DaFoodie

Location: 4433 Hoffner Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32812 Phone: 407-438-8777 Mon: 11:00a - 10:00p Tues - Fri: 11:00a - 11:00p Sat: 11:00a - 10:00p Sun: 11:00a - 4:00p Accepts Visa and Mastercard http://www.tacoselrancho.com/ Since when does a restaurant have to have cloth napkins to be considered “good”? At the corner of a Publix shopping center in southeast Orlando, a friendly face and some very fresh ingredients wait to meet you … and not a linen tablecloth in sight (thankfully). Tachos el Rancho is not a newcomer to the Orlando food scene, having undergone a change of management two years ago. This unassuming restaurant is big on taste for a reasonable price. Tacos el Rancho has a deli-style ambiance with tile floors and the requisite Mexican-style décor … with, of course, a flat-screen TV showing the latest futbol match. It’s brightly lit and the tables are spaced so that you’re not up on top of your neighbor. What’s nice is that although it’s tile with nearly ceiling-to-floor glass windows, it’s not loud and you can have a nice conversation over your food with your dinner companions. The menu definitely does not disappoint. Everything is freshly made, and one of their claims to fame is their amazing guacamole that is made fresh daily. I live about three miles from Tacos el Rancho, and have been known to kill an entire container of their guacamole on my drive home with their warm, not-too-salty tortilla chips (trust me – it’s that good). You can get their menu from an a la carte item up to an entire platter, which makes it perfect if you’re not terribly hungry and want to pop in for a quick bite. You’re greeted by smiling faces who take your order, and then prepare your food in front of you. Similar to a Subway, you can customize your order to your liking behind a clear plastic sneeze guard. If you order a burrito, taco, or enchilada, your tortilla will be heated up on a large flat grill until it’s warm and toasty, and then you can choose from a variety of toppings from sour cream, hot or mild sauce, onions, tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and cilantro. A wide range of meat choices can go into your taco, chimichanga, enchilada, quesadilla, or taco salad, such as chicken, ground beef, marinated pork, steak, shredded pork, and beef tongue. In addition to sodas, you can get three different types of Mexican non-alcoholic drinks as well as bottled beer (domestic and Heineken) and margaritas. Mexican beers include Corona, Corona light, Dos Equis, Pacifico, Modelo Especial and Negra Modelo. Desserts vary, and delicious homemade vanilla flan is usually available. Specials depend on the day, and are chorizo (Mexican pork sausage), carne ranchera (shredded beef with spicy tomato sauce), and some seriously addictive tamales. And I thought that their guacamole induced pregnancy-like cravings? I had no idea how good those tamales were until I tried them. As they are a very casual dining experience, the prices cannot be beat. Their platters range from $6.25 to $7.80, and that’s as much as an item will set you back. For los ninos, there’s a kid’s menu with either a kid’s taco or a kid’s quesadilla. If you don’t see what you’d like on the menu, the staff is very accommodating and can create a dish upon request. My husband’s favorite is a burrito with both chicken and shredded pork, rice, black beans, and all the fixins’, which isn’t exactly on the menu but made happily for him each time I visit. If you’re missing them or having cravings (I warned you, didn’t I?), you can “like” them on Facebook and look up their latest specials and coupons on their website. They also offer catering, which is also very affordable with combos available as well. Swing by when you get a chance to meet the awesome staff and sample their incredible menu. I promise, you’ll be back for more … and might even find yourself looking for a Facebook update from them to tide you over until your next visit.