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    Avila's El Ranchito

    3.8 (493 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Salad
    Closed 11:30 am - 8:30 pm

    Order Avila's El Ranchito Takeout or Delivery

    Avila's El Ranchito Photos

    Business Info

    AVILA'S EL RANCHITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Avila's El Ranchito

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    Best chips and thick salsa anywhere.
    Chris P.

    I still love this location and the food is amazing. Been awhile since we ate here and it's gotten better if you ask me. The salsa is just the way i like it thick and chunky without allot of liquid vinegar. The chicken was so tasty and everybody's plates are big generous portions. You can then walk off the meal on the Seal Beach Pier.

    Brenda R.

    It was a beautiful summer day ad they offered the perfect patio accommodation to feel better you were part of the ongoing beach scene! Just a half a block from the pier it's the perfect spot! Our waiter Joseph was extraordinary and we took all f his recommendations! Coconut margaritas-shaken Guacamole -OMGOODNESS yum! Best ever and I eat alot of it! Chili's Relleno-cooked to perfection with fluffy rice and beans! We will be adding Avias to our rotation! Street parking was easy!

    Taco and tamale combo
    Dari P.

    Although this is the day before Mother's Day, we didn't have to wait very long for a table. We got a round wooden table with wooden chairs in the center of the room. When somebody left a booth, they let us move to the more comfortable seats. It really helped our backs Service was excellent. They brought drinks right away and kept them refilled. Our orders were combo plates and one beef fajitas. I had a crispy taco and a tamale. They were also plenty of chips and salsa. They kept our drink glasses filled and we're very attentive with their service. Definitely five stars.

    Festive Exit.
    Lynnann W.

    Have never met an Avila's that I didn't love; today was no exception! Set along a quaint thoroughfare, with free angled street parking. It has a small footprint and they utilize every inch of it; so much charm, family/community history. Lauren J was the epitome of this brand; I was welcomed and treated like family. Adore their homemade salsa, chunky with fresh yumminess and a nice bite. The Grande Taco Salad with grilled chicken and a side of fajita veggies was delicious, huge - you get your money's worth! This is a home run with filling, super delicious, affordable Mexican food in a fun location.

    complimentary chips & salsa
    Timmy S.

    Walking along Main Street in Seal Beach I decided to stop here for an early dinner. I stepped through the patio to the interior and stood for a couple minutes, looking at the cool original brickwork of this old building. Eventually one of the waitstaff yelled "sit anywhere!". The booths were taken so I sat at a table in the center of the room. My waiter brought a menu and immediately asked what I'd like to drink. I asked for horchata but they don't have it so I went with an iced tea. Some subpar chips and salsa were dropped off and I ordered the beef taquitos plate (2 taquitos with the obligatory rice and beans). At some Mexican restaurants you give your order and it seems like they go through a revolving door to the kitchen and come right back out with your plate of food. Here it took about 20 minutes, delivered with a casual, "here ya go." I was impressed with the large amount of guacamole and sour cream on the plate to accompany the taquitos which were quite good with a crispy exterior and tender shredded beef inside. The rice and beans were standard Mexican restaurant sides, nothing special. My waiter never checked back until he dropped off the bill. It was a slightly above average experience - 3.5 stars rounded up.

    Pineapple Jalapeño margarita
    Dawna H.

    Cruising through town, craving Mexican food, but have a 6 year old in tow. Didn't want a loud cantina environment so this one seemed like a solid option. We arrived around 7pm on a Saturday and only had a 15 minute wait. Not too shabby at all. After we were sat, our server was quick to obtain our drink order. I had to splurge and get the Pineapple Jalapeño margarita - and definitely didn't disappoint! So flavorful, refreshing and spicy! My daughter is a basic 6 year old so got the chicken fingers. I went with the chicken mole enchiladas. Let's just say, they were the best I ever had! My daughter's dad got the flautas and chicken enchiladas with red sauce and he was very impressed! Definitely going to rave to our friends and family! Dog friendly patio if your pup is well trained!

    Complimentary Chips and salsa. Salsa was excellent. Chips hot and frah.
    Shannon B.

    Charming authentic mexican food with a dog friendly patio in the heart of Seal Beach.

    Steak Fajitas
    Garett Y.

    Finding decent Mexican food at a reasonable price can be tough to find in some parts of OC, but my mom recommended this place, so we decided to give it a try. I'm stoked we did! This has been one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The service was excellent; we have a huge family, and they were incredibly patient with us. The guacamole was the standout! **Fajitas:** These were good--not the best I've ever had, but the meat was tender, well-seasoned, and generously portioned. Surprisingly, i can't believe I'm saying this, I think they could have used more veggies. **Enchiladas:** Absolutely delicious! The green and red sauces were perfect--not too spicy, but packed with flavor. I will for sure get this next time I go. **Two Taco Plate:** The tacos were really good I hate when tacos fall apart after the first bite, but these were crunchy and held together perfectly. **Quesadilla:** My kid is a bit picky, but even they loved the quesadilla. We requested grilled chicken as a substitute and it was simple but good. I was not mad I paid what I did for something I could have "made at home" **Guacamole:** I have never been so happy to pay for an appetizer! Words can't describe how good this was. Once again, simple but really good! We mixed the house salsa with it! For sure putting this on the rotation!

    Margaritas for the win!
    Sarah L.

    Food: 3.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 The service and margarita list are what would keep me coming back. I wasn't super impressed with the food in terms of taste. That said, it was tasty enough to be satisfying, everything came out right, and the portions were large! The ambiance and servers were very nice.

    Machacha con Huevos
    Nana K.

    Portions. Portions. Great service. Tasty breakfast. Did I mention how generous their portions are? We came here after a Seal Beach 10k run, and were ready to eat some good food. Hubbie mentions to get something big so he can have my leftovers after he finishes his breakfast burrito. Well, he did finish his dish, and I did have leftovers, but we had to bring it home because we were both STUFFED from their huge dishes. Our meals were both very tasty. I definitely ate more than I wanted to and had plenty leftover to bring home. Our waiter was very friendly as well. I also liked that the restaurant was not too loud. Our first time visiting Avilas but not our last. Can't wait to try their lunch or dinner options as well

    Friday funday with a delicious chimiganga and cheese enchiladas with cervesas!!
    Emily B.

    Eric greeted us and sat us in a perfect spot for us + our pup. They brought him water and he got his own grilled steak dish. It was awesome! We got the chimichanga with shredded chicken and the juiciness & tenderness was spot on. The cheese enchiladas hit the spot as well! Our lunch outing with Cindy taking care of us made for a perfect Friday Funday!

    Shrimp tacos -in a butter garlic sauce.

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    3 months ago

    One of our little favorite hole in the walls in Seal Beach. Food does not disappoint and the portions are large and reasonably priced!!

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    Elyse A.

    We truly appreciate your review and hope to see you soon!

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    6 months ago

    Authentic Mexican food. Highly recommended by family members who died at this location.

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    10 months ago

    Incredible food, amazing service! The soup is phenomenal and the ambiance perfection!

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    Avila's El Ranchito Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Avila's El Ranchito

    Do they have Lunch Specials?

    We are vegan - Is your rice made with chicken stock? Thank you!

    Yes

    What type of outdoor dining do they have and how many tables?

    They have the patio area at the front of the restaurant with maybe four tables. They have the street area with maybe six tables.

    Do they serve posole every day or just on weekends?

    Just call them and ask.

    Do they have gluten free menus?

    Do they cook with lard?

    Some things do.

    View All 7 Questions

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    California Cocina - Self explanatory

    California Cocina

    4.4(607 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    Omg, get the nachos! We came hungry and left satisfied…read more We got the carne asada nachos with guacamole and sour cream on the side. There's just so much food, enough for two. The beans and meat are literally buried under all that cheese. Delicious!

    NO BUENO. Fake Mexican Food and a Huge Disappointment. Avoid…read morethis place. The visual quality of the food does not match their Instagram posts at all. It is fake Mexican food at best. HUGE Disappointment. To put it bluntly, I would have had a vastly tastier meal at Chipotle. The Food: Sub-Par and Speed-Warmed Nothing on the plate had any FLAVOR, and the temperature of the food was warm at best. The Rice & Beans: The beans were warm/cold and entirely unseasoned. Shockingly, the rice was plain, white, and completely flavorless. White rice at a Mexican restaurant? Seriously? Chilaquiles: These were entirely ruined, hidden under a slab of meat and a strange, bright yellow egg substance. Scrambled Eggs: They had a terrible, distinct taste of powdered origin. Chile Relleno: This was obviously prepared way in advance and just reheated, as the inside was still completely cold. Fish Taco: This was delivered on a flat, no flavor, and cold tortilla. Pico de Gallo: It was completely mushy, which is a strong indication that they are using canned, cubed tomatoes instead of fresh ones. Gaslit by Staff When I confronted the staff about the complete lack of flavor, I was dismissed and told that their "customers rave about it." They are clearly out of touch. Do not let the social media photos fool you. Seriously disappointed and mislead by social media. Sub Par! This food is completely bland, poorly prepared, and a total waste of money. NO BUENO!

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    Salsa Bar!

    California Cocina - Side of delicious pinto beans

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    California Cocina - Two Taco Combo Shredded Beef Burrito

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    Avila's El Ranchito - mexican - Updated June 2026

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