El Rancho

Can’t believe it took me so long to find this place how much I love Mexican food absolutely the best I have not had anything on their menu I have not liked yet!

We live close to this little gem! Always happy with our food. The staff knows us by name and are always so sweet and welcoming. I’m impressed with how quickly they serve us as well.

My wife and I LOVE this place! The people who work there are really some of the sweetest people you will meet, and it won’t take more than a couple of times meeting them before they know you.
Of course we all come here for food, and not to make friends, so let’s talk about the food. Delicious, perfectly made, and very generous portions!
Prices here are very reasonable as well. This initially led to me ordering a ridiculous amount of food, as I assumed that a $ 2 taco wasn’t all that large. Ha! Good thing they do take out as well!
Anyway, give this place a shot. I highly doubt that you will be disappointed. That is, unless you were looking for one of those tex mex fusion joints that charge $ 12 for cervecas and make you stand in line outside while waiting to request a table.

One of my favorite taco shops in San Diego. The atmosphere, food, and service is excellent. They have awesome carne asada fries. Portions are large and every meal comes with chips and a variety of salsas. My favorite is the guacamole salsa!

I’m a little bummed to do this but I need to. Back in February (the day before the super bowl) I stopped by for some street tacos.
I got four street tacos. Two were carne asada and two were carnitas. Two were great but the other two didn’t taste the same, something was off about them. I thought it was just me because I was tired and getting over a cold. So I made nothing of it and went home.
About 3am everything came out. I had food poisoning for 48 hours. I couldn’t eat a thing. I WAS SO GROSSED OUT and extremely weak. Since then I can’t eat tacos. Not one. Haven’t been back. I’m really bummed because I loved this place.
I took this long to write something because the thought of bad tacos would gross me out so much that I couldn’t write about – it was THAT BAD. Not sure if it was bad oil or what.
I just want all of you to be careful. I’m sure their food is still decent. But if something tastes off it isn’t you – its the food.

Best Cali burrito I’ve had yet in Sd. Comes with juicy tender steak, cheeses, crispy fries not soggy, sour c, and guacamole. Soo bomb. They’re super nice and everything I’ve tried is great including salsas

Just had a disgusting pollo asada burrito. I legit feel sick. Their green salsa is good. The red one tastes like they dropped a bottle of dried oregano in it. The habanero tastes like watered down hot sauce. The yellow looking pale one was unusable. I added lettuce and sour cream to the burrito. They basically charged me $ 2+ for the additions and I ended up with a small burrito. When I get charged to add lettuce to a burrito I don’t think it’s fair if they take out some meat. But it worked out because I ended up having to take the rubbery chunks of low quality chicken out anyways, so they just did half the job for me.

Our new BEST Mexican food!!! This is our 2^nd time here and again they did not disappoint. I waited to Unilocal this place to make sure my review was accurate. The first time we ate here the lady (she may be the owner) was by herself so we waited a LONG time for our food and so we were super hungry and may have skewed our rating. Today we got our food within a 5 min (and they had 2 – 3 orders ahead of us.) Pretty fast this time around. The food was even better this time around too! The same lady from our first visit was there and she is so pleasant and works fast to accommodate everyone. They have 4 different sauces all in a sanitary squeezable container (which I appreciate) that comes with delicious fresh tortilla corn chips. Sauces are really good– from not too spicy to spicy. Avocado sauce is my hubby’s fave! Sauces for all palates– gotta live that. Hate when sauce is just too hot and I can’t even enjoy it. Will come here for our Mexican food fix whenever we’re in Santee! !! Love this place and encourage everyone to check it out!

Friendly service and good food. The carnitas were extremely flavourful and the selection of salsas was a nice touch. A little too much pico de gallo on each kind of taco but overall a solid choice.

Perfect place to grab a cold beer and delicious, homemade Mexican food. The owner was so nice and the albondigas soup was delic!

All of this for $ 12! And even more importantly the food was spectacular. I recommend to all

I stopped in this place on Taco Tuesday and I was glad they were having a taco special on that day. They were offering their street tacos for $ 1.65 a piece or 4 for $ 4.99 which was a decent price for the four.
I ordered two carne asada and two pollo asada with all the fixings. They put a good amount of protein on both the chicken and the beef tacos. Both meats were tender and lightly seasoned but they were missing that good smoky flavor you get from a good street taco. I liked the way they double wrapped each taco with a very good quality corn tortillas that had a little girth to them and very good moistness.
The guacamole was freshly made but a little easy on the seasoning and the pico de gallo was just fine. I really enjoyed the green avocado salsa with the tacos. I thought it was one of the best version I have tasted. It was refreshing and they keep it in the frig so it’s always cool to the touch but vibrant in flavor. The deep red crimson hot sauce was terrific too, but this one had some deep flavors. The roasted peppers were quite evident in this one and it was aggressively seasoned. It also packed a lot more heat, in a good way of course.
The meal came with the four salsas and a basket of house made tortilla chips. The chips were really good, and I can imagine how well they would taste piled high in the form of nachos with some carne asada.

Best food in SD! They hook it up and have great service!
My husband can eat alot and he got full off of 1 burrito! (Very rare!)
Born and raised in SD, We’ve eaten at lots of taco shops in SD but nothing compares! Check it out and get the red tie!

The food and Claudia is the only reason we came back. She is so sweet and the food is good

Awesome place to eat or takeout. Best food ever.

I LOVE this place!!! It’s amazing! Every time I come it’s always good, never disappointing. The food is good and fresh, service is excellent. The woman and men are always very sweet and attentive; very patient too. It’s my favorite place to go for Mexican hands down. I strongly suggest it for people who love authentic Mexican food.

I’m giving 5 stars to encourage you Unilocalers to drive a little bit out of the way to enjoy Santee’s best taco shop. I have tried everything from the soups to the plates and all their meats. Always tastes fresh, properly cooked, and well seasoned. But, they have been inconsistent on the execution and packing of my order. So check your order before you leave! They didn’t add sour cream when I asked and paid for it, didn’t give me any of their bomb habanero salsa I asked for, no napkins once, no limes with my fish tacos one time, a load of pico de gallo in a burrito when I asked for NO PICO PLEASE! I’d normally be pissed and give 1 star, but the food is damn good!

Great burritos and tacos. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is the last time I went the carrots were so mushy and tasteless. Only cost me .50, but why toss money down the drain?

3.5 stars for their carne asada burrito.
On the fence between 3 and 4 stars.
I’ve only been here once thus far, but I was a bit surprised that it was $ 7 for a carne asada burrito. The burrito was large with a perfectly cooked tortilla. The filling was good, but definitely needed their very tasty salsa to bring it to life… which it did. Of the 4 salsas on my table, only one of them really spoke to me, but it is nice to know they have a wide selection for different taste buds and different food pairings.
Atmosphere is definitely a step up from a typical albertos/​robertos, yet it is not quite what I would consider a regular restaurant atmosphere (since you still order at a counter which is displaying all of their salsas in plastic bottles).
I’d have no hesitation to come back here for the carne asada burrito, but I wouldn’t make a special trip to do so. However, given all the other great reviews I feel I owe it to myself to try something else on the menu that might make me appreciate this place even more.

Finally a really good taco shop in East County. The food is really great and the people are very friendly. We got the Surf & Turf burrito, the shrimp burrito with ranchera sauce and sides of beans. All are great! The salsa is really good, too. The best beans I’ve had. Highly recommend you try this place.

I love San Diego Mexican food. I had crispy taco and enchilada with beans and rice, everything was great. Oh and I always have to get rolled tacos fantastic

Great taco shop! My husband and I ordered the chicken quesadilla and the carne asasa burrito. We took home the leftovers and had enough for another meal. They even gave us free chips! Haven’t seen that before in San Diego taco shops!

Great choice of house burritos, tamales, cervezza and seating. Guacamole is NOT watered down with sour cream or overloaded with tomatoes to make it stretch. Friendly service! Well decorated!

In a search for some lunch on our way to my father-in-law’s house, I immediately pulled in to El Rancho as soon as I saw their «Mexican food» sign.
Inside, the restaurant was clean and had plenty of seating. The prices seemed a little higher than my local Alberto’s, but the portions are well worth it. I ordered a carne asada burrito and my wife ordered pollo asada fries, but received carne asada on accident. The meat was great and I loved the grilled tortilla in my burrito. Their various salsa options were all tasty too!
Overall, it was an above average Mexican joint that wifey and I would most likely try again. The only minor turn off… who charges .50 for carrots? I’ve never been to a Mexican restaurant that charged for those when you dine-​in.

My love and I always come here because we live in the area. Their food is amazing! I always get the surf and turf burrito! Comes with a delish white sauce! (I usually get an extra side of it!) It’s a pretty big burrito so I can’t ever finish it all, but with their green avocado sauce, which is another delish sauce that they have, you can’t go wrong!
And the lady that usually is working is one of the owners and she is such a sweet lady!

I found El Rancho Taco Shop to be one of the best. Very clean, great food. Aurora the owner for over a year give’s personal service. I plan on going back when ever I’m in the area.

Our family has lived in several different areas within San Diego County. After each move our goal was to try out different taco shops and compare our favorites. Who knew when we made the move to Santee that the best taco shop of all time would be right down the street?
This place has amazing food that will please every kind of palate. The carne asada is high quality, tender and flavorful. They make their own hot sauces in house, 4 of them. The avocado verde is amazing but paired with the habanero sauce and you really have something special. The homemade tamales are absolutely incredible tasting and HUGE. Seriously the biggest tamales I’ve seen and drenched in a savory red sauce just like my Mexican grandmother used to make. They are a little pricey at around $ 2.50 a piece but well worth it for how much you get. They also sell them by the dozen which will be perfect to buy around Christmas time if I’m too lazy to make my own this year.
The staff is wonderful and friendly, the atmosphere is cheery and the space is clean. You can buy coke in bottles, Jarritos sodas or a bucket of Coronas if that’s what you’re into. Give them your business and you won’t be disappointed.

The homemade tamales are great! I also had a breakfast burrito that hit the spot after a long hike. The salsas also pretty good. My favorites were the habanero and the guacamole.
The service was great and really fast! We sat outside on the patio and there was a nice breeze to keep us cool. If we are back in the area we’ll definitely stop by.

This place is a small red hole in the wall but BIG on their taste and quality. I devoured their street tacos just now so I don’t have a pic. These are the bomb! Their carnitas are fresh and tasty. If u get an order for here they bring out two salsa types and Guacamole – love it. They have a deal on 4 for $ 5.50 – not bad considering they are loaded with meat!!! Curious? DO IT!!! You won’t regret it.

One the best burritos ever!
Try the Angus Chipotle bacon burrito!
The chips and salsa are home made and amazing.
The service is really friendly and helpful.
Also great place to come after a hike or run in Mission trails.

Wow — incredible california burrito… comes with guac and sour cream (perfect) and the carne asada is good quality.
The red tie burrito is a cali wrapped in a cheese quesadilla.
My new favorite taco shop

I’m a big fan of true Mexican food, and I’m a little picky about the quality of it. But being so close to the border, and San Diego having so many Mexican food spots, I should be allowed to be this picky, right?
That said, I haven’t found a whole lot of places here in San Diego that get the stamp of approval for top quality when it comes to authentic Mexican food. Yeah, you have your taco shops that make a mean Cali burrito but I’m talking good olé home style cooking the Mexican way. Well I finally found that place!
I just happened to see it when I was dropping my dog off at the groomer next door and decided to put them up to the test. I walked in and was greeted by the very friendly and conversational Aurora. She informed me of the top faves amongst the regulars and so I tried the «Tijuana street style tacos».
I’ve been to TJ for their tacos and those scrimpy lil things ain’t got nothing on these tacos! They were loaded up with meat, and not too much salsa and guac, just the right amount. I also got the platter of salsa which, to my pleasant surprise, came in handy squeeze bottles which made it very easy to apply whilst enjoying my meal! Great idea!
Aurora was great, she kept making sure that we were happy with our meal, which we completely were, and I promised that I would be back again.
If you’re reading this review and considering dining here, I urge you to do it!!! You won’t regret it. ;)

Even though this Mexican shop has been here quite a long time on the skirts of Santee, El Rancho is a whole new place with a different management taking charge. The restaurant looks modern and clean inside with a fresh paint job and big screen TV sitting the main area. They also serve beer and wine here in addition to providing free chips with dine in orders. The menu (
) has most of the various items you find on a taco shop menu but they have an exclusive house burrito (
) which contains a variety of their own creations which looked very interesting. While this place has no salsa bar to speak of, they have four different types of sauces here that come in large squeeze bottles when dining in. The lady upon checking out, was more than happy to provide an ample amount of the stuff when receiving my order. Prices seem on the higher end of the scale for most of their items, $ 7 is kinda stiff for a breakfast burrito. The food took quite a bit to come out for takeaway, but it was worth the wait.
Their burritos aren’t massive here by any means (
) but they pack some good stuff inside. The carne asada breakfast burrito (
) came with meat, fries, cheese and eggs. I was kinda bummed that this seven dollar burrito didn’t include beans, so I asked them to add some. The carne asada was quite flavorful and tasty. The seasoned beans I added definitely made the burrito a better deal and they had a good ratio of meat to fries on top of that. Even though the asada breakfast burrito was on the expensive side, it was definitely delicious and I would grab another one if I came back.
The rolled tacos here come in sets of three and five with your choice of beef or chicken. They automatically add guacamole, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheese to the top of them. For about $ 5.50 for five of them, you can’t go wrong here. The chicken tacos (
) were crispy, topped with plenty of stuff and packed with good tasting moist shredded chicken. Their guacamole (
) is very good here in my opinion, it has lots of texture and isn’t a runny mess. It’s also seasoned well and wasn’t basically pureed avocado with sour cream added to it like a lot of places do.
El Rancho is a good addition to the Mexican taco shops in Santee, and I’m glad to see another quality place open up closer to home. Even though the prices are a bit steep here, you’re gonna find fresh quality tasting Mexican food here. Their sauces go great with the food and taste excellent. The service here was friendly even though it was quite slow without many people inside, hopefully they keep up the pace better in the future. Their hours aren’t clearly posted anywhere and they lack takeaway menus, so hopefully they will provide these somewhere. They also take credit cards no problem.

Great food! Under new ownership with new menus.
California burrito and Angus bacon chipotle are my favorites!
Seafood soup, shrimp soup amongst the best!
Their homemade hot sauce is tops!
Very friendly service, and large portions of original recipes is what brings me back a few tea a week.
You won’t be disappointed!