La Baja Cocina Mexicana

One of the spots I like to hit up when I'm in town. Close to…read morewhere I train so it always tastes better when you are starving. Great service and great tasting food!

6/27/26. Yelp reviews looked good but all were over 5 years old. Pulled in parking lot and wasn't…read moresure about going in because the outside looked rough!! Decided to go for it anyway. Was only one other person waiting for there to go food. Chips and salsa are $2. Chips are thick/crunchy and taste homemade. Two salsas are given, verde (hot) and roja (slightly sweet with a kick of heat at the end). I ordered a Sope with carnitas. Wife ordered Gorditas. Waited for about 25 mins. A little long considering we were the only people in there at that point. But I hoped that meant it was being made from scratch. Food arrived, it looked delicious! Both of our first bites were heaven! Sope had a thick fluffy masa cake base with the most tender roasted slightly seasoned carnitas. Topped with a soft kind of white bean, a few sliced tomatoes, a few onions, shredded cabbage and salty cotija cheese. Very filling. Wife's Gorditas were three small masa cake shells stuffed with moist shredded dark meat chicken. And the same topping as mine. We both thoroughly enjoyed our food!!Would stop back again when I town.

Decals

Exterior - please enter!

See all

Front door

Lina's Mexican Food

3.3(73 reviews)

2.2 mi

Looking for a late night authentic Mexican food? This is the place to be! They even have a drive…read morethrough! Seriously recommend the menudo! It's a seasoned tomato based soup with beef, tendon, and stomach. It comes with a side of toppings with onions, cilantro, chili peppers, and lime. It's savory and tangy! The portion sizes are large! So be aware of that, unless you order tacos and they are regular street taco sized. We also got steak tacos and the meat was perfectly grilled, tender, and seasoned! It's not bland and the cilantro and onions to top is perfect. Is it a first date kind of place? No. But it does have great late night bites! Will definitely come again.

I got e. Coli from eating here!!!! This place will make you sick. There are much better Mexican…read moreplaces to choose from.

Menu

Burrito meal

See all

Burrito meal

Toro Loco

4.5(13 reviews)

7.3 mi

I had the Tacos Alambres, and they were amazing. Great flavors, and the portions were huge. Staff…read morewas very friendly and attentive. The restaurant looks very nice, with the murals on the walls and other Mexican decorations.

Had driven by multiple times decided to stop for dinner on a Friday night and sure glad I did…read more Very attentive server with a cool setup inside of the restaurant. Our table ordered : Chrriopollo - was best I've had in metro Chicken enchilada- feedback was very good Watermelon margarita - could tell was fresh not syrup One additional observation was the meal wasn't dripping in cheese / sour cream / slop like many metro Mexican restaurant rather the flavors spoke for themselves Overall Toro Loco will be in our rotation for future stops.

Tacos and margarita

See all

Steak Mexicano

Fernando's Mexican Grill

4.3(118 reviews)

3.2 mi

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

Food is good but the service from the owners not professional. My friend and I came to grab some…read moreextra 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.

Chicken torta & steak burrito

Vegan burrito is packed with goodness!

See all

Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

4.4(85 reviews)

6.6 mi

Locally owned & operated

Family-owned & operated

Was in Des Moines over the weekend and ordered shrimp tacos and fish tacos and fresh guacamole!!!…read moreSo so great!!!

Two entrees that I love to try across the Des Moines Area are cheesy nachos with jalapeños and Al…read morePastor street tacos. Fiesta has very good nachos, but need to marinate their pork more so the "Al Pastor" street tacos are soft, tender and very tasty - my portion was a little tough even though the chopped grilled pineapple was good. The service was quick and the atmosphere on pickup was electrifying.

Pineapple Glow Margarita

Iowa Harvest Taco Salad (Locally sourced beef from Ory Brother's Beef in Earlham, IA)

See all

Smash Burger Tacos (Locally sourced beef from Ory Brother's Beef in Earlham, IA)

Bar Nico

4.5(65 reviews)

1.4 mi

Bar Nico had a couple of very nice appetizers and two very good drinks. I tried the Ceviche…read moreSangria and Nico Chip and Salsa appetizers. The ceviche had a very nice spicy heat to it and some other nice flavors to go along with it. The chips and salsa came out warm with four different types of salsa. All the salsas had a nice taste. I did however end up mixing the salsas together. . I also tried the smokey old fashioned and the pineapple margarita. Both drinks had great flavor and the old fashioned even had a bite. Nice job.

I am currently in Spain for the second time this year and let me just say that the chocolate and…read moregluten-free churros that I had at Bar Nico in Des Moines, Iowa of all places were the best I've had - far better than any of the chocolate I've ever had in Spain hands down. I honestly don't know how this place is in business with their incredibly affordable Happy Hour. We nearly got one of everything because it was in the $5-7 range for each dish. Even their normal prices are fantastic for meals. We definitely enjoyed the chicken wings and I loved the black squid ink tortillas that were part of the chimichangas. We loved basically everything we ordered and it was so nice that the entire menu was naturally gluten-free as a celiac. I live in Vegas and have talked about flying back to Iowa specifically so that we can eat here again, that's how much we liked it. Service was fast and polite, the ambiance felt moody and cool. Visited: November 2025

Basque Cheesecake

Coconut Cream Flan

See all

Nico's Chips & Salsa

Casa Agave Mexican Cuisine

4.2(25 reviews)

7.5 mi

casa agave is very underrated. the salsa is perfect and the…read morebirria ramen was massive plus is came with a birria taco as well. the staff was so kind and provided fast and polite service. the restaurant is very spacious and the music was at a perfect volume. no complaints!

We've been looking for a New Mexican place. I feel many just opened in our area so have Casa Agave…read morea try. This place is usually busy, but quick and attentive. There's a bar you can sit it or tables. Mexican music is on the radio and TVs. They bring chips and salsa and we ordered the queso dip. Always delicious and huge. My son got the seafood and rice. It's a lot but he can eat it. I think I'll get the pineapple fajitas every time. Made two more meals for me as leftovers. So good and delicious. I'll be back and you should too!!!

Birria Tacos

Pitcher of margaritas

See all

Pollo con cameron (chicken with shrimp), rice, beans, and salad.

Ta'Chido Cantina

2.7(6 reviews)

1.3 mi

This place is a joke . Went in to eat and get a margarita walk through the front door nobody was…read morearound sat there for 10 minutes some guy showed up and accused of breaking in because they was closed on Mondays . Sure as hell won't go back there again . Who leaves the front door unlocked and then he uses somebody of breaking in a business . He asked do we always walk right in on a business and I said hell yeah we do if it's a business and the door is unlocked you walk in

Stopped in at the spur of the moment during Happy Hour on Saturday. Happy hour specials were…read moreamazing. The margaritas on the happy hour menu weren't very tasty, so we switched to long island iced tea. The Carne Asada Fries were delicious. Our waitress was pulling double duty as bartender too and absolutely crushing it!!!

Mexican Street Corn

See all

Faustinos Taqueria

4.7(37 reviews)

5.0 mi

My last review was two years ago. The parking is good and accessible. Its a family owned place and…read morethe staff are friendly and always helpful. They still make their own salsas of differing heat and flavors. Its a all day taco spot .Their Birra is homemade and excellent as well as all their taco fillings being homemadeand fresh. Their chips are homemade and served warm. They make a wonderful homemade hibiscus tea. They also have Jarrittos pop. Its a cheerful place with wonderful murals.

What a hidden gem! Tucked away in a strip mall in a quiet Beaverdale neighborhood, it's easy to…read moreoverlook. I stopped for a quick lunch on a Tuesday. Taco Tuesday specials so I was able to get 2 fully loaded delicious tacos for $7. The meal included a few bites of potatoes and onions (just enough) and a small basket of chips. Great deal and good food. Only one note: they do not have any free items to drink. Bottled water is available for purchase.

When you walk in and where you order.

Sauces. Loved all of them

See all

Vampiro taco! So good!

Coa Cantina

3.9(63 reviews)

1.4 mi

Wednesdays are a great night to visit as it's happy hour until 6 PM where you can get half off…read moretheir chips and dips. And then they're buy one get one margaritas till 9 PM. When we arrived, it was just after six so we missed the half off apps, but still took advantage of the margaritas which I failed to get pictures of. I got the blackberry which you can't go wrong as it is sweet and hides a lot of the tequila flavor, which I prefer since I'm a whiskey drinker. My husband got the spicy Mezcal, which is a smoky jalapeño flavored margarita. There weren't that many people there which is why I think they added these deals so take advantage soon. Our server was amazing and the ambience is great. However, I prefer a little bit more light when I'm trying to read the menu.

Drinks good. Spent $87.00 on margarita and Asul tequila . 2 drinks. Obvious the bartender hates…read moremen.

Admiring the grass wall

See all

Best Paloma in Des Moines

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

2 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Christopher C.

0

5

4

1 year ago

We had an excellent experience at LaBaja Mexican! The food was absolutely delicious -- fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The atmosphere was inviting and comfortable, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. Our drinks were well-made and complemented the food perfectly. Highly recommend stopping by if you're looking for authentic flavors and a great overall dining experience! read more

Robert B.

10

26

39

5 years ago

This is next level food. Everything we have tried has been prepared with love and was delicious.

La Baja Cocina Mexicana - mexican - Updated September 2026

People who viewed La Baja Cocina Mexicana also viewed

Los Laureles

3.6

(99 reviews)

Ordered online and said food would be ready at 9:15pm, got there and went inside. I left at 9:45pm…read more Got home and ate. They ignored me and my girlfriends special instructions AND THE FOOD WAS BLAND (salt would go a long way) but that's not the worst of it. We order Quaso dip with our chips and we got SHREDDED CHEESE INSTEAD????? Best part of my order was the salsa and the pico.

they took forever to bring our foods, food was cold and the service was bad!…read more J

Cazador

3.7

(72 reviews)

What a great experience…read more Had no wait being seated early on a Thursday evening. The waiter was great. We ordered drinks and then gave us ample time for us to figure out options. He suggested chicken over steak for the fajitas. This was a win cause the chicken fajitas were fantastic. I couldn't eat it all. My husband had the cazador burrito and it's one of the biggest he's ever had. We got to chatting with Gustavo and he was so kind to share his knowledge of tequila with us. It was a great experience. I'll go again just to hang with him.

The food was Great,the service was okay due to our server kept calling my daughter Sir he never…read moresaid mam or miss to me or my other daughter,and no name badges so I couldn't correct him,just a little Mexican boy,and we came all the way from Shenandoah IA this is our second visit I'm sure we will be back. Thank You Lisa Miranda

Tacos Mariana's

4.2

(195 reviews)

One of the spots I like to hit up when I'm in town. Close to…read morewhere I train so it always tastes better when you are starving. Great service and great tasting food!

6/27/26. Yelp reviews looked good but all were over 5 years old. Pulled in parking lot and wasn't…read moresure about going in because the outside looked rough!! Decided to go for it anyway. Was only one other person waiting for there to go food. Chips and salsa are $2. Chips are thick/crunchy and taste homemade. Two salsas are given, verde (hot) and roja (slightly sweet with a kick of heat at the end). I ordered a Sope with carnitas. Wife ordered Gorditas. Waited for about 25 mins. A little long considering we were the only people in there at that point. But I hoped that meant it was being made from scratch. Food arrived, it looked delicious! Both of our first bites were heaven! Sope had a thick fluffy masa cake base with the most tender roasted slightly seasoned carnitas. Topped with a soft kind of white bean, a few sliced tomatoes, a few onions, shredded cabbage and salty cotija cheese. Very filling. Wife's Gorditas were three small masa cake shells stuffed with moist shredded dark meat chicken. And the same topping as mine. We both thoroughly enjoyed our food!!Would stop back again when I town.

Viva la Bamba

3.4

(64 reviews)

Just a good Jewish boy from the Bronx but I really like this place. It's rare to give 5 stars…read moresorry. Have yet to get anything that I didn't like. Try this out soon

Marinated Pork in the delicious form of three street tacos from Viva La Bamba is so good! The pork…read moreis truly tender and once the chef adds the toppings with fresh guacamole it is next level outstanding. The wait staff greets everyone as they enter and meticulously monitors your table to make sure your drink is replenished. The total atmosphere has soft music in the background allowing you to quietly scroll your phone and savor the moment.

Maria's Mexican Food

4.1

(38 reviews)

One of my GoTo regular spots, a comfortable, family-owned Mexican restaurant with a lot of hours…read moreand big menu. Drive thru, order out, and interior seating. I love their breakfast burritos, tacos, and many items, but their salsa are amazing! Ten or more options in a serving area, and so many are fantastic. Great service, and Maria is a wonderful person with two kids who interact! Big fan, definitely a keeper.

Excellent flavor - friendly service. Tamales were some of the best we have had and great selection…read moreon all salsa and sauce options.

El Fogon

4.0

(112 reviews)

Stumbled across this place while visiting from out of town. The restaurant is decorated beautifully…read moreand I was seated very quickly. My server was extremely nice and attentive I should have gotten his name. The food was delicious. I got the fajitas plate that normally comes with steak, chicken, shrimp and chorizo I think its called the Fogon. I skipped the steak. Had them add more chorizo and let me tell you, it was sooooooo good. Their margaritas are huge, I chose the Watermelon which was probably the best I've had. Chips and salsa are not my favorite but they are good. I'd definitely go back and just might before I go home.

It's rainy, cloudy with a bit of a gloomy over caste where you want something sizzling good to take…read morethe chill away such as tasty El Fogon Dip, Chips and a creative entree with a marinaded chicken breast topped with mole surrounded with a bed of fresh white rice, broccoli, mushrooms and colorful chopped bell peppers-- simply delicious. The wait staffer was very attentive with check backs to make sure everything was satisfactory. The relaxing atmosphere added a bit of nostalgia of an experience full of south of the boarder intrigue.

Monterrey Express

4.3

(20 reviews)

Monterrey Express has great seafood nachos, but I love the pile of fresh jalapeños to add on top…read more(not pickled, thankfully). Hard to tell from the picture but it's a PILE of nachos, shrimp, "krab" and queso. My son loves their cheeseburgers, which may sound strange for a Mexican restaurant, but he seems to like it a lot. Super fresh and fast, clean inside, and always a great experience. -- at Monterrey Express.

Absolutely gross. The rice is completely mushed. No shape to it all. The shrimp has a strong fishy…read moresmell. The chicken is like mushy.

Mi Mexico

3.7

(162 reviews)

Food and drinks are great ! Service is amazing since they…read moreown and operate the place ! Prices have increased but with both of the above it makes sense !! Drink specials should be more often and they would be even more slammed !

Today a friend and I sat at the bar for lunch. I got a lunch size fajita. It came served on a…read moreplate, not the caste iron pan like usual, but it was the perfect amount of food, I still had a little leftover to take home for a snack later. We also got the shaker magaritas that are always yummy and refreshing. Service was friendly and quick.

Pueblo Viejo

3.6

(77 reviews)