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Significantly improved of late...two recent visits have moved this place solidly into the same four-star territory as their solid sister restaurant on the Hill. Orders come out right, their hours are consistent, and the orange cheese has been kicked the holy hell to the curb. They still have it but they know to keep it the hell away from my food.
Recommended for tacos, getting there on burritos, yummy tortas. Good deal and the staff rocks as hard as the mothership location, too.
If you think this is the best taco truck, clearly you're comparing this place to taco bell. There's… Read more »
I love taco carts, so I'm overly critical. This is in my neighborhood and I was so excited. I've been here 5 times now, every time hoping it's going to be great but I'm still underwhelmed.
Good tacos, ok burritos, but nothing exciting. For late night food, you'll probably like it. I like eating at a parking lot trailer, but at this location there's always a disgustingly-overflowing dumpster right next door. You can smell it while you're eating half the time. Not attractive.
Besides, Dick's is so close by.
Pros: Nice people. Consistent quality. Inexpensive. About as close to legit mexi/california street tacos as you'll get in Seattle proper. Open late. Very tasty homemade red (4 star) and green (2 star) salsa.
Cons: They could be a little cleaner with the surroundings and they are always out of tamales.
Solid taco truck. Had the al pastor and tongue for my tacos. The tongue was tasty, though the al pastor was not as good as I have had other places. It was more straight spice then the roasty deep flavor of really good al pastor.
Gotta love the digs though. Works for when its raining with the tarp up and the food comes out quick and cheap. Would really like to try a tamale though.
Finding good Mexican food this far north is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I first started my search about three months ago after moving here and it's been pitiful. Most locals admit that "there really isn't any good Mexican food in Seattle." I shed a tear (on the inside).
Then, I stumbled upon the Rancho Bravo taco truck! It's not the same as the goods you'll find in California (or even my favorite Mexican place in Portland), but it comes so close.
The price is uber reasonable (even cheap), the service is adequate/efficient and the food is great. My boyfriend and I thought we may have reached nirvana when the explosion of flavors, spices and generous helpings hit us. As a vegetarian, I thought the veggies were fresh (none of the awful frozen mixed veggie bags or carrots to be found - thank you very much) and my boyfriend (non-veg) assured me the meat was well seasoned and good proportions.
They lost a point because you'll have to order more than one item to satisfy your hunger if you're starving.
I'm mixed on this spot. Rancho Bravo Tacos (RBT) failed on their Carne Asada Tacos. I like spots that serve free tortilla chips and have free salsa bars. RBT has neither of these nor did they seem to offer chips and salsa as a paid-side. Do they offer Pico de Gallo? hmmm...
In anycase, I overate on my trip to Seattle. I had some restraint here by only having 1.5 tacos and tasting the wifey's tacos. Thanks to Jim C (http://www.yelp.com/us... ) for this find and helping me gain the 8 pounds that took me 6 months to drop but 4 days to regain in a short trip to Seattle!
Here's the breakdown:
+ Al Pastor (BBQ Pork $2.00) Taco - tasty and good! i generally consider these acceptible to be fatty and greasy. Rancho Bravo exceeds in both categories. Fat = Flavor! Eat at your own risk
- Carne Asada (Beef $2.00) Taco - dry. flavorless. even though I got 1 for free i would have preferred the Pollo!
+ Pollo (Chicken $2.00) Taco - the STANDOUT of the bunch! Spicy, flavorful, tender and moist. Who knew? Actually you won't know unless you try all three... (+2 STARS)
+ Horchata ($1.75) - decent. Although could be creamier! (+1 STAR)
+ Rice, Queso (Cheese) & Beans ($3.75) - generous portions. Tasty.
- Salsa: available in .5 ounce plastic to go cups or served from large Maple Syrup containers you would find at iHOP or Denny's. Most are pretty spicy and passable. I would have preferred a bottle of Tapatio (see: http://www.tapatiohots.../ ) or Cholula (see: http://www.cholula.com/).
+ Messican Soda's available
- Prices are somewhat high here for a taqueria. Service was fast and friendly. Ambiance is that of a converted KFC, which ok. If they had chips and salsa available or were consistent with all their meat flavors and preparation, rating could be higher.
+ Public (M/F) restrooms available.
- Neighbors had Tortas and Burritos. Neither looked appetizing. Torta bread did not look fresh or as I recollect from Tortas at LA's Grand Central Market (see: http://www.yelp.com/bi... ).
- NO CHORIZO Taco's WTH??? (-2 STARS)
I'll be back but only to eat the Pollo Taco, wash down with some Horchata and find out if they serve Pico De Gallo! Oh, and to try the Tamales!!! It ain't the Bay but it ain't bad for Seattle!
ps - i wonder how this shows on an iPhone/BB... (testing 1.2.3.)
(RBT's 145th review.) #568
A lot of Taco trucks are doing a lot of interesting things with Taco Truck concept and introducing new meats and concepts for taco's as well.
But it's good to get back to a good ol' taco truck that makes good Carne Asda 's only for a buck and a half and ....is this homemade sauce? yum
but I didn't think it was mind blowing and I love my street food, but "hey" I'll come again, it's a good cheap eat and something feels communal here it has a good vibe and can feel the energy of the day and the ending of the night.
I joined Yelp for this review. One word for this establishment - authentic.
The food is good. It is authentic in that one time your chicken mole burrito is delicious, another time your chicken mole burrito is greasy enough to lube up a car engine, and a third time you get "sorry - no chicken mole!"
The service makes me knock it down from a 4 to a 3. My wife and I go here A LOT. They know me. So one evening I am walking my dog and I make sure to hurry, hurry and I get there at 8:35 pm! Phew!
A guy is just leaving the window with his food and as I walk up I am told, "sorry - we closed!" Whaaat? I begged, I pleaded, I staunchly asserted my loyalty to the establishment and could you just please make an exception?
"No - we close early today."
So that's what you get. Authenticity, if they want to close on you at 8:35 instead of 9 pm then they can, no franchise rule or man holding them down!
If you can stomach the authenticity it is well worth the trip!
best. fish. tacos. ever.
I won't lie, I am Hispanic and scared of eating at taco trucks but my husband brought me here and I LOVE the tacos. I make my tacos at home but when I want a quick fix after a night of salsa dancing we go to the taco truck. The people that work there are so sweet to us. I would not go to another truck.
Being from California, I sorely miss good Mexican food. Seattle makes attempts at it, but it's never very good.
Rancho Bravo is the best and most authentic I've tasted so far in Seattle. They do tacos, burritos, and tamales with all the fixin's (but if you want tamales, you have to go early or order them special). They do a veggie mix with carrots and eggplant, too, for the non-carnivores. The grilled onions are a nice touch.
It certainly can't match up to what you're used to if you are from California or Texas, but if you don't get too skeazed out by roach coaches, Rancho Bravo is your best bet.
And remember, cash only.
Yay!!!! they have opened up again. Late night tacos after the bar again . I love their homemade salsas. They remind of the tacos you get when your drunk partying in tiquana. And the kids drag you in front of their moms taco stand. It's not 10 for a $1 and 50 cent coronas. But it hits the same spot.
We went by there last night. They were not in business!
Please don't close down we need you in our…
Read more »
Five was pushing it.
After all, it's just a taco truck. With success comes attitude problems.
This place pretty much rules. I bought food for three people for a little more than $10. Total… Read more »
C'mon man. You already know that this is the spot. I honestly don't remember how I heard about / found out about this place, but who cares. It's my favorite spot for any and all late-night cravings and just plain hunger. With its convenient location near Dick's burgers and Winchell's donuts, my friends and I coined the three as the Holy Trinity (you must eat all 3 in one stop). But the tacos here are always on point, Carnitas is probably my favorite. The people that work there are always nice, especially dealing with all the drunk people that go there late at night. Legendary taco truck in my opinion.
Taco Time take your cactus and go away....there's no comparison...
I want seconds!!! OMG!! This is the best taco truck burrito I have ever had!! I am so elated!!! This is supreme!! Bang for your buck, that's for sure!! They are really good and reminds me of ones I would get in Mexico....they are open till 2:30 am, too.....watch out Taco del Mar!!
PS - if you don't have someone around to lick your fingers, they provide you with wipes :)
Simply put, this is probably the best Mexican food in Seattle.
The food is cheap, flavorful and authentic; they have a great variety of salsas, and their horchata is sweet with a hint of cinnamon. The facilities are meager: a simple food truck in the Winchell's parking lot, with a few plastic tables and chairs under their enclosure. Nonetheless, this is the place to go for a good, cheap burrito or tamale.
I have lived in White Center / Burien all my life and have been eating at taco trucks since I was a wee lad. In White Center / Burien alone there's at least ten mexican joints, half of which are in buses or trucks. Taco trucks are like McDonalds for Mexicans (except the food isn't chemically treated), insofar as you expect that one truck will be as good as the next. You're looking for a familiar stomach satisfying dish after your long day of trimming hedges in Redmond or painting houses on Mercer Island.
Anyways, that being said, I was kind of surprised to find a taco truck in Wallingford. My first thought was "Crazy white people, what are they thinking". I was relieved to see there were actual real live Mexicans working there (Mexicans in Wallingford, wtf?). That alone was reassuring enough for me. Then a person I was with started talking about how good their veggie burritos are. Once again I was worried. Seriously, veggie burritos at a taco truck? (After having to translate for a vegetarian friend to make sure there was no lard in the beans) I said my prayers to la virgen and ordered regardless.
I'm glad that I don't seriously believe in Lady Guadalupe because I would have had a crisis of faith. The food was terrible. I ordered a few tacos and a side of rice and beans. The carne asada in the tacos did not have the familiar seasoned flavor but instead was just super salty and the beans and rice tasted like a bowl of nothing.
Next time I order mexican food anywhere within Seattle city limits I'll start by buying only one taco, just in case for the sake of my taste buds (and my wallet).
I am more educated now in the land of taco trucks. I have tried the "best one in Seattle", I have eaten out of a taco bus playing Mexican soap operas, and I have found a barometer for judging taco trucks... carintas tacos!
I tried Rancho Bravo again late on a weeknight. They were out of tamales, so my order was 2 carnitas tacos and a small quesidilla with vegetable mix. When I opened my to-go order I found a tortilla folded in half full of melted white cheese and vegetables (pepper, zucchini, onions, mushrooms), and two carnitas tacos with large chunks of pork- plus cilantro, a radish, and chopped onions. I attempted to break the pork chunks up into smaller pieces and found that half the meat was almost too hard to break apart and was in need of being taken out of the taco so that I didn't break a tooth.
I asked for green salsa with my order and found that it was needed to add flavor to the tacos. The meat was very dry, but it wad not fatty and seemed to be of some quality. Overall the food at Rancho Bravo on 45th was quality, and it was a step above other trucks thrown together al carte items- even though the ingredients were lacking some flavor and my meat was overcooked
Fyi's~
* Mostly everything on the menu can have a vegetarian mix (seasonal vegetables) substituted for meat- This was not an option on my last visit
* The taco's and burritos are pricier than other taco trucks
* Rancho Bravo Taco Truck on 45th seems more put together/cleaner/stream lined then other trucks
People we have a taco truck in WALLINGFORD! That's right WALLINGFORD- home of the suspected Dave… Read more »
My wife come from Mexicans who left during the revolution and moved to LA. So I was surprised when said she had never eaten at a taco truck. We were having a date night and she said she wanted food on the cheep and I suggested we hit up this taco truck I have driven by several times.
It was awesome. I had the burrito, as did my wife with some tacos as well. The whole bill was $10 and it was super yummy.
Eat at your own risk! I got food poisoning from eating here once, and so did two of my friends. I also found a small piece of white melted plastic in my food here once. YET - I *still* eat here sometimes, because it's inexpensive, really convenient, and open late - but I recommend only vegetarian items as there is less likelihood for food poisoning :)
P.S. Several years ago the horchata was SO delicious, but the one I ordered a few weeks ago tasted like it was mixed from a powder. SAD! I miss it.
"¡Buenas tardes, señorita!
¿Me puedes dar un bowl de arroz con frijoles, una torta de carne asada, dos tacos al pastor y dos de carne asada, por favor? Ahh, y para tomar, una pepsi."
Mexican food's language is no longer exclusive to Spanish. I'm pretty sure all of those who are reading this review, understood every single word written by yours truly on the first two paragraphs. I love that, and celebrate when a restaurant or vendor offers good, home style food that help palates become proficient in my adored mother language.
Rancho Bravo did a good job while "conversing" with me. My torta was delicious, packed with carne asada, grilled onions and jalapeños and fresh cilantro. I was pretty surprised to see that even though the torta was supposed to have mayonnaise, it didn't feel drenched or too rich. I "spiced" things up for it with their green cilantro sauce, which was fairly hot but creamy and still savory. The spiciness lingered in my mouth for quite some time, providing the roof of my mouth with a very nice, tickly aftertaste.
The Dude had the tacos and was extremely pleased. We saved the bowl for his lunch today, and after "marinating" for a day, I can say he was quite delighted with the flavors and the fact it felt still fresh.
¡Volveremos!
¡Gracias, Rancho Bravo! ¡Bravo, bravo, bravísimo!
Querida Rancho Bravo,
Simplemente, te amo.
¡Sus tacos de carne asada son rica!
La salsa verde (un poco caliente)....WOW!
¡Buen trabajas chicas! Gracias, muchas gracias.
So far I've only had the rice/bean bowl, but wow was that yummy! The food is definitely high quality for the price. You won't find this authentic of food in your typical Seattle Mexican restaurant (read: Azteca). The rice was fluffy, the beans savory, and the meat perfectly cooked. I enjoyed every last bite.
For the lactose intolerant--they have no problem taking off the cheese and because the food has so much flavor, you won't even miss it!
I'm counting down the days til I nanny nearby again and can sate my stomach with delicious fare from this taco stand. My tummy is already shouting "Feed me!"
I'm a drunk Gringo, and love this place. There's nothing better for my drunk Gringo self after drowning in pitchers of PBR at Kate's than some tacos or a burrito. Yum.
Tucked in the Winchell's Donut parking lot off 45th is Rancho Bravo. A tiny little taco heaven to tempt you when you're headed to Dick's. Rancho Bravo or Dick's, you ask? Dude, that's like asking a parent to pick their favorite child. If you aren't in the mood for a greasy deluxe (drool), stop by Rancho Bravo for a delicious carne asada taco or three. Definitely try the yellow sauce and wash it all down with an agua de pina - a lovely little pineapple drink that isn't overly sweet, but would be ridiculous with the addition of some rum.
People, let's be honest. If you're going to eat at a taco truck, don't you want to eat at one where the mascot is a bad ass, muscle flexing bull? Hell yeah you do!
I'm writing an update because I feel the need to take away a star for the disgusting crunchy, chewy carne asada I had tonight. I think it was the bottom of the batch and it was gross. I spit out about half the meat in the burrito. Pretty disappointing.
The long lines at all times of the send one message loud and clear: Rancho Bravo is GOOD. and… Read more »
Him: "I don't know if I trust tacos from a truck"
ME: "Okay...But you'll eat a hot dog from a cart at four in the morning?"
Him: "Fair play. Lets go"
This was great. I didn't even have to get out of the car (I bullied my passenger into going up to the window). I just ate my three asada tacos in my very own car, listening to my very own music, minding my very own business.
This is perfect for seattle! I CAN BE PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE AND HAVE AMAZING TACOS! SIMULTANEOUSLY, EVEN!
Open until 2 am! HOLY WOW!
Ok I'll admit it- I was terrified to get $2 steak out of a truck. I read 5 star review after 5 star review and I thought all of you were just crazy...
Then one day I got so incredibly hungry that I was willing to compromise on Rancho Bravo. WOW, I am glad that I did! The steak tacos are really tasty!
Although, I did worry for about an hour after eating them that I was going to spontaneously die. Whew, I made it!
if you want cheap food, this is the place. if you want the experience of eating from a truck, this is the place. if you want a good burrito, look elsewhere. their tacos are okay though the meat is (usually carne asada for me) is a bit on the tough (non-fresh) side. a burrito is not a burrito (for me) without guac and this place often doesn't have any (how can any decent mexican place not have guac or at least avocados?).
i've been to this location and the capitol hill location multiple times for burritos, and i think i'm done. i would rather pay $2 more and go to malenas in queen anne for their carne asada burrito with heaps of guac. for tacos, i'll stick to tacos el asadero down south.
Six months ago, this place would have gotten five stars. Being as how the truck is placed within walking distance of home, I spent more half-remembered drunken 1am food-shoveling sessions here than anywhere else. And I even balanced it out with totally sober official daytime visits to verify that the food was good. And it was. And mostly still is...
...but a few months ago they raised the prices, made the menu look a bit fancier, and apparently shrunk the portions. After spending every Wednesday for a year eating a quesadilla, I had a pretty good handle on how consistently sized they were, and then one day they were a dollar more expensive and inexplicably smaller.
But adults don't judge the quality of the food by the size, do they? No, but there's no doubt that the value proposition of Rancho Bravo has decreased. But that's pretty much balanced out by the delicious "yellow sauce" (ask for it by name, as it is neither the hot nor mild sauce), the universally-friendly service, and the proximity to Winchell's in case you need coffee to go along with your 2am pre-hangover meal.
I'm from Southern California, and dirty cheap mexican food is among my favorite of all foods. That makes my review have extra gravitas. :)
Rancho Bravo is among the best places in Seattle to get cheap Mexican. The lady is really nice, and the ingredients are quality. Last time I went, I had three tacos. Pescado, pollo, and carne asada.
Fish taco = meh. It's just missing something. It may be in the type of fish they use, I don't know. It's not done rosarito style (fried with batter), but that shouldn't matter - I've had grilled fish tacos that were awesome.
Chicken taco = excellent. Their chicken is the bomb.
Carne asada taco = decent. They overcooked the carne asada this time, but I know that's not a regular thing as I've had it before.
All the tacos come with fresh veggies, and are of good size. Also, their horchata is good. Next time, I'll try their al pastor and carnitas tacos. Along with another chicken taco.
Pretty good food, as much of it as I can eat (vegan). My fellow diners that do eat meat claim that the chicken is "okay". Their veggie mix is killer (unless there are things in it that you don't like - it's already mixed up so you can't have them hold something). I get a veggie burrito and slather it in green sauce, it always makes me happy. Their horchata is more than decent, the service is friendly and their prices are good.
The reason they don't get 4 stars: their sauces. They have 4 different kinds of sauce, all of them unappealing in colour and mainly tasteless. Their green sauce is the best of the four, with a nice savory cilantro flavour, but almost no spice. Next time I go, I'm bringing a bottle of my fave hot sauce instead. ;)
So my friend took me to a "taco truck" and we drove up a while to get here. The whole time I was thinking, you know, maybe he just hasn't eaten a lot of mexican food and that's why he thinks this stuff is good. Whatever, right?
When I got to this truck, the lady taking my order was super nice and my friend encouraged me to get a burrito with beef tongue...
30 Minutes later, I swear I've never eaten a burrito from a truck that was even CLOSE to that good. Leave your intuitions in your car, get out, and order one of these amazing burritos from this truck- and you'll be a regular here. This place is absolutely AWESOME!
The real thing, take it from an Angelino. Plus you can get a tasty veggie option for most dishes. I had a veggie quesadilla, and it had real grilled veggies (like eggplant and zucchini) in it, not just the generic cheese-only fare that's typical of "vegetarian" options at Mexican restaurants. Check out the Wallyhood blog entry for one individual's extensive quest to order the elusive tamales supposedly available here of you order in advance.
Seating is limited to a single picnic table under a metal awning. It only adds to the ambiance.
I'm not an easy person to please when it comes to Mexican food. Taco Del Mar? Serviceable at best. (But don't tell my daughter I said that. :)) Chipotle? Haven't been back since I get violently ill after eating there months ago.
So tonight after driving by this taco truck 300 times, I decided to give it a whirl. I walked up to the window and the friendly ladies attempted to speak to me in Spanish. We got a good laugh out of that. I went with a chicken burrito, the type without sour cream ($4.25). They wrapped it up, I hopped in my car, and started driving home. Halfway home I turned the foil down and took a bite.
WOW!
The chicken is amazing. Fresh basil came along with the burrito. The flavor of the entire combination of ingredients reminded me so much of amazing burritos I've had in the Mission District in San Francisco. No other place in Seattle I've tried has achieved that fabulous flavor.
It'll be difficult to drive past this truck again.
Rancho Bravo, you are my savior!
I love Mexican food and I couldn't find any decent options in Seattle -- Ellensburg, Yakima, yes -- but not Seattle.
Then I found the little taco truck in Wallingford. Thank you sweet baby Jesus. This is the way Mexican food is supposed to be. Fresh, flavorful, not drowning in sauce, and really cheap.
I have mainly tried the burritos (with varying meat fillings) so far, and so far so good. The women who run the stand are always cheerful, and there's a covered seating area if you just can't wait to get back to your office before you break into that foil wrapped bit o' heaven.
They also happen to be open until 3am, if you happen to be out that late, or up that early.
The times I have eaten from here, my boyfriend and I have been pretty hungry. The blood sugar has dropped, the grumpiness has set in and it is all cured by the generally friendly service and tasty food that we get from here.
Cheap, generally quick, open late and they offer veggie friendly options that aren't offered at most of the taco trucks up in other areas I have been.
Go! Get some!
This is not an exaggeration by any means: Rancho Bravo changed my life. There, I said it, and it is as true a statement as "Mexico is south of the United States" or "beans will produce gas in your tummy."
I had never liked Mexican food, despite the constant peer pressure to join friends in eating at places like Taco Bell, Time, del Mar, Chipotle, Baja Fresh, etc. But then I moved to the U-district from Bellevue. And every time I go to May or Dick`s (which is not very often at all), I would pass by it and smell the aroma coming from this rundown-looking truck. I had never heard of the place, but I decided...I'd go for it.
+One - to support food trucks/street foods (why cant we be like Portland with their parking lots full of amazing street foods?)
+Two - I was super hungry and the aroma alone was enough to draw me there.
+Three - I stopped liking burgers, so Dicks was not an option.
I go there at least twice a month now, and the rest of the month I go to other taco trucks around Seattle: Northgate, Aurora, SoDo, and looking for others.
Their Mole` is superb. And I love the fact that these taco trucks have tounge, tripe, headmeat, --things that some people wouldn`t even allow touching their tongue if their lives depended on it. I`m all about that. Tongue just has a really distinct flavor and texture that cant compare to anything else. I'm still not that big a fan of burrito or taco, but Torta is definitely my new way to chow.
Happy ending for all.
It's a trailer. It's in a parking lot. It's open late. Nuff said.
Great stuff and super cheap. Seattle lacks for Mexican in general and I'd been going to Gordito's by rote for years, but this place is swaying me away. It may not be so great once it gets cold out, but for now we're thrilled.
Kirkland, WA
Category: Food Stands
Seattle, WA
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Rainier Valley
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: University District
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Greenwood
Category: Mexican
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