I must admit I spend way more money here than I should. Honestly one of my favorite restaurants in Athens! They have some of the best deals and you can always leave here feeling happy and full without breaking the bank. I typically get the chicken quesadilla and let me tell you Gran Ranchero has the JUICIEST chicken. I crave this bad boy daily. They also have the best daily marg deals in Athens and they don't skimp on the tequila! Highly recommend!!! read more

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The food was absolutely amazing- the service was absolutely horrible. Maria was rude, never refilled our waters, chips, napkins. Food took so long that 3 tables arrived and departed before we received it. Had to ask the cashier for chips, napkins & water. Not sure what we did to make her unhappy with us but she shouldn't be in the front of the house. She walked around eating and laughing with 2 other servers but not work hard for the establishment -definitely a disservice to Gran Ranchero as it's probably the best food in Athens. read more

This is not authentic Mexican food. However, it is good food nonetheless. Service is good. Prices are great. I recommend it. read more

Gran Ranchero - Fajita nachos - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

Fast service with a smile. Have eaten here for years. Best Beef Tacos around! Carnitas are good too.

Same friend suggested this place...wow! Great margs, food and service! This is not tex-mex, this is good Mexican food!! Ambiance was very nice and clean!! read more

Gran Ranchero is a very good Mexican restaurant in Athens. The food is very good and so is the service. The restaurant is located away from downtown and is large, so it is possible to be seated immediately, even on a busy Saturday night when downtown venues are impossible. I liked the Enchiladas Banderas, a three-enchilada combination of beef, chicken and cheese varieties. Each comes in its own colorful sauce. I've also tried a two enchilada and one taco combination meal. I like that one can order only rice with dinner, as I usually do not eat the beans that come with most other Mexican restaurant dishes. The portions are good sized, but not overly filling. Request hot sauce if you would like to have it. (Not automatically supplied.) The chips and salsa are complimentary and served in good sized portions. Your server will ask if you would like more. Recommended as a place for families and their OU students to gather for a pleasant meal. read more

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Best margaritas! My fave is the Pollo Loco , always good ! Specials each nite - busy place with fast service

The beer was cold, the food was hot, fast, and tasty, and the service was friendly. Was it "authentic" Mexican? Of course not. It was OhioMex, and it was done well. read more

Food was awesome, dinners dips and salsa , service was great also , I will go back ,not from this area , visiting from Pittsburgh read more

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Food was okay, you could tell the rice and beans were microwaved... steak in the taco was very rubbery and burnt. I usually wouldn't leave a review but the staff was just rude. When you ask for a refill on water the waiter should not act all upset. I have been here a few times and each time I have a different instance of a rude staff member. read more

I was in town for work and came here on a recommendation. The menu was standard Mexican fare. Salsa and chips were good. Combo Dinner of cheese enchilada, bean burrito and cheese quesadilla was just okay. Service was slow and I think the waiter kept forgetting that he had my table. It wasn't overly busy but it took awhile for food and longer for the bill. I would opt for other options in the area. read more

My favorite place to eat in Athens!! Great food, I love to get the fajita burritos! Service is always great too!

THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT. I absolutely love this place. The workers are always very attentive. I have got several things from here and they are always very good. My favorites are the tacos de pollo asada and pollo Yucatán. Whenever my parents come to visit, they always want to go here. read more

I stopped in on a quick trip to Athens and had the Jalisco. It was amazing! The food was piping hot and the cheese sauce super flavorful. Even the mushrooms were fresh and flavorful. I loved it. The portion did seem slightly small compared to other Mexican restaurants I've been to but it wasn't a problem. Their guacamole is also super creamy and delish! Definitely recommend read more

Gran Ranchero - Jalisco, partially eaten lol. - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

We have dined here many times and have never had a bad experience. Sometimes there is confusion due to the language barrier, but the food is always good, hot and fresh. Service is always friendly and tentative, and you never have to ask for anything because they're on it! We tried a sweet corn empanada for the first time at our last visit, and it was delicious! Also love their guacamole! read more

Gran Ranchero - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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I came during my break at near by establishment to just grab an order of chips and queso. They proceeded to charge me $14 for a cup of melted cheese and a bag of chips. They charge online only $8 but because i had the nerve to walk in without calling first they upcharged me so I decided to not complain and just pay what they charged me. Once i got back to my place that i work at i tasted the chips, they were unbelievably stale. Those chips must have been in their back for a week. I have never had issues with this restaurant in the past but this has caused me to NEVER go back to them again. read more

Very good chicken fajitas Very filling The chips and salsa are good too - I think I filled up on those and finished my fajitas Making it impossible for me to tie my shoes I walked to the nearest Walmart and walked around Walmart for an hour and still I was busting at the seams Whew I stuffed read more

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Despite coming highly recommended by a local, my expectations were low. I lived in Texas for several years and came to know good Mexican food. Honestly, most small town Mexican restaurants aren't very good. Gran Ranchero has typical Mexican restaurant in the US decor, you know what to expect before walking through the door. The chips and salsa at Gran Ranchero were excellent, a good sign. Service was responsive, if lacking personality (maybe a cultural thing, the waiter was a Latino male). I ordered a combo dinner with chile relleno (it was good) and tamale (wow, excellent!) with a side beef taco (bland, lacked spices). Another at my table shared a taste from their "Texas Fajita" (shrimp, beef) that was delicious. The margarita was very good, another pleasant surprise, not the poor quality premix I expected. Gran Ranchero was better than expected for a city the size of Athens. I'll go back. read more

Gran Ranchero - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

I have been coming here for years being a student at Ohio university. I remember being here the week it opened. Great for large parties. Never had a bad meal. Food is Delicious. Service is great. Had my first date here with my boyfriend 3 years ago. Amazing memories here. read more

Gran Ranchero - Chimichanga mixed - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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This place gets two stars for being exactly what you'd expect based on this description: a strip mall Mexican restaurant. Absolutely no character. Food is not very competitively priced given the poor ambiance. The nail in the coffin was that the fajita didn't sizzle. Someone in my party got their order mixed up. You get the idea: this place is nothing special - don't waste your time.... and realllllly don't come here if you want a taste of Mexican "culture" as you will be very disappointed. read more

Tasty Mexican food, fresh ingredients prepared perfectly. Good crowd amd nice bar scene.

The Mexican food in Ohio just stinks no matter where you get it. The only thing good about this place is the strong margaritas. The food is below average per usual. Only have been here a handful of times and that's enough for me. read more

Please don't come here if you want to spend the rest of your night on a toilet with things coming out of you both ways. Seafood chimichanga was completely spoiled and rotten. A friend of mine ordered enchiladas and found a empty plain tortilla under a bunch of mystery sauce. The place was sticky and I was very concerned about what was playing on the tv as it did not seem very appropriate. Took over 20 minutes just to get our checks. Asked for ranch and even asked twice was never received but was charged for it. Really all the food was disgusting and gave both me and my boyfriend food poisoning. Please don't go here! read more

I cannot say anything bad about this place! The food is incredible and the service is exceptional. The restaurant is very clean and the staff is taking all safety measures to keep everyone safe during the Pandemic. read more

Omg so so good. They give you unlimited chips and salsa and the salsa is amazing btw. I get a different meal each time I go and I'm never disappointed. The fajita dishes are really fun thought because they bring it out to you sizzling hot on the pan they cook It on. read more

I frequent this Mexican restaurant often because it's reliably authentic and delicious. Great margaritas, awesome fajitas and burritos and spot on salsa. Try the hot salsa if you like see spice. Service is always friendly. Occasionally a language barrier that might effect the order but it's rare and 100% typical with authentic places. Highly recommend the fajitas del Mar if you like seafood. Also a 20 oz. margarita with premium tequila. No Jose Quervo gold. read more

Gran Ranchero - Great margarritas and awesome mild salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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this place is absolutely disgusting. the tables and menus were sticky, there were flys all over the place, and the food was straight mush. save yourself the disappointment read more

I love this staff. The menu is ok and most dishes are very similar. I did try something different last time and have to say it was a success! Pollo yucatan was great! Always have a good experience read more

We got the Arroz Con Pollo and it was SO GOOD! Plus the queso blanco is absolutely amazing. We came for margarita Monday and not only were those good but they were quite strong if ya know what I mean. All in all- amazing costumer service and amazing food. We will definitely be back often! read more

This place has really gone downhill. We have enjoyed meals here in the past, not so much today. Lunch on a Tuesday at noon and it wasn't very busy, now we know why. Table was not clean, service was slow, prices have gone up, chips were stale. Then when we checked out they would not honor the hooked lunch deal. read more

What a pleasant surprise! This place met every expectation for San Diego locals next to the border. Great service, great food and great drinks! read more

This place is the bomb. I ate like a king for very little and boy was it tasty. Even know the menu is huge, I went with my traditional fajita burrito. They did not let down! The ingredients were fresh and melted in my mouth. The cheese on top was the kicker! I was with a group of 10+ and we were all pleased with our food. The margaritas were also huge and very affordable. I might be moving down to Athens so I can come here weekly. read more

My favorite place to eat in Athens!!! I think about Gran Ranchero so often, the chips w queso is just fantastic. I've never been disappointed w a server either. All around love it at gran ranchero read more

One of the worst Mexican dining experiences of my life. I may be biased, having dined in some of the best cities in the country, but this place is nothing but cheap, strip mall, Midwestern Americanized Mexican, with foods primarily prepared either out of can or via microwave. The salsa is good because it is commercially manufactured. The dish I had, the La Deliciosa, consisted of a platter of flank steak hammered thin to grill up to beyond well done in minutes, chorizo that had clearly seen better days, and chicken that was well past prime and cooked dry as plastic, over a bed of wilted peppers and onions. The good: it's over quickly because its ore cooked and not something to linger over. read more

Last week, I and my husband drove 5 hours from DC to Athens just to eat in this place. I love their chips that they serve before the meal. They are very generous read more

If you are like some of the other reviewers here and have dined at some of the best restaurants in the country don't bother stopping here. If you are savvy enough to recognize that you are about to dine in a strip mall in small town Athens, go ahead and check it out. The dishes are tasty, though nothing remarkable, and the prices are affordable. My man enjoyed his fajita. I had a cheesy, tasty enchilada. The salsa was fresh and had tasty cilantro in it. In other words, nothing stellar but no complaints either. read more

Fast friendly service. I ordered the Chicken Quesadilla off of the lunch menu where all of the items were discounted. It was absolutely delicious. Their chips and salsa were delightful, and our server was quick and attentive. We were easily out of there as quickly as we had hoped so that we could make an appointment we had already scheduled. I'd recommend it, and if I'm even in Athens again, I'd probably stop by for lunch. read more

Great Mexican restaurant in a pleasant atmosphere. The food was delivered quite fast. I came here with a large group and service was great. We sat and chatted over their large margaritas- mango/pomegranate, strawberry, banana. I really liked their tequila in most of the alcoholic beverages. Otherwise, I ordered the enchiladas verde with guacemole/rice/beans. The prices were decent for dinner menu items of about $8. Chips came out hot off the stove with fresh salsa. We ordered the cheese queso dip as well. I recommend this restaurant. It is a nice getaway from the loud college area. The prices are just right. And while the food is not authentic, it is the closest thing to it in the Athens area. read more

We came on a very busy night. Parents/dads night at Gran Ranchero. They appeared to be understaffed. Our server got our drinks and chips out fast. We received our food and although my husband's order was wrong we took it and proceeded to eat (once we got our silverware). I found the find of an avocado in my food and the onions from the carne Asada was scorched. I ate less than half and told Our server about the issues. No one asked if our experience was good. If they had we would've let them Know. The cashier didn't ask if we had enjoyed our meal as I'm Sure she didn't want to really know. We will not come back. read more

This place was pretty decent for being out in the middle of nowhere. It is your typical Tex-Mex fare. I ordered The Delicioso which was a skillet of crumbled chorizo, steak, and chicken and came with rice, beans, and warm flour tortillas. It was really good and if I came here again, this is what I would get. Betty ordered chicken enchiladas, but she received vegetable enchiladas which is pretty disappointing. She didn't really realize because she was engrossed in conversation and I actually mentioned that it didn't look or taste like there was any chicken in there until she was down to one enchilada so we just cut our losses and said oh well. The freshly made tortilla chips and salsa were a nice bonus as they were very good. If you like spice ask for the spicy salsa. read more