amazing food amazing quality and authentic mexican food it is 10 times better than the garbage they call taco house

Very Authentic food and environment! Quality service from the staff. Also, a great place to grab a margarita as well with many options available. read more

AMAZING FOOD! Loved it so much. The daiquiris and margaritas are really good. Everything was amazing. Wished we could have given it 5 stars, HOWEVER. We had just had our plates cleared and were ready to order dessert for Father's Day when the waiter asked us to move to another table because they needed our table for a bigger party. Come on, really? I've had to wait at restaurants before so couldn't those people have waited a little bit? read more

Los Pueblos - Enchilada Banderos - Mexican Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

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I wish to take issue with the Southern Californian and the Phoenician reviewers who bashed Los Pueblos. If one wants to throw geographical weight to define one's culinary appreciations, believe me I can do it, but to do so is gouche. The one reviewer complains about the blandness of the food. A seasoned visitor to Mexican restaurants knows to ask for "salsa picante" in order to bring out the favors of the food. We had no fewer than four fresh salsa choices from which to choose, ranging from a mild, fresh salsa with onion and cilantro to a salsa made from tomatillos and avocado. In between were two hot and hotter salsas (of course, they can never be too hot, as far as I am concerned) made from a range of dried peppers that complemented the dish we chose, "El Grande." It consisted of platter of chicken chalupa, made from a generous and tender smattering of chicken topped with fresh salad, tomato and guacamole, soft chicken tacos, which our child gobbled down with eagerness, chile relleno, which contained a perfectly crusted poblano and a right amount of melted cheese within, a cheese enchilada (which was one item that I felt was extraneous and not the best presentation ... Too many calories and too little flavor) and a chicken burrito with a salsa with hints of mole. As to the second reviewer referenced above who complained about the restaurant being too clean ... really? The staff was pleasant, our server checked on us frequently and cleared plates in a timely manner, and the restaurant was decorated beautifully inside and out with plenty of easy parking. A good solid restaurant! read more

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Wr had the fish tacos and the fajitas. Both were excellent. We enjoyed aitting out on the patio listening to the music. All of the salsas were so good. This place ia a must try. read more

Came here for lunch during my last full day in the Great Lakes region along with my friend. Yes, service errs a bit on the slow side, hence the 3 star rating instead of a 4 star rating. Other than that, I had a fine time here. Even if the service was a little slow, the hospitality we had received from the staff was top-notch. I believe the owner of the restaurant was also going around, asking if everybody was enjoying their time there, and she was an absolute sweetheart. I had their quesadilla roja platter along with some sort of small dish on the side that was also wrapped up in a tortilla and smothered in red sauce and cheese. My friend had their chicken mole, which she had fond memories of having when she was growing up in the region. The food portions were humongous and all in all, the food actually tasted pretty good. It may not be very authentic Mexican food, but that doesn't always make food taste good or bad to me. What's more important, to me, is how the dish comes together in the end, and in this case, the flavors all came together well enough for me. Though, I will say, since this is Mexican fare, it's a bit on the heavy side. Just something to keep in mind ;) read more

we have eaten here a few times and have enjoyed great service and food each time. the staff cares and the food is good. will be returning.

Not recommended. Salsas lack flavor, absolutely no heat. Party of 6...pretty much every single thing we ordered was over cooked and seriously lacking any flavor. Bland. Sad. Yuck. We won't be going back. Don't waste your money. Better Mexican food at Taco House or try Tacos at Barefoot Bar. read more

If I could post zero stars on this review, I would. We were seated and waited for over an hour without even getting waters or chips. Talked to multiple employees multiple times about having a waitress come to get our drink orders. We were seated with food, plates, and drinks still on the table from the previous customers. Terrible service, who knows how good the food is. We ended up walking out and getting Casey's pizza. Do not waste your time here. read more

Absolutely love this restaurant! Great service and great staff! I order the same thing everytime and I swear it gets better everytime.

They have a nice atmosphere and good salsas, but my dinner was not good at all. I ordered veggie fajitas and received a plate consisting almost exclusively of onions. There were maybe 6 VERY small broccoli florets and a few small slices of zucchini. That's it. They also gave me literally less than a tablespoon of sour cream and guacamole. Lastly, the refried beans might have been some of the worst I've ever had and the rice wasn't much better. Pass. read more

Love their top shell (shelf) margaritas. Great service. Everything was outstanding. The tortillas taste homemade. Ordered the shrimp diablo and fish tacos. The shrimp diablo wasn't as spicy as I'm used to but it was still very good. read more

Fast friendly service and great food! From the time we parked, ordered, ate, and paid, it only took 30 minutes. Perfect portion sizes too! Anything you order will be good in our experience, can't go wrong. read more

Another person's review from 2013 said the staff was rude. Totally agree! Our server wasn't interested in serving. Horrible food too!

This place was really bad. Over priced. Tiny portions. Poor service. The whole gamut.

This place has awesome food! The staff is so friendly and nice. They were one of a few places open New Year's Day and I am glad they were. My friend and I met for lunch and to visit after not seeing each other for a few months. The staff were friendly and let us sit there and visit for three and half hours while we enjoyed a few strawberry daiquiris and some great Mexican food. I would highly recommend if you are looking for a friendly atmosphere with good Mexican food by Arnold's Park! read more

Food was awesome. We go to the Lakes all the time and always stop by Los Pueblos because of its location, fair prices, and atmosphere. I went there on a date and had a really nice time. The staff and owner was really friendly and made us feel comfortable and welcome. read more

From the moment we walked in we felt welcome We were happy with prompt and great service. They were attentive but not overly obnoxious, I mean asking every 2 minutes if all is ok really kills a good meal. They were perfect. The food was Amazing. I took pix so look for them. If you like a Medley of flavors and options to behold, personalizing your dish with a trio of sauces also provided, you will cherish this experience. If you are a Mexican food snob devoid of taste buds you will definitely be cueless. LOVED IT ALL! read more

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My favorite Mexican restaurant! The outdoor scenery is so pretty! I highly recommend the fajita quesadilla. And the margaritas are the best I've ever had! read more

Pleasant mexican restaurant a couple of blocks from arnolds patk. Traditional mexican, large menu. Good service, attentive staff. Food portions a bit on the small side. Got some ala cart items, that requires you pay for chips and salsa. Food was bland, beer was cold. Was told the margaritsa were good. read more

Good food, even better margaritas. The kitchen was very slow and didn't ask if we wanted dessert but just handed us the bill and left before we could order anything and didn't come back for so long that we decided to get our dessert fix elsewhere. read more

TERRIBLE SERVICE. Tried to over charge while older lady called me cheap(our server) when I was claiming my receipt because there was extra charges.The only way I could leave this comment was rating a one star but really they don't even deserve a star. I eventually went over to the owner to tell him about it, he didn't seem to care about what I was saying. Don't let these people fool you. The food was not worth it at the end anyways. I definitely don't recommended it. We are Restaurant owner our selfs. I usually don't leave reviews but this is needed to hear. Never again. Small portions of food and terrible service. Disappointing. Not worth your money read more

We try to stop by each time we are in the Okoboji area, and food is generally very good. Food was good today, but wait time and service was terrible. Had to ask twice to be waited on. Once the waitress brought water the waitress never did return for a drink order as we intended to order margaritas. I inquired once to see if our order would be up soon and was scolded THREE times before we left by the waitress for trying to rush the order. I felt belittled in front of my party. We won't return. Plenty of other choices in the Lakes area. read more

Very good Mexican restaurant! Food was fresh, facilities were clean, service was great and prices were reasonable. We would definitely go here again. read more

DON'T GO!!! I am applaud with the service (not friendly or knowledgeable, even rude). Also, the food was very disappointing! I ordered the supreme nachos: portion of food was pitiful and it was completely bland - no flavor at all. This place is mediocre at best and not a good value. Please support other local Mexican restaurants in the area... There are several authentic Mexican restaurants that put this place to shame and I would know because I live in Southern California and eat authrntic Mexican food all the time. I'm very disappointed... Extra note, In a very friendly manor I asked the manager if I could give her some constructive feedback and she was extremely rude and defensive. Please stay away from this place, I would hate for others to experience what I did. read more

One of the best Mexican restaurants in the lakes area. Two types of free salsa and chips.

It is definitely one of the better Mexican joints in the lakes area. Great and quick service and really great prices. Quality of food is ok but you definitely get what you paid for. read more

The live music drew us in, but it started off with the wait staff seemed like it was an incontinence to help us. The menu gave us an option with chicken or beef but we couldn't see any in the food we ordered. The liquor less margarita ended the night. We had to walk up to the register to get our bill and when asked " how was everything" our faces showed we were less than happy and the owner didn't say anything. read more

I am really surprised by the poor reviews as this is an excellent Mexican restaurant. Coming from Texas and having spent time in Mexico the food here is very authentic. The fish tacos were great. The taco meat tastes like a higher quality hamburger, not the cheap stuff. Prices are good and you get an ample amount of food. My only ding: salsa not hot enough...but it is Iowa, so I'm sure they are tempering it a bit due to the region. We have eaten there three times and will be back. read more

I was raised in California, in a town where Mexican restaurants and taqueria's out number any other food establishments 2 to 1. I've missed authentic Mexican food since moving to the Midwest a few years ago and have searched high and low for a that little kick from home. I'm happy to share that my search is over! This place has the best and most authentic Mexican food and experience I've had since moving here. I'll start with the atmosphere, friendly, lively and bright... you can chose from inside or patio seating outside. We chose inside seating and we were set in a comfy booth. We were greeted promptly by our server and asked for our drink order, we chose water and diet pop, but I definitely want to go back and try one of their margarita's, they looked amazing! The menu is quite extensive, kinda like a book, totally something for everyone! They even have non- Mexican dishes for those who have broken taste buds...lol. After we ordered we were delivered chips with 2 different types of salsa, one was more like a picante and the other was kinda smokey, chipotle like... both were yummy, but I preferred the smokey. I ordered chicken enchiladas with 3 different sauces and rice and beans, my other half ordered the chicken super burrito with rice. Our dinners arrived promptly, but not to speedy... we had time to enjoy the salsa and chips! The plates arrived HOT, just like any good Mexican restaurant. I asked for the hot sauces (I'd seen them making their rounds on others tables), I was brought 3 bottles of homemade sauces that were out of this world and really spicy, so most Midwesters should proceed with caution, but it was perfect for this ex California girl! My enchiladas were fantastic, full of shredded chicken and spicy flavor, each of the 3 sauces had their own distinct flavor. The beans were awesome, piping hot and topped with a little cheese, and the rice, WOW! It was all soooooo GOOD! My boyfriend enjoyed his super burrito and loved the rice, which had a couple small pieces of potato. Everything was loaded with flavor, I can't say enough about how great and authentic the food is! I'm giddy, really, my mouth is drooling as I type this...lol Our plates were picked up promptly by whoever was walking by, I love this (teamwork), it was obvious this group was all working together! I'm over the moon excited to have found a little gem away from my California roots, I only wish it was closer. We live about an hour away, but anytime I go to the Lakes I will absolutely stop there for a Mexican fix! I have a mental list of all the dishes I want to try, including fish tacos, carnitas, carne asada, taco salad (they have one that has shrimp, chicken and beef), and nachos for starters. So, if you want true authentic Mexican food, in a friendly and lively atmosphere you must give this place a go, it's the real deal! I can't wait to go back!!! read more

This is a place i would definitely come back to. The service was great and the food came out super fast! If your ever in town and in the mood for Mexican, this is your place! Not real familiar with this town and just here own business but hey, its good, reasonable, and the beer was cold. What more could you ask for. Check it out! read more

Great service, decent food, affordable. They also singing Happy Birthday if you let them know to do so. Affordable drinks and friendly staff! One of my favorite places to eat in the area! read more

I've been here two times. Both were good. the service was great. the food took us a while to get though. Despite this I really enjoy the atmosphere and all the fountains; it's a Mexican restaurant in the classical sense, it doesn't take itself too serious like some other "high class" Mexican restaurants I've been to- which i like. The food, to me tasted very authentic, fresh and natural. The foods spice and flavor really comes from the sauces you put on; So don't forget to ask for some bottles of different sauces. If it is a nice day try eating outside it enhances the experience and they have huge pots of beautiful flowers everywhere. Overall a very chill place with good food for a decent price. read more

The margaritas were good. I ordered the Camarones Acapulco, shrimp and peppers. It was very good! Some of the other people in our party were not happy with their selections. My big problem with this restaurant is the service. Absolutely horrible and our experience with the wine drinking owner was almost unbelievable. She was very pleasant walking around table by table, with a glass of wine in her hand, greeting customers. But just hope that you don't have to deal with her if something goes wrong with your meal or service. Our server was slow, and rarely visited our table. She forgot an entire order for someone in our party. By the time we were able to flag down our server, everyone else was done eating. Long story short, I told the owner that I didn't think we should have to pay for that dish, especially since we only took two bites out of it and did not eat the rest because we had to get to an event. The owner argued with me, accused me of trying to get a free meal, chased me down in the parking lot because she saw that two bites were taken out of the meal. If you plan on trying this place, you MAY get a good meal, but allow for three hours, terrible service, and knowing that you are supporting a business owned by a very unreasonable owner (maybe it was the wine?) read more

I just googled 'Los Pueblos Arnolds Park' to get their phone number when I stumbled across this site with mediocre reviews. It's one of my favorite restaurants so I felt the need to throw in my praise for this place. It is extremely clean (I guess I appreciate cleanliness when it comes to food prep) The service is friendly and the food is delicious! We have been there a few times when it was really busy and we had to wait a little longer for our food, but with great food and service it's no wonder they stay busy. The atmosphere is casual and family friendly. I don't drink, but my wife loves the margaritas. and everything is very reasonably priced. You really can't go wrong eating there. read more

After an hour and 40 minute wait, they finally asked me what I had ordered. Frustrated, I got up and left as did many other tables. Slow service and I hear the food isn't that great anyway. read more

Love the Alambre Pueblo dinner, great tortilla chips, and Florencia, is a lovely person and hostess.

Stopped here by chance - what a great find! It was a week night, so there were only a few tables filled. We got chips and salsa right away. The salsa was definitely not from a can, very fresh. We enjoyed a couple bowls of it. It happened to be half-price margarita night (winter deals are best)! They were full of fresh lime flavor, and plenty strong. We ordered chili verde and chori pollo. The chili verde was a huge amount of tender pork chunks in a slightly spicy tomatilla sauce. I could have used more heat, but the sauce itself was very flavorful. The chori pollo was a large chicken breast pounded flat and topped with grilled onions, chorizo and sauce. It was as good as the best we have found in KC. My wife is pretty fussy about this dish, and she loved every bite. The service was great. We will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. read more

First visit was last night. Good margaritas. The waiter brought two different salsas with chips and I mixed them for a good taste with a little kick. I had the chili rellenos which were two big poblanos with rice and beans. Had plenty left for lunch today. If you like extra spicy, be sure to have them bring the Roja or Verde sauces. Plan to return. read more

I'm from Southern California, and I loved this food. I am used to slightly more authentic Mexican food, but this was still delicious. I loved their homemade salsas, and the owner was adorable. read more