Daniel L.

I have eaten at many Mexican restaurants across Iowa and Mi Tierra is by far my favorite. It's the closest to California Mex that brings you the sensibilities of a hole in the wall Taqueria. I was initially searching for another cuisine and the Yelp App unexpectedly led me to this hidden gem. Parking was plentiful. The front counter, hand-written wall menu, white tiled floors, plastic tablecloths, and TV culminated the casual decor. Appropriate for quiet family hangouts. After dining here several times it was obvious the word has yet to spread about this restaurant. I have had good experience with the Lengua Huarache ($6). The chopped lengua was spread across the perfectly fried masa stacked with refried beans, avocado, lettuce, crushed queso, tomato, crema, and cilantro. The price may seem high, but it was also the biggest shoe I have never eaten. The quality of the beef tongue could be spongier. This is a rare dish to find in this part of the country, but I also experienced better. I also enjoyed the huge bowl of Menudo ($7.50) that came loaded with plenty of tripe, red chili pepper base, lime, and plenty of hand warming corn tortillas. I loved the amount of tripe added to the soup, but the broth could use a boost with onions and cilantro. Serving was again generous. It's a dish to have in the midst of harsh wintery days. Their Pastor Taco ($1.75) and Barbacoa Taco ($1.75) came with double deck corn tortillas, onion, and cilantro. The meat could be better seasoned. The onion and cilantro also lacked the necessary pop to kick the flavor into another gear. The tacos were passable, but not the greatest. Service was friendly and each meal came with a big basket of chips and salsa. This is a good spot for those who are tired of "Mexican" food covered in cheese, microwaved rice, and yellowed guacamole and lettuce. Unfortunately, they don't have black beans or an assortment of aqua fresca or otherwise I would've come back more often. I'd be interested in trying their Tortas and Chilaquiles on a future visit.