By Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
Who has the best tacos in Iowa? Yelp, the crowd-sourcing review site, revealed its list of the top taquerias across the nation and found that Flame the Taqueria in Johnston offered the best in the state.
Flame, from restaurateur Arturo Mora, opened in 2021 after operating as a food truck for four years. Mora has gone on to open Flame locations in Bondurant and Ankeny, and now operates Roots 95, the globally inspired restaurant in Johnston.
“The cooks at Flame The Taqueria are clearly deeply in touch with how to make legitimate and tasty Mexican cuisine. The salsas were packed with flavor. The shrimp tacos were banging, and the birria with the side of ‘au jus’ was lip-smacking good,” said John A in his review of the restaurant.
The restaurant in Johnston has 56 reviews and a five-star rating on Yelp.
What to order at Flame the Taqueria
Flame serves what it calls Mexican-American fusion food. The restaurant offers taco options such as al pastor with marinated pork tacos topped with pineapple, pico, green tomatillo salsa and Yucatan spices as well as birria tacos with slowly braised beef served on crispy corn tortillas with an adobo aus jus.
Flame also offers street tacos served on corn tortillas with carne asada, chorizo, adobe chicken, seasoned ground beef, or shrimp topped with cilantro, onions, and lime. The restaurant also offers mango shrimp tacos with cilantro and a mango pico on flour tortillas.
All tacos cost $13 or less.
Photo by America Duran Photography 2021
What are some of the latest trends with tacos nationwide?
Yelp reports that searches for tacos on the platform are up, and taquerias are “creating new and traditional versions of the popular handheld meal — for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert.”
Tacos al pastor are rising in popularity, while some taco shops specialize in a limited menu of specialty dishes.
Tex Mex varieties also are having their moment in the sun. Some restaurants are offering corn tortillas with onions and cilantro on the Mexican side of the menu or flour tortillas with sour cream and cheese on the American part of the roster.
Where to find Flame the Taqueria
Locations: 5765 Merle Hay Road, Johnston; 515-410-1069
103 Main St. S.E., Bondurant; 515-967-1752
Flame Cantina, 1315 S.W. Oralabor Road, Ankeny; 515-723-4376
Food truck: flamedsm.com
Contact: flamecantinadsm.com
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