15 Mexican Restaurants In Iowa Locals Claim Serve The True Deal
Who says you need a border crossing to bite into Mexico’s best?
Iowa may be corn country, but tucked between the silos and soybean fields, you’ll find tortillas sizzling, cilantro popping with fragrance, and salsa that could wake the sleepiest Midwesterner.
From mom-and-pop taquerías where abuela rules the kitchen to unassuming grocery counters hiding burrito gold, these Hawkeye havens prove you don’t need a passport for a fiesta on your fork.
1. La Regia Taqueria
Walking into La Regia feels like a portal straight to Mexico City, where sizzling aromas of grilled meats drift through the air and handmade tortillas hug fillings so flavorful your taste buds start a fiesta.
An adjoining market tempts shoppers with chiles, spices, and masa, daring home cooks to chase the magic. Pozole and menudo simmer on weekends, luring both hungry students and longtime locals into the lively rhythm of the crowd.
2. La Mexicana Grocery & Taqueria
Half grocery store, half flavor paradise! La Mexicana’s trompo of al pastor spins hypnotically, promising pork perfection with each slice.
Families stock up on grocery essentials while waiting for their food orders. The horchata here? Life-changing sweet cinnamon goodness that’ll have you skipping soda forever.
3. The Taco Depot II
Picture the joy of rolling through a drive-thru and snagging street tacos that smell like they came straight off a Mexico City corner grill – now that’s convenience worth cheering for.
Lengua tacos, crowned with cilantro and onion, keep Cedar Rapids buzzing, while a salsa bar lined with five fiery personalities tests courage and cravings alike. Sister location may steal headlines, yet loyal fans cram the lot here, chasing flavor that refuses to be overshadowed.
4. El Fogón
Watch in awe as taqueros shave sizzling meat from the vertical spit! El Fogón doesn’t mess around with authenticity.
Though hidden in a strip mall, this spot transports you straight to Mexico City with its street-food atmosphere. Their weekend specials featuring goat barbacoa and menudo draw hungry crowds from across Des Moines.
5. Tacos La Familia
Birria tacos sizzle with aromas so rich they spark instant cravings, especially when dunked into consommé that glimmers like liquid gold.
Crispy tortillas oozing cheese pack a punch far bigger than the shop’s modest size, and the chatter of hungry guests often spills onto the sidewalk. Savvy locals phone in early, snagging orders to-go and scooping up salsa verde by the cup, because one taste never feels like enough.
6. Flame The Taqueria
Modern flair blends with the soul of old-school Mexican cooking at this Johnston gem, where aromas of sizzling specials drift through the air and every week brings a new regional surprise.
Warm chips hit the table fresh from the fryer, paired with five salsas that range from zesty to tongue-tingling. Weekend mornings sparkle with the scent of chilaquiles, reviving spirits and soothing stomachs quicker than any pharmacy remedy ever could.
7. Los Primos Mexican Grill
Family recipes shine at Los Primos, where abuela’s secret seasonings make even simple rice and beans extraordinary! Their lengua tacos convert the squeamish into offal enthusiasts daily.
Since 2013, this spot has expanded their menu while keeping quality sky-high. The house-made horchata pairs perfectly with their spicier offerings.
8. La Finca
Davenport diners slip into La Finca for a bite that feels like a mini-vacation, where the air fills with the deep, chocolatey aroma of mole clinging to enchiladas in all their saucy glory.
Crunchy chips arrive with twin salsas so addictive they’ll have you shamelessly chasing every last drop. Big platters land on tables brimming with flavors that comfort, delight, and keep friends and families lingering long after the plates empty.
9. Taqueria La Juanita
College students and night owls rejoice! Open until the wee hours, La Juanita saves hungry souls with massive burritos that could double as weightlifting equipment.
Their al pastor has that perfect caramelized edge from the trompo. Cash only and worth every penny, this no-frills spot has fueled Storm Lake’s late-night cravings for years.
10. La Juanita
Sioux City’s not-so-hidden gem fills the air with the savory scent of burritos so massive they demand two hands and a game plan before the first bite.
Crowds span hardhats to courthouse robes, all drawn in by flavors that never miss. A salsa bar brims with creations from gentle heat to five-alarm fire, while a tight, no-frills menu nails every dish – proof that focus outshines frills when flavor takes center stage.
11. La Carreta Mexican Grill
Sizzling fajitas roll through the dining room in a cloud of steam so fragrant heads turn before the plates even land.
La Carreta hums with fiesta energy, where bubbling queso fundido laced with chorizo stretches like a cheesy daydream. Margaritas in playful flavors keep spirits high, with the tangy tamarind pour winning so many hearts it rarely stays a one-and-done order.
12. Mariscos El Capitán 2.0
Seafood towers rise like edible sculptures, glistening with the scent of the ocean and sparking wide-eyed amazement in landlocked Iowa.
Mariscos magic shows up in whole fried fish, its crackling skin giving way to soft, delicate flesh that tastes like seaside comfort. New to Marshalltown yet carried on waves of praise from Des Moines, the spot quickly reeled in locals hungry for authentic coastal flavor with a Mexican heartbeat.
13. El Azteca
Where Iowa State students celebrate every occasion from first dates to graduation! For two decades, El Azteca’s enchiladas have comforted homesick students and locals alike.
Their cheese dip recipe remains a closely guarded secret. Weekend specials feature regional Mexican dishes that go beyond the standard Tex-Mex fare, introducing Ames to authentic flavors from across Mexico.
14. La Placita Taqueria
Tucked inside a bustling Mexican grocery, taco heaven reveals itself in the savory aroma of weekend barbacoa that vanishes before noon if you’re not quick.
Shoppers abandon carts to savor tacos at cozy tables, the air thick with spice and chatter. Tamales wrapped snug in corn husks release clouds of steam that whisk Waterloo diners straight to central Mexico, bite by comforting bite.
15. Juanito’s Mexican Restaurant
Council Bluffs’ longest-running Mexican spot serves comfort food that three generations now crave! Their chile rellenos achieve that perfect balance of spicy, cheesy goodness.
Family photos line the walls alongside Mexican artwork. The house special molcajete bubbles dramatically at tables while servers deliver baskets of warm chips faster than you can empty them.
