Only come if you have a few extra hours to spare. Service was painfully slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Manuel Gonzalez
Serene, comfortable, tasty dining!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Barron (Jay)
Bean and cheese burrito was very good. Pricey though!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brook Tacheff
Great food, great service and a great atmosphere! Did I mention it is great?!?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
kilee waller
Disappointed and Misled – Be Cautious at El Rancho Santee
We took my mother-in-law to El Rancho in Santee for dinner, and while the service and food were decent at first, our experience quickly went downhill when it came time to pay.
Our bill was $154 which seemed high for two meals and 6 drinks. I asked for a printed copy of the receipt at the front. That’s when we discovered a 20% gratuity had been automatically added for a “large party” — something our waitress never mentioned when she ran the card and handed us the tip screen. When we brought it up, she said “Oh, I thought the large party tip went away when I split the checks. That explanation didn’t sit right with us—it felt dishonest and intentional.
Whether it was a mistake or not, this kind of lack of transparency is unacceptable. I’m sharing this to warn others: always ask for your printed receipt before you pay and double-check your total. We won’t be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Angie M
I originally was gonna go to the nearest taco shop and get me a fish taco, But passed by this restaurant and thought I would give it a try. I ordered a shredded beef chimichanga with rice and beans. The burrito was really soggy when I cut into it with a fork all that came out was water and mushy beans. There was a little bit of shredded beef in there so I cut open the burrito to eat the meat inside no flavor all I can say the best thing about this place was the chips and salsa not even the salsa just the chips the waiter asked me how the food was and I told him I didn’t really care for it too much. It had no flavor and he just said oh OK. Well, you ready to pay your bill now? I paid pay the bill even left the tipand won’t return. Nothing about that place was authentic
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
HCLOGIC
probably some of the best french fries I have had. I ordered the carne sada fries. they were good. really good. good amount of meat, fries and the only thing it was missing was a good salsa. their red salsa was flavorless, not spicy at all. I also ordered their Tamal. I got myself the green chile pork, i am not much into large vegetables inside my tamal so I was dissapointed. the meat was not properly seasoned so it was lacking flavor. they drench it in their red sauce which again was flavorless and just not good. I would not recomend the tamal. The fries though.... i would go back just for the carne asada fries. the fries were really crunchy. I was close to ordering the enchiladas I am glad I sis not. i would have been very dissapointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Chris Ortiz
Best service around
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito
Fernando Lopez
They serve you tasteless and old food, like the Tampiqueña, the meat was hard, refried beans old and dry, server offered or refill our drinks. Very disappointing.. Never ever again.
Jaime Murillo
Don't go to this place the food was ok we made a reservation for 10 people arrived at 0630 placed our food order waited for 1 hr n 30 minutes for our food to get to our table, no napkins, no silverware so we couldn't eat our food right away, the service was not good at all poor service on management part.
Stood at the “Wait to be seated” sign for five minutes and got passed by every single employee and no one ever acknowledged me. Maybe the food is good here but the service sucks.
Phillip Metcalfe
Family-owned hidden gem in Santee!! True authentic food, in a cozy restaurant, with staff who treat you like family!
Scott Raspolich
First time visit on a Friday lunch. Owner was present doing table visits, food was very well prepared with food sized portions for the price. Will definitely come back.
Lisa Fainza
I come twice a month on Tuesdays and Gabby is just phenomenal. She loves her regulars and treats us like family. I love seeing how packed it gets on Tuesdays. I love supporting family owned businesses. I have been in santee for 3 years now and this is my ultimate go to mexican place to go. Prices are reasonable and not overpriced. Try it yourself!!!
Rachel Hanshaw
We love this place!!food is amazing, atmosphere so cool! Great for family dinner, date night, or just having a beer at the bar with friends!
Only come if you have a few extra hours to spare. Service was painfully slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Serene, comfortable, tasty dining!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bean and cheese burrito was very good. Pricey though!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, great service and a great atmosphere! Did I mention it is great?!?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Disappointed and Misled – Be Cautious at El Rancho Santee
We took my mother-in-law to El Rancho in Santee for dinner, and while the service and food were decent at first, our experience quickly went downhill when it came time to pay.
Our bill was $154 which seemed high for two meals and 6 drinks. I asked for a printed copy of the receipt at the front. That’s when we discovered a 20% gratuity had been automatically added for a “large party” — something our waitress never mentioned when she ran the card and handed us the tip screen. When we brought it up, she said “Oh, I thought the large party tip went away when I split the checks. That explanation didn’t sit right with us—it felt dishonest and intentional.
Whether it was a mistake or not, this kind of lack of transparency is unacceptable. I’m sharing this to warn others: always ask for your printed receipt before you pay and double-check your total. We won’t be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
I originally was gonna go to the nearest taco shop and get me a fish taco, But passed by this restaurant and thought I would give it a try. I ordered a shredded beef chimichanga with rice and beans. The burrito was really soggy when I cut into it with a fork all that came out was water and mushy beans. There was a little bit of shredded beef in there so I cut open the burrito to eat the meat inside no flavor all I can say the best thing about this place was the chips and salsa not even the salsa just the chips the waiter asked me how the food was and I told him I didn’t really care for it too much. It had no flavor and he just said oh OK. Well, you ready to pay your bill now? I paid pay the bill even left the tipand won’t return. Nothing about that place was authentic
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
probably some of the best french fries I have had. I ordered the carne sada fries. they were good. really good. good amount of meat, fries and the only thing it was missing was a good salsa. their red salsa was flavorless, not spicy at all. I also ordered their Tamal. I got myself the green chile pork, i am not much into large vegetables inside my tamal so I was dissapointed. the meat was not properly seasoned so it was lacking flavor. they drench it in their red sauce which again was flavorless and just not good. I would not recomend the tamal. The fries though.... i would go back just for the carne asada fries. the fries were really crunchy. I was close to ordering the enchiladas I am glad I sis not. i would have been very dissapointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Best service around
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito
They serve you tasteless and old food, like the Tampiqueña, the meat was hard, refried beans old and dry, server offered or refill our drinks. Very disappointing.. Never ever again.
Don't go to this place the food was ok we made a reservation for 10 people arrived at 0630 placed our food order waited for 1 hr n 30 minutes for our food to get to our table, no napkins, no silverware so we couldn't eat our food right away, the service was not good at all poor service on management part.
Restaurantji Recommends
Stood at the “Wait to be seated” sign for five minutes and got passed by every single employee and no one ever acknowledged me. Maybe the food is good here but the service sucks.
Family-owned hidden gem in Santee!! True authentic food, in a cozy restaurant, with staff who treat you like family!
First time visit on a Friday lunch. Owner was present doing table visits, food was very well prepared with food sized portions for the price. Will definitely come back.
I come twice a month on Tuesdays and Gabby is just phenomenal. She loves her regulars and treats us like family. I love seeing how packed it gets on Tuesdays. I love supporting family owned businesses. I have been in santee for 3 years now and this is my ultimate go to mexican place to go. Prices are reasonable and not overpriced. Try it yourself!!!
We love this place!!food is amazing, atmosphere so cool! Great for family dinner, date night, or just having a beer at the bar with friends!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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