Tacos Mariana’s
1305 University Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50311
Tacos Mariana’s Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Diabetics at Taco Bell
The biggest concern for diabetics is to find healthy food with less sugar at restaurants. The hunt for the right food becomes even more challenging for diabetics when dining at a fast food restaurant. Well, Taco Bell changes that with Fresco style. Simply ask or order an item from the Taco Bell menu in Fresco Style.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Taco Bell:
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Fresco Steak Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 4g Fat (1.5g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 17g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 10g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco – Shredded Chicken
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco Beef
Nutrition Fact: 160 calories, 6g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 480mg sodium, 18g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Bean Burrito
Nutrition Fact: 380 calories, 11g Fat (4g Sat. Fat), 1060mg sodium, 55g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 9g Fiber, 14g Protein
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for Diabetics:
You must avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes at Taco Bell if you have diabetes. Almost every beverage offered at Taco Bell contains high sugar content.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Visit below restaurant in Des Moines for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Taco Bell
People with high blood pressure must avoid food with high sodium levels. You can either ask the people at Taco Bell to add less salt in your food or choose the food items with less sodium content or customize your order using Taco Bell's own nutrition calculator.
Food Suggestions to Control Blood Pressure at Taco Bell:
Fresco Chicken Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Grilled Breakfast Burrito - Sausage
Nutrition Fact: 340 calories, 17g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 730mg sodium, 36g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 11g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Blood Pressure:
Taco Bell offers a wide range of Grande Scrambler Burritos, Crunch wraps, and Quesadillas which are high in sodium. It is important to limit the sodium intake at Taco Bell and avoid any meal with over 750-800mg sodium.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a haven for Mexican delicacies such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and other specialty items. Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. Taco Bell is one of the fastest growing American chains of fast food restaurants. The restaurant operates from 7,072 different locations which are mostly run by independent franchisees and licensees.
The background story of Taco Bell is interesting and inspiring for budding entrepreneurs. The fast-food brand is the brainchild of Glen Bell, who started his first food venture as a hot dog seller in San Bernardino, California. The year was 1948. After witnessing long queues outside a Mexican restaurant called Mitla Café across the street, Bell saw the opportunity and demand for hard-shelled Tacos. He reverse-engineered the recipe and later started selling Tacos and called the venture Taco-Tia.
Later, the name changed from Taco-Tia to El Taco. Eventually, Glen Bell sold the company to his partner and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey in 1962. By 1964, the restaurant also got its first franchise in Torrance. The 100th Taco Bell restaurant was opened by 1965. PepsiCo acquired Taco Bell from Glen Bell in 1978 and the restaurant brand is currently a subsidiary of Yum! Brands which looks after the restaurant business of PepsiCo.
Healthy Food Options at Taco Bell
You may believe that a healthy lifestyle doesn't go well at a fast food restaurant. Well, that's not the case with Taco Bell. Surprisingly Taco Bell offers a variety of healthy options, thanks to the in-house registered dietician who monitors the whole menu. The dietician ensures that each item on the menu is free from additives and preservatives, colors, and artificial flavors. The dietician also ensures that the food served at Taco Bell doesn't contain high-fructose corn syrup, low sodium levels, and reduced use of partially hydrogenated oil.
More than 75% of food items served at Taco Bell falls under 500 calories. Taco Bell also features the Fresco Style option which helps the customers to maintain healthy diet plan without missing out on taste. In Fresco style option, Taco Bell switches pico de gallo with cheese, sour cream, guac, and mayo-based sauce. Taco Bell takes care of almost every health preference of its customers.
Tips for Dining at Taco Bell
Diabetics can also try other Fresco styled Taco items such as Fresco Crunchy Taco, Fresco Grilled Steak, and Fresco Soft Taco Beef. These are other healthy alternatives of Tacos for diabetics which contains an adequate amount of starch and minimum or no fat content. Switch the regular sauce or cheese with pico de gallo and you can easily reduce the sodium intake and fat content for your body. It will help maintain blood pressure levels and control high cholesterol.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
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Address :
1305 University Ave
Des Moines, IA, 50311 - Phone (515) 288-1499
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Celeste B.
I've had tacos and burritos from this family owned restaurant numerous times, and they're always great. If I stick to these things, I'm happy. They have a large variety of meat choices for fillings and they are very authentic with cilantro and limes served with the tacos. I tried the chicken enchiladas and wasn't as impressed, due to a crazy amount of filler and very little protein. Everything has great flavor, and you can tell it's definitely made with love. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Cynthia H.
Way too many things that is right about it to list - food, atmosphere, service, price!! Be sure to try the carnita's taco. The food here is so authentic.
(5)Mary H.
Darn good.
(5)Finn B.
This is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Des Moines. It has a charming atmosphere with colorful tables and furniture. The service is quick and friendly. I always have to stop in for a torta or some tacos when I'm in town!
(5)Nathan B.
It's the best Mexican food we have found in Des Moines--authentic tacos, good salsa and thumb-liking good Pastor pork. Give yourself a few extra minutes for your meal because service is rarely quick.
(5)Jeff M.
Yum! Ate at here not long ago and had the best tacos I've had in quite a while. We just had the tacos - which reminded me of the street tacos in Tijuana - but with tortillas better than you can find anywhere!! The were just melt-in-your-mouth good. Also had the papusas which were excellent - the pickled cabbage that came with it was the perfect balance to their savory cheese filling.
(5)Leon R.
By far the worst Mexican place I have ever had ever the tacos are the worst ever the tortillas are full of grease with flavorless meat and the Mexican cheese they used was very overpowering not good at all husband ordered enchiladas and they were full of grease kids had a torta It was full of grease also the bread was soaked u could ring it out and have grease pool on plate not good at all very overpriced for the quality of food would not recommend this place to anybody if u don't have clogged arteries going in you will when you leave
(1)Matthew O.
5+ stars for the food. 2 for the service. As all the other Yelpers stated, don't be afraid. Don't turn around. Don't tear out of the parking lot because you think this place might be a dump. Sure the parking lot is a mess, sure the neighborhood might be a bit rough. Just don't leave. Go inside. Take a seat. Eat the food. I had three tacos. Lengua, carnitas and carne asada. Carnitas was, hands down, the best. Incredibly delicious. Lengua was next. Tender, chunky, spicy. Carne asada was good but very finely chopped and there were a few crunchy/cartilage-y bites in there. If I could order again, I'd probably get three carnitas tacos. They were really, really good. No free chips and salsa for us. Not sure if this was an oversight. We did see it on the menu for $2 and change. Service was horrible. Waitress seemed annoyed by us -- she seemed annoyed that we were even there. It was strange. She was very...apathetic. When I asked for easy onions and cilantro, I could sense her internal eye rolling. Not a good feeling. But I would endure that kind of service anytime for their delicious and inexpensive tacos. I ordered three -- next time I'd order 5. At a $1.25 a piece for a carnitas taco, I'm sold.
(4)Colin A.
Absolutely stellar hole-in-the wall authentic taco slam-jamma-ramma! This is a Des Moines secret, and for those who are "terrified" of the area...go ahead, stay home and make your Ortega gringo tacos. The rest of us will be at Mariana's. Stellar selection of meats for your tacos; you won't be able to eat just one. Rice and beans and sides galore, and OH MY THAT SALSA...yowza! We don't live in the Des Moines area but are here several times a year to visit family so we will DEFINITELY return. Mucho gusto!
(4)James W.
By far the best Mexican food in Des Moines
(5)Christine L.
Don't let the exterior deter you from this gem. The food is very reasonably priced, the inside is comfortable and well-decorated, and the food is authentic. Though the food was worth the venture into this joint, the wait was really unreasonably long. We arrived on a Sunday lunch hour so we were prepared to hang out for a bit but for a little more than 4 tacos and a burrito and beans between us, the more than 45 minute wait was just too much. We'll try it another day because this seemed to be a fluke for them. They were highly apologetic to us and another table. We tried the carnitas, chorizo, carne asada tacos and the carnitas burrito. All very good. Chips and salsa only upon request.
(4)Leigh P.
The food was amazing! After my delicious steak tacos and quesadilla, I had the flan. The only things I really get excited about in life are tacos and flan and I couldn't be happier.
(5)Monica J.
This wonderful resturant is not in West Des Moines, and the food is not as bland as in West Des Moines either. BEST authentic mexican food in the metro. Most recently stopped on a Friday night. A steady stream of patrons, yet we had easy parking and an open booth or table to choose from. Everything was made from scratch, including the guacamole that was fresh and amazing! Be patient, and you will be pleasantly surprised by your experience. We regularly go for lunch and get the taco special.
(5)Christin K.
I want chime in about time it takes for food and the service. If you are trying to eat here for lunch - plan on a FULL HOUR lunch! They cook everything to order! And it's worth the wait!! This service reminds me of Mexico! The laid back, take you time attitude is very refreshing! And don't wait for your ticket, just like many places in Mexico - you won't get your bill until you ask or go up to the counter to pay.
(5)Natasha P.
To be honest, I was hesitant to eat here because of the neighborhood. I'm so glad I did try this place out because it's fantastic! This is the best authentic Mexican I have been able to find, and the food is fresh and flavorful. This place is definitely a must!
(5)Dave M.
If you are seeking authentic Mexican - this is the place to go in Des Moines. Sure there are others in nicer areas of town, but I'm telling ya - you will be transported to the heart of Mexico in this fantastic restaurant; all this before you even taste the food. So let's talk about that a moment - outstanding! Bring your family, because the prices here will not break you (tacos between $1.25 - $1.75 each). The variety of meats in their taco are amazing and the quality is amazingly good. In the past, my wife would need to talk me into Mexican (it just has never been my "favorite" food). But those days are over! Tell me we are going to Tacos Mariana's and I am warming up the car. Trust me - this local gem is worth the trip.
(5)Ghenry K.
Order anything and you'll be happy... If your expecting a giant burrito filled with crap you won't find it here only great tacos and the posole makes me cry how good it is... And you know your gonna get the goods when you can't hear a lick of English in the kitchen and see a few Jesus murals...
(5)Kevin T.
Warning: If you like mystery meat tacos with processed cheese and loads of sour cream then this is NOT the place for you. Go to Taco Bell. But, if you are looking for affordable yet authentic tacos served with fresh cilantro and onion and your choice of meat (i.e. Seasoned beef, pork, beef tongue, beef head, intestines, etc.) then Taco Mariana's is a MUST. Wednesday and Thursday they feature 99 cent tacos (tongue and head are a little more) I usually get about 4 tacos (2-tongue and 2-seasoned pork) with an order of beans and rice ($2.50) so for less then $10 you get a tummy full of Mexican goodness. There house salsa is pretty spicy and excellent on the tacos. I also recommend their guacamole which has a little cucumber in it, fresh and very tasty.
(5)Lisa L.
Superb! Super fresh ingredients, amazing tacos and tamales. This is the real deal, Mexican street food type joint. The tacos are perfect in their simplicity, size and price. At $1.25 each you can sample several, which I did, but my favorites are the al pastor and the adobada. They're served on soft corn tortillas with a little onion, cilantro, radish and lime. The beans are like none I've ever tasted .. white beans, silky with tons of flavor but without any lardy taste. I asked the server if the beans were prepared with lard and she shook her head vehemently, saying, "No, no lard." Even better. Tacos Mariana's has beer available but I was in the mood for a papaya shake. I ordered the small, it was huge so I split it with my friend. Delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the heat of the salsas. I highly recommend Tacos Mariana's for it's atmosphere, authentic preparations and great value.
(5)Todd T.
Mariana's is the real deal; she makes AUTHENTIC tacos - it's like taking a 30 minute vacation to Mexico. Faves: *Tacos *Gorditas But, Ray Charles could pick something off the menu and walk out happy; there are no bad options.
(5)Jessica D.
Free chips n salsa, incredible prices, fast, fresh and DELICIOUS. Friendly wait staff too. Would recommend to any friend. Clean and quaint atmosphere
(5)Catherine J.
This is my favorite mexican place, ever. And I am from NJ and frequent NYC for fooding. It is a very authentic hole-in-the-wall sort of place. The tacos are inexpensive and ridiculously good. My favorites are pollo, adobada and chorizo- I usually get 5. My boyfriend swears by the lengua tacos. The guac is very good too, I think they put cucumber in it. The people that work there are extremely nice, and will speak to you in spanish if you wish to practice. Great great food, definitely a must try.
(5)Stacy S.
Great food, great prices, great service! Hmmmm...this was awhile ago so I can't remember exactly what we got. I know we ordered queso fundido which was delicious as always, and a bunch of tacos. If I had to guess, I'd say i got one each of chorizo, al pastor, and asada tacos. Probably a fourth, too. We also ordered two large horchatas...and it was really nice that they came out in a glass with a straw vs. the styrofoam to-go cup i've become accustomed to at other places. Our waitress was very sweet, decor was cute and it was satisfying. An added bonus was that their cilantro and onions were not a package deal! I don't mind onions, but I can't stand cilantro and that often means my tacos have to be plain...not at Mariana's!
(5)Arianne N.
Great tacos! My boyfriend is always Mr. It's Better Back Home in California and even he enjoyed the tacos. Wednesdays and Thursdays are $1 tacos. They're priced as $1.25 on the menu. I was a little disappointed that they didn't have any lengua when we went. That just means I have to come back! Service was good. They accept cash and card. The inside of the restaurant was surprisingly nice given the location. I'm still familiarizing myself with Des Moines so I don't know the neighborhoods to avoid at nighttime, etc. yet. I felt really uncomfortable parking in front of the restaurant, which itself tiny, at night with the baby in tow to meet up with friends. The parking lot itself is cramped and dimly lit. Thankfully several of them came out to walk with me and the baby inside. So in short, if you're looking for some good tacos.. Grab a friend and come here!
(4)Joe N.
I went here last night and had a great experience. This was just my type of restaurant: small, family owned and good food. I had the steak tacos and they were excellent. They were just slightly smaller than normal so if you are really hungry order at least three but don't worry on spending too much they are $1.25 each ($.25 more to add cheese). Chips and salsa are not free. I liked this because then I don't gorge myself on chips ahead of time before my meal comes. My friend who came with me got the quesadilla and thought it had a little too much cheese but was still pretty good. Oh and the salsa was awesome. If you don't like hot salsa make sure to ask for their mild stuff. I definitely would eat here again and recommend it to anyone else.
(4)Sarah M.
Acceptable those desperate for tacos in Des Moines. Meh compared to Chicago though! Cute atmosphere and polite service.
(2)Robert B.
Tacos Mariana's put so much love into their food that for me it's by far the best Mexican restaurant in DSM. I have tried most of the items on the menu and many of the weekend specials. Today I had Machaca (think scrambled egg steak omelet) served with rice and beans. It was excellent. The proprietors are super friendly and the place feels good. I had it for lunch and am still thinking about it 3 hrs later. This is what a good meal should do and Mariana's has delivered reliably in this regard. Please, to Enjoy!
(5)Ben T.
This restaurant features authentic Mexican food that you can not get north of the border for authentic inexpensive Mexican cost
(4)Ash H.
Authentic Mexican food ! One of the best ! Tacos were delicious and the rice is fresh and hot unlike other Mexican restaurants .
(4)Jess C.
Best Mexican food in Des Moines, period. Carnitas tacos and burritos are the way to go. Simple, just the meat and some cilantro, onion, lime. My only complaint is that their guacamole has queso in it which I don't particularly like. Somewhat erratic opening times and it helps to call ahead if you want takeout because there can be a bit of a wait. Don't be deterred my the parking lot or the exterior -- this place is fantastic.
(5)Janet E.
REALLY good Mexican food. They are open everyday EXCEPT Tuedays from 11am to 9pm. However, I have to mention that when we came here on Sunday at 11:30am, they were still closed.....But when we came back around noon on Sunday they were open! Yay! So glad we decided to take a double take otherwise I would have missed out on some delicious food! Here are the reviews: Chorizo torta--good but not the greatest I've had. Still very tasty but a little on the expensive side ($5) Tacos: each at $1.25 pork al pastor spiced steak tongue chorizo All of them EXCELLENT!!! I was asked if I wanted onions and cilantro. I had told the lady only cilantro, no onions. When we came home there were onions in my tacos. I ended up eating everything with the onions because it surprisingly tasted very good with them! My order came with their special salsa sauce. Spicy but a nice condiment to the food. When we came, the restaurant kept filling up with patrons. The restaurant had one patron when I arrived but was almost 75% full when I left! Most of the customers were Hispanic which says a lot about the authenticity of this place! We will be back for sure!
(4)Madonna V.
Authentic Mexican food! I ordered 3 small tacos (they have a nice selection: chorizo, steak, chicken, etc) for $1.25 each. My boyfriend ordered the chicken quesadillas dinner served with rice and beans for $7. It was delicious. The beers are reasonably priced too. The only thing this place is missing are margaritas but I still recommend it due to the food and quick service.
(4)Char D.
tried the tongue tacos and absolutely loved them! moist, tender and can't wait to go back this weekend for menudo and tamales, husband will probably get 4 tongue tacos! the best Mexican food in the state of Iowa!!!
(5)Meg P.
Despite the area the inside and food offered by this restaurant are excellent. I had the vegetarian gorditas and they were awesome! The feta cheese really brought it together for me. My boyfriend had the steak street tacos and thoroughly enjoyed them. We also had the chips and salsa which were awesome, I wish we could find hot fresh chips and delicious spicy salsa near where we live! We visited this restaurant on the way home from a CO/MI road trip and this place was right off the highway and easy to find with great food. I highly recommend it!
(4)Gray C.
Great burritos and tacos. The carnitas is all right, the carne asada could have more je ne sais quoi, but the chicken, sides, and salsa are excellent. I haven't had much else. Easily the best Mexican I've had in Iowa. It's close to Mercy Hospital too, so that's a plus. The listed address (2225) Is wrong, though. They've moved to 1305 university.
(5)Pablo G.
You can't give Mariana less then five stars! I visit my family in Des Moines every once in a while and every time we go to Mariana's! We started eating there when she had her little shop few blocks away from the new location and we were really impressed with her cooking! You know like there is a gazillion of Mexican restaurants everywhere and in most cases the food is average or below average. Not here! Absolutely the best tacos you can find! There is nothing you would wish to change or to add! Being from California I've had all those gourmet tacos from legendary LA food trucks - Mariana's are still the best! Beef tostadas - absolutely spectacular! They are like some kind of cake or something - just beautiful to look at! Green hot sauce she gives you with them - like a drug. The more you eat it the more addicted you get to it. A must to visit! A must!
(5)Justin F.
The reviews don't lie, this place is great!!! If you love the real stuff or have been wanting to try it for the first time, this is the place. Don't be afraid to be adventurous and try some or the more "exotic" meats. The tripas tacos are great. If not, even the chicken tacos here are amazing. Its all good! Some authentic Mexican food joints can be a little sketchy and the language barrier can be intimidating. This place is very welcoming! I LOVE the homemade green sauce they give you with your food. A can of Tecate with a lime goes great with it all.
(5)nick h.
if you are reading this then you are definitely in the right place. Honestly this needs to be the first restaurant in the Mexican food category. The beer is cheap the salsa is hot and the decor is bright. This is as authentic as your going to find in Des Moines. There is no rice and beans slop at this place, it is home cooked fresh traditional dishes. go there and enjoy, i am serious , go there.
(5)Jordan H.
We stumbled upon Mariana's while in law school, and they've since moved to a new location. Unfortunately, I haven't tried the new location, but I loved everything about Mariana's - the hospitable, humble smile you're given when you enter the restaurant, knowing that the person you are looking at is making the food right in front of you, the smell of sizzling meat and the sound of dicing, it is perfect. These tacos are ultimately what introduced me to what a real taco should be, and I'm forever indebted to Mariana's for that.
(5)Nathan B.
Best Mexican food in Des Moines. Smells like my grandma's kitchen. I believe most (if not all) the cooking is done by Mariana herself there in the back. The decor is a bit too, um, colorful for me, but the rice and beans are legit and the gorditas are extremely un-TacoBellish.
(4)Andrew L.
I've been meaning to start Yelping, and Tacos Mariana's gave me the additional motivation I needed to get started. My wife and I made our first, but definitely not our last visit to this little establishment on 4/23. Having recently relocated to West Des Moines from Las Vegas, we have had our fair share of great Mexican food, and on this particular Saturday we got one of our familiar cravings. In particular, I was craving the typical taco truck style tacos, but wanted a sit-down restaurant. After some online research, we decided on Tacos Mariana's. Saying this place doesn't look like much from the outside is an understatement, and I'd be lying if I said we didn't have second thoughts about going inside. However, once inside that changed. There are only a dozen or so tables inside, but we arrived at an off hour so we basically had our choice of seating. The inside is well decorated, and has a very welcoming feeling. The staff was friendly and we were seated promptly. Once we were handed menus I knew that we had found what we were looking for. My eyes went straight to the taco section. Tacos are $1.25 each, and you have your choice of 5-6 or so meats. The rest of the menu was pretty extensive, and several other items caught our attention. In particular, the picadillo empanadas and the pupusas. We ended up ordering beans and chips to start, and an assortment of asada, carnitas, and chorizo tacos, for a total of nine tacos between the two of us. I'll refrain from saying how many I ate out of that total. The beans and chips came out first. The beans were sprinkled with cheese and were exactly what I had expected. Let's be honest. It's kind of difficult to mess up beans. The chips were warm, crispy and satisfying. The taco plates soon followed, and this is where Tacos Mariana's shined. Each taco consisted of a double corn tortilla about 4-5 inches in diameter, the requested meat, and topped off with cilantro (we requested no onions). The plates were also garnished with lime and radish. The steak in the asada tacos was finely chopped and flavorful. The carnitas were very tender. While these both already exceeded my expectations, my personal favorite was the chorizo. Very flavorful with just the right amount of spice. My final comment is to not ignore the lime. It compliments the meat very well, especially the asada. In closing, Tacos Mariana's provided a very authentic and delicious Mexican meal with great service for us. It's great to know that we can find real traditional tacos in Des Moines, and we definitely plan on returning in the future.
(5)Amanda V.
Like other reviewers, we were a bit reluctant to go inside after driving up to the place, but we're glad we gave it a try. It doesn't look like much from th e outside, but the inside is cheery and cozy. My husband is something of a germophobe, so it can be hard to get him to try places that look dumpy on the outside. He was very impressed with the cleanliness inside. The bathrooms were spotless, usually a good indication that care is given to other areas of the restaurant, including the food. It is definitely a family affair, and the staff was friendly. We ordered asada, chorizo, and pollo tacos, pupusas, and chips and salsa. Everything was good. The pollo tacos were our favorite. The meat in all the tacos was juicy, but not greasy. We had never eaten pupusas before. They were good, and it was nice to try something besides the usual taco/burrito fare normally on Mexican menus. We'll definitely stop here again next time we're in Des Moines.
(5)Eric G.
One of my favorites in dsm. Always get tacos al pastor and pollo, flautas, and tostada mariscos on weekends.
(5)Aja L.
If you've spent your entire life in the Midwest eating bland meat and potatoes and watered down whitewashed Mexican - don't bring your behind here. If you're a native of North Mexico aka the southwestern United States, then eating here is like returning home! I live in Ames where the food sucks and I come here when I miss the tastes of home. This ain't for someone that can't handle real flavor and spice - this is Mexico in Iowa.
(5)Robyn T.
My favorite place to get tacos! Authentic, delicious, have yet to find a better taco in the Des Moines area. I usually order to go-- it's a very small restaurant. I can see how people might get annoyed about parking, service, etc., but honestly, for the quality of tacos, it's so worth it! (Just phone in an order & take it to go if you're in a hurry.)
(5)Zack L.
Pretty solid place to eat! The food is equally as good as the location is sketchy...
(4)Eric S.
Closest thing to what I as a California native consider authentic Mexican food. As others have stated, if you like bland tasteless Mexican food, don't go here. Oh yeah don't expect French fries on your plate, which has been an odd fixture I've noticed in Iowa.
(5)Zavk H.
Authentic and family owned restaurant. Adobada, asada, carnitas and pollo tacos were great. Service was great even on a busy afternoon. I would give it a shot for sure if you want some delicious Mexican food. Only negative is that the seating is challenged because of the limited space.
(4)Eddie Q.
By far, the best Mexican food in Des Moines. I had tacos. Fresh and authentic. Super affordable. Good selection of food on the menu. Overall great spot. I plan to eat there as much as possible while I'm in town.
(5)Joe S.
The best and most authentic mexican food I have found in the DSM metro. Don't let the outside fool you, the inside is what counts! Great and cheap tacos. It is obvious that each order is cooked to order... not your typical rapid mexican plate, which is what you want! Can't wait to go back and explore the menu some more. 3 tacos and split the chips and salsa and I am full! Ordered the adobada(spicy steak), al pastor(spicy pork), and the babiba?(spicy shredded beef). The last one was by far my favorite. I believe the owner cooks most everything and is very active in running this place. You won't be disappointed. Rating may change to 5 if I continue to be pleased with other menu items.
(4)Craig Z.
Tacos were good. Beans tasted good. Didn't really care for the rice. I'll eat here again anyways.
(3)Joe F.
The request came around 11:00 AM. Need tacos. Stat. But it's early March and the taco trucks are hibernating. But you live in Des Moines and the "Mexican" food at the sit down restaurants equals microwaved and poorly prepared Tex-Mex. Fear not, go to Mariana's. For many people that live in Des Moines the location of this restaurant places it square in the "do not enter" zone of the city. Admit it, Des Moines, anything east of MLK? That's rubbish and nonsense. This neighborhood is fine and you will suffer no deleterious consequences for venturing all the way east to 13th street. What started as a quest for tacos ended with ceviche, huaraches and gorditas. Don't ask me how we didn't order any tacos. The ceviche was served ice cold on a tostada with half of an avocado. It was perfectly seasoned and tasted fresh. The huaraches were simply delicious. I've not seen this particular menu favorite of mine in Des Moines before, and when I saw it on the menu I ordered that immediately. If you're not familiar with huaraches, it's a roughly shoe shaped cake of masa that is fried and then layered with sauce, beans, lettuce. It came with a nice thinly sliced and well seasoned piece of beef, more beans and rice. The gorditas were perfect, hand made (as the huarache was, too) and left us anxious to return. Someone knows how to cook and it showed in every single dish we were presented. It's a rare thing to see real Mexican food being prepared with quality ingredients with the type of technique that the cuisine requires. No Tex-Mex here, so no, you will not get a hard shell taco with the canned refried beans. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Edina D.
YUMMIEST TACOS EVER!! at a great price! we always go here & will always continue.
(5)