The Johnston Brief
Johnston's Mexican food punches above a town its size, largely because the metro's Flame Group put down roots on Merle Hay Road. From the taqueria known for its birria to a longtime sit-down cantina with the margaritas, here's the local rundown of where to go and what each is known for.
For Mexican food in Johnston, the local favorites are Flame The Taqueria (4.8 stars, birria tacos, 5765 Merle Hay Rd), El Mariachi (full-service and known for margaritas, 5825 Merle Hay Rd), and Pico De Gallo for a family Mexican meal. Flame and the chef-driven Roots95 both come from Arturo Mora's Flame Group. Tastes vary and spots change, so treat this as a starting point and check current hours.
Flame The Taqueria at 5765 Merle Hay Rd is the birria spot in town, and the highest-rated Mexican restaurant in Johnston at 4.8 stars. The birria tacos are slow-braised Angus beef in an adobo au jus, served on corn tortillas with melted cheese, onions and cilantro. It grew from a food truck into a full taqueria, with made-to-order tacos, burritos, quesadillas, house-made salsas and Flame fries loaded with queso and pico de gallo.
Between Flame and these, Johnston covers the taqueria, the family cantina, and the margarita night without leaving Merle Hay Road.
Flame The Taqueria and the chef-driven Roots95 Craft Kitchen & Bar on 8705 Chambery Blvd are both part of chef Arturo Mora's Flame Group, which started with a food truck and grew into a set of restaurants across the metro. Mora named Roots95 for the year he immigrated to the U.S., and its New American menu runs Latin flavors through small plates, flatbreads and globally inspired pastas, a step up from the taqueria when you want the sit-down version.
Chasing a particular craving? See our guides to the best restaurants in Johnston, the best pizza, breakfast and brunch, and coffee for the full local food map. Can't decide? Let the dinner picker choose for you.
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Flame The Taqueria (5765 Merle Hay Rd) is the highest-rated at 4.8 stars, known for birria tacos. For a full sit-down dinner and a margarita, El Mariachi (5825 Merle Hay Rd) is the longtime favorite, and Pico De Gallo is another family option. Tastes vary, so try a few.
Flame The Taqueria is the go-to, slow-braised Angus beef in adobo au jus on corn tortillas with melted cheese, onions and cilantro.
Yes. Both are part of chef Arturo Mora's Flame Group, which began with a food truck and now includes Flame The Taqueria and the chef-driven Roots95 Craft Kitchen & Bar on Chambery Boulevard.
Yes. Flame started as a food truck and serves made-to-order tacos, burritos and quesadillas with house salsas. El Mariachi and Pico De Gallo cover the family-restaurant side, and the wider Des Moines area adds more taquerias and trucks a short drive away.