Mariscos El Capitan — Restaurant in Des Moines

Ok, so I will be frequenting this place. It was amazing food. That is the take-a-way everyone should have of this place is that they do AMAZING mexican seafood. There are some points that might push a person away or make them timid about trying "seafood", but give them a try. Here's the thing, the food is top notch. It is seafood you would expect in a nice place in the heart of downtown Des Moines or out in West Des Moines. Lobster, crab, oysters, octopus, you name it, they got it. I tried their El Capitan Tower that is a stack that starts with its base of amazing fish ceviche. Just the right amount of salt and citric acid, then sliced octopus, a layer of raw shrimp that has soaked in lime, more octopus, then cooked shrimp, and imitation crab all drizzled with some sauce served on a plate with a spicey dark sauce, fine sliced onions slightly pickled cucumber slices, and 2 oysters and slices of lime. The portions are huge. Even the fish tacos my wife ordered for just $15 was so big she only got through half her meal. The 2 friends we came with also were thrilled with the seafood they ordered.

Now the things that might turn you away. This amazing food is made in a very old building in a very cruddy part of town. It's an ugly building in a rough neighborhood that might cause the general public to say, "uh, I don't trust any seafood in a place like this". The food deserves a high-class building and location. The mixed drinks were OK, nothing special. There were some cool sounding jumbo drinks, but we were there for food and not getting wasted, so the typical margaritas and such are just nothing to write home about. Stick to beer or pop, or heck, give one of these crazy drinks a try.

My honest takeaway is that a talented kitchen staff and owner found a dirt cheap place they could afford to give the american dream a try. I'm hoping that they succeed and either move locations someday or do well enough they can give the place a big makeover.

Such good food... just amazing, and I'm so glad our group gave...

The freshest seafood you could expect from a midwestern location. We had molcajete that had grilled chicken, steak, shrimp and grilled veggies (onion, cactus, peppers) It was fabulous. I thought the menu prices seemed high but once you see the amount of food you get paired with the quality, it is totally worth it. Another guest at the table had the seafood tower and it was impressive. The flavors were great. The Birria tacos are great too. Love that they bring two salsas to the table. One spicy option and one more medium/mild. Service can be lacking during busy times. Being left without drinks when eating isn’t fun especially when you have spicy food, not getting meal accompaniments (crackers/tostadas for ceviche) Didn’t see a server for awhile but they were very busy so it’s understandable. Love...

If you’re craving fresh and flavorful seafood, this place is a must-visit! The seafood cocktail was packed with shrimp, a rich tomato-based sauce, and topped with fresh avocado and cucumber—perfectly balanced and refreshing. The seafood ceviche was another highlight, with a mix of shrimp and octopus marinated in lime juice, mixed with crisp red onions, tomatoes, and cilantro—bursting with freshness. And to top it all off, the guacamole was creamy, well-seasoned, and full of delicious chunks of avocado and tomato.

Everything was well-prepared, and the flavors were spot on! Definitely recommend for anyone looking for...