We stopped at El Mariachi in Johnston around 6:30 and sat out on the patio, where a house swallow…read moreloudly judged us the entire time. Honestly, the patio ambiance is always pretty good here, bird commentary included. Service was a little slow, and we had to work harder than we should have just to get water, but our waiter was fine overall. Nothing bad, just nothing exceptional either. The complimentary chips and salsa were very good, and I love that they have El Yucateco sauces on the table if you want to spice things up a bit. I had the Chipotle Tacos with chicken for $13, which came with rice and beans. Kim had the #7 combo for $11, with one burrito, one enchilada, and one taco. Both meals were good, but the chicken in my tacos and Kim's burrito was seriously excellent. Tender, flavorful, and probably the best part of the meal. Kim had a small frozen raspberry house margarita for $6.25, and I had a jumbo house margarita on the rocks for $8. The house margaritas were the one thing I would probably upgrade next time. They were very sweet and not quite the stronger margarita flavor I usually prefer. They do offer several premium margarita options, so I suspect that is probably the better route if the drink is a big part of the visit. But they definitely ask premium prices! Our total bill with tip was about $54, which felt fair for two meals, chips and salsa, and two margaritas. Overall, good food, great chicken, nice patio vibe, and a solid casual stop -- just maybe spring for the upgraded margaritas if you have the cash.

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $31 04/18/2026 This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while after seeing a recommendation in a publication. The first time we stopped by a number of years ago, we decided against going in due to there not being many cars in the parking lot. That was definitely not the case last night - the parking lot was nearly full and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, as they were quite busy. Needless to say, we left quite happy to have stopped - as we really enjoyed the experience. Our initial indicators of a good Mexican restaurant starts with their margaritas and then their chips and salsa. They passed it both areas - as both were above average. We started with a Spicy Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) from the bar while we waited for our table. It was good, but wasn't very spicy. The chips and salsa (see picture) were very good - tasty, fresh salsa that was thick enough to stay on your chips and crispy tortilla chips with enough oil to indicate they were fried fresh. For our meals, my wife ordered the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture), while I opted for the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture) - both based on our waiter Omar's recommendation. Omar was great - loved his recommendations, had a great sense of humor and was quite attentive to our needs! As stated, both my wife and I loved our plates - and yes, we shared with each other as always to both confirm. The only change I made to my plate was requesting corn tortillas - as I much prefer them to flour. I just can't say enough about both plates - not only did we REALLY like them, but there was plenty to bring home for another meal. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

Upon arriving in the afternoon for a late lunch with an empty stomach I ordered their birria torta…read morethat was recommended to me by the server. Restaurant was small, interior could've used a quick sweep. Restaurant was relatively quiet besides chatter from the workers whom seem to be friendly with one another which is a huge plus from a guest perspective. Walked out with a tab of $24 including time and entree with an iced coke which could use more ice in my humble opinion. Will definitely be back to try other options on their menu.

Flame Cantina in Ankeny promises a taste of Mexican street food with a modern twist, and for the…read moremost part, it delivers. My recent visit was a flavorful fiesta, with some dishes shining brighter than others. The Good: The homemade chips and salsa is a menu item (not complimentary) Which we don't mind because you are more mindful when eating them. They are also delicious and if you get the guacamole or the chees dip you will not be disappointed! Mango Shrimp Tacos: These were the stars of the show. The tortillas cradled juicy grilled shrimp, drizzled with a vibrant mango Pico de Gallo and bathed in a creamy guajillo crema. The sweet and spicy combo was a true explosion of taste, and the shrimp cooked to perfection - tender and slightly smoky. Quesa Birria Tacos: These braised beef delights were another winner. The slow-cooked Angus beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, swimming in a rich, flavorful adobo sauce. The crispy tortillas held up well to the juicy filling, and the accompanying onion and cilantro dipping sauce added a refreshing touch. Atmosphere: The restaurant itself is a vibrant and inviting space. The open kitchen adds to the lively atmosphere, and the colorful décor transports you straight to a bustling Mexican cantina. The 'OK' Taco Salad: While the ingredients were fresh and flavorful (ground beef, black beans, corn, Pico de Gallo, cheese, and a tangy cilantro lime dressing), the salad suffered from a glaring omission - lettuce! A taco salad without lettuce is like a margarita without lime - it just feels incomplete. (To be fair - our server offered to go get my Wife some lettuce, I just thought it was worth noting.) Service: The service was friendly, and on-point. Tristan kept the drinks filled and was attentive without being over bearing, in a small place like this it is a good balance. Overall: Flame Cantina offers a delicious and vibrant taste of Mexican street food, with some dishes truly excelling. The mango shrimp and birria tacos were standouts, and the atmosphere is perfect for a casual and fun dining experience. Just be sure to request extra lettuce for your taco salad, and you're good to go! Final Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. Flame Cantina is a great choice for a casual and flavorful Mexican meal, with a few minor tweaks needed to truly ignite all five stars. Pro Tips: Try the spicy hot sauce - ask for it, it one of the better ones I've had because it has both the heat and the flavor! Saturday's are $3 tacos until 5pm! I hope this review helps you decide whether to give Flame Cantina a try!

All of the food was SO good!!! Everything was hot and fresh with very large portions. The prices…read moreare great as well, considering how much food you receive. The Texas dip is definitely a new found fav lol. Staff were wonderful! Everyone was so friendly and very quick. They made sure to check on you periodically so you are not ignored. All of the staff members were very efficient, knowledgeable, and polite. The overall decor of the interior is very vibrant and quite enjoyable. It's not too loud in there and it's pretty upbeat. There is quite a bit of room inside, so even when they're busy, you don't feel crowded while you're eating. They also do a really good job of keeping everything clean and organized. We can't wait to go back!!!

What a great place with friendly staff and ambiance. I loved the food and will be back again.read more

Mojito is a fun word to say and now a really good place to eat…read more Weekday evening was a perfect time to go. It in a strip mall area and we had driven by multiple times and finally getting in a stop. Our waitress was a sweetheart. I threw my typical questions at her and she was on top of it. Chips were warm and the salsa was perfect. She brought us our drink orders quickly. The blue margarita was a good suggestion. We enjoyed the chips and the drinks. We were taken aback when our meals arrived. Hubby ordered the CA burrito and it was bigger than this forearm! I ordered the steak chimichanga and it also was way more than I imagined it would be. We both enjoyed our meals. We both were so full that I feel like we were going to have to be rolled out of there. The menus are huge. There is no excuse not to find anything. The restaurant is decent sized, with music playing like you come to expect in a Mexican restaurant. I think it was the manager who came out and checked on us to make sure we were doing alright. We decided that we would be back sooner than later. The price was right and it ended up being another meal for both of us.

Went with a group of friends. Had a great time. Fast attentive service. Great portions. Great food…read more Everyone loved their meals and drinks. No complaints. Would recommend.

--- **10/10…read moreExperience!** Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish! The drinks were delicious -- fresh, flavorful, and perfectly made. The food was incredibly tasty and exceeded expectations in both quality and presentation. A special shoutout to **Alan**, our server, and his uncle -- such genuinely sweet and welcoming people. They made us feel right at home and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. The ambience was beautiful and very clean, creating such a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere. Highly recommend this place and can't wait to come back! Coming from Minnesota and originally from Texas, I can honestly say no other place beats this spot -- even in Iowa! We will definitely be coming back. ---

Amazing service! Super fast and taste DELICIOUS, plus very large portions. I definitely recommend…read moreanytime. I will be here for every occasion

Just an average but lively American Mexican restaurant. They have TVs so there's games on if you're…read morelooking for that. Service was ok, there were plenty of tables at dinner on a Sunday. They have a small patio. We'll go back for a margarita at some point!

A really good, full service Mexican restaurant in The District, featuring both indoor and outdoor…read moreseating. Bigger venue than you think at first. Really good customer service, and our server, Yancu, was darn good. Loved my Hidalgo meal, Mole Poblano, and their guacamole was amazing. Overall, above average food choices!

First time here and its a beautiful restaurant. Came for lunch with great company Who likes to…read moreenjoy new food adventures with me my daughter. We both agree for lunch the light setting was a bit too dark

I went to an appreciation dinner with colleagues on Monday night. This was my first visit to…read moreDistrict 36. We were hosted in the private room on the west side. There were about 30 people in our group . They had already ordered the table appetizers before I arrived consisting of The Deviled Eggs with bacon, Artichoke Spinach dip and Crab Rangoon dip. All were delicious even though a bit cold from sitting for a while before they got passed around. We had 2 servers that I didn't get names but both were very attentive and managed the group very well . Everyone's orders were taken efficiently, I got the Frutti Di Mare in a white sauce with the seafood bisque soup. The entire dish was delicious with the exception of the bread, it was rock hard, but I didn't need it anyway . The bisque soup came out too cool for my liking but the waitress had a new bowl served at the right temp and it was perfect. I would eat a whole vat of that. The meal was great, shrimp perfectly prepared and fresh and snappy, plenty of mussels and a large portion providing a take home amount that served as dinner the next night too. I also indulged in a key lime pie because if rave reviews. I was not disappointed. Overall the place is elegant and classy enough for a suit and tie but still casual enough for shorts and flip flops. It will make for a nice date spot for an anniversary dinner. By the way this review was not written or touched by AI.

Soooooo this place is basically heaven. $2.00 margaritas during happy hour, Exile Ruthie on tap,…read morethe fajita quesadilla is amazing to say the least. And the service is top notch. Can't wait to come back!

Margaritas were excellent. Service was quick. Food was served but was not very warm. Had to send it…read moreback to be rewarmed. Noticed the floor looked like food had spilled on it and was just wiped up. It needed to be done better and scrubbed with a mop. It was mid day about 1:00 when we arrived. Not very busy. Only about 4-5 tables filled. Tab came to little over $50.00 with 2 margaritas and a 20% tip. To be fair they had not been opened long yet. They were still working out the bugs I am sure.