flying mango

best restaurant, period. best service, best food, best atmosphere, awesome drink selection and affordable wine. the owner is so friendly and there are people that actually know how to cook in the kitchen. awesome, no wonder we go there bi-weekly

memphis ain't got nothin' on the mango. let me say upfront that i love memphis-style ribs. i've eaten them multiple times at the rendezvous and corky's in memphis (go to corky's if you if ask me) and flying mango's stack up well. the half-rack was 6 meaty ribs with excellent smokiness and just this side of fall-off-the-bone tender. the sauce (in a squeeze bottle at each table) was delicious. not particularly spicy, but flavorful nonetheless. had the red beans and rice as a side. the red beans were made nicely spicy with the addition of andouille sausage. lip-smacking good. and, of course, i had to have the corn bread with cinnamon butter. de-lish. short, but well-chosen selections of wine and beer. the ommegang hennepin paired very nicely with the ribs. excellent meal and attentive, friendly service. i'm anxious to go back to try out the rest of the menu.

too yummy!. yum!!! my cousin brought me here because it's her favorite restaurant. i loved it!! i had a hard time choosing what to get because everything sounded delicious. i ended up ordering the cajun catfish and it was delish! my cousin had the brisket which also amazing. i will definitely come back before i leave and whenever i come into town.

outstanding. food and service were excellent - by far the best brisket and ribs we have ever had. the atmosphere and staff are both outstanding as well - it doesn't have that chain feel i have come to abhor. it took some doing to talk my wife into giving the flying mango a shot and now it's definitely her favorite place to go. we will be monthly regulars from this point on.

you won't want to miss this. the flying mango is by far my favorite restaurant in the des moines area. it's kind of like a mixture of caribbean, cajun and bbq. everything i've had here has been delicious. the smoked chicken dip is a great way to start your experience. the ribs are cooked to perfection, the shrimp creole is super yummy and the lime and garlic shrimp over fettucine is delicious. the corn bread here is delicious. not only is the food amazing but the service is friendly. you don't want to miss this place.

best bbq in the south is in des moines!. every now and then you stumble across a joint where the food conveys a sense of passion and pride that is, in a word, "inspirational." and it was in des moines, of all places, in a little place called the "flying mango" that i recently sampled the best smoked brisket and ribs i've ever had the pleasure to know.

i hail from bbq land. i've been in a lot famous and not-so-famous places with stacks of wood out back and smoke a rollin' from the stack. memphis, kc, north carolina, texas… shocking as it may seem, the crew at the flying mango are cooking something very, very special. and it ain't easy for a southern man to admit that mike wedeking, a damn yankee, has mastered the signature dish of dixie!

citizens of des moines, i wonder if you know that you've got a genuine, gold-plated, diamond-encrusted, world-class bbq joint nestled in your back yard.

enjoy! i know i will every time i find myself in the vicinity.

good stuff. food quality was very good across all entrees at our table. ribs and brisket were certainly better than most restaurants offer.

prices were fine, in line with competitors.

we received excellent service.

environment is lacking. it's a former catering-only company, and the dining room is cramped and not very visually pleasing. this is the only real knock on the place. it's certainly worth a visit.

tasty cajun and southern fare. amazing red beans and rice. my chicken creole lacked any chicken, as did my fellow diner's dish, however, we both left happy.

mmmm! i keep going back for the ribs - best in des moines - he always gets the brisket! both worth the 45 weekend wait - or pick it up to take home. glad this caterer opened a place to sit and eat. jeans or suits, comfortable location.

i went there with my dad, stepmom, and wife. my wife said she would give it 4 1/2 stars. the service was a bit slow that night, we ordered an appetizer that came with the main course. my wife said her apple pie was cold. but the main course is excellent.

over priced. not that good for the money.

absolutely incredible!. i was in des moines in june and found the flying mango on urbanspoon before my trip. what a fortunate discovery!

though my family and i required some help from mike over the phone in order to get to the restaurant, we got there just as they were opening, around 5:30.

the service was warm and friendly, including a personal visit to our table by mike. the real story, however, is the food!

someone had the ribs, and two of us had the chopped brisket sandwich, which was absolutely incredible. i understand why it's mike's favorite.

i've had great barbeque, including some amazing brisket in houston and dallas, but i have never tasted brisket like mike's. there is no equal.

by the way, the wine list was great and the desserts were just as good as the entrees.

if you're in des moines, you've got to stop and have dinner at the flying mango. i suggest the brisket sandwich, and tell mike the wilson family from atlanta said thanks for an incredible meal.

warm, friendly neighborhood place with the best bbq beef brisket anywhere. great beer choices too.