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Categories: Vegetarian, Mexican [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Park
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We wondered upon this gem on a Saturday afternoon and were so pleasantly surprised. Especially considering our evaluation process, which consisted of glancing at the prices on the menu and making sure there was a seat available with a view of the always "scenic" 30th Street.
We were quickly won over when they immediately handed us starving folks chips and salsa. The salsa was a little on the hot side considering I'm a pansy, but the g/f absolutely loved it. And I loved the fact that it was free and served quickly. We then ordered the mandatory margarita and were equally impressed with the regular flavored margarita on the rocks.
For the main dish, I went with the $6.75 carne asada burrito and was pumped. This burrito was a perfectly mixed combination of meat, guac, and cheese. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to get my next one. The g/f was excited to see that the menu had a wide variety of vegan options, including soy cheese and what not, and she chose the egg plant enchilada and really enjoyed it.
Overall, this place was phenomenal, we loved it and will certainly be going back. We have already referred friends and will continue to do so in the future.
EAT UP!
LOVE this place. friendly service. in fact, the dark haired guy in the bandana was so friendly that for a second i thought, wait, do i know this guy? then there's the amazing selection. so far, my favorite is still the shiitake pattie burrito. but seriously, never had a disappointing meal here. everything tastes fresh and never greasy. i'm not vegetarian but i just love the vegetarian food here.
they would even get you chips, salsa and water while you wait for take out orders (given they have empty tables and no one waiting). nice crunchy chips and spicey fresh salsa. how nice!!
the decor is fun, but i feel like the bathroom is a work in progress. i think they always put lemon in the water, so it's never gross.
This place is great! Very affordable. The atmosphere is amazing, and everyone there is helpful and friendly. Service is fast and food is great.
What more can you ask for!
I've gone here a few times,
and went last night for dinner,
everything was great, and we left with dinner plus tip for $20 for the both of us.
Defiantly try this place out if you havent before.
Just went back to Rancho's--2, maybe 3 years since last visit?
I branched out from the usual burrito, went with a breakfast scramble: veggie chorizo + eggs with beans and tortillas. Everything was great; my only complaint would be a lack of salt, but that's probably their emphasis on healthy food coming through. They had the same spicy, fresh salsa as always--good stuff, but you really have to watch it unless you have a much stronger stomach than I do.
The service was very good (no one was there for a change--in the past it's always been crowded and a bit slow). We were thanked several times for coming in and had lots of attention. When we arrived they brought a little bowl of fresh fruit to each of us.
As for selection, you have to love a menu that numbers everything and goes to 240+ items. At some point you just have to pick something and trust! In the case of Rancho's, you probably won't go wrong.
The last selling point is the decor--it's like an American farmhouse, a Chiapan coffee grower's shed, a Frida Kahlo stalker's room, and a veteran of the Mexican revolution's living room all rolled into one. Gives you lots to look at if the service is slow, though...
Give it a try--looks a little strange form the outside, but it's well worth it!
The water that I was given taste like some left-over cleaning detergent had not been completely washed off. Or perhaps San Diego has some really funky tasting tap water?
Nice vibe at this place. They were playing a live rock en espanol CD by some band that I didn't recognize. Whoever it was, the crowd was going apesh*t for them between songs.
The woman who took my order looked to be maybe in her 50's but you could tell she was SMOKING HOT back in the day. She was very pleasant and had a very warm smile.
I ordered a chicken burrito and they gave me a thick-ass chicken burrito in return. It turned out to be a bit too oily and it didn't knock my socks off like I had hoped. The black beans were pretty good, though.
Chicken burrito with (black) beans and cheese only # 3 - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I'll be back to try something else provided the owners don't file a restraining order against me for wondering what that woman looked like naked 20 years ago. Don't tell them!
Good Good Good.............
I just ate here again the other day.. and I love it. The place is hidden behind all the plants outside you might miss it and once you get inside it is this great cozy little place..
Then you get the menu.. Now what? Having a hard time choosing? Welcome to my world every time I go here.. but once you do decided and you get your food you are stoked.. always good and always a big portion.. Last time I ate here I ate some much I got heartburn by the time I got back to the office.. It was worth it.. Definitely
Very veg friendly with lots of choices! AND it's by work. Most of the standard mexican food items can be substituted with mushroom so I was ecstatic to be able to have a chimichanga again! I'll have to ask next time if I can substitute w/ black beans- but anyways, this mushroom thing is fantastic b/c I repeatedly hear that too much soy is a bad thing so I can't eat soy this and soy that every day.
Slow, un-enthusiastic staff kept it from a fifth star but it's not that big a deal.
I was excited to try Rancho's again after so many months... and I was a little disappointed to find out that their blackened mushroom enchilada was excluded from their trio vegetable enchilada menu item. It was still pretty good though, and the price was reasonable. Also their quantity is humongous!!
If you didn't notice, this place is very vegetarian/vegan-friendly which is a huge plus. Everything marked with *V means that it can be made vegan. It has a HUGE menu which can get you lost easily. We had to take a while for the waiter to take our order, while munching on their yummy, warm chips and freshly made salsa. Salsa was really really SPICY this time!!!! We had to drink lots of liquid to calm our stomache!!
I had the tofu tostada item which was also pretty good. The shell was a little mushy (not so fresh) but the beans and fillings were very rich and filling, with guacamole, delicious black beans, and vegetables. We also got drinks ranging from horchata, jamaica, and lemonada that were all tasty.
I'd say I still really like Ranchos for their atmosphere. It's very homey and lively, lots of decorations and greens. I just wish the waiters were more knowledgeable about the vegan menu items here.
3.5 stars!
Love the atmosphere, and the food. Nice selection of vegetarian & vegan options for good Mexican… Read more »
I haven't eaten here in years, since I lived in that neighborhood.
I didn't remember how cute the dining room was. In a ramshackle way, which explains the missing star. Teeny tiny tables for tacos.
I had a great carne asada quesadilla smothered in their excellent salsa, good service, and tasty coffee. Around $10.
Though, I am, now, thinking of the Trader Joe's frozen cookie dough in my fridge. 2 or 3 of those babies, zapped for 15 seconds in a bowl, topped with Joe's vanilla ice cream. Hmmmm. And whipped cream. Land o' Lakes whipped cream, if we're getting all brand-y. Hmmm, gotta run! L8R!
Funky but Tasty. I dig the tofu and veggie options. Hot salsa. Its really cheap too. North Park is a cool place, and getting cooler. Ranchos is a total NP staple.
man o' man i *so* wanted to love this place. i bookmarked it a million years ago and had finally got the chance to have lunch not too long ago. and i think this is a case of "i ordered the wrong thing on the menu," b/c the general consensuses is that the place rocks. I think an update is to ensue.
Atmosphere: truly cool. it's got that inside garden feel going on with millions of things on the wall, but that adds to it rather than hurts it. it's amazing to put so much on the walls and not make you think 'cluttered' but rather 'really cool.'
Food: I got the carne asada torta. I haven't had many tortas in my day but it was more like a flat iron piece of meat (almost like a hamburger even) and well, just not good. Their salsa was not my fav, but thats not too important. I will say one thing: their Horchata is freakin amazing. I loved it and guzzled many calories of that creamy white beverage.
so, basically, dont get the carne asada torta IMO. There are a ton of other choices so I can't say I hate this place...I hate myself for my bad call. I'll come back and hopefully have something I enjoy more!
We passed this place while en route to another place for dinner, saw that it said "Mexican and Vegetarian," and immediately changed our dinner plans. It's not often, you know, that you see those two words together on a restaurant sign.
First of all, the place is cute. I mean, cuuuuute. The entrance is surrounded by foliage, and the theme is Wood and Old Pictures. There is a Wall o' Frieda Kahlo (or, "The Many Angles of the Unibrow"), and tons of other older Mexican artifacts hanging up around the place. It felt very homey.
And the menu totally wasn't what I expected. The vegetarian options weren't relegated to a small box entitled "Vegetarian" at the bottom corner of the menu. The great majority of the menu items (of which there were a ton) were clearly marked with a *V, indicating that they could be or already were made vegan. The Boy and I got a trio of enchiladas (avocado ones in green sauce, veggie ones in red sauce, and bean ones in mole sauce), a soyrizo torta, and a pineapple tamale. The Roommate got a giant whole wheat veggie burrito. It was all DE. LIC. IOUS.
We rolled out of there very, very full and very, very happy. Beat the hell out of veggie burgers.
They have healthy Mexican food....which is refreshing and honest. It's sooooo easy to make something mediocre taste good with lots of fat/dairy.
They have the best chips and salsa I have had in SoCal.
They also have rad specials.....I ordered a Thai coconut. Came with the sides shaved off with a machete and a straw to drink the delicious juice.
Look at the little cardboard signs above the register area.....
I just came back from this spot. I had the number 128 and both of the items in the combo were COLD in the middle..... WTF?
We saw our server maybe 3 times during the whole experience so I didnt want to make a hassle and send it back.
Instead I asked for a box togo and packed it up so i can heat it up myself when I got home...
Very disapointing to go out to eat and get cold tamale and chile relleno.
Me gusta!
I prefer this Ranchos over the one in OB. This one is cosier. Service is also faster and they put cinnamon/nutmeg in their horchata making it o so much more yummier. Mm....I really like their honey ginger lemonade...it's sweet n spicey! I've been here a few times. Their lobster enchilada is okay. My favorite is their soy chorizo quesadilla and if I feel like splurging (and avoiding the side effects of lactose intolerance) I would top it off with soy cheese. I think it's creamier than real cheese w/o the cream! The portions are also ridiculously huge. I thought appetizers are supposed to stimulate the appetite not stuff it dead. :P
I liked the salad bar and cafe when it was open. That is what the previous review is for. It's too bad Ranchos the 'restaurant' succeeded the daytime, decent operation next door. This place sucks.
I have eaten here 4 times. Every time, I leave below underwhelmed and wishing I would have just hit the Roberto's drive through instead.
Tonight was especially lame, probably because there were no redeeming aspects of our visit. It was fucking cold and the music was so loud and awful I wanted to hurt someone.
I ordered an 8 dollar bowl of fish and shrimp 'chowder' in a spicy tomato broth. The fish was mushy, the small shrimp were dead several times over, and 'mixed vegetables' included red onion, white onion, green, yellow and red bell peppers were chopped sloppily, still with hunks of seeds attached. Is there anybody out there who thinks this sounds good? I can attest, it was shit.
Both the tortilla chips and the corn variety served with my soup tasted like they were made with well water.
The service was something worthy of a $1.50 tip (oh, yes I did). Do not ignore my table when there are three others total in the restaurant, and with another server, and bus boy on board. When I was a quarter way through spooning my whack broth, our server asked if i wanted cilantro and chopped onions. Yes (I thought, better try to add flavor late, than not at all). Homeboy never came back, not even to give us our fucking check. I had to yell at homegirl who struggled to walk and carry a basket of well water chips at the same time. It took her five minutes to manage that task.
BFF: 'you know, this place does a few things all wrong...'
Me: 'If you're a restaurant and you fail at FOOD, it's all wrong.'
The people who give this place great reviews need their taste buds and heads examined.
The employees at Ranchos Market inspire me in so many ways. Besides living a healthier lifestyle,… Read more »
Don't get me started on how delicious Ranchos is.
Oh, too late. I got started.
I dropped by Ranchos for lunch yesterday, after not having been there in at least a year. Once I took a seat, I browsed the menu and settled on a fish burrito. While I waited for my food to arrive, I entertained myself by staring at the Frida Kahlo-themed kitsch decorating the walls and by munching on the delicious (and fresh!) chips and salsa.
When my burrito arrived, I was overjoyed. The burrito was tasty, balanced, and not at all greasy. The delicious flavors were an explosion of goodness from the first bite to the last. Burritos this amazing remind me why I adore the San Diego food scene so much.
I can't wait to come back to Ranchos and branch out to some of the less traditional items on the menu. Ranchos has an emphasis on vegetarian, vegan, and healthy options, and it's great to have a place to partake in Mexican cuisine without having to worry about creeping arteriosclerosis. Next on my food-tasting agenda: the eggplant burrito.
A little Mexican grotto in the thick of North Park...stuff has grown up around it, but still superior!
Took my parents here the other night - they loved it. I have been going here for years, but it was nice to see the two of them enjoying it for the first time...
Try the Shrimp & Black Bean Tostada. Amazing - huge shrimp (and I am from New England originally, friends!) and just the right amount of cheese to make a healthy dish tasty.
The BEST service...so friendly and attentive, always.
Rancho's has incredible service and not to mention my personal favorite chips and salsa in San Diego. - I always have to refuse the second bowl of chips (eek!). But what really pushed my love for them over the top was the day that I stopped in for a to go bowl of their spicy tortilla soup. I had been informed that it was the "cure all" for my sniffles.
So, I place my order and just sort of wandered around aimlessly, when low and behold! One of the servers brought me a mug of hot water with lemon, honey, and ginger. How amazing is that? So in my sniffley state, I sat and drank this soothing beverage until my soup was ready to go. In fact, the drink made me feel so much better that I didn't actually want to leave. - But the smell of the soup won me over.
So thank you Rancho's for making me feel better when it seemed that nothing else would work.
I love this place! I have been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. They get a bit crowded sometimes, but we usually get seated right away and the food comes out very quickly. I especially love their vegetarian options. My boyfriend had the shrimp burrito, which is to die for! Try it!
The staff is always so friendly and quick to refill your glass. The restaurant itself is also very cute and warm.
Apparently, North Park is the place to be in San Diego.
Rancho's was the only place I have been able to experience in this area.
It's a cute, quaint mexican/vegetarian restaurant. The decor was very interesting. We sat next to self-portraits of Frieda Kahlo.
The service was acceptable. The service might seem slow- especially for those of us who are used to quick and super attentive service. We just assumed that everyone in the area were just chill and easy going. And that's the type of afternoon we needed- so no points were lost there. We waited awhile for our pitchers of margaritas and sangrias. The margaritas weren't too bad. The sangrias were okay too- we then realized after that we could have ordered it on the rocks, rather than having it be like smoothies. But they were good nonetheless. They also serve chips & salsa. I love it when places do that.
The bathrooms might be confusing for some. As there are just pictures on the door. It's not the typical universal bathroom signs of the stick figured male or female. But the outlined color of the door should help give it away.
I would definitely come here again. Hopefully, to try a dish on their menu.
Machaca con huevos, rice, beans and wheat tortillas....hell yes! Plus the chips and salsa they start you off with are the bomb.
Love this place. Great food (Organic!) Excellent service. Good prices. Always crowded. Fun wait staff (friendly, efficient). Local's hangout. (yeah, as it gets more popular... less locals) Wish I still lived down the street from it! Bonus is to hit up the grocery store (next door) and get your veggies on the way out.
Their food is light and not oily. They have the GREATEST VEGETARIAN selections I've seen in town. Not to mention that their PRICES are phenomenal for the amount of food that you get. I'll recommend this place to anyone and am a frequent visitor.
Get any of their tortas and the fresh fish of the day... all delicious!
This place is pretty cool. I love the actual physical space. The decor is beautiful, ranging from an extensive picture collection of notable Mexican historical figures such as Frida Kahlo, Emiliano Zapata, and the EZLN, to a great collection of crosses and pottery. It definitely keeps your eyes busy while you wait for food.
Each meal starts off with a nice basket of chips and salsa. The chips are warm and are the perfect thickness. I love their salsa. It's a roasted salsa that is spicy enough to make me drink water after a few rounds(which I love). The salsa is also a nice addition to any burrito.
I usually stick with their burritos which are pretty huge and worth it for the money.
I've tried:
Vegan Burrito - This is a staple, plus it's only $4.95 and it's got everything in it - including a good amount of guacamole(which is definitely a plus).
Lentil, Avocado, Cheese - A great burrito if you want to taste more guacamole in your burrito. The cheese is also not overpowering because they don't use it as a filler and it's got a decent amount of the other two ingredients. Definitely a plus and I feel like I'm getting my money's worth.
Eggplant - This is kind of a weird burrito. I'm generally a huge fan of eggplant but it doesn't go super well in a burrito - but it wasn't bad, just not great.
The service is also really good and the waiters/waitresses are friendly(unlike at Pokez) and remember you if you're a regular. Mundo is really helpful - especially at accommodating vegans.
The only complaint I have about Ranchos is that their tortillas aren't the best. Otherwise, I've taken my parents and my girlfriend's parents here to eat. It's definitely a staple in my favorite places to eat in San Diego.
Love it, free chips and salsa, great selection of food and the market next door is perfect for when I'm looking for a healthy snack to take home. Personally, I love the vegetarian enchiladas. Also, the ginger limonada rocks!
A couple times, the waitstaff messed up on an ingredient I asked for or something I can't even remember, I just took a mental note to have them repeat the order back to me. With so many options and me having them switch things around sometimes with the combinations, I don't really blame them for getting mixed up now and then. I go there often enough that it's not a biggie if it happens once here or there.
Love it, free chips and salsa, great selection of food and the market next door is perfect for when… Read more »
This is the place I take friends when they visit, the atmosphere is cozy and intimate and the food is delicious and very affordable. The whole mood of the place always feels just right and we are always greeted with a warm smile.
I rarely get to eat out so when I do I come here because i know I won't be disappointed.
We went tonight. The service was pretty slow. They took the order of the couple that was seated after us. Two couples got their food before us in our area, that were seated after us. We had to wait forever for our check. I guess they lost it.
The food was cold.
Sorry Ranchos, you let us down tonight. My gal does not want to return and she's the vegetarian.
mmmmm tasty. Got the delicious lentil, cheese, and avocado burrito. So simple and so delicious. I like putting salsa in it.
The cost is very reasonable. We payed a total of $28 (w/ tip and tax) for the three of us.
I can't wait to go here again and get something different.
My roommate got the avocado enchilada combination plate. She thought the avocado was a little overwhelming.
Okay, I doubt I can add much to the 200 reviews.. just try the place, you won't be disappointed.
I have been here twice and have been surprised as to how good the food is.
The inside is pretty cool, kind of old school Mexico look with the tables and nick knacks everywhere.
3.5
the restaurant is super cozy and nicely decorated. The waiter was really nice and helpful, and even brought us a pineapple tamale on the house-because we took so long deciding whether to try it or not. all in all a fabulous experience!
We walked in, waited a couple of minutes for someone to hand us menus and tell us to sit where we pleased.
A gentleman brought us chips, salsa, and iced waters. We reviewed the menu, and made a mental selection within four minutes. I thought to myself, "Should I go to the bathroom now and wash my hands, or wait for our waiter to take our order?" I went to the bathroom, came back and waited more.
I saw a few guys walking around, I could'nt figure out which was our waiter. One guy was walking back in forth in the kitchen, eating. People who work in the food service industry should not eat while working. This is a major sanitary no no.
Several more minutes had passed and finally, the guy who was eating in the kitchen came to our table still chewing his food, and took our order.
I asked for a dinner salad topped with chicken breast, and a side of beans. My partner asked for a vegetarian burrito.
It seemed like a lifetime for my partner's burrito, and my side of beans to come out, yet no salad.
The whole time we waited, our waiter was munching on food as he went in and out of the kitchen.
A couple of ladies ordered ice cream, and I saw him eating ice cream too. Another person ordered grilled beef, and I saw him eating grilled beef.
Still no salad for me. "WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PUT A SALAD TOGETHER"!
Finally, he walks out with my salad, chewing food in his mouth, points to my salad as he sets it down, and says, "That's really good."
I'm sure there was a piece of chicken breast in his mouth.
The lettuce in my salad was from a spring mix box or bag. This is fine, if you serve it the day you buy it. If you save it for a while, the edges of the lettuce leaves will rot and wilt. This had happened to many of the lettuce leaves in my salad. Gross. My partner jokingly said his burrito tasted like something he would make since he is a bad cook.
After finishing our meal, we waited for several more minutes for our server who was still busy eating in the kitchen to come by with our bill.
We got up and walked to the register and were rung up by another person.
The waiter saw some of his friends come in and got busy talking to them.
Oh, and the interior is cluttered with junk. Less is more, people.
I have been coming to Ranchos (all locations) for the past 8 years.
The owners have been far ahead of the vegetarian/vegan dining scene in San Diego and the rest of the country.
I bring my relatives and friends here for any occasion.
I would highly recommend t he Honey Ginger Lemonade and anything else on the menu to accompany it.
The ambience was created (plants and all) from the enlightened mind of Ms. Ivonne Mouet. She is a very quiet and humble lady who is the mastermind behind it all.
All and all it is a family run operation that succeeds well on all levels.
I think Ill order a vegan burrito with extra spinach RIGHT NOW.
I had been craving some good vegetarian mexican food and more than just a veggie burrito and decided to get some Rancho's to go. I haven't ever ate in at this place for some reason, maybe because it is always busy, but I do like the Frida decor. I ordered some tofu nacho's, and although the chips were a little soggy by the time I got home (I don't live very far) I was still able to enjoy, and the amount of toppings were massive. I also asked for 3 containers of salsa verde and they gave me a small deli container, which was more like a full measuring cup of the stuff, awesome.
I recommend the portabella mushroom chimichanga as well, and they don't skimp on the avocado. I like the fresh ingredients and now that I live near the place I will be visiting more often, although the parking situation kind of sucks since they don't have that back lot anymore.
this place is off the mo fo'n chain
CHIPS & SALSA is my fave food..
And, boy do they keep it coming yo!
mmmmm
BEST carne asada burrito EVER! so fresh, tender, juice, flavorful.. mmm i'm making my mouth water just thinking of it.
The Cinnamon coffee is yummy too.
what else?
oh yeah... the chicken vegetable soup is a staple in my diet. It's big! you can stuff your face with half there and then eat the rest for a midnight snack or for lunch tomorrow.
go here.. but, not on a Friday night.. it get pretty packed.
or you know what?
yeah, go there on a Friday night.. it's worth the wait.
Sit down Mexican food. Im not too crazy about it, and I prefer the "bertos. Jeanna ( GiGi W ) seems to really like this place but shes crazy so dont listen to her.
I will admit, the portions are huge and the last time that I dined there, I couldnt kill my plate.
Thats what I'm talking about. When was the last time that you ever used the word " dined " at a taco shop ?
This is a Mexican restaurant son ! Not a taco stand . They have vegetarian options and its next to The Office.
I have been eating at Rancho's for over 5 years now, and it truly is one of my favorite casual places to eat in San Diego. My recommendations:
-Soy chorizo quesadilla (which I make non-vegan by ordering sour cream)
-Large Ranchos dinner salad with shitake
-Vegetable soup (yummy Mexican root vegetables in this one!)
-Cheese enchiladas with mole sauce
-Honey ginger lemonada
This place has a lot of character and is super cozy. I will miss Ranchos when I move in a few months!
Once again, not a let down in site!
Unfortunately my two cohorts were not that impressed. Either Ranchos was shorthanded OR we went in for the dining experience at a busy time of day OR it's because my "regular" fantastic server was not present for the first half of our meal. Let's go with the latter. But he showed up out of nowhere like a friendly magician *poof* to save the day.
haha... And Rachel didn't even have IBS issues. Yaaaayy..!! Those of you with IBS might be wondering what she ordered... hm... me too... maybe the carne asada quesadilla? I don't remember, but it was definitely some sort of quesadilla. My other friend ordered... something really freakin' good. Although those words didn't come out of her mouth, the reaction was quite apparent based on the fact that she joined the Ranchos Clean Plate Club. You know, where you finish all of what's on your plate.
I, on the other hand, could not finish mine. Shiitake mushroom chimichanga - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Once again, we got the special treatment! Hey, I think there is a trend here... :)
Am I drunk? No.
Edmundo (gosh darn, I hope that's your name because I keep calling you that), if you're reading this, create a Yelp account and message me.
Everyone else: Go to Ranchos.
Ya, Edmundo is definitely handsome... and he has a great memory too! Upon my entrance he remarked,… Read more »
I absolutely LOVE Mexican food, but sometimes it's just much too greasy for me to stomach (literally). When in San Diego recently, we decided to visit Ranchos North Park after seeing all the positive reviews on Yelp and elsewhere.
My husband I are vegetarians, and we brought my in-laws, who are definitely meat eaters. No one was unsatisfied. I ordered some sort of combination with a veggie chile relleno and a tamale, with mole sauce, and my husband ordered something involving tofu. The mole sauce was seriously the best I've had anywhere. We also got some sort of frozen peachy-sangria type drink, which was fantastic.
The only complaint I have is that the seating was kind of uncomfortable and the tables VERY small...especially for the amount of food we ordered.
The decorations were awesome, though.
The Ranchos shiitake patty is cocaine on a plate. What IS that stuff and why can't it be readily available for me at all hours of the day, every day of the week for the rest of my earth-bound life?!
Seriously. I've tried to figure it out for replication and I can't. Steam comes out of my ears and my eyes go all googy like a nightmare tiki-totem. There is no other culinary substance like it and I am enthralled.
My favorite is the shiitake enchilada with extra red sauce. Their enchilada sauce has a deep, earthy aroma to it that beckons you to hold your face over the plate and inhale deeply. It carries a reduction-like thickness to it and makes the sides of your tongue tingle. The corn tortillas are packed to the point of overflow with red cabbage, onion, and shiitake patty and every bite is perfect.
Their salsa is always fresh and flavorful. The veggies are nearly minced but still maintain their crunch while giving up the goods. Some times hotter than others, but methinks it might be after the salsa has had a while to incorporate as opposed to a fresh batch.
Another favorite is the calamari appetizer. Tender calamari that cuts with a fork and the tomato-clam-juice-cocktail sauce are always fantastic.
Service is friendly, casual but still attentive. It seems as if they all work on a floating system- every server at every table as opposed to sections. This works great when they're on their A-game and your water glass never falls below half-full before a refill. This falls short, however, on a random Saturday morning when 2 people are covering 15 tables. No matter, though. Just toss me some cubes of shiitake and I'm smitten.
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