El Rodeo

After y'all ride around town, rlineveg in all of Lansing's magesty, you should head over to the Lansing Center to see the Lansing Derby Vixens rock the bout floor! After party at the Irish Pub!

Great place to eat.

It's been almost two year since I gave a very opinionated and what I beleive to be a very accurate take on this place. A and D are way wrong. Just blowing their usual gas as always. Hell, I lived in Phoenix for 10 years too. Don't make me an expert on Mexican food. I did work with a guy who's grandma Gaudalupe made some very authentic mole. Hated it then and hate it now. Hey D, Filibertos or Tasty (Tasteless ) Tacos ? I KNOW you blew into Filibertos a few times for a Carne Asada burrito at some off hour, Didn't you? A and D, You are nothing but arrogant windbags. Why don't you just dry up and blow away. The fajitas here are GREASY AS A DEAD CAT ON THE HIGHWAY. Order a chalupa and enjoy some refried beans and lettuce on a small corn tortilla. Yum. Hey A and D, They say that imitation is the biggest form of flattery. So thanks for replicating my Tacos Marianas review almost word for word except for the end where you got their address wrong you idiot(s). Quit spreading your boring and condescending gas all over the good people who enjoy Des Moines Alive, And get on down to the double fun drive thru at B Bops for the best hamburger YOU ever ate. Me? Well I'm gonna slide on over to Wal Mart for some A and D to cure world health disorders or whatever else it's supposed to fix. It's gotta be good for something, Right?

El Rodeo - Urbandale

A and D find this an interesting restaurant. A has eaten here for years; D tried it the first time on this visit for lunch on a Sunday. The restaurant was packed with customers, young with families, old couples, and everything in-between. Clearly, Des Moines loves El Rodeo.

Don't let the outside or inside appearance get in the way. A says it used to be a western-style steakhouse years ago and the El Rodeo owners kept the decor. Later, it was somewhat revised and has since migrated to today's neutral look. Regardless, it is still 60s dark decor and something of a time-warp. The restaurant, however, is spotless.

El Rodeo has solid service and solid food. This is not food of a specific Mexican state, like Marianna's Tacos (Jalisco). Rather, this is generic Mexican cuisine and it is done generously and well.

The chips and salsa brought when you are seated are very good. The salsa is strongly flavored with cilantro, and very flavorful, not hot, not bland -- just right. The chips are crunchy, not greasy, and the corn flavor comes through.

The fajitas is plentiful, well-prepared, well-flavored. We suggest ordering extra tortillas, as the three that come with the dish are not enough for the quantity of food.

The refried beans and rice are good; not astounding or breakthrough cuisine, but solid, good Mexican fare.

Service is well-developed, well-oiled, efficient and, yet, feels personal. Our guess is everyone working here is family or extended family; they seem like they are all invested in the business.

Prices are extrememly reasonable for the quantity and quality of the food and service. Lunch for two was $13.00 and change.

El Rodeo does a good job. A says they were about the first restaurant in Des Moines serving good Mexican food. A knows her Mexican cuisine, having lived for years in Phoenix and having lots of great Mexican restaurants to choose from. D bows to her expertise, but has enjoyed El Rodeo's food and will return for more.

When you want great food from one state, you won't do better than Mariana's; but, when you want good, high quality, representative, national Mexican food--and plenty of it- at a very fair price-El Rodeo is a good choice.

Quality: Very Good
Service: Good
Ambiance: Dated but functional
Value: Very Good

Recommended: Yes

I took my wife here on our first date. Can't believe she still married me. Yuck! Horrible, Terrible! Go to Taco Casa to save some dough and get pretty darned good eats.

As a single person, each time that I have entered this establishment, I have had to wait for other tables to be filled by bigger parties; and then, if there's an opening, I'll get a table. I find this unprofessional and rude. Frankly, the food isn't worth the wait either.

After eating at this place quite a few times, I think I should write a review about it.

I like this place a lot.

Yeah, that's it.

El Rodeo has really good food. The service is very fast and their margaritas are great.

El Rodeo has the best mexican food!

For mexi grubb don't go anywhere else.