The reviews don't lie, this place is great!!! If you love the real stuff or have been wanting to try it for the first time, this is the place. Don't be afraid to be adventurous and try some or the more "exotic" meats. The tripas tacos are great. If not, even the chicken tacos here are amazing. Its all good! Some authentic Mexican food joints can be a little sketchy and the language barrier can be intimidating. This place is very welcoming! I LOVE the homemade green sauce they give you with your food. A can of Tecate with a lime goes great with it all. read more

Free chips n salsa, incredible prices, fast, fresh and DELICIOUS. Friendly wait staff too. Would recommend to any friend. Clean and quaint atmosphere read more

Tacos Mariana's - Flautas!!! Oooo delicioso! - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great burritos and tacos. The carnitas is all right, the carne asada could have more je ne sais quoi, but the chicken, sides, and salsa are excellent. I haven't had much else. Easily the best Mexican I've had in Iowa. It's close to Mercy Hospital too, so that's a plus. The listed address (2225) Is wrong, though. They've moved to 1305 university. read more

I came here for lunch on a Thursday and was pleasantly surprised to find they have a Taco Thursday special with discounted tacos. They were the best street tacos I've had in the Des Moines area. All of the meats were delicious, but the asada were the best. I would highly recommend this spot for any avid taco enthusiast. read more

This is my favorite mexican place, ever. And I am from NJ and frequent NYC for fooding. It is a very authentic hole-in-the-wall sort of place. The tacos are inexpensive and ridiculously good. My favorites are pollo, adobada and chorizo- I usually get 5. My boyfriend swears by the lengua tacos. The guac is very good too, I think they put cucumber in it. The people that work there are extremely nice, and will speak to you in spanish if you wish to practice. Great great food, definitely a must try. read more

This place was good but not great. I enjoy lengua tacos and but they were pretty bland here. The queso fundido con chorizo was also pretty plain and the cheese hardened so quickly it was hard to eat. Also, no homemade salsas on the table aside from one that comes with chips. Service was nice but a little slow. I may have gotten spoiled by great Mexican, Salvadoran, Honduran...etc places when I lived in Chicago. This was fine and better than places that serve tacos with iceberg lettuce and shredded cheese, but I was disappointed after such great online reviews. read more

I've had tacos and burritos from this family owned restaurant numerous times, and they're always great. If I stick to these things, I'm happy. They have a large variety of meat choices for fillings and they are very authentic with cilantro and limes served with the tacos. I tried the chicken enchiladas and wasn't as impressed, due to a crazy amount of filler and very little protein. Everything has great flavor, and you can tell it's definitely made with love. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Despite the area the inside and food offered by this restaurant are excellent. I had the vegetarian gorditas and they were awesome! The feta cheese really brought it together for me. My boyfriend had the steak street tacos and thoroughly enjoyed them. We also had the chips and salsa which were awesome, I wish we could find hot fresh chips and delicious spicy salsa near where we live! We visited this restaurant on the way home from a CO/MI road trip and this place was right off the highway and easy to find with great food. I highly recommend it! read more

My favorite place to get tacos! Authentic, delicious, have yet to find a better taco in the Des Moines area. I usually order to go-- it's a very small restaurant. I can see how people might get annoyed about parking, service, etc., but honestly, for the quality of tacos, it's so worth it! (Just phone in an order & take it to go if you're in a hurry.) read more

Great tacos. Beer no margaritas Great fir a sat afternoon! Will come back for dinner soon!

Hands down, the worst Mexican food we've ever had. Literally almost inedible. We ordered beef empanadas and they were so bad that we didn't eat them. They didn't resemble empanadas at all. We also had menudo, which was watered down and unseasoned. The rice and beans were okay. Definitely don't waste your time or money. *Full disclosure... we are a Mexican family and know what good Mexican food is. The only reason I can think of that people like this place is because they haven't had Mexican food outside of Iowa" read more

I was in the area for work and went there for lunch and I really enjoyed it. I ordered a torta and two tacos. The tacos were great and I wish I would have ordered more of them. If I would have been with someone else I would have ordered the chips and guacamole. It wasn't very busy at all so I found a parking spot. If it would have been busy I would not have found a parking spot and probably would have drove on to somewhere else. With all of this in mind I would go back again when in the area. read more

Tacos Mariana's - Torta and two tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Tacos were good. Beans tasted good. Didn't really care for the rice. I'll eat here again anyways.

Authentic Mexican food ! One of the best ! Tacos were delicious and the rice is fresh and hot unlike other Mexican restaurants . read more

Tacos Mariana's - 2 chicken tacos,steak taco and spiced steak taco(delicious!!!) and 2 sides of rice - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Ordered papusas, queso with chorizo, steak tacos, and salsa today with great disappointment. The papusas had almost no filling in them and the pickled toppings just tasted like only like vinegar. The queso was an unedible solid clumpy mess that looked like it was made from the wrong type of cheese (very stringy) and what little chorizo was in there was burnt to a crisp. The steak tacos were the only saving grace here, unfortunately we only got 2. To top of this sub par experience we didn't get the cup of salsa we ordered. Avoid this place unless you want a taco which I'm almost certain there are better options for that available. read more

So much cheese, but delicious cheese. Chicken burrito was delicious, same with the chicken quesadilla. Beans tasted somewhat burnt. Friendly waitress. Parking lot was a bit small though. I'd come back! read more

Tacos Mariana's - Chicken burrito with rice and beans (to go) - Mexican Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I love here tacos here! This place is so good! It's a pretty cheap place and the food is so authentic! One of my go to restaurants on a splurge night read more

Great food, great prices, great service! Hmmmm...this was awhile ago so I can't remember exactly what we got. I know we ordered queso fundido which was delicious as always, and a bunch of tacos. If I had to guess, I'd say i got one each of chorizo, al pastor, and asada tacos. Probably a fourth, too. We also ordered two large horchatas...and it was really nice that they came out in a glass with a straw vs. the styrofoam to-go cup i've become accustomed to at other places. Our waitress was very sweet, decor was cute and it was satisfying. An added bonus was that their cilantro and onions were not a package deal! I don't mind onions, but I can't stand cilantro and that often means my tacos have to be plain...not at Mariana's! read more

went here some time ago wasn't bad but not the best mexican restaurant. got a gordita and it was dry, the meat was supper salty but the drink are good read more

How did I not know about this place before? I can't believe I never checked this place out. It has a cozy Mom n pop restaurant feel. The food is authentic... or at least I think it is based on some of the restaurants I been in Mexico. The staff is nice and price is decent. I really enjoyed the beef tongue Taco. Sounded risky but I'm glad I tried it. The soup was good, but not the absolute best I tried. If you want to play it safe, you can't go wrong with a wet burrito. read more

This is a super small place. We had 5 people with us and we were crammed in a booth. I can't see this place functioning when it is packed. As for the tacos, they were ok. Reviews are over rated. The birria tacos were probably the best. I also had a chorizo, pastor, and a tripa taco. I was not a fan of the tripa because it was not crispy. I should have tried their guacamole. read more

There are more Mexican restaurants in town than you can eat daily for a month. I had high hopes for this place as it highly rated. It's small and er...quaint. I had the Birria which came with rice and beans. It came flavorful but not outstanding. My companion had the individual tacos. She was disappointed as they were served with small soft taco shells and meat with no other items like lettuce etc. Be forewarned chips are not complimentary nor do they serve mixed drinks. However they do serve a variety of expected beers. For a real find seek out the Del Gado Taco truck (see individual review for this place) read more

I want chime in about time it takes for food and the service. If you are trying to eat here for lunch - plan on a FULL HOUR lunch! They cook everything to order! And it's worth the wait!! This service reminds me of Mexico! The laid back, take you time attitude is very refreshing! And don't wait for your ticket, just like many places in Mexico - you won't get your bill until you ask or go up to the counter to pay. read more

Authentic and family owned restaurant. Adobada, asada, carnitas and pollo tacos were great. Service was great even on a busy afternoon. I would give it a shot for sure if you want some delicious Mexican food. Only negative is that the seating is challenged because of the limited space. read more

We use to eat here all the time and I still think the food is good but there are a few concerns. #1 The service can be extremely spotty. Usually there is just one person working the tables and register. This is usually enough but on a busy night it can take forever. #2 There is a weird smell in this place. It smells similar to Windex, which isn't normally a terrible smell, but it's really strong. #3 The location. I worry a little every time I go here. The place has been robbed before and the store across the street has had shootings. The micheladas and guac are must haves. read more

Best guacamole on the planet, and I've tried them all. Also still the best Mexican food in Des Moines--compared to her cooking Rick Bayless' food tastes like McDonalds. Service is a little slow, but worth the wait. read more

Hands down best place for tacos de tripa... for tacos in general! The food is great, the prices are unbeatable, the establishment is small but inviting. The only reason why I'm not giving it a 5 star is because of the service. This is a family ran establishment and they usually only have one lady in the kitchen and another one serving. Even though the ladies are extremely nice I don't think making customers wait (or in my case get up and ask for a glass of water after being seated for 20 min without anyone approaching my table) is acceptable. Just a heads up make sure to ALWAYS sit where is easy for them to see you otherwise they will forget about you. You might think that nice booth at end is cozy in private, but you will be FORGOTTEN! Last time I was there I had to literally get up and ask the younger girl that was serving for drinks 2x and then again to put in my order. I'll continue on supporting this establishment, but I think I will start calling in and ordering take out after my last experience. Like I said .. hands down the best tacos in Des Moines (the rest of their menu is equally amazing and traditional). read more

Simply scrumptious Mexican food. I hada few different types of tacos as well as samples of other dishes from my family members. Best Mexican in Des Moines. Flavorful meat. Perfect salsa with a kick. Everything comes together. You will not be disappointed with what you get. read more

The vegetarian gorditas and carne adobada burrito were excellent. Even the rice and beans that accompanied the entrees. Service was a little slower than usual, but we came at peak Friday night rush. read more

Best taco in des Moines especially for the price... only negative is they're so slow and never answer the phone to pre order

Best tacos in DSM! Wow! Those were seriously incredible! Great & friendly service! Haven't tried the margaritas yet, but we will definitely be back! read more

Taco Marina's tripas tacos speak for itself. The authenticity and delicious tacos are like none other! The cucumber in the guacamole is refreshing and stand out from the rest. Love love love! read more

Four stars for how much my friends loved their food, but their vegetarian options are extremely lacking. I had the vegetarian gorditas, and the rice and beans were very bland. You pay for chips and salsa, and there have a few different spice levels. I can't say it was my favorite, but the quality was there. If you are a meat eater, I'm sure you will be very pleased. If you're not, I would go elsewhere. read more

I was doing a long trip down 35 and was super hungry. I looked at yelp reviews for what was good in the area, and this little gem popped up. Friendly and quick service and, oh my God, absolutely delicious home-style Mexican food. I had the Plato Machaca and a cup of coffee. If I ever come through town again, I'll definitely be back. Sooooo yummy. read more

Drove past this place and almost missed it which would've been a shame. A festive Mexican decor with nice background music to complement delicious food. The salsa and chips comes mild and hot, which is HOT ( at least for my taste buds). I had a nice chicken burrito topped off with a Tecate ( mi cerveza favorita ) highly recommend read more

We've been to this place 3 times and I love it! They make authentic Mexican food here. I might just be over acting but if you at least been to some of the places like Taco Bell, chipotle or some other fast food places around you might want to just skip those place altogether coz this is the real deal. I've heard so much thing about this place and since my husband loves Mexican food, might as well try it. Let's start by, when we were trying to find the place. It's hard to miss this place but for some reason, we did miss it the 1st time. The exterior is very different when you get inside. We just trouble to park since they have a small parking place outside and we thought that that place was packed. There's a parking area across the street along the dollar general store if you have trouble parking. I thought it's going to be packed but it wasn't. I noticed that most of the people that come here usually called in for their order and just pick-up their food. When we came in, there was still a lot of vacant seats. What you will notice as well is they have a sign that says, they're close on Tuesday and open on Sunday. Think about it, yes! I mean Taco Tuesday is a thing for some but not for them apparently. Being open on a Sunday was a bonus for since when some of the Mexican Resto are usually close and now you know where to go. You will also notice Jesus when you come to the door, looking at you 4 ft from the ground. Hard to ignore their colorful interior which screams fun. When you get inside you can seat whenever you want and someone will attend you in a bit. Staff are really nice. She handed me our menu and got our drinks. The nice thing about their menu is that you can mix and match, pick how many you like and just go crazy. One thing for sure is I'm a fan of their taco meat!!! Next time, I'll check their menu coz the only thing I can remember is what we ordered which was pork quesadilla, tamales and obviously their famous tacos. They have a different option for meat that you can put on their tacos, like pork, beef, stomach intestine, tongue and I think there was a chicken in there too. Anyway, I only went for my favorite which is most of it which except for the chicken. I tried it as well and it was good but I always go for the unusual stuff on the menu. Their quesadillas are not your typical since it has meat on it (I'm not really sure if this is already a thing anyway) and everything that they put on our table was all flaming hot! The service was a little slow so you may want to be more patient. We're sitting not to far from their kitchen area and you can hear them fry everything there. We also ordered their strawberry shake and their orange which was really refreshing We also ordered their chips while we were waiting for the food and I think it was ok except it was too salty and I like my usual guacamole. I can skip that next since I know I will be back just for the tacos. I will certainly try some of the stuff that they have on their menu on my next visit or take-out. We ordered a lot of stuff for all under $30, that's pretty sweet! One of the thing that kinda bothered on our first visit was how they store their food. That time, I think they got their delivery and they have no place for their oranges, cilantro and pepper. It was sitting right in front of the bathroom, which is also facing the kitchen area. I understand that the place was tiny. It was on the floor and though they all look fine I was a little gross out from what I saw. The bathroom was really bad as well. I guess they don't have anyone to check on it every now and then. I've only seen like 3 to 4 people working here which is not a big deal coz each of them is in charge of something, I supposed. I was really bothered by this. I love their food period, the fact that they're close on Taco Tuesday, Jesus will crank me up every time you come to the door and their awesome interior but the restroom did throw off. It did make me think about horrible things really and I want to be wrong about it. I guess, I will just be one of the patrons that will call to order which is a shame. I will need to get it out of my system for sure especially when I crave for tacos. I wanted to give this place 5 stars but that might be pushing it. Seriously though, that bathroom. read more

Best tacos in Des Moines, no contest. The food is made to order, so it's very juicy and fresh. It's not just sitting pre made and scooped into a taco. read more

The place looked cute but upon seeing the menu we realized they don't sell liquor/margaritas! We asked our friendly server and she confirmed this fact so we politely left. I love authentic Mexican food coupled with a nice margarita, so this place was not for me. read more

I would definitely give this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the slow service! They're food is fantastic! Flavorful and well made. The guac is probably the best in town, mostly because of the queso fresco and cucumbers she puts in it. The last time I went over lunch I had to wait about 35 minutes to get my food and I had to knock a star off because of it. Also, parking sucks. But the food, ugh! So good! read more

Like other reviewers, we were a bit reluctant to go inside after driving up to the place, but we're glad we gave it a try. It doesn't look like much from th e outside, but the inside is cheery and cozy. My husband is something of a germophobe, so it can be hard to get him to try places that look dumpy on the outside. He was very impressed with the cleanliness inside. The bathrooms were spotless, usually a good indication that care is given to other areas of the restaurant, including the food. It is definitely a family affair, and the staff was friendly. We ordered asada, chorizo, and pollo tacos, pupusas, and chips and salsa. Everything was good. The pollo tacos were our favorite. The meat in all the tacos was juicy, but not greasy. We had never eaten pupusas before. They were good, and it was nice to try something besides the usual taco/burrito fare normally on Mexican menus. We'll definitely stop here again next time we're in Des Moines. read more