The service was good and the ambience was nice, but the food? Atrocious! Easily some of the worst Mexican food I've ever had the displeasure of eating. From the watered down choriqueso to the bland street tacos, I could've had a better meal from Taco Bell for less money. The manager doesn't take his/her job seriously. If the food was being tasted at the pass (before leaving the kitchen), there wouldn't be so many negative reviews for this restaurant. But the fact that there is (so many negative reviews), it's a glaring indication that management simply doesn't care. read more

Food was terrible. Chips tasted like they were fried in old oil. Then my meal came out and it was barely warm. I didn't say anything to our waiter because I fear they will do something to it. I had a margarita and it was good but not anything special. My husband had a steak burrito and it was slim on meat and not very hot either. The ambiance is a normal Mexican restaurant. When we were leaving there was a meal that came out and it smelled like it was burnt. We will not be back to this restaurant. read more

First time here. Lunch menu, good prices. Happy hour priced margaritas on Tuesdays. Shredded beef chimichanga was exactly what I wanted. Service was friendly. I'll be back. read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

This is possibly the worst Mexican restaurant I have dined in. The presentation was not appetizing. Ordered steak & shrimp. The rice was not too bad, flavorful, shrimp 5 pieces but the steak lacked color and flavor it was full of fat, could have had a better presentation and the waiter was not the friendliest. Also everything was smothered in cheese. The burrito the chicken and vegetables were on opposite ends. Even the quesadilla was poorly made. read more

Upon arrival, the place looks very inviting and it looks like it's going to be great. I sat down at the bar, hoping that at least the margaritas were going to be decent but no, the margarita that I had was just a regular one, a House margarita to be exact. The poor thing tasted like lemonade with a splash of cheap tequila. Once I was able to order my food, I was hoping that at least the food was gonna be something to rave about. But I was wrong. My cheese enchiladas were nothing but a disappointment. It literally looks like I had just opened a soggy diaper from a child who had just had serious diarrhea for at least a good two hours. The "Mole" , and I put that in quotation marks because I can't really call that "Mole" because it was a super sweet chocolatey sauce that was neither salty nor spicy unlike the real thing should be. Through the remainder of trying to stomach this tragedy, which I did not, the more I ate the more my stomach started turning, so I decided to let things be and try it down the rest of my glass of water which that even tasted as if it had been in the fridge for at least a month because it tasted like fridge. The food was just not up to par and you would think that at least the service would've been a little bit nicer but it wasn't. It was beyond standard because it took me not only 15 minutes to be served even a menu even after I was brought my food another seven minutes to get eating utensils. This place is not about a disappointment surprised it has lasted this long Este lugar es una desgracia para la comunidad y la cocina mexicana. read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - "Cheese Enchiladas" - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

We had dinner here while we were on a road trip. It was all very good. Exactly the kind of Mexican food that we like. I had the chorizo tacos, and they were packed with chorizo, much more than others I've had. The food was out super quick, too. Definitely recommend this place. read more

This place is dreadfully awful. I've never heard of ground beef tamales and I never want to have one again. The chips were so greasy. Water tasted like the bottom of a fish tank. We didn't have a chance to look at the menu and asked the waiter to come back. He took his sweet time getting back to us. There was only one other table of people and several waitstaff. That should have been a clue. It's the first time I've ever thrown away an entire dinner. Gross, greasy slop. read more

Best food I ever had ever yummys. So good stuff I very much enjoyed the staff especially Julian who made the place looks nice and services well a lot very much. read more

Excellent food and excellent service!! Highly recommend!! . I had the Carnitas dinner which could absolutely be shared and the Hubs had a combo platter of a Chili Rellino, Taco and a Tostada. read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Nom Nom Nom - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Service was amazing never had to ask for anything and food was amazing no complaints here!!

Good food, good salsa, large portions. Very clean and good service as well. I will be back. read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Texas Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

This restaurant looks like it came out of the 70s but they do NOT lose points for that because they run a clean operation! It was very well kept and the staff was presentable and friendly. They did take too long to close me out so they lose a few points there. The food? Uh... delicious! The food has good flavor and it was good temperature. It was timely, and there was plenty of it! I had some for lunch and I still have left overs! These guys did a great job and they deserve your business, come see them! read more

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My son and I just left the location at 1041 JC Parkway, and based on the lack of respect or treatment, I'll never eat there again. We walked in at around 11:40am and we seated ourselves and a server brought over our chips immediately. We then sat 15 mins and no one came back to to take our order. What added injury to insult a guy working construction came in by himself sat down and was served his chips immediately. He was joined by three other guys about two minutes later who sat down and the server started taking their orders, and no one had yet to return to take our order. I went to the front counter and told the woman at the front counter. She then summoned a server and I mentioned to him how long we had been sitting and he shrugged me off and literally dismissed what I said and asked me what I wanted. I told him that there was no way I would eat there with his nasty attitude and we left. I will be calling the chamber, the city of Bloomington and anyone else that will listen to my complaint. This type of attitude in the service industry is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. read more

My husband and I eat here every other week (sometimes every week if I'm lucky) bc we love the service and food. On occasion there is some really good music coming from the kitchen that always puts me in a good mood! Most often the service is quick and kind. Looking forward to our next dinner there. A few favorites are the steak burrito and the tamale. read more

The food is too pretty to eat. But force yourself!! It is absolutely amazing! Rich and delicious, just the thing on an Arctic winter IL night! The hotel lady recommended the shrimp fajita, and I concur! You'll get more food than you'll know what to do with, and it will be probably the best you ever had. Staff is equally amazing; I got here 45 min before closing, and still was treated like an absolute princess, not like a last second annoying customer that I actually am. Yay! I won't have to cook for a few days with this massively epic meal! read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Great salsa! - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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I got the mixed fajitas it was good portion and good taste. I was served chips and salsa immediately when I sat down. Salsa had some kick but I enjoyed it. Server was very attentive. read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Got the mixed fajitas good portion size. Served right when I sat down with chips and salsa, salsa had some kick but overall a good stop - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Best Chilli verde and taco El Pastor we've ever had. Everything was amazing, highly recommend trying this place out.

The food here is over priced and bland. Now that said, no one comes here for the food. They offer half prices margaritas on Thursdays, which means you can get a whole pitcher from 14 dollars. The margs are as good a quality as you'd expect for 14 dollars but they're fun to share with friends. The chips and salsa are probably the best food item they have to offer. All the food I've tried from here has been unremarkable to say the least. read more

We had a very nice meal, didn't look like much with the sharpie written open sign in the window. Surprised with delivery of meals in 10-12 minutes, super hot and delicious. We would like to return again. Server was great!!! read more

Stopped in to buy a tub of salsa to take home. The salsa was as good as it always is, but the price doubled since the last time I was in. $17 for a pint of salsa? I feel that I was overcharged. We won't be back. read more

Service was friendly and polite. Food came quickly and was piping hot. It was very good. Large portions. Ambiance was also nice.

The service at this location was hilariously awful. It felt like we were in a Seinfeld episode. Our journey begins with the hostess, who slammed our menus onto the table and threw them across the other side. We knew we were in for an adventure. During the course of our meal, our server kept going MIA. Literally, he'd be gone for 15-20 mins at a time; we'd have to ask other servers for more chips, silverware, etc. The service got so bad, I simply starting going to the server's booth to refill our drinks and grab napkins myself. No one seemed to mind; they're probably used to it. Food was good though, per usual. Finally, usually Mexican food is fairly inexpensive. Our group of 4 spent over $110 for dinner. Yes, maybe the margaritas were partially to blame, but still...(we can usually get away with paying less than $25 for 2 people at nearby Taqueria el Porton). Overall, this isn't a place I'd come back to right away, but maybe we'll come again for some good laughs. Or we'll go to the other two locations in town. (NOTE: we have been to the other 2 locations in town, and feel their service is better) read more

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Service was good and the ambiance is what you would expect for a little Mexican style restaurant. The food however, was just for lack of a better term borderline inedible. I ordered a steak quesadilla which is always safe at a Mexican restaurant you haven't been to before you decide to dive deep in the menu, the quesadilla was really greasy which didn't actually make sense to me because the cheese tasted like Kraft that you get in the plastic packages, and I wasn't able to eat it or the tortilla, I ate the strips of steak that were shoved in there and left the rest on the plate as I couldn't eat it for the life of me. The waitress felt bad that I couldn't even eat my meal and that my partner was displeased with hers as well, but the reality is we weren't going to have them take the meals off and walk away Scott free. Paid for both of the meals even if they were just not at all good and headed out. read more

With an extensive menu that includes 30 combination platters alone, Fiesta Ranchera should have something for everybody. The menu is longer on seafood than many Mexican restaurants so I tried grilled Tilapia over a bed of cooked tomatoes, peppers, and sweet onions served fajita style on a hot skillet. Ten large shrimp lightly dusted with chili powder were included. Corn tortillas were included. The fish was tasty with crisp edges and flaky center: the light spice to the shrimp made it even more flavorful. Included sides with dinner plates are retried beans, Spanish rice, and a flag salad (with fresh and tasty pick de gallo). The beans and rice were unremarkable. However, altogether this was a large meal that could be easily split for sharing and satisfy both parties. Fiesta Ranchera is within easy walking distance of four hotels. read more

The JC Parkway location Bloomington IL just handed me the worst taco salad I've ever bought from Fiesta Ranchera! The ground beef is burnt and so salty you can't eat it! Didn't ask if any dressing for the salad either. Then I open up the guacamole I bought and its old! Its like I was served two day old leftovers! Never again! read more

No, just no. There are many different areas that help you create a review on a restaurant. Cleanliness, ease of access, service, price, etc. None of them however are nearly as important as the quality of food. This restaurant got two stars because the service was OK, the restaurant was very clean and the prices were moderate. The quality of my meal was a totally different story. I had the fajita nachos. It was incredibly obvious to me that to me that the meal had been prepared beforehand and then reheated in an oven. The chips that had nothing on top of them were burnt. The cheese, served at the bottom of the plate, had the consistency of milk. It was absolutely horrible. I finally had to stop eating and scrape the topping off into the chips that they served at the beginning of the meal. I ate here in the middle of the week at 7 PM. I won't be making that mistake again. read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Great food, great people and great prices!!! Always fast, friendly and fresh! We have gone here for years and will be our go to mexican restaurant for years to come! read more

The food was actually pretty decent but the service was sub-par and I really felt like I had to fight to get some service. There were four waiters and we were waited on by all of them. I wasn't even sure who the hell to tip. We started off with some carne asada tacos on corn tortillas and some extremely bland guacamole. It had no tomatoes, onions, or lemon juice. It was like a green paste. The salsa was not salsa. It was a "mild" sauce. The chips were not homemade, which I hate, but they did come out hot and fresh. The carne asade tacos that we enjoyed as an appetizer were really good but didn't come with any sour cream, tomatoes, or pico de gallo. It's almost like we had to ask for any toppings on our food. My husband (like usual) ordered the chile rellenos with two enchiladas and a taco which he immediately forked over. (He hates tacos, WHO hates tacos?). He said that the chile rellenos was the only good thing on his combination dinner plate and that the enchiladas were covered in a horrid tasting cheese sauce which made them almost inedible. I ordered the chicken and steak quesadilla which was actually pretty darn fantastic. Of course they added a ton of onions and peppers so they could cover up the fact that they didn't want to add a lot of meat, but it was flavorful, hot and I would order it again, sans a thousand peppers and onions. They have a nice selection of bottled beers, margaritas, kids specials and some .25$ candy for the kiddos by the front door, but I probably won't be back. The service or lack thereof was pretty awful. Come on, Fiesta...step it up and kick some waiter butt! read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - El Combo Special Combination - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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Grilled Tilapia is the best ever. This dish was the Hawaiian Fajitas and was excellent. The fish was done perfectly. The service was quick, friendly and professional. This was recommended by our nearby hotel and was spot on! read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Tilipia fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

While staying at one of the local hotels, I checked yelp and found a couple of places to try but based on the current reviews I tried a pizza place that was really busy so I headed here rather then wait. I wasn't sure what to expect. I have to say I live in So. Cali. where we awesome Mexican restaurants. The food and drinks rival most anything here. I sat at the small bar and ordered a large beer within a moment of sitting down. Large frozen glass in front of me immediately. Chips and salsa filled in seconds. I ordered the Chicken Enchiladas, rice and bean. Came in very short order and was 5 stars. Hot, fresh, and tasted great. My only issue is I ate way too much. The bill was more then reasonable ... Too cheap really, a bargain for sure! We all have had bad experiences at places other love, I get it. Try this place and hopefully they are spot on. They were for me. 5 stars earned. read more

Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Chicken Enchiladas with a very cold beer! Doesn't get any better. Awesome. - Mexican Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

I first visited this location a couple years ago. We got glasses of water at that time. There were gnats in our water. Not like one or two. A considerable amount. It was clear the server did not care at all. Because of that, I had not wanted to return. I decided I would give the place another try. I have been pleasantly surprised many times in the past when I have. First positive is our drinks did not have any gnats in them! That is always a good start. The salsa was pretty good. The food overall was decent. The reason I gave a 2 is because the description of "Meh. I've experience better." No better way to describe eating here. Bloomington-Normal has so many Mexican restaurants so why would I continue to subject myself to a mediocre experience? I think the worse part about this place is the service. It feels like the servers either do not care or are not that friendly. I did end up finally get a refill by giving another server the "what's up" head nod when he was walking by. I gave this place another shot and regardless of the rating, they did much better than I expected. read more

This is the only review I've ever written for a restaurant, and most likely will be the only one I ever write. This is the only restaurant I have ever felt compelled to give a review. I will not speak for the other restaurants, but I will speak about the one on JC Parkway. To start, you walk in and seat yourself, anywhere you want. I much prefer this because my GF and I are not great in highly populated instances, so we sat alone in our own little corner. The food however, was phenomenal. I have never had better Mexican food in my life besides my GF's cooking. The food was just amazing, my GF thought the same of hers'. The price at least for the lunch menu was very reasonable, at the end we only spent $30 without the tip included. The steak ranchero, highly recommend if (like me) you don't quite know what to get. The portion for what I got was very good (had to take the rest home). The only note I have was the "atmosphere" was kind of "meh" at least IMO. But I feel during dinner time the place may change into something more lively. The service was good and the food came out extremely quickly compared to the usual service you would get at a different sit down restaurant. I can't rave about the food enough. The best Mexican I've ever had at a restaurant. Highly recommend. 4/5 shaboingaboings. read more

Have eaten here several times over the years and the food is decent and margarita was good as well. This time I ordered the Chile rellenos which is something I try at most Mexican restaurants as it is one of my favorite Mexican dishes. It was very good!! Lots of meat on top and the chillis were thick. Rates towards the top I've had anywhere. Service was fast and attentive. Prices had jumped a fair amount (20-30%) since the last time we were here but understand somewhat due to probable supply chain and inflation issues. Still worth it. read more

I visited Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant about a week ago on an exceptionally hot day. While I relished their frozen raspberry margarita, this is definitely Mexican food for white people. Service was fair to middling, but it was nice that our large-ish group was seated at a round table, making it easier to engage in a group conversation. I ordered a combination that came with an enchilada, a taco, and a chalupa. Every item came with ground beef, which was well seasoned. The enchilada was pretty good, but the hard taco shell was so stale I couldn't eat it. Instead, I mixed it with the contents of my chalupa, which was actually not a chalupa at all, rather, a tostada. Unfortunately, Fiesta Rachera's AC had died on a day that it was in the 90s and humid. We sweated through our meal. Customers pay in front before leaving, and I was initially charged $20 for my $12 meal. After examining my receipt with the cashier to find the error, I finally paid and was released. While the food at Fiesta Ranchera isn't horrible, I know that it can't possibly be the best Bloomington has to offer. I would definitely push for a different venue on my next group outing. read more

Have you ever been to Mexico and had authentic Mexican food? Me either. So I can't tell you if Fiesta Ranchero makes food like their mothers made back in the day, but I can tell you the staff speaks authentic spanish. I can also tell you the service is amazing amd the food hits the spot every time my family eats there. I mean, dang, if this is the way food is made in Mexico, Trump needs to step back and open the damn borders! read more

Standard Mexican fare with endless combinations of tacos, burritos, quesadilla, nachos, enchiladas, fajitas... you name it and they probably have it! Portions are large & prices are very reasonable. I split the Enchilada Platter with my mom and it comes with shredded beef, ground beef, chicken, bean and cheese enchiladas, which was more than enough food! Plus it cost $9.95! Yes.. $9.95 for two people! It's extremely standard Mexican food, but with portions and prices that can't be beat! read more

We stopped in for lunch on the way out of Bloomington/ Normal. We were pleasantly suprised. The food was good, service was great, the restaurant was very clean. My son had a burritto, My wife had shrimp fajitas and I had a Grilled chicken salad. They don't mess around when they make a chicken salad, it was loaded with chicken. It was seasoned nicely and still juicy after grilling, not pregrilled and left to die under a heat lamp. My sons burrito was good..a little americanized but good. I tried my wifes shrinp fajitas, again..really good. They marinated the vegetables prior to grilling and they were Amanda fantastic. Our server was great, really on top of it. At 34.00 for 3 entrees, a guacamole appetizer and 2 fountain drinks plus a bottle of Pineapple Jarritos....lunch was pretty good value. Would definitely return. read more

People from yelp are too stupid to call the number u provide and after a two wait u get nothing but an excuse then u have to wait for a refund for a five. Days for a refund... read more

I certainly agree with the other reviewers: the wait staff is downright rude. It's as though they have a chip on their shoulders, taking it out on diners. A smile? No. A kind comment? No. A "thank you"? Never. All the servers seemed cut from the same cloth, but we had a particularly agregious little imp who looked about forty years old, slightly balding, and had a face like a highway billboard...flat, lifeless, forgettable. Frankly, I read these reviews and went in with the idea that I was going to be sugar plums and tooth fairies in order to give every chance for them to be nice. Nope, no avail...they were rude as tomcats. The food is truly mediocre. If you can imagine pedestrian canned beans, lukewarm burritos, and plates that are not heated, you can imagine Fiesta Ranchero. Look at the photos on Yelp! to see how how horrific the food appears and then you'll be jonesing for a Big Mac as a healthy and tasty alternative to Fiesta Ranchera. Better Mexican fare is available in Blo-No, and although this highway exit location is a dry desert of truck stops and greasy fast food, there's no reason to subject yourself to this caliber of dining experience. Pass. read more

Great service! Fast and friendly. We ordered the shrimp cocktail and Ramon's Spicy Special. They were both excellent! Loved everything about our quick and delicious lunch! read more