Best old school Tex Amex. Been going since the '70's. The salsas or great as are the margaritas

Matt's has been a staple in my family since before I was even born, so I know it well. My go to order is a bob, Mexican martini (make sure you have a driver), and the al pastor tacos. There is plenty of parking on site, but you may have to drive a little to find an open spot, or you can always use the valet. They are always busy, so be careful prepared to wait for a table. If you can snag a spot at the bar while you wait, it definitely makes the time go faster. They have 4 different rooms inside where you can be sat, as well as a large back patio. I have always had great service at Matt's, though lately it definitely feels a little more rushed as they grow more and more popular. read more

This spot was recommended to me by a coworker. I came by myself on a Monday night and it was very busy (always a good sign). I was able to snag a table for 1 in the bar with no wait. I ordered a dobel margarita and it's one of the best margs I've had. Not sweet and really well balanced. After perusing the menu I saw that the asadero tacos were named one of the 120 tacos you must eat before you die. It was the right choice they were delicious. I had to ask for additional tortillas because they were so packed with goodness. Definitely one of the top 120 tacos I've ever had. Also they were so quick, they didn't rush me but everything was always coming right up. read more

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Love their food, great service and I always enjoy their margaritas while sitting on their patio. read more

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Mediocre drinks, bad food, worse parking and obscene waits. Not only is Matt's not worth the wait, it's simply the worst Tex-Mex I've tried in town. read more

This was a big shocker to me because they have a HUMONGOUS parking lot and their wait was an hour minimum so I felt it was worth the big crowd and wait time. Boy was that a wrong assumption! We waited 45 minutes while buying a drink at their smelly bar. I used to manage a restaurant and would never let my bar get so full of a foul odor like that! The service was quick and it was so quick that my drink order was messed up! I did not feel heard and was dismissed. It really was a bummer because that place has potential to be great! The food tasted mediocre at best. They even have stickers hyping up their Bob Dip but as I read in a previous review, it tasted like Velveeta. The tacos were only okay and we were too full to eat dessert because the server accidentally brought me an extra beer that I had to pay for. Needless to say I will not be back. This is a tourist trap for sure! Glad I came here but sadly I will not be coming back. read more

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Matt's is an iconic Austin spot. Perfect for game days, UT events, or anything festive. The drinks are great and the service is usually pretty nice, but it's always packed and the wait times can be rough. Honestly, it's a little overhyped in my opinion, but it's definitely an Austin staple you should check out at least once. read more

When it comes to Mexican food and costumer service I'm an expert, I worked at Las margaritas Mexican restaurant in Gainesville,Fl for 12 years. I tried everything on the nenu, I was a server, a bartender, and hostess when I was 8 months pregnant (I couldn't serve tables anymore), I was also friends with all the cooks so when I messed up orders they would help me out lol With that said I would love to give Matt's El Rancho 5 stars, wow!!! How delicious and authentic Mexican food. I normally eat there but today I got a to go order of steak fajitas, I was so pleased to open up my food and see how careful they had pack everything. Thank you so much for taking the time to pack the sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese and pico de gallo individually. The fresh home made tortillas were so good! The steak cook to perfection with onions and peppers, best flavors and the rice and beans, omg, the rice and beans get their own 5 stars lol!!! I had to order extra sides of rice and beans because they are the best of the best!!! I know I shouldn't say this but I could order 3 sides of rice lol The place has a great atmosphere and the servers are great!! This is the best Mexican restaurant! (The queso, chips and salsa are amazing too) I will bring my kids there on our next family dinner!!! maybe they will share the rice recipe with me ‍ read more

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Authentic and family values food is great tasting, and service is friendly and kind. For15 years I have eaten here and always great. Thank you for keeping just the way it is great. Thank you, J.J.Seaver read more

Wow! What an incredibly seamless operation, and some of the best service my partner and I have ever had in the Austin area. Our server, Austin was so immensely kind and took care of us during our visit here. He was so attentive, remembered our orders down to a T, and was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and gave amazing recommendations. I order the No. 1 dinner with a beef enchilada and verde salsa on top, SO DELICIOUS! I am still thinking about that wonderful verde salsa paired with the soft cheesy enchilada. We also grabbed the loaded queso they offer and my partner and I were battling chip-to-chip on who can get the first/last cheesy dip of goodness. Queso was demolished by the time our food came, and my partner ordered the mixed beef and chicken fajitas. I could not stop picking off his plate and having him make me little dressed up tacos with all the fillings they bring you as well, (sour cream, guac, cheese, pico) to construct a gorgeous tasting beef fajita taco. Got to mention the pillowy soft tortillas that were such a taste of home that we were more than happy that Austin brought us some to take to-go! (Such incredibly service!). May I say this is some of the best service in town, fabulously authentic tex-mex vibes, anddd a great place to bring a group or hit for an afternoon cerveza. Check out Matt's El Rancho!!!! read more

Matt's El Rancho - beef fajitas and no 1 dinner - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Needed Tex Mex during my visit to Austin and here we are at Matt's El Rancho. Bob Armstong's dip was recommended by a friend and holy moly-- where has this been all of my life? A rich queso with guac and beef along with their huge tortilla chips! We ordered a second order for take out! My beef tenderloin taco had amazingly tender, marinaded beef. I had the lunch special and it came with beans, rice and a chip with queso. A huge and busy place. Service was attentive. My friend wants more Bob Armstrong dip to take home to California‍ read more

Matt's El Rancho - Bob Armstrong Dip - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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From an OG austinite, This place is over hyped... margs weren't strong and they cap it at 1 marg at the table unless you get an entree... bc we ordered guac and a large queso. Long story short... we (as a table) were only allowed one marg each bc we "had to order food"... ordered the LARGE queso and guac. Then our server said actually y'all need entrees. We weren't aware of this policy... But just a heads up to people visiting that aren't from here. Margs & queso were average, guac was fresh. Server kept making weird faces and laughing, we took that as him being awkward but made the ambiance a bit weird and uncomfortable. Over all not our fav place. read more

They add stuff to your tab and think you won't notice!!! Found something on our tab and called the next day, manager didn't even say sorry. Apparently this is a common occurrence!!!! read more

Matt's is about as old school Tex Mex as it gets. Anyone over 21 will likely feel a strong sense of nostalgia eating here which will carry you through the reality that the food these days is just O.K. Even if you've never been here before you know exactly what you're going to the getting just pulling up to the building: Mexican American eats with lots of cheddar cheese and ranchero sauce. When you walk inside it will remind you of nearly every Mexican American sit down joint of the past. If you've come looking for comfort food then you're in the right place. The food itself is a bit of a let down. Maybe I've just become accustomed to overall better quality food but I wouldn't say Matt's is a mind blowing experience. I had the bob Armstrong dip (tasty but not crazy good) and a steak tampaquena entree complete with a cheese enchilada which looked fantastic but tasted slightly underwhelming. This place is kind of like El Cholo in Los Angeles except slightly inferior if that helps some of you with a comparable guideline. I put four stars above but really it's rounding up from 3.5. read more

Matt's El Rancho gets a ton of hype and is beloved by the Austin community, but my last visit was dedicated to understanding why this is. I will tell you, it's not about the food or the value - you can get much more delicious food (some for a better price) elsewhere. Specifically I'm talking about the queso dip that is $9.95 and not all that amazing. Now their signature tacos are pretty good, but also a little pricey. Enchiladas were not standout either. So is it the service? While our waiter was very nice, they were overwhelmed and stressed at the sheer amount of tables they were covering. It was the early dinner rush on a Sunday and we felt bad about having to remind our waiter about things like silverware, etc. BUT we did get our food very fast and our waiter was so nice and apologetic and checked us out right at the table when we asked. The reason people like Matt's is the ambiance - it's a cool "hacienda" looking building, it's bustling with people, it's very big inside and out in their patio, and it's been around here in Austin quite a while. It's a very crowded but safe place to go for texmex just outside of downtown. They have their own parking lot and everything. So would I recommend? Probably not personally since I'm looking more on the food side. But as a safe place to take the family one afternoon? Sure! read more

Matt's El Rancho - Matt's Special - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really don't get the hype at this point. We decided to stop by on a Saturday. Got seated pretty quick considering how busy they were. The food...I got a burrito and the wife got brisket tacos. The tortillas were not good. Betting store bought. Wife just ate the brisket from the tortillas. My burrito was bad. Bland chicken, the rice tasted like some used a metric ton of sazon seasoning then tried to counteract it with too much lime. Couldn't finish my plate. Wife asked for queso which, according to their menu, is $1 additional. The why did we get charged $2 for 3/4 of ounce of queso?! When I asked I was told the menu is wrong. Then update the damn thing! This place is very overrated and I can honestly say we won't be back. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Menu price - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Full disclosure, not a fan of TexMex but in this case I have to make an exception! Place looked super busy but don't be intimidated, we found a parking spot, and they got us in and out quickly. Food portions were ample, hot, not too spicy, (the salsa had a nice bite to it so used it liberally) and genuinely tasty. Even the beans had a nice flavor. Up charged on the fajita for my enchilada but it was definitely worth it! Came with family, will definitely come back again! read more

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Absolutely some of the best food we've had. Definitely try the grilled redfish tacos and ribeye tacos. So glad we decided to make this the restaurant we chose for our only night in Austin! read more

Matt's El Rancho - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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DOG HATERS! We are needing the abilities of our licensed aservice dog for support and travelling around the country we have NEVER been denied access anywhere. He is calm and extremely well behaved. We requested an outdoor table but were stopped at the reception desk and asked to present his credentials which we did but the manager started interrogating us as to the dog's necessary tasks. He did this in front of the crowd of patrons which was extremely unprofessional. Enough said, we had had enough and left. We won't patronise a dog hating establishment. read more

The Bob Armstrong Dip queso was great. The consistency was perfect, and the flavor was spot on. It was not too flavorful but not too bland. The chips finished the job with their crisp tortilla flavor. The queso does not leave you feeling bad like most queso's do, you get the taste without the cost. The tacos al pastor were also amazing. The spices are great, not too spicy but very flavorful. The pork was not chewy at all and was super soft. Great sweet and savory flavor. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Bob Armstrong Dip - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Packed. Absolutely packed after a UT football game. Sardined in the waiting line for 45 minutes was NOT my cup of tea. I got chicken flautas and they weren't great- very little chicken and a whole lot of tortilla. The salsa they brought out with chips was the best part. It's on the spicy side. Queso was good but the sign outside said it was world famous and I truly don't understand the hype. read more

My husband and I went for lunch on a Sunday and it's always so busy. We got sat in 30 mins. The waitress was very attentive even though it was so busy. Food is always good and the ambience is always busy. Margaritas coming out to all the tables like hot cakes. I was hoping the flautas sauce was spicy but it wasn't. I added the salsa we got with the chips which hit the spot. It gave it a nice kick. We also tried the tortilla soup and it was so good. It had lots of chicken and bit of veggies. We will continue to return to lunch and maybe someday have brunch. read more

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My experience here was overall pretty good. Our waitress, Miranda, was extremely kind and worked hard to treat our large party with amazing customer service. We loved her!! The main downside was the host Johnny. We got on the waitlist 3 hours before we got sat (no complaint, we know it's a very busy place) but since we placed it a long time in advance we expected the be seated at a table with the correct number of seats. Johnny took us to a table with five less seats then what we requested, and then said it was "Common f****** sense" that they wouldn't be able to place us at a table with the correct number of seats. When we explained the situation and how early in advance we placed our reservation, he continued to curse at our party and blame us. I do not blame anyone at Matt's, again I understand it can be very difficult to accommodate a large party on a busy night, but the lack of customer service and respect we received from Johnny (without an apology) was extremely disrespectful, unacceptable, and disgusting. We hope Johnny receives the proper training and education to deal with situations like this in the future. Otherwise, the rest of the staff was absolutely delightful and we had a wonderful birthday celebration at Matt's. Can't wait for more nights here! (hopefully not with Johnny) read more

My boyfriend and I absolutely love Matts! If you aren't starting your meal with the queso, you're seriously missing out. The food is consistently delicious, and the vibrant flavors never disappoint. The resturant does get busy so plan for a wait if you're with a group. Enjoy the Mexican martinis on the patio and soak in the modern mexican atmosphere this restaurant has to offer! read more

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We went for a family celebration, party of 6 on a Monday night. First time. Pretty, pretty good. Attentive and mostly prompt service. Expensive margaritas. Very good chips w habanero sauce. Nicely spicy. I had the smoked brisket tacos. Excellent and plentiful. Small serving of sour cream side. Laura had the Al Pastor tacos and she was delighted SIL had the sizzling fajitas and was happy Waiter was kind enough to bring us a comped round of sorbet for dessert. read more

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Great first Tex-Mex experience! What a charming place with many options for all. The quail appetizer was one of my favorites taste and presentation! Huge, Huge parking lot with complementary parking! read more

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Heads up, for large groups they do not take reservations and they will only seat you if the entire party is there. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available - plus it's a large restaurant so plenty of seating. We had our team lunch here and we made sure we all had to try the queso! We got a couple of the Chile Con Queso, Bob Armstrong Dip, and Guacamole. All were so so good, but make sure to eat them ASAP before they get cold and super thick. For my entree, I got the beef fajita plate and I would rate it a 4/5. The portion of the beef was 85% and fajitas was 15% so wish there was a bit more fajitas. Otherwise, I really enjoyed mixing in the lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream with the beef fajitas. The beans and rice were okay and I skipped on using the tortilla wraps. Definitely would come back just for the appetizer cheese dishes - yum! read more

Matt's El Rancho - Chile con Queso - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Don't really understand the bad reviews. My son started at UT in September and I think we have been to Matts 5 times already and going back tomorrow. This is by far the best Tex Mex I've ever had, so much better than anything in the Houston-Conroe area. Only thing is I still don't get the whole new reserve a table process. read more

You guys are one of my favorite restaurants and we are regulars but there are a few things that need to be addressed at your restuarant: 1. Your ice and tap water tastes like algae-like pondwater. This is likely because your water filters haven't been replaced in a while and/or your ice machines need to be inspected for algae/mold build up, and if so, cleaned out and sterilized. This makes all drinks and sodas have an algae-like aftertastes which is really offputting. 2. You guys need battery powered shoo-flys in your patio as flys are aggressive in the patio. 3. You guys need to get straws that are tall enough for sodas. You only have short cocktail straws but serve sodas in tall glasses. 4. The center dining room behind the where the hosts stand is insanely loud because everyone's conversation just bounces off all of the hard surfaces. You guys need to install some sound absorbption panels on the ceiling and some on the walls to reduce echo chamber effect. Other than the items above, you guys are doing a great job running a well-run restaurant with staff that's efficient and cares. Wish you continued success. read more

Puh-lease! This place is GREAT. I go all the time so this is the first review of many. This place is a great vibe. Go with friends and family and you will have a blast. It's typically pretty packed in the evenings and they do not take reservations so just be prepared. We usually get a drink at the bar and chill as we wait. This is a MUST TRY if you are a true Austinite! My recommendations: - If you go it is required that you get a Bob dip for the table. It's heaven on earth. - I also suggest the fajitas they are phenomenal. - For those of age, try a Knockout Martini. It's a Matt's classic. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Bob Bob Armstrong Dip - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm ashamed to say it took me 22 years in Austin to get here. Matt's is a 70+ year staple in Austin and they churn through a huge amount of business. Came in on a Monday night with a group of 12. Place was absolutely packed. Even so we were seated in under 20 minutes. Drinks. Appys. Food. It all came. It's all good. It's spot on to the definition of Tex-Mex. Queso, guacamole, fajitas, flautas. All fresh. Why four stars? It's Texas and it's Hatch season. Very few things in the menu had any real heat options. Burn me, Matt. Make me remember you. Twice, if you know what I mean, :) read more

Love this place! I grew up in Arizona and have lived in Southern California for the last 30 years, so I have had my share of Mexican food in all sorts of styles. Matt's is right up there with the best Tex-Mex food places, and the service was fantastic! read more

I LOVE Matt's El Rancho! I have been coming for years and could eat here every day. On a recent visit, my sisters and I were enjoying the beautiful patio and lively atmosphere! It was a busy night, so when we went to order a round of Knockout Martinis with the standard set up (IYKYK), our server, Mathieu, informed us he couldn't make any promises but he would see what he could do. We were elated and quite impressed when he came back with our round of Knockout Martinis complete with the iconic shaker and rimmed glasses! I wanted to write this review to thank Mathieu for making our girl's night out one to remember! read more

Matt's El Rancho - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is a tough one because this place is an Austin Institution and you can't knock 70 years of success. That being said..... Food - 4 Stars.....good, but nothing exceptional; Service - 3 Stars......Food was really slow coming out, never checked back for water refills or other drinks. Server was OK but not overly friendly; Parking - 2.5 Stars......Large lot but still difficult to find a Parking spot. Would definitely eat there again, but only if I was in the neighborhood. Not a place I would drive an hour to go to. read more

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This TEX-MEX classic done well a couple of vegan choices and my flexitarian partner assures me the nachos with chicken Al carbon are excellent. Vegan fajitas really good grilled veg. The ambience is good I stopped and helped sing Happy Birthday to a grandmother the parking easy read more

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Just meh. Came here with family for a birthday day celebration. One person had to send back their dish because it was cold. Waiter said they couldn't split the bill. Not sure why. He said they weren't "allowed". I'm guessing they are trying to avoid transaction fees so it's better to inconvenience the customers. Sangria frozen margarita was good. Orange margarita was too strong. The chicken fajitas were very thin and lacked flavor. Chips were good but salsa was way too hot and I like my salsa spicy. Overall, not the best dining experience. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Chicken fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

On Sunday, 12/28/25, we were a party of 13 celebrating a birthday. It is understandable that on a busy evening the server might feel somewhat overwhelmed, but he was noncommunicative overall. One of our party received the wrong dish twice, while another's was nearly inedible (tough) due to being overcooked. However, the real issue we had was that the total bill was to be divided equally four ways. Instead, we were all charged random amounts with some being charged double what others were charged. Upon calling the general manager the following day we were told it would take too long for him to correct the error and "work it out yourselves." Very disappointing in the lack of customer care. Will take our business elsewhere. read more

In the area for short vacation trip to catch up with friends and looking for lunch on this day.. Matt's was in the prime location. Walked in and was greeted promptly. Ordered with Jorge and waited while it was made fresh. The order was delivered in a timely manner and all flavors were delicious. The combo cheese dip was decadent! The lobby was clean as were the restrooms. The cost was reasonable and the food was piping hot. I had a chicken tacos platter - it hit the spot....Its a pretty good location and I will return when in the area. Thank you team & (Jorge) for being patient as I scrolled the menu multiple time before deciding and for getting the kids plate out first.. the chips and salsa - so TASTY!!! Team should be commended! Respectfully, Bryan OKC We need a Matt's in our area!!! (Justsayin) read more

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Honestly, my first time at Matt's El Rancho was freaking fantastic. Matias was on top of our drinks and made great recommendations for the food. We ordered a little bit of everything including the red fish, steak fajitas, queso, and al pastor tacos. Also drank 5 Dulce Vida (our favorite) margaritas and each one was made perfectly. Charlie was the real star. He floated that room like a rockstar and checked on every single table including ours. Couldn't ask for a better management. Can't wait to go back for my amazing service, management, drinks, and FOOD! read more

Everybody loves Matt's. Great Tex-Mex at an affordable rate. Margs are killer! Service is always friendly. It's a little crowded and a little loud - wait - we may have been the loud ones...Killer margs! read more