El Rancho

My friend took me here after a workout when I told him I missed Peruvian chicken.
I don’t know what I was expecting.
When we came in, we ordered at the front and then sat down with our number. The wait wasn’t too bad. And then the platters came out. It was a huge portion for what we paid! I had the half chicken with rice and fried plantains. Presentation was great — it made you feel as though you were having a nice dining experience instead of a take-​out place. Chicken was very tender and steaming hot. They gave me a mountain of plantains, which were fried perfectly.
I also had the pupusa frijol con queso — which was superb. I love me a good pupusa.
Service was nice. The lady at the front was very helpful and patient when my friends and I took a little too long to decide what we wanted.
If you’re looking for a nicely priced, huge meal, definitely stop by El Rancho.

Discovered this place while doing some grocery shopping at Fresh World or El Grande. I love Peruvian chicken soooo finding this place was awesome! I usually go to Edy’s Chicken and Steak but this place is much closer to me and convenient too! What surprised me is for such a small place, they offer a lot of items on their menu from chicken combo meals, along with appetizers and favorites like the pupusas and empanadas. Also, they have a variety of sandwiches, delicious entrees, and desserts as well.
Everytime I come here I usually get the ¼ chicken with the fried yuca that comes with the side salad as well. The chicken comes out pretty moist and goes really well with the sauces. Other sides that you can choose with the entrees are like rice and beans, sweet potato fries, and etc. The chicken is my favorite because the seasoning on it is just right and comes with a balance of both dark and white meat. The yuca varies because on some days it’s good and some days it’s not so good. Although, with the addition of the sauces, all the flavors balance out and it certainly enhances the taste of the food. I like dipping the yuca into the yellow sauce. I believe the pinkish sauce is the same but there is just some red pepper in there. And then the green sauce is a blended jalapeño sauce that adds a kick because of its spiciness.
Overall the service is okay, they could be more attentive especially on water refills. For the most part I am satisfied with the food here and it’s great how most of their food is pretty affordable for the large portion. I have become a regular here and will continue to come by and maybe even try the rest of the menu items as well! ~

It’s really good. Especially their empanadas. Also, it’s not really expensive. Staffs are really nice

I just discovered this place — and it is totally legit. Empañadas, Salteñas, and a clean and welcoming atmosphere — you won’t be disappointed!

I love their yuca fries. It’s a bit loud here, so I prefer to-​go.

Everything here is quite delish and the service is pretty fast as well. It’s pretty casual food but tastes better than what «casual» might seem.
Just order at the register and seat yourself and they’ll bring the food out to ya if you’re eating there.
Also save room for dessert because their four leches and tiramisu are bangin’.

Ordered five Salteñas, they are supposed to be filled with chicken and vegetables. Well, they were filled with chicken skins and nerves. Worst food experience ever and they are not cheap. Threw my money away. NEVER GOING BACK.

Really good food! Only question is… on a Friday night, empty! We were the only ones there for about 20 minutes. That being said, some people came in and grabbed take out. Also, being the only ones there, the service took too long to attend to us. 2 adults, 2 kids, $ 57. Too pricy for the overall experience. Should have been something like $ 30 something. Maybe the food was good cuz they weren’t making anything else. I don’t know, didn’t make sense. Go in and make your own decision on this one. Food was good though. I think I would try a different place next time down there since I came here. Once was good enough.

El Rancho is located in a strip mall off of Hechinger Drive. They offer a pretty extensive menu of appetizers, sandwiches, entrees, combo meals, desserts, and a breakfast menu. I tried their Steak & Cheese Sandwich, which comes with a choice of 1 side (I was a little disappointed, as I was only offered either french fries or yucca fries, but you can choose any of the sides that they offer on the menu (sweet plantains, white rice, baby yellow potato, sweet potato fries, onion rings, tostones, garden salad, rice & beans, or tortillas); I ended up choosing the french fries). The sandwich was okay — the bread was soft and the steak were actually cubed steak, which was a nice surprise. It could have had more mayo and more seasoning (salt and pepper) on the meats, as the steak was more on the bland side. The fries were forgettable, as they came plain and unseasoned. I also tried a ¼ of their Peruvian chicken, which comes with a side — I opted for the yucca fries. The chicken itself was okay; the yucca fries were a little too starchy and not too crispy. I do like the fact that they are extremely generous with the 3 types of sauces that they have for the chicken: D To wash it all down, I had an horchata (kind of watered down, but not grainy), as well as a bottle of ginger ale that came with for one of the combo meals. Service was super friendly, and you receive a wooden block with a number in which the food gets delivered to your table.
+friendly staff
+generous with the sauces

This hole in the wall has some great latin dishes. I usually get the churrasco steak and it’s pretty sold — steak, friend fries, and a side of rice. The empanadas are very good as well. The service usually pretty good and has gotten better recently.

Ordered variety for event today and everything was awesome. Chicken, plantains, tostones, chicarron de puerca, chicken quesadilla and ceviche. Highly recommended.

I came here on a recent Saturday for lunch as I wasn’t super hungry and wanted a cheaper meal. I’ve found that I always lean towards Latin American places when this is the case; just one empanada or saltena can do the trick! Upon walking in, the aroma of smoked chicken was amazingly strong and smelled fantastic. I’ve never experienced anything like it! Also, I was glad to see a more structured ordering process and dining situation. I’ve been to other places that have a lot of disorganization and are agonizingly slow. We ordered a half chicken with rice and plantains, a cheese and loroco pupusa, a chicken empanada, passion fruit juice, horchata, and the tres leches cake. Prices are really great here, and portions are awesome. The plantains were probably the best I’ve ever had! Same goes for the tres leches — it was creamy, moist, and full of milk and sweetness. It wasn’t overly covered in icing which I was very appreciative of. The chicken came with a nice spicy green sauce, and the meat was tasty. When we ordered, we weren’t asked if wanted dark or white meat; when the girl brought the dish out, she said «I hope having both is okay.» Kind of odd, but not a big deal.
The passion fruit juice was cooling and a great accompaniment to the spicy sauces. The horchata was fine but nothing special. I enjoyed the chicken empanada, but the pupusa was a real disappointment. The flavor was pretty awful, and the slaw and red sauce did nothing to spruce it up. I won’t be ordering it again. To tell the truth, I originally wanted a saltena, but I was told it would take 30 minutes to make it — that is WAY too long, and I didn’t have the time to wait.
I really liked how this place is more true to being a restaurant — your food is brought over to you (after you order and pay at the counter) so there is no confusion on when your food is ready. The place was pretty crowded, so obviously it’s a popular spot. Plus, the people working here are really nice.
Bottom line: I will definitely be back. This place is good for groups and families; I think everyone can find something to satisfy their (meat-​eater) appetite.

My lunch here today was delicious! Admittedly I was put off a bit at first by the appearance of some other side plates I saw, namely a sad little salad in a styrofoam cup, likely prepared in batches that morning. My food also took awhile to come, but I was pleased with what I ordered. ¼ chicken with plantains and sweet fries, which were all great. The chicken was cooked perfectly and well seasoned. They don’t ask whether you want white or dark meat; my piece was white meat, which seemed like it was a fairer portion than those who got dark. Their homemade ice creams looked cool, but I didn’t get a chance to try one. Would love to go here again.

I had to stop eating to write the review its that delicious.
I never been to the place but ive been ordering deliveries from there. Amazing customer service, they usually deliver food in about 30 min (unless u order at 12 then itl take about an hour) My favorite (besides their chicken) is their plantains, cheese empanadas and home-​made coconut ice cream. Ive ordered many times from El Rancho and they never messed up my order. The Chicken is tender, moisty and pretty well seasoned. I ordered fries this time and they came out a little dry. prefer getting double side of plantains next time.

This place is absolutely delicious! Do not be put off by it being in this strip mall or appearing to be like fast food… the quality is by far better than many restaurants I have been too… we ate two entrees and two apps and then… got two entrees and 4 empanadas to go!!! We live about 3 hrs away. I am so happy that I have this food to eat tomorrow for lunch! Next time we travel up north, we will definitely be stopping here.

Excellent place. This more tan Peruvian is latin, with plates from different latin countries such as Pupusas, Peruvian Seviche, churrasco, empanadas and papa criolla from Colombia… enough fro every taste and cravings.
We tried the Seviche and Pupusas. both excellent. My daughter got chicken milanesa, and even the pikes one got quesadilla, and in her words. «is delicioso because is so cheese and melty and the tortilla is soft».
In general, good food, great and diverse menu, and right prices.

I went here two nights in a row, that’s how good it is. I think they put something addictive in the seasonings… More precisely cumin if I’m not mistaken. And it’s cheap, to boot!
Seriously, this is some good grub. Best Peruvian chicken I’ve had, hands down. They don’t skimp on the sauces, Yucca and french fries were hot and properly cooked. Crisp outside with a pillowy, steamy inside. The rice was delicious!
One of my favorite features here aside from the food is that they have a mind blowing array of great hot sauces.
I see they have a 3 Leches cake (among other desserts) and even a 4 Leches… Which sounds dangerous. I’m scared but I should try it sometime.
They have a large selection of sodas from south of the border too.
I’m very happy this place is down the street from my house, I’ll be coming here a lot!

Reasonable, delicious, generous portions, fast service… I actually want to work my way through the whole menu.
We tried…
BEEF EMPANADA
It was divine. I’ll go so far to say as this place might have the best beef empanadas that I have tried in the area. The beef was perfectly seasoned, not greasy, I really didn’t want to share my empanada.
LOMO SALTADO
Legit. We order the mixed one with chicken, steak and shrimp. True confession: this wasn’t my favorite lomo, but it might be a close second or third. The dish was prepared with more fries, less red onions, and served with a side of rice. The rice was perfection– light, rich, and perfectly seasoned.
¼ POLLO A LA BRASA +2 SIDES
The chicken was moist, well seasoned, and served with three sauces.
Sides: black beans and rice= delicious
yucca= lightly fried… I’m a huge yucca fan/​easy sell
All this for the same price, if not less, of a fast food value meal.
… As we eating, I kept sneaking peaks at what the other patrons had ordered. (A lil greedy, whatevs.) This place is extremely reasonable, they even do holiday catering, and have a decent desert selection. I could see El Rancho being an extension of my kitchen/​cooking.

Last month, I was curious to try some Peruvian food, so I swung by and purchased some takeout from El Rancho. I ordered the ¼ pollo a la brasa, black beans and rice, and yucca fries. The food was ready within ten minutes. The chicken was moist and well-​spiced; the three provided sauces were an eclectic set that complemented the meal.
However, the most noteworthy part was the yucca fries as several other reviewers have commented on. Excellently boiled and fried, the yucca was sumptuous without being oily or heavy. My family is from a state in South India where they cook yucca/​tapioca frequently, but I have not eaten any like this. I would come back just to order those yucca fries again. Overall, good food, well priced, and a pleasant carryout experience.

El Rancho (this location — not the expansion locations) has become my golden standard.
I have been going there for years since they first opened, and I’m proud of how they have gone from a little hole in the wall to a refined, kitschy cool (in a uniquely latin american way) neighborhood hotspot. No matter what time of day I go, it is always fairly busy with local customers and a few newbies here and there.
I have taken a number of co-​workers to El Rancho who claimed that (insert other Peruvian restaurant name here) was the absolute best and all have changed their mind after one visit.
As others have noted, El Rancho has an extensive menu with a number of sides, soups and dishes that are hard to find in your standard Chicken place. Whether it’s a purely Peruvian dish like a plate of chicharron, an American adaptation like a chicken sandwich, or one of the delicious latin american desserts (nothing outsourced here), every dish is top notch to me and those who have joined me for a bite.
The clean environment and friendly service are just icing on the cake. They also have one of the most extensive beverage collections I have seen in any restaurant.
Am I a little biased because I have been going to El Rancho for so long? Maybe so… but the proof is in the pudding… or, as I prefer, the arroz con leche!
If you are in the area, I would suggest giving them a try. They recently opened a separate Latin American bakery a few doors down that I have yet to try, but it’s on my agenda for next time to be sure.