Rancho Hacienda Real — Restaurant in Albany

Our party of 3 went here for late lunch, so approx. 2pm ish on a Saturday. I believe they just opened last week and usually I will not visit a newly opened restaurant but we were spending the day with my mother-in-law and I knew she really wanted to go there. We were greeted nicely at the entrance (which is on what I would consider the side of the building) and seated promptly. The booth was roomy, and the table was free to be adjusted if needed. The room was pretty full, and because of that, it was pretty loud. I felt as if the space trapped the noise, making it a bit distracting. One of the reasons for only 3 stars for the atmosphere. The other would be the art. It seemed not quite finished, perhaps? The doors to the entrance, office, and restrooms were quite nice, so yeah, the decor felt lacking in comparison. There was a second dining area that was also filled but seemed less loud and more spacious. I didn't know this until I went looking for the restroom. The restroom was clean and nicely decorated. There was quite a lot of staff on duty as I would expect of a new business. I thought this would bode well for them. It did not. There was a lot of commotion around moving tables back into position after a party of about 8 left. Then again, to reposition them for a party of 6. During this ruckus, our server began to take our food order but somehow ended up helping with tables even though there was ample staff. He did come back for our orders right after, so it wasn't a long interruption, but an unnecessary interruption nonetheless. We had to ask for another basket of chips. It wasn't noticed and offered. When I asked, I also asked for more beans. We never got those. I asked for some napkins as we each only had the one that wrapped our utensil setting. We were given a few more after the second time I asked. They also forgot the lemon in my husbands iced tea. Only 3 stars were given for service. I expect more. Now let's talk food. It was tasty. Very good. Everyone was pleased with their meals. Pictures included. My husband ordered Camarones a la Diabla. It looked delicious, had good heat, and was a generous portion. He will have enough leftover for a second meal. Our mom had a beef taco salad. I noticed it was not served in a deep fried crispy shell, which some may miss, and some won't. She said she enjoyed it. I ordered shrimp and steak fajitas. I shared with my party, and we all agreed the steak and shrimp were delicious and cooked beautifully. Our main entrées were worth 5 stars. A star was lost because I had a pineapple mojito that did not have the flavor of pineapple. I honestly thought maybe I was not heard and asked for some pineapple to add to it. This did not help. I know a mojito has mint, but there was so much it took over the drink, and it was not going to taste like anything other than mint. Also, contributing to the loss of a star, the first basket of chips we were brought was not warmed and all bits and pieces. It made scooping beans, salsa, and their yummy slaw/pico concoction nearly impossible. Really would have like more of the slaw/pico stuff. 😒 The second basket was better, but as I mentioned, they forgot to bring us more of the beans and pico. So, are these 2 things worth a whole star? Yes. When a drink costs nearly as much as an entrée absolutely. Speaking of cost, yes, the prices seem slightly higher than other like restaurants in Albany, but the portions were better in quality and size. I will go back after the dust settles and see if things change/improve, but for now, they are 3.5...

As a Latino that has tasted different Mexican regional cuisines at the source and is a VERY harsh critic when it comes to Mexican restaurants, this is the best non-taqueria Mexican restaurant in the area and it’s not even close. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only place around here that even holds a candle to restaurants in LA.

The food: Over a few visits we’ve had chicken and steak fajitas, enchiladas, and two different signature items (a steak/chicken/shrimp combo and a pork in tomatillo sauce dish with carne asada).

A few things stand out: The quality of the meats is very good. For example, the carne asada has some marbling to it and the shrimp isn’t super tiny. Their technique is solid. The ultimate test for this is whether you can cook flavorful and juicy chicken. While most Mexican restaurants around here overcook their chicken like no one’s business rancho hacienda has nailed the chicken every time. Super tender and juicy even in fajitas where it’s easy to overdo it. Proper marination. This makes a huge difference. Fresh vegetables. I have no idea what the review talking about frozen vegetables is talking about. The veggies tasted crisp and fresh. The tortillas are EXCELLENT. Both flour and corn. I’m usually exclusive to corn tortillas but the flour ones here are supple with a slight crisp and incredible flavor The portion sizes are massive. Sure, it’s not cheap. But you absolutely get your money’s worth. If anything that’s my only negative feedback.

I haven’t tried every dish of course. And I suspect highly technical dishes like mole might not be up to par. But I’ll update my review if that changes in the future.

Overall,...

What truly sets Rancho Hacienda Real apart from other Mexican restaurants in the area are their signature platters & unique seafood offerings such as octupus shrimp soup and seafood tostadas, which are not only massive, but could be shared. My personal favorite features a mouthwatering combination of seafood: shrimp & octopus a la Diablo, grilled shrimp (butterflied to perfection), and shrimp sautéed with mushrooms. At around $33, it's a steal, especially considering that the cost of octopus alone would make it difficult to replicate at home. My other favorite is the crispy fish tacos which are the best in town. Tostada Mixta also is great with an incredible amount of seafood.

It’s not just the food that impresses—it's the service. From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like family. The genuine gratitude, welcoming service you receive here is unmatched, particularly for a small community like Albany. I haven’t experienced this level of hospitality anywhere else. Simply put, Rancho Hacienda Real delivers not just on flavor, but on an exceptional dining experience that leaves you feeling right at home. To top it all off every member of their family works there from the owners to their children and other relatives. Truly a family restaurant...