The Ankeny Brief
It depends on what you're after, so here's what each one is, with hours where the place posts them. All of this is our sorting, not a ranking, and taste is personal.
Family owned, by its own description, and our pick for birria. Owner Arturo Mora started with a food truck before opening Flame the Taqueria in Johnston, the spot Yelp named best tacos in Iowa in 2024 (that honor went to Johnston, not this kitchen). Flame's Johnston menu describes birria on crispy corn tortillas with an adobo au jus, and reviewers here praise the chips, salsa and queso. Open Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with online reservations. It closes for Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day. Catering and its food truck book through 515-723-4376.
A casual strip-mall room with handcrafted drinks. Reviewers tend to mention fajitas and blended margaritas. Open Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday to 10:30 p.m., Sunday to 9 p.m.
The traditional sit-down: fajita nachos, quesadillas, salads and a long menu. Its listing shows Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday to 10:30 p.m., Sunday to 9 p.m. Menu prices online may lag, so treat them as a guide.
The north-side option, with a menu built around fajitas, chimichangas and a full bar. We couldn't load the restaurant's own website when we checked, so call for current hours.
Pancheros Mexican Grill, 2310 SE Delaware Ave., 515-289-4173. It's the burrito chain, and its posted hours run late: 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days and until midnight Friday and Saturday. Good for a game night when the other kitchens have closed.
Tacos Don Juan is the name to know. It's on the city's licensed vendor list, listed at 921 SE Oralabor Road, and has been reported in the Sportsman's lot on Oralabor and behind Uptown Garage, so it moves. Check its social media before you drive. The city's list also includes Tacos Meza, Gorditas Villa Madero and Amigos Taco Truck. Mobile vendors must post a City of Ankeny permit in the truck, renewed each April 1, so you can look for it at the window.
Older lists still send people to a couple of closed spots. The Des Moines Register reported in June 2024 that El Azteca on Delaware Ave. and Tacos & Tequila La Cava had both shut down. If a guide names them, it's out of date. Spots can turn over quickly, so a quick call helps before a group dinner.
Chasing a different craving? See the best restaurants in Ankeny, pizza, breakfast and brunch, the breweries and bars, or our what to eat tonight picker.
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Tastes vary, and we don't claim a winner. Our short list is Flame Cantina for birria, Mojito's for margaritas, Guadalajara for a classic sit-down and Cancun Grill on the north side.
Flame Cantina, at 1315 SW Oralabor Road, is the place we'd go. Its sister restaurant, Flame the Taqueria in Johnston, was named best tacos in Iowa by Yelp in 2024.
Yes. Tacos Don Juan is on the city's licensed vendor list and is often around SE Oralabor Road. The list also includes Tacos Meza, Gorditas Villa Madero and Amigos Taco Truck. Trucks set their own hours, so check social media first.
Of the ones we checked, Pancheros at 2310 SE Delaware Ave. posts the latest hours: until 11 p.m. most days and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Mojito's and Guadalajara list 10:30 p.m. on those nights.
Yes. Flame Cantina is family owned and describes its food as authentic tacos, and Mojito's bills itself as authentic Mexican cuisine. For street-style food, try the licensed trucks.
They're part of the same group. Flame Cantina is the Ankeny restaurant, and Flame the Taqueria is its Johnston and West Des Moines sibling. The Bondurant location closed in 2024.
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