El Ranchito Restaurante Mexicano

This place is the best. The staff are always so sweet and friendly, and after trying a ton of different items in the menu I can confidently say the carnitas albañil is the best meat dish in town (if you like spicy!). Lil Albemarle may not have much on Charlotte but every time we have friends visit from the city we bring them here. 45oz classic margaritas are a must for any good time!

I went here for lunch today and was so surprised at how fast and easy it was to get seated and served. The food was authentic Mexican tastes good and I can't wait to go back to Albemarle to get it. I was just visiting and this place was suggested and so glad I went. It's a true treasure and will make it a staple whenever I'm in town!

When we arrived 6:45pm, this place was hopping! There was a line practically out the door and the place was full. This was a Friday night. The staff was hustling and the atmosphere was friendly and bustling. We were seated in about 20 minutes and the wait staff was efficient, helpful and attentive. Our food came fairly quickly, it was hot and delicious. I noticed that everyone working was busting their tails to see to their customers. Our waiter was wonderful. We never had to flag down anyone or wait for a refill on our drinks. The prices were reasonable and honestly I have to say it was one of the nicest dining experiences I have had since the pandemic started. We travel through this area often and this will be a regular place for us from now on. I gave them 4 stars for atmosphere only because it was a little crowded and they were so busy that it would have been impossible to have a quiet romantic dinner if that was on your agenda. But if not, don't miss out on a great place to eat in Albemarle, NC.

We ate lunch here today. The service was fast and friendly as always. It wasn't super crowded at lunch time in fact it had a fairly laid-back feel. I really enjoyed this visit.

Update - I have been a regular here. The food and atmosphere are nice. Actually i just sat in the bar area for my first time on a Sunday. A game was on which was kind of nice. Back to the original review: I had a nice meal and experience. I tried their special dinner the first time I came here. I enjoy dining outside here as well.

I got the trio naked burrito, minus the beans. Steak, chicken, shrimp, rice, guacamole, pico de gallo (I think)... soooo good! And so much to eat. It will probably make 3 meals.

The service was good.

Love this place! Always busy, but fast service and awesome waiting staff! Visit here 3 times a month sometimes every week!

Love this place so much!! Food is great and the vibes are always good. April and Andrew are the bestttttttt, ask for them!! Easily the best Mexican food in albemarle.

Food is great! Good lunch prices. Great portion sizes and drinks are amazing and reasonably priced. Always smiling faces when you walk through the door. Voted Best Mexican Restaurant in Stanly County

Solid. Food is always on point. Service is consistently above average. Super good value. Best choice in Albemarle for Mexican.

Friends took me out after our meeting. They chose the spot and I was happy with their selection. I tried something different and was not disappointed. They brought out the chips and salsa which were good but I wanted spicy. It was good but still have gone hotter. Service was excellent.

My fav Mexican food! I have enjoyed every dish I have tried. My favorites are the shrimp burrito with charro beans and rice, and the enchiladas with molé sauce. I have tried many Mexican restaurants, and this is still my favorite of all.

My boss took me out for my birthday! I really enjoyed it! Can never go wrong with Amaretto Sour! Fantastic! Thank You El Ranchito for making my birthday special.

Food is always great and I love their frozen margaritas!!

Always make a point to eat here when I'm in the area. Certainly not a 5 star Michelin restaurant but pretty darn good. The carnitas are my favorite but I get the sauce on the side because it is pretty spicy but also very tasty. Service is often a little slow but the chips and salsa are good so.... Definitely would recommend.

Good food friendly staff- Excellent lunch 7-25-20

A group of us go every Sunday evening. Food & service is always excellent. Our regular waiter gets our drinks ready as soon as he sees us come in.
He also knows our regular order unless we change it up.
Love it, you gotta try it!!!

There is a reason this is a busy restaurant! Food is good, Staff are attentive and glad to assist even if your waiter is busy other staff will be glad to help you.

Most consistently good Mexican food in a Albemarle. Highly recommend the steak tacos with rice AND beans and the spicy salsa. Well worth the $15-20 per person you’ll spend.

I love good Mexican food. I was introduced to this restaurant 6 months ago and it's one of my favorite places to go. The menu is huge, the servers are friendly and work hard, and the taste of the food is phenomenal! I always leave here feeling Fat and Happy because of how flavorful the recipes are. The prices are very reasonable and the bathrooms are kept very clean and tidy.
Go here and enjoy the food. I promise you won't be disappointed.