The first mistake is grabbing a small plate.
That sounds responsible until the buffet line starts making its case. Birria over there.
Fresh tortillas waiting nearby. Salsa options acting like they have a whole meeting agenda.
Suddenly restraint looks badly outnumbered.
Iowa buffet math gets dangerous fast.
This Des Moines Mexican buffet does not treat “all you can eat” like permission to coast. The slow-roasted meats, soups, taco fixings, desserts, and warm tortillas all feel like they showed up with something to prove.
Iowa came hungry, and honestly, fair enough. One plate turns into strategy.
The second one starts looking inevitable.
A Buffet With A Story Worth Knowing
Margaritas feels like a find. This Des Moines buffet sits inside the Clarion Inn on Army Post Road, which makes discovering it feel a little more satisfying.
The setting is low-key, but the food gives the place real destination energy once you step inside.
This is not the kind of buffet that relies on quantity alone.
The spread has a clear sense of care, with slow-roasted meats, warm tortillas, soups, sauces, taco fixings, and desserts all working together instead of feeling like random trays in a line.
The family-friendly setup also makes it easy for groups, especially when everyone wants to build a different kind of plate.
That mix of variety, comfort, and bold flavor is what turns the meal into more than a quick stop.
For an Iowa buffet with generous plates, real flavor, and enough choices to make the second round feel unavoidable, this Des Moines spot is worth finding hungry.
You will find Margaritas Mexican Buffet and Catering at 1810 Army Post Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315.
The Buffet Spread That Changes Everything
The first time you see the full buffet line here, it takes a moment to process just how much is actually available. We are not talking about a few token dishes thrown into warming trays.
The lineup can include birria, tamales, flautas, chipotle chicken, chilaquiles, fajitas, rice, beans, menudo, pozole, caldo de camarón, and plenty more depending on the day.
Fresh tortillas are brought right to your table upon request, which is a detail that genuinely elevates the whole experience.
The make-your-own taco bar is a highlight on its own, letting you layer ingredients exactly the way you want them. I found myself going back three times just to try different combinations, and I regret nothing.
The food is kept hot and the trays are refilled regularly during busy service hours, so you are not stuck picking through the bottom of a lukewarm pan.
Every single item I tried had flavor that felt intentional, not like something thrown together in bulk just to fill space on a buffet line.
Slow-Roasted Meats That Steal The Show
If there is one category that genuinely separates this buffet from anything I have tried at a standard chain restaurant, it is the meat. The slow-cooked options here are the kind that make you stop mid-bite and just appreciate the moment.
The birria beef is rich, deeply seasoned, and tender enough to fall apart on a fork. You can build it into a taco with all the fixings, or just eat it straight from the spoon, which I may or may not have done.
Other pork, chicken, and seafood options rotate through the buffet, giving the spread enough variety that one plate never feels like the whole story.
These proteins show up as the kind of food that makes you think about family recipes and long cooking days, not something you expect to find at a buffet in a hotel-adjacent dining room.
The fact that dishes like these are available all-you-can-eat style is almost too good to believe.
I went back for the birria beef twice, and I was not even slightly sorry about it.
Fresh Tortillas And The Salsa Bar
Fresh tortillas are one of those small details that can completely transform a Mexican meal, and Margaritas takes this seriously.
Upon request, the staff brings warm tortillas directly to your table, which means you are never stuck tearing into something cold and stiff from a bag.
Pair those tortillas with the salsa bar, and you have a combination that could honestly carry an entire meal on its own. The salsa selection is described as expansive, and that word is not an exaggeration.
There are multiple options ranging in heat and flavor profile, so whether you are someone who reaches for the mild stuff or someone who considers habanero a starting point, there is something here for you.
I spent more time at the salsa bar than I probably should have, sampling different combinations and figuring out which one worked best with the birria and which one was made for the flautas.
A well-stocked salsa bar is a sign that a restaurant respects the full flavor experience, not just the protein on the plate.
This one absolutely delivers on that promise.
Soups, Stews, And The Caldo De Camarón Surprise
One of the most unexpected highlights of the buffet is the soup and stew section.
Pozole, a traditional Mexican stew made with hominy and slow-cooked meat, is available here and it is the real thing, not a watered-down version designed for a cautious crowd.
Then there is caldo de camarón, which caught me completely off guard. A rich, flavorful shrimp soup is not something you expect to find at a midwestern buffet, and yet here we are.
The soup options add a dimension to the meal that most buffets skip entirely. It is easy to fill your plate with tacos and flautas and call it a day, but taking a few minutes to try the soups here is absolutely worth it.
I almost missed the caldo de camarón entirely because I was too focused on the taco bar, and I am glad I circled back. It was one of the most memorable bites of the whole visit.
Desserts That Deserve Their Own Category
Dessert at a buffet is often an afterthought, a tray of something beige sitting at the end of the line that you take one bite of and immediately regret. That is not what happens here.
The flan has earned specific praise from visitors, and I completely understand why. It is smooth, properly caramelized, and sweet without being overwhelming, the kind of dessert that makes you want to clear a little extra room just to go back for another bite.
Beyond that classic, the dessert section can include cheesecake, pumpkin bars, and other small sweet options, which rounds out the spread nicely for people who want something a little different.
The fruit bar adds a fresh option for anyone who wants to balance things out after a heavy plate.
I am not usually someone who gets excited about buffet desserts, but I found myself at that end of the table longer than I planned. The dessert section alone is worth saving room for.
The Atmosphere Inside The Restaurant
The dining room at Margaritas has a warm, inviting energy that makes it easy to settle in and stay a while.
The decor leans into the festive side of Mexican restaurant culture without feeling overdone or theme-park-ish.
Music plays in the background, adding to the mood without making conversation difficult. There is even a dance floor area for events, and the restaurant has a banquet room that can be reserved for parties and larger gatherings.
The fact that this place offers catering on top of the buffet service tells you that the kitchen is capable of scaling up without cutting corners.
Families with kids are especially welcome here, and that relaxed, kid-friendly atmosphere makes it a practical choice for a group outing where not everyone has the same appetite or patience.
I noticed the space was clean and well-maintained throughout my visit, which matters more than people usually admit when reviewing a buffet.
The overall vibe is unfussy and comfortable, the kind of place where you can show up hungry and leave genuinely happy without feeling like you needed to dress up or plan ahead.
Pricing And What You Actually Get For It
Pricing at a buffet always comes down to a simple question: does what you get justify what you pay.
At Margaritas, the answer leans toward yes, especially when you factor in the quality and variety of what is on the line.
Current public listings place the restaurant in the roughly $20 to $30 range, while specific buffet prices can shift by day, service, or update, so it is smart to confirm before you go.
For an all-you-can-eat spread that can include slow-cooked meats, soups, a full salsa bar, fresh tortillas, and desserts, that range starts to make a lot of sense.
One thing worth knowing before you go with a larger group: gratuity policies can vary by restaurant and party size, so it is always better to ask ahead if you are planning for a crowd.
Drinks may also affect the final total, so factor that into your budget. Overall, I felt like I got solid value for what I paid, especially given how much I actually ate and enjoyed.
Best Times To Visit And What To Expect
Knowing when to show up at a buffet makes a real difference in the experience, and Margaritas has a schedule that rewards a little planning.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so do not make the drive on those days without checking first.
Wednesday through Friday, doors open at 11 AM and close at 8 PM. Saturday and Sunday hours start earlier at 9 AM, with Sunday wrapping up at 5 PM.
Arriving closer to opening time on a weekday is a smart move if you want the buffet trays fresh and fully stocked.
A few reviews mention that arriving late, within an hour of closing, can mean some trays are not being restocked, which is worth keeping in mind if you are a big eater or a slow browser. The lunch crowd on a Thursday tends to keep things moving at a good pace.
For anyone in the area just passing through, this spot is genuinely worth a detour. The phone number is 515-822-9097 if you want to call ahead and confirm hours before making the trip.
Why This Spot Deserves A Spot On Your List
There is something genuinely special about a restaurant that commits fully to a concept and executes it with care.
Margaritas Mexican Buffet and Catering is not trying to be a trendy taco spot or a fusion experiment. It is a straightforward, high-quality, all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet, and it does that job with a lot of heart.
The combination of slow-roasted meats, housemade dishes, a stocked salsa bar, fresh tortillas, seafood soup, and a dessert section that actually earns attention is not something you find everywhere.
The fact that it also offers catering and a banquet room makes it a versatile choice for more than just a casual lunch outing.
Des Moines has a lot of good food to offer, but this particular buffet occupies a niche that very few places can fill. I left my visit feeling like I had discovered something that more people genuinely need to know about.
If you are someone who loves bold flavors, generous portions, and the freedom to try a little bit of everything, Margaritas is the kind of place that earns a return visit before you have even finished your first plate.