Came in with my partner around 8pm and it was slightly dead inside, We sat down and I noticed the floor was very slippery and kinda dirty, The inside of the restaurant kinda smelt like pneumonia but it went away pretty quickly. The waitress was very friendly and quick with our requests, She told us about the specials they have and suggested us one of her favorite foods. Our food took maybe 10-15 minutes but it was honestly worth it, I got an enchilada stuffed with crab and my partner got one of the specials. The food was surprisingly super good and well worth the wait. The waitress kept checking in on us and once we were finished she gave us bags for our food and got us two huge to-go cups for our drinks. The total came out to be $39 which is a crazy good price considering the things we ordered. Overall I would eat here again. read more

Excellent food and portions! Good prices, staff very friendly and attentive! Fun atmosphere and plenty of parking

I cannot say enough GOOD about the excellent food and service that we receive EVERY TIME we go to eat at this restaurant!!! There are 9 other Mexican Restaurants in Albemarle, not to mention food trucks. This El Ranchito Restaurant is hands down, the BEST MEXICAN FOOD in Albemarle, NC. Their service is TOP NOTCH. Their food and drinks are not only delicious, but are a great VALUE for your money!!! They serve huge portions, that not only satisfy your meal while there, but enough left over for take home for your next dinner. We have dined at all 9 Mexican Restaurants in Albemarle, NC and El Ranchito IS The BEST. We took a party of 16 tonight for my husbands Birthday, and all 16 meals were served at the same time....no one was left without their meal, and they were on top of refills on chips and salsa, as soon as they ran out. All meals were as ordered, and absolutely DELICIOUS!!! You just cannot beat this type of service. They are so friendly and spot on with everything!! Thank you for being a go to restaurant that we can count on the quality and service to be 2nd to NONE!!! Thank you for all that you do. read more

Been to this Mexican restaurant twice while visiting a friend who lives there in May last year. His mom was from out of state. We were looking for food before we went to the drive-in cinema. I love Mexican food and there were not many choices there. But we had a table after waiting for a short while. The foods were alright. The service was also fine as it was very busy that evening. Today, May 22, Monday, I visited my friend again. I suggested Mexican food. He took me to this restaurant again and I could recognize the place. We just arrived passed the lunch hour and we were not ready for dinner. Blessed their heart, the server took our lunch order. This is the only Mexican restaurant in Charlotte or surrounding city so far that I know of, has horchata refilled. Please let me know if you know another one please! The food is very good. Was I hungry? :) They were good. I had my Acapuco Chicken while my friend had shrimp and rice. Both were good. read more

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Have eaten here many times. The food is good, but the last couple times it has been dirty. The windows and floor needs cleaning.

I'm visiting Albemarle again and decided to go back and give this place a second chance. My first review was pretty accurate. It's a solid three. It's not great Mexican food but it's not terrible. Their chips and salsa are very good, the beer is cold, but the steak nachos are very average. Again, if you're looking for great Mexican food, this is not the place but it will satisfy that Mexican desire in a pinch. read more

One of my favorite places to eat! The staff is welcoming and professional! BEST margaritas I've EVER had! I do wish the seating was more spaced apart with the current pandemic... but when I mentioned the close capacity I was quickly accommodated ! read more

El Ranchito Restaurante Mexicano - Mango Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Albemarle, North Carolina

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I got the Chicken tortilla Soup and the El Pastor tacos. We eat out a lot especially Mexican food. Whenever possible I always try the El Pastor wherever I go (if they have it). I was a bit skeptical based on the previous reviews for this place. Having said that I will say this is one of the best El Pastor tacos I have had. The Tortilla soup was also up to par. The chicken was grilled in the soup, unlike other places where it is usually shredded. Plenty of chucks of fresh avocado and substance to the soup as well. Starting this post I had originally gave this place. 4/5 but the more I thought about it, I Couldn't find a reason to rob them of that last star. From the menu size, to the prices, to the taste everything was on point. I guess my only qualm about this place was the queso was a bit thin and runny. read more

El Ranchito Restaurante Mexicano - a plate of food - Mexican Near Me - Albemarle, North Carolina

We had dinner here one evening. Staff is friendly. Service was quick, food was fantastic & a fair price. Regarding COVID measures - staff wore masks, signage about social distancing & requiring diners to wear masks when not at the table & they did have the inside ceiling fans off to cut down on re-circulated air. Unfortunately they were not distancing booths so we ended up sitting back to back basically with other people - no where even close to 6 feet apart. In hind site we should have requested an outside table. So while we enjoyed our food, I have to do just 3 stars based on how they are handling the dining room. If we were back in the area I might try takeout from El Ranchito, but would not eat in. read more

Today is mother's day. I took my wife, mother in law and wife's grandfather to eat there. We were there well past an hour after ordering. When they brought food out, it was one at a time in ten minute increments. By time I got my food, I was 30 minutes behind. My wife's grandfather got his fajita wraps at the end of the meal. read more

They have great margaritas!! The food is not bad either ! Just need to update the inside.

My wife and I went to get Mexican, we had been there before and it was pretty good. This visit was terrible, my wife had a Grande steak burrito and I had pork carnitas. Both dishes had no flavor, my wife's burrito was like chewing on boot leather. We also ordered cheese queso for the tortilla chips. It was the worst we have ever had. I don't know if this place changed management, but it was absolutely terrible. The service was so so. I doubt we will ever patronize this place again. read more

Took an hour and 45 to get my food out and it sucked food was awful it just sucked I hate it here never coming they'll give ur kids salmonella read more

Food is good. Service was non-existent on March 24. I will say the restaurant was very busy although my wife and I with 2 kids entered for a meal and after sitting at the table for around 30 minutes and not receiving any service except for the chips and salsa not even a drink order, and watching 2 other couples get seated right across the Isle and have drinks brought and orders taken and delivered I finally got up and walked up to speak to the manager. When he finally came to talk to me I informed him of the issues. He explained it off on the new employee (hostess). He came to the table and took the drink and meal order. He then brought the drinks and served them and not even the whole order. We then sat there with no service again for about 20 minutes and as he walked by (did not even stop) he made a comment of "I will have to check on your food". About 10 more minutes went by and a server (white female) came up with the food. It was hot but I think it was brought after going into a microwave. The server asked if everything was ok and I expressed the fact that there was no service and that I had to speak to the manager just to get the order taken and drinks after waiting for a long time and the drink order was not complete. At this point the server explained that they were short by 3 servers and when I told her everyone around us was getting service she then said if you don't like it you can get up and help me. She walked off. I went back to the manager and very strongly told him he needs to tell his wait staff to watch how they speak to customers. We never saw another server come to our table for the rest of the meal. After watching the wait staff sit at another customer's table and talk right across the Isle and then speak to another table directly behind me taking time out of their busy day. I watched 2 other couples come in and leave before we could even get started to feed the kids as well as us being able to eat. When my wife and I were done with our meal the manager walked past again not stopping he asked if we were good. My wife asked for the check and he continued on. About 10 minutes later my wife told me she was going to take the kids to the car while I paid for the meal. On My way to the register I stopped by the restroom. When I came out and I saw the manager heading out the door. About that time the server came in with the bill and when she saw me she said " HERE HE IS" I asked the ( her and the manager) if they went running after my family. They did not answer until I made the comment after the service we did not receive them the server said that when I have a restaurant I can run the way I want too. (I can say she would be without a job after the way she speaks to customers). There was no apology for the service nor a reduction of the bill or anything. Bill was 53.00 dollars. I spoke to the manager on the way out and again told him he needs to correct the way his servers talk to customers and she stepped in and said that she will not allow anyone to talk to her just anyway (although it appears that she can). After leaving we attempted to call corporate or owner and when I did get ahold of the person that said he was the owner it was the same person that said he was the manager. He covered the server even though she was loud talking across the restaurant towards me. The final comment by the owner was the help was more important than the customers. Be mindful he never corrected the main issue of no service. Not willing to reduce the cost of the meal. Was very attentive as we left thinking we were leaving without paying. Server called my wife a lier and when she walked back into the restaurant and saw I was inside as my wife had told her she never even tried to apologize to my wife. read more

This place has fallen off the wagon. Awful service; just inexcusable. Literally make you feel like you're not wanted. I wish I could give them a 0. Won't be coming back to this sorry establishment. read more

My friends and I waited for two bleeping hours!! Terrible service never go here. I shotgunned two beers in the time I got my food. Bathroom isn't cleaned. Still haven't gotten my honey mustard. read more

I went with family. The food was BLAND as possible. One person in my party wanted an order of just french fries and they were horrible . When the waiter asked I let him know nicely that the fries were "terrible " he just shrugged his shoulders and said "oh well". That person left a whole plate of fries and had nothing else to eat . It is by far the worst Mexican restaurant in the Albemerle area. One and DONE.....!!!!! read more

Stopped in while we were out shopping. I was skeptical due to the limited number of reviews and only having 3 stars. Boy am I glad we stopped! The food was fantastic! Fresh, loaded with flavor, huge portions, and fast. I had the Arroz Con Pollo and it was the best I have ever had. Including in Mexico. We eat out 2-4x a week and this place will absolutely be in our rotation. read more

I think I'm in a generous mood today, so I'm giving this place two stars -- and that's only because the chips and salsa were acceptable. The Mexican food here is bland, flavorless, and not anything I would recommend anybody I liked. I'm from California, and I do realize that good Mexican food is difficult to find in this area, but you CAN find it. This is not it. If your idea of a gourmet dinner is a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese, this is the place for you. read more

Nothing spectacular here. Came for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Placed our order .... tacos de Carne asada for me, something that looked like chili Colorado for hubby lemonade for both. Being between the lunch rush and before the dinner rush there were few patrons in the restaurant that we could see yet it took over 20 minutes for our meal to reach our table. In the mean time we managed to fill up on very large sweet pink lemonade and refills plus the chips and salsa. Lunch finally arrived, 3 tacos wrapped in foil, a small "cup" of red rice and the same size of a pico de gallo and some extremely hot salsa. The meat was very dry... served with grilled onions that had a burnt taste. Hubby's lunch was small pork chunks cooked in a very thick yet greasy red "Colorado" sauce, black beans and white rice and two flour tortillas. For as much of the "Colorado" on the plate it needed more than 2 tortillas IMO. This was our second time going there for lunch, neither of us could remember what we ate the first time there so I assume it was equally unimpressive. I doubt there will be a 3rd try. read more

Food was fairly tasteless for Mexican. Only getting the third star for the spicy salsa and cheese dip. Better options in town.

El Ran (as we call it) is one of the best Mexican restaurants in this part of the Country. I travel quite a bit as do most of the people in my industry that I work in (technology and information security), and we all agree, nothing close anywhere near by. I'm actually quite surprised that there aren't more reviews, but I can say the County isn't really big on tech adoption. Anyway, on to the review. The food is always fresh and they have the best salsa around. My favorites are the naked burrito, steak fajitas, tacos carnitas, and of course their amazing top shelf margarita. Service is always great, regardless of how busy they are. The place stays packed all the time so that's a testament to the quality. And the prices are very reasonable, even for Stanly County. Bottom line, when someone comes to visit, this is where I spoil them. :) Also, on a side note. The previous review mentioned their location but that's actually their second location which is on hwy52. Definitely still good, but I almost always attend the 24/27 location. read more

The food is amazing and it is a great restaurant and the serving is incredible so you should grab a delicious bite here read more

El Ranchito Restaurante Mexicano - It's worth the drive from anywhere you are! - Mexican Near Me - Albemarle, North Carolina

Not going back! Waited over an hour for our food which when it finally arrived some was cold and tasteless! Had to go ask for refills on water & chips! No attempt to make our order better - Management just said well we busy tonight but the restaurant was not as busy as I've seen before! Many tables got up and left without eating! Poor service and Poor food! Hate to waste even one star on this restaurant! read more

This is as good as it gets! Food is awesome and the service is exceptional. Have to have my fix of Mexican food here every week. The atmosphere is not fancy, but very personal. Highly reccomend a trip to Albemarle for this one! read more

My favorite Mexican spot in town with my favorite salsa. It's nice to sit on the patio when the weather is nice, with both shady and sunny options. My favorites are the naked burrito, carnitas, and ACP (theirs has lots of veggies!). They have great lunch options for each day of the week. Go here often and love it every time! read more

Good food. Most horrible restaurant layout I have ever seen- long narrow corridors all converging on a single point where the cashier and kitchen are located and an endless stream of servers intersects with patrons both entering and leaving in the same narrow space. Sad! read more

I can say nothing but positive facts about this place. Food is wonderful and the staff seem to really engage with customers. 10/10 would recommend!! read more

If I could give this restaurant no stars I would. A cock roach just walked my my face on the wall in this restaurant and they said I still had to pay for my food because "it wasn't in my food". read more

Best Mexican food in albemarle! The shrimp enchaladas covered in that cheese sauce and topped with Pico de Gallo is amazing! I've been coming here for years, way bk in the day when this place was in the dunkin doughnuts building, and I have always had great food and service. read more

Food is good but the service has steadily gone down hill over the last few months. We went in tonight and sat there for ten minutes and watched the four tables that came in after us get their drink orders taken and no one approached us even after we said hello. Three servers walked past us as well. Food is good but you have to deal lack of service . read more

We were out of town over the 4th of July and a local friend of my son's recommended this place. First, it was very difficult to find though it is on a main thoroughfare but hidden in a strip mall. First impression was all the help seemed crabby; hostess had an "attitude" and seated us without so much as a "Hello" (or "Hola"), our waiter looked like he'd just been to a funeral for a close relative and hardly spoke a word. Service was slower than slow. People who came in long after us ordered and had food before our drink orders ever showed up. I was worried then. The food order was finally taken by the undertaker and he disappeared, literally. After a very long time food came (brought by other wait-people), but drinks were never refilled or offered. There weren't enough napkins; good thing my wife had some tissues. Food was very average; typical strip mall Mexican fare. We waited for the check. And we waited. And we waited some more. Meanwhile there was some sort of law enforcement activity in the parking lot which had all the patrons and staff gawking out the windows. A woman was seized by the police, her car searched and they waited for a policewoman to arrive. Meanwhile, we still awaited our check. And we waited some more. A policewoman finally arrived and after exchanging pleasantries the perpetrator was taken away. After that excitement we continued to wait for our check, remarking that the entertainment was better than the food..and faster. I finally had had enough and headed to the hostess stand to find out about our check. The same surly hostess girl was quite annoyed with me and asked where I had been sitting. I pointed to the "crime scene" and she disappeared into the kitchen. Before long the "undertaker" returned (must have been a long funeral) and gave us our check without a word of apology or any other word for that matter. When we finally left the place the police were still searching the car of the offender and I considered reporting our criminal service at El Ranchito, but I had had about enough of Albermarle at that point. A word of advice; don't spend any time searching for this place. You'll save yourself an unpleasant experience and a possible run-in with Albemarle's finest! read more

great food and fantastic service...we go to the one on hwy 52 and always have a great experience.