My husband and I finally are kicking ourselves for not dining at Verdes El Ranchero sooner! We were walking by and had a hankering for a margarita, so we decided to have lunch here. We were seated right away with chips and salsa brought up fairly quickly. It took us a little time to decide on what to eat, but we ordered our margaritas right away. We were surprised that essentially two glasses were brought out for each of us as the other glass was the "leftover". I ordered the enchiladas suizas and they were really good. I had leftovers. My husband got the chicken tortilla soup and a taco and he could not stop raving about the soup the next day. Our server was very friendly and patient with us as we decided on our food, though we could tell that she was very busy. We did have to request water and that took a little while to get as they got busier. They have a few tables outside in front on the sidewalk. Pricing is very reasonable. We walked here, so parking wasn't an issue for us, but only street parking is available. We'll definitely be back for the soup! read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Mango margarita - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Met some friends for dinner here and had a good experience! We came on a Friday night and had to wait for a table, so keep that in mind when coming during busy times. I ordered the Enchiladas Suizas - it was great! Good flavor and the food came out piping hot which I appreciated. The complimentary chips and salsa were appreciated too. Located in La Jolla so parking isn't super straightforward, however it shouldn't be too tough to find a spot around the corner. read more

Yummy, authentic Mexican food!! I much prefer this to other Mexican spots in La Jolla. The ambience is festive and warm and the food is delicious. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - happy hour menu - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Found this place thanks to a client who lives nearby and I'm so glad it was recommended. I've only done takeout so far, but each time the service over the phone has been friendly and quick. I've ordered about 2-3 times now, and it's become my go-to when I'm in the area and craving asada fries but don't feel like driving far. The fries here hit the spot! Crispy, not soggy, and loaded up just right. I appreciated the generous amount of guac and sour cream (they don't skimp), and they didn't hold back on the cheese or asada. Everything stayed nice and warm until I got home too, which is always a win. I've also tried the quesadilla--definitely recommend! Cheesy, flavorful, and not greasy. Prices here feel about what you'd expect to pay in La Jolla- pretty reasonable for the quality and portion size. While I haven't dined in yet, I did notice they have outdoor seating and seem to get a decent amount of traffic, which says a lot. Overall, a dependable, low-key spot for classic Mexican takeout cravings. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - asada fries - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

I won a couple gift cards from La Jolla Art & Wine Festival a couple years ago and finally got an opportunity to go here for a date night. Cynthia was our server and she was so nice and accommodating. My fiancée and I thought the food was delicious, large portions (we have 2 boxes of leftovers), and fresh. We got a coke, cheese crisp, flautas, and dessert. I even got something to go for my mom and the total was only $52. It's a small place and a little loud, but the decor is lovely. I will definitely be back and would recommend to others. read more

Busy on a Sunday summer evening better table is ready for us in five minutes. Friendly service. Very attentive with chips, otter, etc. I ordered the Marisco tacos; one grilled shrimp taco with grilled (hardly grilled, but oily) veggies and one grilled fish taco both on large corn tortillas. Lacked seasoning, bland. Challenging to eat as a taco as very full of ingredients. read more

Best local Mexican food spot in La Jolla! Killer happy hour specials too. Limited window so u gotta hustle to make it on time! The 3 taco combo is my favorite with a shared plate of happy hour nachos with chicken. We all leave there beyond happy every time! The staff is always so sweet too. It's an absolute must!. Heather read more

This place has really good food. But it is very noisy. It's hard to have a conversation.

$32 for a burrito is insane. Other than that food is mediocre service was good but wayyyy over priced

Good local spot. But the manager (blonde/heavyset girl with tattoos) is rude and bossy. If there are redeeming qualities to this place, it's the laidback feel and the large portions. But again, so expensive, and they could do without the mean manager. read more

French fries nachos were outstanding. Made with actual chunks of beef steak and a generous amount of guacamole. Service was excellent.

Service great & friendly staff. Food came out fast. Server was nice -did not get name, girl with tatoos :). The shrimp ceviche was not as pictured on their website. NOT whole shrimp and chunks of avocado. It is mostly diced tomato. Shrimp diced up, very small avocado slivers. See photo of remains after that. The other dish we got was way too salty. Restaurants need to cut way back on salt. It's absurd how much is put in food. Not good for us. Please consider patrons' health. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Mostly diced tomato, very little shrimp and avocado as depicted on website photos. Cost saving techniques to increase profits is my guess. - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

The food is insane. Service was great! Ambiance was perfect. The refried beans are absolutely delicious. Such a wonderful combination...... beans, chips, and the Asada Burrito. read more

Service is great! Food comes out fast! Our waitress checked on us a few times during dinner. Food is decent and good. Not quite authentic Mexican food. Huge portions. Ambience is fun! This place looks like where a lot of young locals like to hangout. Chips and salsa came out quick! Before the menus even arrived. Hot & fresh! We ordered: Pineapple Margarita- I was hoping they were using fresh pineapple but it's basically just pineapple juice with margarita mix and heavy on the tequila. Crispy Carnitas Tacos - loaded tacos! I love that they use green leaf lettuce. The carnitas was good. Two tacos plate - hubby said their beans were good!! Chile verde plate - must be good because my son ate everything! Enchilada and Taco plate - my daughter said the enchilada was really good. read more

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Excellent food and service the Chile Rellano is yummy delish brand too Chicken Chimichanga was great too. Staff friendly and prompt. read more

We have loved El Ranchero for 20 years. Megan and family have always treated us like family! It's hard for me to write this because I love them so much but this evening we were treated so poorly that I feel I need to say something. The new bartender they have was extremely rude And the energy level was as if they hated us being there. I understand that because it was busy, but they should've just said we are not accepting anybody else at this time. Instead, they made us feel so unseen and so unwelcome that we walked out. It made me feel like I will never come back read more

El Ranchero is a very loud restaurant, it is so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. You will need to park on the street and that can be challenging in this area of La Jolla. The decor is Mexican style. The food is standard Baja Style Mexican with lots of fresh ingredients. It is generally packed and the staff does a great job of keeping up. read more

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Verde El Ranchero is a great Mexican Restaurant to hit if you're in La Jolla! This restaurant may be small, but the food is delicious! It's definitely tight inside, but well worth it. Our server was very attentive and was always checking to make sure we had what we wanted. They offer outdoor seating, weather permitting. I had the Chile Relleno and it was so good. My husband had the California Burrito - it was huge! We'll see you next time we're in town. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Chile Relleno - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Food is amazing, have lots of favorites. It was busy so drinks were a bit slow coming out. Wait staff all great!

This place was amazing! We went last March and had the best dinner after a long day of travel from the east coast. I am still thinking about how crazy good their queso was! Great margaritas and the portions were generous and delicious- especially the enchilada suisa! Our waitress was perfect and the vibe was casual and fun- very neighbor-like and cozy. We will go back every time we are in La Jolla! read more

Rich, saucy, spicy and comforting. Such a great local spot for a family meal or HH with friends. You can walk off those Suizas with a loop down to Windansea. The Bartenders are wonderful. No attitude, no up charges. Just fresh cooked, delicious Mexican food. read more

First time here. Last time here. Now the food was good. I had the De Casa Salad with Grilled fish. The salad was large enough for a meal and it had a good amount of vegetables but adding the grilled fish was disappointing. There was absolutely no taste to the fish. They didn't season it at all. Salad mediocre. Another ordered the Chicken Tortilla Soup. Nice big bowl, lots of chicken, came with a side of Sour Cream, onions and cheese. That person enjoyed it. The last meal ordered was Shrimp Fajitas. Very good. I tasted the shrimp, they were big not overcooked and had terrific flavor. The restaurant is small, the service nothing special, but the noise in the restaurant made it impossible to talk and very unpleasant to sit and eat. So unfortunately the atmosphere was not enjoyable enough to come back even though the food was ok. read more

this is a nice traditional, Mexican American restaurant that serves just what you expect. It's cute inside and suitable for families. They have a nice variety of drinks and the prices are reasonable for La Jolla. Service was good considering how busy it was. The spiciness was tuned down, but I'm sure that's what the town prefers. read more

Seriously though, this place is SO FREAKING GOOD!! We're visiting and I'm here a second time in 4 days because they are closed tomorrow and we're leaving and I wanted it ONE MORE TIME!! I live in Arizona. Not always authentic but we have some good places. THIS PLACE THOUGH... DAMN!!!! This food is AMAZING!! My last leftovers, I ate cold, out of the box, FOR BREAKFAST!! I can't speak for the beans and rice, but the chili relleno and the house special cheese crisp are like no other! It's cute and small and everything you need. Service has been great (different servers both times)! Drinks excellent! If you want extra entertainment, dine on the patio, ive witnessed 3 car accidents in the 2 times I've been here! I'm serious! read more

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Omg delish!! The perfect place to sit down for mexican food after going to the beach. I got the two Taco rice and beans. Then beans were nice and hot and the tacos were to die for. The taco shells are made out of flour tortillas and are fried to perfection! Not too greasy or heavy. The ground beef and shredded chicken are sooo good. Especially the ground beef. It was so flavorful and juicy. This is one of the few Mexican places that can do ground beef tacos really well in La Jolla area. Must try!!! read more

Verdes El Ranchero - 2 tacos rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Sunday evening, you want a good meal while you reflect on a great weekend at the beach. Mexican food before the flight home sounds good, right? I cannot remember the particular dishes, but one of my friends changed her order 3 times because what she ordered wasn't available. Our margaritas tasted more like mix than tequila (to the point where one of my friends asked for a shot of tequila to add to hers). And my ceviche (though a great amount), in my opinion, was nothing more than pico de gallo with baby shrimp: I could've gotten better quality from Costco. I left about half of it uneaten. Needless to say, we left unsatisfied with our restaurant selection. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

The food was pretty good but not amazing. We showed up during "Happy Hour" but got charged for the regular price". She said, "she gave me the regular non-happy hour margarita"... so I guess they give you something of lesser quality? Either way,... normal or not, it wasn't that great. She did change the price on the bill. The carnitas were amazing, but the burrito... while it looked impressive was mostly tortilla. The water they gave us had stuff in the pitcher... Overall, it was a good Mexican place I could have literally anywhere in the country. Not something I'd expect from Dan Diego. I could have had just as good in Ohio... much better in Texas (where I'm from). So,.. go here if you don't mind "good" Mexican food, but keep looking for great. Service was nice and prompt. read more

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Good traditional Mexican food, tasty salsa served with warm chips make this spot worthy of repeat visits. Can be noisy inside when a game is on. read more

My queso blanco appetizer was served with a hair in it, yuck! Service was also poor, the hot queso was served without chips. By the time the chips came, the queso was cold. Server also asked if we wanted water (yes), then didn't bring any during our meal?! We also finished our ordered drinks and the server never asked if we wanted another. We really wanted to like this place, but probably won't go back given all the issues. read more

With business hours limited and Covid restrictions tightening in the state of CA we opted for a quick early evening dinner at Verdes Ranchero. Outdoor seating was available so we chose that with an outdoor heater in close proximity to take the nip out of the chilly ocean air. Started with the Queso fundido which was rather disappointing. I expected a cheesy liquidy cheese dip concoction served with tortilla chips. Instead we got a hot chick of monterrey jack cheese with warm tortillas. Meh, we ate it but didn't meet my expectations. Spoke to staff and they said oh you should have ordered the Queso blanco....thanks...I guess. When it came to our entrees we were pleasantly surprised. Portions and plate presentation were done well. I ordered a combo with a chicken taco and shredded beef tostada. Entrees were served with beans and rice which were also full of flavor. Fyi, complimentary chips and salsa were served at the start of beverage service. The salsa had a spicy kick so watch out if you like your salsa on the mild side. Overall experience was positive besides the fundido fubar. Enjoy! read more

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I love classic places like this. Warm chips and yummy salsa when you sit. Great decor, friendly service. The queso fundito with that chorizo add-on is divine. They offer tortillas, but we like it with the chips. They have a really good kids menu that includes a burger and fries, which is great for a family like mine with a picky child in the mix. The rest of us got to have Mexican delights and the picky one loved it so much, we had to go back two days later. read more

I would like to particularly applaud Mina for her outstanding service. This is one of the best Mexican food restaurants I've ever even eaten at. The staff is always professional and friendly. Highly recommended for anyone in the San Diego area. read more

Went today for Happy Hour and specifically pointed to the Happy Hour menu when ordering. Our bill was $68....much more than anticipated. 2 Margaritas and 4 street tacos with a side of guacamole. The service was terrible and waitress talked politics to the customers next to us. Bad experience all around. read more

It's too bad that the owner's daughter is now running the place. It used to be a great little local restaurant but she is now involved and evidently missed taking courses on hospitality! She is incredibly rude to customers and extremely entitled. With her permanent scowl on her face, she makes it very difficult to want to go back. read more

Margaritas are great, as is the service. Queso Blanco is tasty, but probably very salty. Food is fine. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Bar scene from outside table - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

This restaurant was incredibly noisy, and the guacamole left much to be desired, possibly made from powder. On the bright side, the rest of the food was decent read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Powdered guacamole. - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

I have been coming here for 15 years and they always turn out a quality product. The food is the best Mexican (in my opinion) in La Jolla. The drinks top notch. Vegan options both beans and chorizo. Tamales several option that include vegan. Pro tip carnitas, Sunday chili Colorado, and the Paloma's. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Try the Paloma with or without salt - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Daaaaaannngggg!!!! This place is bomb. Carnitas, carne asada, seriously up there for best in SD. It's old school San Diego Mexican cantina. I've probably only had the tacos and their salsa's but that's all they need. Great tequilas. It's not fancy or "modern" like some poser shi. Strong margaritas too! It is always busy though, so you are warned, do not be turned off by wait times. They run a lean operation. It's San Diego cantina the way it should be! Shout out to Tina Marie for making some muy fuerte margs. Good vibes inside and a friendly area in Bird Rock which is often, and wecomely overlooked. This place is kinda a hidden gem in the neighborhood and locals may not want to know. But seriously if you live in San Diego county, come here for dinner and drinks at least once. read more

Verdes El Ranchero - Ground beef crispy taco, grilled fish (cod), carne asada taco a la carte. What's not seen is a Cadillac and habanero house salsa. So good - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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A great spot! Excellent service given by Coya. I couldn't decide between the Chimichanga and the Enchiladas Suiza. I felt like something fried but the sauce on the enchilada sounded so good so she told me get the chimichanga with the suiza sauce on the side with it. It was really good! The chips and salsa were great too! A great spot in La Jolla. read more

Visiting for the BC and this is probably the worst Mexican place I have ever tried! The food absolutely tasted like cardboard. I have never had Mexican food be so bland. Grossly over priced for what you get. The restaurant was so loud no conversation could be had. This is more a bar for locals to drink way too much and get loud as the drinks were strong and people were getting obnoxious. Avoid! read more