only gave a 1 because i can not give a negative score. when i first moved to town i love fiesta, i probably went there 2 or 3 times a week. the last 3 times ive been there have been absolutely awful. its taken between 20-30 mins just to get a Margaretta. e worse has been the food. im am awestruck that a restaurant that i order take out from often that says 10/15 mins and its ready in 5. when i order in, i have NEVER RECEIVED FOOD WITH IN 40 MINS OF ORDERING. but i understand when they are busy it takes time. WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IS COLD FOOD AND UNCARING MANAGERS. when i call to complain about the latest issue i was first put on hold. then the so call manger keep saying that she couldn't here or understand me. i was offered a gift certificate for my trouble but in a way, i don't think that really cuts it. i haven't seen the amount of the appeasement but irregardless i doubt i will ever be back. i gave them three chances and they blew them all.
(1)
Thom Z.
There's nothing magical about this place. They're's nothing super amazing about this place. There's just a bunch of "ok." The food is pretty much your standard, run of the mill, one step up from fast food Mexican. It ranks in the midrange in terms of quality of food, freshness of ingredients and taste. Nothing I've had there tastes bad, bland or mas o menos. It's always tasted good, but good isn't spectacular. The margaritas are just absolute garbage. My favorite part about Mexican restaurants is the margaritas... and this place let down. Have you ever had that $8 a handle TGI Fridays pre-made "liquor is in it" Margarita? Well, these were about on par with that. Only, they cost $3.50 a glass, instead of $8 a handle. The best things about this place is the sauces that they put on the food and the sauce on the table. The sauce on the food always has a good, authentic, down home taste to it, about what I generally make, but the seasoning of the meat, beans and rice is mediocre, the lettuce and tomatoes stale and the tortillas pretty iffy. The sauce doesn't cover this up, but it makes the food entirely tolerable. The hot sauces on the table were great. I tried them out on the chips and salsa, which is actually really good. Every time I go, I finish out the chips and salsa, no contest. And use the Habenero hot sauce on everything. The green sauce packs a wallop and tastes delicious. If they had better Margaritas or better quality food, I'd definitely recommend the place to everyone and anyone. But, as it stands, it's a mediocre experience. Oh, but the service is always great. Can't forget that.
(3)
Luke W.
Horrible service, filth, and mediocre food quality and standards. I brought my family for lunch at fiesta on a Sunday afternoon. We walked in, there was a cash register person checking out a line of customers. Sign says "please sit yourself", so we sat down, 10 min we've been sitting for and did not see 1 not even ONE waiter or waitress walking around? So I go up to cash register and ask for a waiter. The same guy comes and takes our drink order, their margaritas are definitely not my favorite, it's remade and tastes like there's ammonia or Pine-Sol floor cleaner, trust me. Then comes back and says "what are you eating, go?!", me and my wife are puzzled at his attitude. Then when we ate the bowl of tortilla chips, it was beyond stale. I'm new to yelp, I'm not one of those that bash places uncalled on daily basis, it's all 100% truth. Also there's carpet inside the restaurant it smells like barefoot, like mildew, as if it's a college party place where kids go for 1/2 off margaritas on Thursday nights. The other 2 younger boys that were waiters (we had he older one, manager?) we're awful too. There was at least 8 tables with food leftover and hasn't been cleaned off. One guy looks like That douchebag Ronnie from jersey shore, faukhawk, texting the whole time. He's good for nothing, got 2% tip from me. Then the bathroom was beyond horrible, I honestly cannot believe the city of Bloomington inspectors allow this to happen? Seriously guys step it up, take pride in your building and food that you serve and we will come. But if it continues at this level, it's will be my last time I'm ever going back there. I've been loyal customer to fiesta since I moved here to go to college at Illinois state, that's 11 years ago.
(1)
Kristine J.
Great Mexican place. Their queso is oh-so-yummy. You seat yourself and get great quick service. Free chips and salsa like most Mexican restaurants, but theirs is tastier than most. Get the ranchero cheesesteak. You won't regret it!!!
(4)
Paul K.
We've loved this place for years. It's the old stand-by for us when we need some quick Tex-Mex. The lunch menu is great, cheap, and tasty food. And I love the Texas Fajitas. Chicken, steak, and shrimp all sizzling before you. I love it.
(4)
Chef B.
wonderful chips and salsa. very good and fast service. a zillion items on their menu. that's where the fun pretty much stops. it's not that the food is bad. it tastes good. I'm just too picky about what tex-mex is supposed to be. Burritos and quesadillas should not be covered in cheese sauce. Chimichangas aren't supposed to look like that. Their ground beef tacos are safe and simple. their carne asada tacos are good, but small for the price. I still go here occasionally, but its usually when i'm in a super hurry. they will turn around your ticket in 5-7 minutes, even when it's busy. I appreciate that. But if i really want mexican, I'm hitting el porton, merendon, the taco stand on south Main St. or Los Potrillos before I'm coming here. I'm not a tequila guy, but i'm told their margaritas are very good. overall, fiesta has a place here in town, but its hardly at the top of my list.
(2)
Russ C.
Ate here once, completely forgettable. Nothing wrong with it, just nothing special.
(3)
James S.
The only thing special about Fiesta Ranchera is the chile relleno. They are cooked perfectly and are the best in town. If you are not going to order this, go to one of the many other places in Blo-No that offer better prices and better margaritas. The service is mediocre and is comprised of young white guys which is a bit odd for a Mexican restaurant. So, if you are going for authentic do not go here. The prices are the highest in town for this quality and type of food. Èl Portòn is better and cheaper.
(3)
Tim M.
Love this place! Try the loco burrito. Cheap Mexican fare with service to match. Gotta know what to expect when youre going in. The margaritas are enormous! Try one!
(5)
Jessica H.
The BEST chips and salsa I've ever had!! We often do a carryout order of their chips and salsa so that we can have a tasty snack at home :) The menu is big, and the lunch prices are great :) We prefer the location on Veterans by Best Buy. Some of my favorite entrees are: El Fiesta Burrito with beans instead of meat and the Ranchero Cheese Steak with beans instead of meat (Just because I'm vegetarian; I've been with people who have ordered them normally and they liked it). Also, instead of ordering pop, try some horchata! It's delicious :) The local mailer ads always have coupons for $2 off $10 and $4 off $20 so use them. Also, they have a punch card and after enough punches you get a free entree :)
(5)
Joshua W.
Good food and service. However, If your going to use one of the coupons you received in the mailers. Make sure you give them the coupon after he rings up your ticket or he wont take anything off. They will just take your coupon and charge you full price. Also have seen the mens bathroom out of hand soap on several occasions, witch says a lot about a restaurant!
(2)
Brent C.
I always knew this place was not great, but OK. My most recent experience was terrible. Waited nearly an hour for food, which is probably a record for a Mexican restaurant. Service was also poor and food to match. All made worse by sitting in the noisy, dirty back area. Very dirty, and frankly, ugly bathroom.
Won't be coming back here. Took a friend there on a Thursday around 3 pm, slow time. ordered cocktails then asked for a minute so we could decide on entrees. Didn't come back for 30 minutes. It was another 45 minutes for the food, which as a chef I could tell had been sitting in a steam table, nothing freshly prepared to warrant the wait. Oh and we never got our drinks refilled because they were never around to ask or offer. Also had to wait to pay, no one was around. I could have easily walked out without paying. Mediocre run of the mill steam table Mexican with bad service.
(1)
Twylla S.
Dear Fiesta, Every time I exit 55 and arrive to Bloomington-Normal you are one of the only things I can think about. I dream about you. I want to take a bath in your Queso and get drunk on your Fanta. Let me have seconds of your chimichangas and pollo encremado ...extra spicy...if u know what I mean. ;) love always, Twylla
(5)
Sampad D.
Margaritas were OK . Food was quite good. Recommended: Chori Pollo Pollo Ranchero
(3)
Amanda B.
Half-price sugary margaritas on Thursdays are the best thing about the place. The food isn't terrible, it's pretty standard Mexican food.
(3)
Van M.
So there are 3 Fiesta Ranchera establishments in town. They all have the same menu and service. Here is my review from one of the others: The single best aspect of this establishment is that you can almost always get a table for 10 people at any time. It's not that it's desolate, but rather just seems to be larger than it really needs to be. In Bloomington, it's hard to find a place to eat on a Friday night that doesn't have a 45 minute wait, so Fiesta is a great place for the hungry, pre-bar crowd. I have found that my favorite menu item is the Ranchero Cheesesteak, which is steak, onions, peppers, tomato, lettuce, and cheese all folded into a tortilla and covered with cheese sauce. Rice and beans are served on the same plate. Now if you're afraid of grease, this is certainly a dish you should avoid, and perhaps maybe even a restaurant to avoid. The interior is not fancy (although they did just repaint). You'll have either the classic black plastic/leather-seated booth, or some temporary-seeming chairs and table. You'll be greeted with chips and salsa, but if you're in a rush to get food you won't have to wait long - the service is very fast. If you're looking to have some beverages, there are some rather large margaritas and beer options. Probably not a place to take a first date, but a good option for a group of friends who are more hungry than critical.
(4)
Amanda R.
El Porton is SOO much better. I'll go to the west side Fiesta Ranchera if I'm at the movies and hungry, or this one if I'm at the mall and hungry, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat at any of them. As far as I can tell, all Fiesta Rancheras are about the same quality wise: boring, but decent. You could do worse though (La Bamba and the big chains).
(2)
Dana L.
Fake Food, Slow Service When the waiter came to take our order, after 12 minutes in the restaurant, I asked what kind of cheese they used in the enchiladas. He told me they used Chihuahua cheese. I told him good, that was what I wanted. When the food came, about 23 minutes later, the cheese was processed cheese. I told him that wasn't what I wanted. He said they had no other kind of cheese, so I didn't order anything else. When we went to check out and the cashier asked how everything was, I told her. She copped an attitude and threw my receipt at me. She never apologized for the misunderstanding.
(1)
Mike C.
This place is overrated. By far. You can get much better 'out of the box' tex/mex numerous places in town. Cannot understand the appeal of the same old mexican food, when you can just go to El Porton which is much more authentic. Unles you like getting boozed up on margarita night, then right on..
(1)
Mia M.
I miss this place so much! I lived in Bloomington/Normal for 6 years and this was one of my favorite restaurants. This is one of the two restaurants that I must eat at each time I come visit friends. The service is super fast and if you pass up the cheese dip there is something wrong with you! I always have to order the large between sharing with friends and putting the cheese dip on my meal once it gets there (I swear I just can't get enough of it). My favorite menu item is the ranchero cheese steak (yes, I still add cheese to it) I have tried other menu items and they are tasty as well but the cheese steak tops the list.
(5)
Chris R.
My five stars are placed within the context of Bloomington-Normal, and the fact that I have a large family with mid-western taste buds. However, I personally have known real mexican food (having been a past resident of San Diego), so I do have some experience with authenticity. There is a certain tradeoff you get when opting for a sit-down, family-style restaurant over a hole-in-the-wall dive place. The latter will almost certainly provide the most "authentic" food (regardless of ethnicity) as these are similar to the places where the "real stuff" is served in the more populated corners of the globe. However, those places aren't necessarily where you want to take the wife and 6 kids and keep the show under control. Fiesta Ranchera does a nice job of bridging the gap between dive and family. This place is definitely (and thankfully) NOT Chi-Chi's. They have real, honest-to-goodness latinos working there, broken english (at times) and all - just like my favorite place in San Diego (and while I do speak some Spanish, I've never worked up the nerve to use it at Fiesta for fear of insulting someone, unlike how I used to rattle off my order in the old days). Some of the servers have no accent at all, although it's almost disappointing... oh well. :) Interestingly, I've consistently had better service and food at the two east-side locations. Not sure why; maybe the west-side has different management/ownership or something. I - and my whole family - LOVE the food. It's really about as authentic as you'll get here in Bloomington-Normal and still be able to be in a "restaurant" setting. The food is well-prepared, flavored deliciously, and served quickly. You get chips and salsa to start. The salsa is flavorful and only a bit spicy, which is perfect for the family, and the chips are served warm and crispy. There are suitable entree offerings for adult and child alike, although the kids' meals (in particular) seem to be done better at the east-side locations. My children order tacos, quesadillas, etc. which come with rice or beans or both, and by the time everyone's favorite parts of each meal are distributed to different plates as necessary, everyone is happy - so long as proper napping, etc. has occurred. My wife usually gets a taco salad in a big, cripsy edible bowl and seems to like it a lot. Salad just isn't my thing. I get the "combination especial", which despite being about $12 is served on TWO PLATES and cannot reasonably be eaten in one sitting. Understand, I can EAT. I am 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds. It just can't all go down the hatch, and that's a shame because it's all so good that my mouth is sad to stop eating long after my tummy is full. If memory serves me correctly, it comes with a taco, a chalupa, a chile relleno (SOOO good) and burrito (or similar), a tamale, rice and beans. I may even be forgetting something, since I'm usually in a food-induced coma at some point in there. My wife and I generally get horchata to drink, which is always yummy. It's a good idea to also get some water because horchata is sweet and will give you a carb overload if you drink too much of it. Overall, I've never had a less-than-good experience at Fiesta Ranchera locations on the east-side. It certainly is a go-to for my entire family, and no one ever complains at the prospect of going there, which really says something when you have 6 picky-eating kids and a couple of adults who have previously lived in a land of authentic mexican food. I definitely recommend it.
(5)
Kyle V.
Personally, I love to come here with my friends on Thursdays, order a pitcher of half priced margaritas, and eat a burrito.
(5)
MaryBeth B.
This place looks like a typical Midwest Mexican restaurant. The menu does too. I had the carnitas dinner and it came on a sizzling skillet like fajitas. I spent the last 12 years in LA and have been exposed to many styles of Mexican cuisine. This felt like a stereotypical chain restaurant. The server was quick to take my order but never saw him again until I was halfway through my meal. I had an empty margarita glass waiting for a refresher for quite a while.
(2)
Insuranceman N.
This place is awesome. Ask for roger he is awesome and he is a true professional. food is always good and fresh. I have been coming here for years the coldest beer in town
(5)
Dakota H.
If I was choosing a Mexican restaurant in Blo-No, I would first go to: 1. Taquiera el Porton 2. Los Portrillos 3. Fiesta Ranchera It's just average. That means if I'm near it and I want Mexican, I may go. I've never been blown away by the food, and the service is especially bad, but I also have never hated anything from here.
(3)
Bob K.
There are a lot of choices around BloNo for Mexican, so this shouldn't be your first choice. I wife and I hadn't been to fiesta for quite some time so we thought we try it for a change of pace. Really wish we had gone somewhere else. Nothing really went right about this visit. First off the hostess just pointed at the table rather than walking us to it. Next it took 10 minutes for the waiter to acknowledge that we had been seated. After placing order, we noticed that we were not the only ones receiving sub-par service. Many were done eating and waiting for their checks with dirty dishes on a table. Others were obviously waiting patiently for the kitchen to finally prepare their orders. Food came out hot and fresh, so it wasn't a total loss. Bill for our table of two came to about $25 with tax, not bad price just bad service.
(2)
Sarah M.
We'll never be back again... Their soda machine was broken so they had cans of soda & they were expired. They brought me 2 expired sodas & I looked at the bottom of the can & it was from August of 2013 & I'm pregnant! The food came out very quickly but mine & my husbands chimichanga's were soggy & not warm & the same with our friends tacos. At this point I just had to pick my battle & not complain because it wasn't worth it! It's not like the server was anywhere to be found to say anything to him!!
(1)
Jessica M.
#NAME?
(1)
Andy E.
Normally, Fiesta offers tremendous service and delicious meals. The margaritas are quite suburb and their meals set the benchmark for quality Mexican food at a reasonable price. Be forewarned, however, the "fried ice cream" is bait-n-switch. Their rendition of "fried ice cream" is vanilla ice cream with corn flakes covering the top. Heed my warning, if fried ice cream is what you seek... Continue your search elsewhere. Safe travels on your fried ice cream quest.
(2)
Joe R.
I actually haven't had the food; I've only gone for the margarita special on Thursday. Sometimes the place turns into a bar when a lot of ISU students are there. The margaritas are cheap, but be careful from drinking too much of the frozen margarita, as you will get extremely full.
(3)
Carmello J.
This place is a joke! Sorry excuse for real mexican food, their rice and beans are garbo! As a red blooded American hispanic, I cannot stress enough how bad this place is! I would rather eat glass then step foot in this buster joint
(1)
Ryan S.
Muy bueno! Good food at good prices. The staff is very polite and attentive but most of the servers don't seem to speak English very well. However that isn't a problem when you never have to ask them for anything. They are very good at watching out and bringing you whatever you need for the meal. One of my favorite places in town. Very casual.
(5)
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Address :2103 N Veterans Pkwy
Bloomington, IL, 61761
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Pi Kapp N.
only gave a 1 because i can not give a negative score. when i first moved to town i love fiesta, i probably went there 2 or 3 times a week. the last 3 times ive been there have been absolutely awful. its taken between 20-30 mins just to get a Margaretta. e worse has been the food. im am awestruck that a restaurant that i order take out from often that says 10/15 mins and its ready in 5. when i order in, i have NEVER RECEIVED FOOD WITH IN 40 MINS OF ORDERING. but i understand when they are busy it takes time. WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IS COLD FOOD AND UNCARING MANAGERS. when i call to complain about the latest issue i was first put on hold. then the so call manger keep saying that she couldn't here or understand me. i was offered a gift certificate for my trouble but in a way, i don't think that really cuts it. i haven't seen the amount of the appeasement but irregardless i doubt i will ever be back. i gave them three chances and they blew them all.
(1)Thom Z.
There's nothing magical about this place. They're's nothing super amazing about this place. There's just a bunch of "ok." The food is pretty much your standard, run of the mill, one step up from fast food Mexican. It ranks in the midrange in terms of quality of food, freshness of ingredients and taste. Nothing I've had there tastes bad, bland or mas o menos. It's always tasted good, but good isn't spectacular. The margaritas are just absolute garbage. My favorite part about Mexican restaurants is the margaritas... and this place let down. Have you ever had that $8 a handle TGI Fridays pre-made "liquor is in it" Margarita? Well, these were about on par with that. Only, they cost $3.50 a glass, instead of $8 a handle. The best things about this place is the sauces that they put on the food and the sauce on the table. The sauce on the food always has a good, authentic, down home taste to it, about what I generally make, but the seasoning of the meat, beans and rice is mediocre, the lettuce and tomatoes stale and the tortillas pretty iffy. The sauce doesn't cover this up, but it makes the food entirely tolerable. The hot sauces on the table were great. I tried them out on the chips and salsa, which is actually really good. Every time I go, I finish out the chips and salsa, no contest. And use the Habenero hot sauce on everything. The green sauce packs a wallop and tastes delicious. If they had better Margaritas or better quality food, I'd definitely recommend the place to everyone and anyone. But, as it stands, it's a mediocre experience. Oh, but the service is always great. Can't forget that.
(3)Luke W.
Horrible service, filth, and mediocre food quality and standards. I brought my family for lunch at fiesta on a Sunday afternoon. We walked in, there was a cash register person checking out a line of customers. Sign says "please sit yourself", so we sat down, 10 min we've been sitting for and did not see 1 not even ONE waiter or waitress walking around? So I go up to cash register and ask for a waiter. The same guy comes and takes our drink order, their margaritas are definitely not my favorite, it's remade and tastes like there's ammonia or Pine-Sol floor cleaner, trust me. Then comes back and says "what are you eating, go?!", me and my wife are puzzled at his attitude. Then when we ate the bowl of tortilla chips, it was beyond stale. I'm new to yelp, I'm not one of those that bash places uncalled on daily basis, it's all 100% truth. Also there's carpet inside the restaurant it smells like barefoot, like mildew, as if it's a college party place where kids go for 1/2 off margaritas on Thursday nights. The other 2 younger boys that were waiters (we had he older one, manager?) we're awful too. There was at least 8 tables with food leftover and hasn't been cleaned off. One guy looks like That douchebag Ronnie from jersey shore, faukhawk, texting the whole time. He's good for nothing, got 2% tip from me. Then the bathroom was beyond horrible, I honestly cannot believe the city of Bloomington inspectors allow this to happen? Seriously guys step it up, take pride in your building and food that you serve and we will come. But if it continues at this level, it's will be my last time I'm ever going back there. I've been loyal customer to fiesta since I moved here to go to college at Illinois state, that's 11 years ago.
(1)Kristine J.
Great Mexican place. Their queso is oh-so-yummy. You seat yourself and get great quick service. Free chips and salsa like most Mexican restaurants, but theirs is tastier than most. Get the ranchero cheesesteak. You won't regret it!!!
(4)Paul K.
We've loved this place for years. It's the old stand-by for us when we need some quick Tex-Mex. The lunch menu is great, cheap, and tasty food. And I love the Texas Fajitas. Chicken, steak, and shrimp all sizzling before you. I love it.
(4)Chef B.
wonderful chips and salsa. very good and fast service. a zillion items on their menu. that's where the fun pretty much stops. it's not that the food is bad. it tastes good. I'm just too picky about what tex-mex is supposed to be. Burritos and quesadillas should not be covered in cheese sauce. Chimichangas aren't supposed to look like that. Their ground beef tacos are safe and simple. their carne asada tacos are good, but small for the price. I still go here occasionally, but its usually when i'm in a super hurry. they will turn around your ticket in 5-7 minutes, even when it's busy. I appreciate that. But if i really want mexican, I'm hitting el porton, merendon, the taco stand on south Main St. or Los Potrillos before I'm coming here. I'm not a tequila guy, but i'm told their margaritas are very good. overall, fiesta has a place here in town, but its hardly at the top of my list.
(2)Russ C.
Ate here once, completely forgettable. Nothing wrong with it, just nothing special.
(3)James S.
The only thing special about Fiesta Ranchera is the chile relleno. They are cooked perfectly and are the best in town. If you are not going to order this, go to one of the many other places in Blo-No that offer better prices and better margaritas. The service is mediocre and is comprised of young white guys which is a bit odd for a Mexican restaurant. So, if you are going for authentic do not go here. The prices are the highest in town for this quality and type of food. Èl Portòn is better and cheaper.
(3)Tim M.
Love this place! Try the loco burrito. Cheap Mexican fare with service to match. Gotta know what to expect when youre going in. The margaritas are enormous! Try one!
(5)Jessica H.
The BEST chips and salsa I've ever had!! We often do a carryout order of their chips and salsa so that we can have a tasty snack at home :) The menu is big, and the lunch prices are great :) We prefer the location on Veterans by Best Buy. Some of my favorite entrees are: El Fiesta Burrito with beans instead of meat and the Ranchero Cheese Steak with beans instead of meat (Just because I'm vegetarian; I've been with people who have ordered them normally and they liked it). Also, instead of ordering pop, try some horchata! It's delicious :) The local mailer ads always have coupons for $2 off $10 and $4 off $20 so use them. Also, they have a punch card and after enough punches you get a free entree :)
(5)Joshua W.
Good food and service. However, If your going to use one of the coupons you received in the mailers. Make sure you give them the coupon after he rings up your ticket or he wont take anything off. They will just take your coupon and charge you full price. Also have seen the mens bathroom out of hand soap on several occasions, witch says a lot about a restaurant!
(2)Brent C.
I always knew this place was not great, but OK. My most recent experience was terrible. Waited nearly an hour for food, which is probably a record for a Mexican restaurant. Service was also poor and food to match. All made worse by sitting in the noisy, dirty back area. Very dirty, and frankly, ugly bathroom.
(1)Nicole P.
Vegetarian-friendly Mexican is hard to find! This place has it all- delicious food, fast service, friendly wait staff, and fun décor. While traveling between St. Louis & Chicago this is a must stop. The fajitas are particularly yummy and made with fresh vegetables unlike many places that go for frozen nowadays.
(4)Colleen R.
Won't be coming back here. Took a friend there on a Thursday around 3 pm, slow time. ordered cocktails then asked for a minute so we could decide on entrees. Didn't come back for 30 minutes. It was another 45 minutes for the food, which as a chef I could tell had been sitting in a steam table, nothing freshly prepared to warrant the wait. Oh and we never got our drinks refilled because they were never around to ask or offer. Also had to wait to pay, no one was around. I could have easily walked out without paying. Mediocre run of the mill steam table Mexican with bad service.
(1)Twylla S.
Dear Fiesta, Every time I exit 55 and arrive to Bloomington-Normal you are one of the only things I can think about. I dream about you. I want to take a bath in your Queso and get drunk on your Fanta. Let me have seconds of your chimichangas and pollo encremado ...extra spicy...if u know what I mean. ;) love always, Twylla
(5)Sampad D.
Margaritas were OK . Food was quite good. Recommended: Chori Pollo Pollo Ranchero
(3)Amanda B.
Half-price sugary margaritas on Thursdays are the best thing about the place. The food isn't terrible, it's pretty standard Mexican food.
(3)Van M.
So there are 3 Fiesta Ranchera establishments in town. They all have the same menu and service. Here is my review from one of the others: The single best aspect of this establishment is that you can almost always get a table for 10 people at any time. It's not that it's desolate, but rather just seems to be larger than it really needs to be. In Bloomington, it's hard to find a place to eat on a Friday night that doesn't have a 45 minute wait, so Fiesta is a great place for the hungry, pre-bar crowd. I have found that my favorite menu item is the Ranchero Cheesesteak, which is steak, onions, peppers, tomato, lettuce, and cheese all folded into a tortilla and covered with cheese sauce. Rice and beans are served on the same plate. Now if you're afraid of grease, this is certainly a dish you should avoid, and perhaps maybe even a restaurant to avoid. The interior is not fancy (although they did just repaint). You'll have either the classic black plastic/leather-seated booth, or some temporary-seeming chairs and table. You'll be greeted with chips and salsa, but if you're in a rush to get food you won't have to wait long - the service is very fast. If you're looking to have some beverages, there are some rather large margaritas and beer options. Probably not a place to take a first date, but a good option for a group of friends who are more hungry than critical.
(4)Amanda R.
El Porton is SOO much better. I'll go to the west side Fiesta Ranchera if I'm at the movies and hungry, or this one if I'm at the mall and hungry, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat at any of them. As far as I can tell, all Fiesta Rancheras are about the same quality wise: boring, but decent. You could do worse though (La Bamba and the big chains).
(2)Dana L.
Fake Food, Slow Service When the waiter came to take our order, after 12 minutes in the restaurant, I asked what kind of cheese they used in the enchiladas. He told me they used Chihuahua cheese. I told him good, that was what I wanted. When the food came, about 23 minutes later, the cheese was processed cheese. I told him that wasn't what I wanted. He said they had no other kind of cheese, so I didn't order anything else. When we went to check out and the cashier asked how everything was, I told her. She copped an attitude and threw my receipt at me. She never apologized for the misunderstanding.
(1)Mike C.
This place is overrated. By far. You can get much better 'out of the box' tex/mex numerous places in town. Cannot understand the appeal of the same old mexican food, when you can just go to El Porton which is much more authentic. Unles you like getting boozed up on margarita night, then right on..
(1)Mia M.
I miss this place so much! I lived in Bloomington/Normal for 6 years and this was one of my favorite restaurants. This is one of the two restaurants that I must eat at each time I come visit friends. The service is super fast and if you pass up the cheese dip there is something wrong with you! I always have to order the large between sharing with friends and putting the cheese dip on my meal once it gets there (I swear I just can't get enough of it). My favorite menu item is the ranchero cheese steak (yes, I still add cheese to it) I have tried other menu items and they are tasty as well but the cheese steak tops the list.
(5)Chris R.
My five stars are placed within the context of Bloomington-Normal, and the fact that I have a large family with mid-western taste buds. However, I personally have known real mexican food (having been a past resident of San Diego), so I do have some experience with authenticity. There is a certain tradeoff you get when opting for a sit-down, family-style restaurant over a hole-in-the-wall dive place. The latter will almost certainly provide the most "authentic" food (regardless of ethnicity) as these are similar to the places where the "real stuff" is served in the more populated corners of the globe. However, those places aren't necessarily where you want to take the wife and 6 kids and keep the show under control. Fiesta Ranchera does a nice job of bridging the gap between dive and family. This place is definitely (and thankfully) NOT Chi-Chi's. They have real, honest-to-goodness latinos working there, broken english (at times) and all - just like my favorite place in San Diego (and while I do speak some Spanish, I've never worked up the nerve to use it at Fiesta for fear of insulting someone, unlike how I used to rattle off my order in the old days). Some of the servers have no accent at all, although it's almost disappointing... oh well. :) Interestingly, I've consistently had better service and food at the two east-side locations. Not sure why; maybe the west-side has different management/ownership or something. I - and my whole family - LOVE the food. It's really about as authentic as you'll get here in Bloomington-Normal and still be able to be in a "restaurant" setting. The food is well-prepared, flavored deliciously, and served quickly. You get chips and salsa to start. The salsa is flavorful and only a bit spicy, which is perfect for the family, and the chips are served warm and crispy. There are suitable entree offerings for adult and child alike, although the kids' meals (in particular) seem to be done better at the east-side locations. My children order tacos, quesadillas, etc. which come with rice or beans or both, and by the time everyone's favorite parts of each meal are distributed to different plates as necessary, everyone is happy - so long as proper napping, etc. has occurred. My wife usually gets a taco salad in a big, cripsy edible bowl and seems to like it a lot. Salad just isn't my thing. I get the "combination especial", which despite being about $12 is served on TWO PLATES and cannot reasonably be eaten in one sitting. Understand, I can EAT. I am 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds. It just can't all go down the hatch, and that's a shame because it's all so good that my mouth is sad to stop eating long after my tummy is full. If memory serves me correctly, it comes with a taco, a chalupa, a chile relleno (SOOO good) and burrito (or similar), a tamale, rice and beans. I may even be forgetting something, since I'm usually in a food-induced coma at some point in there. My wife and I generally get horchata to drink, which is always yummy. It's a good idea to also get some water because horchata is sweet and will give you a carb overload if you drink too much of it. Overall, I've never had a less-than-good experience at Fiesta Ranchera locations on the east-side. It certainly is a go-to for my entire family, and no one ever complains at the prospect of going there, which really says something when you have 6 picky-eating kids and a couple of adults who have previously lived in a land of authentic mexican food. I definitely recommend it.
(5)Kyle V.
Personally, I love to come here with my friends on Thursdays, order a pitcher of half priced margaritas, and eat a burrito.
(5)MaryBeth B.
This place looks like a typical Midwest Mexican restaurant. The menu does too. I had the carnitas dinner and it came on a sizzling skillet like fajitas. I spent the last 12 years in LA and have been exposed to many styles of Mexican cuisine. This felt like a stereotypical chain restaurant. The server was quick to take my order but never saw him again until I was halfway through my meal. I had an empty margarita glass waiting for a refresher for quite a while.
(2)Insuranceman N.
This place is awesome. Ask for roger he is awesome and he is a true professional. food is always good and fresh. I have been coming here for years the coldest beer in town
(5)Dakota H.
If I was choosing a Mexican restaurant in Blo-No, I would first go to: 1. Taquiera el Porton 2. Los Portrillos 3. Fiesta Ranchera It's just average. That means if I'm near it and I want Mexican, I may go. I've never been blown away by the food, and the service is especially bad, but I also have never hated anything from here.
(3)Bob K.
There are a lot of choices around BloNo for Mexican, so this shouldn't be your first choice. I wife and I hadn't been to fiesta for quite some time so we thought we try it for a change of pace. Really wish we had gone somewhere else. Nothing really went right about this visit. First off the hostess just pointed at the table rather than walking us to it. Next it took 10 minutes for the waiter to acknowledge that we had been seated. After placing order, we noticed that we were not the only ones receiving sub-par service. Many were done eating and waiting for their checks with dirty dishes on a table. Others were obviously waiting patiently for the kitchen to finally prepare their orders. Food came out hot and fresh, so it wasn't a total loss. Bill for our table of two came to about $25 with tax, not bad price just bad service.
(2)Sarah M.
We'll never be back again... Their soda machine was broken so they had cans of soda & they were expired. They brought me 2 expired sodas & I looked at the bottom of the can & it was from August of 2013 & I'm pregnant! The food came out very quickly but mine & my husbands chimichanga's were soggy & not warm & the same with our friends tacos. At this point I just had to pick my battle & not complain because it wasn't worth it! It's not like the server was anywhere to be found to say anything to him!!
(1)Jessica M.
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(1)Andy E.
Normally, Fiesta offers tremendous service and delicious meals. The margaritas are quite suburb and their meals set the benchmark for quality Mexican food at a reasonable price. Be forewarned, however, the "fried ice cream" is bait-n-switch. Their rendition of "fried ice cream" is vanilla ice cream with corn flakes covering the top. Heed my warning, if fried ice cream is what you seek... Continue your search elsewhere. Safe travels on your fried ice cream quest.
(2)Joe R.
I actually haven't had the food; I've only gone for the margarita special on Thursday. Sometimes the place turns into a bar when a lot of ISU students are there. The margaritas are cheap, but be careful from drinking too much of the frozen margarita, as you will get extremely full.
(3)Carmello J.
This place is a joke! Sorry excuse for real mexican food, their rice and beans are garbo! As a red blooded American hispanic, I cannot stress enough how bad this place is! I would rather eat glass then step foot in this buster joint
(1)Ryan S.
Muy bueno! Good food at good prices. The staff is very polite and attentive but most of the servers don't seem to speak English very well. However that isn't a problem when you never have to ask them for anything. They are very good at watching out and bringing you whatever you need for the meal. One of my favorite places in town. Very casual.
(5)