611 37th St, Des Moines, IA 50312
80+ Year History in DSM
El Patio Mexican Restaurant Est 1941: Des Moines' oldest restaurant, where every season feels like a getaway. Stroll into our vibrant patio, bursting with colorful flowers, and let the warmth of our charming atmosphere envelop you. In the summer, our patio is a haven of beauty, while winter nights are made cozy by the crackle of our fireplace. Pair our unique Southwestern flavors with one of our amazing margaritas, crafted to perfection. Come experience why El Patio is a beloved destination, steeped in tradition and flavor.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Jason, 2025
Went for dinner today. We got Becky’s Special and a #7. The food was really good and generously portioned and reasonably priced. We’ve been before and love this place and will definitely be back!
Christopher, 2025
Beautiful and comfy setting, indoors is like an art gallery tribute to the southwest. Outdoors is a gorgeous green deck and garden. But the food stands out above everything else. Best Mexican food I've ever eaten. The bonus is that it's family owned and local. Don't miss out. Go there today. You won't be disappointed.
David, 2025
The space is inviting, warm, comfortable and social. You will sit near other parties, its a small house with beautiful artwork throughout. The waitress was fantastic, funny and very good, almost felt like she was with us for the experience. The food was really good, not traditional Mexican style, but Mexican American flair. The experience made the time memorable. We will be back, with family!
El Patio 2025
STARTERS
CHEESE DIP SMALL
$7.00
CHEESE DIP LARGE
$9.00
GUACAMOLE SMALL
$6.00
GUACAMOLE LARGE
$10.00
QUESADILLA
LARGE FLOUR TORTILLA WITH SOUR CREAM, CHEESE, TOMATOES & ONIONS, ROLLED AND BAKED. ADD VEGGIES OR MEAT FOR $3.00.
$11.00
CHEESE CRISPS
ADD VEGGIES OR MEAT FOR $3.00.
$9.50
SANTA FE BLACK BEAN DIP
$9.00
NACHOS REGULAR - BEANS & CHEESE
$10.00
NACHOS SUPER - MEAT, BEANS & CHEESE
$11.00
NACHOS FIESTA - THE WORKS
$14.50
MARGARITAS
ORIGINAL
SINGLE-$7- SUPERITA (1/2 LITER)- $16.50 PITCHER (LITER)-$24.50
SINGLE
$7
PITCHER (LITER)
$24.50
SUPERITA (1/2 LITER)
$16.50
JOSE CUERVO
SINGLE-$9-SUPERITA (1/2 LITER)-$26.30 PITCHER (1 LITER)-$36.50
SINGLE
$9.00
SUPERITA (1/2 LITER)
$26.30
PITCHER (1 LITER)
$36.50
BLUE MARGARITA
SINGLE
$8
SUPERITA (1/2 LITER)
$26.30
PITCHER (LITER)
$36.50
STRAWBERRY MARGARITA
SINGLE
$8
SUPERITA (1/2 LITER)
$20
PITCHER (LITER)
$26
SANGRIA
SANGRIA
SINGLE
$7
SUPERITA (V2 LITER)
$20
PITCHER (1 LITER)
$26
WINE & BEER
WINE (RED OR WHITE)
BY THE GLASS
$9
DOMESTIC BEER
CORONA, MODELO (LIGHT & DARK), NEGRA MODELO, MODELO ESPECIAL, DOS EQUIS ORIGINAL & AMBAR, AND PACIFICO CLARA.
$6.50
IMPORT BEER
CORONA, MODELO (LIGHT & DARK), NEGRA MODELO, MODELO ESPECIAL, DOS EQUIS ORIGINAL & AMBAR, AND PACIFICO CLARA.
$7.50
SOFT DRINKS
ICED TEA, LEMONADE, ROOT BEER, PEPSI, DIET PEPSI, SPRITE.
$3.50
BURRITOS
BUILD YOUR OWN
BEEF/BEAN/CHICKEN/PORK
SMOTHERED IN CHILI
$1.50
SMOTHERED IN QUESO
$1.50
A LA CARTE
CRISPY SHELL TACO
$5.00
SOFT SHELL TACO
$6.00
ENCHILADA
$7.00
CHILI RELLENO
$9.00
TOSTADA
$7.00
RICE & BEANS
$3.50
SOUR CREAM
$2.00
HOUSE SALAD
$7.50
KIDS
KIDS
CHOICE OF CHEESE CRISPS, SOFT OR CRISPY TACO, ENCHILADA, PICK UP BURRITO, MAC AND CHEESE OR CHEESE QUESADILLA. *ALL SERVED WITH RICE AND BEANS.
$6.50
ORIGINAL 7
NUMBER 1
THREE TACOS OF YOUR CHOICE, WITH RICE AND BEANS.
$13.00
NUMBER 2
TWO BEEF ENCHILADAS, WITH RICE AND BEANS.
$14.00
NUMBER 3
TWO ENCHILADAS OF YOUR CHOICE, WITH RICE AND BEANS.
$14.00
NUMBER 4
TWO TAMALES WITH CHILI, A BEEF TACO AND SIDE OF RICE.
$16.00
NUMBER 5
FOUR ENCHILADAS COVERED WITH CHILI AND CHEESE.
$16.00
NUMBER 6
FOUR CHICKEN & CHEESE ENCHILADAS COVERED WITH RANCHERO SAUCE, AND SOUR CREAM.
$16.00
NUMBER 7
THREE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS TOPPED WITH A FRIED EGG AND SOUR CREAM.
$16.00
FAVORITES
MEAT CHOICES: GROUND BEEF, CHICKEN OR PORK.
FIESTA A REAL FEAST
ONE TACO, ONE ENCHILADA AND CHILI RELLENO SERVED WITH RICE AND BEANS.
$16.50
REICHARITO
BEEF, BEANS, CHEESE & LETTUCE WRAPPED IN A FLOUR TORTILLA. SERVED WITH A BLEND OF CHEESES AND CHILI SAUCE. SERVED WITH RICE AND BEANS.
SMALLER PORTION
$12.50
A-LA -CARTE
$10.50
COMBINATION
DINNER SALAD, ENCHILADA, TACO, TAMALE SERVED WITH RICE AND BEANS.
$16.00
MEXICAN CHICKEN
CHICKEN BREAST AND VEGGIES BAKED IN RANCHERO SAUCE AND CHEESE. SERVED WITH RICE & BEANS.
$16.00
CHICKEN FAJITAS
CHICKEN AND VEGGIES IN OUR FAJITA MARINADE, SERVED WITH RICE, BEANS, SOUR CREAM, GUACAMOLE & TORTILLAS.
$16.00
KAHUNA BURRITO
SLOW ROASTED PORK STUFFED IN A FLOUR TORTILLA WITH CHEESE AND LETTUCE. SERVED SMOTHERED IN GREEN CHILI AND CHEESE BAKED TO PERFECTION. SERVED WITH RICE & BEANS.
$16.00
THE FAVORITE
A CHILI RELLENO WITH TWO ENCHILADAS OF YOUR CHOICE.
$16.00
TACO SALAD
A FLOUR TORTILLA BOWL- FILLED WITH YOUR CHOICE OF MEAT, BEANS, CHEESE, LETTUCE, TOMATO, GREEN ONION, AND SAUCE.
$13.00
MEXICAN TORTE
CORN TORTILLAS LAYERED WITH VEGGIES, CHEESES & MEAT OF YOUR CHOICE. SERVED IN RANCHERO SAUCE WITH RICE & BEANS.
$16.00
ENCHILADA CASSEROLE
TWO CHEESE ENCHILADAS TOPPED WITH YOUR CHOICE OF MEAT, BAKED TO PERFECTION IN RANCHERO SAUCE AND TOPPED WITH SOUR CREAM.
$14.00
CHICKEN FLAUTAS
TWO CHICKEN FILLED FLOUR TORTILLAS, FRIED GOLDEN BROWN. TOPPED WITH CHEESES AND BAKED TO PERFECTION. SERVED WITH RICE, BEANS, SOUR CREAM & GUACAMOLE.
$14.00
CHICKEN CHIMICHANGA
CHICKEN, LETTUCE, CHEESE, AND GREEN CHILES WRAPPED IN A FLOUR TORTILLA. FRIED GOLDEN BROWN, TOPPED WITH CHEESE, AND BAKED TO PERFECTION. SERVED WITH RICE AND BEANS, SOUR CREAM & GUACAMOLE.
$15.00
MEXICAN PIZZA
A FRIED FLOUR TORTILLA TOPPED WITH MEAT AND CHEESE AND THEN BAKED. SERVED WITH LETTUCE, TOMATO, GREEN ONIONS, CHEESE & MILD SAUCE.
$13.00
CHICKEN TOPOPO
A CRISP CORN TORTILLA TOPPED WITH CHICKEN, BEANS, LETTUCE, CHEESE, TOMATO, GREEN ONION, MILD SAUCE & GUACAMOLE.
$13.00
CHICKEN FAJITA SALAD
A FLOUR TORTILLA BOWL- FILLED WITH LETTUCE, CHICKEN, AND FAJITA VEGGIES. TOPPED WITH CHEESE, TOMATOES, SOUR CREAM AND GUACAMOLE.
$14.50
GUACAMOLE SALAD
A GENEROUS PORTION OF MIXED GREENS, VEGGIES, CHEESE, TOMATOES, AND GUACAMOLE.
$10.00
GEORGE'S STYLE
FOUR CHEESE ENCHILADAS WITH JALAPENOS.
$16.00
SOUTHWEST STYLE
BLUE CORN ENCHILADAS
TWO BLUE CORN ENCHILADAS OF YOUR CHOICE SMOTHERED IN OUR SANTA FE SAUCE AND TOPPED WITH CHEESE.
$14.00
BLACK BEAN FLAUTA
SPICY BLACK BEANS AND CHEESES WRAPPED IN A FLOUR TORTILLA, GOLDEN FRIED AND THEN BAKED. SERVED WITH BLACK BEANS, RICE, SOUR CREAM AND GUACAMOLE.
$14.00
TOSTADA COMPUESTA
BLUE CORN TORTILLA CHIPS TOPPED WITH YOUR CHOICE OF MEAT AND SMOTHERED IN BEANS, CHEESE AND QUESO TOPPED WITH LETTUCE, TOMATOES, GREEN ONION, SOUR CREAM AND GUACAMOLE.
$14.00
SANTA FE SAMPLER
A BLUE CORN ENCHILADA OF YOUR CHOICE, A CHILI RELLENO MINI BLACK BEAN FLAUTA SERVED WITH BLACK BEANS AND RICE.
$16.00
CHILI RELLENOS SANTA FE STYLE
TWO MEXICAN CHILI RELLENO SMOTHERED IN SANTA FE SAUCE AND CHEESE.
$16.00
DESSERTS
MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CAKE
OUR "MADE FROM SCRATCH” HOUSE SPECIALTY, WARMED AND TOPPED WITH ICE CREAM.
$7.50
FRIED ICE CREAM
VANILLA ICE CREAM ROLLED IN A CRUNCHY COATING AND COVERD IN YOUR CHOICE OF HONEY OR CHOCOLATE TOPPING.
$7.50
Contact Us
Address
Contact
Hours
Tuesday - Sunday
5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
