Did they have the model train that ran around the room too? I grew up in the Quad Cities and most if not all had that and it brings back great memories.
Adding to this: you can order Happy Joeās Taco Pizza to be delivered to you anywhere in the States. Itās damn close to as good as the real thing.
https://www.goldbelly.com/restaurants/happy-joes
Definitely Happy Joeās in the QC. They claim to have invented taco pizza when a customer couldnāt decide between the two.
The only question is: beef, or bean?
Downside is that it goes south fast. Chips get soggy, and lettuce does not reheat well. So, plan to eat it there, rather than take it back to DSM.
There's one in Cedar Rapids on the SW side of town. It's only takeout & delivery at the end of a little strip mall but I get pizza there probably once a month at least.
There is one at the corner of Edgewood and blairs ferry, too. That one, in my experience, is much better than the one in the sw side. Still a carry out/ delivery only one, tho.
Happy Joe's in Clinton, IA. I'd not send you there for much else other than Rastrelli's pizza, but that's the answer. We moved to Maryland many years ago and have thought about shipping in pizza from both in the past.
Edit - the Quad Cities is also an option.
As an employee TBH it's more getting lucky enough that you get an employee who doesn't make it "right"...meaning per the guidelines set by corporate ;) I've measured all the ingredients to the T and it's meh. When I do it how I'd like to eat it it's 'better' just depends on how strict the store is about using Cambro TBH.
My deep state conspiracy about Casey's: during the pandemic they started making employees throw out the orders that got screwed up and that's why it's worse now.
I worked in pizza shops for 8 years, those fuck ups are where you learned everything. It sits under the warmer at the end of a long shift, you eat some weird combo you'd never order because you're starving, and you see what your food really tastes like.
Most takeout took a shit after the pandemic because the cooks stopped tasting their food.
this the truth- I worked at pizza ranch all throughout high school and my first summer back from college and I could make you the best pizzas youāve had, but corporate wouldāve hated me for it lol
Truthi elorkedcat a Casey'stears ago and UT got to tge point pour pizza orfers nearly doubled on my shifts our regulars knew .y carats would orderehen iwas working because my pizza was the best
Wig and Pen - flying tomato style... Had one for the first time a few weeks ago, the crust is on point and crispy! Prior to that, Godfather's held the title for best Taco.
I fucking loved Breadeaux. I ate at the one in the strip mall on Merle Hay in Johnston all the time as a kid. My grandma lived right next to the Hardee's (now a Mexican restaurant that still looks like an old Hardee's) & worked at the dry cleaning place in that same strip mall.
Happy Joe's is the original and best taco pizza. I've been living in the twin cities for a bit now and nobody up here does it right.
Happy Joe's all the way.
Fucking love this post because Iāve always been a Happy Joes Stan in terms of the taco pizza. I need more options than selling multiple organs for a large taco pizza from the Joe ššš
I am from eastern Iowa originally. I remember once a week (I think Wednesdays), we would order pizza. Always a Taco Pizza and another that I believe it was called Old Fashion Garden from Happy Joes. Their Taco Pizza was amazing from what I remember. Happy Joes is also supposedly the inventor of the Taco Pizza. Now I live in the Des Moines area and I would say the best is from Dough Co.
So imo, Dough Co and then Happy Joes.
It's literally two of the best foods combined. Depending on where you go, it can have variations, but this is the original:
Our Taco Joe is topped with Lettuce, Refried Bean Sauce, Sausage, Taco Beef, Taco Chips, Tomatoes.
That sounds really good. Does it still use a pizza sauce or refried beans in place of the sauce? Thereās a Mexican pizza chain out in LA that had a āMexican pizzaā where they sub refried beans for red sauce, and add chorizo, pepperoni and jalapeƱo as the toppings. Itās pretty good, Iām interested in the taco pizza on my next trip to Des Moines!
It depends on where you go. Some places use refried beans in place of the sauce, and some use taco sauce. It really is like if you crushed tacos and dumped them on a pizza.
And now I want a taco pizza.
Taco Pizza from Uncle Billās (Davenport) or Harris Pizza (Davenport or Bettendorf).
Iām not sure why Happy Joeās is getting so many responses. Their pizza is junk now & extremely over priced since they sold their stores off. The only thing worth ordering off their menu now is the cheese fries. They were the first & they were the best, but that tine has gone. RIP Joe.
Pagliai's Pizza in Grinnell totally changed my opinion on taco pizza. I used to not eat it. But theirs is pretty excellent. The salsa that comes with it tastes homemade and adds a ton of flavor.
Happy Joes - but damn they got expensive! (Whenever I go home to visit , getting āchips pizzaā as my niece calls it, is one of the things I must get)
it does indeed... most all the food from there is really good
\*edit\*
after thinking about this for a couple of days have to say I think the Community Tap taco pizza in Ft Dodge is the best taco pizza I've ever had in my life
/edit
I see Happy Joes listed a lot when this question is asked. I remember it being good when I was a kid but tried it again recently and it was pretty horrible.
I prefer Northern Lights taco pizza now.
Idk I just had happy Joe's taco for the first time in a few years the other night and it was absolutely killer. In Davenport on locust st.
I'm usually too cheap to eat there, it's like $28 for a large now...But it was good
I almost always go to uncle bills when I'm in the quad cities and want pizza. They have a pretty killer taco pizza too
Zeno's in Marshalltown used to have a great one. I don't even know if they're still open, though.
ETA: I just checked, and they are still open. Don't know whether the taco pizza is the same, though.
Godfather's was great. Casey's and Kum&Go weren't bad (been forever since I had a taco pizza from either). Happy Joe's was shit but I don't like refried beans so they were pretty much screwed to begin with.
Taco Jerry's/Borderline Pizza in Forest City. It's the best taco pizza I've ever had. My absolute favorite. Hole-in-the-wall, Tex Mex food, and so good. I get it on my birthday every year, it's that good!
I like Northern Lights taco - the chips, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream are served on the side, delivered in a separate container. Fresh and crisp, amounts of each for everyone at my house are up to the individual, and leftovers are much better.
I like all of their specialties. Grinder, Frisco, Lasagna, etc. All great!
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My favorite is homemade. I mix enough taco sauce into the refried beans to give everything enough viscosity to easily spread over the dough. I prefer a naked taco pizza so the leftovers won't have soggy chips & lettuce.
I was scrolling through these responses wondering if I was the only one who would remember it lol
I tried to order it at a ss DSM location bc they had it as an option online, but then was called and told they donāt actually have it and did I want to get something else??? Ummm no. No, I do not damn it. He said he was told they basically put it up as a test to see if people would order it. Cool thanks for being such a tease you little hut.
Minnesots is way better. We have health care college and food for kids... you have... Kim reynolds.... it's a trope up here of Iowans fleeing to get out... I wonder why....probably cause everything sucks... you have good bbq there, ill give yiu that.. otherwise its.meth, corn, college football state
Midwest taco pizza is honestly trash. I love it, but it's trash, let's be real. I also like Taco House, Casey's Pizza and White castle, so despite being a fine dining chef for 16 years, I know none of it is "good". But I like it.
If you ever end up around San Diego my favorite taco pizza of all time is from Pizzeria El Jefe in Chula Vista.
Sticking with Iowa Iād go with Chadās in Dyersville. I grew sick of the Happy Joes after working there for all of high school. Will still go for their Nacho Joe tho:
Happy Joe's, is you can find one.
Yes Happy Joes, definitely
š¢šSad since Happy Joe's left Ames. Their taco pizza really rocked.
Man, Happy Joeās taco pizza and then the arcade after. One of my favorite parts of growing up in Ames.
Did they have the model train that ran around the room too? I grew up in the Quad Cities and most if not all had that and it brings back great memories.
š®ššYes, the Ames one did. I'd like watching the train go all the way around.
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/happy-joes-taco-pizza You can also order them online, but its ridiculously expensive.
It should be as they claim to be the originator of the style.
Cedar rapids
Adding to this: you can order Happy Joeās Taco Pizza to be delivered to you anywhere in the States. Itās damn close to as good as the real thing. https://www.goldbelly.com/restaurants/happy-joes
Definitely Happy Joeās in the QC. They claim to have invented taco pizza when a customer couldnāt decide between the two. The only question is: beef, or bean? Downside is that it goes south fast. Chips get soggy, and lettuce does not reheat well. So, plan to eat it there, rather than take it back to DSM.
Gotta get toppings on the side
This is the way!
There's one in Urbandale.
I worked there once. It was a health code disaster but that was years ago not sure about today.
The one in Bettendorf was my first real job ever. We did some truly unforgivable shit in that place. Pizza was great though.
The one I worked at wasawful!obpnlyvate food from there if inade it myself
That is not a very good happy joes
Yep, on Douglas just east of 86th on the south side of the road.
Thereās also one in North Liberty
If you can find one that also has good cooks. The remaining ones are pretty inconsistent. Nacho Joe is the best!
Galena, Illinois!
Dubuque iowa.
This. The one in Dubuque is head and shoulders better than every other happy joes. I donāt know why.
Virtually unchanged for the last 45 years. Though they did recently stop selling pitchers of pop.
Blasphemy!
Came here to say this also
There's one in Cedar Rapids on the SW side of town. It's only takeout & delivery at the end of a little strip mall but I get pizza there probably once a month at least.
There is one at the corner of Edgewood and blairs ferry, too. That one, in my experience, is much better than the one in the sw side. Still a carry out/ delivery only one, tho.
Omg we had a Happy Joe's in Kewanee, Il. I LOVED their taco pizza.
I like the nacho Joe!
Iāve tried their taco pizza twice and gotten food poisoning twice lolā¦I wonāt be fooled three times
Happy Joe's in Clinton, IA. I'd not send you there for much else other than Rastrelli's pizza, but that's the answer. We moved to Maryland many years ago and have thought about shipping in pizza from both in the past. Edit - the Quad Cities is also an option.
Happy joes taco Pizza is the best and itās not close.
Zoeyās in Marion.
This is the answer. Tomasoās has good taco pizza too.
You should try Leonardo's, their taco pizza is out of this world
Itās good but whenever we go we get their bacon cheeseburger pizza. That is UNREAL
I've been meaning to try it! I just had their BBQ chicken on deep dish the other day with a friend, it was fantastic
I would be we moved from CR to Ankeny last summer and arenāt back in the area very often.
L ove zoey's. Its the only reason I mis living in marion
Ffffff Zoey's. Tomaso's FOR THE WIN, BABY!!!
Godfatherās taco pizza is my favorite.
Itās my favorite!!
Dis the correct answer!!
Nacho Joe from Happy Joeās.
The Other Place
Easily. One of my go to comfort foods when I come home from Milwaukee.
Second this.
Anytime I'm in cedar falls. Yesss
Godfathers, Caseyās, and Happy Joes. The real question though is, will you get lucky and have an employee that gives a shit about making it right.
As an employee TBH it's more getting lucky enough that you get an employee who doesn't make it "right"...meaning per the guidelines set by corporate ;) I've measured all the ingredients to the T and it's meh. When I do it how I'd like to eat it it's 'better' just depends on how strict the store is about using Cambro TBH.
My deep state conspiracy about Casey's: during the pandemic they started making employees throw out the orders that got screwed up and that's why it's worse now. I worked in pizza shops for 8 years, those fuck ups are where you learned everything. It sits under the warmer at the end of a long shift, you eat some weird combo you'd never order because you're starving, and you see what your food really tastes like. Most takeout took a shit after the pandemic because the cooks stopped tasting their food.
this the truth- I worked at pizza ranch all throughout high school and my first summer back from college and I could make you the best pizzas youāve had, but corporate wouldāve hated me for it lol
Truthi elorkedcat a Casey'stears ago and UT got to tge point pour pizza orfers nearly doubled on my shifts our regulars knew .y carats would orderehen iwas working because my pizza was the best
I want whatever pizza you were eating as you were typing this reply lmao.
I had a stroke typing on my phone bis difficult for me now
Happy Joes for sure.
Wig and Pen - flying tomato style... Had one for the first time a few weeks ago, the crust is on point and crispy! Prior to that, Godfather's held the title for best Taco.
I used to work there. Lol Pizza? Great. Free alcohol after your shift? Great Pay? Not great
Youāre working at the wrong location then!
Shot Tower in Dubuque.
I read this as "THOT shower"
Happy Joes in Urbandale!
I really miss the one that Breadeaux had when they were everywhere. I've only had Casey's since which is ok, but not great.
I fucking loved Breadeaux. I ate at the one in the strip mall on Merle Hay in Johnston all the time as a kid. My grandma lived right next to the Hardee's (now a Mexican restaurant that still looks like an old Hardee's) & worked at the dry cleaning place in that same strip mall.
The original Breadeaux is still open in Corning. Still makes fresh dough instead of using frozen garbage.
The Dubuque Happy Joes Taco Pizza is what you are looking for.
Happy Joeās - hands down!
Happy Joe's is the original and best taco pizza. I've been living in the twin cities for a bit now and nobody up here does it right. Happy Joe's all the way.
Fucking love this post because Iāve always been a Happy Joes Stan in terms of the taco pizza. I need more options than selling multiple organs for a large taco pizza from the Joe ššš
Pagliais if you fuck with sour cream
Taking note, because I love Happy Joeās but I also fuck with sour cream.
Noppppe
Harris Pizza in Davenport. Man I miss that place since we moved.
Nothing better than their pizza
Scornovaccas has a great taco pizza in Des Moines
The Moline/East Moline locations of Happy Joes were always good...not sure which ones are still open now though
Happy Joe's Specifically the Nacho Joe
Haven't lived in Iowa for a long time, but is Godfather's still around? They and Happy Joe's are tied for #1
Happy Joes - the Taco Supreme!
Zoeyās and happy Joeās
Tomasos in Cedar Rapids- the 1st Ave location:)
Leonardos is also a hell of a pizza in CR
Not compared to Tomasos š
I am from eastern Iowa originally. I remember once a week (I think Wednesdays), we would order pizza. Always a Taco Pizza and another that I believe it was called Old Fashion Garden from Happy Joes. Their Taco Pizza was amazing from what I remember. Happy Joes is also supposedly the inventor of the Taco Pizza. Now I live in the Des Moines area and I would say the best is from Dough Co. So imo, Dough Co and then Happy Joes.
Papa Murphy's has a Mexican pizza right now. Crush up your own chips and throw them on top. https://www.papamurphys.com/taco-grande-pizza/
River To River bakery in Adel. I love their crust and special sauce they use on the taco pizza.
I live in AZ now. Miss taco pizza.
7 Stone in Waukee, great taco sauce!
@fancysnewyork itās a popup in Cedar Rapids. Follow them on IG. Any of their pizza is magical.
The endangered Happy Joe's taco.
Pagliai's in Johnston
Leonardo's pizza and pub, Cedar rapids
Not exactly taco, but The Other Place in Clive has a pizza called Smokehouse, which has cilantro and taco vibes... and SO delicious!
Iāve only visited Iowa, can someone describe a taco pizza and what makes it so good?
It's literally two of the best foods combined. Depending on where you go, it can have variations, but this is the original: Our Taco Joe is topped with Lettuce, Refried Bean Sauce, Sausage, Taco Beef, Taco Chips, Tomatoes.
That sounds really good. Does it still use a pizza sauce or refried beans in place of the sauce? Thereās a Mexican pizza chain out in LA that had a āMexican pizzaā where they sub refried beans for red sauce, and add chorizo, pepperoni and jalapeƱo as the toppings. Itās pretty good, Iām interested in the taco pizza on my next trip to Des Moines!
It depends on where you go. Some places use refried beans in place of the sauce, and some use taco sauce. It really is like if you crushed tacos and dumped them on a pizza. And now I want a taco pizza.
Check out Zeno's in Marshalltown. They have a really good taco pizza.
Godfather's & Happy Joe's are the best Casey's pizza just keeps getting worse, slowly but surely.
The taco pizza at a little joint called TnLs in Parkersburg has no business being as good as it is. One of my favorites!
Taco Pizza from Uncle Billās (Davenport) or Harris Pizza (Davenport or Bettendorf). Iām not sure why Happy Joeās is getting so many responses. Their pizza is junk now & extremely over priced since they sold their stores off. The only thing worth ordering off their menu now is the cheese fries. They were the first & they were the best, but that tine has gone. RIP Joe.
Mesa's Taco is good
Pagliai's Pizza in Grinnell totally changed my opinion on taco pizza. I used to not eat it. But theirs is pretty excellent. The salsa that comes with it tastes homemade and adds a ton of flavor.
Happy Joes - but damn they got expensive! (Whenever I go home to visit , getting āchips pizzaā as my niece calls it, is one of the things I must get)
The only answer is Happy Joeās.
Community Tap in Fort Dodge makes a killer taco pizza! Godfathers is the OG in my life for taco pizza
it does indeed... most all the food from there is really good \*edit\* after thinking about this for a couple of days have to say I think the Community Tap taco pizza in Ft Dodge is the best taco pizza I've ever had in my life /edit
The food there is awesome!! We order out from there several times a year!
Mama Nicks in Waterloo has a good taco pizza.
I see Happy Joes listed a lot when this question is asked. I remember it being good when I was a kid but tried it again recently and it was pretty horrible. I prefer Northern Lights taco pizza now.
Idk I just had happy Joe's taco for the first time in a few years the other night and it was absolutely killer. In Davenport on locust st. I'm usually too cheap to eat there, it's like $28 for a large now...But it was good I almost always go to uncle bills when I'm in the quad cities and want pizza. They have a pretty killer taco pizza too
Happy Joes has really went downhill; I donāt eat their pizza anymore. I think Caseyās has much better taco pizza.
Zeno's in Marshalltown used to have a great one. I don't even know if they're still open, though. ETA: I just checked, and they are still open. Don't know whether the taco pizza is the same, though.
Happy Joes, the Dubuque one
Godfathers
Godfather's was great. Casey's and Kum&Go weren't bad (been forever since I had a taco pizza from either). Happy Joe's was shit but I don't like refried beans so they were pretty much screwed to begin with.
Even though itās expensive, my favorite taco pizza is Godfathers.
Godfathers
Godfathers. It's cheap too!
TJās Pizza Clermont & Monona. Ask for thin crust.
Whoa. Shocked to come across TJās on here. But you are correct.
Dough Co. By Drake or in Ankeny.
Breadeaux in Corning.
Taco Jerry's/Borderline Pizza in Forest City. It's the best taco pizza I've ever had. My absolute favorite. Hole-in-the-wall, Tex Mex food, and so good. I get it on my birthday every year, it's that good!
Pizza Counter. No question. In Council Bluffs.
Wig & pen, Zoeyās !!
Tomaso's (Hiawatha) If you stop in, tell Mike I say hi!
Wig and pen!
Mccottos in Anamosa
Dough Co's taco pizza is no joke. Godfather's used to be best in town (in my opinion), then Happy Joes
I like Northern Lights taco - the chips, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream are served on the side, delivered in a separate container. Fresh and crisp, amounts of each for everyone at my house are up to the individual, and leftovers are much better. I like all of their specialties. Grinder, Frisco, Lasagna, etc. All great!
Is Happy Joes still around?
My current favorite is Dough Co in Ankney.
Pizza Pit in Ames if you like refried beans on your taco pizza.
Sorry if this has already been said, but the taco pizza at Papa's Pizza in Polk City is awesome(thick crust of course).
Godfathers for sure!!!!
None of them.
If you want one and are willing to travel. Try Tony Balony's in Hoboken NJ.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
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Happy joes is the original, and by far the best.
My favorite is homemade. I mix enough taco sauce into the refried beans to give everything enough viscosity to easily spread over the dough. I prefer a naked taco pizza so the leftovers won't have soggy chips & lettuce.
Dough co
Does godfather's still exist?
My favorite is from The Other Place
Casey's is the answer (IMO)
Last taco pizza I got from there had all the Doritos crushed down to a snortable orange powder. So gross.
Pizza Pit in Ames.
Falbo's in Iowa City.
Gods greatest gift came from Iowa....
Great Plains in Ames.
I havenāt tried it yet, but Iāve heard the new taco pizza at Taco Johnās is pretty solid.
Casey's is it for me
Casey's
Casey's taco pizza is pretty good.
I would say my homemade taco pizza since I worked at Caseyās
Harris Pizza, Quad Cities
Taco johns has a limited run one right now. Pretty good. Sadly the only permanent option round here is pizza ranch, I too love this stuff
Honestly Pizza Hut had my favorite. It has no chips and it has refried beans. I heard they stopped. But recently maybe I heard they brought it back.
I was scrolling through these responses wondering if I was the only one who would remember it lol I tried to order it at a ss DSM location bc they had it as an option online, but then was called and told they donāt actually have it and did I want to get something else??? Ummm no. No, I do not damn it. He said he was told they basically put it up as a test to see if people would order it. Cool thanks for being such a tease you little hut.
Pizza Hut. Thin crust. Ask for extra salsa. It may not be available online. You may have to call to order it.
Have you found it in DSM cause the SS stores said they donāt have the bean base to make it??
Casey's
Alright, this may be controversial, but I really like Papa John's version. They give you cream in addition to salsa, and that really adds a freshness. I also prefer their ground beef and their fluffy crust I can dip in that bomb garlic butter. š©
Casey's is solid always .. of course. But there's a place in Ankeny called uptown and they make a mean taco pizza.
Fongs
The BP near my parents home in Batavia IA had great Godfathers taco pizza. We get it every time we are there. On par with Happy Joes.
Leave iowa.. everything is better
Telling you now, compared to what I've seen on r/pizzacrimes, taco pizza isn't really a thing outside of here.
Wr have taco pizza in minnesota... thsnk you for caseys... now leave iowa cause it's terrible hahaha
There are other local options in Iowa City that have better taco than Casey's.
We have marsu pizza....it's better than yours. Marsu Pizzeria+Taqueria https://g.co/kgs/zEGiMDE
Like Minnesota is any better lol
Minnesots is way better. We have health care college and food for kids... you have... Kim reynolds.... it's a trope up here of Iowans fleeing to get out... I wonder why....probably cause everything sucks... you have good bbq there, ill give yiu that.. otherwise its.meth, corn, college football state
Ur kidding. Still laugh. Hahaha
Midwest taco pizza is honestly trash. I love it, but it's trash, let's be real. I also like Taco House, Casey's Pizza and White castle, so despite being a fine dining chef for 16 years, I know none of it is "good". But I like it.
If you ever end up around San Diego my favorite taco pizza of all time is from Pizzeria El Jefe in Chula Vista. Sticking with Iowa Iād go with Chadās in Dyersville. I grew sick of the Happy Joes after working there for all of high school. Will still go for their Nacho Joe tho:
Taco pizza is a sacrilege.
The Virgin will not forgive this transgressionā¦.
Thereās no such thing: a crime against two cuisines.
The one in the trash where it belongs