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    Avila's El Ranchito

    3.6 (899 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Avila's El Ranchito Takeout or Delivery

    Avila's El Ranchito Photos

    Business Info

    AVILA'S EL RANCHITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Avila's El Ranchito

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    Red enchilada with fries
    Michelle T.

    Yummy again. Went around 3 on a Saturday and it was nice and empty. Got my fav caddy marg and this time I tried chicken in mole. Really good sauce, on the sweeter side. There wasn't enough on the chicken for me so I asked for a side and they happily brought me a good amount to add. Beans were good this time! Kids liked their choices too. Restaurant was clean and had plenty of seating options. I like trying new things on our visits.

    Debby D.

    Came here for a work event. Everyone if a great time. We had our own area sectioned off and the staff waited on us but did not pressure or rush us to leave. It was festively decorated. The portions are huge and heavy. It was delicious, I definitely needed a nap afterwards.

    red chilaquiles

    Great food, great atmosphere, great portions. Service was amazing, my server was Edward he deserves a raise he was great. will be coming back

    Mixed 2-item Combo Sizzling Fajitas Skillet  Steak & Jumbo Shrimp
    Monica A.

    Visited this Mexican restaurant for the first time. We were in the area and the scent of their delicious cooking is what lured us into picking this place to eat. I will definitely visit again if am in the area. Staff were friendly and welcoming and the restaurant decor was beautiful and so authentic almost felt like I was visiting Mexico again. Everyone's food was delicious and authentic and amount of food serve per plate was shareable size, we had a lot of leftovers to tame home. Only complaint is that their horchata and jamaica drinks did not taste fresh and were more instant or ready box bought and the sizzling skillet had about 8oz of steak and 3 jumbo shrimp and the amount of veggies ratio was a lot larger for the amount of protein serve, however it was delicious.

    Margarita
    Cathy L.

    We've been to several Avila's. This is our first time at the Lake Forest location. The decor surrounding this place gives it a very unique vibe. Love it. The servers here are very attentive. The food came out hot and quick. There was a mix up with our drink orders and our server quickly rectified it. Overall, enjoyed our time here. The food is pretty decent, not the best but comes in a pinch when you're craving some delicious Mexican food. Thank you for having us!

    Camarones el ranchero style
    Lauren D.

    I came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon with some coworkers. It wasn't crowded so we were seated right away. The table was set with chips and salsa (each person gets their own small salsa bowl so you don't have to worry about double dipping). We also ordered a side of guacamole. I didn't realize that they literally make the guacamole fresh right at your table. The guy came over with a setup of fresh avocados, onion, cilantro and a few other things and mashed it all right in front of us which was pretty cool. I ordered the camarones plate ranchero style, so it came with tomato and peppers sauce, plus beans, rice and tortillas. Their corn tortillas were so fresh and delicious! They taste like they're made from scratch (although I'm not sure if they are). The shrimp was okay. They served it with the shrimp butterflied open but still attached to the tails and shells, which made more work for me to cut them out of the shells. The shrimp also tasted very shrimpy and it seemed like the flavors of the sauce didn't really soak into the shrimp. The dish was very filling though so I took some home. One other thing that could be slightly improved upon is a bit more spice in their food. It was pretty mild for Mexican food. The only thing that had a bit of a kick was the salsa but even that was very subtle. The vibe here is very unique. They have a ton of Mexican decor but with a slight surfer/beach twist. It's very in-your-face traditional Mexican decor so if understated is more your style, it may be a little much. But I personally enjoyed it.

    Menu
    Facundo B.

    Came here for taco Tuesday and wow was it fun! The place was jam packed and I love all the decorations they have on the walls. They range anywhere from surfboards to sea creature skeletons. The food was very well portioned and I left very full. My only ding is for the staff sometimes not being very prompt or forgetting things we had ordered. Overall I would return again and would order the Azteca burrito any day of the week!

    Delicious Sauvignon Blanc choices!
    Lynnann W.

    Always excited to discover a new location of this brand. This location has a more intimate vibe. I remain amazed that no matter which location; the quality and taste are proudly preserved and maintained. Truly a remarkable feat and it's telling that there so many successful locations. Affordable, huge plates of deliciousness. Servers like Jacqueline O are the icing on the cake and their salsa should be its own food group it's so great. Don't hesitate!

    Crispy beef taco plate
    Kimberly H.

    We like it here. We've only been here twice - on a late Saturday afternoon (it was empty) and on a Saturday evening (it was packed). Def recommend making reservations if you're coming on a weekday. Authentic Mexican food for sure. I love Mama's soup and the crispy tacos. The large margaritas is a killer - proceed with caution and maybe think about sharing that bad boy. Love the ambiance - lots of decoration and character.

    $17.00 Beef taquitos
    Alessia F.

    Very disappointing that my daughter spent $16.50 for Albondigas soup that had only 2 meatballs and the shredded beef taquitos for $17.00 came w a small guacamole, not lettuce or anything. The small container of sour cream was $2.50. I have NO problem paying for meal out but the quality and presentation was 1 star. At least for that price throw a little lettuce in there. Help to make it look presentable.

    Sizzling Fajitas Skillet

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    3 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Always a great experience at El Ranchito....food is amazing, staff friendly and our go to!!

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    1 month ago

    Amazing food. Cadillac margaritas and salsa are AMAZING!!! We order take out for lunch often!!

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    4 months ago

    Good comfort Mexican food! Love their chips and salsa! Staff was friendly and we stayed a long time and they were ok with it!

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    Page 1 of 23

    Avila's El Ranchito Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Avila's El Ranchito

    Is there a bar?

    N out fabulous drinks at your table

    How late do they serve breakfast?

    All day

    Are dogs allowed on patio area?

    Do you have Taco Tuesdays? If yes, what time frame? Thank you

    I think it starts at 4pm and it's tacos only for food and regular margarita

    What are the vegan options?

    they have vegan meat options for pretty much anything as well as grilled veggie substitutes!

    View All 9 Questions

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    La Casita Olvera - $1 Taco Tuesday  all day 11am-9pm

    La Casita Olvera

    4.0(549 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Happy Cinco de Mayo! This is the place where our family…read morereally wanted to be to get our delicious tacos, at an excellent price, plus it's taco Tuesday ! I still love the fish tacos here, everything is delicious especially the salsa bar when we get to do all the toppings ourselves! They mariachi singers today, Spanish songs are playing by different Mexican folk music-often rancheras (performers), setting a wonderful Cinco de Mayo vibe. They have a full service bar, or you could get a delicious Mexican coffee with a huge slice of flan like I do! - My dessert. :) Yumm

    Went in during a dead time between lunch and dinner. Evidently I was a burden because nobody felt…read morelike giving me a menu when I sat down, or ask if I wanted anything to drink. The blonde was nice but got side tracked. The male bartender (Hispanic guy with the earrings) looked at me 3-4 times but I guess he didn't realize that sitting at the bar means you might want something to drink. He was just carrying on with tedious tasks with no desire to make himself or his company money. In a time where people are going out less and less - it's an interesting choice to basically ignore patrons when they go in your establishment. Hard pass.

    Photos
    La Casita Olvera - $1 taco Tuesday  11am-9pm w/drink purchase  9 different meats to choose from

    $1 taco Tuesday 11am-9pm w/drink purchase 9 different meats to choose from

    La Casita Olvera - Free pancakes every Saturday and Sunday 9am-1pm fallow @La_casitaolvera

    Free pancakes every Saturday and Sunday 9am-1pm fallow @La_casitaolvera

    La Casita Olvera - $2 Coronas every Thursday all day come watch Thursday night football

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    $2 Coronas every Thursday all day come watch Thursday night football

    Chuponcito - BANANA LATTE

    Chuponcito

    4.8(792 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    We've always seen this spot but had never tried it, so we decided to check it out on Mother's Day…read more They were BUSY, but still moved quickly to get the line down. The restaurant itself is pretty small inside, you order first, then they bring the food to your table. Even with how packed it was, the wait honestly wasn't bad at all. My wife, who's pregnant, saved us a table while I waited in line to order, and Fidel, who I'm assuming is the manager, was very nice and welcoming. He checked up on us a few times even though he wasn't our server, and was very personable asking about our baby. The food was AMAZING. I'm so glad we decided to stay. I had the carnitas Benedict, which was delicious and packed with flavor. My wife had the El Chupon burrito, which was also amazing. But the star of the show for us was their hot salsa, incredibly flavorful with the perfect amount of spice We'll definitely be back!

    They need a way better seating policy. absolutely unacceptable. We were waiting in line, ordered…read moreour food, and someone had put their stuff down to "reserve" the table, when it is completely packed. And they hadn't ordered yet. It should not be like that. There should be proper seating, where ONCE you order, you go find your table. If you don't get a table then you wait your turn. We ask the staff if we can put personal items to reserve a table and she said yes??? What sort of service is that ?!? They should have a host. Or someone guiding it. The food is rather great but what an unpleasant experience. The manager needs to fix this, cause this isn't a cafe. It's a restaurant.

    Photos
    Chuponcito - Ordering counter

    Ordering counter

    Chuponcito - Papas cargadas

    Papas cargadas

    Chuponcito - Interior dining

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    Interior dining

    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - The  best tacos

    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara

    4.6(657 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Private events

    Hidden spot located in a church! Parking can suck - I would get here a little earlier for lunch to…read moreavoid the mess that is parking. There's limited spots and some spots are reserved for clergy, daycare, etc. Tacos are a bit on the pricey side, but they're honestly some of the best tacos in the OC. There's a punch card available where you get $10 off after 8 visits. Best Tacos: - Questaco w/ Birria - birria is super flavorful (beef) and perfect with that green salsa and the consume. The cheese is melty and the tacos perfectly crispy. - Fish Taco - Classic fish taco that's perfectly battered and fried with great flavor. Overall, since our first visit, it's become our go to taco spot and we can never go wrong with it. Covered seating + outdoor seating available. Bathroom available via the room onto your left if you're sitting in the covered seating area. On our first trip we walked alllllll the way down the church just to wash our hands since we sat outside, lol. So don't be foolish like us!

    We felt like having tacos on a Tuesday evening and found this place on Yelp. It's the type of…read morerestaurant where you would not notice it when driving by. But good thing for the Yelp platform and the Internet. It had just sprinkled recently and so all the outdoor tables were wet. We were so glad that they also have covered semi indoor seating. Parking was plentiful since we came in the evening and it looks like this is the parking lot for a school also during the day. We ordered at the register and were helped by a couple different staff members. One gentleman took over since it seemed like he was able to explain things better about the menu. I ended up getting a fish taco and a shrimp taco. I should've asked, but didn't realize that the tacos were fried. I was a little surprised because most fish tacos I've eaten are usually served on a tortilla that is not fried. It was a little too greasy for my liking but still tasty! We also ordered birria taquitos to share, which were fried obviously. My family also ordered Carne Asada tacos and birria quesotacos. It didn't seem like there were any taco Tuesday specials for the dishes we ordered. The total amount seemed pretty expensive. Maybe I'll come back to try the ceviche. There are accessible restrooms, which was great since our hands were very greasy afterwards and the small thin napkins weren't sufficient. From the inside dining area, we saw a dance class taking place in the main church assembly room (I think that's what it was). it appeared to be a hula or Polynesian dance class.

    Photos
    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - The best  tacos De Birria on Orange County ,jesus uses the World clase meats .

    The best tacos De Birria on Orange County ,jesus uses the World clase meats .

    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - Quesataco

    Quesataco

    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - Fish taco

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    Fish taco

    Lupe's Mexican Eatery - Two Taco Combo

    Lupe's Mexican Eatery

    4.0(510 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Alitzel was very helpful Food is delicious…read more Thanks for the service Great customer service

    Lupe's Mexican Eatery has a surprisingly fulfilling array of appetizers, plates, and drinks, though…read morethe main draw for me are their stuffed and voluminous burritos. I've tried several of the burritos here for their size, flavour, and variety of ingredients, most memorably the Lupe's, Hot Cheetos, California and birria burritos. The Lupe's is stacked with steak and bacon, grilled onion and cilantro, jack cheddar cheese and Chipotle sauce AND guac, so you'll love it as the mash of distinct savoury flavours it is if you love each of those ingredients. It's filling and fills you with both strength and fatigue to prep for or recover from a day of hard work. 5.7/10. Hot Cheetos burritos are something you occasionally see around for some reason, and the one's here are solid, though I prefer the version available at Primo's by a solid margin. Lupe's Cheeto's burritos do have an interesting compressive texture that I strangely somewhat enjoy. 4.4/10. The California burrito is a standard and very solid rendition of a classic. I would put the Lupe's version at above average in quality as they're definitely not mediocre or disappointing. 5.3/10. The birria burrito is just as packed and filling as the other burritos, but tastes and feels significantly more fresh as it consists of a juicy but light birria steak, red beans, and LOTS of chopped cilantro and diced onions. In fact, it primarily tastes of the leafy green, so definitely avoid it if you're not a fan. I enjoy it, though it definitely feels lighter and less satisfying to eat than its less healthy, heavier siblings, and suffers from its birria juices settling at the bottom of the burrito to be largely untasted throughout the eating experience, possibly as there isn't enough of it provided. 4/10. This spot also has a good salsa bar with particularly tasty sauces. My favorites are the classic verde and another, pale green sauce with a creamy flavour, both of which go well with all meals to varying effect. I like how the tortilla chips feel a bit cakey- it's slightly hard to describe, but they're not excessively salty either and fun to eat as a receptacle for the delicious sauces here. A solid spot with a nice, comfortable and fun, kitsch decorated interior, solid burritos and a solid selection of menu items at fairly standard prices.

    Photos
    Lupe's Mexican Eatery - Veggie Breakfast Burrito Combo with all hashbrowns $18.49

    Veggie Breakfast Burrito Combo with all hashbrowns $18.49

    Lupe's Mexican Eatery - Dolphins Burrito

    Dolphins Burrito

    Lupe's Mexican Eatery - California Burrito

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    California Burrito

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Taco Sampler

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen

    4.6(574 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Service here was amazing! For the amount of breakfast we ate for only $30, too good to be true…read more Susana was the sweetest and our waiter Alfonso was attentive at all times with the most genuine help. (sadly forgot to take pictures of all of our plates). Ambiance was very uplifting and great vibes! Would definitely come back!

    This place is a gem…read more.. I decided to order something different today since we have been here a few times now. CALAMARI FRITO (always a must): -- super tender and lightly coated w/batter -- chipotle type sauce and green cilantro sauce both delectable for this RATING = A+ ALBONDIGAS SOUP: -- white broth -- veggies and the best meatballs by appearance and taste maybe ever -- wife big fan, I only got tiny taste -- a bit spicier than norm for sure RATING = A+ TACO SAMPLER: -- wife big fan, especially the carnitas -- she wanted street tacos since our local pop-up got shut down a while back -- asada very solid too RATING = A PRIME SKIRT STEAK SKILLET: -- corn tortillas -- white cheese and sauteed onions in the bottom -- delicious medium cooked skirt steak above that -- guacamole on top -- rice and refried beans on the side -- yum city from A to Z -- delicious steak -- I made mini tacos with some and forked in on the rest RATING = A+ Friendly efficient staff. Leaving the door open on a cool night only worked because I blocked the wind from the wife with my body and marginal cool night at our early bird dinner hour.

    Photos
    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Dining Room / Kitchen

    Dining Room / Kitchen

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Xclusive asada tacos, grilled onions and mushrooms

    Xclusive asada tacos, grilled onions and mushrooms

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Mimosas and Cafe de la olla (cute)

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    Mimosas and Cafe de la olla (cute)

    Avila's El Ranchito - mexican - Updated May 2026

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