I don't care how long you have to wait to get a table, or that they don't take reservations. I fucking love this place. And it's not even somewhere you HAVE TO TRY - the food isn't even particularly unique. Matt's just has inexplicably good vibes. There's a sense of camaraderie among everyone who's dining here together. Everyone's at least one knock out martini deep, not a single care in the world. And it's lovely. TL;DR... if you get it you get it read more

The food and margaritas were very good. My first meal in Austin. Everything fresh. Items that should have been cold were cold and our meals came out piping hot. Ambiance good, but hard to have a conversation due to people encroaching tables. Understood the place is popular. Service was attentive. I would go back. read more

I come to this place because it is a happy place, and the food is comforting. It's not going to blow your mind as far as Mexican food is concerned, but it is all tasty and satisfying. Their beef fajitas are always good and their margaritas are so dependable and satisfying. The staff are all dedicated and attentive and service is consistent. This is my comfort food place. read more

We went here for lunch and we loved it! Tons of seating and a great outdoor vibe. The service was great and the food was delicious. The margaritas were also delicious. The menu has a nice variety of dishes. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a more casual meal in Austin. Great for bigger groups or families as well. read more

Matt's El Rancho - Build your own tacos Al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

First off--- I absolutely LOVE this place. My family has been going here for over 20 years. But honestly the to go prices are way off. Food wise fine, but for to go alcohol drinks.... ridiculous. Paid 14 bucks for the Knockout Martini which we've gotten there dozens of times but the cup I got was smaller than a kids cup drink. Like it's honestly not even an 8 oz drink. Had I known that the $14 drink I was getting to go was going to be so so small, I wouldn't have bothered. On their website it does not say how big the drink is. So for perspective I've added a photo. Honestly it's smaller than the to go margs at Taco Cabana....disappointing that I spent that much for something so small. OVERALL THEIR FOOD AND RESTAURANT IS AMAZING To go drinks are just ridiculously overpriced for the size you receive. I'd have been happy to pay $14 if it was the actual size of the drink I get when I dine in. Just buy and make your own drinks...don't bother. read more

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

Been here many times, but Jackson is the goat. The stache is pure elegance. We highly recommend you come see him out on the patio. Old fashioned crispy tacos are always the move. Queso as always is bussin. Most margaritas only go to 10, but this one goes to 11, and I'm not talking about the time here. Great time at matts. Keep it going read more

I've been eating at Matt's since I was 8. Still the best! Best family, best atmosphere, very best staff and margaritas and best food.

I used to live off of Lamar and Bluebonnet back in 2005, right around the Marias Taco Express v Walgreens fiasco. I remember thinking about Matt's as we pondered how many more our beloved institutions would get torn down and replaced by condos or some other useless business. After all, Matt's was in their 50s and I wondered if they'd survive the ever-changing world around them and Lamar. Heck, how much longer would I last in the town I'd grown to call home, I wondered. Well, fast forward to 2022. Both Matt's and I are older, grayer and much more set in our ways. They're in their 70s now and I'm comfortably entering my mid-40s. The property is immaculate, as always. That in itself is a sight to be experienced and appreciated. I can't stress that enough. The margaritas were pretty good, no complaints there and our server was exceptional. Even though we seemed to be sitting at the back of the outside patio, almost beyond the wall, she managed to keep checking on us with decent regularity. The number of humans needed to make this operation work effectively, day in and day out, would make your head explode. You have to appreciate that. Listen, I know I'm a Mexican food snob and I sometimes find Tex-Mex to be of lesser standing but when you know what you're in for, you have to grade it on that curve. As such, the carne guisada was good, as were my wive's asadero tacos. Now here's where they get four stars. I can't stress this enough, the tortillas are crucial people. You can't skimp on that. The corn tortillas were paper thin, flavorless and overall just bland. Had they been the nice and thick variety, homemade as those at Casa Gs or other places that appreciate the value of a tortilla you can be proud of, they would've received a healthy five stars. But alas, I can't, in good faith, do that. That said, while a little pricey for the offering, I understand you gotta pay maintain that staff of 60+ and that beautiful property, I still recommend Matt's. It's an Austin institution and a worthwhile experience. read more

I love Matt's and since moving out of town we try to make a stop when in town. This place gets crazy crowded so go early! They do NOT take reservations and won't seat you until your entire party is there but will put your name on the waitlist to keep you in line. Best Mexican martini around! Queso is amazing! Service struggles a bit but given the crowds just be patient and know they are doing their best. This place is Old Austin so skip the hip new places and eat like a local. Go to Matt's! read more

Yesterday was our second visit to Matt's El Rancho since the 25% reopening. We could not me more pleased of Matt's with opening up to their customers and treating us all with food that is always good and margaritas that are always delicious. Bottom line, we felt more safe and comfortable at Matt's than at HEB. The tables are at least 10 feet apart, the menus are place mats, the seating station is outside, and the tables are sanitize before AND after each party leaves. Please don't hesitate to enjoy another visit to Matt's, the sooner the better. read more

Was told the wait would be an hour and 1/2 then I got a text saying the table was ready so I told the hostess and she said "I told you an hour and a half it's only been 57 minutes" which was sassy and then I got another text 5 min later saying it was still ready so I asked a different girly and she lead us to the table. Deff get the knock out martini it will do the trick. For enchiladas ask for both squares and mix them read more

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If you haven't been to Matt's El Rancho then you are seriously missing out. It's an Austin staple that you can find me and my friends at every weekend. Their skinny frozen margaritas and queso are the best and the vibes are immaculate. They have a great outdoor seating area. read more

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

The food seemed like it had been sitting out and they just reheated it. The service was good I guess. The place just seemed really old I wouldn't recommend it. read more

Unpopular opinion: I don't get the hype. I've been hearing about Matt's for years in Austin and never had the chance to try until now. The four stars are for excellent customer service and handling COVID fantastically (ex. tables spaced far apart, paper menus, and you saw employees regularly sanitizing) Food wise? Eh. It was just alright? Nothing special. Wasn't blown away. Queso wasn't anything special. *Lots of parking available which is always a big plus in Austin!* read more

My wife had seen Matt's El Rancho on a television show a few years ago. They were talking about their famous Bob Armstrong dip. I have to admit that did look really good. So while we were planning our trip to Austin, we made a point to make sure we stopped here. We stopped around 8:00pm on a Friday night. This was as busy of a restaurant as I can remember visiting. For one their parking lot is huge. I ended up parking somewhere in their "back 40". My wife had got out to get into line while I went to park. By the time I made up to the door, we were going in. We ended up sitting on their patio. It was a cool evening however they had heaters that made it very comfortable. We had already had dinner so this was just a snack. Service was quick and friendly. Our chips came out with some salsa. The salsa had some real spice to it. Not overly hot, but you knew you were eating salsa. Our dip arrived shortly after we had dug into our chips and salsa. The dip was cheesy, creamy and had that ground beef to fortify it and of course had the guacamole. The dip was good but maybe not as good as we were expecting. There was a lot going on and I think I would have enjoyed the guacamole separate from the cheese. I actually added some salsa with my dip to balance it and give it more flavor. The guacamole flavor kind of gets lost with the cheese. Still it was a tasty dip and we didn't have any trouble finishing our snack. If we get back to Austin I would like to check this place our for a meal as they were packed and more people were arriving when we were on our way out. read more

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Came here at the recommendation of the hosts of the Circling Back podcast and was not disappointed. Between the three of us, we got margaritas, a Bob Armstrong dip, asadero tacos, fish tacos, and a chicken quesadilla. All were superb--our server certainly steered us in the right direction. The atmosphere (patio, string lights, bright dishware) and service were top notch as well. It was a great welcome to Austin. read more

I've been a loyal customer of El Rancho for over 30 years. Food has never been a disappointment until my last visit. I have usually ordered the same thing, chicken tostada with green sauce. Unfortunately they have decided to change the recipe, specifically the chicken. It not only tasted bad but smelled off. I was told they now smoke the chicken--bad move El Rancho. read more

7/2020 update: Unfortunately, my experience with pick-up at Matt's has seriously decreased in quality. As an avid supporter of all things local and especially Tex Mex, it disheartens me to say that until COVID is no longer an issue, I will not be ordering takeout or dining in at Matt's. Here's why: 1. My food was COLD when I brought it home. I live within one mile of Matt's and picked up exactly on time. It must have been sitting there waiting for me long before I was told it was ready. With so many other pick up options these days, this is inexcusable. 2. My chips were STALE. I LOVE Matt's queso but every last chip in my bag was stale... thankfully I had my own chips at home but imagine how sad I would be if I hadn't. 3. The line out the door is massive and not a single person is being asked to where a mask while out front... Seems very risky at a time like this. Sorry Matt's El Rancho, maybe I'll dine in once it's safe again but my pick-up orders will be filled elsewhere. read more

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The family and I went for dinner here last night. We were greeted quickly and w a smile by the front gals! Violet walked us to our table to be seated. Our sever was quick and friendly, and the food was soooo good! We got queso and tacos and a fish dish! It was crowded, and loud which are not my favorite things, but our over all experience was GREAT! read more

Matt's El Rancho - Red Fish and veggies - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It's Matt's El Rancho! A staple in Austin for decades, Matt's is a solid spot for Tex-Mex. It's not the best, it's not the worst, it is dependable. Great margs and queso. Awesome service. Good for groups. Plenty of parking. read more

A rip-off. They screw you on sizes ... and charge $$$$. Terrible service. Don't recommend this restaurant at ALL. read more

I had been wanting to try this place for a long time! Located on South Lamar, they have a huge parking lot but also offer Valet for $6 if you don't want the hassle. I recommend ubering so you can enjoy a margarita or 2. Service: Pretty good, server was friendly, he was really busy and working hard, but long delays for some things. Also they had no clean small plates causing a mess with the queso and trying to share between the table, queso and salsa was dripping through the holes of the table. Food/Drink Items: Skinny Margarita on the rocks: 5/5 stars. So good! I was really impressed Table chips: not great, they could upgrade, salsa was very good (hot!). Queso: 4/5 stars, really tasty, highly recommend Chicken Enchiladas: 2.5 stars, came with refried beans and rice, everything was pretty bland, the enchiladas were kind of dry as was the chicken inside. These are edible. But you can literally find frozen ones at the grocery store that are better than this. Very disappointed and hope to have a better entree next time. read more

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I love Matt's for Traditional Tex-Mex . A friend of mine and I always find the opportunity to go for lunch a few times a year and the food is always good, but always crowded as well read more

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Matt's El Rancho but it is just so hard to get a table at any normal dining time so I'm knocking down my rating based on that. The restaurant is an Austin staple so, despite the fact that the restaurant is busy, it is always packed. If you're down to power through the wait, be sure to grab a margarita to make the time go by a bit faster. My favorite is the frozen prickly pear margarita. Once you're seated, you're missing out if you don't order the Bob Armstrong Dip, it's definitely high on the list for queso in Austin in my opinion. COVID Precautions: Minimal due to lowering case numbers. read more

The Asadero Tacos were labeled "one of the 120 Tacos you must eat before you die!" And they were not wrong!!!

Absolute garbage. Not sure where to start. The food has less taste then taco bell at 10x the price. These guys have figured it out. The food came quick. $20 for bottom shelf martini to keep you happy while eating Sysco wilted lettuce and tomatoes with grizzled over cooked beef. Give the plate 5 minutes to cool down from the microwaving. Also $80 for 2 people to sit in an overcrowded hot cafeteria style setting. I must be missing something. read more

I am updating and removing a star. I will continue to come here but my disappointment grows. I have mainly done pick up due to How busy they are and covid. More times than not they are on time but it is hit or miss. This go around when i ordered queso, the container was barely filled. And other items were sloppily put together. Honestly it was just a big let down. I still think the food is very good. But the quality within delivery continues to fall short. read more

Very good Tex-Mex. We got the Bob Armstrong queso, a chile relleno with shrimp and ranchero, and green enchiladas with cheese. Everything was very good, and my wife absolutely loved the queso in particular. I'm not the biggest Tex-Mex fan in general, but I'm glad we came and had the experience. read more

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This was a great experience for me, as a college kid visiting friends at UT. It is super chaotic and takes a while to get seated. We came for the drinks, not the food. The drinks were fantastic and strong. This place is not cheap. However, keep in mind that you're paying for the experience, not the food. I got the green chicken enchiladas and they were fine. I've had much much better. Sit outside if you can; it's very loud inside which didn't bother us but could definitely be a problem if you don't want to talk over lots of college kids. The atmosphere may be different on weeknights and definitely at lunch, but this is a hotspot for enrolled longhorns on the weekends. read more

Came with a few friends from Los Angeles! Best queso I've ever had! Great service and reasonable prices. Glad we got to try some great Tex Mex!! I liked the Deluxe Dinner--delicious and I got to try a little of everything read more

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

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Matt's El Rancho gets a lot of hype which I can see why. Sitting on the back patio is an atmosphere unlike any other, however, the countless flies made for a unique experience. The steak fajitas were a hit; the flies would say so too read more

Matt's El Rancho - Steak fajitas for 2...more like for 4! - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

What a great spot in Austin, Texas that is just the epitome of Tex- Mex. The asadero tacos are SO good and you just have to get the Bob Armstrong dip. The service was phenomenal and our server was so attentive and nice. One of my favorite spots! The patio has a nice ambiance also! read more

Paul is a horrible general manager. If you want a three drink limit then go see this guy. Been going to Matt's for 20 years and never been kicked out. We had "too many drink" and got escorted out. Nice job Paul read more

I've been here every time I visit Austin because I love it so much! The ambiance and the queso are really good! read more

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

Honestly don't understand the hype of this place, they serve poor quality food and drinks. Their refried beans are served from a plastic bag to your plate. Enchiladas are very poor quality and taste. I do have to say their drinks are average, and the environment is cute, but for an hour wait I can't believe how bad this place was. Try somewhere else for Tex-Mexican. read more

One of our favorite places to go with friends! I adore their beef enchiladas and their chile rellenos. Their margaritas are delicious as well, and cheaper than other spots with similar food fare. If you're in the area looking for some good Tex-Mex, this is your spot! read more

Very good food but wait times are crazy long! We actually left to go to a bar down the road while we waited for an hour and a half! The Asadero tacos were excellent!! read more

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

Matt's El Rancho is an institution in Austin. It doesn't mean you should dine here. Saturday dinner (7:30pm on) has the place heaving with people, including families with children of all ages. Food: Beef and chicken fajitas for two was meant to be a pound of meat, but it was more green/red pepper and onions than meet. It was served with a bowl of shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cheese. There was a side plate of dry beans and dry Spanish rice, certainly not enough for two people to share. We were charged an additional $3.95 for a side of rice and beans. The flour tortillas were the best thing about that meal. Chile relleno with shrimp and sour cream sauce was inedible. The sauce had broken, shrimp was overcooked and tasted rubbery, and for whatever reason, it was served with a hefty sprinkling of raisins and chopped walnuts. Same dry beans and rice came with this meal. The best thing we had was the complementary tortilla chips, and the Bob Armstrong. Frozen margaritas were so-so. Service: The ladies working the check-in desk could really care less about customer service. It was a busy Saturday night, but our party of four was seated after a 5-minute wait. We managed to order reasonably quickly, but service was incredibly slow. Waters did not get refilled. We had to keep asking for water and tortilla chip refills. Cost: A shrimp chile relleno, caldo de res (soup), 1lb fajita plate for two, side of rice and beans, a bob armstrong, and four margaritas ran us $115 after tax. Overall: Hard pass. Yes, this place has been here forever, and it's family owned, etc. but whatever charm it may once have had is long gone. It's large and expansive inside, with the ability to hold hundreds of people, and it certainly does on a weekend night. But when food is mass produced on that sort of scale, it's hard to get it right for everyone. Self park or $6 valet. Takes cards. read more

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Epilogue to My Review from 7 Months Prior I would like to update my previous review to report that when my husband and I returned hesitantly a few weeks ago, our experience seemed as though the concerns about which I'd written 7 seven months earlier had all been heard and addressed. The Matt's we experienced a few weeks ago and this moment as I write is reflective of the Matt's of old. Thank you. We are very pleased to report that the food, drinks and service are on par with what we'd come to know and love for more than two decades. I'm very glad we gave Matt's another chance, and I'm grateful to now return to one of our favorite Austin spots with confidence. read more

I finally went here for the first time last weekend. I am on a very strict diet, and I decided to use this as my 1st cheat day in 30 days! So I knew it better be worth it!! My husband was worried. I'm from west Texas so I am very picky about my Tex Mex- this interior Mexican crap around here is not my game. Anyhoo, I ordered the fajitas and the Mexican Martini. Wow! I ate every morsel of the fajitas they were so good! And I love that they aren't stingy with tortillas and you can ask for more!!! At less than 1 cent a piece to make, I have never understood why restaurants are so stingy with them. Anyhoo, my carb-starved self probably freaked out the table behind me with my sounds of delight over the tortillas. And the Mexican martini? Dang! I was outta there! That sucker was strong AND delicious! I would tell you how my husband's food was, but I was too tipsy and self-involved with my own food to worry about him- but he didn't complain- so I'm assuming he was happy as well, lol. The service was phenomenal as well- I wish I could remember the older gentleman's name who waited on us, but...Mexican Martini. read more