Malo
900 Mulberry St, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Malo Menu
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Address :
900 Mulberry St
Des Moines, IA, 50309 - Phone (515) 244-5000
- Website https://malodesmoines.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dessert
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Brittany R.
I love being able to mix and match taco choices to try as many things as possible. The pumpkin seed crusted chicken is one of the best things I've ever tasted. I could each 10 pounds of their chips with no salsa or anything, they are perfect on their own.
(4)Summer F.
What a fun experience! I ordered two different tacos, once avacado taco that was excellent! My favorite part was their lime jalapeno margaritas! The whole table had to try it. Great tortillas and ordered a big order of nachos
(4)Jason S.
Incredible! Get 2 or 3 tacos to try. They're very delicious. Great décor and atmosphere! Food is affordable as are the drinks. They have a brunch on the weekends I'd love to try. Explore the Des Moines Social Club before or after your meal.
(5)Paige P.
Really not the food or drink experience any of us expected. The margaritas were watered down. The food was definitely below expectations and definitely below the price point. The chips were literally soggy and not crisp. The guacamole and salsa were the only good items on the menu. The food and drinks get zero. This place's attempt to be hip and trendy fails because the food and drinks fail. Note to owners: start with perfecting the food and drinks first, then work on atmosphere. Our waitress really went out of her way to accommodate us. So, she gets 5 stars. Hence, the 1 star. In essence, it is a Panera - standardized food.
(1)Larry H.
Went there for the first time and not nearly as good as I wanted it to be. My wife and I shared the corn and chorizo queso. She had the tamales and I had three tacos (chicken tinga, beef and cactus, and scallop/lobster). For drinks she had the blanco sangria and I had the el jefe margarita. Overall the food reminded me of a slightly better Chilis. I would much rather have Tacopocalypse or Agave in Clive. I'd return with a group, but not a first choice.
(3)Justin T.
Their Sunday brunch is the BEST! What a great variety. They have the best biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, and other breakfast entrees you can find in town. Great service, and excellent, fresh food. Love it.
(5)Chelsey S.
Love the chicken tinga and the skirt steak tacos!!!! Also, try the guacamole and the corn queso.
(5)Caroline J.
Malo is such a fun place to be! Whether I'm sitting on the patio, at a high rise booth, or at the bar, I have enjoyed every aspect of the atmosphere. I've tried numerous items on the menu already and my stand out faves are: Sangria -$5 so good and you can afford to enjoy a few with your meal. The Pineapple Mojito is just fantastic, as well as the Hemingway cocktail, and they also serve a wonderful Templeton Mule. The chips and salsa they serve when you arrive is the best I've had compared to other area restaurants. I like to order the Salsa Trio which is only $3 and I get the Salsa Blanca (white queso) Pacifico Cheese Sauce (yellow queso) and Pico de gallo. Seafood Nachos - loaded with shrimp, crab, lobster, jack cheese, etc.. it's perfect if you aren't in the mood for an entree but want to split an appetizer with your drinks. The tacos are so good and so cheap! I've tried the Chorizo, Al Pastor & the Chile Relleno. I LOVE Chile Rellenos in general and this is also vegetarian. I also enjoyed the Ravioli de Maiz, which is also vegetarian. Many items on their menu can be made gluten free, vegetarian or vegan and they are happy to accommodate special dietary requests. Their brunch buffet offers such a great variety for only $16.99. I love a good breakfast burrito and their build your own burrito stand speaks to my brunch needs on so many levels. The chocolate fondue bar seems to be really popular and the entire menu is kid friendly. As if that isn't enough, they are open until 2am on the weekends and serve tacos until 1am! There is something for everyone!
(5)Kenny S.
I am very generous in my reviews. I try to be honest but factual. There was really only one redeeming thing about this restaurant... The Guacamole. We got seated very quickly and the host staff was very polite. We got to our tables and quickly noticed the water glasses, which were not filled, were dirty. The busser noticed us looking at them and got us new ones. This was about 10 minutes after we sat down. 5 minutes later out server approached us for the first time and explained the whole menu to us. We were ready to order and I ordered a beer and the big ol burrito. We also ordered some guacamole. About 10 min later our guac came out and we were told she'd be right back with chips. That took another 10 min. About this time I finally got my beer. It was around 40 min Into dinner that my beer arrived. I was in disbelief. Five min later our food came out and it was just ok. My burrito wasn't horrible but it wasn't really good. My friends chop salad was a ton of lettuce, a few tomatoes and a cucumber smothered in dressing. It was not good. It was also expensive. I mean look, I can appreciate when a restaurant is busy, but this was not busy. Our server had 5 tables... All 4 tops. But they were all at different stages 2 of them had paid before we got there and were there our entire dinner just talking. Our server lamenting to us that she is short staffed is no excuse. Get management to help you and if they don't then the whole restaurant has problems. I will not be coming back here. I honestly wanted to rate it 1 star, but the guac was good.... When we finally got our chips.
(2)Reid S.
Nice location, fun & inviting design inside and out. Fun place to go. Food is very good. I'm a huge fan of the tomales..although the serviing size was at about 70% of what it was when I went there just a few months before. Hopefully they won't start backing off on their serving sizes and quality like so many restaurants do.
(4)Tiffany A.
Brunch = No Bueno. We sat on the patio and as it was warmer out, I was really looking forward to a margarita. The waitress brought it out and it tasted like it had been sitting in the shaker ALL DAY. Extremely watered down and no real flavor. I thought maybe the bartender was busy and perhaps grabbed the wrong shaker. I rarely send things back, but this was a must. She brought out another one, it was just as bad as the first. And then guess what? Charged me for both! Even the one that was sent back! I ordered a shrimp taco in a lettuce shell which was amazing! Then an avacado taco in a lettuce shell that was disappointing. It was very bland and there was no salt or pepper on any of the tables outside to help it. The biscuits in the biscuits and gravy were so hard I couldn't even cut it with my knife. Mac & Cheese also very bland and could have used some seasoning. Chocolate fountain looked really gun and inviting, but after visiting it the chocolate was very runny and not so wonderful. Expensive disappointment. :(
(1)Lisa W.
Great Patio, Great Food I love the patio at Malo. It is huge and feels very hip and urban. It's a great place to go later on a Saturday night after a show for a late dinner. Service is usually pretty good although we had one visit where there just weren't enough servers on the patio, and a large party taking most of our server's time, so that night it wasn't great. The food is really good, especially the tacos. They have a really good selection of craft beers, including local beers. The molten chocolate lava cake is incredible. I really like Malo and we'll continue to go there on a regular basis.
(4)Andrew D.
Went spur of the moment without a reservation on a Friday night. Parking is tough during busy hours on the street. A ramp might save some time. The hostess said it would be over an hour wait, so we got a couple bar seats and ate. The atmosphere and decor is very nice and welcoming. Our bartender was helpful and always on top of drinks and the food. Only advice I would give is avoid the end of the bar where they muddle, shake, and stir drinks. That's right where we had to sit and it got a little loud and messy in our area. Slightly frustrated. I chose a chefs recommendation from the menu, Torta Ahogada w/ Chicken Tortilla Soup My wife got Stacked Enchiladas, a vegetarian dish. We were very pleased with the taste and presentations of both dishes. Filling portions of both packed with lots of flavor. We came to the conclusion that my wife's was the best. We will be back to try more! Make a reservation at opentable.com
(4)Rae E.
My order was messed up a few times and then when it finally arrived the chicken tacos were smothered in the chipotle sauce. I could barely see the chicken. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.
(2)Jerry S.
Excited to try Malo for the first time. Went on a Saturday afternoon around 2 pm. Neither the manager or hostess greeted us with a smile. In fact, they seemed almost put out that we arrived. We were seated on the patio. After 10 minutes waiting with absolutely nobody coming to our table we decided to leave. A note to management, when you seat somebody be sure to let the waiter or waitress know. Or, if you're busy (you weren't) at least ask what your guest would like to drink. Doubt I'll return.
(1)Katie F.
This would be 4.5 if half-stars were allowed. I've been twice and had an enjoyable experience both times. We started with margaritas, which had just the right combination of being refreshing, boozy and not overly sweet. I also like that you get to "self-serve" from a shaker. I second the reviewers who liked the chips and salsa, but a refill on the chips would be nice, especially because we ordered the trio of salsas and ran out pretty quickly. The salsa blanca was especially tasty. The tacos are my favorite, and there are many to choose from. The fish tacos and chicken chicharones are stand outs. I'm looking forward to trying others, but it'll be hard not to get these again. The chicken and waffles were great too. I wasn't so much of a fan of the gravy that came with the waffles, which reminded me more of a chicken pot pie filling than the thick, creamy gravy I'm used to. I didn't really care so much because it was so good with maple syrup that I probably wouldn't bother with the gravy anyway. As far as service, we had the same server both times and she was very attentive and friendly. Our food came out at a good pace, and other than the lack of chip refills, I don't have any complaints. My only complaint about Malo is the noise level. Both times we went on Friday nights and were seated in the high-top tables. The table was so long that my dining companion and I could hear the conversations of the people next to us more easily than we could hear each other. I'll definitely be going back many times.
(4)Karmen W.
Loved it. Went for happy hour which is half price tacos and appetizers. Food was amazing and fresh. Loved the food, atmosphere and service!
(5)Holly D.
Back for a second time. Had an Open Table reservation at 6 on a Saturday, but it wasn't necessary. The place started filling up as we left though. Unless you have tons of self control, don't come here super hungry: The bottomless chips and salsa, delicious as they are, will fill you up. The guacamole is good, albeit slightly plain, and comes in a large portion (for two people). I was debating between the stacked enchiladas and the black bean burger, and went with the latter. It arrived with a giant scoop of guacamole, of which I probably only put half on the actual burger. The whole thing was quite flavorful, and there was a chipotle mayo that wasn't mentioned in the menu description that was pretty good. It all got quite messy in the end, and I wasn't able to finish it, likely because I gorged myself on chips and salsa earlier. I had the Caesar salad as my side, and it was good, but was overly dressed and had a lot of cheese. Boyfriend ordered the ominous #17: 2 tacos, enchilada, tamale, and a side of rice and beans. It was delicious, but he ate barely half of it and took the rest home. The beans were still overloaded with cumin and the rice was rather unimpressive. No dessert for us this time, but we each drank the cervesa negra by Raccoon River on tap. Service and atmosphere is still great.
(4)Marilyn R.
Malo draws me like a moth to a flame. I have been there for lunch three times now. The wait staff has always been courteous and friendly and they make their customers feel welcome. The menu has many interesting and flavorful choices to appeal to different appetites and tastebuds. On my first visit, I ordered the two taco lunch. I ordered the lettuce wraps but found them awkward to eat. That visit I had the Cod taco, which was very good, and the Portobello, which was okay but not my thing. My side was the Jalapeño Creamed Corn. It was excellent. My second trip I had my favorite combination so far. I got the Chicken Tortilla soup. It was wonderful. That time I had corn tortillas with my tacos. I had the Dos Pescados and the Chipolte Shrimp. Both of those were excellent. On my third trip, I ordered the Cheese Enchilada. It normally is served with rice and beans but they happily switched my sides to grilled asparagus and black beans. The enchilada sauce was spicier than expected but okay when topped with the accompanying guacamole and sour cream. The asparagus was very good. The black beans were fixed like refried beans, tasty but not very impressive. This is a fun place to go, and with many items to choose from, I look forward to trying something new again.
(4)Liz C.
For the price of their dish and the quality and portion of the food I get is not proportional. The food is mediocre.. The price is kind of ridiculous for what I get... I would make the extra .3 mile and go to Dos Rios in a heart beat.
(2)Erin M.
WOW! My experience with Malo began outside...what a unique space with an impressive patio. Once inside, guests are treated to a very contemporary and classy atmosphere - the multi-colored celing tiles, luchador painting and colorful chandeliers being amoung my favorite touches. We visited Malo for brunch, and started with the homemade chips and salsa - YUM! Chips were thin and crispy, salsa was flavorful and fresh. The brunch buffett consisted of an assortment of delights - some of my favorites being the fresh fruit (very elegantly displayed), a full taco bar, custom burrito station, and of course, chicken and waffles. This must be tried to be believed - it's that good. Chef Stroud isn't new to Des Moines, but I think he hits it out of the park with Malo. I would highly recommend for anyone looking for some great food with a latin flair and a fun atmosphere. P.S. You simply must try the pineapple mojito. YUM!
(5)Josh G.
Been here twice now for dinner. They need a better system of tracking reservations/walk-ins, as it was confusing when you walked in. With it being new, I'm sure they'll quickly figure it out. On the second trip, we used Open Table and walked right in at the time we reserved. Great atmosphere and friendly and prompt service. Had the steak tacos and the chicken enchiladas and loved both. The chips and salsa are probably the best I've had! Loved it! Would be perfect if they had a local IPA draft beer available!
(4)Catherine S.
I had a really good dinner here on Sunday night before Memorial day with a party of 5 and we were able to get a same-day reservation for 7:15 pm which kind of surprised me. It would almost have been 5 stars, but I think they are still working out some minor crinks in timing and such. Our server was very friendly and enthusiastic about the food and drinks and sharing her favorites. The cocktails were fantastic-I had a margarita and a sangria and I'd order both again, the wine list was tempting too. The chips and salsa that came to the table right away were great. I'd definitely go just for after work drinks and appetizers! We ordered queso fundido and I'm glad I asked about the portion size because it was pretty small so we also ordered a bowl of guacamole for the table so we could all sample each. I had eaten so many chips I'm glad I just got a salad instead of the mac and cheese dish I was eying. The salad was fine, but I think that the people who were more adventurous really were happier with their meals. My husband got two different kinds of taco and I took a bite of his chile relleno taco and kind of regret not getting that! The decor, vibe, everything was great. I think in a few months once they have their groove down it will be a perfect dinner spot. I highly recommend it and will be adding Malo to my regular dining out rotation.
(4)Eric S.
Good food. But not wonderful experience. Lost our reservation. So made us wait half hour even though not near full. Then we waited 40 minutes only to get appetizer and main meals all together. Wait was extra bad as most seating is bar stools and two of our party had short legs that did not reach.
(2)Miles B.
First time enjoying this amazing establishment, and it definitely will not be the last. The location is fantastic, parking was not too much of an issue even when it was very busy. It was about an hour wait for our table, but we took the opportunity to explore downtown so it was no problem. The service was top-notch, getting us to our table quickly and providing water and amazing chips and salsa while we looked over the well presented menu. I decided on the Black Bean Burger, my first ever vegan dish. I can sum up the food in one word... Wow! Everything had such a freshness that I have never gotten at a restaurant before. The flavors are very "natural", they are not over seasoned so the real flavors can speak for themselves, but still strong and well-balanced. Overall the best dinner I have ever had in Des Moines. If you want to experience true, modern Des Moines cuisine and atmosphere, then look no further than Malo.
(5)Jason H.
The food was purtttttttyy good. The service was purrrrrrrty awesome. I am half filipino so naturally I look half Hispanic so therefore I look natural with this food in front of me. Fantastic food
(5)Jesus L.
Great atmosphere, fantastic appetizers, amazing drinks, & divine food. I may just call this my new favorite place.
(5)Josh R.
My wife and I had dinner here for the first time last night. We sat on the patio, which is nice but nothing remarkable. The food was good but not anything special. I had the #17 and my wife had the salmon. The #17 was huge. I didn't finish everything. The waitress we had was really strange and it was evident she really didn't connect with any of her customers. She was really slow to take our drink and food orders and only returned once to check on us towards the end of dinner. I probably would have ordered another drink if she would have asked, but she didn't. I noticed that there were several other tables with other wait staff that seemed to be complaining. The manager was out a lot trying to take care of situations. Bottom line, if you want to try something new and are OK going with the flow, go for it. If you want a solid place to celebrate a special occasion or entertain clients there are plenty of other places in Des Moines. I will probably give it another shot in a couple of months in the hopes they have ironed out their service issues.
(3)Aaron R.
Had terrible patio service the first time I tried. Tried it again, same thing. Fool me twice, shame on me, I guess. Won't get fooled again? The cocktails were fine but overpriced. The tots and shots were pretty delicious.
(1)Namita P.
Went here with my family on a Sunday night. I felt the prices were some what too high for Latin food in Des Moines. I ordered the Pumpkin crusted chicken which I felt lacked flavor. What I enjoyed was the large portion of the Chicken & Waffles that my brother ordered. We could have ideally shared the meal. I also really enjoyed my Malo Mule! I don't think I would come here again for dinner, but possibly for Happy Hour.
(3)Alison S.
There's a lot of mixed reviews -- both good and bad -- about Malo on yelp!, which made me go into my first dining experience unsure what to expect. I'm here to report I loved the food and if there were any major kinks when the joint first opened, they've been worked out and should expect great success going into the new year. I love tortilla chips and Malo's chips and salsa were quite addictive. The salsa is very fresh and flavorful. We also got guacamole, which was delicious and is simple (no onions, for those who don't like them). Our other appetizer was the pupusas. This was my first pupusa so I can't say if it is good or bad by standard comparison, but I found it tasty and something I'd seek out again. My margarita (El Jefe) was good, but a little watery. For the meal, I got a carnitas taco and a chipotle shrimp taco. Sadly, I gorged on tortilla chips and salsa so I didn't finish all of my tacos (I got corn tortilla, and they're larger and thicker than tacos you'd get at a more traditional taqueria). The shrimp was cooked well and great but a pork fan, I was swept away by the carnitas. My boyfriend got al pastor along with the carnitas and said he loved the al pastor even more! The only minor hiccup was that my friend ordered salmon and wanted sweet potato hash with the side and accidentally got mashed potatoes (honestly, an easy mix up -- mash/ hash). She told the server, who quickly swept the plate away, apologized and brought out the correct side dish a few minutes later. For the mixup, we got free dessert, a kind gesture that may signal they do pay attention to online feedback about service. I was too full, but my dinner party raved about the churros and chocolate dip dessert. I can't wait to visit family back in Des Moines so I can eat at Malo again and I'd highly recommend it to anyone.
(4)Kris D.
I thought this place was just okay. There's stiff competition in this area for new, hip and interesting places to dine. I just don't feel this place sets itself a part enough to compete with some of the rest. I went with a group of 6 other people, and had a very hard time hearing my companions because it was just so incredibly loud in there! We were promptly given complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and very good. I didn't really care for the salsa. It seemed to be closer to a thick marinara sauce than salsa to me. However, my table devoured it, so maybe I'm the only one who didn't like it. Our table ordered guacamole, and it was decent. Nothing spectacular, but tasty. You have your choice of adding bacon or crab if that's your thing. Drinks were reasonably priced and tasty. I had the cheap margarita, and it was fine for the price. Several at the table ordered the white sangria and were pleased. I ordered two tacos and a side of jalapeno creamed corn. The tacos were fine. Nothing too noteworthy, but they did the job. I didn't care for the jalapeno creamed corn. It was mixed in bbq sauce, and frankly, tasted burned. I could not taste any jalapenos. The weird sauce overpowered the dish. The waitress was perfectly friendly during our visit It felt like we waited too long for our meals--especially considered they mostly consisted of what appeared to be pre-made ingredients assembled in tortillas. To be honest, I didn't think there was much that set this restaurant's overall menu and theme from Dos Rios, which is not too far away. Except Dos Rios does it better.
(3)Marni B.
First time at Malo. Great food and margs. Atmosphere was fun and the waitress was very knowledge about the menu. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)Dawn P.
I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere! I think everyone liked the food. Did the a la carte taco to try some different ones!
(5)Sandy B.
This place was phenomenal! The service was amazing and friendly. The Vegan pastor tacos were delicious. The portions are huge and I love how everything is well seasoned. Not overly seasoned but perfect! I will definitely come here when I can! and I definitely recommend it to people!!!
(5)Jordan S.
Lobster slaw and beer battered cod taco was good. Big chunks of lobster and the Cod was perfect. The steak taco was my favorite.
(4)Dave S.
We had a great lunch dining at Malo before seeing Book of Mormon at the Civic Center. Great service & great food! My fish taco was delicious as was the corn queso!
(4)Angela C.
I wish I could say how the food was, but since I couldn't get them to take my order, I can't. We went on a Monday. I'd say a third of the inside tables were empty. They told us it was a 30 minute wait. I was there a total of 45 minutes and those same tables were empty the whole time. We took the hostesses offer to sit at the bar. It took about 20 minutes to get a beer. And no it wasn't crowded. We ordered guacamole at the same time, which was decent. But then no one ever came back... For 25 more minutes. So we just left cash for our drinks and left. Seriously? On a Monday? I guess I should have checked the other reviews first.
(1)Lisa P.
Unfortunately this is one of the worst Mexican/Latin restaurants I've eaten at so far. The decor was very nice, but the noise level is quite high. My 10 year old daughter noticed that the glasses and silverware looked dirty. I'm hoping they were just water spotted. Our server was friendly, but inattentive. We had to ask for more salsa and for drink refills. Now for the food... The chips and salsa were very good, so we thought our entrees would be too. That was not the case. My daughter ordered the Four Cheese Enchiladas and I ordered the Enchiladas Barbacoa. Neither were good at all. In fact, they were quite bad. The rice was okay at best and the beans were pretty awful. There was a spice that seemed add a strange flavor that ran through the enchiladas, rice and beans. Maybe nutmeg? Whatever it was, it was out of place and did not work in the dishes. I could only force myself to eat about half of my food and my daughter only got through about a quarter of hers before we just couldn't any more. Extremely disappointing for the price!
(1)Warren P.
Ate an early dinner during on our drive through town. Edgy vibe with great service and fantastic food. Even simple dishes prepared with panache. Plenty of healthy options.
(4)Tony P.
The wait staff was good. The decor was great. The plates LOOKED great but tasted horrible. I've been to many Latin restaurants good and not so good throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Looked for authenticity and didn't find it. The chicken enchiladas were 90% cheese, 10% chicken. The sauce had no flavor to it. Portion size was good but this was the first dish I've sent back as far as i could remember. My companion had the #17 which consisted of a "chicken" enchilada, a pork tamale and two steak tacos. The steak tacos had melted cheese inside. Why? The tamale was hard and unmemorable. Then, the enchilada was as described above. The two tacos were eaten, the rest was left. Didn't even want to take it home. Further, if you have a good tortilla recipe then make them in house. This place doesn't, but still makes them. Perhaps my Chicago taste buds were not prepared for Des Moines latin cuisine.
(1)Niki H.
We brought a big group here and loved it. It was a lot of fun, the drinks were great and my food was OUTSTANDING. I had the shrimp enchiladas, yum!!! Great atmosphere and reuse of an old building, great service, great chips and salsa (I'm very picky about chips and salsa and was impressed). Highly recommend!
(5)Elizabeth L.
Great tacos and the potato corn chowder soup was amazing! Visited for my birthday and was treated with the tres leches cheesecake- yum! Loved the pineapple mojito. Will visit again!
(4)Ricardo R.
Malo means bad in Spanish and this restaurant totally lives up to its name. First of all the restaurant calls itself Latino but all I saw on the menu was Mexican or American. It was noon on a Saturday and all they had was tacos, salads or an extremely expensive buffet. I ordered a sangria that tasted like dishwater and since I'm not a buffet fan I decided to try the tacos. Skirt steak taco was severely well done and crunchy and carnitas were dry and sandy, good thing the grease drenched tortilla was there to moisten the meat up. I really wanted to like it because DSM needs more Latino food options but apparently in DSM, Latino=Mexican. Pass!
(1)Liz H.
Ok, I love upscale latin food. This is what I found there. I got the chicken enchiladas were they tasty meh, was the presentation cool, sure. This is about food though so lets talk about my enchiladas. You get three, there wasn't a lot of flavor for a place that stated they had big flavor, they didn't. My dining partner had what she said a tasty meal that was full of flavor but for me I wasn't getting it. The casing for my enchilada was really dry, The chicken was dry, it had an overall overcooked feel. The sauce needed salt and there really wasn't much cheese. I also ordered their specialty drink and it was extremely strong. Now back in my college days I would of loved that but as a somewhat responsible adult I don't think that it is a great idea to be pumping people full of alcohol. Also, if you have a house special drink, don't use well tequila we notice. Super cool factor they text you when your table is ready so you can walk around downtown and the skywalk, I like the concept. Ambiance: 5 Stars It has a super cool atmosphere love it. It is surpassed by no one. I love the seating, I love the murals, and most of all I love the urban feel that I miss from my hometown of Chicago. I love how it is attached to the social club so you have something to do while you wait. Wait Staff 3 Stars: Here is the thing, was it good a little invasive. He was always at our table telling me probably a little to much about his life and I didn't care about it, sorry, I came to eat not to be a shrink, he was knowledgeable about the food which was surprising since When I attended it was the first week they were open. Food 1 star: For all the above reasons, will I go back probably to give another chance because I love latin food. I am confused by their menu though, mac and cheese and chicken and waffles, I thought it was a latin restaurant as the name suggests but thats besides the point. I was overall confused and not sure how to feel love the environment food was horrible. I will update this if I have a different experience.
(2)Alice Y.
Tried this for the first time a few nights ago and was SUPER surprised that we got in right away, as it was a Saturday night and it just opened a few weeks ago. The atmosphere is very cool and the staff was very friendly. My favorite part of any restaurant is the free chips and salsa... and they had fresh-baked chips, so you can't beat that! They had a very interesting menu, with lots of great vegitarian options. Food was delicious and relatively cheap for individual tacos! Definitely check out the rest of the DSM Social Club while you're there-- comic book/coffee shop and art gallery!
(5)Jim P.
Simply the best Mexican in Des Moines. This is the second time I've been here, the first with the family. No problem getting in on a Friday evening before 6:00 but the crowd starts to pick up shortly after. The flour barbacoa tacos were outstanding and the girls' enchiladas were excellent. They substituted tortilla soup for their side and it was the best we've found anywhere. My son's chicken and waffles was amazing. If I were to criticize anything the margarita my wife had was a bit weak but the food and outstanding service still carry this to five stars.
(5)Doug L.
Loved loved loved the chips and salsa. Don't know if they are homemade but they sure taste it. The atmosphere is fun and it was nice to wander around the building. The enchilada was good except they put way too much cheese on it. It's all I could taste in the dish.
(3)Sarah S.
The food was great as usual. The service was marginal at best- we saw our waiter when we ordered and when he brought our food. Never stopped by to get another round of drinks. It wasn't bad service but spotty service. Somewhat disappointed.
(3)BC B.
My new favorite! I have been here both to enjoy a drink after work, for lunch, and for dinner. I can get 2 tacos for $6-$10. I love that they have specialty drinks (like the yummy margaritas) and also that I can get a local (Confluence) beer as well. The homemade chips and salsa are amazing. Service has never been bad, the bartenders are awesome! Definitely one of my new regular spots.
(5)A S.
I've been to Malo several times since it opened and have always had a good experience. I appreciate the variety of food and prices on the menu. I've tried a variety of tacos at Malo and all have been good, though I don't care for their corn tortilla so I stick to the flour now. Chips and salsa are delicious and promptly refilled. As far as drinks go, the margaritas are good and the bartender didn't skip on the tequila. I've had both the sangrias and highly recommend the white but not the red. Service has also been great each time I have been, though it usually find myself there at slower times of the day so that's probably why the service is so attentive.
(5)Kristen F.
Homemade chips and salsa are really good. Everyone's food looked awesome - especially the tacos. I had the cheese enchilada which was great. I was disappointed in the guac and black beans though. Overall pretty decent place. Will definitely give it another try sometime.
(3)Erin M.
We were immediately seated, on the patio (our choice). A few minutes later chips and salsa arrived, and a few minutes later water with our drink order. My husband's first choice was tapped out, so he went with his second which was very good. I tried the Sangria blanca, to be honest it tasted a little watered down. I picked a different drink to order the next time around. After we both had our drinks and the tables around us had been helped, we were able to order. He took the waitresses suggestion and tried the pumpkin seed crusted chicken, all was good but he did mention the salsa was a little sweet and had nearly too much cilantro. I ordered two tacos, a tinga chicken and battered cod, with a side of the nacho daddy mac n cheese. The tinga chicken was pretty delicious, homemade tortillas even. The cod was a little greasy. The mac n cheese was huge, little did I know that she had served me with the appetizer size instead of the side dish (about $7 difference), the best part of this was actually the guacamole-- the mac n cheese was very mild and very liquidy for my taste. I never got the opportunity to order my second drink, but that's probably for the best considering we ended up paying for the appetizer size mac n cheese (we didn't complain, since we did eat it all). All in all, it was a nice place- but the food and service is still pretty young.
(3)Sarah L.
This is my first time eating here. We ate at lunch time, besides the hostess being completely rude I thought this place was great. The guac and chips are great. I had the chicken enchiladas which are also great. The decor and location are also nice. I will definitely be back!!!
(4)Melody R.
Good was really good. Service was ok, we were there for an early dinner and no one was there.
(4)Nate B.
Four stars. Food was fantastic and the environment is pleasant. Service was the downside. The restaurant was not full, but it took 10 minutes to get drinks, 15 minutes for a water refill, and over 30 minutes for tacos. I understand quality takes time, but the server disappearing for 15 minutes made it seem like maybe she was the weak link. Will be back, but not if we have plans afterward.
(4)K P.
Tried malo for the first time last night. The place itself us really spacious and cool. The menu looked great but the food fell way short. Had the fried squid that was over breaded and no tentacles although the sauces were good. Had the cod taco was greasy and the skirt steak taco that came with alot of cheese and any cheese on a steak taco is too much cheese. Flour shells were good so i gave them a star for that. Had a very big chain eatery feel. Boo
(1)D D.
First off, atmosphere. Very cool, eclectic, modern environment. Truly a 5 star atmosphere within the restaurant. The outdoor patio area is just, meh. Outdoor overlooks street and parking lot, no way to sugar coat that area. We have dined twice now at Malo. Service both times was adequate, not bad, but not great either. Both time servers were friendly and polite and helpful with questions regarding menu. Now the food. I guess, I would basically just call it expensive mexican food with twists. We all thought the food was good, certainly not bad. Its just that it is mostly standard fair mexican with high end pricing. In sum, its a pleasant place to visit. But if interested in mexican for dinner, I truly believe there are much better, much less expensive choices in the Des Moines area.
(2)Ann P.
Really really close to being great! I went for brunch. The offerings are unique but the food was cold and the buffet particularly tasted old. This could be because there weren't many people in the restaurant, so hopefully it will improve with time, but even for a buffet it just seemed unusually cool and like it had been set out hours ago. I did love the decor and our waitress was very good. Hopefully in the next few months they will figure everything out and it will improve.
(3)Marta S.
Malo is a fantastic restaurant! Trendy ambiance, friendly service and excellent food that's hard to find elsewhere in Des Moines!! We had the tots appetizer and a few of the tacos and all were very flavorful and filling!! We will definitely be back!!
(4)Detters S.
Tho the waitress was awesome I felt like I was losing weight while waiting for my food! #17 tasted like an expensive meal at an american household! Nice place to try but I wouldn't come back if I was visiting Des Moines again!
(2)Adele Z.
The restaurant has a good vibe. Really nice thin crispy chips and salsa served as an appetizer and may be one of the best things on the menu . We had the taco salad and it is very large - enough for 2 people to share. It is really fresh and has a great combo of ingredients. Would definitely order it again. The shrimp cocktail is a miss with the minced up pieces of shrimp in a overly sweet tomato sauce. The beef taco is quite good; the fish taco not so much. It tasted way too fried and really needs to have a fresher taste. All of the portions are HUGE! Be prepared to share or go home fat
(3)Ashley T.
Had a great experience at Malo with my husband, and another couple, and their 8-month old baby. Since our night out would be on a Friday, I booked a reservation 4 days in advance on OpenTable. Our reservation was for 7:45, and we arrived at 7:20. They were able to seat us right away, which we certainly did not expect, but really appreciated. I ordered the Tijuana Trainwreck, and the spice was perfect, and a large amount of food for the price. I should mention, they do have complimentary chips and salsa, and an affordable menu (with higher-priced items). The only reason I give four stars, instead of five is because of the noise level. Although our friends are not as loud-mouthed as I can be, they don't have tiny voices, and it was quite hard to hear them. Enjoying conversation is my favorite part of a meal out. Maybe the patio would be a less noisy option next time.
(4)Bill M.
I really wanted to love this place, but... I've been there 4 times - 1 late night, 2 for dinner and 1 Sunday brunch. The food has been good each time but not the 'wow' factor I hoped for. Service is good but can be slow. A little concerned that it has not been over 25% full any of the times I've visited.
(3)Bridget D.
Not so good. Watery margaritas and the salsa had no spice. The tacos were good except the corn shells were rubbery.
(2)Ivy C.
LOVE this place. It's pretty new to the downtown DSM area, but such a good addition. I haven't ventured out of the taco menu yet because they're just so good! I'm a huge fan of the shrimp tacos. For me, two tacos does the trick. I also like the fried carnitas taco. As far as restaurant chips and salsa - these are the best! Most addicting for sure. My husband loves the fish tacos, I believe the cod. Corn tortillas are outta this world. This is a must-visit place!
(5)IttyBitty M.
If a half star was available I would give it 1/2. I ate there a couple of months ago and the food was just OK ; BUT the service was TERRIBLE! The reason I'm leaving a review now is because I understand that everyone can have a bad day. However, I have talked to several people that have said the same thing. We practically had to beg them to spend money in their establishment. I will never go back.
(1)Kelly H.
Had dinner there last night on the patio - very good food .HORRIBLE service
(2)Char D.
we didn't walk in the main door and when the waitress saw us, she said do you have to use the bathroom. I said we would like to dine here. the food wasn't that good. I asked for hot sauce for the chips - she brought Sirachi and tabasco. the sauce they served tasted like a can of tomatoes. ordered 3 tacos - the fish taco was the only good one - the other 2 were carnitas which were dry and tasted as if they could be pork jerky! Formaro better stick with Italian food cuz He know nothing about Mexican preparation.
(1)Lim K.
Arrived at Malo around 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. We wanted to sit on the patio but were told it was closed for private party. Huge dining area inside. We were seated immediately and the server brought us warm chips and salsa. We liked the light, crunch chips. Salsa was good but asked for a spicier one. My husband ordered beef, pork and fried cod tacos and liked them all. I had fried cod and chipotle shrimp tacos and they were very good. Excellent service. We will definitely return to try some other dishes.
(4)Mindy S.
So excited for dsm and new growth. We went to Malo this Friday night and I was soo disappointed. The bartender was on task and acknowledged me at bar, ordered drinks for my husband and I ad we waited for table on patio. We ordered an appetizer while waiting and our table was called. We asked if it could be sent to our table and bartender and host said they would for sure make sure it got there. We sat at table on patio and our waitress said she would be back to get our drink order. About 15 to 20 minutes later she came for our drink orders. We informed her about our appetizer and she said she would check on it. Our drinks came another 15-20 minutes later and still no appetizer. We see the original bartender on the patio and she asks about our appetizer, they don't know what happened and ordered a new one, finally got it about an hour after original order. I'm a little irritated at this point, plus our server places our drinks on the table with her fingers on the rim where we put our lips. We order our food, tamales and skirt steak tacos. I loved the black beans and taco was very good. I really wish these restaurants in DSM would concentrate on customer service take more time to teach staff about their food, she had know idea about the menu. I only patronize local DSM establishments. I feel let down, great location and atmosphere. Slow Down and do it right!
(2)Aaron S.
I really dig the atmosphere. We came and ate outside, just after a rain so we had the patio to ourselves. Service was absolutely spectacular, white napkins and everything was spotless, attention to detail. We came for drunch (yes everyone should eat drunch at 3 every so often). We ordered guacamole with our chips and it was super fresh and you could tell handcrafted. Guacamole as subjective as it can be is rarely this good anywhere in Des Moines. My wife ordered the Chicken Tinga and I ordered the Chile Relleno and Grilled Skirt Steak tacos. The arrived hot, fresh and hand crafted, flavor was perfectly spot on. I would recommend the corn tortilla's over the flour. We both had a couple drinks and walked out with a bill less than 30$, This is a really great place and you should definitely check it out if you haven't.
(4)Darcy B.
I don't really like to give a bad review, but any place I have decided that I won't come back to probably doesn't deserve more than two stars. We've been here several times for lunch and dinner. It is good food and no one is going to disagree with that, however.... 1. It is pretty darn expensive. For what it is, it does feel like quite a bit. Yes, it is trying to be upscale and trendy, but it still seems like quite a bit to pay $15 for a burrito that is $8 at any other Mexican place and tastes just the same. 2. The service has been slow, bordering on absolutely terrible. The night we went for dinner wasn't too busy. The patio was about one-fourth full and the inside was about the same. I ordered a drink when we sat down, then we ordered dinner, then we got chips. Then I still was waiting for my drink, which I thought would be great to enjoy before dinner. Then I waited some more. After 20+ minutes with no sangria the waitress came and said our food would be out soon. At that point, I said please cancel the drink order. She said it was "coming soon." The table of six (we were two) who arrived 10 minutes after us then got their dinner, while we waited some more......long story short - a burrito and taco plate took over 90-minutes for us to eat and we had somewhere to be. We ended up rushed and irritated with the whole thing. 3. Lunch was decent, but again it's a $15 lunch plus tip for two tacos, salad and a drink. I've been there twice for lunch and again the wait staff doesn't refill drinks, doesn't come back and check on you when needed, etc., etc. There are many other places to enjoy just as much for mediocre to poor service. If they would like to charge that much they need to be outstanding. They are not.
(2)Hil H.
The atmosphere at Malo is so cute. I went with my family and the first impression was great. The server was quick with our drinks and very friendly. The food was okay, but mine was very salty. I laughed when they brought out my husband's three various tacos, already cooled and open on his plate. Their salsa tastes like marinara. Really odd! My Pineapple mojito was full of tiny chopped mint which made it difficult to drink. I give this place a meh.
(3)Elliot I.
I've been here twice now, and both times I was pleasantly surprised. Their chips and salsa are excellent. Being the type of guy who's always going to eat way too much of the chips and salsa, it's very important that I have a good experience doing that, and Malo is spot-on. The main dishes I've had were not top-notch, but still really good. Price could maybe be a bit lower, but they're new and hip so I guess they have to charge a bit much to project a certain image. I can't get too mad at that.
(4)Ivonne N.
It is a good idea to make a reservation. We ended up seating at the bar, the bartender is fantastic very attentive. He recommended a Spanish wine that was excellent! The food- we order calamari, unfortunately it was under season, but very well cooked the dipping sauces very tasty. The staff appreciated the feedback on the food. Hen we ordered tacos- the chipotle shrimp tacos are absolutely amazing! The chile relleno was good. Good place for cocktails with friends.
(4)John V.
I've eaten and drank here more times than I can count. I live a couple blocks away, and I usually wind up here with friends from out of town who have heard about it. Like many Americans, my first impression of a Mexican/Latino style restaurant is based off of their chips and salsa. Salsa is consistently below average and the chip baskets are usually crumpled to the point where they aren't usable for dipping. There are many options as far as the menu goes. My opinion is that the entrees are overpriced for what you get. For most items, I feel as though I can go to Abelardo's or (insert favorite less-spendy Mexican restaurant) and essentially have the same meal for a fraction of the price. The service. Oh the service. Consistently inconsistent. That being said, I can think of one time where I received good (not great) service here. Not sure if some of the servers are stoned or just apathetic about their jobs. This is especially true when I've been here with groups of people. I recall a time when I was with a group of 6, waited 10+ minutes for the server to show up, he only took drink orders because he didn't have enough paper to write on (his words, not mine). He dropped off the drinks 10 minutes later, disappeared for another 10, came back asking if anyone else wanted a drink, still didn't have any paper to write on for our entrees, well...you get the picture. I feel frustrated for the people who own this place. They could make a lot more money and have a lot more fans if they trained their wait staff properly and started turning tables. I've been here on busy nights and watched tables sit dirty for 15+ minutes while the bus boys/support staff talk and play grab-ass by the expo station. I recommend sitting at the bar. Drink beer, because they have a great selection. Cocktails are inconsistent. Don't bring your friends here if they are self-proclaimed restauranteurs. They also charge gratuity for larger groups, even though it's not stated on their menu. I still continue to come here for the tacos.
(3)Casey G.
Mali is new so I'll cut them some slack particularly when it comes to service - which is usually friendly but not as professional and fine tuned as I prefer. Food is good while a little inconsistent at times and the ambience is nice. They offer a wide variety of house margaritas that are very popular- but I find the to be inconsistent and weak. Good patio.
(3)Ashley B.
Love, love, love! Came through for a friend's birthday and no one left disappointed! We tried so many things, all of which were fantastic. Seth was great and even got the birthday guest a churro dessert with enough to share. Not pictured: fried brussel sprouts (I will absolutely get that again), nachos, and quac. The El Jefe margarita is only $5 and you get the shaker with it (got that thanks to a previous tip- thanks, Yelp!). See pictures for more details. After this night we'll have to come back and try the Sunday brunch!
(5)Seth S.
I've been to malo half a dozen times since it opened. I love the tacos, guac, tater tot nachos, and salsa trio options. So for a quick lunch, it will suffice, but is pricey compared to other options. Unfortunately, everything I've had for dinners has continued to be a let down. The burritos and enchiladas I've had on different occasions have all been too dry. I even tried a burger on one trip, and it too was overcooked. If the pricing were more accessible, I could go three stars, but sticking with two on this one.
(2)Henry R.
Saturday night my wife and I had dinner at Malo with another couple. I did not have any expectations going into the dinner, but my wife had eaten there on an earlier occasion. This review is only based on my experience, not on any previous experiences at the restaurant. The restaurant was clean and neat. Great ambiance. We ate in the main dining room. Seating was comfortable. After we sat down I immediately wished we had sat outside on the awesome sidewalk patio. The noise inside was deafening inside. At times, we had to shout to hear each other across the table. Wait staff was awesome. Our waiter was fast, efficient, and extremely helpful. Available, but not obnoxious. Polite and professional. I had one El Padre margarita to start and I thought it was marginal. Not a lot of tequila - I thought it tasted more like sprite. Dinner was pretty good - I had a chile relleno taco (very tasty) and I also cajoled the kitchen to make me a couple of beef tongue tacos, which I appreciated. Overall, I would happily give Malo 4 or 5 stars if they could do something to improve the acoustics in their dining room and use a heavier hand when pouring the tequila.
(3)Christine L.
We've dined inside and outside, with guests and just two of us. Each of the three times we've visited, I've had high-hopes for my meal and for my guests' experiences. Each time, we've left feeling the food was not quite up to expectation. Malo is a gorgeous place with a nice patio and they do a lot to support events and activities at the Social Club. The staff is genuine and helpful, for the most part, unless the dining areas are crazy and they just can't quickly respond to table needs. We waited a LONG time on our third visit to get our check, but to be fair, it was crowded. That said, if you have that number of tables, you should be able to efficiently serve the crowd. I've tried the guacamole (great but not as good as an alternative on Court), enchiladas, a chowder on special, a Carnitas dinner, a combo dinner, and tastes of a few other items. Many just fell a little short, either in seasoning or in overall presentation. By far, my favorite was the Carnitas dinner, but I found the serving size a bit small relative to the price. The flavors were delicious once I added an extra pinch of salt. I think Malo is a solid option but not a "wow." The sangria is good and worth the trip just for that. Otherwise, I'd recommend a sampling of several items such as a combo to really get a feel for the options.
(3)Kelsey K.
I really enjoy Malo and checking out the social club while I'm there. It has a great patio if weather permits. The food and drinks are great-I've never been disappointed. The ambiance is nice, but it can get terribly noisy inside, so don't go with the idea you're going to have good conversation.
(4)Cindy L.
Came here for happy hour and actually got really great service (seated quickly, water was filled, food came very quickly). A great deal for 1 tacos and half price apps. Chicken tinga was great today as was the portabello mushroom one. The carnitas were made well, but there was barely any salsa on that taco. Pupusas were good, not the best I've had, but very solid when you added the cabbage slaw and salsa. I do enjoy their complimentary chips, but the free salsa they give has the texture and flavor of marinara sauce minus the robust flavor.
(4)Veronica K.
I went here for the first time with my husband after reading the good and bad reviews, not knowing what to expect. It seems like most people either really like this place or hate it. We had a really great experience and we'll definitely be going back again. Both the food and the service were great. We went on Saturday without a reservation and all the tables were filled. We were told there would be an hour wait but we got a seat right away at the bar, so we were happy about that. Our bartender was very friendly and attentive. We thought the drinks and food were priced kind of high, so we hoped we weren't going to be let down. A lot of the beers were priced just as high as the mixed drinks, so my husband decided to just order a Templeton Mule (good stuff!) which he absolutely loved. I ordered the chicken enchiladas (based on another reviewer's high praise) and my hubby got the beef barbacoa enchiladas. The enchiladas were huge! So huge we each had to take one of them home. The food was delicious, too. The rice had some hard pieces in it, though. At first we weren't sure if the rice had been cooked completely, but I think that's just the way they make it. The chips and salsa were also very good. The salsa was different than most restaurants' style. Some have compared the texture to marinara sauce. I'd say that's true, but I still like it. It has a slightly spicy and smoky flavor. We thought it was kind of weird that they don't have restrooms in the restaurant. You have to use the restrooms in the Des Moines Social club. That's a minor thing. I'm just being nitpicky. Overall, I really like this place and I'm definitely coming back. I want to try some other things on their menu. It's a little on the pricey side, so I wouldn't come here often, but the atmosphere is hip and lively. I would definitely get a reservation next time so I could sit at a table, but having to sit at the bar isn't bad if you can't get a table and it's just you and another person.
(4)Emilie B.
Got a giftcard to Malo from a friend, so my husband and I popped in for dinner on a weeknight while we were in the area (we rarely venture out of West Des Moines, which is unfortunate because downtown Des Moines is pretty cool!) My first impression when walking into Malo: this place is a total yuppie paradise. Every person in the restaurant except for a few employees was white, mid 20's to mid 40's, dressed like they just walked out of a J Crew or Banana Republic store. I fit into that demographic as well, but as someone that loves ethnic food, especially Mexican, it was disappointing seeing how non-ethnic this place was. The salsa literally tasted like marinara sauce. It was pretty much just a cup of puréed tomatoes, no spice to it whatsoever. Not sure if we just got a bad batch of it that night, but it really seemed like this restaurant is catered towards people with bland taste buds that have never experienced actual authentic Latin American/Mexican cuisine. I mean c'mon... Mac and cheese and ravioli on the menu? What the heck? I ordered the tortilla soup and a chipotle shrimp taco & a portobello mushroom taco for my meal. The soup was great, no complaints at all. I was a bit concerned about the price of the tacos, but the portions are large, so the price is somewhat worthwhile. I enjoyed the chipotle shrimp taco, but the portobello taco was awful. The mushrooms were slimy and salty and creeped me out. Not at all what I expected. My husband and I shared the churros for dessert - yum. Pretty much the only reason I am giving this place 3 stars and not 2 stars. Everything on their dessert menu looked pretty tasty, it was hard to pick just one! Another thing to note- the service here is pretty awful. I thought it was just my server and wasn't going to even include it in my review because one server being slow shouldn't necessarily reflect poorly on the restaurant as a whole, but after reading several other yelper's reviews, it looks like slow service may be the norm here. My server kept disappearing for long periods of time, and meal that should have taken 45 mins max ended up being over an hour and a half because we had to wait around for our waiter to finally give us our check after we ate, and then wait again even longer while they swiped the gift card payment (and probably had a smoke break or something, yeesh it should not take 15 mins to swipe a dang gift card and give us the remaining balance receipt). If I ever came back here, I'd probably just get a big bowl of soup and 2 desserts. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to go eat at Malo again, but if I was with a group that wanted to eat there, I definitely wouldn't protest.
(3)B K.
Yummy food, cool atmosphere, good prices.
(5)kelly p.
Really don't know if this place even deserves the one star because we actually never ate. We went to Malo at about 630pm on Saturday night. We were told it would be about 1hr 15 minute wait which is totally understandable on a Saturday night. However, what we didn't understand was why there was a wait for tables at all when at least 1/3 of the tables inside were empty and probably 3/4 of the tables outside were empty.
(1)Chris B.
I want to love this place. I really do. But right now, I can't. All of the food that I have gotten thus far has been really good (various sandwiches, tacos, and soups). The wide price range for their menu items allows for a lot of different experiences and a lot of different customers. If you stick to water, then you could eat for $10 or less. If you don't or simple want to enjoy yourself a bit more, then you could spend $30+ just on yourself. The patio is pretty sweet and the decor is kind of cool. Everything simply looks nice. So, what are they problems? Well, there are a few. While I appreciate how open the inside is setup, it is also extremely conducive to being loud. The place doesn't even have to quite be packed before you find yourself having to lean over the unnecessarily long tables and jam your ear directly into whoever your with's mouth just so you can hear them. It is a little thing (pun . . . you'll see) but the silverware is huge. The fork is like a pitchfork and everything is very heavy. It sounds dumb but it can actually make eating a bit awkward. Should you find yourself with a soup spoon, it would be understandable to mistake it for a shovel. But the biggest problem is the service. Everyone there has been really nice to me and my company but two out of the three times that I have been there, it has been slow - really slow. After having finished the free chips and salsa (which I think are really good. Chips are light but still have some crunch to them and the salsa has a little kick) we were asked if we wanted more - we said yes. Forty minutes and two other servers later and they never arrived (although they did give us a free dessert instead). The next time I was there it was completely dead. That, however, didn't speed things up at all. We went about 20 minutes without seeing our waitress and then she simply walked right on by. We spent more time waiting to order than we did eating. We also spent more time waiting for the check then we did eating. I think you get it. So why three stars? One: I'm nice. Two: The food is genuinely good - isn't that the point of a restaurant. Three: The place is still very young and has a lot of potential. I'd like to see what it's like in six months. Here's a bad, unoriginal joke for your troubles. What do you call a cow on its side? ... Ground beef.
(3)Rick H.
Good vibe gone bad. We were looking forward to an anniversary dinner at a fresh new restaurant, but didn't get past the hostess. We received no greeting or smile, were told in an exclusive and aloof tone that we had an hour wait ahead of us, and then were left hanging. We looked at each and walked. I hope that this was a unique situation, hiring issue, or training shortcoming. As it is, we were put off enough to make a second visit unlikely.
(1)Ch H.
Tried this place 4 times. Only thing good was the pork chop dish. Tacos are just ok. Brunch buffet is overpriced and lackluster. Any place that's known mainly for their drinks should consider stepping up their food game. To be fair here, I enjoy their other restaurants Django and Centro. I was expecting more. Not just paying more.
(2)Aeon G.
It is rare anymore that my wife and I are able to get out of the house and try new restaurants, we have a new born baby. But grandma tok the kid and we decided to take a couple of hours to grab some dinner and celebrate our anniversary. We decided on Malo as we've heard a lot of good things. Typically, we should know better. But I don't think this is a situation of us having too high of expectations and really is just poor delivery. We sat outside on the patio as it was great night. The menu seemed typical of new Des Moines food. Over complicated items of an ethnic variety with some sort of twist and pun as a name. There are only a few places I've been to that can pull this off and on this night that list didn't get longer. We started with a trio salsa after discovering the bland complimentary salsa that came with our chips. It was probably suited more for pasta as a marinara than it was for chip dipping. The trio was slightly better, but we could of just done with two of the three. I'd much rather be able to select my complimentary salsa than to be force into buying three salsas. On to other things. The wife ordered a simple chicken quesadilla. On the menu it seemed like the safe choice for her non adventurous tastes. The quesadilla was nothing more than a pound of melted cheese soaking in its own grease and wrapped in a saturated bizarre tortilla. She took two bites and put it aside. My order was not as disastrous, but I take some responsibility for making a dangerous decision. I should have avoided chicken and waffles from a Mexican based restaurant but I have fond memories of this combination and it's hard for me to turn down. I should have heeded my apprehension and immediately recognized that when the food arrived. The waffle was scorched, ironed to a point which it crumbled on my plate. I pointed this out to my server and she said "I'll take care of it and let the kitchen know". Post which she did not take my plate, never brought a new waffle, and did not even appear to address to management my dissatisfaction. I turned the waffle to dust with my fork as the aunt jemima syrup was also not enough to resurrect it's tenderness. I then turned my attention to the chicken, a large portion which was thankfully more than enough to share, and surprisingly really well done. The breading of the chicken was perfect and cooked to a nice crisp layer maintaining the tender juiciness of the chicken. The chicken was truly the highlight of our meal and amazingly enough generated enough worth in us to return a second time just for the chicken. Upon return however, the waffle maintained is disappointment, but fried chicken was enough. I don't write Malo off despite these poor experiences. A new place deserves some time to refine their process, hone their menu and focus on what they do well. In the future I hope for better experiences and an opportunity to update this review.
(2)Patrick T.
We made a reservation for the opening weekend at Malo, which is part of the Firehouse at the Des Moines Social Club, boy was I impressed. The layout of the place is really cool! Very open, with a nice flow to it! I was stoked that they have free Chips and Salsa, and was quite surprised by how spicy and delicious the salsa was! Major points for that! We also ordered some Guac to go with the chips, it was great, But if your vegan make sure you get it without cheese! We did! We ordered some drinks, and I was happy to see the menu had some beers I have never tried, (always a good sign) I asked the waitress what she thought the best thing for a Vegan was, for a moment she looked confused and then said, let me go talk to our head cook George and see what might be best! George hit the nail on the head by my standards because he decided to make something special for me! Which I always appreciate. He made me a vegan version of the Traditional Stacked Queso fresco, corn salsa, black beans, corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, sour cream and sunnyside egg 12.99 But mine came without the sour cream, and egg and he added some veggie stuff. It ruled and I finished it but boy I was full! A few things to think about.. 1. get a reservation 2. It can be kinda noisy in here, we went at 7:30 on a Friday night of opening week, so it was kinda slammed but i was also kinda noisy. 3. bathrooms are outside the restaurant, so on this night were kinda messy because there was an art opening at the Social Club, but I bet on a normal night will be cleaner. 4. menu has a good variety of things and prices to choose from, so you can make a fancy date of it, or get a quick late night snack! 5. They serve food late! BOOOOOM Major bonus points!
(5)Paul S.
I had concerns about the relatively high entree prices as well as previous reviews saying Malo's salsa tasted like marinara sauce, but one member of our party had very much enjoyed a prior dinner visit so we gave it a go. Chips and salsa arrived shortly after we were seated. The chips were warm from the fryer and quite good by themselves. A good thing because the salsa did remind us of marinara sauce. We had el Jefe margaritas and found them quite nice and reasonably priced. For dinner we each had two tacos which was plenty. I would recommend the Chicken Tinga tacos, but even more so the Carnitas tacos. The Carnitas pork shoulder was crispy, moist and delicious. I would definitely order Carnitas tacos on a future visit. My Jalapeño Creamed Corn side was phenomenal. Just enough heat and the flavors of bacon and BBQ sauce made this truly special. It was a generous serving too. Mexican Chocolate Cake was just right to finish our meal. Three of us shared one dessert. The chocolate cake was a bit dry but that is not unusual for flourless cakes we've had. The strawberries added just the right amount of sweetness to complement the chocolate, and a large dollop of whipped cream completed a very tasty dessert. Service was prompt and attentive. Overall we had a better meal than I expected at a price that was not out of line for the quality and portion sizes we had. I'd say 3-1/2 stars. With a better salsa, Malo would earn a solid 4 stars.
(4)Jennie B.
Had a great experience with 10 friends here during lunch this week. Great service! Love the seafood enchilada. And the chips are thin, non greasy, and very lightly salted.
(4)Jewel P.
Tonight was their second night open, so I made reservations, in case, it was super busy. They have had a couple sample nights, before they opened and I have only heard rave reviews so I was pretty pumped and had high expectations....which were met! I ordered the Sea Scallops which were pan-seared scallops with potato, bacon, jalapeño and salsa blanca. The scallops were perfect! I never thought cheese sauce and scallops would be good but the dish exceeded my exceptions. The place can get pricy but I think the menu is diverse enough you can decide if you want a simple dinner of $3 tacos or spend $30 on pork chops? For only their second night open, I think the service and the food was excellent, only expecting everything to get better from there.
(5)Dave M.
Housed in the Des Moines Social Club, Malo is Mexican/Latin American on a higher scale. We came to the restaurant with a group of people from work (about 15 - 20). From drinks at the bar to dinner at the table, the staff of Malo did an admirable job keeping up with the requests and delivering the food promptly. I had two pork tacos (soft, flour) -- simply put, they were excellent! Very tasty and plenty of meat. When you think of all the appetizers we had, I could barely finish the main meal - but I did, and I enjoyed every bite. I'm a fan of the #DesMoinesSocialClub to start with, and this restaurant gives me another reason to be. I would highly recommend checking it out.
(4)Maddie C.
Great cocktails, well prepared meats, and awesome ambiance. Just a little pricey but a fun night out!
(4)Andrea B.
I'm hooked! I highly recommend their seafood nachos. They can easily feed 4 people for an appetizer or 2-3 as more of a main course. A half order is available, too. Red Sangria for $5 is hard to beat! I've also tried their shrimp and cod tacos -- both delicious! The only thing I've had here that I felt I've had better elsewhere is the queso cheese dip. It tastes very Americanized and was kind of stringy and gloppy. Love the location and their HUGE patio with comfy furniture. It's a modernized Mexican restaurant as far as decor and general ambiance goes. I love it! I will forever be a repeat customer and I'm excited to try other things on the menu! Edit 2/23/15: Since my initial review I have had their grilled corn queso. MUCH better than the one I first reviewed, and much better than any in general. Give it a try!
(5)Gerald Z.
Ate here last weekend. Was pleasantly surprised that they serve brunch on Saturday. Let me say that the chocolate fountain and churros are worth the price of the buffet alone! They had a great fresh ceviche and their chicken and waffles were top notch (though the chicken could have been more crisp). Another hit was the breakfast burrito bar. We will be back over and over...I hope they don't stop serving brunch!
(4)David V.
Menu looked good when searching the inter web. Food turned out to be pretty good. Beware the starter was a large portion. Also my main course arrived about a minute after my starter. No big deal but a bit odd having a mass of food in front of me. Not a 5 star because they could do better on delivery management
(4)Timothy S.
The reasons one should dine at Malo: 1. The food always has something unexpected. I had the cuban sandwich that had an amazing lime aioli that knocked this sandwich out of the ballpark and redefined my definition of a good cuban sandwich. It came with a side option of fries, soup, or salad. I chose the Malo salad as my side and was very happy I did. The toasted almonds with orange and agave-white balsamic vinaigrette took this side salad to a whole new level. 2. Drinks are delicious and original - highly recommend the Raspberry Margarita Tourista. They make their own lime agua fresca 3. Chips are hot from the kitchen with a unique salsa that has a taste unlike any other salsa I have ever had elsewhere. 4. The staff is very friendly and know the menu well. Our server had tried everything on the menu and extremely knowledgeable about the tacos and which shell (flour, corn, or lettuce) each once should be ordered on for maximum enjoyment. 5. BRUNCH, BRUNCH, BRUNCH! We have been to Malo on several occasions for lunch, dinner, and their weekend brunch. The highlights are their chicken and waffles with a great Malo flair, not sure what they put in the batter but paired with their syrup and waffles - it's a must try for anyone who enjoys food. All in all, if you are looking for a fun atmosphere with servers who enjoy their job and people with great Latin food with all the stops pulled out then Malo is where your next reservation should be.
(4)John S.
Where to start..... Great atmosphere, great location, wonderfully designed. Had a reservation at 1pm for two...I asked if we could be seated by the windows and was graciously accommodated....although it didn't look too rough the place was maybe 25% full. Our waitress was awesome! I was meeting with a close friend and we hadn't seen one another in quite awhile so we were spending alot of time talking not really eating. The waitress obviously picked up that vibe and wasn't pushy at all...She just refilled our drinks and told us to notify her when we were ready. We both had the tacos the shrimp one on her suggestion.... All three were wonderful! The chips and salsa are good munchies but I must agree the house salsa is basically a marinara sauce, but the 3 sauce sampler is definitely the way to go. It looks like it would be an fun place later in the evening with a little more of a crowd but it was perfect for talking and catching up. We will most definitely be going back. Thanks for the outstanding service! I still don't get the name....Malo is Spanish for bad. Not too many restaurant's out there with names like crappy, gross, or sucky... Just makes me laugh....
(4)Donnie F.
We were at this restaurant last week for happy hour. Tacos were half price and my wife and I loved them!!!My wife is a chef so she knows food. I know good service and our server Courtney was great!!! The owner does it right and he has for a long time. Thanks
(5)Shelana L.
Friday night of Art Fest, used open table but they had plenty of seating. Chips and Salsa - great! Chips where warm. Beverages: Malo Mule, delish! Sangria ..we tried also the Red & White, lacked flavor, dry Pineapple Mojito, was excited for this however big chunks of pineapple and a spoon was required to finish. Pineapple puree with pineapple wedge to garnish would have been better. Dinner YUMMY! Pork chops and Tamales. Mexican Sunday... could be personal preference.. roasted marshmallow on top and side of glass YUMMY however the popcorn in side added weird texture. Large menu, good eats, definitely would try again.
(3)Jessica L.
I have been back several times but this visit really deserves a review. Took my mom for her birthday lunch and it was her first visit. I hoped she liked it as much as I do and she did! The hamburger was one of the best ever - the quality of the beef was amazing. The fries were not good at all - soggy, flavorless. I had the jalapeno chicken sandwich and I substituted the plantain bun - I noticed it on a different menu item and it sounded interesting. The sandwich was AMAZING - messy but WOW - full of flavor. I chose the Alamo salad with the lime vinaigrette dressing and it was delicious. We started the meal with the guacamole and it is always full of flavor but this batch seemed to have a lot of garlic. Despite the great food, the highlight was the waiter - Jacob. I like to eat at the bar because I always seems to get someone funny and he was very witty and friendly.
(4)James J.
I like malo, I like their food. There are some problems though. First off, to the waitress that was serving us, it is clear that you had a problem with something when waiting on us. Either you hate your job, husband or girlfriend, upset at a friend or co worker, hate the sun that was out that day, or even us. Don't show it, that's part of your job, to smile and be nice even when you don't want to, we were nice to you the whole time, and we definitely didn't want to. You were a bitch 60% of the time. Sorry but you were. Even when you comped my meal you were nasty about it, I didn't even ask you to do that , you were simply told you brought the wrong drink. To sum it up, you sucked, we never received our order of tacos, the Bloody Mary bar was kinda crappy. I wanted to face punch you and throw a chair at patrons nearby, this is not like me.
(1)Jennifer W.
The ladies and I hit up Malo for some FAW cocktails. The tacos are part of the happy hour. Do yourself a favor and try the chipotle shrimp. You may want to order two because those babies are gooood. I had previously tried the portaebella taco also. Not my favorite but if you typically like mushroomy foods, this may be right up your ally. I ordered my usual- Sangria. I love their Sangria. I started with the red, moved to white and then alternated. Our waiter was on to my scheme and kept the drinks coming. I wish I remembered his name because he was great. My girlfriends ordered the shrimp nachos, another stellar choice that I would recommend. They all started with Margaritas and continued with those. There was one defector who jumped on the Sangria train with me. She was equally as pleased. This is a great place to catch a happy hour because the service is fast and there are plenty of places to sit. By the time I left, around 8 pm, the place was packed. Parking seems to be a little tricky for those who can't just walk over. Overall, another great experience and I will continue to come back.
(5)Lisa H.
We went to Malo for the brunch on a Sunday morning. I'd say that the atmosphere and the service surpassed the food. I loved that you can brunch out on the patio, and for a decent price of $16.99 for the buffet. The food left me a little disappointed. Granted, this was a buffet and not made to order. I went through the first round and tried a bite of everything. The 2 items I really enjoyed were the barbacoa enchiladas and the chicken and waffles. The mac-and-cheese, biscuits and gravy, and ceviche were bland. They also have a chocolate fountain which seemed a little out of place. Overall, the food was average. Like I said, though, it was a buffet not made to order. Our waiter was wonderful! Very attentive and personable. I would definitely go back for a happy hour, but wouldn't do the brunch again. Good selection of original cocktails and beer - several nice local brews on draft. Overall, nice experience on the porch.
(4)Jesse M.
I've eaten here 3 times and 2 of those times it was fantastic. The other was on me; I ordered the wrong item (Chilaquiles casserole). The chicken enchiladas here, I know I know - how pedestrian, are out of this world. My buddy ordered the pork chops which were very tasty. We had our Christmas party here and the accommodated 14 of us easily and service was great. Mr. Formaro has another success!
(4)Deb P.
Wow! So much food. Everything was great from the tochos and calamari appetizers to mahi mahi. Margaritas were light and very large. I thought the prices were appropriate. We were seated on the patio per our request and loved it. We will be back.
(5)Leslea P.
Second time I've been here. First time was very shortly after they had opened. Service was awful, food was cold and for the price, was mediocre. Gave it another chance again tonight. No hostess to seat us. We had to wait awhile till she showed up. It was not busy at all but yet the atmosphere was so loud that you would think it was a packed room. Way to loud for my taste. I tried something different tonight. Everyone at the table ordered two different kinds of tacos. None of us were impressed. The one thing that they have going for them is the seafood nachos. They were on the cold side but still not bad.
(3)Michael G.
We arrived early and had drinks. They have a variety of drinks that are all very good and reasonably priced. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend the Malo Mule. We were seated outdoors and the wait staff there was also very good and knowledgeable about the menu. There were 4 of us with very different tastes and all of us were able to find something to order. The food was delicious and arrived quickly, correctly and warm. I would highly recommend you try Malo if you're in the mood to try something a little different.
(4)Emily T.
I have visited this place probably 4 or 5 times since it has opened. A few lunch and dinner dates and it seems that the service during lunch is better than dinner, at least from my experience and why the 3 star review. The majority of the time, the food has been delicious and like typical Mexican style restaurants, in abundance. The free chips and salsa are the best in the area that I have had and I have splurged on their guacamole, which is just addicting, but can be heavy on the onion. Unfortunately, my recent dining experience was less than steller. We had a larger party (probably 10-12) and had reservations in advance, but our group arrived at different times. So maybe that was part of the deal, but our server was not to be found most of the time and when he was around, he was not good. Having a few years of food service under my belt, it bothers me when people do not multi task. He would come out, go to one table, and that's it (make use of your time dude). In our group, he would only check with a couple people on food quality/refills/removing plates, the majority of the time, we had to ask him to do it. It wasn't a busy night at all and it was early evening. He probably had 2 or 3 other small tables besides ours. Then he asked me how I wanted my fish cooked? I have never been asked that before, it's a white fish, so unless it's a steakier fish, ummm, it just sounded like general inexperience. The fish came out dry and I did not send it back. I am not sure if it was the cook or the server as I am guessing he told them to cook it "well done'. I am still in disbelief and I have eaten fish and some high profile restaurants before. Anyway, I digress, not great service for dinner. My other dinner dining experience was a smaller group of 4 of us and that waiter (different one, but also male) was insanely slow. We had to wait forever for check, getting attention to have drinks refilled, etc.. So, overall, food is tasty (with the exception of the dry mahi mahi and uncertain about the potatoes that accompany it as well. Spinach was good), but service is iffy. From my experience, dine during the lunch hour and ask for a female server.
(3)Katie B.
We visited Malo this evening for dinner and had an AMAZING experience. We had a large party, with families and friends visiting from Kansas City, Lincoln, Chicago, and Des Moines. The restaurant was lively, and we had a lot of fun. My finance's mom said, "the drinken nachos were the best nachos I've ever had in my life." Our appetizers were out immediately, drinks were interesting and well-crafted, and the shrimp tacos are to DIE for. The menu is really innovative. Thanks to the incredible staff for a very memorable experience. We will most definitely be back the next time we are in Des Moines!
(5)Danny J.
Actually very disappointing. I thought "hey it's a George Formaro spot, it's gotta be good". Went for dinner and the staff was slow and seemed extremely disinterested. Let it go because I assumed the food would be great. It wasn't. It wasn't even good. Gave them the benefit of the doubt and went back a second time for brunch. Even worse. The food from the buffet was all cold. Not even a hint of warmth. And tasted like rubber on top of that. All around bad.
(1)Bower D.
We made a reservation for 8:15 on Saturday night, and we were seated immediately. 3 of the 4 of us are interior designers and we really liked and appreciated the ambiance, however, we all noticed how loud it was. The major design flaw is too few soft surfaces to absorb the sound. We could barely hear our waitress, and vice versa. That would be my only complaint. It was a lovely place otherwise. We shared the Tot-chos, 2 carafes of red wine sangria, and each had an assortment of tacos. They were all very, very good. I had the shrimp and skirt steak tacos, and I tried my friends barbacoa taco, which was also very tasty. It was a bit pricey for the amount of food you get, but worth it for the quality. I would come back again.
(4)Melissa M.
What a fun new place! Went here for brunch a few Saturdays ago with some friends. We had a great time sitting on the patio and enjoying some tacos. Although I wish the brunch menu was a liiiiittle more developed, it was a fun meal. Between all four of us, we had the Al Pastor (great), Carnitas (great), Chipotle Shrimp (awesome), Skirt Steak (also awesome), and the veggie (meh.) I love that you can even get lettuce wraps. The service was also pretty great. Mimosas, tequila bloodies, and some really excellent beer were also had. Would gladly go back for dinner and try some other stuff. Glad to have another patio bar in town!
(4)Ben G.
I got a combo of the tacos and they were some of the best I ever had. The food was all around great and it had a great environment.
(5)Megan H.
I've been to Malo several times since it opened, and it's quickly become one of my new favorites. Like any restaurant, of course, it has its positives and negatives: THE GOOD: 1. Service. There are some fantastic servers here who are truly wonderful. There is a server here who remembers my name when I come in!! OK, that actually means I go here too much, but she is so fabulous. 2. Late night food!!! Late night food!!! You can get their fantastic tacos late at night!!! I love places where I can find good food after 10pm and this is my new go-to spot! I've even brought large groups here after a performance and there is always seating available and food we can order. I LOVE THAT. 3 Quick to adapt. Their menu has changed several times (for the better) since opening, and the surly girl who used to be the grouchiest hostess in the world is not there anymore. I like that they get rid of what isn't working and retool until they get it right! 4. The tacos are all available on corn, flour, or lettuce wraps... which means I can go to Malo and eat healthy late night food. That is fantastic. 5. AMAZING chips and salsa. You know, for when I'm feeling all virtuous after ordering my lettuce wrap tacos. These chips are light, crisp, just the right amount of grease, and salted properly. The salsa isn't quite as fantastic (it's not the least bit spicy and I do like some heat), but the chips more than make up for it. 6. The other food is terrific too, though to be honest I usually order tacos since my trips to Malo tend to be late at night. There's a Cuban dish - ropa vieja?? Pardon any misspelling - which you should definitely try. It is the best thing on the menu. 7. Malo is an OpenTable restaurant! Whooo!!! There's nothing I love better than booking a reservation on my phone to ensure there's a table ready when I arrive. Seriously. More restaurants in Des Moines need to be on OpenTable. 8. Absolutely gorgeous restaurant space. Really, it's stunning. It's just fun to eat somewhere so pretty. 9. Patio with pretty lights and umbrellas (see #8). THE BAD: 1. Service. Yes, I know I already listed service under "the good," but that's the problem - there are some servers here who are off-the-charts fantastic, and some that are flat-out terrible - inattentive, never stop by, unhelpful, etc. The kind of server where you see you are seated in their section and you groan inwardly. I have never been somewhere with such a wide range of server capabilities. 2. Cocktail menu. I have tried lots of their specialty drinks and lots of them are overly sweet. However, they've got some great components that just need a little tweaking. For example, I love the raspberry gastrique they use in the "My Mexico" drink; lately, I've taken to ordering it in a glass of prosecco which is a fantastic menu hack which you should definitely try. 3. The late night atmosphere can get a little weird if you're the only table seated in a big empty room. Lately they've been seating guests in the bar area after regular hours, which definitely seems to help. THE UGLY: 1. Malo doesn't have its own restrooms - a back door leads to the Social Club restrooms, which are used by patrons of the venue, the coffee shop, etc. Late at night when I'm eating at Malo, these bathrooms tend to be dirty, lacking paper towels, littered with toilet paper, etc. They need to be cleaned more often during restaurant hours so that the bathroom space lives up to the high expectations set by this stunning space and fantastic food. So, that's WAY more good than bad. I really love Malo and think it brings a lot to downtown and to the Social Club. It's my new go-to restaurant for late night food, and honestly it's pretty great during regular hours too. I know I'll be back... often! (Can you believe I haven't tried their famous brunch yet? I'm going to have to make a return visit very soon.)
(4)