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    Ranchero Cafe Restaurant

    4.6 (24 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    RANCHERO CAFE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    A delicious fresh hard shell taco with sour cream and lettuce and tomato such a good combo

    Such a delicious hard shell taco with sour cream and tom and lettuce y'all guys should try it out

    Teresa M.

    Honestly the best Mexican Torta with asada I've ever had . I usually eat half my food and take it to go .... I literally didn't want to leave I felt like I was at home and I ate the whole thing. The steak was tender and juicy . And the Tojo sauce was perfectly picante. The service was amazing , you can tell the family cares about keeping the culture traditions, and the food taste incredible. This is what I call a gold mine. I wish they had a bigger location with margaritas!!! I will definitely be back.

    Hole-in-the-wall.
    Steven B.

    Solid hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint with a cooler full of cold beer. Wait a minute; that sounds pretty good. It is if you enjoy very mild food. ATMOSPHERE- There is none. This is one small room with a counter at the front. The décor is almost non-existent however it's very clean. There is a serve-yourself cooler for soft drinks and another for ice cold beer. PRO TIP- Street parking only and there are a couple of other popular restaurants nearby. Friday and Saturday nights might be a little work. CUSTOMER SERVICE- Very nice. This is a family run joint and the lady at the front of the house is delightful. Note that she switches seamlessly between Spanish and English to handle the diverse clientele. FOOD- This is your standard Mexican menu available everywhere which is not necessarily a bad thing. I ordered the Enchiladas Ranchero which was three beef enchiladas and the usual rice and beans. Along with an ice cold Modelo it cost me $10.68. It arrived quickly and the plate was as hot as the sun. What a surprise! Portion size was just fine. Unfortunately my food was mild, mild, mild. I eat Mexican because I want to taste those wonderful Mexican spices and that was difficult here. There were plenty of hot sauces on the table and that helped a lot. CONCLUSION- Other than being very mild the food is solid. If I was blowing by and wanted a quick Mexican fix and a brew I'd stop again. It's unlikely I'd bring anyone here because of the lack of atmosphere. There are plenty of better Mexican places in Highlands County. If you would like my take on those, here is my list- https://www.yelp.com/list/mexican-in-highlands-county-avon-park

    a plate of chicken, rice, and a tortilla

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Delicious food 100% restaurant Mexican the tacos and fajitas and quesadillas and burrito steak yummy

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    You can not go wrong with this place what a little gem. Come and have the best honey Mexican food

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    2 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

    First time there, food very bland, beans cold, had the carna, not good. Friend had taco salad, she didn't like hers either.

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Ranchero Cafe Restaurant

    Review Highlights - Ranchero Cafe Restaurant

    It was just as I imagined, decorated with colorful decor and cozy.

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    Taqueria Merlo

    Taqueria Merlo

    4.5(112 reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $

    Heaven on a Fork! Even after ten years of visits, the bloom is not off the rose!…read more For this lunch to-go visit, I was in the mood for spicy food, so I went with their Chorizo meal. So how was it? Read on to find out. Arriving- They are on Main St., just a few seconds off US Route 27 so they are simple to find. There is a private parking lot that can be a bit of a challenge as they are insanely popular. Ambience- It is a combination Mexican market and restaurant that is so common in this part of the state. There are quite a few tables and booths that are kept nice and clean. You order and pay the cashier, and they'll call you when it's ready. This is a very, very casual place! BTW-This place has a spotless open kitchen. Not to be missed is the complimentary, with purchase, Salsa Bar. Delicious! There are plenty of small to-go containers to sample the bar items if you're taking your meal home like I did on this visit. Customer Service- Everyone that works here will be Hispanic, but all the customer-facing folks speak excellent English. They are always friendly, and I've never had a problem. Pro Tip- If you are so inclined, before you place your order, walk to the coolers at the back of the market and grab yourself a cold brewski! Pro Tip- The menu board is in Spanish but there are English menus readily available. Food- All your Mexican favorites, both meats and seafood, in very generous portions. I ordered the Chorizo meal @ $14. My picture is a little deceiving. See that slab of delicious spicy sausage? There is another piece the same size, directly underneath! I put the box on my scale at home and it was just under 2 lbs.! That's a lot of lunch and it was awesome. Conclusion- So they have over 100 reviews @ 4.5 stars and they deserve it. It's an inexpensive, casual "Heaven on a Fork" kind of place!

    If you're looking for some authentic Mexican food and you are in Avon Park... this it it!!!…read more We love the food here. It's a walk-up counter and the menu is above and they also have menus you can order from. As for service, they do bring you the food to your table if you are going to eat here and there is a salsa and condiments bar with a little bit of everything to top your tacos or any other plate you order. The restaurant is part of the store, so you can shop for items for your home and even get a piñata for a party!!! We love the place and it good home cooked authentic food.

    Photos
    Taqueria Merlo
    Taqueria Merlo - Flautas

    Flautas

    Taqueria Merlo - This is what an Asada Platter to-go should look like in my area! Check out the avacado! Just delicious!

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    This is what an Asada Platter to-go should look like in my area! Check out the avacado! Just delicious!

    El Paso Tienda - Amazing small Breakfast Chorizo Burrito!

    El Paso Tienda

    4.8(17 reviews)
    8.3 mi
    $

    Stopped by for breakfast burritos. Without a doubt, the best I have had in the county. Takes me…read moreback to when I was working in El Paso and Las Cruces New Mexico. The staff were very friendly, the store and restaurant were very clean. We will be back.

    I'm a 71 years young Yelper and I just inhaled the best Breakfast Burrito of my life!…read more I've been to this gas station/convenience store/restaurant several times for lunch. Folks kept telling me about the amazing Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, so I finally stopped in the morning to give it a go. This is that story. Arriving- It's on US Route 27 South and you can't miss it as the restaurant name is emblazoned on the canopy. See my picture. Parking is easy and if you have the need there are two handicapped spaces around the back near a second entrance. Ambience- The convenience store/restaurant is in the back and kind of combined. There are acres of cooler doors with every drink you can imagine including beer & wine. Just grab what you want to drink with your meal. Don't worry, you pay when you're finished. There is a bright and spotless dining area with a bunch of tables & booths. See my picture. Pro Tip- I'm a gringo and if you are also, you will be in the minority. Don't panic, you'll be made to feel very welcome! Food- This is an order at the window kind of place. There are some menus on the wall but not everything is included. Just ask. So, I asked for the famous Chorizo Breakfast Burrito- "Small or large? Small please." "Would you also like Beef & Cheese? Hell yes!" "Here or to-go? Here please." "What color sauce? Red please." Less than five minutes later it was ready and plated beautifully. Not too shabby for a gas station! Pro Tip- They make their own tortillas year daily! OMG I was in love! It was piping hot, and the aroma was incredible. It was very dense in a good way. This was the small and it was very filling. The chorizo was wonderful and spicy so expect that. I could also taste the melted cheese. It was one hell of a breakfast. The large size would have been too big for a morning meal for me. It was $5.99 and I'd added a Starbucks drink out of the cooler. My total tab was $8 and change. Yelp reviews originally clued me into this place and as a result, I had a five-star simple and memorable breakfast!

    Photos
    El Paso Tienda - Bright & airy & spotless dining area!

    Bright & airy & spotless dining area!

    El Paso Tienda - Breakfast Burritos with Chorizo

    Breakfast Burritos with Chorizo

    El Paso Tienda - Easy to find with the name on the canopy!

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    Easy to find with the name on the canopy!

    Kitchen 22 - Tasty, well pressed Cuban @ $10.22!

    Kitchen 22

    4.0(2 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    This new mini restaurant is inside the Turn 2 Brewing Co. It is a separate entity from the brewery,…read moreso you order and pay separately. Arriving- The brewery is less than a minute off US Route 27 so getting here is simple. There is a nice, large, private parking lot. Ambience- It's just a walk-up station inside the brewery so the atmosphere is the breweries. For more info, check those Yelp reviews. Customer Service- So you sit in the brewery and the server/bartender will give you their food menu. You walk up to the food station and select and pay for your selection. I was waited on by the owner and she was great! When it's ready, they will bring it out to you. One more time, it's a separate entity inside the brewery. Food- It's a single page of some cool looking selections that I have posted for your perusal. I ordered the Cuban without a side, but the Mexican Street Corn will be calling my name when I'm a little hungrier. It cost me $10.22. It was out quickly, pressed nicely, but it wasn't quite hot enough. It had all the required, tasty ingredients. It was great but I've had a greater amount of filings for that price so I would say the value was just average. Conclusion- The brewery is a great place and the food menu from these folks has some interesting selections, so I'll definitely try them again. For now, I'm going three stars.

    this place has one of the best Cuban I have ever had was recommended by one of the employees name…read moreMeeka he was awesome and very helpful we will definitely be coming back soon

    Photos
    Kitchen 22 - Interesting selections!

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    Interesting selections!

    SENOR JALAPENO - Solid, fresh, Chips & Salsa!

    SENOR JALAPENO

    2.9(36 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    We have been here a couple of times but today we brought friends. I have the Hawaiian tortillas and…read moreit was awsome, shrimp, grilled peppers onions all served in a half of a pineapple. Every one enjoy everything.

    With our travels - we seek out local Mexican restaurants. This visit was our first to Senor…read moreJalapeno on Friday night around 6:30. Upon review of their menu, we notice that at top of page right above "Appetizers", the restaurant states "First bowel of chips & salsa are complimentary, thereafter, next bowl is $5.99. So we thought we'd verify that since we have never encountered this policy before And we eat at many Mexican restaurants during the year. So our waiter came by and my husband asked if that policy was enforced & he replied "Yes". So that policy basically took this restaurant off our list to return. We normally enjoy a 2nd basket along with 2-3 bowls of salsa to chill out before we order. Now maybe we understand why this location is not as busy as 2 of their competitors are. Just never saw the 1 basket policy before. In their defense, coke products were offered at $2.99, which is a good consumer price. Not much thought was given to their plates presentation - very plain. The chicken in my flautas lacked any seasoning at all creating a very dry product. Very small serving of beans. Rice serving size was normal. Server did not keep my drink filled and my husband had to ask for his to be refilled. X don't think we'll return for visit #2.

    Photos
    SENOR JALAPENO - Meticulously maintained and spotless!

    Meticulously maintained and spotless!

    SENOR JALAPENO - Grilled Chicken & Chorizo smothered in creamy Queso!

    Grilled Chicken & Chorizo smothered in creamy Queso!

    SENOR JALAPENO - Handmade, delicious Casa Margarita @ $13.

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    Handmade, delicious Casa Margarita @ $13.

    La Malquerida - Fresh but cold thick-style chips!

    La Malquerida

    3.9(9 reviews)
    7.9 mi
    $

    Highlands County is agricultural which in FL often means citrus which means a large Hispanic…read morecommunity to work in the groves. I live here and we have dozens of delightful, small privately-owned Mexican restaurants of which this is one. Arriving- Facing Main Street with an adequate private lot so getting here and parking is a snap. Ambience- Not much but that's not why you're here. Like most of these joints it's a combo of a small store and a restaurant. A few tables and booths, an open kitchen, and a little Florida kitsch and that's it! The customers will be mostly Hispanic but a gringo like me will feel completely welcome. The Television will almost certainly be on a Hispanic channel. Note that this is one of the very few small Mexican joints that has table service! Adult Libations- Somewhere along the way they acquired a beer & wine license so be sure to grab a Corona or a Modelo to go with your meal. It will be served with an interesting bottle opener that you can see in my picture. Customer Service- Friendly and efficient and I've never had a problem. Food- A large, laminated menu with everything you would expect. Beef, chicken, pork, or shrimp, it's all there, Mexican style. I went with Carnitas served with rice and beans and a small side salad. It included my choice of flour or corn tortillas for $12.99. It was out very quickly. Delicious! The pork was moist, tender, and lightly seasoned with some sauce on the side. The rice and beans were hot and typical and tasty. The side salad was fresh, and my tortillas were nice and hot. A fine four-star Mexican meal that was very affordable. These fine folks are overshadowed by a hugely successful competitor a stones throw away. So, if you are sick of the giant Americanized Mexican places, give them a try, especially if you desire table service!

    Great food. I had the Bistec Rancheria and had them put jalapenos instead of bell pepper…read more Amazing!!! My wife had the chicken flautas and said they were also amazing. Service from the waitress/cashier was also amazing. Don't let the appearance of the dining room turn you away. It is nothing fancy but very clean. Highly recommended!

    Photos
    La Malquerida - Delicious and $12.99 with a side-salad and tortillas not shown!

    Delicious and $12.99 with a side-salad and tortillas not shown!

    La Malquerida - Beer served with a do-it-yourself opener!

    Beer served with a do-it-yourself opener!

    La Malquerida - OK chips & fresh salsa.

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    OK chips & fresh salsa.

    Ranchero Cafe Restaurant - mexican - Updated May 2026

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