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

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

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

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 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

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

(More like 3.5 stars) While in Austin multiple people recommended Matt's. Given the hype my boyfriend and I had to check it out. We started out with cocktails: burnt orange margarita and the cactus Pryor. The burnt orange was just ok but I liked the cactus. We're served complimentary tortilla chips and salsa. The salsa was spicy but good. I ordered the green enchiladas, one beef and one cheese and my bf had the steak nachos. My meal came with a guacamole salad; a scoop of guacamole over a bed of iceberg lettuce. Unfortunately the guacamole tasted like the premade kind from the grocery store. My enchiladas were also just ok. The rice that came with it was good and the refried beans were ok. My bf's nachos were pretty good. The steak was really good but I wish they had more toppings. It only came with the tortilla chips topped with melted cheese, black beans and steak. Onions and jalapeños came on the side. Pico de gallo and sour cream would've been a nice addition. The restaurant has a great ambiance. Service was fast and the servers are very nice. I really wanted to love this place but sadly I don't understand the hype. I was expecting authentic, flavorful Tex-Mex food and was left a little disappointed. I've had similar if not better Mexican food here in NJ. Our meal was ok but given the hype I was expecting a lot more. read more

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

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

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

Another overpriced Austin restaurant. Plenty of delicious Mexican/taco restaurants to support but this one is not it. I was sucked into the asadero tacos with the claim that it is one of the best 120 tacos I need to eat before I die. Clearly whoever made that list has never been to Mexico. Worst of all the chips were stale. 3 stars for decent service, staff seemed nice, and food was brought out promptly. Drinks were very strong. read more

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

See all

A wedding party of around 25 people visited Matt's El Rancho for dinner on a Saturday night around 6:30pm. To me, that was a big mistake, but Matt's agreed to seat us. We were told they could accommodate us in 2-2.5 hours, so we drank at the bar until closer to the time. As it got closer, we had multiple rounds of the hostess telling us table(s) were available, us trying to round up the group and then it becoming unavailable. By the time 9pm rolled around, they sat half of us and 10 minutes later sat the other half in another room. I think they tried to get us altogether, but the hostess was not friendly and it was just a sh-t show. The knockout martini is a good price for what you get. We shared the Bob Armstrong dip, and I ordered the fish tacos and subbed for redfish. Food was decent; but nothing absolutely different than elsewhere I'd say. I think this restaurant is overhyped, but it was definitely affordable so I would still recommend coming as a casual Tex-Mexican restaurant. Wish I could rate 3.5 stars, but I am putting 3 instead of 4. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Fish Tacos (sub Redfish) - 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

I get this is an Austin institution but their food is a total hit or miss. The cocktails are their saving grace but I wouldn't have dinner here unless you are lucky enough to order the few good items on the menu (I can't tell you because I still haven't gotten lucky yet). Til then I'll stick to my Mexican martini and make my friends drive me home. read more

This place was packed when we came and our local friends told us that it is typically like this especially on a weekend and all for good reason. To start, theres plenty of parking and you should have your friend jump out to put your name in line at the host. Then while you wait, you can have a drink at the bar while also trying to avoid the massive amount of people. The vibe was great and definitely the spot for some great food and loud scenery. People are talking and having a great time - great pregame spot before a night out. Steak was fabulous and i cannot forget that queso - mixed with avo and meat. 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

We ordered the Number 1 combo plate for dinner and it was quite good! Their to-go was the way to make it happen on a busy Friday night. My partner went to pick it up and said there were lines and people everywhere! I didn't have a chance to experience the restaurant in person but I did get to enjoy the food. I loved the to-go containers! They were perfect for keeping rice and beans separate and the main entree in the middle. Flavor of the food was good and not a place I would wait hours to go to. read more

See all

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

Completely serviceable and runs efficiently - food was fine, sign was a fun photo op. I would probably look for something a bit more interesting when I am in town next but was happy we gave this a go! read more

Matts El Ranch is an Austin staple. When someone comes to town and wants to know where to eat good tex mex this is where I send them. The food is great, the drinks are great. The service is great. I love that some of the meals come with complimentary pecan pralines. My favorite thing here is the Bob Armstrong Dip, its basically a queso compuesto but theres just something about their cheese that makes it extra special. They also have to die for Mexican Martinis and hella good margaritas. I'm giving them an easy two thumbs up. Make the trip to Matts you wont regret it. read more

Loudest restaurant I've ever been in. Restaurants really need to consider the safety of patrons hearing. I think I legitimately have hearing damage from going here. read more

The food was really great. The service was quick. The ambience is fun. It is loud but it's fun and family-friendly. It's a large place.

As a Californian trying tex mex for the first time I had really high hopes! After hearing a lot about Matt's El Rancho, we decided to give it a try. Here's what we got: El Rancho Skinny Margarita - really good! All the margs here are good and definitely worth it Bob Armstrong Dip (no meat) - basically queso with beans and guac, it was good but basically just tasted like chunky queso. Couldn't really taste the guac because they put like a really tiny amount in a big bowl of queso. I will say though that I really liked the chips! They were thin and crispy and they kept them refilled through the duration of our meal. Spinach Poblanitas Enchiladas - I decided to go with the vegetarian enchiladas. I wasn't a fan of these. Though the filling tasted really good, the outer tortilla was really tough and the suiza sauce was bland. It basically tasted like just sour cream on the outside and I wasn't a fan. I would recommend going verde instead if you decide to get these and ask for them extra hot. My assumption is the tortilla was tough because they just weren't warm enough. Overall, this place was ok. For apps and drinks it's pretty good but the entrees are pretty average and overpriced. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Bob Armstrong Dip (not meat) - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Visited the restaurant on a busy Saturday night. It was pretty packed and we were told there was about an hour wait when we arrived. I was told I had to try the Bob Armstrong dip so we put our names on the list and walked over to the bar to grab some Margaritas. The margaritas were so so but the vibe in the bar and restaurant was amazing. The restaurant is pretty large and nicely decorated. The parking lot was full, thankfully we took an Uber from our Airbnb. We only waited a little over half an hour. But the wait was well worth it. We were seated in their beautiful patio area and the weather was amazing. We ordered the Bob Armstrong dip and it was delicious. We also shared the chicken & steak fajitas. Fajitas were also very good. The service was also top notch. We will definitely be back the next time we're in town. read more

See all

The food is just basic Tex Mex. The service is just ok. But the hostess stand - wow are they incredibly rude. Like. Beyond rude. Enough to not eat here again. Also love that the response was contact a manager in the future. How about something like oh no, let us address this with our team. read more

Solid Tex-mex and excellent margaritas. I'm a big fan of the enchiladas. The chips and salsa are good and pretty addictive. This is kind of an institution in South Austin. I eat hear a few times a month and always have an enjoyable experience. read more

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

See all

I personally do not get the hype. Maybe it's because I didn't come here all of my life or I am just the kind of person who doesn't find the headache of poorly designed parking lots and long waits worth it for mediocre food. It is just not my kinda place. It is overly crowded and loud and the parking lot, although huge, it a nightmare with it's teensy spots and everyone driving around searching for a spot they can squeeze into. Once you make it past that, you have to weave through the crowd of people, all holding drinks and practically shouting, standing around waiting 30+ minutes to hours for a table. If you are mentally prepared and willing, then by all means proceed. The chips and salsa, as well as guac and queso (from my husband's experience) were all delicious. I myself thought the salsa was really good and had nice heat. I also thought the frozen margs were very delicious--I had a frozen mango swirl and ended up getting one more. It was a very good margarita. Our server was also top-notch. She was super friendly and went above and beyond to ensure my food was made safely and correctly, all gluten and dairy free. They are able to accommodate well. The sad part is the food itself was pretty bland. I got the chicken enchiladas with ranchero sauce and it was quite flavorless; even the Spanish rice and refried beans weren't really that tasty. I was pretty bummed. My husband got a combo plate and said it was not too great either. So for people who hate crowds, waits, and the parking catastrophe, probably avoid this spot. I am one of those people but would probably be willing to come back at a less hectic hour for a marg and chips. read more

Lived up to the hype. Grilled shrimp fajitas had an incredible seasoning, fresh and hot! Margaritas were also fantastic and excellent friendly staff. read more

Skip those food trucks and come here for lunch. $11.95 specials and any are a great choice. I had a foot long enchilada with rice and beans. The fajitas were also good. The waiter was great and there were plenty of locals eating here. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Menu 1-23 - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I love going to a restaurant and instantly getting a homey feel. Being really far away from my family and my home in Mexico, I love this feeling that I get when I visit certain restaurants. Matt's El Rancho made me feel at home and I am so grateful for that. First off, there is ample parking and I went during lunch hour which I was a little worried about since this area can get pretty packed. We were seated pretty quickly and only had to wait about 5 minutes to get a table. The interior of the restaurant is so pretty. Definitely paying homage to the Hispanic culture with the brown brick and colorful displays. We got seated in their main area which was perfect. It was pretty packed and a little loud but I did not mind that. One of my favorite foods are tex-mex enchiladas so I knew that's what I wanted order. Their enchilada plate comes with a side of red rice and beans. The enchiladas were perfectly stuffed with American cheese and topped with their meat sauce. The tortilla was also nice and not overly crunchy or fried. The rice was pretty good but I added a little bit of extra salt just to get it to my liking. The beans were on the lighter side (which I prefer) and paired amazingly with the enchiladas. The plate was huge and I had leftovers. Perfect portion for the price. Their salsa was also so delicious, especially their green salsa. Practically filled up on chips and salsa before the main entrees came in and I was not mad about it hahaha. I would definitely recommend Matt's El Rancho to those who appreciate some homey Tex-Mex food. Take advantage of their lunch specials! read more

See all

Tourist trap. Below average Mexican food. Tex mex has so much to offer and this place does not showcase it. Better off going somewhere else for good Mexican or Tex-mex. read more

Matt's is an immersive experience. You're not here for the top tier most exquisite Mexican food of your life BUT you are here for a damn good time!!! The chips with salsa, guac or queso are all delish! I'm a big fan of their chicken flautas. Their knockout margarita OR martini drink option will have you knocked out. It's one of my favorite places in Austin for the experience and ambiance. It's a must try if you haven't been and also a great place to bring visitors!! read more

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

Overall great interior and decorations but the food doesn't match the hype. Meat quality is okay, but the homemade sauces are great. read more

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

See all

During our Austin vacation, we heard Matt's El Rancho was the place to be. The average Yelp rating is in the middle, but our experience was great. I'd go back for sure. Started off with the Bob Armstrong dip - queso with guacamole and ground beef in a bowl. Something so simple yet super yummy! It is their signature dip, and a must have in my opinion. Perfect for the hard-crunchy tortilla chips they give you. (Hard crunchy not my fave, but the dip definitely helped.) Hubby chose the Tacos Al Pastor for his entree, and liked them very much. Good flavor all around, but the charred pineapple was where the money is. Two tacos, huge. Definitely worth it. I opted for the Vegan Bowl - soooo freaking delicious! You get a huge amount. Black beans, rice, mango pico de gallo, and avocado on top of lettuce/celery with a cilantro vinaigrette that has the most zesty lime-y flavor. Super satisfying and wonderful. I'd order this again and again. The atmosphere was nice. Restaurant sits a lot of people. A very popular hang out - our wait was 45 minutes; however, we got our table in 20. Definitely a bonus! read more

Always good.. for 50 years since the restaurant was on 5th neither the quality of the food or the service has suffered

Wow! First time going after wanting to try for a while! Everything was great! We had the queso, brisket tacos and the enchiladas! Pricey but a great special event place! read more

See all

The wait is usually really long, but if you're willing to wait a while it's a pretty worth it. On the weekends, this place is super crowded, it almost feels like a club. The frozen margaritas (specifically the sangria margaritas) are really good. Good place to go before a night out. read more

Man what a disappointment, had heard great things about this place, and so was really excited to go check it out. Upon rolling up, that excitement grew even more because the parking lot is pure chaos, and it was packed, so I'm thinking, it had to have been a good restaurant for sure, with this many people swarming about......(don't believe the hype folks, it's fake news)! So the pros: 1) service from our waiter Juan was amazing, he had a big party and some other tables he was waiting on, but still made sure to check on our party of two! He was great! 2) the wait wasn't as long as they first quoted which was 1.5 hrs on a Thursday night! Can't even imagine in a weekend. But we only ended up waiting about 40-45 maybe. So not too bad, and they also text you so you can leave the area if you want to grab a drink nearby or something Ben grab a drink at the bar. Cons: 1) the thing that matters the most....the FOOD was just okay, nothing that stood out or made me want to eagerly return back. We got the Asadero and Pecan Smoked Brisket tacos, and although the Asadero was good, it wasn't amazing or anything. The Smoked brisket one fell flat for me as well. Didn't have much flavor, and only tasted good once I added some of the salsa too it. Needless to say I left feeling very underwhelmed by the food. Could've saved those calories and gone somewhere else. read more