Mi Ranchito Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in San Diego

I am really confused by all the good reviews. This is my second and LAST time I will try Mi Ranchito. Other than the cashier being a really nice girl, EVERYTHING about this place was sub-par. I went here 2.5 years ago because it is the closest taco/burrito shop to my house and thought it was ok, but expensive. This time, I needed to get a late dinner quickly, so decided to give it another try. It was almost 8:30pm and not busy, so I walked right up to the counter and ordered a shrimp and fish burrito with no cheese or cream sauce ("pile on the fresh salsa instead, please") and a 2 beef tacos combo. I was a little horrified that these two items were $24(!) AND they were suggesting a tip to be added at a counter-order establishment (I did not), but I was there and figured it must be worth it somehow if the prices are so much more than other places close by. I ended up waiting TWENTY MINUTES for my order, even though there was only one person waiting for food ahead of me.

I took my to go order home and opened the food... My $10.50 burrito had raw cabbage (with pieces of core) NO salsa as promised, grilled fish chunks with NO seasoning, and a few shrimp that did taste good, but there were only about 6 max. Oh, and a piece of beef CHARCOAL that I made my husband check to verify what it was. His $12(!) combo had soggy beef tacos from the juice the beef was cooked in so they disintegrated when he tried to eat them (beef tacos should be crunchy and greasy, never soggy), also had no salsa, just some not-quite-diced tomatoes (with cores), lettuce (also with cores), and entire cilantro sprigs (2" long stems) and a very small amount of white cheese. The rice was semi-crunchy, so he couldn't tell if it was undercooked or overcooked. Both the rice and beans portions were really small.

I will not be going back. Someone needs to figure out how to prep food for quality control and efficiency. I do not understand how this place is still in business based on the prices, wait time, and food quality. Other than the one nice girl behind the counter and the food being somewhat edible (we were both really hungry), this was the most unimpressive Mexican meal I've ever had while living in San Diego. AND we paid about $6 more than we would have at our usual place (Alvaro's), and that would have been delicious. I have...

I am writing this review as I am eating my carne asada burrito that I ordered to go and my first time experience with this place is not a good one. A few people were ahead of me but the line move fast and friendly. After my order the salsa bar caught my eye and they had 4 different kinds to try out. I'm a big fan of salsa so I packed all 4 salsas to try. The cashier was nice enough to personally hand me my order as it was ready. Upon arriving at home. I noticed it came with chips (which I was not expecting), so 1 star chips with orders (usually chips are only dine-in). I did notice that my burrito was on the smaller side especially for the price I paid for $7.49 +tax. I didn't mind the low quantity but hoping that QUALITY was in place. After a few bites, my first thought that this burrito was NOT good. It was mostly tortilla with a lot of super chunky pico de gallo (horrible knife skills) and probably just 2 tablespoons of carne asada (see the picture i took). As far as the salsa, the house had good flavor but the rest of them were basically on the same hot level as the MILD house salsa. None of them progressed in spicy level just stayed the same. Especially with the habanero (labeled very hot) but it was MILD and very watered down in flavor. My favorite of the salsa would have to be the house and salsa verde. Very disappointing, especially paying for $7.49+tax for basically a burrito with not much meat. Maybe the other items are a hit but for the typical go-to carne asada burrito from here, it is not. My take on this place; 1 star for the free chips for dine-in and take-out and 1 star for the...

My first experience here was not a good one. I ordered a scallop burrito 🌯 with no bacon and reg tortilla. Very friendly owner handed my bag that had some free chips and then pointed me to the excellent hot sauce selection. All great until I opened my a short drive home to find a Chipotle wheat tortilla burrito filled with bacon (almost what would be considered extra) ruining what could have been an excellent scallop burrito. Yes, I love bacon. No, I do not think bacon belongs on quality scallops. I have found it is used to hide sub par scallops. So in the trash that one went.

Fast forward about a year later when I decide to give this place (that I happen to love across the freeway from) another go based on the recent positive reviews. To keep it simple, I went with the shrimp 🦐 burrito and was sure to ask for the regular tortilla. The results: Fantastic! Looking forward to trying the fish and shrimp combo, the lobster (probably slipper lobster?) and eventually the surf and turf which all receive high marks. Thank you mi ranchito for a new go to restaurant for mariscos Mexican. Just don't forget to get a regular flour tortilla! Not a fan of the brown Chipotle type and I think others should know what to expect if you don't ask for this substitution. 5 stars...