For 28 years El Ranchito has been one of Oak Cliff’s most popular Mexican restaurants. Owners Oscar and Laura Sanchez have had success with their two locations of La Calle Doce but, at El Ranchito, they want showcase the food of their native region of Monterrey. This week they invited the press in to sample the menu. I seized on the opportunity.
Jump for the good stuff.
Our first course was parilla: grilled tender chunks of chicken and beef fajitas, sausage, shrimp, and ribs served on a Mexican parilla with charro beans and rice.
Next was the restaurant’s signature dish cabrito a la parilla (grilled baby goat served family-style with rice, charro beans, guacamole and pico de gallo.
The picture of carne adobada may look like carne adobada–pork loin, marinated in chile ancho–but through my tequila glazed eyes, it appeared to be two ancho bathed lovers frolicking on the beach. (Maybe you had to be there). By the way, did I mention that the tortillas are homemade? You can watch them making being made in the restaurant.
Guiso Norteño,beef tenderloin in roasted tomato salsa and topped with cheese, is a glorious synergy of beef and melted cheese.
We ended with a plate of four desserts and they were all good, but for my money the tres leches cake took top honors.
Something that wasn’t on the menu: El Ranchito is one of the most hospitable and comfortable Mexican restaurants in town, right down to the Mariachi singers. If you like Tex-Mex, but don’t know if you want to try authentic Mexican, this is the perfect restaurant to use as a stepping stone. Be prepared for lines on weekends and neighborhood families out for dinner.
