Mi Ranchito
1516 Westminster St, Providence, RI, 02909
Mi Ranchito Menu
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Address :
1516 Westminster St
Providence, RI, 02909 - Phone (401) 331-6584
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Jessica S.
The food here is amazing. The service not as great. I've gotten the combination dinner many times. Get it with the steak and chicken. The pork I got the first time was not as good. The huevos rancheros is also really good. It is all latino people in here so you may get stared at. I have been to Guatemala myself and the food is authentic, especially the thick tortillas.
(4)Hilary H.
Ok, kids - let's get one thing straight: I LOVE Mexican food. Love. It. But it's gotta be REAL Mexican food - authentic, flavorful, spicy and pure. It's been a long, hard search for me back here in New England, but luckily Mi Ranchito has popped into the picture. The beans are amazing... yes, beans! They accompany any serving of anything, and made my little taste buds dance all over the place. They went especially well with the pollo asado I was lucky enough to stuff into my face between gulps of Negra Modelo from the frosted beer mug it was served in. Sure, it's a little hole-in-the-wall in not the best neighborhood, but who cares? It's clean, the service is fast, friendly and helpful, and the food is goooooooooooooood. The side salads were super, too. Some yummy ranch-ish dressing atop fresh veggies - it was a perfect compliment to the richness of the beans. A basic knowledge of Spanish will be helpful - the menu has some brief explanations in English, but you'll be glad you brushed up pre-visit. Over-all, I highly recommend this joint for a fun, inexpensive and mui flavorful night out.
(4)B L.
I came here for the first time Friday night and I have to say that I really liked the atmosphere. Families and groups of friends on a Saturday evening eating themselves silly. They have a really excellent greenish salsa that comes for free with the chips, as well as some really nice spicy mixed pickled veggies. I had the caldo de gallina, and it was flavorful and filled with big pieces of chicken. I tried my friends' carne adobada, and it was pretty good, though not as good as at Mi Guatemala, ditto on the garnachas Based on that, I would say that I prefer Mi Guatemala's food, and that the prices seem pretty similar, but the atmosphere at Mi Ranchito is more intimate and casual.
(4)Carlen A.
Fresh, delicious, and authentic--yum! Got takeout here, and was quite the happy camper; meal after meal after meal (count 'em: 3 meals out of one $12 entree! what a steal). Carne asada fajitas were delicious. I was especially in love with the refried black beans. Will be returning!
(4)Evan T.
Aw yeeeeeah, boyeeeeeeee. One of the things I have missed the most, moving to Providence from Texas, is the Mysterious Hole In The Wall Restaurant Where They Don't Speak Much English. I knew they existed here, as they do in all cities, but I was wondering when I would discover one that had what I was looking for. Mexican food! Meats in curious brown sauces and red spice rubs with lots of beans and rice and peppers! Make it cheap and plentiful! Give me the opportunity to wield my impressive command of Restaurant Spanish, and feed me until I explode! Mi Ranchito does not disappoint. The food is delicious. The fajitas sizzle and smoke as they are dropped onto your table with a heavy, cast-iron thud. The carne asada and its tomato-tomatillo sauce is crazy good. The beans are a star all by themselves, and the salsas and pickled peppers they serve are what's-the-recipe amazing. I grew up on flour tortillas and have habitually avoided corn tortillas in my life, but the homemade corn tortillas here are delicious and served too hot to hold. The beers, of course, are cheap and cold and tasty - always a fan of the Modelos myself. Also, if you have never experienced the joy of horchata, this is your opportunity to do so. Note that the food at this restaurant is Guatemalan and Mexican, and not Tex-Mex. If you are anticipating tacos and burritos and a lot of cheese, you might be dismayed - but I hope you will use it as an excuse to branch out and try something new and exciting. At 13 bucks a plate tops, you'll be hard-pressed to find yourself regretting the experience. Reminds me of the good parts about back home. I was very glad to find this place.
(5)Nicole R.
Mi Ranchito, ay dios mio! I had to wait to write my review because each time i saw the name of your Establishment my mouth would begin to water longing for a speedy return. The food was muy delicioso. The Huz and i decided to stop over on a Friday night. Upon entering the small building with two modest rows of tables we were the only people in there. I asked myself... Has Yelp led us astray!?!?! The chips and salsa which greeted us shortly after being seated were very tasty and had just the right amount of spice. Once our food arrived we noticed people were starting to pile in and packed up quickly. I guess we hit it at the right time? The pollo asado which i ordered was one of the best i've ever had. Tenderized chicken, flavorful rice and beans, and the small salad with ranch dressing was great. Service was also attentive and speedy. I've lived in PVD for 3 years and wish i found this place much sooner!!
(5)Joe C.
This a cool little place. It is always busy and for a reason. The food is really good. The wait staff is really nice and tries to accommodate English speakers. Here's what to try first time. Order the Carne Asada platter and an Horchata to drink. They have regular fajita's and tacos, but go with the platter. Delicious. The prices are very low, a platter is 11 bucks but it would feed 2 people. They also have beer and wine and several Latin American beers available. Go authentic though, you can get fajitas at Chili's. Thanks
(3)Travis S.
I'm surprised I don't go here more. This is a cozy little place with darkened windows and telenovelas playing on two screens. The runaway best dish here is the fajitas. A sizzling cast iron skillet of veggies and meat, another plate heaped high with beans and rice, and a towel-lined basket with more steaming tortillas than you could possibly eat. If you're within a mile of it, you owe it to yourself to go there with a friend.
(4)A. F.
The food here is very good! The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but most don't come here for that. I ordered the combo steak and pork dish, which came with rice and refried beans. It was delicious and there was more than enough to fill up and take home leftovers. And, the hot n fresh corn tortillas that come with the food are also good. Non-Spanish speakers beware though, some of the staff don't speak English, but as long as you can point to what you want on the menu, you'll be fine. I have been craving that pork since the day I went, and I will def be back.
(4)Sarah C.
Came here on a whim this past Saturday night. The chips and three kinds of salsa are complimentary. I ordered a shrimp and veggies dish that came with a salad, rice and beans. My fiance ordered pork tacos which also came with rice and a salad. They gave us warm tortillas for the table which is awesome cause I love a good corn tortilla. While the food was good, the place is pretty small and they don't serve much by the way of alcohol, and I really like a nice glass of wine or a beer with my meal. We would go back though.
(3)S. R.
best Mexican in town without any doubt. Yummy, fresh food with some non-traditional mexican dishes.
(4)Jamey B.
Very tasty, fast Guatemalan food. NOT MEXICAN. Do I know if this is authentic Guatemalan food? Of course I have no f-ing clue, but what I do know is that each and every part of the Ranchito platter was DELICIOSO. The salsas were quite good - my toddler tried to lick the bowl. The pork was probably the best of the three meats, and the rice with veggies was excellent. White rice? Excellent? Indeed it was. The steak had a salsa flavoring of some kind. I honestly didn't even get to the chicken, there was so much food. AND THE TORTILLAS. Fluffy, savory, sauce holding little lovelies. Seemed homemade or from some secret sourcing operation I would like to stalk. The fried plaintains made my afternoon. Appetizers are all $5, mains are all $12, except for the special plate for one ($13), it also comes for two. The only random miss in the whole deal was average ranch dressing poured over the salad. Several of the tables are big enough for small groups (6-8?) though the entire restaurant is not overly large. Friday lunch was about 80% full at 12:30 but the food still came out very quickly for all the tables.
(4)Joe A.
This place is awesome. Completely friendly staff that puts up with my broken Spanish gringo nonsense. Food is cheap and delicious!!!!
(5)John E.
Mi Ranchito is a small Mexican-themed restaurant located near Federal Hill in Providence RI. We had just arrived in Providence and were basically starving from being on a plane for several hours. A quick check on Yelp revealed Mi Ranchito with 4 stars and 71 reviews. In all the years I've used Yelp it's never failed me - until this restaurant. I hope I'm not being too harsh, and please take my opinion with a grain of salt, especially if you like to eat here. Maybe I'm jaded with all the opportunities for authentic Guatemalan, Honduran, Mexican and TexMex to be found in Atlanta, but this food to me was really marginal. Not that it smelled or tasted foul or anything like that, but the flavors were downright bland and there were enough other peculiarities about the meal that it pushed me into only giving it 2 stars. The atmosphere was a bit dark but after some of the dives I frequent that didn't bother me too much. The staff took our order quickly and overall we got good service. The first thing that seemed a bit off were the chips. These were cut much thicker than is typical - also instead of a pico or salsa cruda, the sauces were more like what you would get out of a bottle of Tapatico or similar. Much like the baked potato can set the expectation for the steak, the chips are very important, in my opinion, in setting the expectation for the rest of the meal in a Hispanic restaurant. I give these a "D." I ordered the Pollo Asado lunch special - this came with rice and a small dinner salad. Once again I had a "wow" moment where I felt like I was in the food court of a bad mall. The rice was made up of what tasted like frozen vegetables and a short grain white rice. The salad was made up of iceberg lettuce, with a rather bland "ranch" dressing. Ugh. The worst, however is what my friend and frequent dining companion Sid ordered - as a vegetarian there is often very little on menus that he feels comfortable ordering - in this case he got some type of appetizer that consisted of three fried tortillas smeared with black-beans, salsa and guac - with a small salad. I don't know what to think about that plate and I'm surprised he ate it. In any case, my first impression of the food scene in Providence left much to be desired. Luckily dinner at Siena more than made up for this lunch. (a bit longer review on my food blog)
(2)Ryan B.
Let me start by saying this was the BEST mexican meal I've EVER had! Overall the food was very good and better yet affordable. I shared the Mi Ranchito platter and shrimp fajitas with my gf. The portions were gigantic and we both left with a substantial amount of food for lunch the next day--and let me tell you, I may be skinny, but I can pack it away. The fajita's tortillas were house-made and OH so delicious--they were the best part in my opinion. As others have mentioned the black bean puree was to die for. Chips and salsa were served on the house, but weren't my favorite, nor were they my gf's. For us the salsa was a bit thin, but it's plausible that is the authentic style? Beers were 3 bucks a piece--no joke! You can't do better than that! If you're in the mood for this type of cuisine, I would recommend this place in a heartbeat!!
(5)Xiao Z.
This was an unexpected find of an authentic Mexican restaurant in Providence. I came here with my girlfriend on a relatively busy Friday night, and was immediately seated at a location fairly away from the cold winter night, where every door opening reminded me how I yearned for springtime. Our waitress was very friendly and polite, and recommended the vegetarian stew, and the softshell beef tacos. I heard much about the famous refried beans, and scarfed it down immediately with the stew and rice, found it quite delectable. It was certainly made with a meat broth that was amazing, I even had her bring a side order just for my folks at Triad home, in addition to two chicken stuffed corn rolls, like corn dogs, but better. The softshell tacos were very good, but also not earth shattering. Although my next meal will definitely include some of the meat selections, in which I regret not ordering since it was on a Friday and I was limited in meat selections. Overall a great find and I will definitely return to check out the meat dishes. Super cheap $4 beer! Food: 4 stars Price: 4 stars Service: 3 stars Ambiance: 2.5 stars
(4)Marty R.
Looking at Mi Ranchito from the outside, you would fall into the false perception that this is some sketchy Guatemalan Bar with its large darkened glass windows and neon "open" sign. But once you enter, the atmosphere of the restaurant completely changes. Light is plentiful and the speakers are blasting Mexican pop music. Soccer (or sometimes Spanish soap opera) is playing on the 7 or 8 tv's in the tiny little restaurant and a waitress greets you and shows you to your seat. Love going to Mi Ranchito when all of the "popular" restaurants on Federal Hill have hour long waits. It's a great hole-in-the-wall Spanish restaurant complete with Spanish menus, affordable drinks, and delicious meals. The waitress gave us some chips to munch on for an appetizer and four dipping sauces. Loved dipping the chips in the warm refried beans! If you're not in the mood for one of the humongous platters, I'd recommend the chicken fajita. Still enough for two or three meals, but affordable and delicious. Perfectly cooked chicken on top of peppers and onions. Comes with veggie rice (some of the best rice I've ever had), refried beans, salad, guacamole and house-made tortillas. Scrum diddily-umptiou! I never eat the tortillas, but just dig in with a fork instead. I always bring friends here from out of town. Service is fast and super friendly. One tip: they always seem to be late with the check. I find that I have to ask the waitress for the check every time. Make sure you ask for the check right after you get your meal if you're in a hurry to leave. Five stars for excellent service, delicious food and at an affordable price.
(5)tony T.
Nice little spot with good Mexican. Had the tortillas con pollo with guac for lunch and you get 3 which is a great deal for the price. Full of flavor and chicken but felt the tortillas were a little too thick..:')..was not crazy about the bowl of chips and salsa but would definitely return as the service and the vibe were great!
(3)Camille M.
Yummy black beans and tacos, great friendly service.
(4)Anthony P.
It's going to be -5 degrees tonight and found a great spot to get soup - Authentic Mexican - love that the offer more than the traditional Chicken soups - also have beef and cow foot - great flavor! I did the beef soup - tender beef chunks and tendon , onion, Cilantro in a flavor filled broth - request fresh onion and fresh cilantro to be added - this will make the soup pop! It comes with rice (with corn, carrots green peas), yuca, boiled carrot stalk, corn cob and half of lime. This was a full meal - oh yeah be sure to squeeze the lime in the soup and be prepared for a great experience- Authentic Mexican experience!
(4)Cesar L.
I'm gonna sum it up really quick... good food, inexpensive and fresh. On top of that, they give you a free "appetizer" (per say) before serving lunch or dinner its always nice. By the way, it is a Guatemalan restaurant.
(5)Chintan M.
We recently moved from Texas and have been afraid to try Mexican food in Providence, but after several failed attempts we found this place. Good food and good service. A little mom and pop joint.
(4)Saadet A.
Tortilla soup was brothy and surpringly refreshing with the cilantro and avacado as a nice light touch. Warm corn tortillas with black bean soup stuffed with pulled pork with a tangy kick Chicken quesadillas with stringy, yummy cheese was out of this world. So authentic tasting and incomparable with any other "quesadilla" I have ever had! And to finish, homemade flan prepared by the waiters mother, what more could a tastebud ask for?!
(5)Jessica M.
LoveLoveLove. Everything taste good :) Affordable, the only issue is the parking is on a main road.
(4)Lisa R.
Food was very yummy and even more affordable. I shared the shrimp fajitas and the Mi Ranchito platter with my partner. The portions are gigantic and could have easily fed 3-4 people. The tortillas for the fajitas are housemade and super delicious. Black beans were fantastic. The chips and salsa are on the house, but not my fave. The salsa is a bit thin for my taste. Beers were 3 bucks a piece! You can't get a better deal than that. Service was fantastic. I speak minimal Spanish and did not have any problem at all. I also loved the Spanish soap operas playing on the tv! Overall, this place does a fantastic job for this kind of establishment. I would definitely recommend it!
(5)Kelly G.
Absolutely love the fajitas mixtas! The portions are enough for two people and everything is super affordable. There's no having to choose between quantity or quality because this place has both. Highly recommend coming here.
(5)Scottie M.
Eek! Methinksnot is right. Walked in because my friend said he wanted authentic Mexican food. The only thing authentic was the attitude towards two gay boys that wanted dinner.... and I totally think of "we don't sell alcohol" when I want to get Mexican.... So... yeah, we left... and we tipped her $5 for the stale chips... even though there was no check or order placed.
(1)Jeff M.
Mi Ranchito is like a mini adventure, all the way over to the West End. The wait staff was happy to speak Spanish or English, as the case was needed. The food came out quickly, and hot. The vibe of the joint, was happy and causal. A pair of TVs showed a Mexican football match (Liga MX I believe), it really had the flavor of a little neighborhood place in South America. The prices are stunningly low, and the menu had so many interesting choices, that I ordered a few too many. What I didn't know, and came as quite a surprise, is that nearly everything is served as a plate with refried black beans, vegetable rice, tortillas, and salad. The Veggie rice, I could do without. Mixed, frozen vegetables tossed with slightly sticky white rice, its an inexpensive filler but didn't really add anything to the meal. The Iceburg lettuce salad told a similar story, though fresh and crisp, not memorable. The entrees though, stars of the show. A thick, handmade corn tortilla wrapped around three Carnitas tacos, was wonderful and a softer than expected bite. The pork had a rich and deep built flavor, great taco. The Chuchito Pollo is a Guatemalan tamale, in this case filed with shredded white meat chicken. The corn dough was not quite moist enough on its own for the lean chicken inside, but was readily remedied with a liberal coating of the spiced red enchilada sauce it was served with . Even better when I added a bit of the tableside Picamas Hot Sauce, a little goes a long way. I also had an order of a fried tortilla, rolled into a cigar and filled with chicken and pork, but I cannot recall the name of the dish (maybe a regular could help me out). They were darn tasty. We were served a 1/2 dozen or so of them, and were the first things off the plate. They were fried until well done, golden brown and crispy, like chips with a meat filling inside. By comparison, a plate of Carne Asada Fajitas was a bit uninspired. Nicely spiced, if somewhat overcooked strips of steak served with the usual fixings, and a basket of fresh made tortillas mind you. The rest of the menu is just so much more fun. Great place, and cheap to boot.
(4)Madeline W.
Solidly delicious, legit Guatemalan food. This is the best you'll find north of Route 40. Most meals are very reasonably priced, especially for the amount given. Trust me, they don't skimp on the portions here. English is not great, but I think that's part of the experience of Mi Ranchito. Don't expect any fancy-pants downtown upper crust catering. There's generally Latino television playing, a cute little bar in the back, and very colorful decor. Skip the horchata, I thought it was pretty bad. Tacos, yes! Meat platter - definitely! The chips and dip they serve as complimentary appetizer, yuuum. Pretty much everything is good here. Although this is not Mexican food, if you're got a craving, rather than hitting one of those white-washed spots around Providence, THIS will satiate you.
(5)David R.
The food was AMAZINGLY good!! We got plantains, chicken fajitas, and garlic shrimp, and it was all really really tasty. Definitely the best latin american food I've had in PVD. WIll be back back soon!
(5)Rose B.
That place is small but the staffs are super nice and the food was great to me. I have gush I went back twice already and the price is amazing
(4)Mckenzie G.
This place has been on my "to try" list for awhile, and I finally got a chance to try it about a month ago. I have since been back a 2nd time and crave it almost every day (thinking about getting some tonight, actually). At first I was a little concerned. I wasn't originally a fan of the chips and salsa (usually an indication of what is to come), but I learned to like the spicy salsa - still not that into the mild. However, when my tacos came, everything changed. 3 homemade corn torillas filled with chicken, onion, and cilantro sounds basic, but there is something about these that just makes my mouth water. There are not easy to eat - the tortilla falls apart in your hand, but because of their taste, I just don't care. They're served with rice, that has a little sweetness to it, and a garden salad with ranch dressing. Random, but for some reason it works. They serve beer and wine, and the beer is dirt cheap. A perfect accompaniment to the plate of tacos. A few quirks (of course this is what makes it memorable) 1. If you don't speak spanish, you're going to have to order exactly as it is on the menu. The menu is in English, but the waitstaff doesn't speak enough English to work through altercations. Don't worry about this - just order the chicken tacos and don't look back 2. It is open. Even if the dark windows make you think that it's closed or a front for some seedy operation, it's open. Walk right in and grab a table. 3. It gets cold in there (in the winter). Because it's such a small place, every time the door opens, the cold air fills the place, so if you're going to go in the middle of January, like I just did, make sure to wear layers.
(5)Andy S.
I have only tried the "Mi Ranchito platter," but it was so good I've been back for it about a half-dozen times. Only ordered takeout so far, so I don't have much to add re: atmosphere, service, etc. The lady who arranges the takeout orders is pretty nice. #helpful
(4)Alex M.
The best kept secret in my neighborhood by far. Truly authentic, house made food with great ingredients. Friendly staff, quick service, and very affordable. The mi ranchito platter (for one!!!) will last many leftovers. Awesome spot.
(5)Kelsey D.
Went into this place on a whim since I just moved into the neighborhood and was looking for decently priced, good food. I think this place often goes ignored for being both a hole in the wall with darkened windows, as well as being directly across from Loui Fuller's (which I don't really care for). What people are missing out on are platters of awesome and cheap Guatemalan and Mexican food. Point and case: I don't think I've ever eaten someplace where I wished the server brought me more beans. It's very much a local hangout and primarily Spanish speaking; the waitresses accommodate to English speakers, but I went with the 'point at the thing on the menu' method. I was not disappointed. Awesome spicy salsa (and one unlike anything I've tasted texture wise -- not sure what was in it), great carne asada. I look forward to trying their fajitas next time. The beer is standard fare (Presidente, Modelo, Corona), but it's cheap and cold. Basically perfect with the food you're getting. I'll be coming back there again. Actually, I might go back right now.
(4)Grace G.
Authentic! Wonderful! Large portions of flavorful mexican/guatemalan fare, very reasonably priced. A local gem!!!!
(5)John J L.
I love walking into places refreshingly devoid of pretense save for some of the clientele. ;) The reviews for Mi Ranchito are all spot-on so all I have to add here is that if you want Guatemalan/mexi-fusion inspired eats on the cheap just up hill in a place where you needn't park your car within 'dashing distance', Mi Ranchito should do it. The waitstaff is pleasant and helpful-yeah, they 'read' me as Spanish-challenged as soon as I tried pronouncing some menu items! Spanish TV and music in the background...I get the sense that they don't really need us 'a-holes' and our two-cents blathering on about how great their place is-¡Gracias a Dios! Much like Apsara in the early 90's, chances are life will go on for these great 'ethnic' eateries with little or no help from the idiotic RI foodie 'scenesters' and for me, that is the ONE ingredient worth going out for!
(4)Robert S.
I went for dinner last night with a few friends....yes in fact this place is more Guatemalan than Mexican, although dishes from both countries can be found. I had the Churrasco under the Appettizer menu and it was a nice size dish with vegetable rice and fried plantains (which I asked them instead of the salad). The meat was nicely seasoned and tasty...all for $8. My BF got the Chicken Fajitas and they were kind of dry and blands....others got the Beef fajitas and those seemed a better choice... The place is small but they are very attentive. Aura, our waitress was very nice and friendly.... Overall a good choice for Latin American Food.
(3)Betsy R.
So, my first bit of advice is this: DO NOT FILL UP ON THE AMAHZING CHIPS AND DIPS AND BEANS BEFORE YOUR MEAL. Okay, now that that is out of the way, let's get to the review. It's delicious. It really is. It's pretty authentic as far as Central American food goes. Here's what other yelpers have said, and I wholeheartedly agree: 1. Beans are slammin'. So so so so so so good. 2. Tortillas are freshly made and so so so so so so so so good. 3. Beers ARE super cheap indeed (the whole tab for two people, including one huge meal and beers was 30 bucks). Loved it! I just wish the neighborhood were a tad bit better...
(4)Ryan D.
Darn good Mexican. You really don't need to say anything more. I was the only non-Mexican in the restaurant and that is how I like it. Just like La Arepa, I want to go where the locals go. Just as many reviewers have said, it is good that you know your Mexican dishes because there is very little English on the menu. Their guac is some of the freshest I have tasted. Did I mention this place is pretty cheap?! I love Mexican and thank God Providence has Mi Ranchito.
(4)Suzanne P.
This Guatemalan/Mexican store-front cocina is casual, comfortable, cheap and good! Sorta fun to navigate the menu, which is not in English, but then we all speak a little food-Spanish... tortilla, taco, pollo and I managed with a willing waitress who got the point across that the tacos are very small. They came two to the order and were open-faced on homemade little fat tortillas. Nice! I asked for chips, salsa (pico de gallo) and guacamole and together that was a perfect meal. A far cry from Taco Bell, this place is purely authentic. I was the only Gringa there, and about a foot taller than everyone in the place, and all faces were friendly. Beer + wine, too!
(4)Lauren L.
Just had an awesome lunch with my coworkers here. We had gone on the basis of Yelp reviews and boy were we not disappointed. The place was jamming at 12pm, mostly regular customers who were conversing quite rapidly in Spanish with the single extremely efficient waitress. Food: wowsa. The salsa and chips were great. We also had a very spicy ensalada en escabeche. My coworkers loved their guacamole! Every plate comes with beans, rice, salad and some get plantains. My "mi ranchito" plate was HUGE even though I ordered the "for one" size. Everything was fresh, well seasoned and we all went home with leftovers. On that note, be careful how much food you get. One gal got two appetizers and still was stuffed! Price wise it was more than reasonable for the amount of food we got: $80 for 6 people is pretty decent. While this may fall into the category of "Mexican," technically, the menu says "Guatemalan" food. The menu is mostly in Spanish and does boast many crossovers to other Latin inspired dishes, but don't look for enchiladas or chimichangas. I am excited to go back to try several dishes that I am hard pressed to remember the exact translation for. This was an awesome find! Thanks Yelp community for being spot on.
(5)Lauri L.
This place is a hole in the wall, so don't expect much in the way of ambience. There are TVs (Univision) and a digital jukebox, and the tables are basically diner melamine. But, the food (Guatemalan, apparently) is delicious, and the service was pleasant. I had the Camerones al Ajillo and my husband had the fajitas, and we both loved the plantains. They have beer and wine, but no hard liquor, so don't ask for a margarita. Overall, a good place for a reasonably-priced and yummy meal.
(4)Beshka C.
This place is the go to for me. I can walk there, they take credit cards and there is a jukebox with Peter Tosh and Texas Tornados. Seriously. First, some insight. It's small and always busy. If there is a big group of you try and get there on the early side or later side of everything. Don't be an amateur and show up at 1 pm or 730 pm with a party of 6 and expect a table immediately. Believe me, Yelpers, it happens. Also, there is limited English spoken here. Get over it, Spanish is the new English. I usually order the Bandeja para uno which feeds two! Comes with adovado and steak and all the trimmings. Chips and salsa out first of course. The Bandeja para dos fed me and three others. That's a full meal for 8 to 10 bux a piece. It's Guatemalan which is not hot enough for this Tejana. So reach for the chile (sauce at all tables and pickles jals). Bien provecho.
(5)Deanna C.
It doesn't get any better or more authentic than this place. Incredible food, incredibly cheap, friendly service. It is small so you could find a wait on the weekends and, for larger parties (of say six or more) you may need to take what you can get as far as seating goes but they do their absolute best to accommodate, without a doubt! The one and only con about Mi Ranchito is that, while they do accept credit cards, you cannot tip on the credit card- cash tip only. Other than that, this is totally my go-to spot for a quick and super tasty meal.
(5)Jason W.
While my partner and I were driving through the neighborhood, we were a tad worried. We walked into the restaurant, and we were the only non-Hispanics there. This is a good sign for the food, but we were worried about poor service and feeling out of place. We were dead wrong. Sure, the decor is nothing special. But that's not the point. The food - the simple, homemade, amazingly amazing food - is the point. The menu has a little English on it, but it's helpful to know a little Spanish. For example, pollo = chicken and carne = steak. If you don't know those, this may not be the best place. However, I'd say it's still worth a shot. Even the chips and salsa were great! The tamale appetizer was hearty and filling, and the main dishes - so good. My partner got the grilled shrimp, and I got the "Mi Ranchito platter," which comes with chicken, steak, rice, beans, fried banana (too sweet for plantains), and a little queso blanco. Holy cow, both dishes were amazing. Simple, sure, but when simple is this good, you don't care. Flavorful chicken and steak, beans that are out-of-this world... I mean, beans! But I was in heaven. Two final notes: we were not sure if they took credit cards, so bring cash just in case. Also, street parking is generally easy to find. No nearby lot, though. Enough about the food - I think you get the point. The servers do speak enough English that you can order and ask for things, and they were as attentive to us as to the rest of the restaurant. No dirty looks, no feeling uncomfortable at all. In fact, we felt quite welcome! Which is good, because we definitely plan to go back.
(5)Janelle M.
Huge portions of delicious, cheap, fresh food and OMG the guacamole is fantastic! Small seating area fills up fast.
(4)Joe B.
Just to be clear this is not a Mexican restaurant but a Guatemalan restaurant. The menu is limited but for what's available the prices are great. I definitely recommend this cosy little place to anyone.
(4)Kameron S.
A great hole in the wall! They automatically get huge bonus points for bringing chips, 2 salsas and guacamole to the table for free. We had chicken and steak fajitas and they were delicious. The best thing of all was the fresh handmade tortillas brought hot to the table. We fed a family of 4 for $30! We'll be back for sure.
(5)John R.
Excellent food. And wow, what a lot of it. You can surely share these sized portions.
(4)R S.
Outstanding Mexican fare. Not American-Mexican. Mexican. Everything I have tried there was delicious, fresh and inexpensive. Almost everything comes with freshly soured cream. The Guacamole is excellent, and not to be missed. Take out available too.
(5)Carrie S.
I finally went into Mi Ranchito after driving by if for several years. I walked in and still thought the windows being so dark was the problem - it just not inviting. Who really cares tho .. The food was amazing - I had the taco suaves (Pork) and found myself placing a to go order the next day. I recommend getting past the black out windows and giving them a try!
(4)Sandeep J.
Mi Ranchito never fails to strike the right chords for me. I come here often and the food always hits the spot. The P-Q ratio is low(prices are low and quantity is high), which works for me at times when I am on a shoe string budget. The seafood soup, the black beans and the mixed fajitas are my favorites here and would be more than happy to recommend them to any one. If ambiance is not of your top priority, then this is a nice non-pretentious joint with great authentic guatemalan food. Cheers!
(5)John B.
Okay so after reading all the reviews I decided to try it. Let me start with the pros. Friendly service. Waitress spoke English. I liked the chips and salsa. Green and red salsa and neither one was too spicy. They bring out another type of hot sauce with jalapenos slight kick but alot of flavor, its made to pour on food. My mom would make this sauce quite often. Had the tostadas mixtas. Very tasty. Main dish was the mixed fajitas, good portion, great black beans, good tortillas very authentic. Drank an horchata, very good as well. Okay here are the cons: Menu is limited and not Mexican I would definitely lean more towards Guatemalan. Missing enchiladas, floutas, chimichangas and burritos. 4 huge popular Mexican dishes. I did not care too much for the rice. Kinda bland. And the salad was very small with ranch dressing I found that odd. The guacamole was salty and had a lot of lime. Which I like but I know it can be very overbearing to some people. Also missing cilantro The value i found to be average for instance I think 5 bucks for 3 tostadas is a bit much. Very cheap to make. But 12 for the fajitas is fair. Overall I liked it and would go back but - don't know about 4 or 5 stars. I would actually rate 3.5 there are a few places in providence that I would put above this place. But its just one more option.
(3)Peter L.
Nice little Guatemalan place....
(4)Mike D.
I can proudly say that I was the only Gringo in the restaurant. The food was awesome, the portions amazing for the price, and all those high school Spanish classes finally paid off. I stopped in here after a brutal workout in the hills of Scituate to top off the reserves with Mexican beer and protein. The fajita combo, served with beef and chicken was a plentiful bounty of deliciousness. For $12, I barely could finish a huge skillet of meat and a separate plate of sides. They also serve their chips with salsa, queso blanco, and a mix of onions, carrots, and peppers in an oil dressing. Mi Ranchito offers authentic Mexican at an amazing value.
(5)Cabernet S.
Wow, what is this magical place? I don't really look for authenticity as a deciding factor when getting Mexican food. Spiced meat wrapped in something (usually with sour cream), chips and salsa and cheap beer are enough to make for a good south of the border themed meal. But this place takes that exact formula to a different level. First off, meals start with two types of salsa and fresh chips accompanied by pickled peppers and vegetables. Everything on the menu from the fajitas to the tacos are extremely economical. Choose the correct meal and you'll be rewarded with side dishes of rice, beans, salad and fresh tortillas. It's hard to go wrong here and everything's good. Oh and the beer's really cheap too :)
(5)Prudence L.
Love this place! If you're looking for a huge, great quality, super tasty meal at bargain prices, come here! My favorites are their black bin dip - addictive! And their BBQ ribs, slathered with their freshly soured cream and a hearty side of freshly fried plantains. Almost everything comes with a salad, rice and home made tortillas. The place is very casual, so wear comfy and loose clothes because you'll gain weight before you left with a doggie bag in tow!
(5)A. P. Z.
Comida Nacional de Guatemala. The Chef/owner is from Guatemala City and prepares mostly Mexican oriented foods. A great place to go when you are really hungry because portions are full sized. Pork is a specialty. Great Juke Box as well when you want to bang out some of the Banda or Tejano tear jerkers. They also have a great selection of Mexican sodas with real sugar vs corn syrup. The black beans are almost part of every meal and they are really good. They always serve real corn tortillas. Ask for Salsa Picante because it is really picante! The atmosphere is standard local restaurant. People stare when strangers come in but get over it quickly. Seats about 25 people with two TVs showing the latest Telenovellas from Telemundo and Univision.
(4)Michelle P.
Love this place!! The food is amazing. The ranchito for two was cheap, filling and tasty. It's not Mexican it's Guatemalan but the food was amazing. Fast service, low prices and fun beers.
(5)Alma C.
this place has been mislabeled as Mexican, it's actually Guatemalan. i liked the chips and salsa, and my coworker was absolutely in love w her tostadas, but my pork was so deeply fried that it was barely edible. if it's hot out, just a warning, there is no air-conditioning.
(2)Dan S.
So good and so much food. They manage to pack a lot of great food onto one plate.
(5)Sheri J.
I was in the mood for authentic Mexican and after reading the reviews on this place, decided to give it a shot. You know this place is authentic when english is rarely spoken. I ordered the Mi Ranchito platter and my boyfriend had the chicken and steak fajitas. They first served free chips and dip during the wait- which was amazing but we didn't get any guac. which other reviewers had said they had gotten. The Mi Ranchito platter was a TON of food for $13. It had salad, rice, beans, fried plantains, a delicious beef dish and chicken (which was a bit too dry). The chicken and steak fajitas for $12 were pretty standard- a bit too salty, the hot tortillas were great though. Again, the portion size was enormous. I would most likely come back here.
(3)Stephanie R.
Last night my roommate & I were walking around the West End, looking for a taco truck. When we finally found one, the wait was atrocious, but Mi Ranchito was right across the street, so we decided to try it out. The food was great! I got 3 crispy tortillas, one with refried beans, one with tomato sauce & one with guacamole, all topped with cheese. She got tacos but they were meaty so I don't know anything about them except that she said they were good. It was very reasonably priced, the whole bill was only $19 for the 2 entrees and 2 beers. The baby got a little loud while we were eating, but no one seemed to mind. My only minor complaint is that it took the waitress a little too long to bring the check, but otherwise the service was very prompt!
(4)Paul M.
Suzanne's review summarizes this place pretty well overall. I didn't get taco's but instead got the marinated pork (pork adobodo i think it was in spanish?). Most things on the menu has an english translation for all the gringos like me, the only thing that was not too obvious were the drinks (the non-soda's coke is pretty obvious) and the waitress was very helpful in telling me what was what. The place is casual, has ac units so it is nice and cool in the summer and the best part is they give you a ton of food for the money. Entrées are about 11 dollars starting and come with the main choice that's on the menu along with rice (which has corn carrots and other goodies in it), black beans, and beet salad. Appetizers are about 5 dollars on average and I got some kind of chicken tamale splitting it with a friend, the appetizer was completely unnecessary as it also came with the beet salad and two tamales.
(4)Sabrina F.
Black tinted windows. Nasty hip hop. Fat Mexicans in gold chains. Friendly chula waitresses wearing too much makeup and too tight clothes. Chilled Rosa de Jamaica in 18oz glasses. Fresh-delicious tortillas. Juicy Carne Asada. Tasty grilled veggies. Big plates for cheap. I LOVE this joint!
(4)Sophonisba G.
I am obsessed with this place. It definitely seems to be a favorite among Central Americans in the area so you know it's authentic. Food is simple but beyond delicious. My favorite part is the tortillas, definitely made fresh. If I could only have one kind of bread for the rest of my life it would be Mi Ranchito's tortillas. The tacos are a steal-- you get 3 tacos with pork (my fave), chicken, or beef, which comes with salad and rice, for about $6 plus tax I believe. The only problem with the tacos is they don't come with refried black beans like the entrees, which start at about $11, and oh dear god, those beans. How do they make them so delicious?? Large quantities of lard I'm sure; perhaps it's better not to dwell on it. YRMV, but I went with a couple friends the other night and 2 fajita platters, one plate of tacos, and 3 negra modelos came to $51 including tip and ended up being about 2.5 meals for each of us. Not a bad deal. Service has generally been pretty quick even when they're busy (which they usually are). I'm a gringa who speaks fluent Spanish, but they also speak some English-- you should be able to make yourself understood. Another reviewer mentioned they weren't sure if they take credit cards -- they do. As Tracy Jordan would say, I love Mi Ranchito so much, I want to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant.
(5)Cupcake F.
A cozy restaurant, yummy corn tortillas and nice pickled jalapenos, but the food is like any other Mexican place.
(2)Kim S.
Fast. Cheap. Delicious. Everything a whole in the wall food spot should be!
(4)Erica o.
It is actually a Guatemalan restaurant, not Mexican and the quality is really good. Portions are excellent with great prices.
(4)Allisan W.
All I can say is YUM! This is the best Mexican food I've had in awhile. The people were friendly, the food was authentic, and the prices were reasonable. Just a heads up, they only take cash.
(5)David R.
OK - 5 stars. This place is the authentic deal. There were more latinos here than gringos. A melodramatic telenovela was playing on the TV and there was more spanish than ingles. Thought i was somewhere in Central America for a bit. Spanish is not necessary but it helps. The place is small but there is plenty of room to sit and enjoy a nice meal. I ordered the beef fajitas and my wife ordered the carne asado. Both meals were excellent. Nice presentation, more food than we could eat and very nicely done. The fajitas came with a side of refried black bean, salad, rice, and guacamole. The fajitas mix was excelente. The beef, onions, peppers - perfect. The tortllas were the best ever. None of this cheap, cold, out-of the-bag stuff. These were a little thicker than most, toasted a bit, and very warm. We split a Horchata (rice drink with some cinnamon and spice) it was great. I had a pepsi also. Total for everything $28. They serve a nice plate of wheat nachos with some mild salsas and a dish of pickled onions and jalapenos. We'll be back soon to try some other dishes. Serivce was very good. Place is located in a very quiet spot a few minutes outside the downtown area. If you are looking for some Tex-Mex, or an assembly line burrito this is not the place. If you want a great meal in the company of some latino families give it a try.
(5)Jamey B.
Very tasty, fast Guatemalan food. NOT MEXICAN. Do I know if this is authentic Guatemalan food? Of course I have no f-ing clue, but what I do know is that each and every part of the Ranchito platter was DELICIOSO. The salsas were quite good - my toddler tried to lick the bowl. The pork was probably the best of the three meats, and the rice with veggies was excellent. White rice? Excellent? Indeed it was. The steak had a salsa flavoring of some kind. I honestly didn't even get to the chicken, there was so much food. AND THE TORTILLAS. Fluffy, savory, sauce holding little lovelies. Seemed homemade or from some secret sourcing operation I would like to stalk. The fried plaintains made my afternoon. Appetizers are all $5, mains are all $12, except for the special plate for one ($13), it also comes for two. The only random miss in the whole deal was average ranch dressing poured over the salad. Several of the tables are big enough for small groups (6-8?) though the entire restaurant is not overly large. Friday lunch was about 80% full at 12:30 but the food still came out very quickly for all the tables.
(4)Nicole R.
Mi Ranchito, ay dios mio! I had to wait to write my review because each time i saw the name of your Establishment my mouth would begin to water longing for a speedy return. The food was muy delicioso. The Huz and i decided to stop over on a Friday night. Upon entering the small building with two modest rows of tables we were the only people in there. I asked myself... Has Yelp led us astray!?!?! The chips and salsa which greeted us shortly after being seated were very tasty and had just the right amount of spice. Once our food arrived we noticed people were starting to pile in and packed up quickly. I guess we hit it at the right time? The pollo asado which i ordered was one of the best i've ever had. Tenderized chicken, flavorful rice and beans, and the small salad with ranch dressing was great. Service was also attentive and speedy. I've lived in PVD for 3 years and wish i found this place much sooner!!
(5)Joe C.
This a cool little place. It is always busy and for a reason. The food is really good. The wait staff is really nice and tries to accommodate English speakers. Here's what to try first time. Order the Carne Asada platter and an Horchata to drink. They have regular fajita's and tacos, but go with the platter. Delicious. The prices are very low, a platter is 11 bucks but it would feed 2 people. They also have beer and wine and several Latin American beers available. Go authentic though, you can get fajitas at Chili's. Thanks
(3)Travis S.
I'm surprised I don't go here more. This is a cozy little place with darkened windows and telenovelas playing on two screens. The runaway best dish here is the fajitas. A sizzling cast iron skillet of veggies and meat, another plate heaped high with beans and rice, and a towel-lined basket with more steaming tortillas than you could possibly eat. If you're within a mile of it, you owe it to yourself to go there with a friend.
(4)Grace G.
Authentic! Wonderful! Large portions of flavorful mexican/guatemalan fare, very reasonably priced. A local gem!!!!
(5)Deanna C.
It doesn't get any better or more authentic than this place. Incredible food, incredibly cheap, friendly service. It is small so you could find a wait on the weekends and, for larger parties (of say six or more) you may need to take what you can get as far as seating goes but they do their absolute best to accommodate, without a doubt! The one and only con about Mi Ranchito is that, while they do accept credit cards, you cannot tip on the credit card- cash tip only. Other than that, this is totally my go-to spot for a quick and super tasty meal.
(5)S. R.
best Mexican in town without any doubt. Yummy, fresh food with some non-traditional mexican dishes.
(4)Jessica S.
The food here is amazing. The service not as great. I've gotten the combination dinner many times. Get it with the steak and chicken. The pork I got the first time was not as good. The huevos rancheros is also really good. It is all latino people in here so you may get stared at. I have been to Guatemala myself and the food is authentic, especially the thick tortillas.
(4)Evan T.
Aw yeeeeeah, boyeeeeeeee. One of the things I have missed the most, moving to Providence from Texas, is the Mysterious Hole In The Wall Restaurant Where They Don't Speak Much English. I knew they existed here, as they do in all cities, but I was wondering when I would discover one that had what I was looking for. Mexican food! Meats in curious brown sauces and red spice rubs with lots of beans and rice and peppers! Make it cheap and plentiful! Give me the opportunity to wield my impressive command of Restaurant Spanish, and feed me until I explode! Mi Ranchito does not disappoint. The food is delicious. The fajitas sizzle and smoke as they are dropped onto your table with a heavy, cast-iron thud. The carne asada and its tomato-tomatillo sauce is crazy good. The beans are a star all by themselves, and the salsas and pickled peppers they serve are what's-the-recipe amazing. I grew up on flour tortillas and have habitually avoided corn tortillas in my life, but the homemade corn tortillas here are delicious and served too hot to hold. The beers, of course, are cheap and cold and tasty - always a fan of the Modelos myself. Also, if you have never experienced the joy of horchata, this is your opportunity to do so. Note that the food at this restaurant is Guatemalan and Mexican, and not Tex-Mex. If you are anticipating tacos and burritos and a lot of cheese, you might be dismayed - but I hope you will use it as an excuse to branch out and try something new and exciting. At 13 bucks a plate tops, you'll be hard-pressed to find yourself regretting the experience. Reminds me of the good parts about back home. I was very glad to find this place.
(5)John J L.
I love walking into places refreshingly devoid of pretense save for some of the clientele. ;) The reviews for Mi Ranchito are all spot-on so all I have to add here is that if you want Guatemalan/mexi-fusion inspired eats on the cheap just up hill in a place where you needn't park your car within 'dashing distance', Mi Ranchito should do it. The waitstaff is pleasant and helpful-yeah, they 'read' me as Spanish-challenged as soon as I tried pronouncing some menu items! Spanish TV and music in the background...I get the sense that they don't really need us 'a-holes' and our two-cents blathering on about how great their place is-¡Gracias a Dios! Much like Apsara in the early 90's, chances are life will go on for these great 'ethnic' eateries with little or no help from the idiotic RI foodie 'scenesters' and for me, that is the ONE ingredient worth going out for!
(4)Robert S.
I went for dinner last night with a few friends....yes in fact this place is more Guatemalan than Mexican, although dishes from both countries can be found. I had the Churrasco under the Appettizer menu and it was a nice size dish with vegetable rice and fried plantains (which I asked them instead of the salad). The meat was nicely seasoned and tasty...all for $8. My BF got the Chicken Fajitas and they were kind of dry and blands....others got the Beef fajitas and those seemed a better choice... The place is small but they are very attentive. Aura, our waitress was very nice and friendly.... Overall a good choice for Latin American Food.
(3)A. F.
The food here is very good! The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but most don't come here for that. I ordered the combo steak and pork dish, which came with rice and refried beans. It was delicious and there was more than enough to fill up and take home leftovers. And, the hot n fresh corn tortillas that come with the food are also good. Non-Spanish speakers beware though, some of the staff don't speak English, but as long as you can point to what you want on the menu, you'll be fine. I have been craving that pork since the day I went, and I will def be back.
(4)Sarah C.
Came here on a whim this past Saturday night. The chips and three kinds of salsa are complimentary. I ordered a shrimp and veggies dish that came with a salad, rice and beans. My fiance ordered pork tacos which also came with rice and a salad. They gave us warm tortillas for the table which is awesome cause I love a good corn tortilla. While the food was good, the place is pretty small and they don't serve much by the way of alcohol, and I really like a nice glass of wine or a beer with my meal. We would go back though.
(3)Carrie S.
I finally went into Mi Ranchito after driving by if for several years. I walked in and still thought the windows being so dark was the problem - it just not inviting. Who really cares tho .. The food was amazing - I had the taco suaves (Pork) and found myself placing a to go order the next day. I recommend getting past the black out windows and giving them a try!
(4)Sandeep J.
Mi Ranchito never fails to strike the right chords for me. I come here often and the food always hits the spot. The P-Q ratio is low(prices are low and quantity is high), which works for me at times when I am on a shoe string budget. The seafood soup, the black beans and the mixed fajitas are my favorites here and would be more than happy to recommend them to any one. If ambiance is not of your top priority, then this is a nice non-pretentious joint with great authentic guatemalan food. Cheers!
(5)A. P. Z.
Comida Nacional de Guatemala. The Chef/owner is from Guatemala City and prepares mostly Mexican oriented foods. A great place to go when you are really hungry because portions are full sized. Pork is a specialty. Great Juke Box as well when you want to bang out some of the Banda or Tejano tear jerkers. They also have a great selection of Mexican sodas with real sugar vs corn syrup. The black beans are almost part of every meal and they are really good. They always serve real corn tortillas. Ask for Salsa Picante because it is really picante! The atmosphere is standard local restaurant. People stare when strangers come in but get over it quickly. Seats about 25 people with two TVs showing the latest Telenovellas from Telemundo and Univision.
(4)Michelle P.
Love this place!! The food is amazing. The ranchito for two was cheap, filling and tasty. It's not Mexican it's Guatemalan but the food was amazing. Fast service, low prices and fun beers.
(5)Alma C.
this place has been mislabeled as Mexican, it's actually Guatemalan. i liked the chips and salsa, and my coworker was absolutely in love w her tostadas, but my pork was so deeply fried that it was barely edible. if it's hot out, just a warning, there is no air-conditioning.
(2)Dan S.
So good and so much food. They manage to pack a lot of great food onto one plate.
(5)Sheri J.
I was in the mood for authentic Mexican and after reading the reviews on this place, decided to give it a shot. You know this place is authentic when english is rarely spoken. I ordered the Mi Ranchito platter and my boyfriend had the chicken and steak fajitas. They first served free chips and dip during the wait- which was amazing but we didn't get any guac. which other reviewers had said they had gotten. The Mi Ranchito platter was a TON of food for $13. It had salad, rice, beans, fried plantains, a delicious beef dish and chicken (which was a bit too dry). The chicken and steak fajitas for $12 were pretty standard- a bit too salty, the hot tortillas were great though. Again, the portion size was enormous. I would most likely come back here.
(3)Stephanie R.
Last night my roommate & I were walking around the West End, looking for a taco truck. When we finally found one, the wait was atrocious, but Mi Ranchito was right across the street, so we decided to try it out. The food was great! I got 3 crispy tortillas, one with refried beans, one with tomato sauce & one with guacamole, all topped with cheese. She got tacos but they were meaty so I don't know anything about them except that she said they were good. It was very reasonably priced, the whole bill was only $19 for the 2 entrees and 2 beers. The baby got a little loud while we were eating, but no one seemed to mind. My only minor complaint is that it took the waitress a little too long to bring the check, but otherwise the service was very prompt!
(4)Paul M.
Suzanne's review summarizes this place pretty well overall. I didn't get taco's but instead got the marinated pork (pork adobodo i think it was in spanish?). Most things on the menu has an english translation for all the gringos like me, the only thing that was not too obvious were the drinks (the non-soda's coke is pretty obvious) and the waitress was very helpful in telling me what was what. The place is casual, has ac units so it is nice and cool in the summer and the best part is they give you a ton of food for the money. Entrées are about 11 dollars starting and come with the main choice that's on the menu along with rice (which has corn carrots and other goodies in it), black beans, and beet salad. Appetizers are about 5 dollars on average and I got some kind of chicken tamale splitting it with a friend, the appetizer was completely unnecessary as it also came with the beet salad and two tamales.
(4)Sabrina F.
Black tinted windows. Nasty hip hop. Fat Mexicans in gold chains. Friendly chula waitresses wearing too much makeup and too tight clothes. Chilled Rosa de Jamaica in 18oz glasses. Fresh-delicious tortillas. Juicy Carne Asada. Tasty grilled veggies. Big plates for cheap. I LOVE this joint!
(4)Sophonisba G.
I am obsessed with this place. It definitely seems to be a favorite among Central Americans in the area so you know it's authentic. Food is simple but beyond delicious. My favorite part is the tortillas, definitely made fresh. If I could only have one kind of bread for the rest of my life it would be Mi Ranchito's tortillas. The tacos are a steal-- you get 3 tacos with pork (my fave), chicken, or beef, which comes with salad and rice, for about $6 plus tax I believe. The only problem with the tacos is they don't come with refried black beans like the entrees, which start at about $11, and oh dear god, those beans. How do they make them so delicious?? Large quantities of lard I'm sure; perhaps it's better not to dwell on it. YRMV, but I went with a couple friends the other night and 2 fajita platters, one plate of tacos, and 3 negra modelos came to $51 including tip and ended up being about 2.5 meals for each of us. Not a bad deal. Service has generally been pretty quick even when they're busy (which they usually are). I'm a gringa who speaks fluent Spanish, but they also speak some English-- you should be able to make yourself understood. Another reviewer mentioned they weren't sure if they take credit cards -- they do. As Tracy Jordan would say, I love Mi Ranchito so much, I want to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant.
(5)Cupcake F.
A cozy restaurant, yummy corn tortillas and nice pickled jalapenos, but the food is like any other Mexican place.
(2)Kim S.
Fast. Cheap. Delicious. Everything a whole in the wall food spot should be!
(4)Erica o.
It is actually a Guatemalan restaurant, not Mexican and the quality is really good. Portions are excellent with great prices.
(4)Allisan W.
All I can say is YUM! This is the best Mexican food I've had in awhile. The people were friendly, the food was authentic, and the prices were reasonable. Just a heads up, they only take cash.
(5)Suzanne P.
This Guatemalan/Mexican store-front cocina is casual, comfortable, cheap and good! Sorta fun to navigate the menu, which is not in English, but then we all speak a little food-Spanish... tortilla, taco, pollo and I managed with a willing waitress who got the point across that the tacos are very small. They came two to the order and were open-faced on homemade little fat tortillas. Nice! I asked for chips, salsa (pico de gallo) and guacamole and together that was a perfect meal. A far cry from Taco Bell, this place is purely authentic. I was the only Gringa there, and about a foot taller than everyone in the place, and all faces were friendly. Beer + wine, too!
(4)David R.
OK - 5 stars. This place is the authentic deal. There were more latinos here than gringos. A melodramatic telenovela was playing on the TV and there was more spanish than ingles. Thought i was somewhere in Central America for a bit. Spanish is not necessary but it helps. The place is small but there is plenty of room to sit and enjoy a nice meal. I ordered the beef fajitas and my wife ordered the carne asado. Both meals were excellent. Nice presentation, more food than we could eat and very nicely done. The fajitas came with a side of refried black bean, salad, rice, and guacamole. The fajitas mix was excelente. The beef, onions, peppers - perfect. The tortllas were the best ever. None of this cheap, cold, out-of the-bag stuff. These were a little thicker than most, toasted a bit, and very warm. We split a Horchata (rice drink with some cinnamon and spice) it was great. I had a pepsi also. Total for everything $28. They serve a nice plate of wheat nachos with some mild salsas and a dish of pickled onions and jalapenos. We'll be back soon to try some other dishes. Serivce was very good. Place is located in a very quiet spot a few minutes outside the downtown area. If you are looking for some Tex-Mex, or an assembly line burrito this is not the place. If you want a great meal in the company of some latino families give it a try.
(5)Joe A.
This place is awesome. Completely friendly staff that puts up with my broken Spanish gringo nonsense. Food is cheap and delicious!!!!
(5)John E.
Mi Ranchito is a small Mexican-themed restaurant located near Federal Hill in Providence RI. We had just arrived in Providence and were basically starving from being on a plane for several hours. A quick check on Yelp revealed Mi Ranchito with 4 stars and 71 reviews. In all the years I've used Yelp it's never failed me - until this restaurant. I hope I'm not being too harsh, and please take my opinion with a grain of salt, especially if you like to eat here. Maybe I'm jaded with all the opportunities for authentic Guatemalan, Honduran, Mexican and TexMex to be found in Atlanta, but this food to me was really marginal. Not that it smelled or tasted foul or anything like that, but the flavors were downright bland and there were enough other peculiarities about the meal that it pushed me into only giving it 2 stars. The atmosphere was a bit dark but after some of the dives I frequent that didn't bother me too much. The staff took our order quickly and overall we got good service. The first thing that seemed a bit off were the chips. These were cut much thicker than is typical - also instead of a pico or salsa cruda, the sauces were more like what you would get out of a bottle of Tapatico or similar. Much like the baked potato can set the expectation for the steak, the chips are very important, in my opinion, in setting the expectation for the rest of the meal in a Hispanic restaurant. I give these a "D." I ordered the Pollo Asado lunch special - this came with rice and a small dinner salad. Once again I had a "wow" moment where I felt like I was in the food court of a bad mall. The rice was made up of what tasted like frozen vegetables and a short grain white rice. The salad was made up of iceberg lettuce, with a rather bland "ranch" dressing. Ugh. The worst, however is what my friend and frequent dining companion Sid ordered - as a vegetarian there is often very little on menus that he feels comfortable ordering - in this case he got some type of appetizer that consisted of three fried tortillas smeared with black-beans, salsa and guac - with a small salad. I don't know what to think about that plate and I'm surprised he ate it. In any case, my first impression of the food scene in Providence left much to be desired. Luckily dinner at Siena more than made up for this lunch. (a bit longer review on my food blog)
(2)Ryan B.
Let me start by saying this was the BEST mexican meal I've EVER had! Overall the food was very good and better yet affordable. I shared the Mi Ranchito platter and shrimp fajitas with my gf. The portions were gigantic and we both left with a substantial amount of food for lunch the next day--and let me tell you, I may be skinny, but I can pack it away. The fajita's tortillas were house-made and OH so delicious--they were the best part in my opinion. As others have mentioned the black bean puree was to die for. Chips and salsa were served on the house, but weren't my favorite, nor were they my gf's. For us the salsa was a bit thin, but it's plausible that is the authentic style? Beers were 3 bucks a piece--no joke! You can't do better than that! If you're in the mood for this type of cuisine, I would recommend this place in a heartbeat!!
(5)Xiao Z.
This was an unexpected find of an authentic Mexican restaurant in Providence. I came here with my girlfriend on a relatively busy Friday night, and was immediately seated at a location fairly away from the cold winter night, where every door opening reminded me how I yearned for springtime. Our waitress was very friendly and polite, and recommended the vegetarian stew, and the softshell beef tacos. I heard much about the famous refried beans, and scarfed it down immediately with the stew and rice, found it quite delectable. It was certainly made with a meat broth that was amazing, I even had her bring a side order just for my folks at Triad home, in addition to two chicken stuffed corn rolls, like corn dogs, but better. The softshell tacos were very good, but also not earth shattering. Although my next meal will definitely include some of the meat selections, in which I regret not ordering since it was on a Friday and I was limited in meat selections. Overall a great find and I will definitely return to check out the meat dishes. Super cheap $4 beer! Food: 4 stars Price: 4 stars Service: 3 stars Ambiance: 2.5 stars
(4)tony T.
Nice little spot with good Mexican. Had the tortillas con pollo with guac for lunch and you get 3 which is a great deal for the price. Full of flavor and chicken but felt the tortillas were a little too thick..:')..was not crazy about the bowl of chips and salsa but would definitely return as the service and the vibe were great!
(3)Marty R.
Looking at Mi Ranchito from the outside, you would fall into the false perception that this is some sketchy Guatemalan Bar with its large darkened glass windows and neon "open" sign. But once you enter, the atmosphere of the restaurant completely changes. Light is plentiful and the speakers are blasting Mexican pop music. Soccer (or sometimes Spanish soap opera) is playing on the 7 or 8 tv's in the tiny little restaurant and a waitress greets you and shows you to your seat. Love going to Mi Ranchito when all of the "popular" restaurants on Federal Hill have hour long waits. It's a great hole-in-the-wall Spanish restaurant complete with Spanish menus, affordable drinks, and delicious meals. The waitress gave us some chips to munch on for an appetizer and four dipping sauces. Loved dipping the chips in the warm refried beans! If you're not in the mood for one of the humongous platters, I'd recommend the chicken fajita. Still enough for two or three meals, but affordable and delicious. Perfectly cooked chicken on top of peppers and onions. Comes with veggie rice (some of the best rice I've ever had), refried beans, salad, guacamole and house-made tortillas. Scrum diddily-umptiou! I never eat the tortillas, but just dig in with a fork instead. I always bring friends here from out of town. Service is fast and super friendly. One tip: they always seem to be late with the check. I find that I have to ask the waitress for the check every time. Make sure you ask for the check right after you get your meal if you're in a hurry to leave. Five stars for excellent service, delicious food and at an affordable price.
(5)Camille M.
Yummy black beans and tacos, great friendly service.
(4)Anthony P.
It's going to be -5 degrees tonight and found a great spot to get soup - Authentic Mexican - love that the offer more than the traditional Chicken soups - also have beef and cow foot - great flavor! I did the beef soup - tender beef chunks and tendon , onion, Cilantro in a flavor filled broth - request fresh onion and fresh cilantro to be added - this will make the soup pop! It comes with rice (with corn, carrots green peas), yuca, boiled carrot stalk, corn cob and half of lime. This was a full meal - oh yeah be sure to squeeze the lime in the soup and be prepared for a great experience- Authentic Mexican experience!
(4)Chintan M.
We recently moved from Texas and have been afraid to try Mexican food in Providence, but after several failed attempts we found this place. Good food and good service. A little mom and pop joint.
(4)Cesar L.
I'm gonna sum it up really quick... good food, inexpensive and fresh. On top of that, they give you a free "appetizer" (per say) before serving lunch or dinner its always nice. By the way, it is a Guatemalan restaurant.
(5)Saadet A.
Tortilla soup was brothy and surpringly refreshing with the cilantro and avacado as a nice light touch. Warm corn tortillas with black bean soup stuffed with pulled pork with a tangy kick Chicken quesadillas with stringy, yummy cheese was out of this world. So authentic tasting and incomparable with any other "quesadilla" I have ever had! And to finish, homemade flan prepared by the waiters mother, what more could a tastebud ask for?!
(5)Jessica M.
LoveLoveLove. Everything taste good :) Affordable, the only issue is the parking is on a main road.
(4)Lisa R.
Food was very yummy and even more affordable. I shared the shrimp fajitas and the Mi Ranchito platter with my partner. The portions are gigantic and could have easily fed 3-4 people. The tortillas for the fajitas are housemade and super delicious. Black beans were fantastic. The chips and salsa are on the house, but not my fave. The salsa is a bit thin for my taste. Beers were 3 bucks a piece! You can't get a better deal than that. Service was fantastic. I speak minimal Spanish and did not have any problem at all. I also loved the Spanish soap operas playing on the tv! Overall, this place does a fantastic job for this kind of establishment. I would definitely recommend it!
(5)Kelly G.
Absolutely love the fajitas mixtas! The portions are enough for two people and everything is super affordable. There's no having to choose between quantity or quality because this place has both. Highly recommend coming here.
(5)Scottie M.
Eek! Methinksnot is right. Walked in because my friend said he wanted authentic Mexican food. The only thing authentic was the attitude towards two gay boys that wanted dinner.... and I totally think of "we don't sell alcohol" when I want to get Mexican.... So... yeah, we left... and we tipped her $5 for the stale chips... even though there was no check or order placed.
(1)Jeff M.
Mi Ranchito is like a mini adventure, all the way over to the West End. The wait staff was happy to speak Spanish or English, as the case was needed. The food came out quickly, and hot. The vibe of the joint, was happy and causal. A pair of TVs showed a Mexican football match (Liga MX I believe), it really had the flavor of a little neighborhood place in South America. The prices are stunningly low, and the menu had so many interesting choices, that I ordered a few too many. What I didn't know, and came as quite a surprise, is that nearly everything is served as a plate with refried black beans, vegetable rice, tortillas, and salad. The Veggie rice, I could do without. Mixed, frozen vegetables tossed with slightly sticky white rice, its an inexpensive filler but didn't really add anything to the meal. The Iceburg lettuce salad told a similar story, though fresh and crisp, not memorable. The entrees though, stars of the show. A thick, handmade corn tortilla wrapped around three Carnitas tacos, was wonderful and a softer than expected bite. The pork had a rich and deep built flavor, great taco. The Chuchito Pollo is a Guatemalan tamale, in this case filed with shredded white meat chicken. The corn dough was not quite moist enough on its own for the lean chicken inside, but was readily remedied with a liberal coating of the spiced red enchilada sauce it was served with . Even better when I added a bit of the tableside Picamas Hot Sauce, a little goes a long way. I also had an order of a fried tortilla, rolled into a cigar and filled with chicken and pork, but I cannot recall the name of the dish (maybe a regular could help me out). They were darn tasty. We were served a 1/2 dozen or so of them, and were the first things off the plate. They were fried until well done, golden brown and crispy, like chips with a meat filling inside. By comparison, a plate of Carne Asada Fajitas was a bit uninspired. Nicely spiced, if somewhat overcooked strips of steak served with the usual fixings, and a basket of fresh made tortillas mind you. The rest of the menu is just so much more fun. Great place, and cheap to boot.
(4)Madeline W.
Solidly delicious, legit Guatemalan food. This is the best you'll find north of Route 40. Most meals are very reasonably priced, especially for the amount given. Trust me, they don't skimp on the portions here. English is not great, but I think that's part of the experience of Mi Ranchito. Don't expect any fancy-pants downtown upper crust catering. There's generally Latino television playing, a cute little bar in the back, and very colorful decor. Skip the horchata, I thought it was pretty bad. Tacos, yes! Meat platter - definitely! The chips and dip they serve as complimentary appetizer, yuuum. Pretty much everything is good here. Although this is not Mexican food, if you're got a craving, rather than hitting one of those white-washed spots around Providence, THIS will satiate you.
(5)David R.
The food was AMAZINGLY good!! We got plantains, chicken fajitas, and garlic shrimp, and it was all really really tasty. Definitely the best latin american food I've had in PVD. WIll be back back soon!
(5)Rose B.
That place is small but the staffs are super nice and the food was great to me. I have gush I went back twice already and the price is amazing
(4)Mckenzie G.
This place has been on my "to try" list for awhile, and I finally got a chance to try it about a month ago. I have since been back a 2nd time and crave it almost every day (thinking about getting some tonight, actually). At first I was a little concerned. I wasn't originally a fan of the chips and salsa (usually an indication of what is to come), but I learned to like the spicy salsa - still not that into the mild. However, when my tacos came, everything changed. 3 homemade corn torillas filled with chicken, onion, and cilantro sounds basic, but there is something about these that just makes my mouth water. There are not easy to eat - the tortilla falls apart in your hand, but because of their taste, I just don't care. They're served with rice, that has a little sweetness to it, and a garden salad with ranch dressing. Random, but for some reason it works. They serve beer and wine, and the beer is dirt cheap. A perfect accompaniment to the plate of tacos. A few quirks (of course this is what makes it memorable) 1. If you don't speak spanish, you're going to have to order exactly as it is on the menu. The menu is in English, but the waitstaff doesn't speak enough English to work through altercations. Don't worry about this - just order the chicken tacos and don't look back 2. It is open. Even if the dark windows make you think that it's closed or a front for some seedy operation, it's open. Walk right in and grab a table. 3. It gets cold in there (in the winter). Because it's such a small place, every time the door opens, the cold air fills the place, so if you're going to go in the middle of January, like I just did, make sure to wear layers.
(5)Andy S.
I have only tried the "Mi Ranchito platter," but it was so good I've been back for it about a half-dozen times. Only ordered takeout so far, so I don't have much to add re: atmosphere, service, etc. The lady who arranges the takeout orders is pretty nice. #helpful
(4)Alex M.
The best kept secret in my neighborhood by far. Truly authentic, house made food with great ingredients. Friendly staff, quick service, and very affordable. The mi ranchito platter (for one!!!) will last many leftovers. Awesome spot.
(5)Kelsey D.
Went into this place on a whim since I just moved into the neighborhood and was looking for decently priced, good food. I think this place often goes ignored for being both a hole in the wall with darkened windows, as well as being directly across from Loui Fuller's (which I don't really care for). What people are missing out on are platters of awesome and cheap Guatemalan and Mexican food. Point and case: I don't think I've ever eaten someplace where I wished the server brought me more beans. It's very much a local hangout and primarily Spanish speaking; the waitresses accommodate to English speakers, but I went with the 'point at the thing on the menu' method. I was not disappointed. Awesome spicy salsa (and one unlike anything I've tasted texture wise -- not sure what was in it), great carne asada. I look forward to trying their fajitas next time. The beer is standard fare (Presidente, Modelo, Corona), but it's cheap and cold. Basically perfect with the food you're getting. I'll be coming back there again. Actually, I might go back right now.
(4)Betsy R.
So, my first bit of advice is this: DO NOT FILL UP ON THE AMAHZING CHIPS AND DIPS AND BEANS BEFORE YOUR MEAL. Okay, now that that is out of the way, let's get to the review. It's delicious. It really is. It's pretty authentic as far as Central American food goes. Here's what other yelpers have said, and I wholeheartedly agree: 1. Beans are slammin'. So so so so so so good. 2. Tortillas are freshly made and so so so so so so so so good. 3. Beers ARE super cheap indeed (the whole tab for two people, including one huge meal and beers was 30 bucks). Loved it! I just wish the neighborhood were a tad bit better...
(4)Ryan D.
Darn good Mexican. You really don't need to say anything more. I was the only non-Mexican in the restaurant and that is how I like it. Just like La Arepa, I want to go where the locals go. Just as many reviewers have said, it is good that you know your Mexican dishes because there is very little English on the menu. Their guac is some of the freshest I have tasted. Did I mention this place is pretty cheap?! I love Mexican and thank God Providence has Mi Ranchito.
(4)Lauren L.
Just had an awesome lunch with my coworkers here. We had gone on the basis of Yelp reviews and boy were we not disappointed. The place was jamming at 12pm, mostly regular customers who were conversing quite rapidly in Spanish with the single extremely efficient waitress. Food: wowsa. The salsa and chips were great. We also had a very spicy ensalada en escabeche. My coworkers loved their guacamole! Every plate comes with beans, rice, salad and some get plantains. My "mi ranchito" plate was HUGE even though I ordered the "for one" size. Everything was fresh, well seasoned and we all went home with leftovers. On that note, be careful how much food you get. One gal got two appetizers and still was stuffed! Price wise it was more than reasonable for the amount of food we got: $80 for 6 people is pretty decent. While this may fall into the category of "Mexican," technically, the menu says "Guatemalan" food. The menu is mostly in Spanish and does boast many crossovers to other Latin inspired dishes, but don't look for enchiladas or chimichangas. I am excited to go back to try several dishes that I am hard pressed to remember the exact translation for. This was an awesome find! Thanks Yelp community for being spot on.
(5)Lauri L.
This place is a hole in the wall, so don't expect much in the way of ambience. There are TVs (Univision) and a digital jukebox, and the tables are basically diner melamine. But, the food (Guatemalan, apparently) is delicious, and the service was pleasant. I had the Camerones al Ajillo and my husband had the fajitas, and we both loved the plantains. They have beer and wine, but no hard liquor, so don't ask for a margarita. Overall, a good place for a reasonably-priced and yummy meal.
(4)Beshka C.
This place is the go to for me. I can walk there, they take credit cards and there is a jukebox with Peter Tosh and Texas Tornados. Seriously. First, some insight. It's small and always busy. If there is a big group of you try and get there on the early side or later side of everything. Don't be an amateur and show up at 1 pm or 730 pm with a party of 6 and expect a table immediately. Believe me, Yelpers, it happens. Also, there is limited English spoken here. Get over it, Spanish is the new English. I usually order the Bandeja para uno which feeds two! Comes with adovado and steak and all the trimmings. Chips and salsa out first of course. The Bandeja para dos fed me and three others. That's a full meal for 8 to 10 bux a piece. It's Guatemalan which is not hot enough for this Tejana. So reach for the chile (sauce at all tables and pickles jals). Bien provecho.
(5)Hilary H.
Ok, kids - let's get one thing straight: I LOVE Mexican food. Love. It. But it's gotta be REAL Mexican food - authentic, flavorful, spicy and pure. It's been a long, hard search for me back here in New England, but luckily Mi Ranchito has popped into the picture. The beans are amazing... yes, beans! They accompany any serving of anything, and made my little taste buds dance all over the place. They went especially well with the pollo asado I was lucky enough to stuff into my face between gulps of Negra Modelo from the frosted beer mug it was served in. Sure, it's a little hole-in-the-wall in not the best neighborhood, but who cares? It's clean, the service is fast, friendly and helpful, and the food is goooooooooooooood. The side salads were super, too. Some yummy ranch-ish dressing atop fresh veggies - it was a perfect compliment to the richness of the beans. A basic knowledge of Spanish will be helpful - the menu has some brief explanations in English, but you'll be glad you brushed up pre-visit. Over-all, I highly recommend this joint for a fun, inexpensive and mui flavorful night out.
(4)B L.
I came here for the first time Friday night and I have to say that I really liked the atmosphere. Families and groups of friends on a Saturday evening eating themselves silly. They have a really excellent greenish salsa that comes for free with the chips, as well as some really nice spicy mixed pickled veggies. I had the caldo de gallina, and it was flavorful and filled with big pieces of chicken. I tried my friends' carne adobada, and it was pretty good, though not as good as at Mi Guatemala, ditto on the garnachas Based on that, I would say that I prefer Mi Guatemala's food, and that the prices seem pretty similar, but the atmosphere at Mi Ranchito is more intimate and casual.
(4)Carlen A.
Fresh, delicious, and authentic--yum! Got takeout here, and was quite the happy camper; meal after meal after meal (count 'em: 3 meals out of one $12 entree! what a steal). Carne asada fajitas were delicious. I was especially in love with the refried black beans. Will be returning!
(4)R S.
Outstanding Mexican fare. Not American-Mexican. Mexican. Everything I have tried there was delicious, fresh and inexpensive. Almost everything comes with freshly soured cream. The Guacamole is excellent, and not to be missed. Take out available too.
(5)Jason W.
While my partner and I were driving through the neighborhood, we were a tad worried. We walked into the restaurant, and we were the only non-Hispanics there. This is a good sign for the food, but we were worried about poor service and feeling out of place. We were dead wrong. Sure, the decor is nothing special. But that's not the point. The food - the simple, homemade, amazingly amazing food - is the point. The menu has a little English on it, but it's helpful to know a little Spanish. For example, pollo = chicken and carne = steak. If you don't know those, this may not be the best place. However, I'd say it's still worth a shot. Even the chips and salsa were great! The tamale appetizer was hearty and filling, and the main dishes - so good. My partner got the grilled shrimp, and I got the "Mi Ranchito platter," which comes with chicken, steak, rice, beans, fried banana (too sweet for plantains), and a little queso blanco. Holy cow, both dishes were amazing. Simple, sure, but when simple is this good, you don't care. Flavorful chicken and steak, beans that are out-of-this world... I mean, beans! But I was in heaven. Two final notes: we were not sure if they took credit cards, so bring cash just in case. Also, street parking is generally easy to find. No nearby lot, though. Enough about the food - I think you get the point. The servers do speak enough English that you can order and ask for things, and they were as attentive to us as to the rest of the restaurant. No dirty looks, no feeling uncomfortable at all. In fact, we felt quite welcome! Which is good, because we definitely plan to go back.
(5)Janelle M.
Huge portions of delicious, cheap, fresh food and OMG the guacamole is fantastic! Small seating area fills up fast.
(4)Joe B.
Just to be clear this is not a Mexican restaurant but a Guatemalan restaurant. The menu is limited but for what's available the prices are great. I definitely recommend this cosy little place to anyone.
(4)Kameron S.
A great hole in the wall! They automatically get huge bonus points for bringing chips, 2 salsas and guacamole to the table for free. We had chicken and steak fajitas and they were delicious. The best thing of all was the fresh handmade tortillas brought hot to the table. We fed a family of 4 for $30! We'll be back for sure.
(5)John R.
Excellent food. And wow, what a lot of it. You can surely share these sized portions.
(4)John B.
Okay so after reading all the reviews I decided to try it. Let me start with the pros. Friendly service. Waitress spoke English. I liked the chips and salsa. Green and red salsa and neither one was too spicy. They bring out another type of hot sauce with jalapenos slight kick but alot of flavor, its made to pour on food. My mom would make this sauce quite often. Had the tostadas mixtas. Very tasty. Main dish was the mixed fajitas, good portion, great black beans, good tortillas very authentic. Drank an horchata, very good as well. Okay here are the cons: Menu is limited and not Mexican I would definitely lean more towards Guatemalan. Missing enchiladas, floutas, chimichangas and burritos. 4 huge popular Mexican dishes. I did not care too much for the rice. Kinda bland. And the salad was very small with ranch dressing I found that odd. The guacamole was salty and had a lot of lime. Which I like but I know it can be very overbearing to some people. Also missing cilantro The value i found to be average for instance I think 5 bucks for 3 tostadas is a bit much. Very cheap to make. But 12 for the fajitas is fair. Overall I liked it and would go back but - don't know about 4 or 5 stars. I would actually rate 3.5 there are a few places in providence that I would put above this place. But its just one more option.
(3)Peter L.
Nice little Guatemalan place....
(4)Mike D.
I can proudly say that I was the only Gringo in the restaurant. The food was awesome, the portions amazing for the price, and all those high school Spanish classes finally paid off. I stopped in here after a brutal workout in the hills of Scituate to top off the reserves with Mexican beer and protein. The fajita combo, served with beef and chicken was a plentiful bounty of deliciousness. For $12, I barely could finish a huge skillet of meat and a separate plate of sides. They also serve their chips with salsa, queso blanco, and a mix of onions, carrots, and peppers in an oil dressing. Mi Ranchito offers authentic Mexican at an amazing value.
(5)Cabernet S.
Wow, what is this magical place? I don't really look for authenticity as a deciding factor when getting Mexican food. Spiced meat wrapped in something (usually with sour cream), chips and salsa and cheap beer are enough to make for a good south of the border themed meal. But this place takes that exact formula to a different level. First off, meals start with two types of salsa and fresh chips accompanied by pickled peppers and vegetables. Everything on the menu from the fajitas to the tacos are extremely economical. Choose the correct meal and you'll be rewarded with side dishes of rice, beans, salad and fresh tortillas. It's hard to go wrong here and everything's good. Oh and the beer's really cheap too :)
(5)Prudence L.
Love this place! If you're looking for a huge, great quality, super tasty meal at bargain prices, come here! My favorites are their black bin dip - addictive! And their BBQ ribs, slathered with their freshly soured cream and a hearty side of freshly fried plantains. Almost everything comes with a salad, rice and home made tortillas. The place is very casual, so wear comfy and loose clothes because you'll gain weight before you left with a doggie bag in tow!
(5)