Yum. Lovely, old-fashioned salsa served with the generous helping of chips. The chicken in my enchiladas having a real chicken flavor, not factory chicken lack of taste, and hand shredded texture to boot. The tomatillo sauce tasted piquant and home made. High quality ground beef. Even the refried beans and rice - delicious. For $7.99?! Yay.
(5)
Ainsley W.
Easily the best Mexican food in Lexington. Great food, friendly and familiar service, everything that you venture to 'try' is always a delicious surprise. My favorite dishes are the Enchiladas Verdes and the Pastor Tacos. The atmosphere is super fun, with a mariachi band on Friday night and 2 for 1 margaritas during happy hour. Things you must know: ask for the extra salsas, they're outstanding and completely complimentary. Also- make sure you check out the bakery next door. Out of this world authentic pastries for next to nothing.
(5)
Karla S.
The carnitas tacos were so good. Be sure to order a side of Pico and guacamole to top them off. Ask for the extra salsas and try the tomatillo with habanero. Yum! Hubby says he likes the margaritas and the prices. No pictures because we ate it too fast.
(5)
Susan G.
Awesome Mexican tacos!! A must. Lots of food for awesome prices. Service was impeccable. Fast friendly and all smiles. Fresh ingredients all the way.
(4)
Rick M.
Little Mexican joint just south of UK. They do a pretty brisk business at lunch. They feature a variety of meats that you wouldn't normally run into. Buche, which is pig stomach and chiccarrones which is fried pig skin. Yeah, I'll have that. Throw in some chorizo and barbacoa and I'm good to go. The chiccarrones verde were stewed in green sauce. This made them very soft. They were very tasty but a real fatty mouth feel. I had to put them down and move on to something else. The buche is similar to lingua in that if you didn't know what you were eating you would not find it the least bit objectionable. Very soft very lean pieces of pork. The chorizo was not my favorite. I prefer a chorizo sausage that is grilled a little harder until almost crunchy. The barbacoa was very good. By the time I got to it I had nearly eaten myself under the table. I asked for hot salsa as soon as I sat down and the waiter brought me three different salsas. One was verde, one was habanero and one was sweet. Maybe mango puree? The habanero was smoking hot. My favorite kind. I would definitely recommend this place. The above tacos I mentioned were $1.75 each. The tortillas were pretty thick. I just peeled one off and was fine with the remaining wrapper.
(4)
Bob B.
I can't add a whole lot to what's already been written except to agree that this is definitely the best Mexican restaurant in town if you're not a native speaker of Spanish. The various (Free!) salsas are amazing and if you want a REAL treat, try ordering a couple of different sopes. Not sopas (soups), but the thick moist corn tortilla bedding for a delicious topping: SOPES. Fan-freakin'-tastic.
(4)
Eric D.
The first time I ate at El Rancho, I thought it was great. I don't know what happened, but it has slowly declined. I will give it one more try, but it is close to getting the boot from my regular Mexican spot.
(3)
Julie G.
Multiple people have been touting El Rancho Tapatio as "the best Mex in Lex," so what took me so long to head their way is only my loss. I found that not only did it live up to its hype, it surpassed the hype. Corn tortillas are homemade, tender and delicious. The salsa was good, but the four other sauces (that you may have to ask for, as we did, but are complimentary) were terrific. Particularly the avocado sauce. Guacamole is made fresh when you order it, and it rivals the best guacamole I've ever had. Delicious. We got a variety of a la carte items so we could sample multiple things. From the tacos to the vegetable burrito to the tamale, gordita and empanada, each dish was fabulous. Two for one margaritas were delicious. There was no way that we could eat everything in one sitting, so we brought the leftovers home and I must say that even warmed up today for lunch was better than the freshly-made fare at most Lexington Mexican restaurants. I did not check out the bakery next door, but based on the reviews here, I should have. I will do that next time I go, which I assure you will be soon. Service was efficient and extremely pleasant. Total for all the above-mentioned items, including the margaritas, but excluding tip was $25.66. WOW!
(5)
Dale H.
Yes. Best Mex in Lex. No question. Throw a dart at the menu items. Haven't had meal I didn't like. Tonight, empanada pastor, sope barbacoa, Super flautas (they are super as in BIG). Love extra sauces for chips too (why can't I eat less chips....). Ask for the additional sauces. Service and setting similar to the larger places, but no comparison on the food. But for less. And then, you can't leave without visiting the ah-ma-zing bakery next door. Here's what you do. Grab brown tray to your left - like the ones you used for school lunch - and a pair of tongs in the container next to them. Peruse ALL the fine choices in the lovely cases (squeal to self). Place on your tray. Take all your choices on the tray to the grocery room next door and straight ahead where the cashier will place them into a bag and ring you up. Oh yeah. Please to enjoy your treats.
(5)
Gary F.
Excellent food and great service. Fried ice cream was great. Fish tacos and enchiladas mexicanas were very good. We'll be back.
(4)
Zach J.
Decent food for the price! It's just your standard Mexican meal that can be found at many locations in Lexington. El Rancho Tapatio is much cheaper though. Our bill had 2 beers, 2 margs, and 2 dinners and was only $20. I'd stay away from chicken dishes, mine was really dry. The atmosphere is pretty neat. It's located in a small shopping mall and the interior is really nice.
(4)
Alysia G.
The best Mexican restaurant in Lexington! Try the lengua tacos, the chorizo tacos, pastor, or whatever kind of other meat you may like, their tacos are simply amazing. They bring out a selection of sauces for you to try with your tacos. Service is great and the restaurant is always busy. Be sure to step next door to the grocery/bakery when you leave.
(5)
J B.
This place is the best Mexican food in town. I was born and raised in the American Southwest (Arizona) and my wife is Mexican. She generally refuses to eat out for Mexican food cause according to her, "my Mom's rice and beans are better." And isn't that really the foundation of a good Mexican food meal? However, El Rancho Tapatio is the first place we've been too where her Mom's rice and beans never came up. She ate them all, ha ha!! I ordered a Barbacoa burrito relleno, which was excellent and the Barbacoa was cooked to perfection (easy to tell that it had been patiently slow cooked before hitting my plate probably many MANY hours earlier) and it had such an awesome flavor. My wife order a tamale and chile relleno. Everything was cooked just right and left us very satisfied. After lunch or dinner, go next door to the mercado and get some pastries, they are fantastic and made me miss Arizona! They also have carne by the pound for sale in the carneceria part of the store. We loved the food and had excellent service, we will be back very soon!
(5)
G E.
Wow they've gone down hill quite a bit. Just had dinner with my wife tonight. I had the fajitas tropical. Let's just say no seasoning, canned pineapple and canned mushrooms was not quite the description in the menu. My wife only said her food was gross. I used to think this place was great, but after tonight I'm not going back.
(2)
Eduardo C.
The green chili enchiladas used crumbled queso fresco, tasty green chili sauce (not sure if it was from a can, but it worked) and were filled with chicken. The red chili enchiladas were a similar experience, as the sauce was also tasty but of questionable origin. Tacos had plenty of meat, chips and salsa were varied and fun, margaritas were cheap with exuberant amounts of tequila. All in all a solid Mexican choice for dinner.
(4)
Katie L.
My favorite Mexican food in Lexington. Love the free spicy salsas. Great service and consistently great food.
Everything was delicious! The chips tasted really fresh and the salsas were good. The queso dip has a good flavor. The shredded chicken in their burritos is really good. Their rice and beans were also good. The only thing I didn't like was the fake sweet tea. Nothing can beat fresh, homemade sweet tea.
(4)
Andrew T.
I have been going to El Rancho Tapatio on a regular basis for the past couple months. The restaurant is rustic in decor but has a wide array of good eats on its menu and a busy bar that continuously sends out margaritas during happy hour. The service may be a little slow during dinner rush, but the slight delay is well rewarded. Thanks to friends on Yelp, I have discovered a great venue to feed my ferocious craving for tacos. I find it increasingly difficult for me to venture outside of the diverse Taco menu as this street food is anything but common. Please my friends, go with the soft corn tortilla, as oppose to the deep-fried shells. Why? That's what the Mexican street vendors intended! My all time favorite default was to reach for the awesome Tacos Al Pastor every time I eat there. The grilled and diced pork is packed with robust herb seasoning with a hint of sweetness from the pineapple marinade. The lightly grilled onions and copious amount of cilantro toppings deliver a crunchy and earthy element to the bite. By all means, use the lime wedges which they provide on the plate. Squeeze them liberally all over the tacos (note plural, as I always start with at least 4 Tacos al Pastor). The scent of the refreshing zesty aroma will activate your parotid salivary reflex and will get your mouth water in anticipation of the bite. Also, the lime pulps will deliver bursts of citrus and refresh your taste buds as you chew. Really, what more can you ask in a bite? If you are more adventurous and inquisitive of authentic flavors and ingredients, may I suggest ordering the taco with lengua, buche, and or chicharrón. Great food is indeed a great reason to chow down. But when great food is paired with prompt service and unbeatable price? Well, it is a trifecta, and how can I say no? I'm only human.
(5)
Joy C.
Awesome food for a great price! Large menu selection. Able to mix and match to suit everyones tastes. Had a large margarita (selection of flavors to choose from and blended to order), domestic beer, guacamole, grilled chicken burrito, pork tamale and chicken empanada. Along with dessert it was around 30 bucks. Everyone is right about the sauces, compliment the food great!
(4)
David H.
I thought that I liked Mexican food until I lived in Tucson for a short time. I found out that I loved Mexican then. This place has the best in town so far. The tacos are amazing!!! My favorites are the beef tongue, pastor, and chorizo though I like them all. They are served with 4 delicious sauces and plenty of lime wedges. They also serve a mexican hotdog which is amazing but not quite a Sonoran hotdog but as close as I've gotten outside of Tucson. This is our favorite Mexican eatery in town. If I could change one thing, I would have them open at 8 a.m. so that we could get breakfast when we get off work. In Tucson, we went to Nico's and had a giant burritto every morning.
(4)
Elizabeth A.
Coming from Texas, I was excited to taste something similar to home. The flavor of the meat in the tacos I ordered were classic carniceria. My main complaints are in reference to the salsa and queso. Of course, the queso didn't surprise me-- it is more of a tex-mex thing than Mexican. I thought the salsa that came with the chips was slightly sweet, lacking in heat and acidity. I took another reviewers advice and asked for the "other sauces" and received a 4-option salsa sampler that was more up my alley.
(4)
Lori O.
Believe it or not, this is one of the best Mexican meals I've had anywhere outside Mexico. I was thrilled to see dishes on their menu that I'd only had while living in Mexico or in the homes of Mexican friends in the US, dishes like entomatadas or enfrijoladas. The entomatadas, by the way, are filled with queso fresco, which is a nice (and light) change from the heavy, stringy cheese that Tex-Mex places fill enchiladas with. Their beans have that smooth, almost creamy texture of having been cooked for hours. The horchata is divine: not at all chalky (so many places resort to too much rice or mixing in powders) and not excessively sweet. Their salsas (which you have to ask for but are free if you want them) are all delicious and allow the flavors of the ingredients to shine and not be overpowered by heat. Also, the guacamole is the best I've ever had outside someone's house! Friendly service, reasonable prices, and delicious food. If I didn't live four hours away, I'd be back regularly!
(5)
Tosha T.
I would eat here everyday if I could. It's delicious!!
(5)
Jesse G.
Passing through Lexington and found this place as #1 on Yelp. A good reason for that. Greeted by friendly staff. Clean Restraunt and fast service. Chips were crispy and warm. Salsa had great taste. Asked for other sauces and were promptly served a 3 prong selection of "hotter" sauces. Portions were generous for the price. Bean dip is actually "cheese dip" with beans, this must be a KY Mexican thing as I have had this kind of dip in other Ky towns. Guacamole was fresh, had cilantro, tomatoes, and onions, great portions and made fresh. Also, the menu catered to both American Mexican AND authentic Mexican, very clever approach to various clientele.
(5)
David L.
I'm from Chicago and all about Mexican food being from the windy ci I have been spoiled the majority of my life with amazing food from pple south if the border. When I went to this place the atmosphere was nice but the food was horrible the beans had no taste and n I gad to smother it wushu the salsa they gave us for the chips..I wanted to pay for the meal and just leave I was starving and had no energy to even have a bite the burrito was the size of taco bells soft shell taco I even told the waitress if she was familiar with Ellos on broadway a little hole in the wall close to downtown I have no plans to return Nor have I thought about going back
(2)
Leah T.
This is the best Mexican restaurant in Lexington. How do I know? Well, let me tell you: My husband and I moved to Kentucky from out of state, and we took it upon ourselves to find the best Mexican restaurant in Lexington--basically so we would know where to take our visitors when they come. Sooooooo we ate at every Mexican place we could find, and there was an argument until we went to Tapatio for the first time. El Rancho Tapatio is the best. And we were rating the service, the drinks, the queso dip, the salsa, and the entrees. I highly recommend the tacos and the chimichanga dinner. Husband highly recommends the carnitas.
(5)
Anna R.
I got a chicken and a steak sopes as well as a chips and salsa. The sopes were on something similar to a corn tortilla, only thicker. The meat was lean- not fatty, not gristly. The toppings were a perfect amount of cheese and crema. The salsa was fresh and tasty. I am super excited to try other new things here!
(4)
Kellyo O.
I was excited to try this place as I LOVE Mexican food. I did ask for the salsas and they were brought out along with the regular red. They were ok, nothing amazing like I was expecting from other reviewers. The food was decent.
(3)
Marty H.
Mmmmm good! Food was awesome!
(5)
D M.
Good tripa tacos for those that know what they are. Good chips and salsa. I had the tacos asada as well and those were pretty authentic. The hot sauces they give you are good as well. The staff is attentive but their memory isn't the greatest. I had asked for guacamole and never got it but at least I wasn't charged for it. I was offered an iced tea to go at the end so that made up for it. I'd go back here.
(4)
Aletta J.
I live in a town that is approx 30% hispanic/Mexican and I tell you, we eat some dang good Mexican food. We hit this place after bourbon tasting and it hit the spot. The three salsas were sweet hot, hot and hot hot hot. Then the normal salsa, of course. Home made chips (unsalted) and we ordered runny white queso with green chilis in it. Oh and on Sundays, Margaritas are 2.99. My friends had the chicken chimichanga and instead of the Chi-Chi bigger than your head size, it was two smaller 'changas. Yummo...I had the chicken fajita quesadilla - best of both worlds. Guac didn't come standard and we were charged xtra for it -- wished it was standard w/ the quesadilla. (hint hint) Our waiter was very attentive and nice. We will be back; in fact, I'd eat here 2x instead of eating a Longhorse (blech) Steakhouse again.
(4)
Megan M.
Pretty good for an establishment in America. The tacos were great!
(4)
Angela M.
I am so glad I yelped and found this place. It is my new favorite Mexican place. Be sure to ask for the special salsas. It is also so cheap. Why would anyone do fast food when you can eat here for almost the same price? Great food, friendly service, and cheap prices.
(5)
Keith W.
One of the best Mexican restaurants in all of Lexington. Solid every single time.
(5)
Brad W.
Hands down the best Mexican restaurant I've been to. Ask for the different salsas and they'll bring out a total of 4 for you to dip chips into! Best of all = a 99% health score rating from the food inspector. Terrific!
(5)
Kathy L.
Love the taco pastor & the ceviche tostada!
(4)
Stella J.
So, my dad recently discovered this place and said it was good. And then I start to hear more and more from him about it, and soon he's coming here for lunch 3 times a week. Then some chef pals and I are lamenting the loss of the Panda (a Chinese place down the road that's bombed out), and one of them points out that though we've lost one great restaurant off Nicholassville Road, we've gained another: El Rancho. So at that point, my curiosity reached fever pitch and I went there for lunch the next day, then again a week later. I don't speak a drop of Spanish, so sometimes I am intimidated going in to the places where there isn't an English menu, but conversely, when a place has an English menu, I often feel that it's a little too Don Pablos, if you know what I mean. (Which isn't to say Americanized versions of various cuisines are bad, just not necessarily what some people are looking for in certain circumstances.) El Rancho has definitely mastered the fine line of being accessible to those who don't speak the language and/or are unfamiliar with anything beyond the ubiquitous tex-mex fair, yet authentic to Mexican culinary traditions. The racial diversity of the lunch crowd seems to reflect this balance. They have a great website and online coupons, etc, at elranchotapatio.com Strangely, their online menu (both regular web version and downloadable PDF) doesn't include the vegetarian menu. Never the less, they have a good selection of meatless options at the back of their printed menu under a vegetarian heading. I've had great vegetarian chiles rellenos, enchiladas, and another dish that I will have to go back for just to get the name right. (edit 5/22: I've been back now! Vegetarian mystery item is called "Entomatadas" and is still amazing, corn tortilla filled with quesa fresco and refried beans, then smothered in a tomato sauce! Another tasty veg item was the Enfrijoladas, so good!) Vegans and strict vegetarians, be warned: the deliciousness of the refried beans hints of lard... I will try and come back with a bit more of a concrete review- I've only been here for lunch and I'd like to come in for dinner to get a better grasp of the scope of the menu.
(4)
Nancy B.
Sorry my dear Yelpers, it's been a while since I've reviewed anything. The weather here has been wet and dreary for the last few days and my tummy was rumbling for something warm and filling. Daniel looked at me with bright eyes when I asked if we could go here for brunch. El Rancho Tapatio is the real deal my friends. No Mexi-combo platters, but Sopes, Tacos, Tortas, Tamales, Empandas, and my beloved Pozole soup. The soup was of the red variety, with a broth of complex flavor, hominy that tasted like heaven, and tender pieces of pork. If you've never had it before it's sort of like a Mexican version of pho. They bring you a plate of veggies such as radishes, lettuce, cabbage, cilantro, limes,onions, and some thick tortillas which you add to your soup. I got the medium sized bowl at $4.99 and it was just the right size. The only thing to remember is that you can only order this on the weekend (the same goes for their Menudo). They also have tamer things like burritos and quesadillas but please at least try one of their real dishes. It's clean inside, they offer a full service bar for my other Gringo Margarita lovers. A great place to bring family to try something new. There is also a Panaderia next door and I'll be sure to stop in there next.
(4)
Joy G.
This is the best mexican restaurant in Lexington! One word comes to mind, Authentic! The service is wonderful and you can't beat the prices. I haven't tried the margaritas because I have only come here for lunch. They have a bakery next door that is delicious too. I recommend the giant sugar cookies with the rainbow sprinkles. Yum!
(5)
Morgan R.
I can't stop eating at this place. It is the best place to get Mexican in town. The service is always good, they have a pleasant little bar area, and on the weekends they even have a Mariachi band that is not over-bearing and is enjoyable to listen to.
(5)
Matt W.
Great service and tasty Mexican food. Had chicken sope- was excellent.
(5)
Emily D.
I love El Rancho Tapatio. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Lexington. My boyfriend and I enjoy finding small hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and that is how we came across El Rancho. It's kind of a dive, but it's clean, it's delicious, it's inexpensive, and it's authentic. I strongly suggest looking at their "Mexican Fare" page, which is full of very authentic dishes. I typically choose from this menu, and have yet to be disappointed. My favorite thing to order is the chicken tacos en tortillas de maize, which are spectacular with their lightly friend onions, cilantro, and fresh lime. My mouth is watering right now. My boyfriend usually goes for the heavier Americano fare, and is always happy and full by the end of the meal. Margarita and beer specials are usually pretty good, the Mariachi band is fun, and the servers are always polite and helpful, but the real draw is the awesome food. I strongly suggest you go to El Rancho Tapatio! Go now!
(5)
Mae B.
great place eat. Best in Lexington for your traditional Mexican resto.
(4)
Horton L.
que rico!!!! the best mexican restaurant in town!! trust me just go you will not be disappointed!!!!
(5)
Theresa B.
Food was good but my husband's chicken/steak fajitas seemed a bit skimpy on the meat but maybe that's because there were so many onions/peppers with it? I wish I had taken a picture of it. The chips were good but cold. I didn't realize how much I appreciate warm chips until I got some that weren't warmed. I had the chicken fajita quesadilla and it was really good. Didn't care for the refried beans but the rice was good after I added some salsa to it. Now I saw a tip on Yelp saying to ask for the complimentary avocado sauce. I asked, got the sauce. It was delicious but not complimentary. The price wasn't bad... maybe $2? But I will need to add a tip saying that the sauce is no longer complimentary. :( And speaking of... here is the most annoying thing that happened. You know how when you order fajitas, they always just give you like 3 and it's never enough? Fine. You just ask for more and they give you about 3 more. So my husband asked for more tortillas, which he got. And when we got the bill, there was a $.69 charge for them. WTH? The guy made NO mention of it and I think that's ridiculous. All that being said, the food we had was good but I won't be ordering fajitas in the future.
(3)
Scott M.
The location is hard to find and parking isn't prime, but it is truly authentic Mexican food. The Tacos, gorditas, sopas, and tomales are not Americanized and are freshly made. The chicken, steak, and beef are all excellent choices for the fillings. All the food was amazing and the staff was very efficient and friendly. A nice change of pace from most Lexington Mexican restaurants. Dropped to a four only because of the location and parking otherwise would be an easy five!
(4)
Estefania S.
The words delicious and tasty cannot even cut it. The service was amazing and stop or just beyond friendly. The location is in a perfect spot and their menu has such a variety of options that you cannot go wrong with any of the options. We had the carnitas bowl, steak tapatÃo, and nachos. There are three tortilla chips and salsa are amazing. Just be careful because the hot sauce is actually hot. I mean ridiculously spicy. Just a small dip goes a very long way. Take out from the spot is also really easy and food is ready within 10 to 15 minutes. Everything is fresh and made on the spot. True and authentic Mexican food at its finest!
(5)
Nancy T.
I have eaten at this restaurant several times and have always enjoyed it. A couple of days ago though a friend of mine and I ate lunch there. We each had a Barito and an enchilada. The food was so salty we could not eat it. I really think restaurants should pay close attention to how much salt they put in their food. All the new medical guidelines show if our food is killing us with the amount of salt that is in it. I'll go back and try it in a couple of weeks but after that I'm afraid I won't be able to eat there again. I'd be interested to hear what other people think about how much salt is in the food.
(3)
Russ T.
Can I say red sauce. Best in Lexington true Mexican food. Tripe pork and are just a few of the offered here. You can get your American Mexican fix here or get the real deal. Ask for the different flavors they offer. Will be back.
(5)
Keri S.
We came here because the online reviews were really good. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't terrible, but there are better Mexican restaurants in Lexington in my opinion. My boyfriend had the ground beef enchilada, al pastor empanada, and the pork tamale. Everything was just ok. The tamale was really dry and the empanada was more breading than anything. I had the carnitas and thought it was pretty good. The salsa was overly sweet for my taste and the chips tasted like they were stale. On a positive note the mariachi band was really good though if you're in to that sort of thing. Try Rincon. Its underrated and delicious.
(2)
Kathryn K.
Very good authentic dishes , my all time Favs are the Carne En Su Jugo soup and the hot dog Mexicano! After I moved back from Tucson AZ I was so missing the Sonorian hot dogs until I came here. Everything is always delicious and fresh.
(5)
Kate S.
OK. I have eaten at El Rancho Tapatio several times - weekends and weekdays - and my overall view of this restaurant is that you will get reliably decent food. I know, that doesn't sound like a big endorsement, and it isn't meant to be. Before I give you tips about this restaurant, let me give you my Mexican food background: I grew up in Colorado, where all Mexican food was served with "red or green" chile...if you were adventurous, you chose the green chile. If you needed paint thinner or something to remove blood from a driveway, you chose the red. I then moved to California, where "Fresh Mex" is the thing...lots of cilantro (which tastes like soap to me), no chile on anything, and served with cocktails that will knock your socks off. In both places, I have eaten outstanding Mexican cuisine, so now I am more than a little bit jaded. El Rancho Tapatio food seems to be made by people who don't care very much about their product. The pros: margaritas are potent and plentiful, the fresh tortillas (weekends only) and the posole soup (also weekends only) are my favorite things here. The cons: well...the food is uninspiring. We had a neighbor in Colorado who used to make tamales every Christmas. She would bring them to our house and my mother would say "Oh, you shouldn't have!" And she really meant that. I usually leave El Rancho with the same feeling...we shouldn't have. If you go on a weekend, try the posole. It's the best I've had since I last dined at El Aguila in Pleasant Hill, CA.
(2)
Paul K.
My last night on the road, I wanted to relax with a good home-cooked kind of meal and this place fit the bill. For around 15 bucks, I sampled the ceviche tostada, a chicken tamale, cheese reyano, and a small double taco with chorizo, onions, and fresh cilantro, along with rice and black beans. Perfect.
(4)
Jason H.
Definitely the best Mexican restaurant in Lexington! This comes from a Yelp Elite writer. It can be a little confusing to find this place off Nicholasville Road, but when you find this place. It is pure Mexican heaven and there is even a bakery next door that sells goodies for a mere buck or two. The food made want me to scream VIVA Mexico.... They have excellent variety of food selections including vegetarian options. The service and lighting of the restaurant is excellent. The decor is simple but cozy enough where you can get a good meal. Who can resist free chips and homemade salsa. You can easily have an excellent meals (minus drinks) for two for under $20. I have heard that the margaritas there rocks, but I have not tried those. I have tried tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, etc. and I have been to this restaurant at least ten times or more. I have not been disappointed at all. If you want an excellent homemade meal, reasonable prices, free chips/salsa and Friday nights, they have a Mariachi band blaring music on Friday evenings making it a spicy date night. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Lexingtonians to eat here. Definitely deserving Five Stars. Can I scream, "VIVA MEXICAN FOOD" every second I hear of this restaurant's name? It has been named Lexington's Best Mexican Restaurant according to me.
(5)
Nicole M.
The food is fast, and the wait service is attentive. They've accommodated us when we were a large party. The food is also tasty, as well as the closest in Lexington to authentic. It's the second restaurant I've been to in the entire United States that has Chicharron tacos, which gives it a big push forward. The spicy salsas are good too.
(5)
Halide T.
(3.5 stars) This place is still one of my favorites and I still enjoy ordering from their a la carte menu of tacos and sopes.. But I'm saddened by the lack of consistency in their cooking. On more than one occasion, I had not-so-great asada or pastor while other meats were as good as they have been. I really hope that they can find a way to make things consistent. Until then, I will enjoy coming here but also keep my eye open for other mexican places in town offering authentic dishes.
(3)
Jody K.
Great service with very clean and comfortable seating. The attire is completely casual. They are very busy, but keep up with the demand. The food is excellent!! I am from CT and it's rare to find food this authentic! If you're from this area or visiting, like me, I would highly recommend! You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Charles B.
Had the lunch #6 "Burrito Vallarta" Very good burrito with grilled chicken, rice and beans. Little too cold inside for shorts. Service was nice.
(4)
Olwen C.
Decent food for the price. I enjoyed my meal but I wouldn't be in a hurry to dine here again. I had chicken and steak fajitas. The sizzling plate was comparable to any other Mexican restaurant. The beans and rice plate was a bit lacking. Beans with a tiny bit of cheese, plain tasting rice, and some shredded lettuce with a dollop of sour cream on top of a half slice of tomato. I was hoping for some pico de gallo or an avocado slice, guacamole would have been out of the question. Service was SLOW and there is very very limited parking.
(3)
Robert H.
Don't be intimidated by the outside appearance. When you walk in, there is an immediate change in the atmosphere. I can quickly see myself becoming a regular here. There cuisine is a mix of authentic and tex-mex. There taco de asadas are crazy good. If you are in the area and looking for some great Mexican Food, you will regret passing them by. 5 stars!
(5)
Cassie W.
Great every time I go And I am a regular for margarita Monday the atmostphere, the food and the service are all wonderful! Jay my favorite server! Always ask for him!
(5)
Sohil M.
This review comes after my second visit. First visit I wasn't impressed at all as the place was noisy and food was average for a Mexican restaurant. Second visit with peace corps group, I really enjoyed the food I ordered but the Mariachi music played by the group of old men made my visit a memorable one!
(4)
Jason B.
Best Mexican food I've ever had! Happy my friend brought me here. The cactus was pretty good. I really loved my tamales and tacos. The service was also amazing. Our waiter joked with us a few times. The whole time I couldn't stop talking about how much I loved the food. It will be a place I go back to over and over again.
(5)
Michael G.
This place is good. You can get your American-style Mexican food or more authentically-inspired food. Tasty and it gets the job done. If you aren't just picking up from some of the less sit-down places around town, always go here.
(4)
Kellie W.
I was so excited to try this place based on the glowing reviews but sadly I was left underwhelmed. I feel like this restaurant is just another typical Lexington Mexican restaurant. The chips were bland and the salsa was nothing spectacular. We ordered chicken taquitos for an appetizer which was shredded tasteless chicken rolled in fried dough. I literally only took one bite. I did enjoy my chile relleno stuffed with cheese but the rice and beans were very sub standard. I have to say I would come back here for one thing-the flan which happened to be topped with chocolate! Absolutely delicious and best I've had!
(2)
W L.
Healthy preparation, generous portion at a low price, and always friendly and insult prompt service. It opens 10:30am daily and is a very reliable neighborhood restaurant that offers good food and good times.
(5)
Ashley M.
Our family loves eating here! Kid-friendly, great prices and we've never had a disappointing server. You'll get free Chips & Salsa once seated. My two favorites: Asada Sope when I'm wanting something small and Pollo Enchilada Verdes for days when my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Usually I'm too full for dessert so we walk next door to the bakery and buy a pastry for later.
(5)
Megan M.
The tacos are pretty stellar but other items on the menu aren't. I always get guac and enchiladas; their's aren't that spectacular. The second time I went the tacos were wonderful. Maybe I'll need to go a third time to try something else.
(3)
Kristin I.
This is my favorite sit-down Mexican place in Lexington. The service can be inconsistent, but the food totally makes it worth it. Sopes, good. Authentic tacos on corn tortillas with just meat, onions, and cilantro, good. Tamales, spicy and good. They are accommodating to kids, large groups, and everyone in between. Just make sure you ask for the set of three salsas to come to your table with your meal. It seems like they forget half the time, but they are outstanding.
(5)
Nathan M.
As a service industry guy, I'm patient and understanding. However, the service and food was terrible! He couldn't remember our drink orders, then we sat there for 10 more minutes waiting on a water and coke. Watching, I knew he had only four tables. He tosses down our drinks without asking our order, and chats with our neighboring table for far too long, then goes and hang out at the bar. I then watched him set a table of four and takes their drink order, brings it to the table and then takes their order! What the hell?! My girlfriend and I were a two top. We had everything laid out to order. We're service industry. We know how this works. Finally, we give him our order. As we're sitting, I see another server taking the orders of a 12 top. Alright fine. The 4 top he sat after us gets their food. And ten minutes later THE 12 TOPS FOOD COMES OUT. After he helps run the other servers food I see him look at our table and that moment of panic that he forgot to put in our order. He then comes up and says "your food will be out shortly" and runs off. Screw you dude at least apologize since its been so long. After our food gets their it just gets worse. My girlfriends chicken was a greenish tint, and not due to the tomatillo salsa. The refried beans were a paste with no beans to be seen. My steak quesadilla was meat sour cream and avocado. Honestly pathetic. We had a few bites and just paid the check and left a 20% tip (being in the industry that's my minimum because I know how it is.) we just said forget it and went for fast food to have something in our bellies. I went to this place based on the reviews that made it seem so great, I don't see how you guys do it.
(1)
Ernie D.
The food is great. Mexican places usually fall either in the bleh category or the great, and this one is definitely good. The extra sauces they bring out really help out with the taste and the wait staff was friendly. For the price, you can't do much better than this.
(4)
Kyle B.
I eat here all the time and the food is consistently good. Never had a bad meal and love the atmosphere. Waiters are great. Best Mexican food in town. Great job.
(5)
William W.
The food is delicious however on Friday nights there's a very annoying Mariachi band so I just try to go other nights.
(4)
Cissy A.
Stopped in yesterday evening prime time for dinner, the place was hoppin'. Didn't have to wait and was seated right away. First impression? Clean, I mean really clean... right down to the menus. Nothing worse that going into a restaurant and opening a sticky dirty menu, but not this place! Glass doors everything was pretty much spotless which is surprising since they were so busy. But employees were constantly cleaning. Anyway...about the food. Very very good! Ingredients were fresh, portions were just enough and the menu is authentic Mexican fare. The staff is very friendly and will even work with you on your Spanish if needed! Only issue is parking and the salsa. I like salsa with a little more cilantro and umph. Just my personal opinion. This is our new go to place for Mexican food.
(4)
Nicholas M.
Best Mexican food in town, and the some of the best I've had. Good service, good prices. Order a la carte for a more authentic experience.
(5)
Alan M.
A solid 4 star authentic Mexican . No fancy atmosphere or decorations. You come here for food and the prices wow $12 for two at lunch. Salsa has a kick .i tried the steak tacos which are soft tacos, and my sister tried the chicken quesadilla said chicken had great flavor and flour tortilla had right amount of crunch and soft on inside, will definitely return and I am getting the chicken quesadilla next trip. Now like all other older shop centers in town beware if you are in a wheelchair NO handicap parking and a tall, narrow sidewalk and a small ramp.
(4)
William G E.
This is the best Mexican rest. In Lex. It is true Mexican which makes a difference. The food is super with large portions. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. Always cheery. This is where lots of Mexicans show up. Also a bakery next door and store Next to it. Always busy but wait never real long. A must try!!
(4)
Chuck G.
If you like Mexican food, great friendly service from all the staff then you need to come to El Rancho Tapatio. My wife and I eat here regularly and always have a great experience. The food is always delicious. Friday night a Mariachi band plays which really makes for a good time. The menu offers entrees that you don't see on other Mexican restaurant menus. I could go on and on but you just need to try them out!
(5)
Tanya B.
This is our favorite Mexican restaurant in Lexington! We love it. The margaritas are delicious and we are snobs when it comes to our drinks. They will serve by the pitcher if you ask for it. The chips and sals are delicious when you doctor them with the extra spices. We always ask for the extra spices to be brought to our table and we add a small spoonful of each to flavor. This adds a great kick! The chicken chimichanga is lightly breaded and covered with queso. The guacamole is very good.
(5)
Zachary C.
We came here for lunch based on the good reviews. We were disappointed. I asked for the best margarita which he aggressively used a pint glass as an ice scoop, Kroger concentrated OJ and this cheap Lysol tasting sour mix. It was bad. The chorizo taco was dry, the carnitas was inedible because it was so old and going south. The barbacoa was just ok and the beans were also inedible because they were scorched and tasted burnt. Basically it was a meal of old leftovers. Maybe it's better at dinner but I'll never know.
(1)
Ann L.
Fun to try this place on Mariachi night (Fridays). They played us a love song. The place was packed, which is always a good sign. The food was really good. I tried the pastor taco. The server did a great job, busy or not. The price was right.
(4)
Maggie T.
My favorite Mexican in Lexington! I love this place. I can always get a seat, it's not too loud, and everything is good. Pop over next door to check out their bakery and grocery store. I've had tacos, burritos, guacamole, fajitas- all good.
(5)
Sherry T.
Based on many Yelp reviews, I was expecting authentic Mexican food--the best in Lexington. However, what my husband and I experienced was far from that expectation. The salsa was bland, the enchiladas were mediocre, and the iced tea tasted like water. The only good thing I can say is that service was very good. As for the bakery next door that so many have mentioned, if you enjoy stale baked goods with little flavor, knock yourself out!
(2)
Bret F.
While I was late in learning about El Rancho Tapatio, it's is easily my favorite Mexican restaurant in Lexington. The food is always well prepared and the service is friendly. Some of my favorites are the Tacos En Tortilla de Maiz (Pastor and Chorizo are my favorite fillings) as well as the Sopes (Picadillo). We've been there at least 10 times in the last three months and I have yet to have anything that I didn't like. (I'm actually going to dinner there tonight!) I will say that one thing that varies is the cheese dip. When it's a little more soupy it fantastic.....but a couple of times it's been thicker and not as good...but still really good. Try the Tapatio Dip, but ask for chorizo instead of ground beef. Another thing that sets this place apart is how reasonably priced the menu is. There have been many times that my family of four have eaten around $23!
(5)
Doug E.
I've Traveled all over the southwest and this is authentic taqueria style food! it is awesome! I love it so much i actually eat there about 3 times a week. the price is to perfect especially if you stick to the tacos which are something like $1.25 which I'm pretty sure is cheaper than taco bells new cantina tacos and 125% better! i always get 3 tacos: tacos pastor which is pork marinated in a pineapple sauce which is probably my favorite of the three then there is the tacos barbacoa WOW perfectly seasoned beef ...brisket maybe?... its good enough to be! and finally a vegetarian the tacos rajas roasted pablano with sour creme and Mexican style crumble cheese (Oaxaca cheese maybe) which is the perfect amount of spicy for my weak American tongue all served with onion and cilantro wrapped in two corn tortillas also the gorditas are great for just a buck and change more you get a crispy fried pita type bread stuffed with even more meat (any of them will do but i think this goes best with the delicious barbacoa) lots of lettuce, sour creme, and cheese. hmm lets see there is also the enchiladas verdes! it tastes like what i imagine Mexico tastes like! four corn tortillas stuffed with chicken smothered in a great fresh tasting tamatillo pepper sauce with more of that crumble cheese, sour creme, fresh avacado. and lets not forget the chips as soon as your our they come by and ask you if you want more not like most of the other "Mexican" restaurants here in Lexington. The next closes thing to this in in alexandria and if you live on the southside of town that's to far away and to scary for the "affluence" of the southside. -Happy Eating! P.S. don't miss Friday night mariachi... ranchos mariachi is way better than haciendas they actually new besame mucho!
(5)
J D.
Great stuff.
(5)
John D.
Easily the best Mexican place in town.
(5)
Jennifer W.
Excellent! We enjoyed the food and the drinks! Not a typical Mexican restaurant. Lots of different things on the menu to try.
(4)
Lee P.
If you like authentic Mexican food then this is the place. The tacos at El Rancho are authentic, cheap and delicious. The Chicken Taco is good but, try the Pastor Taco. It's pork in a red sauce with pineapple. The shredded beef taco was fantastic. Great atmosphere. Service is great. Very clean. Best Mexican food in town.
(4)
Kristen S.
This is a little place, nothing fancy nor bright colors as in the usual Mexican joints, but it's simple and clean. The service was great, all very polite. Chips and salsa are complimentary, and good. Make sure to ask for other sauces (also complimentary), they'll bring out four others- ranging from an avocado, mild, to a hot one. Food was even better, had the super flautas which came with two huge ones stuffed w/lots of shredded chicken. The chicken was moist, came with rice and I left with a doggy box. There wasn't a drink menu, but saw there's a full bar, wide array of beers, but I went with the house margarita, it was good and cheap; too bad we missed happy hour 2 for 1. We will be back for more!
(4)
Betty H.
I love mexican food and this is the best authentic mexican place in Lexington! My bf and I have tried other places in town but we consistently come back to el rancho tapatio. My bf usually gets their individual hard tacos with al pastor and barbacoa, while I get the special of the night. The menudo and pazole soups very flavorful and available only on the weekends. They also serve an enormous fried ice cream for dessert. The waitstaff is very friendly and welcoming.
(5)
Johnny D.
Five star Mexican food with flip-flop elegance!
(5)
Jill T.
The food was delicious and the prices could not be beat.
(4)
Jonathan P.
This is the best Mexican food I've had in Lexington, by far. The tacos are delicious, and the little quartet of sauces they bring out with them means every bite can be a little bit different. Three tacos and a side of beans comes to six bucks and change, which felt like a steal for food this good.
(4)
John F.
Very good little Mexican restaurant. And they have a really cool bakery and grocery next door.
(5)
Nick W.
this place was pretty good! good food, fast service, reasonably priced.
(4)
Brenna B.
Just moved here from California, and I'm a Texan native, so I'm probably biased as to the kind of Mexican food I will eat. This is the third Mexican restaurant we've tried in Lexington and we finally found something we liked. The initial salsa they bring out with the chips is ok, but still better than the salsas we had at the other two Mexican restaurants we tried in town. But then they bring out four additional salsas, each a different level of spicy, one of which is a avocado tomatillo mix (maybe some smoked jalapeño in there?) that is ridiculously addicting. I ended up pouring it over everything. I had mixed fajitas, the lunch plate - great taste, not too greasy and the corn tortillas were fresh. Very large portion so I'm curious how big the dinner plate is. I also liked that they didn't bring it out on those hot plates covered in liquid smoke. Waitstaff was extremely friendly and courteous, came back and checked on us but wasn't pushy. We really enjoyed it and we'll definitely be back!
(4)
Seth B.
Mexican restaurants are usually like Chinese restaurants- delicious, but the only thing to differentiate the menus is the name on the front. To get non-Tex-Mex Mexican food one usually has to go to small food stalls (like Maria's Kitchen on N. Broadway) or little kitchens (like the one in Tienda de Omar on 7th St.). Rancho Tapatio is the first full-scale Mexican restaurant I have seen that offers classic, cheap taco fillings like tongue and tripe. The authenticity is verified by a full line of courses like pozole soup (hominy and pork) and hand-made tamales in corn husks. But how did I know this was real down-casa Mexican cookin? The Mexican hot dog! Just like you'll find at any Mexican soccer game, with jalapenos and mayonnaise (I didn't say it was delicious). There are dishes from all over Mexico, especially central and northern Mexico, with a good showing of West Coast seafood preps. All your favorites are there too, in the familiar Mexican restaurant environment. This is now my favorite Mexican restaurant in Lex- and I like Mexican food, if you can't tell.
(4)
Woodson H.
Good semi-authentic Mexican food. Eaten there 2 times. Good chimichaungas
(3)
davis b.
The Tex-Mex is an afterthought and only by way of concession. The heart of this restaurant is Mexico and Tapatio designates Guadalajara , in the heart of Mexico.Tacos are soft and numerous choices but my favorites are tripa ,crispy, and lingua; served with two small tortillas and onion and cilantro to top them.The sandwiches, tortas, are generously filled and the sub-like sandwich is on fresh baked bread. The pozole is only available on weekends, unless there is some left on Monday, worth asking if like this pork and hominy stew.If you have eaten there a few times and ask about some dish you are not familiar with, and there will be several, you may be lucky enough to have a sample brought out.I have discovered I am not a fan of tamale in banana leaf, and some obscure fish dish, but not much to not like. The waitstaff is pleasant and helpful.If you want something that is not smothered in so much sauce and cheese and microwaved to order so as to become one amorphous glop then your time has come to try something better . They care about the food. What more can I say?
(4)
Jeremy G.
best mex in lex with a great vegetarian selection and reasonably priced.
(5)
Christopher H.
This is the best Mexican place in Lexington - by far! Everything they have is wonderful. The homemade corn tortillas are worth the trip. Just tried their new bakery next door this evening. WOW, truly amazing.
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 : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Alan B.
Yum. Lovely, old-fashioned salsa served with the generous helping of chips. The chicken in my enchiladas having a real chicken flavor, not factory chicken lack of taste, and hand shredded texture to boot. The tomatillo sauce tasted piquant and home made. High quality ground beef. Even the refried beans and rice - delicious. For $7.99?! Yay.
(5)Ainsley W.
Easily the best Mexican food in Lexington. Great food, friendly and familiar service, everything that you venture to 'try' is always a delicious surprise. My favorite dishes are the Enchiladas Verdes and the Pastor Tacos. The atmosphere is super fun, with a mariachi band on Friday night and 2 for 1 margaritas during happy hour. Things you must know: ask for the extra salsas, they're outstanding and completely complimentary. Also- make sure you check out the bakery next door. Out of this world authentic pastries for next to nothing.
(5)Karla S.
The carnitas tacos were so good. Be sure to order a side of Pico and guacamole to top them off. Ask for the extra salsas and try the tomatillo with habanero. Yum! Hubby says he likes the margaritas and the prices. No pictures because we ate it too fast.
(5)Susan G.
Awesome Mexican tacos!! A must. Lots of food for awesome prices. Service was impeccable. Fast friendly and all smiles. Fresh ingredients all the way.
(4)Rick M.
Little Mexican joint just south of UK. They do a pretty brisk business at lunch. They feature a variety of meats that you wouldn't normally run into. Buche, which is pig stomach and chiccarrones which is fried pig skin. Yeah, I'll have that. Throw in some chorizo and barbacoa and I'm good to go. The chiccarrones verde were stewed in green sauce. This made them very soft. They were very tasty but a real fatty mouth feel. I had to put them down and move on to something else. The buche is similar to lingua in that if you didn't know what you were eating you would not find it the least bit objectionable. Very soft very lean pieces of pork. The chorizo was not my favorite. I prefer a chorizo sausage that is grilled a little harder until almost crunchy. The barbacoa was very good. By the time I got to it I had nearly eaten myself under the table. I asked for hot salsa as soon as I sat down and the waiter brought me three different salsas. One was verde, one was habanero and one was sweet. Maybe mango puree? The habanero was smoking hot. My favorite kind. I would definitely recommend this place. The above tacos I mentioned were $1.75 each. The tortillas were pretty thick. I just peeled one off and was fine with the remaining wrapper.
(4)Bob B.
I can't add a whole lot to what's already been written except to agree that this is definitely the best Mexican restaurant in town if you're not a native speaker of Spanish. The various (Free!) salsas are amazing and if you want a REAL treat, try ordering a couple of different sopes. Not sopas (soups), but the thick moist corn tortilla bedding for a delicious topping: SOPES. Fan-freakin'-tastic.
(4)Eric D.
The first time I ate at El Rancho, I thought it was great. I don't know what happened, but it has slowly declined. I will give it one more try, but it is close to getting the boot from my regular Mexican spot.
(3)Julie G.
Multiple people have been touting El Rancho Tapatio as "the best Mex in Lex," so what took me so long to head their way is only my loss. I found that not only did it live up to its hype, it surpassed the hype. Corn tortillas are homemade, tender and delicious. The salsa was good, but the four other sauces (that you may have to ask for, as we did, but are complimentary) were terrific. Particularly the avocado sauce. Guacamole is made fresh when you order it, and it rivals the best guacamole I've ever had. Delicious. We got a variety of a la carte items so we could sample multiple things. From the tacos to the vegetable burrito to the tamale, gordita and empanada, each dish was fabulous. Two for one margaritas were delicious. There was no way that we could eat everything in one sitting, so we brought the leftovers home and I must say that even warmed up today for lunch was better than the freshly-made fare at most Lexington Mexican restaurants. I did not check out the bakery next door, but based on the reviews here, I should have. I will do that next time I go, which I assure you will be soon. Service was efficient and extremely pleasant. Total for all the above-mentioned items, including the margaritas, but excluding tip was $25.66. WOW!
(5)Dale H.
Yes. Best Mex in Lex. No question. Throw a dart at the menu items. Haven't had meal I didn't like. Tonight, empanada pastor, sope barbacoa, Super flautas (they are super as in BIG). Love extra sauces for chips too (why can't I eat less chips....). Ask for the additional sauces. Service and setting similar to the larger places, but no comparison on the food. But for less. And then, you can't leave without visiting the ah-ma-zing bakery next door. Here's what you do. Grab brown tray to your left - like the ones you used for school lunch - and a pair of tongs in the container next to them. Peruse ALL the fine choices in the lovely cases (squeal to self). Place on your tray. Take all your choices on the tray to the grocery room next door and straight ahead where the cashier will place them into a bag and ring you up. Oh yeah. Please to enjoy your treats.
(5)Gary F.
Excellent food and great service. Fried ice cream was great. Fish tacos and enchiladas mexicanas were very good. We'll be back.
(4)Zach J.
Decent food for the price! It's just your standard Mexican meal that can be found at many locations in Lexington. El Rancho Tapatio is much cheaper though. Our bill had 2 beers, 2 margs, and 2 dinners and was only $20. I'd stay away from chicken dishes, mine was really dry. The atmosphere is pretty neat. It's located in a small shopping mall and the interior is really nice.
(4)Alysia G.
The best Mexican restaurant in Lexington! Try the lengua tacos, the chorizo tacos, pastor, or whatever kind of other meat you may like, their tacos are simply amazing. They bring out a selection of sauces for you to try with your tacos. Service is great and the restaurant is always busy. Be sure to step next door to the grocery/bakery when you leave.
(5)J B.
This place is the best Mexican food in town. I was born and raised in the American Southwest (Arizona) and my wife is Mexican. She generally refuses to eat out for Mexican food cause according to her, "my Mom's rice and beans are better." And isn't that really the foundation of a good Mexican food meal? However, El Rancho Tapatio is the first place we've been too where her Mom's rice and beans never came up. She ate them all, ha ha!! I ordered a Barbacoa burrito relleno, which was excellent and the Barbacoa was cooked to perfection (easy to tell that it had been patiently slow cooked before hitting my plate probably many MANY hours earlier) and it had such an awesome flavor. My wife order a tamale and chile relleno. Everything was cooked just right and left us very satisfied. After lunch or dinner, go next door to the mercado and get some pastries, they are fantastic and made me miss Arizona! They also have carne by the pound for sale in the carneceria part of the store. We loved the food and had excellent service, we will be back very soon!
(5)G E.
Wow they've gone down hill quite a bit. Just had dinner with my wife tonight. I had the fajitas tropical. Let's just say no seasoning, canned pineapple and canned mushrooms was not quite the description in the menu. My wife only said her food was gross. I used to think this place was great, but after tonight I'm not going back.
(2)Eduardo C.
The green chili enchiladas used crumbled queso fresco, tasty green chili sauce (not sure if it was from a can, but it worked) and were filled with chicken. The red chili enchiladas were a similar experience, as the sauce was also tasty but of questionable origin. Tacos had plenty of meat, chips and salsa were varied and fun, margaritas were cheap with exuberant amounts of tequila. All in all a solid Mexican choice for dinner.
(4)Katie L.
My favorite Mexican food in Lexington. Love the free spicy salsas. Great service and consistently great food.
(5)VEGAS J.
A++
(5)Kevin M.
Best priced Mexican in town! Delicious food. Had the veggie quesadilla $7 and veggie enchilada $7 both were delicious. The chimichanga dessert is a must order! Best Mexican dessert I've ever had. The service was amazing and there was even live music that would play at your table. Very fun restaurant and will be going back. My fiancé and I ate 2 meals and a dessert for $20. Awesome
(5)Russ T. S.
Everything was delicious! The chips tasted really fresh and the salsas were good. The queso dip has a good flavor. The shredded chicken in their burritos is really good. Their rice and beans were also good. The only thing I didn't like was the fake sweet tea. Nothing can beat fresh, homemade sweet tea.
(4)Andrew T.
I have been going to El Rancho Tapatio on a regular basis for the past couple months. The restaurant is rustic in decor but has a wide array of good eats on its menu and a busy bar that continuously sends out margaritas during happy hour. The service may be a little slow during dinner rush, but the slight delay is well rewarded. Thanks to friends on Yelp, I have discovered a great venue to feed my ferocious craving for tacos. I find it increasingly difficult for me to venture outside of the diverse Taco menu as this street food is anything but common. Please my friends, go with the soft corn tortilla, as oppose to the deep-fried shells. Why? That's what the Mexican street vendors intended! My all time favorite default was to reach for the awesome Tacos Al Pastor every time I eat there. The grilled and diced pork is packed with robust herb seasoning with a hint of sweetness from the pineapple marinade. The lightly grilled onions and copious amount of cilantro toppings deliver a crunchy and earthy element to the bite. By all means, use the lime wedges which they provide on the plate. Squeeze them liberally all over the tacos (note plural, as I always start with at least 4 Tacos al Pastor). The scent of the refreshing zesty aroma will activate your parotid salivary reflex and will get your mouth water in anticipation of the bite. Also, the lime pulps will deliver bursts of citrus and refresh your taste buds as you chew. Really, what more can you ask in a bite? If you are more adventurous and inquisitive of authentic flavors and ingredients, may I suggest ordering the taco with lengua, buche, and or chicharrón. Great food is indeed a great reason to chow down. But when great food is paired with prompt service and unbeatable price? Well, it is a trifecta, and how can I say no? I'm only human.
(5)Joy C.
Awesome food for a great price! Large menu selection. Able to mix and match to suit everyones tastes. Had a large margarita (selection of flavors to choose from and blended to order), domestic beer, guacamole, grilled chicken burrito, pork tamale and chicken empanada. Along with dessert it was around 30 bucks. Everyone is right about the sauces, compliment the food great!
(4)David H.
I thought that I liked Mexican food until I lived in Tucson for a short time. I found out that I loved Mexican then. This place has the best in town so far. The tacos are amazing!!! My favorites are the beef tongue, pastor, and chorizo though I like them all. They are served with 4 delicious sauces and plenty of lime wedges. They also serve a mexican hotdog which is amazing but not quite a Sonoran hotdog but as close as I've gotten outside of Tucson. This is our favorite Mexican eatery in town. If I could change one thing, I would have them open at 8 a.m. so that we could get breakfast when we get off work. In Tucson, we went to Nico's and had a giant burritto every morning.
(4)Elizabeth A.
Coming from Texas, I was excited to taste something similar to home. The flavor of the meat in the tacos I ordered were classic carniceria. My main complaints are in reference to the salsa and queso. Of course, the queso didn't surprise me-- it is more of a tex-mex thing than Mexican. I thought the salsa that came with the chips was slightly sweet, lacking in heat and acidity. I took another reviewers advice and asked for the "other sauces" and received a 4-option salsa sampler that was more up my alley.
(4)Lori O.
Believe it or not, this is one of the best Mexican meals I've had anywhere outside Mexico. I was thrilled to see dishes on their menu that I'd only had while living in Mexico or in the homes of Mexican friends in the US, dishes like entomatadas or enfrijoladas. The entomatadas, by the way, are filled with queso fresco, which is a nice (and light) change from the heavy, stringy cheese that Tex-Mex places fill enchiladas with. Their beans have that smooth, almost creamy texture of having been cooked for hours. The horchata is divine: not at all chalky (so many places resort to too much rice or mixing in powders) and not excessively sweet. Their salsas (which you have to ask for but are free if you want them) are all delicious and allow the flavors of the ingredients to shine and not be overpowered by heat. Also, the guacamole is the best I've ever had outside someone's house! Friendly service, reasonable prices, and delicious food. If I didn't live four hours away, I'd be back regularly!
(5)Tosha T.
I would eat here everyday if I could. It's delicious!!
(5)Jesse G.
Passing through Lexington and found this place as #1 on Yelp. A good reason for that. Greeted by friendly staff. Clean Restraunt and fast service. Chips were crispy and warm. Salsa had great taste. Asked for other sauces and were promptly served a 3 prong selection of "hotter" sauces. Portions were generous for the price. Bean dip is actually "cheese dip" with beans, this must be a KY Mexican thing as I have had this kind of dip in other Ky towns. Guacamole was fresh, had cilantro, tomatoes, and onions, great portions and made fresh. Also, the menu catered to both American Mexican AND authentic Mexican, very clever approach to various clientele.
(5)David L.
I'm from Chicago and all about Mexican food being from the windy ci I have been spoiled the majority of my life with amazing food from pple south if the border. When I went to this place the atmosphere was nice but the food was horrible the beans had no taste and n I gad to smother it wushu the salsa they gave us for the chips..I wanted to pay for the meal and just leave I was starving and had no energy to even have a bite the burrito was the size of taco bells soft shell taco I even told the waitress if she was familiar with Ellos on broadway a little hole in the wall close to downtown I have no plans to return Nor have I thought about going back
(2)Leah T.
This is the best Mexican restaurant in Lexington. How do I know? Well, let me tell you: My husband and I moved to Kentucky from out of state, and we took it upon ourselves to find the best Mexican restaurant in Lexington--basically so we would know where to take our visitors when they come. Sooooooo we ate at every Mexican place we could find, and there was an argument until we went to Tapatio for the first time. El Rancho Tapatio is the best. And we were rating the service, the drinks, the queso dip, the salsa, and the entrees. I highly recommend the tacos and the chimichanga dinner. Husband highly recommends the carnitas.
(5)Anna R.
I got a chicken and a steak sopes as well as a chips and salsa. The sopes were on something similar to a corn tortilla, only thicker. The meat was lean- not fatty, not gristly. The toppings were a perfect amount of cheese and crema. The salsa was fresh and tasty. I am super excited to try other new things here!
(4)Kellyo O.
I was excited to try this place as I LOVE Mexican food. I did ask for the salsas and they were brought out along with the regular red. They were ok, nothing amazing like I was expecting from other reviewers. The food was decent.
(3)Marty H.
Mmmmm good! Food was awesome!
(5)D M.
Good tripa tacos for those that know what they are. Good chips and salsa. I had the tacos asada as well and those were pretty authentic. The hot sauces they give you are good as well. The staff is attentive but their memory isn't the greatest. I had asked for guacamole and never got it but at least I wasn't charged for it. I was offered an iced tea to go at the end so that made up for it. I'd go back here.
(4)Aletta J.
I live in a town that is approx 30% hispanic/Mexican and I tell you, we eat some dang good Mexican food. We hit this place after bourbon tasting and it hit the spot. The three salsas were sweet hot, hot and hot hot hot. Then the normal salsa, of course. Home made chips (unsalted) and we ordered runny white queso with green chilis in it. Oh and on Sundays, Margaritas are 2.99. My friends had the chicken chimichanga and instead of the Chi-Chi bigger than your head size, it was two smaller 'changas. Yummo...I had the chicken fajita quesadilla - best of both worlds. Guac didn't come standard and we were charged xtra for it -- wished it was standard w/ the quesadilla. (hint hint) Our waiter was very attentive and nice. We will be back; in fact, I'd eat here 2x instead of eating a Longhorse (blech) Steakhouse again.
(4)Megan M.
Pretty good for an establishment in America. The tacos were great!
(4)Angela M.
I am so glad I yelped and found this place. It is my new favorite Mexican place. Be sure to ask for the special salsas. It is also so cheap. Why would anyone do fast food when you can eat here for almost the same price? Great food, friendly service, and cheap prices.
(5)Keith W.
One of the best Mexican restaurants in all of Lexington. Solid every single time.
(5)Brad W.
Hands down the best Mexican restaurant I've been to. Ask for the different salsas and they'll bring out a total of 4 for you to dip chips into! Best of all = a 99% health score rating from the food inspector. Terrific!
(5)Kathy L.
Love the taco pastor & the ceviche tostada!
(4)Stella J.
So, my dad recently discovered this place and said it was good. And then I start to hear more and more from him about it, and soon he's coming here for lunch 3 times a week. Then some chef pals and I are lamenting the loss of the Panda (a Chinese place down the road that's bombed out), and one of them points out that though we've lost one great restaurant off Nicholassville Road, we've gained another: El Rancho. So at that point, my curiosity reached fever pitch and I went there for lunch the next day, then again a week later. I don't speak a drop of Spanish, so sometimes I am intimidated going in to the places where there isn't an English menu, but conversely, when a place has an English menu, I often feel that it's a little too Don Pablos, if you know what I mean. (Which isn't to say Americanized versions of various cuisines are bad, just not necessarily what some people are looking for in certain circumstances.) El Rancho has definitely mastered the fine line of being accessible to those who don't speak the language and/or are unfamiliar with anything beyond the ubiquitous tex-mex fair, yet authentic to Mexican culinary traditions. The racial diversity of the lunch crowd seems to reflect this balance. They have a great website and online coupons, etc, at elranchotapatio.com Strangely, their online menu (both regular web version and downloadable PDF) doesn't include the vegetarian menu. Never the less, they have a good selection of meatless options at the back of their printed menu under a vegetarian heading. I've had great vegetarian chiles rellenos, enchiladas, and another dish that I will have to go back for just to get the name right. (edit 5/22: I've been back now! Vegetarian mystery item is called "Entomatadas" and is still amazing, corn tortilla filled with quesa fresco and refried beans, then smothered in a tomato sauce! Another tasty veg item was the Enfrijoladas, so good!) Vegans and strict vegetarians, be warned: the deliciousness of the refried beans hints of lard... I will try and come back with a bit more of a concrete review- I've only been here for lunch and I'd like to come in for dinner to get a better grasp of the scope of the menu.
(4)Nancy B.
Sorry my dear Yelpers, it's been a while since I've reviewed anything. The weather here has been wet and dreary for the last few days and my tummy was rumbling for something warm and filling. Daniel looked at me with bright eyes when I asked if we could go here for brunch. El Rancho Tapatio is the real deal my friends. No Mexi-combo platters, but Sopes, Tacos, Tortas, Tamales, Empandas, and my beloved Pozole soup. The soup was of the red variety, with a broth of complex flavor, hominy that tasted like heaven, and tender pieces of pork. If you've never had it before it's sort of like a Mexican version of pho. They bring you a plate of veggies such as radishes, lettuce, cabbage, cilantro, limes,onions, and some thick tortillas which you add to your soup. I got the medium sized bowl at $4.99 and it was just the right size. The only thing to remember is that you can only order this on the weekend (the same goes for their Menudo). They also have tamer things like burritos and quesadillas but please at least try one of their real dishes. It's clean inside, they offer a full service bar for my other Gringo Margarita lovers. A great place to bring family to try something new. There is also a Panaderia next door and I'll be sure to stop in there next.
(4)Joy G.
This is the best mexican restaurant in Lexington! One word comes to mind, Authentic! The service is wonderful and you can't beat the prices. I haven't tried the margaritas because I have only come here for lunch. They have a bakery next door that is delicious too. I recommend the giant sugar cookies with the rainbow sprinkles. Yum!
(5)Morgan R.
I can't stop eating at this place. It is the best place to get Mexican in town. The service is always good, they have a pleasant little bar area, and on the weekends they even have a Mariachi band that is not over-bearing and is enjoyable to listen to.
(5)Matt W.
Great service and tasty Mexican food. Had chicken sope- was excellent.
(5)Emily D.
I love El Rancho Tapatio. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Lexington. My boyfriend and I enjoy finding small hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and that is how we came across El Rancho. It's kind of a dive, but it's clean, it's delicious, it's inexpensive, and it's authentic. I strongly suggest looking at their "Mexican Fare" page, which is full of very authentic dishes. I typically choose from this menu, and have yet to be disappointed. My favorite thing to order is the chicken tacos en tortillas de maize, which are spectacular with their lightly friend onions, cilantro, and fresh lime. My mouth is watering right now. My boyfriend usually goes for the heavier Americano fare, and is always happy and full by the end of the meal. Margarita and beer specials are usually pretty good, the Mariachi band is fun, and the servers are always polite and helpful, but the real draw is the awesome food. I strongly suggest you go to El Rancho Tapatio! Go now!
(5)Mae B.
great place eat. Best in Lexington for your traditional Mexican resto.
(4)Horton L.
que rico!!!! the best mexican restaurant in town!! trust me just go you will not be disappointed!!!!
(5)Theresa B.
Food was good but my husband's chicken/steak fajitas seemed a bit skimpy on the meat but maybe that's because there were so many onions/peppers with it? I wish I had taken a picture of it. The chips were good but cold. I didn't realize how much I appreciate warm chips until I got some that weren't warmed. I had the chicken fajita quesadilla and it was really good. Didn't care for the refried beans but the rice was good after I added some salsa to it. Now I saw a tip on Yelp saying to ask for the complimentary avocado sauce. I asked, got the sauce. It was delicious but not complimentary. The price wasn't bad... maybe $2? But I will need to add a tip saying that the sauce is no longer complimentary. :( And speaking of... here is the most annoying thing that happened. You know how when you order fajitas, they always just give you like 3 and it's never enough? Fine. You just ask for more and they give you about 3 more. So my husband asked for more tortillas, which he got. And when we got the bill, there was a $.69 charge for them. WTH? The guy made NO mention of it and I think that's ridiculous. All that being said, the food we had was good but I won't be ordering fajitas in the future.
(3)Scott M.
The location is hard to find and parking isn't prime, but it is truly authentic Mexican food. The Tacos, gorditas, sopas, and tomales are not Americanized and are freshly made. The chicken, steak, and beef are all excellent choices for the fillings. All the food was amazing and the staff was very efficient and friendly. A nice change of pace from most Lexington Mexican restaurants. Dropped to a four only because of the location and parking otherwise would be an easy five!
(4)Estefania S.
The words delicious and tasty cannot even cut it. The service was amazing and stop or just beyond friendly. The location is in a perfect spot and their menu has such a variety of options that you cannot go wrong with any of the options. We had the carnitas bowl, steak tapatÃo, and nachos. There are three tortilla chips and salsa are amazing. Just be careful because the hot sauce is actually hot. I mean ridiculously spicy. Just a small dip goes a very long way. Take out from the spot is also really easy and food is ready within 10 to 15 minutes. Everything is fresh and made on the spot. True and authentic Mexican food at its finest!
(5)Nancy T.
I have eaten at this restaurant several times and have always enjoyed it. A couple of days ago though a friend of mine and I ate lunch there. We each had a Barito and an enchilada. The food was so salty we could not eat it. I really think restaurants should pay close attention to how much salt they put in their food. All the new medical guidelines show if our food is killing us with the amount of salt that is in it. I'll go back and try it in a couple of weeks but after that I'm afraid I won't be able to eat there again. I'd be interested to hear what other people think about how much salt is in the food.
(3)Russ T.
Can I say red sauce. Best in Lexington true Mexican food. Tripe pork and are just a few of the offered here. You can get your American Mexican fix here or get the real deal. Ask for the different flavors they offer. Will be back.
(5)Keri S.
We came here because the online reviews were really good. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't terrible, but there are better Mexican restaurants in Lexington in my opinion. My boyfriend had the ground beef enchilada, al pastor empanada, and the pork tamale. Everything was just ok. The tamale was really dry and the empanada was more breading than anything. I had the carnitas and thought it was pretty good. The salsa was overly sweet for my taste and the chips tasted like they were stale. On a positive note the mariachi band was really good though if you're in to that sort of thing. Try Rincon. Its underrated and delicious.
(2)Kathryn K.
Very good authentic dishes , my all time Favs are the Carne En Su Jugo soup and the hot dog Mexicano! After I moved back from Tucson AZ I was so missing the Sonorian hot dogs until I came here. Everything is always delicious and fresh.
(5)Kate S.
OK. I have eaten at El Rancho Tapatio several times - weekends and weekdays - and my overall view of this restaurant is that you will get reliably decent food. I know, that doesn't sound like a big endorsement, and it isn't meant to be. Before I give you tips about this restaurant, let me give you my Mexican food background: I grew up in Colorado, where all Mexican food was served with "red or green" chile...if you were adventurous, you chose the green chile. If you needed paint thinner or something to remove blood from a driveway, you chose the red. I then moved to California, where "Fresh Mex" is the thing...lots of cilantro (which tastes like soap to me), no chile on anything, and served with cocktails that will knock your socks off. In both places, I have eaten outstanding Mexican cuisine, so now I am more than a little bit jaded. El Rancho Tapatio food seems to be made by people who don't care very much about their product. The pros: margaritas are potent and plentiful, the fresh tortillas (weekends only) and the posole soup (also weekends only) are my favorite things here. The cons: well...the food is uninspiring. We had a neighbor in Colorado who used to make tamales every Christmas. She would bring them to our house and my mother would say "Oh, you shouldn't have!" And she really meant that. I usually leave El Rancho with the same feeling...we shouldn't have. If you go on a weekend, try the posole. It's the best I've had since I last dined at El Aguila in Pleasant Hill, CA.
(2)Paul K.
My last night on the road, I wanted to relax with a good home-cooked kind of meal and this place fit the bill. For around 15 bucks, I sampled the ceviche tostada, a chicken tamale, cheese reyano, and a small double taco with chorizo, onions, and fresh cilantro, along with rice and black beans. Perfect.
(4)Jason H.
Definitely the best Mexican restaurant in Lexington! This comes from a Yelp Elite writer. It can be a little confusing to find this place off Nicholasville Road, but when you find this place. It is pure Mexican heaven and there is even a bakery next door that sells goodies for a mere buck or two. The food made want me to scream VIVA Mexico.... They have excellent variety of food selections including vegetarian options. The service and lighting of the restaurant is excellent. The decor is simple but cozy enough where you can get a good meal. Who can resist free chips and homemade salsa. You can easily have an excellent meals (minus drinks) for two for under $20. I have heard that the margaritas there rocks, but I have not tried those. I have tried tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, etc. and I have been to this restaurant at least ten times or more. I have not been disappointed at all. If you want an excellent homemade meal, reasonable prices, free chips/salsa and Friday nights, they have a Mariachi band blaring music on Friday evenings making it a spicy date night. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Lexingtonians to eat here. Definitely deserving Five Stars. Can I scream, "VIVA MEXICAN FOOD" every second I hear of this restaurant's name? It has been named Lexington's Best Mexican Restaurant according to me.
(5)Nicole M.
The food is fast, and the wait service is attentive. They've accommodated us when we were a large party. The food is also tasty, as well as the closest in Lexington to authentic. It's the second restaurant I've been to in the entire United States that has Chicharron tacos, which gives it a big push forward. The spicy salsas are good too.
(5)Halide T.
(3.5 stars) This place is still one of my favorites and I still enjoy ordering from their a la carte menu of tacos and sopes.. But I'm saddened by the lack of consistency in their cooking. On more than one occasion, I had not-so-great asada or pastor while other meats were as good as they have been. I really hope that they can find a way to make things consistent. Until then, I will enjoy coming here but also keep my eye open for other mexican places in town offering authentic dishes.
(3)Jody K.
Great service with very clean and comfortable seating. The attire is completely casual. They are very busy, but keep up with the demand. The food is excellent!! I am from CT and it's rare to find food this authentic! If you're from this area or visiting, like me, I would highly recommend! You will not be disappointed!
(5)Charles B.
Had the lunch #6 "Burrito Vallarta" Very good burrito with grilled chicken, rice and beans. Little too cold inside for shorts. Service was nice.
(4)Olwen C.
Decent food for the price. I enjoyed my meal but I wouldn't be in a hurry to dine here again. I had chicken and steak fajitas. The sizzling plate was comparable to any other Mexican restaurant. The beans and rice plate was a bit lacking. Beans with a tiny bit of cheese, plain tasting rice, and some shredded lettuce with a dollop of sour cream on top of a half slice of tomato. I was hoping for some pico de gallo or an avocado slice, guacamole would have been out of the question. Service was SLOW and there is very very limited parking.
(3)Robert H.
Don't be intimidated by the outside appearance. When you walk in, there is an immediate change in the atmosphere. I can quickly see myself becoming a regular here. There cuisine is a mix of authentic and tex-mex. There taco de asadas are crazy good. If you are in the area and looking for some great Mexican Food, you will regret passing them by. 5 stars!
(5)Cassie W.
Great every time I go And I am a regular for margarita Monday the atmostphere, the food and the service are all wonderful! Jay my favorite server! Always ask for him!
(5)Sohil M.
This review comes after my second visit. First visit I wasn't impressed at all as the place was noisy and food was average for a Mexican restaurant. Second visit with peace corps group, I really enjoyed the food I ordered but the Mariachi music played by the group of old men made my visit a memorable one!
(4)Jason B.
Best Mexican food I've ever had! Happy my friend brought me here. The cactus was pretty good. I really loved my tamales and tacos. The service was also amazing. Our waiter joked with us a few times. The whole time I couldn't stop talking about how much I loved the food. It will be a place I go back to over and over again.
(5)Michael G.
This place is good. You can get your American-style Mexican food or more authentically-inspired food. Tasty and it gets the job done. If you aren't just picking up from some of the less sit-down places around town, always go here.
(4)Kellie W.
I was so excited to try this place based on the glowing reviews but sadly I was left underwhelmed. I feel like this restaurant is just another typical Lexington Mexican restaurant. The chips were bland and the salsa was nothing spectacular. We ordered chicken taquitos for an appetizer which was shredded tasteless chicken rolled in fried dough. I literally only took one bite. I did enjoy my chile relleno stuffed with cheese but the rice and beans were very sub standard. I have to say I would come back here for one thing-the flan which happened to be topped with chocolate! Absolutely delicious and best I've had!
(2)W L.
Healthy preparation, generous portion at a low price, and always friendly and insult prompt service. It opens 10:30am daily and is a very reliable neighborhood restaurant that offers good food and good times.
(5)Ashley M.
Our family loves eating here! Kid-friendly, great prices and we've never had a disappointing server. You'll get free Chips & Salsa once seated. My two favorites: Asada Sope when I'm wanting something small and Pollo Enchilada Verdes for days when my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Usually I'm too full for dessert so we walk next door to the bakery and buy a pastry for later.
(5)Megan M.
The tacos are pretty stellar but other items on the menu aren't. I always get guac and enchiladas; their's aren't that spectacular. The second time I went the tacos were wonderful. Maybe I'll need to go a third time to try something else.
(3)Kristin I.
This is my favorite sit-down Mexican place in Lexington. The service can be inconsistent, but the food totally makes it worth it. Sopes, good. Authentic tacos on corn tortillas with just meat, onions, and cilantro, good. Tamales, spicy and good. They are accommodating to kids, large groups, and everyone in between. Just make sure you ask for the set of three salsas to come to your table with your meal. It seems like they forget half the time, but they are outstanding.
(5)Nathan M.
As a service industry guy, I'm patient and understanding. However, the service and food was terrible! He couldn't remember our drink orders, then we sat there for 10 more minutes waiting on a water and coke. Watching, I knew he had only four tables. He tosses down our drinks without asking our order, and chats with our neighboring table for far too long, then goes and hang out at the bar. I then watched him set a table of four and takes their drink order, brings it to the table and then takes their order! What the hell?! My girlfriend and I were a two top. We had everything laid out to order. We're service industry. We know how this works. Finally, we give him our order. As we're sitting, I see another server taking the orders of a 12 top. Alright fine. The 4 top he sat after us gets their food. And ten minutes later THE 12 TOPS FOOD COMES OUT. After he helps run the other servers food I see him look at our table and that moment of panic that he forgot to put in our order. He then comes up and says "your food will be out shortly" and runs off. Screw you dude at least apologize since its been so long. After our food gets their it just gets worse. My girlfriends chicken was a greenish tint, and not due to the tomatillo salsa. The refried beans were a paste with no beans to be seen. My steak quesadilla was meat sour cream and avocado. Honestly pathetic. We had a few bites and just paid the check and left a 20% tip (being in the industry that's my minimum because I know how it is.) we just said forget it and went for fast food to have something in our bellies. I went to this place based on the reviews that made it seem so great, I don't see how you guys do it.
(1)Ernie D.
The food is great. Mexican places usually fall either in the bleh category or the great, and this one is definitely good. The extra sauces they bring out really help out with the taste and the wait staff was friendly. For the price, you can't do much better than this.
(4)Kyle B.
I eat here all the time and the food is consistently good. Never had a bad meal and love the atmosphere. Waiters are great. Best Mexican food in town. Great job.
(5)William W.
The food is delicious however on Friday nights there's a very annoying Mariachi band so I just try to go other nights.
(4)Cissy A.
Stopped in yesterday evening prime time for dinner, the place was hoppin'. Didn't have to wait and was seated right away. First impression? Clean, I mean really clean... right down to the menus. Nothing worse that going into a restaurant and opening a sticky dirty menu, but not this place! Glass doors everything was pretty much spotless which is surprising since they were so busy. But employees were constantly cleaning. Anyway...about the food. Very very good! Ingredients were fresh, portions were just enough and the menu is authentic Mexican fare. The staff is very friendly and will even work with you on your Spanish if needed! Only issue is parking and the salsa. I like salsa with a little more cilantro and umph. Just my personal opinion. This is our new go to place for Mexican food.
(4)Nicholas M.
Best Mexican food in town, and the some of the best I've had. Good service, good prices. Order a la carte for a more authentic experience.
(5)Alan M.
A solid 4 star authentic Mexican . No fancy atmosphere or decorations. You come here for food and the prices wow $12 for two at lunch. Salsa has a kick .i tried the steak tacos which are soft tacos, and my sister tried the chicken quesadilla said chicken had great flavor and flour tortilla had right amount of crunch and soft on inside, will definitely return and I am getting the chicken quesadilla next trip. Now like all other older shop centers in town beware if you are in a wheelchair NO handicap parking and a tall, narrow sidewalk and a small ramp.
(4)William G E.
This is the best Mexican rest. In Lex. It is true Mexican which makes a difference. The food is super with large portions. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. Always cheery. This is where lots of Mexicans show up. Also a bakery next door and store Next to it. Always busy but wait never real long. A must try!!
(4)Chuck G.
If you like Mexican food, great friendly service from all the staff then you need to come to El Rancho Tapatio. My wife and I eat here regularly and always have a great experience. The food is always delicious. Friday night a Mariachi band plays which really makes for a good time. The menu offers entrees that you don't see on other Mexican restaurant menus. I could go on and on but you just need to try them out!
(5)Tanya B.
This is our favorite Mexican restaurant in Lexington! We love it. The margaritas are delicious and we are snobs when it comes to our drinks. They will serve by the pitcher if you ask for it. The chips and sals are delicious when you doctor them with the extra spices. We always ask for the extra spices to be brought to our table and we add a small spoonful of each to flavor. This adds a great kick! The chicken chimichanga is lightly breaded and covered with queso. The guacamole is very good.
(5)Zachary C.
We came here for lunch based on the good reviews. We were disappointed. I asked for the best margarita which he aggressively used a pint glass as an ice scoop, Kroger concentrated OJ and this cheap Lysol tasting sour mix. It was bad. The chorizo taco was dry, the carnitas was inedible because it was so old and going south. The barbacoa was just ok and the beans were also inedible because they were scorched and tasted burnt. Basically it was a meal of old leftovers. Maybe it's better at dinner but I'll never know.
(1)Ann L.
Fun to try this place on Mariachi night (Fridays). They played us a love song. The place was packed, which is always a good sign. The food was really good. I tried the pastor taco. The server did a great job, busy or not. The price was right.
(4)Maggie T.
My favorite Mexican in Lexington! I love this place. I can always get a seat, it's not too loud, and everything is good. Pop over next door to check out their bakery and grocery store. I've had tacos, burritos, guacamole, fajitas- all good.
(5)Sherry T.
Based on many Yelp reviews, I was expecting authentic Mexican food--the best in Lexington. However, what my husband and I experienced was far from that expectation. The salsa was bland, the enchiladas were mediocre, and the iced tea tasted like water. The only good thing I can say is that service was very good. As for the bakery next door that so many have mentioned, if you enjoy stale baked goods with little flavor, knock yourself out!
(2)Bret F.
While I was late in learning about El Rancho Tapatio, it's is easily my favorite Mexican restaurant in Lexington. The food is always well prepared and the service is friendly. Some of my favorites are the Tacos En Tortilla de Maiz (Pastor and Chorizo are my favorite fillings) as well as the Sopes (Picadillo). We've been there at least 10 times in the last three months and I have yet to have anything that I didn't like. (I'm actually going to dinner there tonight!) I will say that one thing that varies is the cheese dip. When it's a little more soupy it fantastic.....but a couple of times it's been thicker and not as good...but still really good. Try the Tapatio Dip, but ask for chorizo instead of ground beef. Another thing that sets this place apart is how reasonably priced the menu is. There have been many times that my family of four have eaten around $23!
(5)Doug E.
I've Traveled all over the southwest and this is authentic taqueria style food! it is awesome! I love it so much i actually eat there about 3 times a week. the price is to perfect especially if you stick to the tacos which are something like $1.25 which I'm pretty sure is cheaper than taco bells new cantina tacos and 125% better! i always get 3 tacos: tacos pastor which is pork marinated in a pineapple sauce which is probably my favorite of the three then there is the tacos barbacoa WOW perfectly seasoned beef ...brisket maybe?... its good enough to be! and finally a vegetarian the tacos rajas roasted pablano with sour creme and Mexican style crumble cheese (Oaxaca cheese maybe) which is the perfect amount of spicy for my weak American tongue all served with onion and cilantro wrapped in two corn tortillas also the gorditas are great for just a buck and change more you get a crispy fried pita type bread stuffed with even more meat (any of them will do but i think this goes best with the delicious barbacoa) lots of lettuce, sour creme, and cheese. hmm lets see there is also the enchiladas verdes! it tastes like what i imagine Mexico tastes like! four corn tortillas stuffed with chicken smothered in a great fresh tasting tamatillo pepper sauce with more of that crumble cheese, sour creme, fresh avacado. and lets not forget the chips as soon as your our they come by and ask you if you want more not like most of the other "Mexican" restaurants here in Lexington. The next closes thing to this in in alexandria and if you live on the southside of town that's to far away and to scary for the "affluence" of the southside. -Happy Eating! P.S. don't miss Friday night mariachi... ranchos mariachi is way better than haciendas they actually new besame mucho!
(5)J D.
Great stuff.
(5)John D.
Easily the best Mexican place in town.
(5)Jennifer W.
Excellent! We enjoyed the food and the drinks! Not a typical Mexican restaurant. Lots of different things on the menu to try.
(4)Lee P.
If you like authentic Mexican food then this is the place. The tacos at El Rancho are authentic, cheap and delicious. The Chicken Taco is good but, try the Pastor Taco. It's pork in a red sauce with pineapple. The shredded beef taco was fantastic. Great atmosphere. Service is great. Very clean. Best Mexican food in town.
(4)Kristen S.
This is a little place, nothing fancy nor bright colors as in the usual Mexican joints, but it's simple and clean. The service was great, all very polite. Chips and salsa are complimentary, and good. Make sure to ask for other sauces (also complimentary), they'll bring out four others- ranging from an avocado, mild, to a hot one. Food was even better, had the super flautas which came with two huge ones stuffed w/lots of shredded chicken. The chicken was moist, came with rice and I left with a doggy box. There wasn't a drink menu, but saw there's a full bar, wide array of beers, but I went with the house margarita, it was good and cheap; too bad we missed happy hour 2 for 1. We will be back for more!
(4)Betty H.
I love mexican food and this is the best authentic mexican place in Lexington! My bf and I have tried other places in town but we consistently come back to el rancho tapatio. My bf usually gets their individual hard tacos with al pastor and barbacoa, while I get the special of the night. The menudo and pazole soups very flavorful and available only on the weekends. They also serve an enormous fried ice cream for dessert. The waitstaff is very friendly and welcoming.
(5)Johnny D.
Five star Mexican food with flip-flop elegance!
(5)Jill T.
The food was delicious and the prices could not be beat.
(4)Jonathan P.
This is the best Mexican food I've had in Lexington, by far. The tacos are delicious, and the little quartet of sauces they bring out with them means every bite can be a little bit different. Three tacos and a side of beans comes to six bucks and change, which felt like a steal for food this good.
(4)John F.
Very good little Mexican restaurant. And they have a really cool bakery and grocery next door.
(5)Nick W.
this place was pretty good! good food, fast service, reasonably priced.
(4)Brenna B.
Just moved here from California, and I'm a Texan native, so I'm probably biased as to the kind of Mexican food I will eat. This is the third Mexican restaurant we've tried in Lexington and we finally found something we liked. The initial salsa they bring out with the chips is ok, but still better than the salsas we had at the other two Mexican restaurants we tried in town. But then they bring out four additional salsas, each a different level of spicy, one of which is a avocado tomatillo mix (maybe some smoked jalapeño in there?) that is ridiculously addicting. I ended up pouring it over everything. I had mixed fajitas, the lunch plate - great taste, not too greasy and the corn tortillas were fresh. Very large portion so I'm curious how big the dinner plate is. I also liked that they didn't bring it out on those hot plates covered in liquid smoke. Waitstaff was extremely friendly and courteous, came back and checked on us but wasn't pushy. We really enjoyed it and we'll definitely be back!
(4)Seth B.
Mexican restaurants are usually like Chinese restaurants- delicious, but the only thing to differentiate the menus is the name on the front. To get non-Tex-Mex Mexican food one usually has to go to small food stalls (like Maria's Kitchen on N. Broadway) or little kitchens (like the one in Tienda de Omar on 7th St.). Rancho Tapatio is the first full-scale Mexican restaurant I have seen that offers classic, cheap taco fillings like tongue and tripe. The authenticity is verified by a full line of courses like pozole soup (hominy and pork) and hand-made tamales in corn husks. But how did I know this was real down-casa Mexican cookin? The Mexican hot dog! Just like you'll find at any Mexican soccer game, with jalapenos and mayonnaise (I didn't say it was delicious). There are dishes from all over Mexico, especially central and northern Mexico, with a good showing of West Coast seafood preps. All your favorites are there too, in the familiar Mexican restaurant environment. This is now my favorite Mexican restaurant in Lex- and I like Mexican food, if you can't tell.
(4)Woodson H.
Good semi-authentic Mexican food. Eaten there 2 times. Good chimichaungas
(3)davis b.
The Tex-Mex is an afterthought and only by way of concession. The heart of this restaurant is Mexico and Tapatio designates Guadalajara , in the heart of Mexico.Tacos are soft and numerous choices but my favorites are tripa ,crispy, and lingua; served with two small tortillas and onion and cilantro to top them.The sandwiches, tortas, are generously filled and the sub-like sandwich is on fresh baked bread. The pozole is only available on weekends, unless there is some left on Monday, worth asking if like this pork and hominy stew.If you have eaten there a few times and ask about some dish you are not familiar with, and there will be several, you may be lucky enough to have a sample brought out.I have discovered I am not a fan of tamale in banana leaf, and some obscure fish dish, but not much to not like. The waitstaff is pleasant and helpful.If you want something that is not smothered in so much sauce and cheese and microwaved to order so as to become one amorphous glop then your time has come to try something better . They care about the food. What more can I say?
(4)Jeremy G.
best mex in lex with a great vegetarian selection and reasonably priced.
(5)Christopher H.
This is the best Mexican place in Lexington - by far! Everything they have is wonderful. The homemade corn tortillas are worth the trip. Just tried their new bakery next door this evening. WOW, truly amazing.
(5)