Ranchero Kitchen — Restaurant in Columbus

I ate a wonderful meal yesterday [8-12-2022] at Ranchero Kitchen, a Salvadorian restaurant at 984 Morse Rd. [just east of I-71]. That restaurant had been recommended to me several years ago by a friend; however, I am so rarely in that part of town that it had taken me quite a while to be able to actually eat there.

One of the many organizations with which I am active had scheduled a "social event" 2½ miles east of Ranchero Kitchen so I decided to take Uber to Ranchero Kitchen, to eat there, and then to walk from there -- for about forty minutes -- to my "social event."

Ranchero Kitchen evidently used to have a website but now does not have a website [in spite of the fact that Google Maps says that they have a website]. There is a Facebook page that reportedly includes "menu, prices, and restaurant reviews" but I had not been able to find any of those things on their Facebook page.

Someone, thankfully, has taken photographs of the extensive menu that is available at Ranchero Kitchen and has posted those photographs to Google Maps. I always like to be able to study a menu in advance of a visit to a restaurant.

I ordered and ate a Salvadorian Breakfast [that is "available all day"]: two eggs [served any style] with fried beans, queso fresco, fried plantain, Salvadorian sour cream, salsa ranchera, and choice of bread or tortilla. I decided to add a "chorizo entero" [a whole chorizo sausage cut in half] to my meal for an additional charge.

The tortillas had been particularly delicious [and had been quite "heavy" when compared with most tortillas that tend to be thinner and larger in diameter and not very interesting in taste]; the "chorizo entero" had been a particular treat. All of the chorizo that I had eaten until yesterday had been served as "ground meat" that had been one of the several ingredients of a taco or a burrito.

If you are looking for some delicious Salvadorian food, I strongly recommend...

I stopped into Ranchero’s for lunch as I waited to be assisted at the BMV next door. There was only one patron in the restaurant when I arrived, so I knew it would be a quick trip since they weren’t busy at all. The hostess was great, but unfortunately, my server was not. Initially, I thought it may be the language barrier but after the flat interaction of taking my order, I felt like she just didn’t want to assist me. I received my water after she took my order and that was the last time I was checked on by my server. I was in there for about 30 minutes and never even received a refill. Again, I am the only patron in the restaurant. When I knew my food was coming, I asked the hostess could I take it to-go (because I’d rather leave than be subjected to poor service). My server brought me half of my food bagged up and checked me out. I thanked the hostess for her help and let my server know that I was leaving because of the poor service I received, she responded, “okay.” In my car, I realized my chicken + cheese papusa’s were not in my bag, so I went back inside and let them know. My server brought me the rest of my food and asked, smiling for the first time, “You had chicken papusa’s?” I nodded and thanked her for bringing it to me. She should have known that since she is the one who took my order.

Chicken + cheese papusa’s 9/10 Steak taco’s 6/10 Dine-in service 1/10...

Food and service was great. Portions sizes were generous. Establishment was clean. Food ordered came fairly quickly, but by the time we ordered dessert business had picked up and it took a little more time then I would have expected to get our desserts to the table. Other reviews report a long wait for food ordered to get delivered to the table. I noticed quite a few people come in and out who had ordered pick up, and guests of five to six at a time come in and sit at tables. I think the kitchen was just working under a pretty heavy demand that they might not be adequately prepared for. But, if you're okay with relaxing and enjoying a pleasant atmosphere and conversation and drinking some interesting house made juices that are very different while you wait, then this would be a great...