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    Matt's El Rancho

    3.6 (2.1k reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Matt's El Rancho Photos

    Business Info

    MATT'S EL RANCHO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Deluxe Dinner
    Loni M.

    We came in on a Sunday evening and even though it was busy we got seated right away. This was my first time at Matt's but I understand it's a very popular place. The space is beautifully decorated and is much bigger than I thought. We shared the knockout martini and it was strong and delicious. Also a very good size so very shareable. I then ordered the deluxe dinner and that was just ok. I was confused by how it was presented. I first got the guac salad with a crispy tortilla with some cheese on it? Very confused by that. Then the other portion came in a separate plate. The rice, enchilada and pork were good I just wished it was served warmer. Overall, for the price point I would not say it's worth it expect for the drinks but I'm glad I got to experience it.

    Fish Tacos
    Iman Z.

    Not sure if I understand why this place is so busy all the time. I was able to put myself on the waitlist before getting there so that helped us not have to wait 2 hrs at the restaurant. Be prepared to fight to find a parking spot if you decide not to valet. Overall I was disappointed with the food. I ordered the fried fish tacos on the server's recommendation and they were bland and not crispy at all. The table also agreed with me that the fish had no flavor even after I added the coleslaw and sauce to it. The rest of the meals that arrived weren't anything to rave about either. We left disappointed with the food and wait time. You can find a better Tex Mex restaurant in Austin for half the wait time.

    Kim S.

    We first tried to go to Matt's El Rancho at dinner time on a Saturday but there were 132 parties ahead of us on the wait list! We tried again on a Monday at 6:30pm and we were seated immediately. The staff at the hostess stand were super friendly, as was our server. The patio has huge table umbrellas as well as some shade trees, so even in the heat it's comfortable. Big props for having an actual healthy salad choice! My salad had veggies, avocado, and grilled chicken but wasn't topped with all the fattening, unhealthy items that are typically heaped on restaurant salads. It was fresh and delicious!

    Brisket enchiladas
    Alison L.

    Can get super busy and crowded. My brisket enchilada was extremely average. The salsa is spicy which I appreciated. The dip they're known for is decent but nothing special. I've had more flavorful queso. The fajitas are seasoned excellently though. If you go, don't get anything other than the fajitas.

    The Bob Armstrong queso
    Dan S.

    Classic old school Austin place. The back patio is a great place to dine, the service is good in a very crowded chaotic place. The food is tasty and the margaritas are solid. Of course you need to try the Bob Armstrong Queso. Overall a fun time

    Kelse S.

    A meal on the patio in the warmth and sunshine after being in cold stl was exactly what the doctor ordered. This place is huge and is still somehow on a wait at 2pm on a Friday (props to that). The patio is really lovely, you definitely feel like you're cut off from the hustle and bustle outside of the restaurant. The queso and chips hit the spot, and for my entree I ordered the asadero tacos which came highly recommend from the regulars in my party. The tenderloin was sooo good and it was smothered in cheese. What more could you ask for?! The staff was friendly and very attentive. Looking forward to returning!

    Enchiladas with chili con carne
    Diana V.

    Wow!!! What an experience. The place was hopping. Though it was crowded our wait was less than 20 minutes. The food was good, the service was good and everyone was having a good time. I was a little disappointed that I could not order from the children's menu and that there is no senior plates available. It's just a waste of food and a dent in my pocket book that I had to purchase a regular plate.

    Matt's Special
    Brooke D.

    Finally tried Matt's El Rancho and I have to say that the service was fantastic! Our cups were never low on water and our server was super nice. The patio was also super cute! Unfortunately I was super unimpressed with the food though. I got the Matt's special which had green enchiladas and a taco which was actually a tostada. Both items were just very mediocre. Everyone that I was with felt the same way about their entrees as well. We were also a little surprised that they weren't willing to split our check even though it was just four of us.

    Wendi K.

    I'm interested as to why this place is so divisive. It's solid Tex-Mex. The chips are gigantic and crispy, and come with fire roasted salsa for dipping. We also got guacamole & Bob Armstrong Dip ($10, Queso with meat and guacamole) which were both excellent. The guacamole ($13) was super chunky. The grilled fish tacos ($20 for a plate) are gigantic and wonderful. They are rolled up like burritos and have lots of protein. The flour tortillas seem homemade. You can dip them in the ranch or cilantro sauce. Between us three girls, we finished 3.5 tacos. Staff were cheery, albeit a bit slow. Margs were good as well the interior is festive and classic Tex-Mex.

    Menu
    Amber L.

    Matt's El Rancho has received what we would call legendary status in the Austin food scene. This had us coming in with high expectations, something only reinforced when we arrived to a jam packed parking lot and beautiful outdoor facade. We placed ourselves on the waitlist well before arrival and times it just about as well as we could've; something we would highly recommend. They don't seat incomplete parties which we ran into an issue with as we had 2 people missing but they made quick use of the valet parking when they arrived and we were seated quickly after that. The interior is very nice, old school in a way which adds to this staple and authentic feel. Once seated, at a nice family style round table at that, we were brought out 3 huge baskets of tortilla chips. The complimentary chips are pretty good, a bit lacking in salt, but the salsa they have makes up for it with a nice punchy spice that lingers a bit. Ordering was quick and the service was decent as well. We ordered a cheese quesadilla and the brisket flautas with tomatillo sauce. For a restaurant as packed as it was and with us having a party of 6 the food came out pretty quick. The cheese quesadilla was fantastic. It's a relatively easy dish that a lot of places manage to mess up but it was spot on here, simple and tasty. The flats were also very good, savory and filling with the tomatillo layering onto the bold flavors. The Mexican rice and refried beans were also pretty good as well. Everyone else seemed to really like their food too, although one person was not a fan at all of their tacos which came looking pretty bland and on a hard corn shell. By the end of the meal everyone was happy, some remarking about how good and strong the drinks were there. For a restaurant as popular as it is, the price felt fair and the value was decent. The truth of it all is that Matt's is good, truly, but it isn't great. There are other Tex-Mex places in Austin that match the quality of the food here for cheaper or with larger servings. Admittedly, the vibe here surpasses those places by quite a bit so that's something to consider if you're weighing up your options. We would say this is a good spot to bring friends or family visiting in for the vibes and good food alone, but if you're someone specifically seeking out the most authentic or best Tex-Mex that Austin has to offer then there may be a few other places to consider.

    Shirley Temple
    Michelle D.

    Oh Matt's El Rancho Tried and True. Not quite sure the low reviews? This is the epitome of an Austin downtown TexMex hometown Mexican spot. You walk in and are rushed with the sensation.... this is where you bring your families to. Helping towards that ambiance, we happened to come here lunch time during the Christmas season. Large sized parties of families holding gifts galore sitting and waiting, sitting and eating. It was a welcoming sensation to feel that this restaurant gives off family vibes. Even with all the parties, our walk in of 4 was still able to be seated in say maybe 10 minutes? Barely enough time to order a beer and Matt's Knockout Martini from the bar while we "waited". Had one sip and WHAT table is ready! The service was quite impressive for how busy and packed the place was. Also guys...lunch is how you do it. How can you beat $12 for a meal? And a fulfilling meal at that. They don't play. And for the kiddos, $7 including a drink is right up their alley. Shirley Temple sure! Limeade sure! It's been quite a minute since I've been here but upon returning I can truly say this is a place I'd come back to. And if you ever need a place to bring all your extended family for good Ole TexMex - this place is just for you.

    Asadero Tacos (20). Yum!
    Julia C.

    After being in Austin for several years (and hearing mixed reviews of this place), we finally pulled up to give Matt's El Rancho a try. Glad we did! The ambiance is fantastic. What a cozy hidden gem off of S Lamar! Both inside and outside are packed with tables and lots of seating for patrons to enjoy their meal. The service was super friendly and fast. As someone told me in the line at the counter... the mine can be super long, but the service is really fast, and tables turn over pretty quick. An 1.5hr wait might not be that long. Now the food. The salsa is spicy. The super up queso is delicious. I got the chicken enchiladas my first trip, and they were good but not great. But my spouse's Asadero Tacos were incredible. Which is what I got my second visit. Excited to try more items off their menu.

    Kids meal
    Kim K.

    First, I was surprised by the amount of children under 5 here on a Friday night, where drinks appear to be the very next step after placing yourself on a wait list. But I'm starting to see that Austin has a lot of family friendly alcohol venues. Maybe that keeps the adults in check. People watching was quite entertaining while we waited on the side for our table. A balloon animal artist was set up nearby, providing some relief for impatient children. I enjoyed the ranchy vibes here. We were seated outside under big red umbrellas with fly swatter machines at the tables. They don't work that well but better than nothing as you fight against flies for your salsa. It was busy but you don't feel like you are on top of each other at all. The chips are huge and hat sized. The food? Pretty decent. Not the best Mexican you'll ever have but not the worst. The margs? Fantastic. Service was solid. Matt's El Rancho is a good time.

    Large queso and guacamole

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    Hi Dan! Thank you for the wonderful review.

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    10 days ago

    Matt's is always good. Great food and great margaritas! My favorite Mexican food restaurant!!!

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    Hi Natalia! Thank you for the positive review!

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    Page 1 of 52

    Matt's El Rancho Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Matt's El Rancho

    Would 3pm be a good time to go for a party of 6? Gotta couple of people who dont like long wait times.…

    No. They only seat complete parties.

    Do you all sell shirts?

    Matt’s El Rancho has 3 different t-shirt designs. My favorite is out of this world.

    Where should I eat on Tuesday?

    There are many good Tex-Mex restaurants in Austin. A short list of my favorites includes Joe's Bakery (East Seventh) Angie's Restaurant (also East Seventh), Enchiladas e Mas (Anderson Lane), and Casa Garcia (several locations). Your Tex-Mex… Read more

    Looks like from the info that dogs might not be allowed but they do have outside seating. Anyone know if dogs are allowed?

    You have to go through the restaurant to access outdoor sitting so I would assume, no.

    Is there reservations available?

    Nope

    What peppers are in the salsa? There was a whole one in my salsa bowl today and I ate it.. tasted pickled but nearly burned the tongue right out of my mouth!!! (in a good way)!! What pepper did I eat?

    I have always thought that they use Serrano’s to some extent

    Is there a private room to rent for a large group of 30-40 people?

    Yes, but the room is very large and can easily accommodate probably 70-80 persons

    Are there any vegan options available?

    If you get a veggie plate or something to that effect, but not a ton of options

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    ATX Cocina - The amazing cesar salad with watermelon radishes and parmesan cheese crisps

    The amazing cesar salad with watermelon radishes and parmesan cheese crisps

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    Ahi poke tostadas were pretty good

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    Bar

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    Matt's El Rancho - mexican - Updated May 2026

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