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    El Ranchero

    4.0 (101 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    El Ranchero Photos

    Business Info

    EL RANCHERO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - El Ranchero

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    Burrito Tipicos - ate the guacamole salad...
    Chris V.

    Great little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. Packed at lunch today but service was quick. Food was reasonably priced and tasty. Good for a quick lunch. I'll be back.

    Chips and salsa
    Debra G.

    The service was perfect! Chips and salsa repeatedly appeared, drinks magically refilled. I had nachos, hubby had taco salad, both delicious. Everything is reasonably priced. Even though it was busy, we were seated right away, order taken and our food was served quickly.

    Menu
    Doug G.

    Located on Cobb Parkway, close to the intersection of Marietta Parkway sits this location of El Ranchero. The building, like the interior is older, a little dingy and small...however welcoming as well! When you walk in, there is no host/hostess stand, you are usually greeted by one of the wait staff that will direct you to any open table. When they are not busy, you usually seat yourself and a waiter/waitress follows up with a menu almost immediately. Decor/Building - As mentioned above, the place is decently old and is certainly in need of a renovation of some level! The outside, which is in decent shape, is the quintessential Mexican restaurant, while the interior is dark, dated and semi-functional. When you enter, you walk into a dining room area which houses a few booths, some tables, the kitchen entry area, the register and a storage spot for the busser's carts. To the immediate right and left sits smaller rooms with booths. Service - It has been hit and miss for me. On some occasions, I get attentive, quick and friendly service, while other times I have received forgetful and attitude-laced service. The food always comes out quick and hot, no issue with that. My issue has always come with waiting so long between waiter/tress visits which results in empty chip baskets, empty tea glasses and long waits for my check. Food - Basic Mexican cuisine with all the favorites offered from tacos, burritos, quesadilla's and nachos, with some house specials thrown in as well! They of course have all the combination dinners that we are accustomed to. Per usual, you get chips and dip upon sitting down. The chips are good and the salsa is tasty. I always order cheese dip, with jalapenos. The cheese dip is decent, but is a little on the runny side and the jalapeno's don't add too much spice or flavor to the dip. For meals, I have had the Speedy Gonzalez, the beef nachos, chicken nachos and a chimichanga. None of the dishes blew me away, but they hit the spot. Overall, this location of El Ranchero is not last on my list of Mexican Places in and/or around Atlanta, but it is sadly quite a ways down the list. There is nothing that makes this place stand out, outside of the location and of course, pricing...but, it rings true that you get what you pay for!

    a painting of a woman sitting on a bed
    SunnFlower M.

    Several Vegetarian options. I enjoy the tacos. The staff is very friendly. This is a budget friendly, well seasoned food restaurant. Thank you

    Chilaquiles and huevo

    The restaurant is no closed! All the items in the menu are delicious! Bean Tostaguac, Cheese Enchilada and Mexican Rice, Bean and Cheese Burrito, Beef Burrito, Beef Crunchy Tacos, Burritos Tippicos,Carnitas Dinner, Cheese Enchilada, Chicken Enchilada, Chicken Fajitas, Chile Colorado, Chile Relleno, Chimichanga, Fried Pork,Grilled Chicken, Ground Beef Tacos, Guacamole Salad, Quesadilla Verde, Salsa & Chips, Shrimp Fajitas, Shrimp Quesadilla, Steak Quesadilla, Steak Tacos and more. The service and ambiance are great for diverse groups of people.

    Chips and Salsa
    Taylor W.

    We are from North Carolina visiting Georgia for the aquarium. I am a Mexican food fanatic so I researched several locations close to where we are staying and close to the aquarium. I found 2 that I was excited to go to but didn't see a taco salad (my fave) on their menu. We drove to Walmart after checking into the hotel and passed this restaurant, El Ranchero. I hadn't seen this one online before passing it so I quickly checked out Yelp reviews and after viewing the photos of the salsa and menu I was like oh yes we have to eat here! I also am very picky of restaurant style salsa I prefer smooth/restaurant style instead of chunky or pico de gallo style, so their salsa and the fact they sell taco salads is what really sold me! When we got in they allowed us to choose our booth and they immediately brought out chips and salsa, as well as took our drink order. The chips and salsa looked exactly as pictured so that was great :). As soon as I took a bite the salsa was very familiar! I had tried it before. I definitely do not believe it is from a jar/can, I just believe it is familiar with another Mexican restaurant I have tried in like possibly Tennessee or maybe Charlotte, NC. The salsa was great and the chips were warm/hot :). Our server promptly brought out our drinks, however I did request an additional salsa and it was never brought out. Our food was brought out quickly and oh my goodness let me tell you the taco salad was AMAZING!!!!!! The shredded chicken in the taco salad resembles another Mexican restaurant I had tried before, but it was sooooo amazing!!!!! I do not remember the last time I had a taco salad like that!!!!!! We have 3 Mexican restaurants in our city and they do not even compare. Our server seemed to be the only one working because she never came back to the table, it was a male who brought us the food and I requested an additional salsa if he would please tell our server.... But she still never showed back up. I did see her taking care of other customers across the restaurant though! So I am sure she was just busy! Eventually another male server got up from the table I saw silverware in his hands so I assume he had been rolling silverware, again another reasonable reason they may not have got to me in a "timely manner" lol. Either way it was amazing and I would definitely dine here again - more than once!!!!!!! :) thank you!!!!

    Seating in El Ranchero.

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    2 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Fantastic food and service. Hot food and delicious entrees. The best chee dip around.

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    11 months ago

    Everything gud. Yum food. Great peoples. Not ususally busy. I eat every night here. YUM FOOD YUM FOOD YUM FOOD YUM FOOD

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    1 year ago

    My go-to spot for yearssss. Wonderful owners and staff and the food is always consistently delicious!!!!

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    We love el ranchero. Good prices and great staff. Food has always been great. Andres is a great waiter!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love love love this place! Food hits every time! Authentic well seasoned Mexican food with 10/10 salsa and 10/10 service!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    I enjoyed the food. The shrimp quesadilla had large shrimp and it wasn't skimpy! The guacamole was fresh and delicious.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best beef burrito and is worth the drive if you live in Atlanta. Cozy restaurant. Good inexpensive beer. Nice staff.

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    3 years ago

    Great service and great margaritas, my server was great. I will definitely be coming back.

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    16 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food and great service. Fully customizable menu. Their specials are the best. Will visit again.

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    14 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Love this local Mexican restaurant! Great staff, food, and drinks! A great place for lunch or dinner.

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    8 years ago

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    Cocina De La Tia - Tacos

    Cocina De La Tia

    4.8(28 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    I wish I had pictures of their food: but we were transported to a Mexican house in the middle of…read moreanywhere between an abuela, some tias and all the cousins. This is the kind of place you'll find in here and we gotta support it with all we have! This is not your Mexican BS chain; your stupid bowl with layers; your giant flour burrito: this is flavorful, kind, tasty, undeniably homie food: the way it should be! I wanted to hug the cooker who served us: she knew exactly we were gonna adore her from the very beginning! I could have breakfast at Seasons and walk around the neighborhood during the morning, to come back at lunch for La Tia food! This corner of Marietta is pure gold you people! ENCHILADAS SUIZAS are Artemis II rocket fuel ! Going back again and again until I have cleared that menu! This is Good in another level of Good! ‍

    We love this sweet little restaurant…read more Mere steps from our townhouse rests an authentic family run Mexican restaurant and I couldn't feel luckier. The staff is always friendly and accommodating. The food tastes like a you'd hope. Authentic with love stirred in. Menu highlights: - Sopes: inexpensive little snack. I love the shredded lettuce and crumbled cheese on top. - quesabirria: inspired by their delicious birria tacos, this one takes it to another level! - tacos: on Tuesday, they have an area set up to dress them up just as you'd like! - chunky guacamole: so fresh with their big chips! - agua Fresca: they feature different flavors! - coffee: honestly, they have the BEST coffee This spot isn't fancy by any means, but it truly does feel like you're being welcomed into a family's kitchen as they share their special recipes with you!

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    Cocina De La Tia - Inside picture of restaurant

    Inside picture of restaurant

    Cocina De La Tia
    Cocina De La Tia - Enchiladas Rojas

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    Enchiladas Rojas

    Zama Mexican Cuisine & Margarita Bar - Street corn

    Zama Mexican Cuisine & Margarita Bar

    4.1(141 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    We had the best dinner! It was packed on a Sunday night and had a 20 minute wait. It's worth the…read morewait! We had excellent service by Dylan! It's festive inside and also has a patio. The chips are crispy and the salsa tasty, not hot and spicy. Husband ordered a shrimp taco salad. "These are tiny shrimp!" I had a trip of tostadas. One chicken, beef and pork. Each one was so tasty and flavorful! We found Zama on Yelp. We traveling from Florida to home. It was our first visit, which Dylan asked about. At the end of our meal, the manager came over and greeted us and brought us a dessert to share. We will arrange our next road trip to Florida to include Zana again.

    I think I'm being generous with a 3 rating…read more There were 10 people in our party and in general, they were 'okay' with the experience. Personally, my food was less than avg. Had a #6 (taco and enchilada). The taco came in a separate dish (okay) but fell apart when I tried to pick it up. I've eaten Mexican food for 50 years and this was the worst I've ever had (not kidding). The enchilada was cheese and there was plenty but it was about as dry as it could be. A little sauce would have definitely helped. The server was very attentive on the front end. When we were done, I had to flag the manager for our checks. He got right on it but 10 minutes later we were still sitting there, waiting to pay. I had to flag the manager down again. This was unacceptable. Even with 3 stars, I would never eat here again.

    Photos
    Zama Mexican Cuisine & Margarita Bar - Large party table

    Large party table

    Zama Mexican Cuisine & Margarita Bar - Mexican Street Corn

    Mexican Street Corn

    Zama Mexican Cuisine & Margarita Bar - Front view

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    Front view

    Taqueria Tsunami - Trio of tacos

    Taqueria Tsunami

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    They nail the fusion concept perfectly bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and plenty of personality…read more The mini poke tacos are a standout: crisp shells filled with silky, flavorful tuna that tastes like summer in every bite. The Korean fried cauliflower is another hit crunchy, spicy, and addictive enough to make you forget you're eating a veggie dish. The tater tots with jalapeño cheese dip are so simple yet so good! creamy, cheesy, and with just the right kick of heat. I usually go for the Baja fish taco, and it never disappoints: perfectly fried fish, fresh slaw, and a tangy sauce that ties everything together. And let's not forget the margaritas always refreshing, delicious, and expertly balanced.

    Local chain with locations across Cobb county, Athens, Atlanta and Woodstock. We're fans of the…read moreMarietta Square location because it is a great quick lunch or "I don't feel like cooking tonight" dinner, as we live about 1/2 mile away. It can be a bit of a tight squeeze in the vintage building. Price wise, everything on the menu is reasonable. Plus, kids eat free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult meal. While service can be inconsistent and parking can be difficult to find in peak times, here are some of the redeeming factors: - mini poke tacos: love these more than the variation Mac's carries on their menu. I will say they may use a hair too much aioli at times, but the marinated tuna is a win. - queso is always a win. Served with tortilla triangles and tortilla chips. - Shanghai shrimp salad with sriracha honey dressing is my go to lunch choice. - fried yuca as a side is the way to go! My favorite tacos: - gringo: perfect amount of sloppy and salty with the queso - pacific rim: ask for it in a lettuce wrap! - Korean fried cauliflower: sometimes served with a bit too much guac, but I love the rest of it! Agave marg is always a win. Made with fresh lime juice instead of sweet and sour mix.

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    Taqueria Tsunami
    Taqueria Tsunami - Birria tacos

    Birria tacos

    Taqueria Tsunami - Avocado egg rolls

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    Avocado egg rolls

    Julia's Taqueria - Tacos de pastor, and a picadita de campechano (steak and chorizo)!  These are my two absolute favorite things!

    Julia's Taqueria

    4.0(68 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $

    Oh, my, these may be the best tortillas I've ever had in the Atlanta area. I stopped in for a…read morequick bite and I can't wait to go back. The cooks are doing their thing with authenticity--tasting and tweaking their creations as they go. The soups are chock-full of solids. And they have handmade specials made fresh. Julia's Taqueria is a hidden gem that deserves all the praise it gets. The menu offers a wide variety of tacos, and each one is a masterpiece. I tried the carne asada, al pastor, and fish tacos, and they were all bursting with flavor. The meats were perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection, while the toppings and sauces added just the right amount of zest and freshness. What truly sets Julia's Taqueria apart is their commitment to authenticity. The tortillas are handmade right before your eyes, and you can taste the difference in every bite. The salsas are vibrant and made with fresh ingredients, enhancing every dish they accompany. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, making it the perfect spot for a quick bite or a leisurely meal with friends. The service was prompt and attentive, with the staff happy to offer recommendations and ensure we had everything we needed. I can't wait to return and try more of their mouthwatering offerings. Holler if you're coming with.

    I had this place recommended to me by multiple friends, and I'm convinced that they were…read moregaslighting me. The food was so nasty. I ordered the chiles rellenos (stuffed peppers)with chicken. The chicken was missing, the peppers were tasteless and contained little to no cheese, and the rice and beans tasted expired. The tortillas were rock hard and tasted like wax. The employee also overcharged us... The meal was $14 and we ordered 2 $4 drinks. She rang that up as $28, and wouldn't give an itemized receipt. So many amazing Mexican restaurants in the area and this is not the one I'd recommend.

    Photos
    Julia's Taqueria - Chilles Rellenos

    Chilles Rellenos

    Julia's Taqueria - The tortillas are freshly made, order a few extra and a side of beans!

    The tortillas are freshly made, order a few extra and a side of beans!

    Julia's Taqueria - Tacos: pastor (top), pollo (middle), barbacoa (bottom), lengua (left) - you add your toppings from the bar.

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    Tacos: pastor (top), pollo (middle), barbacoa (bottom), lengua (left) - you add your toppings from the bar.

    El Ranchero - mexican - Updated May 2026

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