Taco Casa on Euclid by Douglas and MLK

Taco Casa Mexican Food in Des Moines, Iowa

Taco Casa has a huge menu with a message on the back claiming the place was started by a Mexican immigrant a long time ago. The interior and the painted murals and menu choices are like a step back in time.

Location: 2506 Euclid Ave, just off the corner of Douglas Ave and MLK.

Online at: website is HERE

Active Since: the menu claims they have been doing business for 53 years. But this place has been HERE for as long as I can remember.

Specialties: The salsa and hot sauce is great, so are the beans and enchilada sauce. Most of the menu is basic mexican food with melted cheese on top.

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Antojitos Mexicanos DF on SW 9th

Antojitos Mexicanos DF restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa

Antojito Mexicanos opened up as a truck at the Tianguis flea market in 2015 or earlier. Then they were parked on Hubbel Ave. beside Kathy’s Depot, then in a car lot on SE 14th St. Now they have a physical location.

Location: 4100 SW 9th St, in a southside building that once housed a tenderloin place, a Maid Rite, and an Abelardos franchise.

Online at: facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/Antojitos-Mexicanos-DF-page-1650954601789231/

Active Since: The physical location opened March 2017 but their truck had been going since at least summer of 2015.

Specialties: The truck served pambazos and huaraches, but the store has a Mexican dessert and paletaria menu.

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El Rey Burritos in West Des Moines

El Rey Burrito in West Des Moines, Iowa

Location: 1310 Grand Ave in West Des Moines

El Rey is a family run Mexican restaurant that has been serving in three different locations on Grand Avenue in West Des Moines. They used to be in a strip mall next to a Blockbuster Video, then in another strip mall further down the road.

Active since: at least fifteen years now, its been a while.

Online at: their menu lists a website with a url that does not work.

Specialties: they made their name with a giant burrito named “Rey Rey”.

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Lina’s Mexican Restaurant on SE 14th St

Lina’s Mexican Restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa.

The old Sonic Drive-In location became the first Des Moines location for Lina’s Mexican Restaurant. They also have locations in Wichita and Omaha. This location has fixtures left behind from both Sonic and a short lived bbq placed that tried this location. There are two dining areas, a patio is open in the summer.

Location: 5959 SE 14th St in Des Moines, Iowa

Online at: facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linas-Mexican-Restaurant/167297940070404

Specialties: while the menu is almost exactly the same as Abelardo’s, they are some differences like free chips, two kind of queso dip, or sopes on special.

Active Since: These guys appeared a few years after Abelardos and have been here at least since 2012.

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Mi Lindo Mexico on NE 14th St

Mi Lindo Mexico Taco Truck on NE 14th St in Des Moines, Iowa

Location: in front of the BP station at 5120 NE 14th St just north of Des Moines.

This is the third truck in a year parked in the same space just north of the interstate.

Online at: facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/MiLindoMexicoo/

Active Since: I first saw them on January 2017.

Specialties: full breakfast, burgers, and cheese shell tacos.

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La Michoacana on Lincoln Way in Ames

Tacos La Michoacana Taco Truck on Lincoln Way in Ames, Iowa

Location: 326 Lincoln Way beside the pawn shop in Ames, Iowa.

Online at: facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/Tacos-la-michoacana-1038748356180235/

Active Since: at least May of 2016

Specialties: they have huaraches and daily specials like fried fish or tamales.

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La Familia Taco Co on 6th Ave.

Tacos La Familia on 6th Ave in Des Moines, Iowa

Online at: Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/LaFamiliaTacoCo/

Active Since: September 2016

Specialties: Their menu refers to the place as a “Casa de Barbacoa”, and they serve some odd items like barbecue ribs or chicken wings, plus a full breakfast served mornings.

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