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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Old Austinites beware! This is NOT the Matts El Rancho that us Texans knew and loved. I had not been here for years and wow has it changed. This is strictly a commercial business, only interested in pushing people in and out as quickly as possible. Sadly all the tourists (and Californians) keep it full so there is no reason for this restaurant to change. There is NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. It was the worst dining experience I have EVER had. Our table was 7 ladies trying to celebrate a birthday. We were told No separate checks, NO free birthday cake for the birthday girl, No greetings to us, there were No smiles, basically it was NO FUN, and it felt like NO NO NO to everything. The whole staff at this place was horrible. No one was friendly and welcoming at all. And forget about the waiter, he was not at all attentive to our table. No water refills until we waved him down every time we needed it -which was difficult. This place is absolutely the worst! They basically DON'T CARE. None of us will ever return to this horrible place! Save your time and money and go to a restaurant that actually appreciates its customers. Matt's El Rancho makes it very clear that they don't need you or your business and that you need to move on because there are plenty of other idiots who want to be treated like dirt. read more

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

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

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

See all

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

With so many Tex-Mex options in Austin, Matt's El Rancho is my favorite! The food, quick (& friendly!) service, and the lovely outdoor ambience sets them above Chuy's, Maudie's and Serrano's. Plenty of parking! I read that they can accommodate 500 guests. It's always been packed each time we've gone. Another reviewer mentioned reservations but I don't think they offer that option. Either way, the waitlist moves pretty quickly UNLESS it's a UT game night. My fave item is the fried red fish tacos. It's flaky and delicious! The Spanish rice is fluffy and perfectly seasoned. 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

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

Awesome food and service! Sad about the 3 marg limit though :( very efficient and fast service as well.

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

The food did not disappoint and the service was amazing! Def a highlight of my trip to Austin! read more

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

Incredibly rude and inexperienced host staff. We had a table for 14 after a funeral and as our table was called we waited for the host stand to seat us. The host didn't believe me we had 14 people and refused to sit us. Why would I lie? How would that benefit me? The reality was the place was chaotic and she didn't know who was in my party. It's crazy they can't trust their customers about their party size. I've been coming here since a child and it's sad to see what they have turned into. read more

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

See all

Food was okay. I definitely expected a lot better per the amount of people in there. I would rate it a 7.5/10. We were seated extremely quickly and the staff was nice. It did take our waiter awhile to get to us but I know it was after a Ut game and they were busy. read more

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

We just had a very negative experience at Matt's El Rancho and I want to make sure everyone is aware of their recent policy change. My husband stopped by Matt's after work to pick up dinner. Because the items he ordered were not on their very limited "To Go" menu he had to order the meal, then pack the meal himself. No waitstaff would do it for him. I spoke to the manager, Angie, myself and she was very comfortable with telling me that she had no intention of giving good customer, was not willing to make the customer happy, and that this was " the policy." This means more work and waste of resources: 1) Someone in the kitchen will now need to place the food on dishes that will not be used, 2) Someone will need to clear the unused dishes once we have left, 3) Someone will need to wash the unused dishes and waste water. Imagine, a restaurant not packing your order to go. I am sure there are plenty of other restaurants in Austin willing to do so. read more

Came in for dinner on a Wednesday, called ahead and they said I could be seating immediately if I chose inside but outside was a 25 min wait. So once we got there we got sat right outside no wait, as soon as we sat we got waters chips and Salsa, we ordered pretty quickly and food came fast. Efficient and food was decent priced. And pretty tasty. Would return again 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

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

See all

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

See all

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

First time trying authentic Tex-mex and I was blown away the amount of flavor had my mouth watering! From the famous Queso dip to the outstanding fajitas that come out fresh made to order I would highly recommend stopping by and seeing this Texas staple that has been in business for over 71 years! read more

See all

Delicious Tex-Mex cuisine! The tacos, especially the tilapia and asadero, were fantastic. The chips were a bit crunchier than expected but still enjoyable. The salsa had a nice kick and added great flavor. read more

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

Definitely an Austin staple, if you are visiting you MUST go here. The food is great and the drinks are strong, the Knockout Margarita is killer. Not pictured was the Bob Armstrong Queso, it's a must order. The meal isn't complete without it. I will say it's a popular place so the inside can get quite loud and you might have a wait if you have a big party, so grabbing a drink at the bar is the perfect way to go. The patio is much calmer and chill and even in the heat of the summer it's enjoyable. All the staff is super friendly from the bartenders, to the bussers, and the servers themself. Mine noticed it was my birthday and put a candle on the dessert we order which was so sweet. read more

See all

Classic Austin Texmex that's always worth a visit. The patio is covered and has a misting system that makes hot Austin days livable. The casual atmosphere, gracious staff and delicious food make for a relaxing dining experience. I am ever on the quest to find the chili Relleno of my childhood, and I must say that this offering comes closer than most! My server, Esme, was so personable and made my visit even more of a delight! I recommend a regular visit to this Austin icon! read more

See all

This was a pretty good Tex-Mex spot. We arrived right when they opened at 11 am on a UT football Saturday, and it was already busy. They seemed to turn tables pretty quickly, so if you go later in the day it shouldn't take too long to get a table. We started with the Bob Armstrong Dip, and it was such a good queso dip, it is definitely a must get appetizer. I also got the unsweetened tea and it was one of the best unsweetened teas I've had. I got the brisket flautas and they were okay, if I went back I would get something different for my entree. The flautas were too soft, they needed to be crispier, they were kind of like eating enchiladas. The rice and beans were very good. The portion sizes were very generous. If I ever go back to Austin, I would go back just for the Bob Dip. read more

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

The food here is fantastic and incredibly consistent. We've been coming here for years and it is always such a treat. Josh was terrific! It was our first time sitting in his section and he made the evening. Sorry I accidentally hit the thumbs down on the handheld! I thought it was asking about a receipt! Lol. D*mn those frozens! :-D read more

The food was amazing and our server was fantastic. I wish I could remember her name. She was so accommodating and when I couldn't decide, she came up with a great solution for me to get everything I wanted. (Note to manager- she was young and blonde and we were discussing the purple flower on the patio that she took a pic of and showed her mom). We sat outside because it was a nice day and we had a little breeze but just enough to be comfortable. Very quant outdoor patio seating. We loved it. read more

See all