Man, I love me some tacos! There sure are a lot of choices in town with at least one Mexican Restaurant in every neighborhood and a good number of seriously good taco trucks to choose from (mostly on the East side of town) taking up residence in parking lots, so I was surprised to find such awesome tacos (and food in general) at Fernando’s Mexican Grill in the Drake neighborhood.
I have yet to visit when the owner isn’t working behind the counter himself making small talk and making sure guests are happy. I love local places where it’s just as much about the feeling of being welcome as it is about the food.
The setup is kind of like a Pancheros or Qdoba, except this food is much more authentic. Fresh corn tortillas for tacos and a variety of fresh fixings to choose from make Fernando’s stand out. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the menu really since you get to top your burritos, tacos or quesadillas with whatever you like from salsas and veggies to crema and cheese.
Like I said, the style is that of a Panchero’s or Qdoba where you order and build your order at the counter, but the product is definitely not in the same category. For a quick, budget-friendly lunch or dinner with taste that will leave you craving more, Check out Fernando’s on University in Des Moines. Its’ right near Mars Cafe near Drake University. I think you’ll like it!