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    Viva Mexican Restaurant

    3.2 (69 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Viva Mexican Restaurant Photos

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    VIVA MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Viva Mexican Restaurant

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    Fresh chips and salsa
    Kristyn M.

    My friend and her husband love this place. It was their pick when we decided to go out the other night. We got there before them, right at 5:30 and had no trouble snagging a table. The waiter came over and got us drinks right away and he could tell that we were waiting on others. When my friends arrived they raved about how he is here constantly. He was coming weekly for awhile before they changed the menu. They knew him by name and he ordered the same every time. The chips on the table were pretty good tasting, they brought out salsa and refried bean dip. It did take awhile for the waiter to come back after my friends had arrived considering the place was not that busy. We were close enough to the kitchen to hear the chatter and see the wait staff coming and going. We all ordered pretty simple things. Only one order didn't come out right but it didn't even hit the table before it was rushed back to be corrected. The food all around was pretty good. I have had better but everyone seemed satisfied. We sat and chatted a long time. Once the check was delivered the waiter pretty much disappeared to help other tables. They are kid friendly. Our friends brought their son who got a free scope of ice cream at the end of his meal. There was a ice cream bar right near us where you can load up on toppings for the ice cream. Nice touch! I think I have enjoyed other places more, however it seems to have improved since the other reviews have been posted. However they do have $2 Margaritas twice a week all day.

    Taco salad fajita
    Cody M.

    Stopped in for a meal on a week night. I had a fajita taco salad that was good and the chips and salsa at the table was warm and very good. The beer was reasonable and so were the prices on the menu. Altho not cheep, it was a little busy that night but I was not overly pleased with the service. I never ran out of anything but I think they could put more effort into customer service. Like I said it is worth a try and I wouldn't let 1 night and 1 person change my review about this place. Enjoy friends!

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    Excellent service outstanding food fast paced good quality Texas Burritos were delicious

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    5 years ago

    Food is ok. Drinks are good. Service is unbelievable poor! One server in particular is so bad. Too many faults to list. Almost comical!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Viva Mexican Restaurant

    Review Highlights - Viva Mexican Restaurant

    For low to mid-ranged priced Tex Mex, this is as good as it gets in Des Moines.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Hidalgo Mexican Bar and Grill

    Hidalgo Mexican Bar and Grill

    4.2
    (87 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Back again! Plenty of parking outside on an early afternoon…read more We stopped back for another company lunch. This time I checked out the lunch menu. I found what will probably be my go to going forward. We were seated close to the bar. This was also a little closer to the kitchen and were attended to right away. The chips and salsa hit the table right away and we ordered up the guacamole and the queso. Everyone is always really nice and helpful. TVs on over the bar and music plays. I ordered the Huevos con Chorizo this time. Two scrambled eggs with chorizo, Mexican sausage, served with rice and beans. I had them hold the beans. Food came fast again. I was doing the happy food dance my eggs were so good. Once again, an all around great experience. 3 times out of 3 so far.

    My daughter told me about this place because she and her friends like to come for margaritas. I…read morelike new places so we decided to give it a shot. Plain and simple, I like this place. It's nothing fancy. Friendly and fast service. It had Mexican music playing on the speakers but it was more of a pop/rock Mexican, not the typical music you usually hear in establishments like this. I enjoyed it. Great Mexican beer on tap for what I thought was reasonable prices. Chips and salsa are good. You have to get the Hildago Molcajete. Huge, temperature hot, layers of different stuff, fantastic. Plenty of leftovers. True molcajete served in the stone bowl. No restaurant is cheap anymore. But this place is pretty reasonably priced, and I thought the food is as good as any other local Mexican restaurant

    Photos
    Looking into bar
    Looking into bar
    Chili colorado
    Chili colorado
    Artwork

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    Artwork
    Amigo Mexican Restaurant

    Amigo Mexican Restaurant

    4.1
    (44 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    We have always wanted to try this place and after finally doing so we are sorry we waited this…read morelong! The gist: exceptional service, warm and flavorful food; energetic ambiance with colors and music, full bar. Extras to know: on the last day of January the restaurant was comfortably warm. I am always cold and typically eat with my coat on but could enjoy tonight's meal without it. Upon arrival we were seated and immediately brought large glasses of water: I love not having to ask AND having a large glass and chips and salsa. The. Hips were typical Mexican restaurant chips; the salsa suited my preference with a bit of sweetness and cilantro. Our server was friendly and 'just right' attentive, allowing us to enjoy our meal while making sure we had drinks. The food came quickly in chilled glasses: the only thing keeping this meal from perfect is actually not so bad- the chipped glasses melted a bit and left a small glass rim puddle- I will ask for a coaster next time. And there WILL be a next time. The menu is extensive and creative with a nod to Iowa in some of the dishes (example: Iowa burrito) Prices totally reasonable for the amount of food. I enjoyed 1/3 of the pollo chorro (grilled chicken breast with chorizo) topped with melted cheese. Delicious combination. Sides of rice, refried beans and lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream in a mini taco shell. The dish came with a warm flour tortilla. Hubby had the Burrito Texano with steak, chicken and shrimp stuffed in a huge tortilla smothered in green sauce and cheese: we stayed for him to finish- he could not NOT eat it all it was so good. Family friendly, beer and margarita friendly, customer friendly, and food coma guaranteed. This is my personal favorite in town!

    Stopped in on a Saturday evening. We had a table top of 7…read moreand we were able to get a seat right away. We had to wait for a last couple people before we put in our food order. The atmosphere was laid back and nice. It was not that busy yet so the waitress was paying attention to us. When we put in our order my husband ordered the Chori Pollo. He had never had it before. Chicken and chorizo together in the same meal. It was like he discovered sliced bread he was so excited to try it. He really enjoyed it. It came with flour tortillas and he thought it was really good. I ordered the Polo Loco which was chicken and cheese sauce with rice, guacamole and lettuce. The flavor and everything was good. I think I was a little bummed out how flat they beat the chicken down. It does make it cook fast and even, but seemed to be a little dry. Someone at the table ordered fried ice cream and loved every second of it. Overall everyone at the table was happy. No one left hungry. The waitress got busy and we had to leave so we had to get up and go pay without waiting for a ticket, but other than that the over all experience was good. I think we might come back as there were some menu items that we had not seen before and would like to try in the future.

    Photos
    Amigo Mexican Restaurant
    Amigo Mexican Restaurant
    Amigo Mexican Restaurant

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    El Rodeo

    El Rodeo

    3.0
    (58 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $

    my first time here and my last…read more today, me and my family from my dads side came to this establishment to have lunch, I'll admit, I'm from the south side and not from this side of town so the Mexican food over there is something I'm use to, but this? the food truly had no flavor, salsa had a strange taste to it which overpowered the salsa, and the Choriqueso is an insult to all choriqueso, in my experience, all choriqueso has had the chorizo be dark and crisped up, this tastes straight up boiled and tossed in, and the Rodeo bowl? I got it with the Pork option, that was the most flavorless and overcooked pork I've ever had, and the corn on it was cold. Who puts cold corn on anything that isn't a salad?! Also the bowl had a mystery ingredient in it, disgusting! Will say the service was great and the ambience reminds you of Cracker Barrel, not a compliment, especially for a Mexican restaurant that's serving only Mexican food, not a single burger in sight, you would associate this ambience to burgers or steaks or anything remotely close to American cuisine, this is all Mexican food, the only thing that feels like Mexico here is the music.

    Time for lunch at El Rodeo's one of the great choices for seafood enchiladas and guacamole. The…read moreatmosphere' is spectacular, and the prices are very reasonable. The waiter wore a mask,and was prompt in taking my order. Very friendly place. The food was beyond scrumptious. Everything was served hot and well seasoned. If you are in the area -- show them some love!

    Photos
    Salsa and Choriqueso
    Salsa and Choriqueso
    Salsa and Choriqueso
    Salsa and Choriqueso
    Rodeo Bowl

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    Rodeo Bowl
    El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill

    El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill

    4.5
    (54 reviews)
    5.1 mi

    This remains our go-to when we're in the mood for Mexican food. On our most recent visit we had a…read morebunch of the family, so it was 6 adults and 2 kiddos. We got chips, queso, regular salsa, and hot-hot salsa. The chips are now a lighter type that is just as tasty but not quite as filling. I recommed the Margarita El Toreado-a shaker of the tasty beverage that will top off your glass 2-3 times. A couple of others in our group got the Sex on the Beach cocktail - a fruity blast of juices and alcohol. We got a variety of dinner times. I got the Spicy Burrito, which was very tasty, but not spicy...at least on this visit. My wife got the Seafood Enchilada, which was a nice slightly creamy dish. Others got the Arroz Con Pollo (her go-to), Texas Burrito, and 2 got the Carnitas Tacos (their favs). The kids got the Grilled Chicken - a nicely flavored dish, and the other tot got the Kids Enchilada - she ate the whole plate of enchilada, rice, and beans. Our food came out in just a few minutes, and the servers are always checking in and making sure your experience is great. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and they are always genuinely happy to see you! We'll keep coming back again and again!

    Food is the great uniter and what better way to make us enjoy each other's company than a dish…read moreloaded with Street Tacos, Queso, Salsa and Fresh Chips at El Toreado. On Friday Night you can get your happy shoulder Shay on as you listen to the small live combo as you partake of your delicious meal in a very festive atmosphere. The wait staff watches to make sure you have everything to make your meal more enjoyable.

    Photos
    Large Spacious Dining Area
    Large Spacious Dining Area
    Fajitas Tejanas
    Fajitas Tejanas
    Margarita

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    Margarita

    Viva Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated July 2026

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