Came here on a Saturday evening with my family. We are a big deal (16 of us) we were in a room off that had two long tables and doors to shut for privacy, if needed. We had one young server that took everyone's orders and she rocked it on that. Now timing on things coming took a bit but not to be noted to fault her. The food was mediocre at best I had the el rancherito enchiladas. I cannot speak for everyone else. I wasn't too impressed with mine. I also had the "skinny" margarita and that wasn't cheap. I had my hopes high since my family comes here often. Parking does wrap around to the back. It's located near broadway and shopping center near by. Take away- my personal food was avg. our server A for dealing with my large family and how hard it was to hear. read more

See all

Food was excellent we shared a seafood bowl! It was more than enough for two people. We added a Mexican corn appetizer as additional side. Great choice the corn was amazing with the seafood. read more

What an amazing Mexican food restaurant! After reading the Yelp reviews we decided to stop here for lunch on our way up to St. Louis. Would love to come back here again! The Birria tacos were delicious. A little softer than I'm used to, but definitely awesome. My wife had a taco salad with shrimp as the protein, with some guacamole on the side. Delicious. The place was packed at noon on Sunday, and so many things on the menu look fantastic. I would love to come back here for their fajitas. If you're looking for some amazing Mexican food, this is the place! Five stars they have been in business for 30 years and you can see why! read more

See all

Portions are great and meals but didn't like the guacamole. Tasted like store bought . Didn't notice hardly any fresh cilantro and had an after taste . read more

There weren't a lot of pet-friendly restaurant options in this town so we thought we'd give this place a try. So glad we did because the food was quite delicious! Between the chipotle chicken, carnitas, and chicken street tacos we left very satisfied! Healthy-size portions and great flavors. If we weren't passing through on a x-country trip, we'd definitely come back! ~TL&L read more

Loved the molcajete. Super flavourful and full of chicken and shrimp. The margs are as expected. Would love to see a fresh one instead of a mix but it still does the job. Will be back when I'm in town. read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

The nachos were literally cooked chicken on chips, with three or four droplets of cheese. And they threw one of the plates on the table because they were mad. read more

Nice Outdoor Patio We were road tripping and felt like a little south of the border food for lunch, so we headed over to El Rancherito. The interior is similar to many Mexican restaurants with lots of wood, heavy chairs and clay tile floors decorated as usual. It was a nice day and we opted to sit out on a very nice patio where there were plenty of umbrella covered tables. The patio is on the street side of the eatery, but street noise was not an issue. My wife ordered one Beef Taco ($2.60) and one Chile Relleno ($5.50) ala carte. I had the Tortilla Soup. My wife really enjoyed her Taco, but when she got to her Chile Relleno, it had turned into one big solid mass of melted cheese over a meat filled Chile. Our guess is that someone melted the cheese over the relleno a little too long in the microwave and when it cooled off it became a statue. The staff was very apologetic and offered to bring a new one, but wife just opted for another taco. My soup was great. Fresh avocado slices, crispy fried tortilla strips and a few squeezes of fresh lime in a savory veggie and chicken broth made for a wonderful dish. We had a nice light quick lunch and got back on the road. read more

See all

No drive through window. Drive through places don't charge for you to pick up at the window. No curb service. They charge you to carry out your own order to take home. Try one of the other Mexican places to eat. Food isn't bad. Try some frozen dinners. I don't like paying for more than the food. Pretty noisy place to eat. Fazoli's is better. read more

We stopped on the way back from the Bourbon Trail, hoping that we would find a local spot that we could support. We were not disappointed. Place was clean and decorated like old town Mexico. This salsa was fresh tasting, although a little mild for our palate. The chips were fresh and warm. Service was prompt. Light margarita was solid. The pollo Sinaloa had fresh vegetables and a side of rice & beans that actually had flavor. We'd come back if we were coming through town! read more

This restaurant is so convenient from the Interstate it's a regular stop on our annual pilgrimage thru southern Illinois. We meet friends for lunch who originally met there when it was a steak house. They've been married almost 40 years! The service, decor and quality of food did not disappoint. The servings are usually generous and so much holiday cheer. My fajita quesadilla was great and enough to share half with others. Hubby thought his chimichanga was on the small side. read more

See all

Our favorite in the local region for Mexican cuisine. Portions are tasty, well-prepared, well-presented, and ample. Margaritas are tasty, albeit not the strongest in the area. Service is not necessarily the friendliest, but is usually prompt and at least courteous. Ambience is slightly kitschy, but not overbearing. Prices are quite reasonable especially given the quality and quantity of the food. Unfortunately for us, they are 25 miles away from the house, or it would be a weekly event for us. read more

Super duper now every time I pass by on my semi I'll stop here highly recommend it food services and cleaning great read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - Amazing food services great super clean overall I give them 5 star - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

Our second time passing through on the way to Denver and Los Angeles, last time we went to JJs and had amazing service. This time Tina at Comfort inn clued is in that this restaurant is owned by same people. Being from California, we dont usually do Mexican food outside of the state (its just too good in California). But this was great, sat at the bar, played cards together, supped Cadillacs and then ate great fajitas. Very nice after a 500 mike driving day. Thanks Tina and our server Joanne. read more

Great food... exceptional service... and a very comfortable atmosphere in which to enjoy!!

Whenever we are in town we make it a point to stop at El Rancherito we all love the food. But tonight we got seated by a very nice young man, we got our chips and salsa and that was it. We were the second ones seated in our area and then a large table came in and 4 other tables were seated and served. We still weren't waited on so I went up front and asked for a server, still nothing. We collected our belongings and we are now sitting at La Fuente enjoying our drinks and waiting for our food. read more

Great food - I'm a super picky eater and they were very accommodating when I changed the toppings on my tacos. My partner got the steak tacos and loved them, I got classic ground beef tacos and they had such a good flavor. We used their website to order online but they didn't seem to have our order ready when we arrived. I'm assuming they don't use the online ordering feature often, and they didn't make us wait long, so it wasn't a huge issue. read more

Very nice restaurant. Bright and airy and not to loud. Service was excellent and food was great. The tortilla soup was to die for. Practically a meal in itself. Bring a friend or two and share the 45oz margarita too! read more

Typical Mexican food for the area. Re: average Nice atmosphere. Food is ready quickly. Lots of menu options read more

Yelp rating isn't always right. I'll give 5 stars. Great atmosphere, service and Margs and Fajitas! read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

Ordered online. ETA is 10 minutes. It's been 45. Friends had the same issue last night. Management is not apologetic and are certainly beneficiaries of no competition. If you're traveling and can stop somewhere/anywhere else...do yourself a favor and keep driving when you see El Rancherito. Correction, it has now been 47 minutes. read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - Copy of anticipated wait - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

We happened to be driving through Mt Vernon on I-64 and needed some lunch. We pulled off at an exit that promised several fast food choices and while trying to decide, we spotted El Rancherito. Even a bad experience would have been better than fast food, so we decided to give it a try. Ms T opted for a taco salad and I had chicken tortilla soup. Both were decent offerings. The salad was large and was loaded with well-seasoned ground beef. There was almost too much meat for the amount of lettuce. I know that sounds like a strange complaint, but it's true. My tortilla soup was also a large serving and was very good. It was a little cold outside and this hit the spot. It was full of chicken, fresh avocado, queso fresco and pico de gallo and it was accompanied by lime wedges. I would certainly order this again. I noticed that El Rancherito receives mixed reviews. We had no issues with service or our food. We rated it a solid three stars, based on just one visit and would stop again if the opportunity arises. read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - Chicken Tortilla Soup - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

Its been quite awhile since we have had good Mexican food so I was very happy togive them a good review. We had their "2 dos 25 special" The appetizer of bolo dip was excellent. Chimichanga & quesidilla followed. So flavourful. It was great. Even though I couldn't finish everything (I did take it home) we had the sopapillas for dessert and they were the best I've ever had!. Of course their grande margarita was a great deal too. It was great to finally have some good Mexican finally! I wish I lived in the area but we were just passing through. read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - Beef quesadilla & chicken chimichango - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

See all

At the recommendation of a friend, we stopped here for lunch. After walking in, we recognized its split into part restaurant and part sports bar. Each section has its own area so make sure if you have a preference you request that before they seat you at your table. The place is decked out to make you feel like you are at a resort in Mexico. The menu is huge so you'll be able to find something for everyone which can also be overwhelming. They also bring a bowl of warm chips and salsa to snack on while you wait for your food. Be mindful when you order food as the plates are huge! While I failed to get a pic of their frozen margarita, I highly recommend it. It's so good, it's dangerous, especially on a hot day! Would definitely visit here again if were ever in the area. read more

See all

We came in for out of state at the end of the night. Service was a little rude, but we did come in 30 min before closing, so it was to be a little expected. Service was fast we were still in and out in 30 min. Interior of restaurant was very nicely updated and clean. Margarita was tasty but not very strong. Chips and salsa was good. I loved the cornbread but both my husband and I didn't care for our main meals. Everything seemed extra soupy. The beans didn't taste the best and were not very thick, somewhat runny. I got cheesy beef and the cheese sauce didn't even stay on the meat it ran off like a strainer through my fork. My husband said his chimichanga was not crispy and seemed like it was microwaved. We liked Agave Mexican restaurant much better just across the parking lot. read more

One of the best Mexican restaurants in the area. They offer a large variety of menu items. One of my favs is the Juan Tacos. The restaurant is beautiful and the staff is friendly and courteous. Locally owned and operated make it even more special! read more

Food was fairly good. Service was horrible. Not just for us, but for other guests. Perhaps this is what is expected in Illinois, but certainly not where I come from. Seating a guest, you would expect the staff to be polite, show the guest to the table, and hand each guest a menu. Instead, the staff walks in front on the guest to the vicinity of the table, points, and throws the menus, utensils, and napkins on the table, and walks away. Not what I consider good or even acceptable customer service. Ambiance was acceptable. I will not return, or refer anyone to this restaurant. read more

During a cross country trip I found myself sleeping one night in Mount Vernon. I was near El Rancherito, the Yelp reviews seemed ok so ordered a chicken burrito grande to go. The good: the owner/manager was really nice and invited me to stay for 1.99 margarita night. I think there may have been karaoke too from the sound of things. I was tired and declined so I could go back to the hotel. The interior of the restaurant was colorful and cute. The bad: the food was really awful. I took a few bites and threw it away. It was an odd tortilla wrapped around dried out chunks of flavorless chicken. That's all that was in the burrito. In the take out tin there was some shredded lettuce and a strange melted white cheese sauce. This wasn't a burrito. I am not sure what it was except a big disappointment. read more

Food is great. Chips are "still warm from the oven " fresh. Fast service. Clean and bright dining area. Cheerful decor. read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - Table dining area. - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

In town for the night and glad we tried this place amidst the sea of chains. Easy ordering online and convenient pickup. Food was great. Especially the tacos al pastor! Will definitely be back. read more

Food & service are always good. I would recommend this restaurant for those looking for Mexican cuisine.

We love El ranch. The customer service is great! The food is so so good! You have to try their shredded beef chimichangas AND THEIR CORN BREAD?!? Out of this world good!!!!! read more

Been here several times had good meals every time. Service is good.All the food tastes good

I was impressed and enjoyed the food. Alicia was amazing very attentive and nice. I will be back.

My god what a disappointment. I ordered the chili relleno and it was not what I expected. Was it stuffed with cheese... yes. The cheapest cheese you can buy. And it had a scrambled egg on top with red sauce. That's not how you make a chili relleno. How do I know.....YouTube dummy. What I got was a monstrance. I was starving so I choked it down. The one saving grace was the strawberry margarita. The only reason this place is still open is because the white people of Mount Vernon have never tasted truly authentic Mexican food. read more

El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant - This is what's left of the crap I choked down. - Mexican Near Me - Mount Vernon, Illinois

Great food, Service and friendly.atmosphere is truly Mexican. Inside is beautiful and patio is very nice.

My husband and I visited El Rancherito a couple weeks ago for our first date night out since COVID began! We sat outside on their absolutely beautiful back patio with lights, umbrellas, and live music. The atmosphere at El Rancherito is so authentic and in my opinion, the best Mexican food in town! My husband loves their steak and chicken fajitas. I ordered grilled shrimp and chicken. Their salsa is the perfect balance of chunky and smooth, their chips- awesome! Service is friendly and quick. read more

The Ranch, as the locals call it, has expanded their outdoor dining at this time! Enjoy the patio or under a tent and enjoy the extensive menu of authentic Mexican cuisine! Fresh chips and salsa start you off for a great meal. I have never had anything at the Ranch that wasn't delicious! read more

My coworkers and I came for lunch, and the food was pretty good! We didn't have much of a wait time at all, and we were able to pay our bill quickly at the counter. If you dare, ask your server for the "house hot salsa". It's pretty spicy, but very tasty. The prices were a little high, but overall I would come back. read more

Friends in Charleston and I were going to meet up for dinner. The challenge: find a place along a I-57 exit that was good for dinner and, preferably, not a chain. We settled on El Rancherito, but as a gal who has been spoiled by the Mexican restaurants of southern California for the last seven years, I had some trepidation. It turned out that my reservations for it were, in part, off-base. When we got there I was surprised at how huge the place was! We were given a huge round booth, even though there were only three in our party, and jumped right into talking. Even though it was not crowded at all, the waitress seemed a little bothered at how slow we were to select our drinks, food, etc. If it seemed like we were keeping her from making more money I'd have felt badly about it, but since it was practically crickets the whole time we were there, I just found it slightly bothersome. My go-to when trying new Mexican places in California is to order fish tacos, which can be the most amazing culinary experience one can have, or can be a pretty big flop. If a place makes a life-changing fish taco, they might just hold the key to my heart. So even though I was no longer a stone's throw from the ocean, I still used my tried and true test and ordered fish. The second it came out of my mouth I regretted it, remembering some of the worst fish tacos I'd ever had and feeling certain that my 60 mile drive back to the hotel would be complicated by this very decision. But I went with it anyways. I wish I could tell you that it was the best fish taco I'd ever had. But that would be a lie. But I *can* tell you that it was miles above the worst fish taco I'd ever had (right on the coast in Monterey, CA). It was pretty much middle-of-the-road decent by my California-based Mexican food standards, which for southern IL makes it pretty impressive. This particular evening was spent visiting with a friend I hadn't seen for the better part of ten years and meeting his fiancee (now wife). And with that as the highlight, even the best SoCal fish tacos can't compare! read more