Really good food. Very authentic. Service very good. Clean restrooms and table. We will come again!

Food was good, wait staff was good. Until all of the sudden they started setting up a area for a large party or group. And all of the sudden the waitress was rushing to clear our table and we were even still eating. It looked like the manager with his wait staff were all standing against the wall just looking at us it just left us feeling bad. This was my first time there and first impression's mean a lot. You will run off a new customer in an instant when you make them feel like they are a burden read more

I would give 2.75 stars... chips and salsa were not good very mediocre. The chicken quesadilla was good that I had.. but the guacamole actually made my stomach hurt when I had 1 bite. So I wouldn't come back here. My husband said the fajitas (combo $20) were ok and that the beanS and rice were not good had a slimy feel to them. I'll stick to going to Campuzanos. read more

Do not get takeout from El Ranchito. I ordered chicken nachos. When I got home, the takeout container had a layer of water at the bottom, which is problematic for a dish made with a foundation of tortilla chips. They also failed to add any toppings except shredded chicken. It was so soggy and inedible that I had to throw it out. read more

We visited this place since it was the only place we could find with Mariachis on a Sunday night. They have the place a great atmosphere. The food was decent but a bit pricey. The service was awesome. We had a group of 15 and the server was spot on. Everyone got their food in a timely manner and he ensured drinks were filled. I gave this place a four because there is practically no parking. We had to park across the street and it was somewhat inconvenient. I wasn't very fond of not being able to carry my concealed firearm in. Licensed or not. They have opted to not allow licensed carriers in with their weapons. It forced me to leave my weapon in the car while it sat across the street. read more

El Ranchito - Beef fajitas without onions - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

Salsa and Queso are both very good! A bowl of beef soup, refried beans and rice came with my chili relleno. It was all delicious! Cheese enchilada was good. The service was excellent! read more

I have lived in Dallas most of my life, but sadly I am just starting to really begin "discovering" the Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts area. One such recent find is a true gem, El Ranchito. A family friend recommended that we try them and so we did. Between 8 of us, all but one being a first-timer there, they were able to please all 8 of us! The food was delicious, the service was quick and friendly, and the prices on most dishes were pretty affordable. From traditional Mexican dishes to Tex-Mex favorites, and even hamburgers, they are sure to have something that will please everyone. read more

See all

Mmmmmmole, mole, mole, mollllleee, mmmole. After reading the reviews for this place I had very high expectations. Were those expectations met? You bet your sweet ass they were. Authentic Mexican all the way. Complete with a mariachi band and a margarona - if you are wondering if that is a big ass margarita with a mini margarita set upside down in an already strong margarita, then you are correct! This drink is a reason alone to test this place out. They do have a tex-mex feature on their menu, but most of their menu consists of real Mexican fare. With that said, I went straight for the good stuff; the mole. I enjoyed the pollo con mole down to the very last bite. The perfectly cooked chicken was soaked in the good stuff - mole sauce. Their hot sauce was the bomb diggity as well. Spicy, just how I like it. Their customer service took the cake. I made a reservation for 20 with no problem and they not only called with follow ups but sent emails, as well, confirming my reservation. I am going back. Probably tomorrow. Then the next day and then the next day after that. read more

El Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

This is how great love affairs start. Anticipation. Anxiety. Excitement. These are the emotions I felt upon entering El Ranchito. It looks good from the exterior: handsome, established, lots of character. It's just my type. El Ranchito continued to impress me throughout the night. Delicious, fresh and spicy salsa - why, yes. Thank you very much. The margaritas are massive, or as I like to say, "drunk in a glass". It's a $9 'rita, and worth every tequila soaked penny. My fella had the mole enchiladas, and they were spectacular. The mole has a very rich, deep, flavor. He is a Santa Fe food snob, and he was extremely impressed with the mole. I had the combination fajitas, and they were tasty. Our server was attentive and checked on us often. As we were walking out after dinner, a bus-boy ran after us with the to-go box we forgot on the table.That kind of chivalry is rare now-a-days. As if El Ranchito hadn't already sealed the deal, the TV in the corner was playing the CONCACAF Gold Cup game. As we left, I turned to my guy and told him I'd found another love. He said he was OK with it. read more

See all

Fun atmosphere in this old school Mexican tavern. Family style roast goat and mariachis. Oops, forgot a comma. Roast goat, comma, and also they have mariachis. Loud, but fun, if you're into that. And if not, have some tequila. read more

Cabrito like we make in my home! so good. Stayed hot thanks to the little stove. Homemade flour and corn tortillas! A little loud, but really great music! read more

Part of my annual Thanksgiving visit to my hometown of Dallas always includes a fix of Tex-Mex. Unfortunately many of the places I grew up on (Casita/Casa Dominguez, Enchiladas, El Fenix) have gone downhill in terms of quality over the years. Like many cities these it's just hard to find unique family owned restaurants anymore amidst the strip malls of chain eats i.e. Don Pablo's and Chili's - part of why the thought of ever leaving SF pains me. This year I insisted to the family that I get to try a new place over one of the old standby's, even if we had to drive across town. El Ranchito was great, in a really cool old building in Oak Cliff on historic Jefferson Blvd. It's owned by the same family that owns La Calle Doce, the Mexican seafood place. Upon entrance, after checking out the buffalo head on the wall, I notice almost everyone seated in the spacious place is Hispanic, a very good sign. Good chips, salsa, and tortillas being handmade onsite. The food was great, not too greasy, the cheese topping my 2 different enchiladas seemed to be of a high quality. I got a combo plate but also sampled a chalupa and fajitas and it was all good. two words: Baby Goat! That's right, they have a nortena Mexico specialty. I've been wanting to try goat because of this Yelp thread http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-carlos-where-to-get-fresh-goat-meat-in-bay-area - But it was $26 and i didn't want to stick my dad with that bill, haha. The mariachi band is there every night, it's loud, but I must say to their credit authentic (with violins) and actually pretty good. We all split 4 desserts. The flan was great, the cheesecake was not, but the tres leches cake was PERFECT in taste, temperature, and composition, highly recommended. My sopapilla came last and was fresh out of the fryer, also excellent! I liked it, worth heading to Oak Cliff for. read more

See all

Wonderful Tex-Mex/northern Mexican food. Very cool older building that is well maintained. Our group of 9 was very happy, and our assorted plates came out at the same time. read more

See all

One is only for the waiter he was wonderful! He gets 5 Stars The Caldo de Res/ cold. The mole not good. The Cabrito is so spicy it's not edible and tasted like bbq sauce was added . I requested to have 3 cruelty beef tacos instead . You can't mess that up right?! The beef tasted so gross... it had texture of dog food out of can. Flavor was awful. Again, the waiter couldn't have been better. I won't go back. read more

First of all, what kind of Mexican restaurant doesn't automatically give you rice with an order of fajitas? Sour cream and cheese are extra too. It's a local Oak Cliff landmark and a good place for large groups. I think they even have mariachi's every night and for fifteen dollars a song, they will sing their little hearts out for you. I've been here for lunch many times and the lunch specials are nothing spectacular. read more

I have FINALLY discovered the secret to eating authentic Tex-Mex in the DFW! Craving some authentic Tex-Mex, and not wanting to drive down all the way to Houston to eat at my grandmother's table, I did the next best thing. I Yelped best Mexican restaurants in Oak Cliff. I don't know why I haven't thought of this before. Many options were available, but I finally settled on trying out El Ranchito. As soon as I walked in, I knew I made an excellent choice. The colors on the wall, the people dining there, the mariachis... everything was what I was used to dining with my parents as a child. We were promptly brought out salsa, which was delicious. It had chunks of onion and cilantro in it, which I more than appreciated. I wish more places did this. I settled on getting combination fajitas, and my girlfriend got the Pedro Infante. When our food was brought out, I was jumping with excitement in my chair when I smelled the tortillas. I know, I know, I have a sizzling platter of chicken and beef in front of me, but all I could think about was how good those tortillas were going to be. I was not disappointed. They were fresh, delicious, and the absolute perfect medium for the meat. The beans are cooked in lard and the guacomole was spot on. I sampled a bit of my girlfriend's plate, and the tomatillo sauce on the chicken enchilada was up there with the best I've had. I walked away satisfied and can't wait to try out more places in the area. If you are craving real Tex-Mex, and appreciate a good tortilla when you taste one, you must come here. I knocked this place one star, only because I thought it was a tad expensive compared to other restaurants, especially given the area it's in. The food is 5 stars though. read more

See all

This place feels like a carnival almost there are mariachi bands, vendors selling light balloons for the kids, everyone seems to be having a great time. The food is awesome. The waiting staff was very attentive, even though it was super busy. 10 out of 10 recommend. Very fun place, can be a little loud though. read more

Salsa was "ok", because being from the southwest and close to the boarder I know what salsa should taste like. Wasn't expecting canned nacho cheese on my cheese taco, but I guess that's what's the norm in Texas. read more

Living in Tabasco, Mx for three years, bring back to Texas my Tabascino Wife and babies, this as close as anyone will get to Mexico. Thank you read more

Authentic in every possible way. We ended up here on the suggestion of a friend who lives in Oak Cliff. He had previously brought friends from Mexico to this place, and thought we non-Mexicans would enjoy it as well. ;) First observation upon walking in: lots of Mexican patrons. Definitely a positive sign when looking for authenticity. ;) Second, good Mexican beverages. It was busy when we arrived that Saturday night, so we first sat at the bar and had drinks. I tried the Pacifco (one of several Mexican beers available) and enjoyed it. My friends opted for margaritas and a spicy concoction that I can't recall the name of. All good. Third, yummy food in generous portions. I had the fried catfish filet, which came with enough fish for two people. The fish was flaky and yummy (I kinda believe anything's good once you deep fry it). ;) We also helped my friend with the Parridilla, which was beef, chicken, shrimp, and sausage on a grill. We ate the Parridilla with awesome corn tortillas and guacamole (which had to be ordered separately). So good. Finally, the entertainment: mariachi! There was a mariachi group playing music for patrons who paid (which seemed kinda silly because even non-paying patrons could listen to the music). Really set a fun, festive tone. The only downside was that it felt too loud at times, making dinner conversation a struggle. What a fun place to eat Mexican food. I highly highly recommend. read more

See all

We came here after going to the cinco de Mayo parade nearby. We got seated quickly and service was good. Our server was attentive. I got the chicken torta and I really liked it. The bread was soft, and inside everything was yummy. I liked the jalapeños and avocado inside. The fries were good to. My SIL got the shrimp enchiladas and she loved it. My BIL got the same chicken torta. He also got a margarita and I tried a strawberry margarita. You couldn't taste the alcohol which I guess is a good thing. The chips and salsa were amazing to! Fresh chips and good, chunky salsa. I'd definitely go back. read more

See all

The first time i was here I had a great experience & would give it a 4 stars. But tonight was the worst customer service ever. It was so bad the server we had was called Ana & we tipped her $2 & she came outside & handed us her $2. That was so petty & unprofessional. To come around & ask us for our drinks & bring out our food too FOREVER . But when it came to asking for the check she kept coming around so often. I complained to the manager but I doubt he did anything. I can't believe she acted like that, even then she went off & told another server & the server made a face expression to our table. Then she tried telling us that we HAD To tip 20%, no ma'am. You get what you deserve. read more

Fabuloso! This may be the most festive and entertaining Tex-Mex restaurant in DFW. The chips are great, the salsa is great, and the menu featuring Tex-Mex favorites It's completely delicious. Bring the family and enjoy great food and great mariachi music! read more

El Ranchito was delicious home style Mexican food. Every single person in our large party enjoyed their food. The service was impeccable and we enjoyed the atmosphere. If it weren't quite so cramped, I might have given it 5 stars. Also, there were a couple of extras we ordered that we had to remind the waiter of. He was great though, we just had a very large party. read more

El Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I came here tonight with my boyfriend for the first time ever and can't rave about this place enough! We immediately got greeted with loud amazing mariachi as we walked through the door! Amazing ambiance! We were quickly seated and both my boyfriend and I had such a hard time trying to pick what to eat since all of the choices looked amazing! Our great experience didn't die there, an amazing gentleman came over and asked us if we wanted to take a complimentary photo! I thought they were just going to post it on their Instagram but he came back with a printed complimentary photo! How cool! food came out quickly and was absolutely delicious! From the tortillas to their salsas the food was spot on! Their refried beans ... mmmm deliciousness! Lol I'm laughing because this sounds sponsored or something but I just enjoyed my time here so much listen, if you're on the fence about coming here! Just do ittt!!!!! You won't regret it! I had to write this review immediately after leaving because this spot deserves it ... would definitely come back for some great drinks, friendly servers, & delicious food read more

See all

When in Dallas, this is the place to go for Tex-Mex. Other than the crazy gypsy lady trying to solicit money from my wife and I, this place was great. You know you're in for a real treat when the chips and salsa are as good as they are at El Ranchito. I'm a big fan of Coronas with Mexican food (I must have part gringo in me somewhere), but the lemonade here is...let me put it this way, if I were drowning in a swimming pool full of this lemonade, I could drink my way out of it and still ask for more. The chile rellenos here are really good, as are the nachos, and fajitas, but i don't think any item at this place is anywhere near the vicinity of bad or even mediocre. This place is a must every time I'm in Dallas. read more

El Ranchito is a perfectly fine Mexican restaurant that I'm sure we would visit regularly if it weren't just a few blocks from what I consider the best Mexican restaurant in the metroplex. If El Ranchito were in Arlington or Fort Worth we'd probably go there frequently, but if we're going to drive 30 minutes to come eat Mexican food in Oak Cliff, there's nothing at El Ranchito that will make us choose it over Gonzalez. Which is actually pretty unfortunate, since El Ranchito is far superior to any of the restaurants in Arlington & Fort Worth that we visit frequently just because they are close by -- so El Ranchito is doomed for us merely for its proximity to a best-in-class establishment. If I were to judge El Ranchito on its own merits, I'd say they have good homemade tortillas, pretty good refried beans, mediocre rice, better than average beef fajitas, and tasty cabrito con salsa. Chips and salsa were mediocre though the salsa was probably better than that at Gonzalez (which is about the only thing I don't think Gonzalez does well). The prices aren't too bad (except for the grilled cabrito at a whopping $28, but I suspect that might be worth the price, though we didn't try that one) and the servings are pretty generous. I saw a ton of people boozing it up even before noon on a Sunday, so I suspect drinks are part of the reason this place is so popular as well. All in all, it's a solid 4-star restaurant, and I almost hope the Gonzalez clan goes on vacation sometime so I am able to come back here once in awhile... but not quite, since any meal in Oak Cliff not eaten at Gonzalez is a wasted opportunity. BTW - the parking lot is pretty poorly designed. It's very easy to end up going the wrong way in it, so be careful. Not that it happened to me, nosirreebob! read more

After reading about this restaurant in American Airlines magazine, I had to try it and compare with the dozens of other Tex Mex places in DFW. Everything tasted freshly made with bold flavors and nothing bland! One of the best! The frozen mango margaritas are a must! After seeing repetitive photos of them on Yelp, it was clear they must be a favorite and wow, were those reviewers right! They are huge and yummy, not syrup tasting. Their salsa is spicy, but house made and delicious!!! I cannot say FRESH enough! Cheese enchiladas, out-of-the-oven warm tortillas, rich beans and rice, thick sugar crystal sopapillas, it was all amazing! It's a casual restaurant, and we saw everything from casual to business people eating there. The margarita was $10, lunch enchiladas $8, and sopapillas $5 for two of them. It has a small parking lot next to it, not a valet type of place. The waitress we had spoke little English, but was very kind and attentive, so be patient with them! Love it!! read more

Wanted to like this place so bad, but the food just wasn't that good. The queso was bizarre, highly gelatinous and tasted like it had horseradish in it. chips and salsa were good. my shrimp dish was aight, said it came with papas (as opposed to papas fritas) and it was french fries, which was disappointing. drinks were good, and pretty big, but pretty $ too. girlfriend didn't like her enchiladas, beans, or rice. mariachis were awesome, building is awesome, service is eh. read more

Great service. Been here a couple of times. Service is amazing. Food is great. One thing. Please disinfect any shareables ( salt shaker, valentina or other sauce bottles) Muy buen servicio. He venido un par de veces. El servicio siempre buenisimo. El staff muy atento. Solo una cosa. Por favor desinfecten lo que se comparte como salero y botellas de salsa read more

Consistent food quality and different atmosphere from sister restaurant La Calle Doce. All the standards are delicious Tex-Mex done perfectly. And if you like mariachis, come Saturday or Sunday afternoon- evening and they will blow your mind, so fun. read more

Wow, just wow. This place was a piece of home. I'm talking, señoras pumping out fresh tortillas right in front of you! To start, the parking situation could use A LOT of help. We were incredibly lucky to arrive at 7:30pm on a Friday and snag a spot after circling the place. We were a party of two so we were greeted and seated right away. I saw some negative remarks about service for non-spanish speakers and I can see why they would be turned off. I am Hispanic but I certainly don't appear as such and was spoken to in broken English with hesitation until I responded in Spanish and then the entire experience changed. The staff is very friendly and we had multiple people stop by our table to ensure we were being taken care of. They were out of the Mule cocktail on their menu so I opted for the Patrona Margarita and WOOOOO it was strong and delicious! The shrimp enchiladas were tasty, my husband ordered the Parillada and was completely satisfied. The mariachis played wonderfully. It's important to know though, they charge $20 cash per song request so be aware! And they wont hesitate to point you towards the ATM if you dont carry cash. If we weren't on our way out, we probably would've opted for a song but we enjoyed our time there nonetheless. We will definitely return with friends and family. read more

See all

The only reason it is getting. 2 star is because the mariachi was good but the restaurant itself is horrible . We went to celebrate my mother's bday and my nephews music recital event , there where 9 of us including kids . Our waiter was rude and kept rushing us to order so we kindly asked the mngr if we could switch it who was waiting on us . She did and we got a better waiter we where then offered a complimentary app for the situation and turns out that they charged us !! $11 for the app we didn't notice till we where in the road so we called and the mngr said that they don't give complementary apps well they where rude at the end the food was flavorless we ordered several different margaritas and they where not good one had zero alcohol and the others had a funny taste to them read more

See all

I had the famous Cabrito de Monterrey. It was ok. Not as great as the ones you find in Mexico, but this helped with the craving. The staff here is very friendly. The food was good over all read more

El Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I usually don't give restaurants one start but this place was a total disappointment. The food was absolutely horrible, actually got my brothers and I very sick. The elote was bad how do you mess up elote? The shrimp cocktail was sweet and the shrimp tasted like dirt, very gross. read more

El Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

See all

What a nice restaurant. We had the combo with a beef enchilada, chicken enchilada, cheese soft taco, beans and rice. You won't be able to eat it all, it is hearty and sizable. This was followed by complimentary rice pudding. The restaurant was clean and had character. The server was very attentive. We both agreed the chicken enchilada was exquisite and we would definitely pass on the beef enchilada over this. The sauce and tangy cheese on the chicken enchilada was the most flavorful either of us ever had. I usually don't care for rice pudding, but this was just perfect, served warm, light, and really flavorful cinnamon and finely ground sugar on top. The flavor and texture worked and I wish I had some right now for breakfast. If time permits, I will go back and get chicken enchiladas to go on my way back home. Yes, they were that good! read more

Great as always! We eat here frequently and are always greeted with a smile and great service.

We Needed margaritas to go-they provide cocktails curbside pickup. This is a busy venue, and I can tell the servers are all doing their best, but would benefit from more help! Food and drink was very good. Chaotic on a Saturday night. read more

Let me start off and say that their wait services here are excellent. Some of the best mexican food I have had in years. Horchata here is perfect in viscosity and just right on the balance of spice and sweetness. Their Mole sauce is has the right amount of spice and they served a generous amount of it on my bone in chicken. I will be back. read more

Pros Baby goat as an option for tacos Free sopa pilla with two entrees Orchata was spectacular Cons Fatty goat which was over sauced read more

See all