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In all of Des Moines, there exists one local tortilleria business that has grown over the years. This is Tortilleria Luna. Located at 2250 Hubbell Ave, Tortilleria Luna is a local business on the East side of Des Moines. Although the times vary, the tortilleria is open seven days a week. The shop makes Mexican-style tortillas and other Mexican food. The tortilleria has gained popularity among Des Moines locals.

Tortilleria Luna recently celebrated its fourth anniversary in June 2022. They have had booming business for events such as weddings, potlucks, and Quinceaneras,a celebration for young girls becoming women at the age of 15. Tortilleria Luna is the business for  ready-to-go Mexican food events. Casual lunch and dinner events include the option for delivery. 

When I first walked into the tortilleria, I heard the tortilla machines up and running. This was a loud sound of machinery mixing and flattening tortilla mix. That soon made me realize that the tortillas are made fresh. I entered through the dining area, which is very spacious for a couple of small parties of maybe two to six people. The style and decor of the tortilleria are very simple, making it very appropriate and comfortable for their casual lunch customers. 

When you enter through the main entrance any day of the week, you are automatically hit with a fresh wave of Mexican dishes. This consists of the overwhelming yet irresistible smell of fresh and heated rice, meat, beans, and especially tortilla dough. 

During my first dine in experience, I was greeted by a staff member and began to make an order based on the day’s specials. There were two meat choices, three side choices, and also a drink and dessert option. There was also the option to make my meal choice into a burrito.

While ordering, I was able to see on the left side of the register how they have bags of tortilla chips and Chicharrones (Cracklings, also known as pigskin) laid out for customers to quickly purchase. On the right side of the register, there are two refrigerator structures. One is for drinks and the other contains handmade Mexican-style sauces for customers to purchase along with their food.

While the kind and helpful staff member was ringing my order up, I began to notice other staff members working to make fresh tortillas while going about their busy schedules and work routines. 

Tortillas

Customers may order tortillas in a two-pound pack. . Their motto is “Calientitas Como Ninguna!” which in English translates to, “Hot Like No Other!” When first opened from the package, each tortilla is a soft white color that feels so warm in the palm of your hand. I easily tore the tortilla and enjoyed a soft and authentic taste and texture. 

Side and Meat Choice

The small Mexican potato side I ordered smelled delicious and had a great soft texture, almost like plain mashed potatoes. It contains tomato and onion slices as well, but my favorite part was how there were chunks of potato contrasted by completely soft and mashed potato, giving it the feel that it was a hand-crafted mix. 

The Chicharrón en Salsa Roja, which in English means Pigskin in Red Sauce, had a great texture, given that the pigskin was submerged into the red sauce which complimented the taste. It was not spicy to me but definitely did add a unique taste to the dish. 

Beverage & Dessert

A must-try hot beverage from Tortilleria Luna would definitely be the Champurrado (Mexican Chocolate drink). I ordered this at the Tortilleria Luna on a rainy day , but would definitely suit any occasion. The Champurrado was very satisfying to drink as it melted in my mouth. Along with the Champurrado, I ate the Churro. It was very crunchy and sweet, just like a churro should be! They recently implemented this desert into their menu, so it is worth trying. 

My Meal

My full meal consisted of a side of rice and beans, and the main course was Carne en salsa con Nopales (Steak in sauce with Cactus). When first taking a bite of my rice, I thought it was authentic and well made. The cooking style and taste had various similarities in the way my mother makes rice. She got her recipes from my grandmother, who is a Mexican native, allowing me to identify the similarities in our culture’s food.  

Once I tasted the beans, I knew I had to mix both together., They were a perfect combination and really complimented each other in their texture. The beans were my favorite part, being cooked to perfection and  rich with flavor. 

The Steak with Cactus was very well heated and tasty, having me savor every bite. It was not too chewy and not too stiff either. I felt it was the perfect texture to have the cactus join it. The spice level of the meat was very minimal, which is appropriate for others that may not enjoy a more spicy dish. The natural taste of cactus complimented the way the beef was cooked and seasoned, along with its sauce. The addition of their tortillas made it perfectly clear that Tortilleria Luna has authentic flavors that are true to Mexican culture and definitely live up to expectations and positive reviews. 

I would rate my overall experience at Tortilleria Luna as excellent. The staff are very dedicated workers and the owner, Liliana Oveido, was very kind and welcoming to me as a customer of her business.

Something I would like to see is a bigger location for the tortilla since it is well deserved. Tortilleria Luna has gained popularity over the last three years and will continue to grow in business as it is the only tortilleria business in Des Moines. However, the space is very homey and can be comfortable for casual customers. 

Staff members are so dedicated that they wake up at 3 am every Sunday to prepare for the upcoming week’s business. With fresh new foods made every day, the food sells out by the end of the day. Tortilleria Luna has made business all over Des Moines and even other towns. They have gained positive exposure due to the delicious tortillas made by hand. All dishes were exquisite and there was no room for any displeasing feelings from me. I look forward to eating there again!

If you are looking for authentic Mexican food and love to support local businesses, Tortilelria Luna is the place to make you feel at home.