El Ranchero Restaurant
683 W Wickenburg Way, Wickenburg, AZ, 85390
El Ranchero Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Wickenburg for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Wickenburg for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Wickenburg for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
683 W Wickenburg Way
Wickenburg, AZ, 85390 - Phone (928) 684-5121
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Julie C.
I'm glad to have given this place a try! Mother's Day weekend, the family and I went on a little Sunday drive and had just hit Wickenburg when the hunger pangs started. This was a great little find! The salsas were very good, something that seems to be rare in these here parts. I don't think we ever saw the bottom of our chip basket or our water glasses, the service was so attentive. Our table ordered nachos, an ala carte taco, shredded beef chimichanga and the quesadilla. The nachos were loaded with toppings and a healthy dollop of sour cream and guacamole. Oh, how I love it when a place isn't stingy with their guac! The beef inside the chimichanga was delicious, and the outside was perfectly cooked - light and crispy. I tried to sneak a taste of the quesadilla, but I was nearly stabbed with a fork, so I take that as a sign that it was pretty darn good. But the star of the show was certainly the taco. I opted for ground beef, but they have a choice of shredded beef, ground beef and chicken. I'm sure this thing would be good if it were filled with stinky gym socks. The shell is no pre-packaged, grocery store shell. Oh no sir. It was fabulously crispy and held the filling very well. No soggy bottoms here! After the great service and great food, they went above and beyond when it was time to pay the bill. I was given a lovely yellow rose for Mother's Day! It was such a nice gesture! This is definitely now on our go-to list of places to eat when we're in Wickenburg!
(5)Manuel C.
Food was fresh, service was attentive, ambiance was family oriented and nice. This place deserves being ranked one of the top eateries in Wickenburg, but unfortunately it's relative to a low bar. My wife and kids ordered tostadas. I ordered the pork chops. They didn't have the pork chop (we came here for lunch), so I ordered the carne asada instead. My wife and kids reported that the tostadas were a bit bland. My steak was seasoned with the steak seasoning you buy at the supermarket. All in all, we were glad to stop by and we would come again. Be sure to have your bar calibrated to small town restaurants before you get too excited about the 4.5 rating.
(4)Joshua W.
I enjoyed this spot for lunch. They serve complimentary chips and salsa before the meal. The chips were nice and warm and the salsa was fresh. They served two types of salsa and a bean dip which was great as well. I ordered the tri-colored enchiladas, one beef, one cheese and one chicken. The shredded beef was great. The red enchilada sauce was different than what I am used to. It was not spicy at all but was flavorful and good. The green enchilada sauce was a little tart. It seemed to be more tomitillo based rather than green chili based. The cheese enchilada was good also. They used cojita cheese rather than a cheddar so it lacked in flavor somewhat. The beans were great, they had a slight smokey flavor. The service was very good and everyone was friendly. I would love to go back when I can try the margaritas as they boast about how great they are. All in all, a great local place with good food that isn't the same as everywhere else.
(4)Mike O.
A 4 or a 5? Lunch today was a 4 - mainly because my shredded beef taco was just way too soggy. But 90% of the lunches and dinners here are 5's. Great house margaritas! Excellent salsa/bean dip choices. Waitress Sammie was a delight. And we'll definitely go back because we know next time will be a 5! Oh, after lunch, stop and check out the Western Museum downtown. Absolutely a Gem!!
(4)Erica C.
MR C and I loved this little gem in Wickinberg. Stopped for a bite and a beer on our way home from a CA road trip. We got there just before the happy hour (2-6). Hubby and I both ordered the traditional mexican style tacos, aka taquitos- He carne asada & the marinated pork, me just the asada. Delish! I also had the shredded beef tostada and it was amazing too. The shredded beef was delish. The Pacifico beers were perfectly ice cold and at $3.75 regular price, also not bad. However, if it were happy hour (again from 2-6) they would have been cheaper. Our waiter asked if he could get us anything else... I asked if I could try the $2.00 happy hour margarita for 2.00 even though it was like 1:40, He said sure. WOWSA. Im not a huge fan of margs, but this was pretty good. Hubby liked it too. We will totally go out of our way to return to this little treasure again. This place is dated, but oh so clean. just excellent.
(5)Ron E.
We are seasonal residents of Wickenburg and have sampled many Mexican restaurants all around the country. El Ranchero remains one of our favorites. There are many selections on the menu that are seldom offered at Mexican restaurants. We love to sample new items here and have never been disappointed. Yesterday I had Tamal for the first time and it was outstanding. My wife loves machaca and considers El Ranchero's the best she's had at any restaurant. Definitely the best Mexican Food in Wickenburg. Friendly service from the family-owned and operated restaurant plus great food and very reasonable prices.
(5)Natalee R.
By far my favorite Mexican restaurant. The chili relleno is to die for as well as the award winning salsa. If your going for breakfast try the huevos tapatios(sp?), you won't be disappointed!
(4)Brenda G.
Right-sized portions at reasonable prices. Those in our party who got the chile relleno, quesadilla and taco dorado were very satisfied. My daughter and I got the tostada and they were watery; my chicken tostada was fairly tasteless....seemed like it was just boiled chicken, so I was disappointed. Quick, very friendly service.
(4)Jeanette J.
One of my favorite Mexican restaurants anywhere! Their hot salsa is wonderful & refried beans are the best I've had. Try the chiles stuffed with shrimp, wrapped in bacon & fried. Everything is fresh and homemade. It has a really diverse menu and its all good.
(5)heather w.
Really tasty food in a nice setting. Didn't take long either.
(4)Rachael H.
This is the more authentic mexican restaurant in Wickenburg between Anita's and Ranchero. People LOVE the thin bean dip that is served with the salsa and chips. I dig it as well. My favorite dish here is acutually under the appetizers. I get the wax peppers stuffed with a shrimp and wrapped in bacon and they drizzle some sort of soy sauce over the top and they are seved with sides of rice and beans. Their carne asada is pretty good as well, topped with diced raw onion, cilantro and fresh key limes.
(4)Michael M.
Excellent food, service and love the rustic decor. Like I stated service was great, staff were pleasant and very attentive. Will definitely go back again when we are in the Wickenburg area.
(4)Jerry G.
Great food great service good prices. I had the smoked pork chops, they were great. I would come back here to try other items on the menu. The vanilla churro capped off a fantastic dinner.
(4)Mark F.
Excellent well seasoned food. Friendly service by family owned spot. Will return.
(5)Mark E.
An absolute a must go....recommended by someone to us and it exceeded our expectations. .. cleaned our plates... guacamole dip, pork special, burrito...Margarita too....finally found Mexican food close to our LA standard....see Stephanie and Lisa ...service matched the quality of the food
(5)Alisa W.
Absolutely delighted we found this restaurant! We were spending one night in town and it happened to be my husband's birthday and our anniversary. Based in Yelp reviews we chose El Ranchero. Honestly our meal was fantastic from start to finish. Loved the chips with 2 salsas and beans to start. My husband got a spicy shrimp platter with cole slaw and rice. I got the appetizer platter with a boatload of fried yumminess: tacos, taquitos, and flautas. Both were delicious and the portions were huge. Our bill was, less than $25....unbelievable! Lastly, our server Candy was wonderful. She was so friendly and communicative without being overbearing. She seemed to love her job and that is infectious and made us happy! Totally unexpected yet appreciated anniversary dinner in Wickenburg. Thanks Candy and cooks!
(5)Richard B.
We came into town late on a Sunday night and wanted to get something to eat. The front desk person at the hotel recommended this place. We were greeted as soon as we came into the place and barely had to wait before we were greeted at our table. Staff was very friendly and food came quick. All 3 dishes were very good and portions were large. Definitely recommend.
(5)Judy M.
I had the pleasure of eating at El Ranchero for the first time. The food was delicious and service fantastic. I had #5 which consisted of a beef taco, beef tostada, rice and beans. People that have dined with me know that I never finish a whole plate but this one I devoured. It was good, good food. I will be stopping by El Ranchero every time I am in the Wickenburg area.
(5)Bunny T.
Excellent,recommend highly. Extensive GLUTEN FREE CHOICES. Owner very knowledgeable about gluten free. Prices very reasonable. Great menu lots of choices. Great large party room.every thing homemade and fresh. Hot and crispy corn chips. Friendly caring service. Love his place
(5)Grahame R.
Delicious chicken tortilla soup with large chunks of veggies! Hit the spot on a cold day. This is why I love yelp, without it I would have never veered off the main road en route to Vegas. We will def return next time Iin Wickenberg
(5)Topher S.
When in Wickenburg, pompous city types like us go in to a restaurant just hoping not to get poisoned. On this hope, and on all others we could dare to have, El Ranchero delivered. We left feeling more than a little ashamed about our preconceived notion of small towns. As we walked into the restaurant for lunch, the first thing we noticed was the it was quite vibrant inside. The decor was fun and the restaurant was mostly full. A friendly waitress rushing to a table told us to sit anywhere we like. We said we wanted a booth, and the buss lady quickly went to break down and clean off the only available booth. As we sat our lazy butts in the booth, they apologized to us for having to clean the booth, as if it were their fault that we wanted to sit at the one dirty table in the joint. As soon as the lady was done cleaning the table, she gave us menus and asked if we wanted any drinks or appetizers. We were content with free Chips and Salsa, but we did order Margaritas. The Margaritas deserve their own paragraph. When you order a $5 Margarita, you don't expect much. But these were giant, strong, tasty margaritas - the tastiest I have had in recent history. One margarita was enough for a very nice buzz from both of us. Chips and salsa were top notch as well. The chips were fairly thick (which I like), and the salsa rack had a mild and a medium red salsa, as well as refried beans. We were slow in making up our minds about what to eat, but the waitress kept coming back to check on us every couple minutes anyway. We finally decided on the Tamal plate for me, and a rolled taco and a soft taco for the girlfriend. The food arrived a little slow, but this was to be expected seeing how busy they were. As the star rating of this review would indicate, it was well worth the wait. The tamal was moist and well seasoned. There was a generous amount of meat in there too! The girlfriend thought the rolled tacos were the best that she ever had. I demanded a bite and I have to say I agree. Moist meat, lightly fried tortilla that still had an excellent crunch to it, and fantastic cheese garnish. After finishing our meal, we ordered another one as a victory lap. Nothing can be said about the soft taco, mostly because it was gone before I could get my mouth on it. This place is good enough that we will likely plan future road trips around being near Wickenburg around lunch time.
(5)Larry K.
A really great Mexican restaurant with original and traditional fare. Spotlessly clean and nicely appointed with efficient and friendly service. Modest prices in a strip mall conveniently located equals better than expectations and merited the coveted fifth star. I thoroughly enjoyed my Chile Rellenos and the shrimp enchiladas special was great. Will return when in town.
(5)Walter R.
The Carne Asada is great as well as their chips and salsas with bean dip. Great family place to drop in and enjoy. Great service and good friends!
(5)Kathi R.
Looked for good restaurants in Wickenburg, AZ during a quick weekend trip. Picked this one off Yelp and was Overly Impressed with food, service and price. Waitress recommended the special, Chicharones, which was tender and full of flavor. Margaritas very good compliment. The whole experience was A+++.
(4)Jorge G.
Best food (Mexican or otherwise) I have had in a while! This place rocks!!!! Margaritas and tacos are second to none! But get the shredded beef! Marinated to perfection! Sopapillas.... Amazing!!!! And ask for Sammy. She's the best!!!!!!!
(5)Gabriela M.
Stopped here on our way back to California and had a wonderful experience. My fiance ordered the carne asada which was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I ordered the chicken chimichanga which tagged better than any other I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant. Definitely a must to try!! The staff was great and personable. We will be back!
(5)Bob N.
One of the best Mexican Food restaurants I've ever been to. The food is great! The service is warm, friendly and quick. After playing golf at Wickenburg Ranch we were looking for a place to eat. Found this place on Yelp. We are now looking for more reasons to make the drive from Scottsdale back to Wickenburg so that we can eat here again. We may just make the drive for the food. It is that good.
(5)Jill P.
We're from out of town and we came here for lunch with some family. It was tasty Mexican food at a very decent price. I shared a chicken fajitas and flan with my husband and we were both stuffed. The burrito looked great as well. The flan was good, but more dense than I'm used to.
(4)Blake S.
I have been here three times now and I have had great food every time. The margaritas are really good as well. I make sure to visit every time I'm in Wickenburg, I'll be back!
(5)Robert C.
Found this little gem in Wickenburg, an almost ghost town (so many "for sale signs") north of Phoenix. Great Mexican style food, clean and friendly. Beers are reasonably priced too. This would be my "go-to" place for Mex. But beware, closes at 8 PM (as does pretty much everything in Ole' Wick).
(4)D Q.
Horrible customer service from the server with the scarred lip. Four empty tables next to the window, no customers waiting, we walk in and she seats us in the back next to toilets. When we ask if we could move to a table up front the waitress says sure and then Ms. Lippy shouts out that the table is reserved. I look around and other customers are shrugging their shoulders in disbelief. We say F that and walk out. Went to Lydia up the street and got great service from the owner.
(1)Matthew T.
I've been here a few times. Good Mexican food. More like I've experienced in Mexico.
(4)bryn j.
A really nice, friendly, and welcoming atmosphere. The food was really good and the staff extremely friendly. Decent prices as well. It's well worth the stop when in town.
(5)Elke M.
We went with a group after the Wickenburg Ghosts and Legends tour and the meals were fabulous!!. Portions were large, freshly made and deliscious!! Complimentary hot chips with mild and hot salsa, and a bean dip were offered while we waited for our meals to arrive. I had a Margarita, wow, a huge glass and also deliscious!! Went there again a few nights later, again same great quality food. Service was also exemplary. Will definitely come back here again!!
(5)Terri J.
Great food, friendly service and more food than you can eat in one sitting. Perfect for the drive home from Las Vegas when you don't want to cook upon arriving home.
(5)Barb B.
My hubby had a hankering for Mex for dinner. We have been here a couple of times and I have to say the food is "ok". My hubby's cheese enchiladas didn't provide him with enough flavor. He thought the sauce could have been better. He also said the beans & rice were bland. I got the Burrito Light. It was good but could use something to add more flavor to it as well. The tastiest part of the meal was the chips and salsa. Service was very good tho.
(3)Shawn G.
The people were very nice and the service was great. However, I ordered the red chile con carne meal. I was expecting red chili and it was tomato. It tastes like canned tomato sauce with some spicy chili sauce thrown in. Edible but not awesome.
(2)David B.
Great Mexican food. Authentic. Big place. Great service. Locals eat here so don't get too nervous when they stare you down when you walk in. Feels like Wyatt Earp may come walking in any time. Price was right too.
(5)Caroline S.
Luckily we checked Yelp as the main road bypasses 'old' Wickenburg. We started with the fried bacon wrapped chiles stuffed with shrimp. Very spicy but so delicious! I didn't realize how big the appetizer was! I was full after a bowl of their warm chips and the appetizer! The chips were served with bean dip and two salsas (one which was on yummy fire) I only was able to take a couple bites of my chile verde. It was full of flavor! It was delicious on my scrambled eggs then next morning. Our server was friendly and attentive.
(5)Joan B.
We had such a great meal. The waitress and the owner were so friendly and helpful with our choices. . It's a MUST stop!!!!
(5)Scott T.
I read the reviews so decided to try it since I was in town. Service was excellent, beer was cold and they have a wrote variety of Mexican beer. The food was less than expected however. I got the queso fundido, all I tested was peppers, the cheese cake out scalding hot to eat and then cooled way to fast and I was stuck with just globs of cheese. The soft tacos were runny and had sour cream on them which was not noted on the menu. Been there done it, don't have to go back.
(3)Beth S.
Went back again the other night with just my husband and baby boy. We had just as good of a time as we did with our group a few weeks before! I had the shrimp ceviche tostada special. It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Fresh avocado slices on top of freshly made ceviche. Yum. The tostada didn't even get soggy while I fussed over little man getting him to eat his cheese crisp--which was excellent again as usual. Husband had the red chili pork special and it was so tender and delicious. The service is so friendly and polite that you can't help but feel right at home. Love it!
(5)Alicia K.
I have been to Wickenburg several times, but it's always tough to find a place to eat. Yesterday, my hubby and I ventured out from our campsite at Lake Pleasant and the Yelp reviews led us right to El Ranchero. Our server, Candy, was delightful. She gave us the backstory on her family and the history of the restaurant. The chips arrived with a trio of condiments. Two salsas and a bean dip. Totally delicious. I ordered the shrimp taco and a side of the bean dip, which Candy said was a little more smoky than the regular beans. My hubby ordered the hornitos, which are yellow waxed peppers stuffed with shrimp and queso fresco and wrapped in bacon. The food was heavenly and the service was excellent. Can't wait to return.
(5)Michael T.
I and 8 other people got there at about 8:15 PM or so, so it was toward the end of their hours of operation. The service was pretty good as was the food. Good, but not outstanding. I had the fajitas and they were good, but nothing to set them apart from anyone else's. One woman, though, said her burrito was the best she had ever had. I would definitely go back, as good restaurants in Wickenburg are hard to find.
(3)Charley C.
El Ranchero is a good staple of Mexican / Southwestern cooking. We were greeted oh s nicely, almost as if we were old friends (although it was our first time). The place is simple with excellent wall painting and as your eyes get to it there is all kinds of knickey knacky (are those good words - probably not is scrabble anyway) things all around the top of the room. The chips came in warm - very nice - and a trip of dipping stuff - two salsas and creamy beans. All very nice and tasty. We split the Triple color enchiladas and all were tasty and the sauces very good. This place could easily be a go to place for locals of Wickenburg
(4)Mark E.
this place became the new Wickenburg favorite after just one visit. the margaritas were excellent (and very potent) the chips and salsa were among the best i have ever had. and my chili rellano was excellent too. yelp, you got this one right! thank you so much for introducing me to this place.
(5)John B.
Very good food, great prices, definitely worth the trip and then some.
(4)Erica M.
We stopped at this place while on road trip because who doesn't love Mexican food? Immediately when we entered it was a very clean establishment with cute western decor. My friends and I were greeted with nothing but "Hello's" and warm smiles. As soon as we sat down, we were immediately brought complimentary fresh warm tortilla chips and 3 types of dips of our choosing (I recommend the "spicy" red salsa and bean dip) by the bus boy and a wonderful waitress with blonde hair (I wish I remembered her name) greeted us so happily and took our drink order. The horchata was good and luckily they have micheladas for our friend who was hung over!. Being from Southern California I know good Mexican food quality, so we ordered their guacamole which was real fresh guacamole (thank god!) and it tasted excellent with our chips. I ordered the Horitos (bacon wrapped mild yellow chiles stuff w shrimp) which was AMAZING. They were so good that I came back home and attempted to make them myself. My 2 friends ordered the flautas plate and was very satisfied with their meal as well. Overall presentation of the food and taste was high quality. This place is a mexican/tex mex style and overall the food was great but what really stood out was the outstanding customer service that was brought by the staff (including the owner herself). They made us feel welcomed and you could tell off the bat that they genuinely loved their job which is very rare to see and exhibit through customer service nowadays. If I'm ever in the area again I am definitely going back and would recommended this place to anyone who values great food and service!
(5)Carl T.
We have eaten here many times. The food and service is always excellent. The best Chile Verde in Az. The margaritas are great too.
(5)Doug B.
Like other buildings in Wickenburg, it doesn't look like much, but here looks are deceiving. El Ranchero is outstanding. The owners are enthusiastic, friendly and great cooks! It all comes at a very low price. Try the hornitos - bacon wrapped chiles, stuffed with shrimp... ask for sour cream for dipping. The chile relleno stuffed with Mexican cheese will make your taste buds sing, and the enchiladas are well above average. When in Wickenburg, this is the place to go.
(5)Laurie V.
Found this hidden place on yelp a while back. We have been here a few times now. The staff was very nice. Their chicken dishes seem to be a bit dry each time. All the beef dishes are yummy and seasoned well.
(4)John M.
Went with our hiking group for lunch. One waitress handled all 18 of us with no errors and separate checks. Everyone was pleased with their orders. My first time at this restaurant and tried the garlic shrimp served with white rice and cold slaw on a cast iron plate "sizzling" it was great! Had a bite of the green pepper stuffed with shrimp and wrapped with bacon, spicy but excellent. Will certainly return for more.
(5)Donna F.
Just stopped here for dinner based on other recommendations, and they were not wrong. Cute place, friendly staff and great food, plus the next horchata we've had anywhere. The salsas and bean dip were really tasty. The enchiladas trio plate was very good, as were the bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed wax chiles. Definitely would eat here again.
(4)Hunt S.
I've been going to the El Ranchero since 2008. Quaint place, much bigger than it seems from the outside. One of my first criteria for picking a restaurant is NOT being part of a chain. I much prefer local joints, and this is one of the better ones. From what I can tell, the food is pretty traditional. Though I am more a fan of Tex-Mex. They do a good job of accommodating me serving most things Enchilada Style. My favorites are the Hornitos - bacon wrapped Bannana (Yellow Wax) chiles, stuffed with shrimp... And the Chile Relleno. I usually order both and make a meal of it. Good service, and the bean dip/salsa are very good.
(5)Patrick H.
Sometimes you just gotta have Mexican food. On my way back to Phoenix from Vegas I consulted Yelp and found this place. Nice, friendly service and good food. I had the tricolor enchilada plate and it was delicious. Chicken, beef, cheese with rice and beans. Good chips and salsa as well.
(4)Clinton s.
I really like this place. Very good food. Authentic and delicious. Dont skip this place if you are looking for great Mexican food. I consider myself a connoisseur of Mexican food and this place is excellent. Trust me!!
(5)Eilonwy W.
One chicken chimichanga later, I'm baffled by the rave reviews. At lunch time on a Sunday, the place was quiet, possibly because it's not really on the main drag in historic downtown Wickenburg, possibly because few people other than me think going to Wickenburg in August is a great idea. One gal, who appeared to be in charge, was a sweetheart and very on the ball. Unfortunately, the other staff were... not naturals at working in a service industry. Great food might have saved this situation, or at least rendered it humorous. Unfortunately, the chicken chimichanga was filled with bland, unseasoned chicken: I guess the regulars know to order it enchilada-style to get flavor from the salsa. The beans and rice were beans and rice. I can't deny that the true, natural flavor of the chicken was front and center. So if you want to savor that chicken in its full chickenosity, this is the dish for you. In its defense, it was genuinely a nice chicken, with no icky bits left in. Best part of the meal was the "hot" salsa, which is actually hot -- not a given in Arizona. It comes in a set of three dips: hot, normal, and refried bean. This is adorable and fun, and I wish more restaurants did it. If I were compelled to eat here again, I'd order something that is definitely, positively slow-cooked in its sauce. If I were bringing an aging relative who didn't like "hot" food, I'd order the chicken chimichanga.
(2)John R.
Variety of Southwest entrees prepared in an attractive fashion.
(4)Tony S.
A family owned GEM of a restaurant! Worth the drive to Wickenburg! Based upon some other reviews I got the Taco Salad and was not disappointed. Everyone in our party was well taken care of, and all of the recipes were amazing. Portion sizes were beyond fair and nobody went home hungry. Services was perfect, they clearly know how to run a restaurant!
(5)Jeanne D.
Either all these good reviews are bogus or they have gone through a major down grade. Flavorless salsa, stale chips the chilie relleno tasted like a grease soaked sponge the enchilada trio did not have the fillings they stated on the menu. What else could add to the cold atmosphere than the glare of the sun reflecting off the car windshields in the front parking lot into my eyes at the table. They do deserve one star, the people were nice but the food was the worst I've ever had in a restaurant. Dont waste your time or money. I'm going to Anita's down the street next time
(1)John K.
Thoroughly underwhelming. Fish taco made with fish sticks basically. Gigantic margaritas didn't save the rating but were appreciated.
(2)Joe S.
Red sauce w beef and Mexican cheese enchiladas is stunningly good! Yummies! And $1 margarita w combo on happy hour :-) Makes for a nice intermission on the drive home from kiteboarding Mohave or business in Vegas.
(4)Gary S.
I drive through Wickenburg for work every once in a while, and I've stopped in to El Ranchero twice now for lunch. The food and service were top notch both times. We were seated, brought chips/salsa, and drinks quickly. They have two different salsas and a bean dip. My preference was the spicy salsa which had a nice sweet flavor and a good level of heat. I recommend the enchilada tricolor combo plate. It comes with three enchiladas - chicken, beef, cheese. The chicken and cheese are topped with a mild green sauce, and the beef has a red sauce. The beans and rice are great too. Our server handled our large group very efficiently and with a smile on her face. My only complaint is that the restaurant could use a refresh. There were some wobbly chairs and the bathroom is sub par. If you happen to be passing through Wickenburg, you won't be disappointed at El Ranchero. Check it out!
(4)Michael C.
YES - this is well worth a stop on the way home from Las Vegas. Not much on ambiance, but the food here is absolutely terrific! Just go with the daily special.
(5)Happy G.
This was the 3rd time we have visited. I enjoy the chips and salsas. The food is mediocre but the prices are very reasonable. Our waitress wasn't very helpful. As bizarre as this sounds, I asked about their drink specials since there was one clearly posted as you walk in. The waitress says "we don't have any drink specials". I said the sign out front says you do. She stated they didn't. I asked because they had 4 drinks on the SPECIALS for $6 on a chalkboard out front but none were margaritas. I was trying to figure out if I could get a margarita for $6 as well. She was so adamant and I wasn't in the mood to argue for a drink so I chose iced tea instead. We split the nachos and chicken chimi. I only came back because my first choice was closed, oddly. I probably won't be back again unless I am in a pinch. Wickenburg locals seem okay with this establishment but if you are from out of town, it seems like a wasted trip. At this point it seems like the only decent place to eat in Wickenburg is Screamers which was closed. Your town is as basic as Prescott. Bummer.
(3)Matt S.
Food is amazing and the service is outstanding (Christy was our server). Will definitely be back next time we're in town.
(5)Anne E.
Yummy Margaritas and a menu with refreshingly different choices all sensibly priced.! Salsas and warm bean dip were very good complimentary starters. My a la carte items (beef flauta and marinated pork taco) were okay (wish I had gotten those bacon wrapped shrimp thingies mentioned in the reviews....). Hubby loved his chile relleno. We'll definitely go back when out Wickenburg way again. Thanks, Yelpers!
(4)Sandra B.
Love this place. Had dinner there last week with several friends. Food was very good...margaritas excellent. We eat here often and have never been disappointed.
(5)Lindsay C.
Wickenburg only currently has two Mexican food restaurants, the "famous" Anita's Cocina and humble El Ranchero. I've always been a supporter of underdogs and have found this restaurant to be more consistent, have better taste and better service than it's competitor. The shrimp ceviche tostadas (served only Friday and Saturday right now) are the best I've EVER had, add sliced cabbage on top and you've got a perfectly portioned weekend lunch. Not to mention, they have $2 margaritas for happy hour and their margaritas are NOT for the faint of heart! I have a perfectly healthy appetite for mixed drinks and one of these are enough for a "good" buzz. A great family atmosphere, the waiters are attendant but not overwhelming. They will happily make accomodations to suit your needs. Go for your birthday! Free ice cream sundae (though I prefer the sopapillas) and you will be serenaded by the cook himself.
(4)John O.
Very very good Mexican in a town where I could not find much good food. Inexpensive great service and close to downtown. I really enjoyed the burrito allot.
(4)Carne A.
Driving through on the way to Vegas and found this little gem of a mexican restaurant! We had a DELICIOSO meal of flautas, awesome salsa and bean dip. The service was friendly, prompt and most importantly the food was authentic. The salsa even had a kick to it which is hit and miss w mexican restaurants. I highly recommend this place, it truly was a great experience. AND the price was more than reasonable. Orale!
(5)Debbie S.
Great lunch..although I am sure round Chile's don't come that way in nature. Taste great though.
(5)John R.
Love this place. Their Chili Verde is the best. Parking sucks, but I'll live with that. Service is great. Worth the drive from the west valley.
(5)Riquo K.
This is my go-to for Mexican food. I can't find a better place closer so when we're on our way back from Vegas, or just need a fix, we drive up there! The chili verde, is so good I want to have some now, tender and yummy pork. I haven't had any of their margaritas, but the rest of the food is so good. We normally get a few items to share, and the portions are so huge that even if you are hung over from a vegas trip, you'll find yourself feeling fine after eating here. When ever anyone is in town we actually drive up to Wickenburg just to eat there, it's that kind of good. The decor and seating isn't super, but with food as good as theirs I am not sure you need that much ambiance.
(5)Tammy A.
There are two Mexican Restaurants in town and this one is by far the better of the two. The portions are large and the produce that is served with them is always extra fresh and crisp. Many of the locals know about the El Ranchero, but most of the people out of town get suckered into going to Anita's which is in the heart of ole' Wickenburg. I live here and I will always recommend El Ranchero to out-of-towners, because the locals know where to eat. Cheers El Ranchero! Best Mexican Food Ever!
(5)Nancy H.
Headed up Hwy 93, Phoenix to Las Vegas, time for lunch, googled "best place to eat in Wickenberg, Az." Yelp and other reviewers led us to El Rancho. This group of travelers thoroughly enjoyed our various meals. Colorful, creative environment, friendly staff, excellent food. Definitely recommended. Soy encantado!
(5)Jeanette A.
I meet my in-laws in Wickenburg when my 2rd old princess goes to visit them in Kingman. We've met for breakfast at the Horseshoe Cafe(check out my review), but this time we decided to do lunch. I had read the past reviews for El Ranchero, so we decided to try it out. DELISH! Simple Mexican home-cooking is the best way to describe this place. All the ingredients were fresh and cooked perfectly. My husband had their taco salad with chicken. What they brought out was not what we were expecting. It was a taco shell in the shape of a pie crust (genius!), homemade guacamole, sour cream, the usual salad stuff, and chunks, I mean chunks, of tender, juicy chicken breast. The chicken was falling apart and it just melted in your mouth. Yum! I had their veggie burrito. All fresh ingredients and just enough to fill you for the 1 hour drive back to Mesa. My 2yr old had their chicken nuggets with beans. She loves it. Their beans are great, especially with tortilla chips, her fave. Their salsa is also fresh and good. We've now made this place our Wickenburg child-exchange location. haha. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Tara H.
Hands down the best place to eat in Wickenburg! Family run, super friendly and quick service. We love the chips and salsa but don't fill up on them or you'll miss out on the great food! Hector, Candi and the whole crew treat you like family
(5)Steve F.
Food is good, I haven't had a bad experience. They have a low calorie healthy burrito which I get a majority of the time. Service is friendly and quit to assist.
(4)Melissa H.
Seriously delicious! Hopped in the car this weekend with my mom and kid in tow and used the Yelp Ap on my android phone. It lead us to El Ranchero, which is typically not our Mexican go to in Wickenburg, but I am so glad we found this gem. The chips were good, so were the salsa and the bean dip. I ordered the Tricolor Enchilada combo and they were probably the best enchiladas I have had. The chicken was so tasty, the shredded beef had good flavor, and the cheese enchilada was made using Mexican cheese (queso fresco I think) and it was sooo good. The best part could of been that for 2 huge meals, 2 drinks, and an order of sopapillas it was under $25. Cannot wait to take the husband there.
(5)BJ J.
Last time we were in Wickenberg we decided to bypass some of the usual eateries downtown and found El Ranchero. It was a pleasant surprise. I had the beef, ham and chicken quesadilla which was yummy. The salsa and bean dip were excellent. Definitely a place to visit again.
(4)Melissa M.
Great, authentic Mexican just outside of downtown. Very friendly, attentive staff. Great menu advice. Chili rellenos were absolutely deee-lish.
(5)Miss J.
Thanks, Yelpers! We loved this place. On our way back from a week in Vegas, where we'd been eating expensive, tiny portions of unpronounceable gourmet fare, we were tired, thirsty, hot, and hungry. No time to leave things to chance... Naturally, we turned to the collective wisdom of Yelp. This place was unassuming, with plastic over the tablecloths, folksy-western decor, and a "come on in, pick a seat" greeting style. No velvet ropes, no snooty hosts eyeing your shoes to see if you're fit to spend your money in their lofty company... So nice. Christy was our server, and she was down-home friendly, chatty, and genuinely interested in making sure we were happy with our food. Chips were fresh and hot, and served with three sauces: fresh salsa, a fantastic hot sauce/salsa, and a thin & very authenticly beany bean dip. We ate too much of this goodness. I had the #5, taco & tostada. The taco was an honest, legitimate fried Mexican taco, fantastically crunchy & full of juicy shredded beef, then laid on its side, covered in a flavorful red sauce, and then sprinkled with crumbly queso. The tostada was mounded with the same shredded beef, crunchy cold lettuce, and crumbled queso. It was served with rice & beans that I really didn't have room for. My #1 Sexy Husband Man, who is infinitely finicky, had the shredded beef Chimichanga and he was seriously very happy with it. Our drinks stayed full the entire time, the chit-chat was fun and friendly, and then as we wearily eyed the road outside and prepared to leave, Christy offered directions to the highway as well as two styrofoam to-go cups and sent us on our way with fresh soda-pop and a heartfelt inquiry as to whether we were satisfied. Yep... And here's the review to prove it. We'll be back next time we go to Vegas!
(5)Sarah M.
Queso fundido, enchiladas , and guacamole all awesome. By far one of the best margaritas I have ever had. Prickly Pear was awesome!!
(4)David L.
Awesome authentic Mexican fare. Chris, the server was awesome.
(5)Myla K.
The most authentic, delicious, fresh Mexican restaurant in wickenburg!!! Definitely worth going to if u are craving some bomb food. Their chimichangas , taco salad, chili rellenos and fish tacos are to die for!
(5)Julie R.
Christy was an awesome waitress! The restaurant was hopping and she didn't miss a beat. The food was delish! Loved the chips (served warm) and salsa's. The shredded beef tostada and chili verde was amazing! Nostalgic, traditional mexican restaurant where everyone was treated like a local. Give it a try!
(5)Kris G.
We went here after golfing and all of us though this place was great. We're from Phoenix and only wish this place was closer. Service was very accommodating and attentive and the food was fresh, hot and very delicious. Prices were right too! The next time were in the area, we would return for sure.
(5)David B.
The food is authentic, the portions are great and the prices are reasonable. But, what it really outstanding is the service. Every single person working there seems to be very proud to deliver a great meal experience. Friendly, fast, and knowledgeable. Wickenburg is a neat little town - this restaurant makes it worth the drive up from the west side of the PHX area!
(5)Katrina M.
I took my kids to go hiking at the nature preserve and decided to stop for lunch somewhere in town. We stumbled upon El Ranchero and loved it! Our waitress was super nice and attentive and seemed to really love her job :-) The food was very good for the price and I will definitely be stopping in there again the next time we are over that way!
(5)Brenda P.
food was ok.... nothing special more of a tex-Mex rather than authentic Mexican food. It was actually pretty cheap but also food was flavorless. Service was ok. Place was nice and clean. Don't think I'll be going back.
(3)Tony K.
My parents live down road and we were in town visiting them, I decided to look on Yelp for something new and different to take them for dinner. We got sat right down with very friendly service. I love older authentic home style places like this. The menu has lots of different offerings with some great choices. They serve warm chips and a couple kinds of salsas and dips (and Hot !). We all got a vast array of choices and the portions were good and tasted great. Everyone told me great choice on picking a new place and I said its all about Yelp! . They checked on us numerous times and kept the drinks full without asking . We always have gone to the other place in town but decided to change and we are very glad we did, If we lived in town we would eat here regularly !
(4)Sandy L.
We stopped here on our way home to Phoenix from Las Vegas and thought everything was great. The service was excellent, the food delicious and the $1 Margarita's between 2 pm and 6 pm, a great idea. ( All you have to do is purchase food of $7.25 or more) We loved the hot chips served with 3 dips. My favorite was the bean dip but all 3 were so good we were afraid we would fill up on them before our food arrived. I had the special of the day - shrimp enchiladas - which was very good and my husband had a shredded pork chimichanga - also delicious. I paid a small upcharge for their special cilantro salad dressing on my salad, but it was outstanding! My husband, who does not like cilantro, also thought it was delicious. I would love the recipe! We will go back to El Ranchero and bring our friends.
(4)Ed B.
Very friendly service and food was quite good. Mexican food is, by nature, different at every restaurant. That's what makes trying different ones a lot of fun. I had the three enchiladas with the three different "smothering" and it was delicious. Waitress could not have been more pleasant.
(4)Monique K.
They are soo friendly. The food is as good as when I make it at home. If you ever stop for food in Wickenburg, THIS is the place!!!
(5)Jim C.
Ate there yesterday (11/19/12) and had a great lunch after getting confused, direction wise as to its location. It's a couple blocks West of town Junction of Hwy 93 and Hwy 60 in Wickenburg, AZ. I had the #11, three enchiladas: cheese, chicken and shredded beef. Excellent refried beans and rice, chips, two different kinds of salsa and bean dip. Service was super friendly and fast. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area!
(4)Tom G.
I would give this place 4 1/2 stars if I could. The tamales were tasty and I especially enjoyed the warm bean dip for the delicious chips. I would give them 5 stars had the atmosphere been a bit better. I didn't care for the lighting (it was dark outside) and the ambience was not so great. Not unexpected for a low priced restaurant. It's nice to see family run restaurants that serve good food,
(4)Brenda B.
The best Mexican restaurant in Wickenburg. Every time I visit my parents in Wickenburg I make a trip to this restaurant. The food is fresh and the flavors are nice. The "hot" salsa is so good!
(4)