burrito that my husband had. We definitely will be back and will definitely recommend Fernandos to many others! This is our new Hot Spot!! read more

I don't know why I haven't been back yet given how much I've been raving about this place to friends. This is the closest I've found to California level Mexican food. A lot of food for not a lot of money, and it's YUMMY food. They will let you sample the filling options, good luck making a decision! read more

Great food and super service. Fresh handmade burritos, tacos and more made to order the way you want. Everything I have ordered has been delicious, and the friendly service just makes it even better. The chili rellenos were a little different, wrapped in phyllo dough instead of a batter which makes them lighter and crisper than what you see most places, I recommend trying them. So much better than the chain fast food options! read more

Located in the Drake University area, Fernando's is a walk up and order type of place. I got the burrito with chorizo while my companion got the nachos. We both thought it was pretty good. Note that alcoholic beverages are NOT available. read more

Flavorless. One word is really all that's needed to review this place. Flavorless. I had a barbacoa burrito with the typical toppings. The meat was unseasoned and flavorless. Even worse were beans and rice. At $1 each for a tiny cup, the value is equally bad. There are far superior Mexican restaurants within walking distance of Fernando's. I recommend the walk before settling on this place. read more

Way better than chipotle or any of those other places. Fernando's has fresh ingredients and the staff is super friendly. One of the staff makes a point to try and get to know everyone (or maybe its because I go at least once a week and its almost to the point where he knows my order before I even order). Either way, Fernando's is probably the one thing I will miss most about Des Moines after I graduate from Drake. What sets it apart from others? I can see them as they make everything and they toast the burrito after they roll it up. I think its pretty authentic. read more