TacosNearYou

Iowa’s Taquerias Follow the Packing Plants

Iowa's taquerias track its meatpacking and food-processing towns, where Mexican and Central American workers settled from the 1990s onward and opened restaurants for their own communities first.

Iowa: 429 taco venues on record across 108 cities, 66 dedicated taquerias, trucks and stands, 65% independent.

Iowa city by city

Des Moines's east side leads; Marshalltown, Perry, Storm Lake and West Liberty punch well above their population.

Showing the 30 busiest of 108 Iowa cities on record.

What to order in Iowa

Small-town counters attached to tiendas — often the only taqueria for miles, and usually the real thing.

Iowa is independent country

Iowa is independent-leaning — 65% of the venues on record are not part of a national chain, which is high by national standards.

Taco shop 362Taqueria 52Truck 13Mexican restaurant 1Birrieria 1
  • 65% independent (279 of 429)
  • 73% close at 11pm or later (27 of the 37 with hours on record)
  • 1 are tagged vegetarian- or vegan-friendly
  • 1 have outdoor seating

Best-ranked taco spots in Iowa

Ranked by how taco-focused each place is and how complete its listing is, not by who paid. How we rank.

  1. 1La Juanita TaqueriaTaqueria · 613 Lake AvenueSee hoursCallDirections
  2. 2La Regia TaqueriaTaqueria · 436 State Highway 1See hoursCallDirections
  3. 3D'Leon's Taco RicoTaco shop · 3 locationsSee hoursCallDirections
  4. 4Dora's TacosTaco shop · 130 South State AvenueSee hoursCallDirections
  5. 5Fuzzy's Taco ShopTaco shop · 6 locationsSee hoursCallDirections
  6. 6Giliberto's Mexican Taco ShopTaco shop · 400 34th Avenue SouthwestSee hoursCallDirections
  7. 7Rudy's TacosTaco shop · 8 locationsSee hoursCallDirections
  8. 8Taco BellTaco shop · 69 locationsSee hoursCallDirections
  9. 9Taco John'sTaco shop · 69 locationsSee hoursCallDirections
  10. 10Taco LocoTaco shop · 1755 Boyrum StreetSee hoursCallDirections
  11. 11Tacos Mariana'sTaco shop · 1305 University AvenueSee hoursCallDirections
  12. 12Tacos N' TortasTaco shop · 3441 86th StreetSee hoursCallDirections
  13. 13The Taco DepotTaco shop · 2 locationsSee hoursCallDirections
  14. 14Tiki Tacos 'n Burgers 'n WingsTaco shop · 119 East Washington StreetSee hoursCallDirections
  15. 15Yolanda's Tacos ShopTaco shop · 211 East Main StreetSee hoursCallDirections
  16. 16Birrieria El VergazBirrieria · 1218 Brady StHours not recordedCallDirections
  17. 17Chuy's Taqueria & Mexican FoodTaqueria · 122 E Main StHours not recordedCallDirections
  18. 18El Michoacano TaqueríaTaqueria · 2922 Merle Hay RdHours not recordedCallDirections
  19. 19El Michoacano Tienda y TaqueriaTaqueria · 924 4th Ave SHours not recordedCallDirections
  20. 20Faustinos TaqueriaTaqueria · 4944 Franklin Ave Ste IHours not recordedCallDirections

Tacos in Iowa: common questions

Which Iowa city has the most taco spots?

Des Moines leads Iowa with 63 venues on record, followed by Sioux City and Cedar Rapids. That is a count of places, not a quality ranking — the ranked list above orders by taco focus.

Are most tacos in Iowa from chains or independents?

35% of the 429 Iowa venues on record belong to a national chain, leaving 279 independents. 66 of them are dedicated taquerias, trucks, stands or birrierías.

Where can I get tacos late at night in Iowa?

Of the 37 Iowa venues with opening hours on record, 27 (73%) close at 11pm or later. Hours change often, so check the individual listing before driving over.

What kind of tacos is Iowa known for?

Small-town counters attached to tiendas — often the only taqueria for miles, and usually the real thing.

Last updated September 29, 2026. Venue details refresh with each data import.