Went here last night for dinner and had the mix and match tacos. I got Carnitas, Chorizo and know. Now, my wife and I moved here to Davenport from Arizona and my wife is hispanic so I know what good and authentic Mexican food is. They need to work harder to get good. The Barbacoa was good,not great but just ok, had flavor and juicy. The Chorizo was ok, not good but needs a little more spice and flavor. The biggest disappointment was the Carnitas which is typically my favorite! This one was dry, no flavor or spices, nothing. Half of the "meat" was fat which I know it gets cooked with traditionally but this was too much! I probably should have just stuck with the chips and salsa, the chips are bagged chips and not fresh cooked which a "upscale" restaurant should've had. But not horrible, the best part was actually the queso dip with the "spicier" green chili dip. If I have a choice, I will not be back. Giving two stars because of the effort on the food server. But in general it only deserves one star! read more

Good tacos. Salsa and guacamole are good, but they weirdly don't have any salt for the chips (?). The pozole was authentic and the mushrooms were a surprise hit. The pork belly taco was the best by far. read more

Malo - Portabella mushrooms, shrimp taco, pork belly taco, mahi mahi taco, margarita - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Been 5 years since I have wrote about Malo, and I got to go on Friday and love the new bar layout! Makes the space feel bigger I think! Also they have improved the acoustics! Also this has been one of my favorite patios in all of Des Moines for years! And it's still hopping and comfortable! I gotta say the Vegan Burrito that is on the menu now is huge and delicious! I was so full after finishing it, I was having 2nd thoughts about doing it in one sitting.. Maybe it was the chips or maybe it was the beer.. But anyway I was filled up for sure! I dug how you could add some Vegan chorizo to the dish and they even made the french fries vegan for me with a different sauce! This was a truly remarkable night on a great patio with great food! Still 5 out of 5 from me! read more

The service was horrible. We felt like our waiter forgot about us. It took 45 minutes to pay for our meal because we had to track down our waiter, wait for him to bring the ticket and then return with our cards and receipt slips to sign. DO NOT ORDER THE SHRIMP CEVICHE'. It is an insult to the dish. Nothing fresh about it and very oily which it shouldn't be. Margaritas were sub par. I would not recommend this place. It is extremely noisy and difficult to have a conversation. Huge disappointment! Never again. read more

Malo is an exceptional Des Moines destination for Latin cuisine. Malo is located in the historic Fire Station No. 1, a renovated art deco building owned and operated by the Des Moines Social Club, an innovative arts and entertainment non-profit. My friend and I came here for dinner recently and our dining experience was outstanding! As a starter, we went with the house guacamole; it was fabulous! Next, for our entrées, we decided to go with the Chicken Enchilada & a Chile Relleno taco, along with the Al Pastor & Chicken Tinga tacos. We shared both entrées, and had no complaints about either one - everything was very flavorful and the portion sizes were very generous. That said, the twins stars of our meal was were the tacos (literally pack with delicious flavor!) and our side of jalapeño creamed corn. The corn was cheesy, creamy, and crunchy (from the crisp corn) with just the right about of heat from the jalapeños :-) Service was fast, efficient and friendly; the atmosphere was fun, and the prices were more than reasonable given the quality of the dining experience. I look forward to returning! read more

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We had our work holiday get together there on a Thursday night. 16 people. Drew was our server, he did an excellent job. the food was great. we had guacamole and nachos to start. I had the taco mix and match, shrimp, pork belly and tenderloin. the pork belly was excellent. We started in the bar with a few drinks and dined in the back room. Everything was top notch. read more

Malo - taco mix and match. shrimp, pork belly and tenderloin - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Still one of my favorites sports downtown. Was surprised they changed their menu up a little bit, but I still went with my favorite. The Filet Mignon fajitas is what I always get and its always perfect. Still wish it came with rice & beans but the side salad was refreshing. Our waitress Emma did a FANTASTIC job. One thing I will say is those burritos are HUGE. LOL. My mom got that for dinner and it was bigger than our heads. She loved it though! It should be a food challenge haha We will back again soon! read more

Malo - Filet Mignon fajitias - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The food never disappoints. Chile Relleno with red and green sauce is so good. Malo has an extensive Tequila and Mezcal selection. If you live downtown DSM or are here visiting check Malo out. read more

I love a margarita any day of the week, but I especially love it on Wednesdays at Malo! 1/2 off margaritas! And you get a whole shaker and a fancy glass! In addition to a delicious marg, I also tried their white wine sangria on my most recent visit. The best sangria I've had! I had two tacos for dinner - the Vegan Avocado and the Shrimp Taco. I ordered both with their vegan crema to keep it dairy free. Both were very fresh and delicious. For happy hour or dinner, I'd definitely recommend Malo. read more

Malo - Classic margarita, white wine sangria, and blueberry margarita. - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We went to Malo late on Friday night. Got immediate seating. Yay! For appetizers we ordered Pupusa and Calamari. Pupusa is similar to Tamales only better. Made with pork belly and cheese within a cornmeal pancake. Delicious! Calamari was good. Lightly battered and piping hot. Street taco choices are varied and well paired with accompanying accents. The guacamole had a good flavor although my personal choice is a chunkier version. BTW, the hot salsa is HOT. Definitely check this place out. You won't be disappointed. read more

This place is exactly what Malo means in Spanish, "sick". This place has a great outdoor dining area, with live music on Saturday. We were seated outside, coincidentally near what would turn out to be where they setup the live music. We were a little worried that the music was too loud, but it wasn't at all, and only improved the overall ambiance of the outdoor dining area. Food ordered: GUACAMOLE -- nice and chunky, the way I like em, the guac was flavorful and was delicious. TOT'CHOS -- the menu said "tots", but the starch resembled more like potato wedges. Toppings included queso, cheddar cheese, carne molida, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos and chipotle crema. Really, really good, and I recommend it. CARNE ASADA MIXED GRILL -- chile-rubbed flank steak with pico de gallo, charred jalapenos, guacamole, flour tortillas, rice and beans. So good. COD tacos -- came in a pair, the tacos contained beer-battered cod, cabbage, chipotle crema and pico de gallo. The crisp of the cod was perfect, and the sauce was amazing Service was fast and attentive. This place is definitely worth checking out, if you're in Des Moines. read more

Malo - Tat-chos appetizer - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Mexican fusion type with plenty of inside seating and upbeat music, patio seating is also very comfortable. The food is always good tasting. Chip servings are plentiful with a nice side of queso. We were enjoying our time on the patio after our order. The Manager thought it was an extended length of time for the order to arrive and "comped" half of our bill! Wow- that is amazing treatment of a customer. Always our go to place for tacos. read more

This is on the bar experience only. Stopped into the bar for a quick drink. We had a whole mess of wedding party that bellied up to the bar. We quickly ordered and the bartender was happy to help us all. I asked what would be good sipping drink that would be fine following wine. He mixed me up an Old Fashion. My first time having one and it was really good. I was impressed how well they handled the mess of us at the bar for our short stop. I would love to come back and try the food. I had not been in there before and the ambiance was nice and I think it looked really good. The gentlemen at the bar were friendly and quick. They were happy to help and get us what we needed read more

Malo - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Good vibe gone bad. We were looking forward to an anniversary dinner at a fresh new restaurant, but didn't get past the hostess. We received no greeting or smile, were told in an exclusive and aloof tone that we had an hour wait ahead of us, and then were left hanging. We looked at each and walked. I hope that this was a unique situation, hiring issue, or training shortcoming. As it is, we were put off enough to make a second visit unlikely. read more

Malo - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This week was definitely the last week of any real patio weather, so we took advantage of it. We started with a little guacamole and chips while sipping on our margaritas. I chose the most expensive marg, as I don't mess around with cheap tequila. It was delish! My pork carnitas tacos were excellent. The portion was massive and I could have easily shared with another person. Great food and drinks! Looking forward to my next visit here! read more

Fun atmosphere. Great unique menu options. Delicious guacamole. Amazing tacos! Tasty drinks! Highly recommend this place if you're a regular or in town visiting. They have a patio which is great for summer! Love their beef barbacoa. I've heard the fish tacos are amazing as well but I'm not big on seafood. read more

Malo - Blueberry basil margarita - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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The food was the bomb-dot-com. Great service. High-End Vibes. I had the pork belly tacos which were crispy and delicious. The margarita is incredible, the passionfruit and mango were especially scrumptious. read more

I decided to give Malo a second try! I made a reservation and invited two friends along. I began to write about all the individual events that led to how uncomfortable my friends and I were (starting as soon as we entered the restaurant and ending as we walked out the door without so much as a thank you after we were side eyed for about an hour without receiving any service) but to be honest, I feel embarrassed about my choice to recommend this restaurant to friends and I don't want to relive this experience. By 8:30 pm on a Friday night, we were basically pushed out the door of a mostly empty restaurant. I won't be returning. read more

What a disappointment! We have had great meals at Malo in the past, but our Saturday lunch was totally unacceptable. We had a reservation, but they wanted to give us a gightop in the bar (a limited mobility member of our party couldn't sit there). They hemmed and hawed, and finally led us to a table in the 1/2 full restaurant! To cut this short, only part of our order ever arrived, one entree took 1 1/2 hours to arrive, everything was cold and unexceptional. They apologized, and took an entree and side off the bill, but we were still charged $45 (from an original $77 order). I understand that Malo is closing, and I certainly understand why. read more

I recently put together a bowl with slips of paper that have names of restaurants i want to try. Malo is one of those places, but today it was random pick of my coworker that got me there. It was a real challenge trying to narrow in on what i wanted to eat. I was impressed that the salsa tasted fresh and the chip seem to have just come out of the fryer...and the waitress brought more of both without asking. I ate the burrito bowl with chicken, which came with a small side salad (which is a little weird since the bowl is close to a salad, but everything was delicious. The only drawback was the price point for lunch. But given the quality and quantity it was worth it, but unfortunately I wont be making this a regular lunch spot. Cant wait to pull the Malo slip out of the bowl to come again; next time I'll make it for when i can order a margarita too! read more

Been to Malo multiple times and don't get it. The only thing I enjoy is the asparagus. I think everything is bland and boring. I had the tuna on salad which was fine. I don't think anything is prepared poorly but just doesn't have great taste to me. The portion size of the tuna was surprising. read more

Malo - Seared tuna. Nice portion size. - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Recently went here for their unlimited tacos deal. I have been here several times and it is my first time reviewing. Food was always phenomenal. They gave us chips and salsa prior and that itself was good. We ordered guac on the side. Yum! I could get full on just chips and salsa but knowing I am getting the unlimited tacos, I had to save room. The unlimited tacos deal is offered on weekends I believe around brunch time until 2pm. For $17.95 of however many tacos you want is such a great deal. Each taco costs about ~$6-9. They have a bunch of different types from vegetarian, seafood, meaty and specialty tacos. You have a choice of flour or corn tortilla or lettuce wrap. I prefer the lettuce wrap to be honest. It is lighter and you have the option of putting how much of the ingredients you want on the lettuce since the ingredients come on a separate bowl next to the lettuce. Plus, the lettuce is fresh and great tasting. That's just my preference though. The corn and flour were both good, I just prefer the lettuce option. Below are the list of my recommended tacos. 1. Chipotle shrimp - good and flavorful. Not too overpowering. There were 5 big pieces of shrimp on my taco! 2. Lobster - pure awesomeness. Not spicy at all. It was spicy in a sense that they used spicy mayo (i.e. sriracha and japanese mayo). 3. Lengua - I was hesitant to try it but it was really good. Light, flavorful, and just don't think about what you are eating. This was the taco that surprised me the most with the perfection of balance of flavor. Honorable mention. Pork belly - the meat was crispy and nicely flavored but warning, it can be oily. It was good but was not my favorite. My friends loved it and didn't complain about the oiliness. I either got an extra fatty portion or my palate is just more sensitive. If you don't like oily taste, I would squeeze the pork belly first on a napkin before eating this. I would still get it though. Highly recommended. I can't wait to get unlimited tacos again! read more

Malo - Lettuce wrap with mahi mahi (bowl), pork belly taco (middle), and spicy lobster taco upfront - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Food was authentic and flavorful. The takeout order was ready to go and well packed. Staff is very friendly. Will return when I'm downtown. read more

Malo - Avocado Tostada - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Happy Hour is amazing and the bartenders are great- nice and clean atmosphere. The elote is a great appetizer.

Meh. I don't know, man... I really was hoping for more from Malo. The name's catchy and the decor is stellar. The vibe's edgy and cool. I really was excited to finally try the food. And, well... meh. I came in for lunch and tried the Salsa Trio and a Cuban Sandwich. The Salsa Trio consisted of Queso, Chipotle Crema and Guacamole. The chips that were served alongside were quite bland despite the dips. As far as the Cuban is concerned, I thought the bread was a little too mushy and the carnitas pork was dry. It could have been an off day, so I'll try and come back next time I'm in Des Moines, but so far they just get 3 stars from me. read more

Great dinner but better brunch! This place has it all- food, atmosphere, variety of drinks! & even a great patio in the summer! One of my go-to places on the weekend! read more

Love the atmosphere in this place! The service was great and the food delicious. We ordered the chips and salsa and I ordered the guacamole. It was so good and not too chunky. I ordered the enchiladas with red sauce and my husband ordered three street tacos. The food came quickly. We will definitely be back. read more

I ordered takeout for lunch, food was ready within 15 minutes, and the staff was very friendly. First time ordering I got the lunch mix and match special and got some of their more expensive tacos and they are AMAZING. In the lunch special I received their Malo salad, chips and salads, a side of queso and I ordered the beef tenderloin taco, pork belly, and the dos pescado grilled all on their flour tortillas. There is so much food! The pork belly falls apart and is crunch and moist at the same time. So flavorful! The dos pescado has so many flavors going on and the fish was cooked perfect. I did find a small bit of shell in the lobster slaw but it was so good I could look past it. The beef trenderloin itself didn't have a lot of flavor but the corn salsa and aioli helped it along the way. All in all, really good food and fast service. I ordered on a Friday at noon and had no issues with timing! I will definitely be back for a dine in experience. read more

I came to Malo for the first time on Thursday for lunch. The atmosphere, lighting, and wall art at Malo bring a very cool vibe. I ordered the lunch special including the Alamo salad, and two tacos. I chose the steak and shrimp. The meats were good and flavorful however I wish that the steak wasn't ground and was instead more like chunks or strips. The salad also wasn't bad but I was leery of the romaine lettuce in it due to the recent recall. Most other restaurants have been tossing iceberg lettuce so I was uneasy when I realized that the salad actually had romaine lettuce. For dessert I tried the flour-less chocolate cake. It was dense, rich, and DELICIOUS! Way too much chocolate, but I love chocolate so I got what I asked for. The service was decent, but I was waiting a long time to get my check and even had to flag the waitress to bring it to me. She was still friendly though. I'd go back to Malo, and would love to try the cocktails there the next time I come. read more

As an upscale spin on Tex-Mex, Malo never disappoints. The large menu has a wide variety of choices that will satisfy even the pickiest eater. From top-notch tacos to creamy chicken tortilla soup, every dish is superb. The tot'chos are a wonderful spin off of classic nachos (using tator tots instead of chips) and the Mexi-Cali burrito is a refreshing, flavorful option as well. The large, modern interior and dim lights provide a comfortable atmosphere for an evening spent dining with friends or family. The staff are generally prompt and helpful, making Malo an enjoyable experience overall. read more

Malo - Mexi-Cali burrito, chicken tortilla soup - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Wow!!!! I had Malo for the first tonight and it was so much better then expected. I knew Malo was really good, but my goodness. I had the Chicken Enchilada and Wood Fired Asparagus. The enchilada was probably the BEST Enchilada I've ever had. I don't know what it was, but please get this. The Asparagus was pretty good and literally smelled like a wood fire. This meal was unbelievable and couldn't recommend more. Please go to Malo, it is an easy 5 stars in my opinion. read more

Malo - Chicken Enchilada and Wood-Fried Asparagus - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Another restaurant we've eaten at so many times and I can't believe I've never left a review! We visit Malo at least 3/4 times per month. We are late diners who usually don't leave the house until 9pm on a Friday or Saturday and appreciate that they are open later than most restaurants in Des Moines, even if it is only about an hour more. The food is incredible - great asada, carnitas, tacos, and we love the salsa here. Get the appetizer and try all the salsas Malo has to offer -- its worth it! I could honestly just eat the salsa and be happy. What we really come here for is the drinks!! Great tequila and wine selection with featured drinks each week that we are always excited to try. But our top recommendation for a drink order at this restaurant is a Pisco Sour!! If you order a Pisco Sour you have to get it with Pisco Portón -- it's a Peruvian Pisco, which is where Pisco originally comes from. If you just order a Pisco Sour it will come with Chilean Pisco and TRUST ME it is not as good as the Peruvian Pisco. Just tell your server you want the Portón - they will know what to do! read more

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The name is very unique, if you took Spanish class in high school and wonder "doesn't that mean bad?" You're 100% right! But they mean bad as in its good, weird, but cool! The food and service was great! They pride themselves in giving you a taste of all Latin American food. If you're in the area come check this place out! read more

Malo - Blackened Salmon Salad - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Kids wanted fajitas, so decided to check the place out. Food was really good, but I just wasn't jiving with the atmosphere. Service was odd. Everything just seemed a little off, like we had to wait JUST a little too long each time to be recognized or checked in on. This is more your contemporary and sophisticated Mexican. Mexican with a twist. That said, the food alone gave it some bonus stars. The carnitas were super tender. Chips were light, crisp, and hot. Tortillas were thick, homemade, and piping hot. The steak and chicken had a superb flavor. We waited 10 minutes, maybe, for the food to arrive. It was quick. read more

I went here for the first time with my husband after reading the good and bad reviews, not knowing what to expect. It seems like most people either really like this place or hate it. We had a really great experience and we'll definitely be going back again. Both the food and the service were great. We went on Saturday without a reservation and all the tables were filled. We were told there would be an hour wait but we got a seat right away at the bar, so we were happy about that. Our bartender was very friendly and attentive. We thought the drinks and food were priced kind of high, so we hoped we weren't going to be let down. A lot of the beers were priced just as high as the mixed drinks, so my husband decided to just order a Templeton Mule (good stuff!) which he absolutely loved. I ordered the chicken enchiladas (based on another reviewer's high praise) and my hubby got the beef barbacoa enchiladas. The enchiladas were huge! So huge we each had to take one of them home. The food was delicious, too. The rice had some hard pieces in it, though. At first we weren't sure if the rice had been cooked completely, but I think that's just the way they make it. The chips and salsa were also very good. The salsa was different than most restaurants' style. Some have compared the texture to marinara sauce. I'd say that's true, but I still like it. It has a slightly spicy and smoky flavor. We thought it was kind of weird that they don't have restrooms in the restaurant. You have to use the restrooms in the Des Moines Social club. That's a minor thing. I'm just being nitpicky. Overall, I really like this place and I'm definitely coming back. I want to try some other things on their menu. It's a little on the pricey side, so I wouldn't come here often, but the atmosphere is hip and lively. I would definitely get a reservation next time so I could sit at a table, but having to sit at the bar isn't bad if you can't get a table and it's just you and another person. read more

Malo - Yummy and big chicken enchiladas - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've had mixed feelings on trying out Malo. I've heard so much excitement when people say they are going but then I read the reviews which are all over the place. Some friends were in town and chose it so you could say they made the decision for me. We had a table of seven adults and one toddler on a Tuesday night. There were a few tables full but for the most part, it seemed to be kind of dead. Yet it was still rather noisy so I can only imagine how loud it gets when it's busy. The first positive thing for me was the waitress brining crayons for our daughter to color her kid's menu (it's paper). Such great entertainment while we wait for food! Looking at our menus, I was a bit shocked at the prices and asked those who had been here before, "how much food do you really get at these prices?" I instantly thought of Dos Rios. Luckily, our friend said you get a lot of food. I had my stomach set on the Seafood Enchiladas. I normally stay away from seafood at Mexican restaurants but it was calling to me. I got them with the drunken beans and a red Sangria. We got our daughter a chicken quesadilla with veggies and a milk. My husband had tacos (I don't recall which ones). The food arrived at a normal restaurants pace. It was a good amount of food. The kid's veggie side was massive. Our daughter likes veggies but wow, that was a lot! I enjoyed my enchiladas and drunken beans. The rice was rice. My Sangria was alright (I've had better). Our daughter ate two bites of quesadilla and refused the veggies. My husband liked his tacos. Bathrooms are shared with the Social Club and do have a changing table (women's). I decided on four stars since the food was good and there was a decent amount but we spent $89 (incl tip) for two adults and a toddler. That just seems so expensive!!! read more

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This was my 2nd time here. The 1st time I went and I wasn't impressed. The food was good; the service was horrible. My husband convinced me to give them another chance and we went for lunch today. The server, Jennifer, was amazing. The food was good; the service was excellent. I will definitely be back! read more

Malo...so disappointed in the menu revamp. You've gotten rid of everything that was good! Tonight was not what I expected nor what I have experienced in the past and I don't know that I'll be back. The queso? Just no. To both. That queso fundido is not even queso. Call it veggies with a small chunk of cheese on top. And the regular queso was disappointing as well, not at all Like the queso with chorizo that used to be offered. My margarita was good, the pork shoulder tacos were also tasty. Service was lacking, as we had to wait and ask for drink refills more than once and sides were forgotten. read more

I'm forever impressed with Malo. I had a craving for their DELICIOUS burrito bowl so I ordered takeout through Yelp! Food was ready at said time and since I was on my short lunch break- I asked if I could eat at the bar. The bartender could not have been nicer and more accommodating. He asked if I wanted real silverware and plates and asked if I wanted something to drink. I didn't have cash on me and didn't order anything, otherwise I would've tipped him for his generosity! He really made me feel welcomed and I'm excited to support this local business many times in the future! read more

I ordered 3 chicken tacos, a burrito, and some chips and queso and it cost $47. I ordered it to go. It was 33 minutes later than quoted over the phone. There was no where to park so I was parked illegally. The people behind the bar made it awkward like it was an imposition to order to go food. They barely apologized. The manager tried to make me feel like I was getting a deal because she took the chips and salsa off that the ticket that I never ordered in the first place. I specifically asked for two bags of chips. I basically spelled the order out to the individual over the phone and when after 25 minutes of waiting; the manager comes up to the front with the ticket and basically shows me that the guy ringing in the order didn't do so correctly, and for some reason, that was my fault. This is not a $47 experience. I've had great experiences here though, just not tonight. People who order to go food from you pay the same amount and deserve the same experience. read more

Malo - Latin American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa