These guys have great food. We are from Ventura County but we head up to visit my daughter and when we do we always eat here. My wife loves the Asada tacos. I am always looking for chicharron at restaurants and this place has excellent chicharron. They are very nice also. Only thing that I would suggest is making online ordering available. read more

I have gone to this Taco shop for years and they ALWAYS have great service and excellent food. Their selection of food is very good with reasonable prices. The food is excellent! Well run. Kudo's to the mangement and staff. They provide excellent service in my opinion and deserve to be acknowledged for it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Always crowded at lunch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thank you for providing great food for the Poway commmunity. I would highly recommend. read more

This shop is tucked away in the shopping plaza that is anchored by Ross, Stein Mart and Home Goods. What that means is there is usually never any issues finding parking--yay! Inside there's plenty of seating. More than you would expect given the small footprint visible from the outside. So you can roll with your team here and still manage to find seats. I have come in a few times now so I felt I needed to drop a review of this solid Mexican food shop in Poway. I usually find myself eating here on the run when I am running errands in the area and have yet to be disappointed with any of my orders. To date, I have eaten several carne asada burritos and a few fish burritos from this joint and have been satisfied with the turnaround time on my orders and the taste of my food. There is always a steady flow of customers here, which tells you that lots of people think this place is pretty good too! read more

El Ranchito Taco Shop - Front entrance - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

I stopped in for a quick burrito to take to work. Ordered my burrito and then started gathering the fixings to put in my burrito. I needed a bit more fixings since their mix that came with the burrito had bell peppers in it and I can"t eat the peppers. Asked for a few more cups and they said that's too many for your burrito we have to charge $2.00 for more to go cups. I was not happy and really disappointed. I could see it if I was taking advantage, but I wasn't. read more

El Ranchito Taco Shop - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

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Food is mediocre and service is terrible. Right from the beginning, cashier had a bad attitude, food took about 20 minutes to receive (order was wrong). Overpriced food with lack of service. read more

Food is excellent! Service is great, very friendly. The place is very clean. I highly recommend it to friends & family

I have probably been coming to this business for way over a decade. Not only me but my siblings as well. I used to go to the twin peaks location way more often before it closed but I am happy their main location is still open on Poway road. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They open up really early, they close at 8 which is a lil early.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This was my favorite taco shop for the longest time, but tbh they are getting EXPANSIVE for me. Personally, I feel as if the carne asada doesn't taste as good as it used to PRE Covid. I manage to only come for the breakfast burritos because it saves me money. THE SALSA IS THE BEST SALSA I HAVE EVER HAD. That is the main reason I came back. Flauta are tasty but pricy too. I love them, good owners and good customer service, but I personally do believe quality is falling and prices are increasing. If it wasn't for Trader Joe's near by, I unfortunately wouldn't be coming as often anymore. For those who are thinking of trying, PLEASE DO! I even visited there sons location in Escondido when he opened his shop up a few years ago but that one closed pretty shortly after. read more

They charge $2.00 for extra salsa to go. They will give you some salsa, but if you want more for to go, according to their sign, they will charge you extra $2.00. We went here after shopping at home goods and it was a-ok. We got the beef burrito plate and it wasn't anything extraordinary. It was definitely filling for what it is, but not something I'd crave for again. If you do go here, ask for complimentary chips. They'll give you a plate if you dine in. read more

El Ranchito Taco Shop - Beef burrito plate - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

We ordered two carne asada burritos and rolled tacos. Burritos were super thin (hardly any meat) & smaller than they used to be. Very disappointing especially when you're charged $40. Rolled tacos were ok and they do have great salsa. read more

As far as San Diego taco shops go, this place is right on par. The food is very good, and the service is usually quick. They're located in a shopping center, so parking has never been a problem. I'm giving them only four stars though, because their prices are a little high, and they also charge a fee for using a credit card on transactions less than $10 (that cost really needs to be passed on to the customer?). read more

It smells so good in here so happy we stopped by here to grab food to go for our picnic. I loved how many options they had. My favorite item was the beef taco and beef flautas. The beef recipe is on point yummy and full of flavor. We also grabbed some chips with a side of guacamole and salsa. The kids meal was perfect for my girls they shared and the baby loved the rice and beans. We took ours to go and ate at old poway park with some friends perfect on the go place to stop at placed the order over the phone and was hot and ready when I came 15/20mins. There were plenty of people dining I was surprised since it was only 11am. I will be coming back again when I am local in the area stop by if you can you won't regret it. read more

El Ranchito Taco Shop - Beef flautas - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

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Great local taco shop - good fajitas, nachos grande, breakfast burritos, - [[HIGHLIGHT]]fast food atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]- always get takeout read more

Best taco shop in San Diego! Period! I always get the California burrito and it's always consistent! My girl gets the carnitas burrito which is equally just as good, meat melts in your mouth! The service is also top notch. Such friendly and helpful staff. I've been coming here since 2010 btw and will most likely continue coming here. read more

This place is still a 5/5. I live even further away and it's still worth the drive. Love how you can buy the salsa to take home because they have the best salsas!! read more

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So I've been going here since I was in middle school. It's my go-to taco shop. I have recently been venturing out of my normal orders, and I have recently discovered their Chile Verde Tacos! This is probably my new favorite thing here! The spice level for me is perfect, the taste is mouth watering, and the meat is SOOO tender. I HIGHLY recommend! I also love their bean and cheese burritos (add sour cream and rice), carne asada burritos/tacos, California burrito/fries, fish tacos, enchiladas, and Al pastor tacos. Oh, AAAAND I love their homemade salsa. You can buy jars of them, which I do all the time! read more

Haven't had a better Carne asada taco ON THE WEST COAST!!!! Everything I've had here is delicious read more

El Ranchito Taco Shop - Carne asada taco with everything on it - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

My favorite Mexican food in San Diego so far! I went two days in a row. The first day I got the 2 beef taco combination plate, and most tacos are the same everywhere, but these somehow tasted really amazing. I also brought home a California burrito for my wife, and it was one of the juiciest and tastiest California burritos we've ever had. Seeing that the place was 2/2 for the first day, I went back and got the beef taco combination again, and I'm going to be bringing home some carne asada tacos to my wife. This is now my favorite Mexican food in San Diego! It's too bad I don't live closer to Poway, otherwise I would make this a regular thing. read more

El Ranchito Taco Shop - Two Beef Taco Combination plate - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

This has been my "go to" taco shop since 2009...their burritos have gotten smaller over the years but I am so addicted to their salsas that I don't even care. Solid place to eat if your in the mood for Mexican food. read more

Popped in with a friend while we were craving Mexican food and saw there was a decent number of people eating here. The food was OK, nothing really jumped out at us. I did like the fresh salsa bar, but the menu is very pricey for the portions you get. My husband ordered the carne asada fries (I think it was $13) and the tray was pretty empty, you could see all the edges and the bottom of the container. Tacos are small but also pricier than average. The people here are nice though. read more

Carne asada burrito was amazing. Salsas are great too. Probably the best burrito I've ever had. I was so happy to have tried this place again. Staff is very nice and friendly. Like that it's a small Mexican restaurant vibe. Feels like what I grew up going to with my parents as a kid. read more

Amazing food and service. We ordered tacos and burritos and everything was delicious. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]As I was driveing by I smelled a little peace of haven I made a u turn and followed the sent of happiness.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]When I parked and walked in this establishment, I was in other disbelief, the sent the taste the sounds, my 4 senses open up al at once and it was like a outer body experience[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If I died I would come back to life and eat this taco again, this was very good read more

Love their food and I even take big order from time to time to bring to work .. Flautas are my favorite everyone love those . One of the things I did not appreciate from them last night was that If I ask them for an extra salsa. MY order was for me and my husband to go. I order two meals that come with one flauta and one beef taco beans and rice. I asked the cashier to give me to go salsa containers. She handed three. I asked later when I picked up the food for one more that way I get to have two salsas and my husband his two salsas.. The lady told me that is only two salsas per order.. I love spicy food and same with my husband.. I left mad and thinking that if I ask for an extra salsa after spending almost $30.00 and you won't give it to me this Is just not a good business.. read more

Favorite spot for flautas. Service is great and fast. Restaurant is always clean when I visit !

I picked up food from here for a work potluck. I got 2 pounds of the adobada and 1 pound of the carne with some chip and corn tortillas. The food itself was really good and the service when I picked it up was good as well. The only reason I am not giving it a 5 is that it was a bit pricey for the amount of food we received. read more

I love El Ranchito! We have been eating here for many years. Make sure you get the guacamole.

My favorite taco shop and salsa for Mexican food in San Diego! Highly recommended everything

Very bad service, untrained staff, keep making same mistakes, the staff do not communicate the same way Sad to see that in any establishment. Price is higher than most other food places, i am not going back ever. food half cold , rolled tacos over fried.. I do not recommend to anyone.. read more

been going here for years, rolled tacos, burritos, beans, AMAZING every time. authentic hole in the wall with good pricing

Then enchiladas suisa, or however you spell it is bomb dot com. I get that with chicken filling rice and beans, very flavorful.

I have no idea why people like this place so much. The food quality is nothing special. I grew up in Chula Vista so I'm used to amazing Mexican food and this was not it. The prices are high as well. I'm not saying it was horrible but from reading others reviews I was dissatisfied and we will be trying other taco shops in Poway. read more

Small restaurant with seating tucked away in shopping center near Home Goods, plenty of parking. Staff at counter accommodating, cash discount, & special orders. My favorite is taquitos with chunky guacamole (choice of chunky or creamy.)My husband likes the flautas. The taco salad is on a plate with chips which is better than a fried tortilla bowl . I wish they would bring back carrots on salsa bar. read more

I ordered a carne asada burrito 14.25 to fill it with lettuce. What a waste, not only does it take away from getting plenty of meat but the flavor is completely changed by filling it with lettuce. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And the bathrooms are nasty as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm calling the health inspector. Waste of my money. read more

This used to be my favorite Mexican place. The service is great. The carnitas are my favorite and they have excellent refried beans and salsas. For over five years, I ate here at least once a week and always placed large catering orders for parties I hosted. They raised their prices to insane levels and then dropped them a little and now have raised them again. Now I eat here maybe once every 2 months. read more

My boyfriend took me here after claiming that they have the best flautas so of course, I was excited to give them a try! Beef Flauta: Crunchy outside filled with juicy, marinated beef. Good! I have been drinking so it was especially good haha. read more

Great tacos, rice, beans, burritos, AND EVEN BURGERS!! Which is unheard of for a taco shop everything is great

Food is good. Service is terrible. And they charge you extra if you use a credit or debit card. Bye

Best mexican food in the Poway area. Pretty big seating area compared to most mexican food spots also. Definitely my new go to spot in the area. read more

Wonderful food and service provided by a family who had been in the business for many years. My favorite taco shop in San Diego!

Being a 3rd gen San Diegan, now Orange County transplant, I've tried A LOT of taco shops. It is the purpose of every San Diegan's life to know where the best of everything is (but they are never the same place). This is the rice shop. That rice was AMAZING! The rolled tacos were also killer. The beans still didn't win the title of best beans in SD, but I would figure out a way back here just for the rice. The chile verde burrito that my friend got had huge chunks of pork, but he says it still isn't #1, but pretty close. They sell privately jarred salsas, which being a private canner, I can guarantee are not sealed for non-refrigerated storage. So if you buy one (the green salsa was really good and I considered getting one), be sure to get it in the fridge soon and use it within 2 weeks. Still, check out the rice. read more