I think this is the biggest restaurant I have ever been in. It was super crowded but we got sat right away and chips were basically at our table before we even sat down. The bob armstrong queso was amazing as well as the shrimp fajitas. The knockout martini is also delicious but will really knock you out so I recommend splitting it with someone. Great dining experience in Austin.

Enjoyed an alfresco lunch at Matt’s. Sat beside the Koi pond and occasionally had to duck the black crow flyovers. Service was excellent and food didn’t disappoint. Margaritas on the rocks were OK but a bit light on the tequila. Highly recommend the grilled old fashioned tacos (fajita beef) served with chopped cilantro, onion, jalapeños with sides of guacamole and el charro beans. A very historic stop in Austin and busy during weekday lunch!

+5

Matt's is and always has been the BEST Tex-Mex anywhere. We love any excuse to visit and make sure to stop in whenever we are in Austin. Start your visit off right by ordering "The Bob" right away - OMG so delicious. Everything on the menu is good, too. I had brisket enchiladas with Chipotle sauce on one and sour cream on the other and both were amazing. I love their green chicken enchiladas, too, and the flautas are fantastic as well. The service is always fast and friendly, too. Matt's never disappoints!

This place has a storied past, and the pedigree is evident everywhere. Good Tex-Mex and great service. Our server was outstanding and the manager even stopped by to check in on us. The salsa alone made my day. And that was just the start.

Second time I'm reviewing this place, this was the second review I've ever done, lemme specify a little more. The vibrant decor and lively ambiance perfectly capture the essence of Tex-Mex culture. Great! The food is simply outstanding. The ingredients are fresh, and the portions of chips are perfect, ensuring that every bite is satisfying. The service is top notch, with extremely friendly and attentive staff who go above and beyond. Overall, perfect combination of delicious food, excellent service, and a delightful atmosphere. Highly recommended!

+1

Wow! Great Tex-Mex restaurant, highly, HIGHLY recommended! The food, service and atmosphere are all top-notch. The service was fantastic from the moment we walked in. We were seated really fast and the table service was amazing & attentive despite the restaurant being super busy. The food was absolutely fantastic, with generous portions, and great chips & salsa. The restaurant is really big, and atmosphere and decor are fun. The parking lot is clean, easily accessible and well lit. Highly recommended!!

+3

Glad I went with a local friend, as the charred serrano peppers were not on the menu, but were delicious! Everything was delicious. The side of pinto beans being more like a soup than a paste was such a nice change from what I'm used to (I was visiting Texas). If I lived in town, I'd be visiting often.

Great place to have some full-flavour Tex-Mex food in a cool setting with a nice buzzing atmosphere. Food was great. Has the Asadero, Al Pastor and Fish Tacos. All delicious. Definitely with a visit when in Austin. - Value for money? Yes - Worth a detour? Yes - Best for (occasion)? Tex-Mex with good vibe - Would I go back? Yes

My family brought me here while visiting Austin. The food was really good. The atmosphere was great and the service was also great. We didn't have to wait long to be seated.

+1

We dined-in on a Sunday morning. They don't let you reserve a table ahead but it was a quick 10 min wait. The server was very sweet and responsive. Food was fresh and high quality. They have clearly marked Vegetarian options but they don't have a lot of options. Vegetable Chilli Relleno could have been better (I had high hopes). It was sweetish rather than savoy and was more cheesy than it should have been. Burnt orange margarita was sweeter than expected and quite diluted alcohol wise. Great fajitas and burritos though.

It's an Austin institution. Is it the absolute best tex Mex in the city? Probably not. Is it worth waiting an hour, eh, probably not. Is it really solid and reliable and part of Austin tradition? Absolutely. I love the brisket taquitos, personallt.

I have been eating at Matt's for a long time and it has lived up to its reputation as one of the best places to get a good ol' fashioned Tex-Mex meal. Their fajitas are to die for but what I am coming here to write about is not something that a lot of people order often. The Blackened Snapper and the Ribeye Taco. These things are often overlooked but I believe them to be some of the best dishes that this place offers. Also, their chips and salsa is wildly underrated. It is spicy, and the chips are fresh. The margs to me are a tad bit sour but that is a personal preference and also allows me to just do a knockout which is perfect for my taste. Not that this place needs any more credit than it already has it just deserves to be said somewhere.

Our entire experience from walking in to walking out was top notch! Selena our server was fantastic. Made great recommendations, which were all fantastic. Food was screaming hot and delicious. Everything in our meal was made as expected.

The Bob Armstrong Dip is queso but at another level. Amp that up and get Spicy Bob. Enchaladas, tacos and flautas are all great.The grilled quail is finished in a personal cast iron skillet. The tortilla soup is loaded with chicken and not too spicy. No wonder Matt's has been a texmex staple in Austin for decades.

The food was great, and large portions. It is very roomy for large parties.

They have a fantastic vegan bowl here. It absolutely surprised me! It’s refreshing and tasty. I don’t feel weighed down after I eat it. I don’t feel left out of amazing food when I go with my family! The kids chicken tenders were crazy! They look like solid quality. I expected something frozen and microwaved. Every omnivore loves this place! I have yet to meet one that doesn’t.

Delicious! The carne asada tacos with the grilled cheese were amazing.

We were visiting Austin, TX for business and pleasure and were recommended to this restaurant by former residents of Austin that were traveling back for a routine visit. I’m very picky when it comes to margaritas and Mexican food. A margarita needs to be smooth and not too tart or acidic with mixers. Their skinny margarita was just that… fresh and smooth!! The food was FANTASTIC, and the service was friendly and attentive! This is a “must dine” in DT Austin!!

We had the best Tex-Mex our last evening in Austin. I had Matt’s special Green chili chicken enchiladas rice beans and a beef taco. The Mrs. had the Carne Guisada it was all so good. The wait wasn’t bad at all considering it was Father’s Day. I will be back. Thank you Matt’s well be back.

Excellent food, drinks, and service. We look forward to eating here whenever we’re in Austin. Highly recommended!

Great place to bring the family for dinner or the friends for drinks. There's a huge indoor seating and huge outdoor patio. Lunch specials are great and you can tell they're made by hand with plenty of love.

Nothing short of amazing! The staff is so quick, helpful, and the food came faster than expected. The wait for two people was manageable especially since they are now on open table. Will continue coming back.

I had never had the official “Tex-Mex” cuisine. It was an amazing first experience. The Quail appetizer comes on a sizzling cast iron pan. Charming. The Chile Rellano with cream sauce is beautifully complex in flavor. Salsa is fantastic, with medium heat. Overall, I think they would deliver on any Entree! There is at least a 1/2 acre of free parking!

The food was great. We had the green enchiladas with chicken sour cream, and queso.

This place is crazy busy but crazy good. We had to wait about 45 minutes before being seated. And it was way too loud inside but by the time we got seated was toward the end of their service and the noise had started to wind down. We sat in their main patio outside area which was lovely and the service and food were great as well. We all loved everything we ordered. Don’t forget to get a good margarita!

An Austin staple - great food in a massive restaurant. Everyone is having fun. Food is classic Austin Tex-Mex but great quality. Come for the food but stay for the margs. Matt’s Knock Out margarita is a blend between marg and martini - absolutely excellent and there is a reason for the name. Worth the wait which is usual but a must do for Mexican in Austin!!

I came to Matt’s El Rancho for lunch on a Monday. I was seated immediately and within minutes I was served a hot plate of delicious food. I saw they had a sign saying they were celebrating 71 years of being in business. After dining with them I’m not surprised that they’re still a beloved establishment adored by many. I ordered the beef fajita lunch plate. The portion size was quite generous and came with two flour tortillas. The beef was tender, juicy, and there was way more than you could hope to stuff in two tortillas alone. Everything on the plate was tasty. The tortilla chips were fresh, hot, and quite substantial. They were nothing like those cheap tortilla chips that disintegrate the second you try to scoop something. The salsa was a great consistency and had a nice level of spice. Overall I was satisfied with my visit to Matt’s El Rancho and could see myself coming back any time I’m in the mood for Tex Mex. In my opinion they are the gold standard of Tex Mex restaurants.

A very old eating institution in Austin. I used to go to the one in Dallas. This one is always packed but everything they do is great. We had a 40 min wait but it went by fast with drinks. We were seated outside. Nice patio You HAVE to get The Bob. It’s just as yummy here as in Dallas. I didn’t get a picture of The Bob as it was so good we devoured it fast Worth a try and wait for sure.

+2

Wow, how do I even describe this magical establishment? We came with with a HUGE wait (because it’s so popular). We were seated immediately, were served drinks in 6 minutes and food in 7 minutes. Our server, MK, was phenomenal. Very sweet, very fun. You can’t come to a better place in Austin.

Out if town for a wedding from New Jersey! Perfect cosmo cocktail - made w fresh lime and Cointreau! Great prices, Good service- food came out fast and was hot! Had the fresh guac, chicken and cheese enchiladas. Brenda our server was the best! Sat on outdoor patio in the sun! Nice breeze! Enjoyed this place on our mini vaca!

We saw the long line and decide to check it out. It was good but I move had better but it’s good. Lots of people only complaint is if you have a full size car or truck good luck with parking lol

Somewhat busy most Sundays, which is the only time I can ever go. I live about an hour away, Johnny up front is the man. Nothing like being introduced with a handshake and kind words. Chris was a fantastic concierge during our time here. The food is always great, the service is always top notch. There's many reasons why Matt's El rancho is highly rated.

Dhanish Patel

I have lived here for 10+ years and had never been, it’s literally the best Tex-Mex spot in Texas. Great taste, consistent (I hope), fresh ingredients and nice portions. The margaritas were perfect. Fun atmosphere. Also good options for vegetarian like my Indian mom. Austin TX staple!

Dez

The food was AMAZING and the service was great. Everything came out hot, flavorful, and exactly what we were hoping for. Our server was attentive, friendly, and did a great job taking care of us the whole night. The only hiccup was seating. We had requested outdoor seating but were sat indoors. That one is honestly on us too. We didn’t say anything right away because I didn’t realize my sister had requested outdoor seating until after we were already seated. When I did ask, they let us know it would be about a 30 minute wait to move outside, which we understood and decided to stay put. Drinks were solid. My Coke Zero tasted good, but my sister mentioned her regular Coke tasted a little flat. My other family has alcohol drinks & they said it was great. Overall, the food and service absolutely made up for the small things. Still a great experience and we would definitely come back.

Francisco Anchondo

Excellent experience, HUGE restaurant, plenty of parking, very little wait. Special shootout to Jonathan in expo for his tremendous hard work! 😉👍🏼👍🏼HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

+4

Joseph Pratt

Fantastic place to get Tex-Mex. The brisket nachos were incredible but the quesadilla was by far the single greatest quesadilla I have ever had. Absolutely phenomenal. I have heard great things about Bob's Queso, but I didn't get to try it. Next time for sure (and you can bet there will be a next time even though I live across the country.

Charlotte

Matt’s is quintessential Tex-Mex! The Knockout Martini is a must-try, and starting with the Bob (queso) sets the perfect tone for the meal. The shrimp and steak fajitas are outstanding—flavorful, tender, and absolutely delicious. A true Austin staple that never disappoints! Please note that Matt’s can get quite busy during peak hours, but the service moves quickly. The tables are set close together, and the lively atmosphere can get loud—so sip your drink, soak it all in, and enjoy the experience!

Paulina Tran

This place is awesome. I get the hype and the wait. The food is delicious along with the drinks!! I’ve enjoyed every dish I’ve had there.

Adam Cohen

Was a little drunk so the stuffed quail was the only thing I took a picture of but wow. This place really is worth the hype. Not a fan of Tex mex at all, but Matt’s is truly a step above. The quail was perfectly cooked and flavorful. The Asadero Tacos are incredible, and the flautas were perfect but make sure you can eat them there, not very good leftover. The knockout martini is a must have, it was like 4 margarita martinis in one and comes out in the shaker itself. So good. Didn’t try the queso because I’m an idiot but I’ve heard that it’s the bomb. Can’t wait to be back, always booming.

Joseph Fuller

Being from Colorado I’ve experienced many variations of Mexican food. Most of it is very good or just plain excellent. Yet nothing compares to Matt’s El Rancho in beautiful downtown Austin Texas. The food is definitely beyond compare. We had Asadero tacos and Chili Rellenos. The best we’ve ever experienced. I’m a tea toddler but my wife and son loved the Margaritas. I was skeptical but Matt’s is the best Mexican restaurant in the entire world.

Shahram Mehraban

Came here for a quick lunch after a business meeting. Didn’t expect much from a Tex mex restaurant called Matt’s and I was impressed. Service was friendly and fast. Inside is very cozy and warm. They have patio seating in the back. Chips and salsa hit the spot. Waitress recommended the Asadero tacos and boy am I ever glad I went with it. It was so tender and flavorful that I didn’t add the fixings that came with the food. $20 for two tacos which is pricey but well worth it.

darilyn clewies

I dined in Friday evening 10/24 about 730pm the light was very intimidating, but it moved really fast. It seems crazy and chaotic, but it’s worth the weight. We got margaritas from the bar as we waited for our table. We got seated inside in the back. It was very loud so we asked for a table on the patio, which I would recommend we ate right by the pond. The food was delicious. The roasted garlic and jalapeños to die for service was greatthat chips and salsa. Amazing if you like spice every time I go to Austin, I will try to make this place. It was delicious.

Mike Darley

What an amazing place. Amazing margaritas and amazing Tex Mex rounded off with fast, friendly service. Get a margarita (or two) while waiting for your table. Dip your chips in the B.O.B. Armstrong all while enjoying a great night at an Austin institution.

+1

Sophia Ford

This place is a must in Austin! The bob Armstrong dip and really anything on the menu is amazing 🤩 they get you seated quick for the amount of customers that go there. The parking lot is huge, but because so many people go there, it can sometimes be a bit hard to find a spot, but it can be done!

Dra. Esmeldy Rosario

Matts El Rancho is always a great choice! It can get crowded, but the wait is absolutely worth it. The service is excellent and the food is consistently delicious. A must-visit if you’re looking for authentic flavors and a lively atmosphere.

Troy Ham

Loved the Tex-Mex! The Tex-Mex was excellent. I had the tacos Al Capone with queso, and the fresh iced tea was a perfect complement. The restaurant felt authentic, and the service was great.

+6

Linda Brown

Great time, excellent food, exceptional service from entire staff; from bussing service to waiter - Esmeralda Cruz so personable, knowledgeable about food and drink choices! One of the most personable servers in past 5 years! First time here, definitely NOT the last when good service and atmosphere - accompanied by GREAT food and drink - BRAVO Matt's!!!

+1

Lesifer

I had a relaxing lunch on the patio. Liz C was my server and not only was she super nice, but very knowledgeable about the menu. The small Bob Armstrong was the perfect size for me to enjoy with my chips and salsa. The salsa is on the spicy side if you’re not a fan of heat. The extra cheese and guacamole was also good on my brisket tacos. The sunset margarita was refreshing and not overly sweet. I would recommend this spot for good Tex-Mex while in Austin.

+1

Andy Chiang

Fun and friendly environment that is welcoming. Has a large parking lot that is surprisingly very full. They’re known for their brunch options and this place does not disappoint. They do have large portions as well, so come here with an empty stomach. There’s plenty of seating but reservations are highly recommended. The restaurant is large to accommodate large groups as well. Food is tasty and drinks are good too, even their margaritas are great for brunch. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area!

+12

This is a tough one because this place is an Austin Institution and you can't knock 70 years of success. That being said..... Food - 4 Stars.....good, but nothing exceptional; Service - 3 Stars......Food was really slow coming out, never checked back for water refills or other drinks. Server was OK but not overly friendly; Parking - 2.5 Stars......Large lot but still difficult to find a Parking spot. Would definitely eat there again, but only if I was in the neighborhood. Not a place I would drive an hour to go to.

A must if you're visiting Austin and want to taste some authentic Tex-Mex food. The wait can be long on weekend evening's (30min+) so plan accordingly (no reservations accepted). Food is very typical, traditional Tex-Mex home/family cooking all the way since 1952. The Margaritas are good but honestly a bit weak for the price ($14) compared to other restaurants around. Staff is friendly and quick to respond.

We go to Matt’s for all occasions; birthdays, celebratory dinners, post and pre UT football games, random dinners, etc. the margaritas are so good I will randomly crave them. The patio is great, the dining rooms are great, the service and the food is always good. Just an absolutely consistent restaurant. *get the Bob Armstrong*

+6

It has been over 40 years since I last visited this iconic Austin "must" visit. I was most pleased with the food, but I ordered beer battered shrimp. Any other TexMex would not have even had it on the menu. It was very good.

This is your typical Austin Texmex. I can't imagine anyone having an overall bad experience with this place. Servers are friendly. Drinks come out quick. Food is cheesy and hot. Lots and lots of free chips and salsa, and their loaded queso is awesome. I gave it 4 stars because the drinks feel very weak here. Margarita is pretty....boring...felt the premade mix isn't that good. I guess its made for the house I was told, but it still isn't very good. This place is PACKED so plan to wait and especially on Saturday if it is a game day. Valet is available which is always a welcomed offering. I'll definitely return for a combo plate and queso and a beer! Cool atmosphere outside on patio.

Texas I know now has some really good Tex-Mex. This place opens at 11 and we were the first people there, but a line immediately formed right behind us. It was like a portal of some kind dropped everyone there at once. 😃 When we got to eat I could see why a line had started to form so early. The food was all good and you could watch the cooks, doing their thing to perfection. The kitchen has a big glass window, for all to see. My thought was, it's made fresh and they have nothing to hide. 😉 Good portions , clean and friendly staff. I would eat here again.

+6

The atmosphere was great, and our waiter was amazing. My husband ordered the fajitas and I got the enchilada dinner it was good but not amazing. The meat was tender but the flavor was just ok. I think we are just spoiled to the fajitas at Lupe Tortillas. The hot sauce was way too hot, and I feel like we can handle some pretty hot stuff but , we could not even eat theirs. All in all, I would not, not go back but, I would rather eat somewhere else.

+3

The place for TexMex in Austin I have been going to Matt's for many years, they have excellent food. It's my go to place for their brisket tacos. They are prepared just right with a wonderful slightly smokey flavor. The meat is juicy and flavorful, the accompanying in house tortillas are excellent. I have to admit they are a bit smaller than in the past, but remain of excellent quality. I also enjoy their chips and salsa. The salsa has a nice home grown flavor, the tomato is sweet and the salsa isn't too hot allowing the flavors to come through. Some salsas have too much of a vinegar or preservative flavor, not so here. The chips are good too, nice and large, not a pile of crumbles. I didn't have it this time around but their fajitas are also top notch. To top it off the restaurant is a great venue. It has a quaint outdoors backyard area with ample tree coverage and nice fountain. Kids love the Koi in the fountain and birds that pickup food scraps from the tables. The backyard is enclosed by a wall giving the setting a nice sense of privacy. They have a bar inside and out making it easy to get a drink. All in all just a great dining experience.

Food was delicious! It also came out pretty fast for being so busy. The service on the other hand wasn’t the best. We were seated and no one came by our table for 20 minutes. The Bob Armstrong is a must try. Seriously amazing. Everyone enjoyed their food, and drinks.

+2

Came here on a busy sunday brunch. We were promptly seated for a group of 8. The servers were kind and friendly. They were quick to get us what we needed and we never felt rushed. The inside was massive but didn’t feel overwhellming. There was ample space for multiple large groups of people. The food was above average. I wouldnt say it was in my top 5 of Mexican-American food, but overall it was good. If you have a large party, looking for quick seating and enjoy good quality Mexican food, this place is a good option.

No reservation, but I got a table right away around 5 on Saturday. The free chips were awesome, but the salsa? Way too spicy! I like spicy food, but this was insane. The fajitas were great, though I ordered a half pound and expected more. It was normal sized, maybe even smaller. The tortillas were bland – no corn flavor at all. Service was fast, tip's 18% minimum, and parking's easy.

+6

Matt’s El Rancho has a vibrant, lively atmosphere and is often bustling with guests. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared for a wait during peak hours. Keep in mind they’ll only seat your party once everyone has arrived. The food is good—I’d rate it a 7/10—but it’s not my favorite Tex-Mex spot in town. I’d go back if I were in the area, but I probably wouldn’t make a special trip.

Came to the restaurant on a busy Friday night. Parking was a little crazy. Restaurant gives the impression that only valet parking is available but you can self park if you wish. We were told it would be hour wait when we arrived after 6pm, but only waited for about 20 minutes before we were seated. This is a great Tex Mex restaurant. Excellent service and great food. Salsa is a tad spicy and delicious. Food came out quickly even on a very busy night. The only “complaint” I have is the noise level in the restaurant. Due to the high ceilings, all the sounds echo which made it difficult to have conversations at dinner table.

This restaurant has a vibrant atmosphere that generally requires a wait time of about 10 to 15 minutes, which I find to be quite reasonable considering the overall experience. The highlight of dining here is the theatrical presentation of the food; it arrives sizzling at your table, creating an exciting sensory experience. However, the ambiance does have its drawbacks. The noise level can be quite high due to the large number of patrons, making it a bit challenging to hold a conversation. Additionally, the tables are somewhat cramped, which can feel a bit uncomfortable, especially during busy hours. Despite these minor inconveniences, I would wholeheartedly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys a lively dining experience and doesn't mind a little hustle and bustle.

Matt's El Rancho still offers top notch Tex-Mex food in a classic atmosphere, but it is way overpriced by any reasonable measure. $20 for a taco, a couple of enchiladas and beans is unconscionable imvso, never mind $12.50 for a "house margarita" (not a top shelf). El Rancho has unequivocally turned it's back on the cultural tradition of delicious, affordable Tex-Mex food for Austinites of all income levels...Matt Senior must be rolling over in his grave! The prices on today's menu are just plain greedy any way you look at it! Matt's "world famous asadero tacos" were tasty, and prepared with flavorful medium-rare beef tenderloin tips, but there was a bit too much sauteed onions and peppers in the tacos for my taste. Matt's remains an icon of Tex-Mex food in Austin, just don't come looking for cheap eats!

Great atmosphere and tasty food. The beef enchiladas were delicious and came out fast. The salsa is tasty but definitely leans on the spicier side! The outdoor seating is a wonderful sanctuary from the noise of the city. A must-visit in Austin.

Kay E. Garza

The service was great and had a very nice atmosphere. The parking lot was packed but was able to get seated quickly. If you’re looking for Tex Mex then this is a perfect place to try. The margaritas were on the expensive side so did not try but the cheese enchiladas were tasty and warm.

Pam Hannagan Schumacher

A table for 2 was instantly available even on a busy Saturday evening. Food was fine. We hadn't eaten at Matt's for probably 20 years, and I'm glad we went back! Classic South Austin Tex-Mex.

Beef items all on point! Chicken was not worth it- overseasoned on one entree and bland on another. Queso was too hyped up. Beans were bland. Drinks Definitely overpriced for what we received. Definitely too loud inside, wish we asked for the patio. We are from Houston, prefer Lupe over this for sure!

I've been here twice now. The first time was okay, a bit underwhelming. Got the enchiladas which were dry and mostly flavourless. The second time I got their burritos, which were basically just slightly larger enchiladas. The second time was better and had more flavour, but it was by no measure anything particularly great, and the fajita meat was very over-salted. It's decent Texas Mexican food, but really just average at best. Definitely an overrated joint. I really do love their chips though, almost worth going just for those.

Decent place with bad food. However the chips, salsa and queso were fire. The main course is blah. The drinks are very strong and Excellent. Try the burnt orange margarita if wanna get drunk. Tres leches was alright, Chuy's is better.

+2

The food was meh, very under seasoned as if they didn't use any salt whatsoever. I heard it was amazing back in the day, but I unfortunately missed that boat. The patio was lovely and the staff were ontop of refills which was appreciated.

This restaurant has amazing reviews and amazing seating outside the staff is friendly and the service is fast and weekend. The food was OK. We did not enjoy it as much as we thought we would because mostly everything was bland. Contrary to Mexican cuisine. The chicken had less to no flavors. It could’ve been much much better & margaritas was OK. The only thing good was chips and salsa and salsa was pretty good. It can be pretty busy and it’s hard to get a parking spot.

+6

We had multiple people rave to us about how amazing Matt’s food is. Even checked Reddit to see what the buzz was about, but didn't find much. Right off the bat, the smell walking up to the front door was incredible it really got us hyped! We started with chips and queso. Unfortunately, it tasted like melted American cheese off a microwave. Definitely not a strong start. They don’t offer horchata, which isn’t a dealbreaker, but a little surprising for a Tex-Mex spot.My wife got enchiladas and I ordered the flautas. The flautas were soggy definitely not crispy like they should be. Honestly, they felt more like enchiladas than anything else. We really wanted to like this place, especially with all the hype, but it just didn’t deliver. Not sure what we missed, but sadly, we left underwhelmed.

I have a lot of mixed thoughts about our dinner experience. First of all, we showed up on a Saturday night at 7:30pm after a UT win against K State. The wait was 2.5 hours (I guess to be expected) so we were ready to split, but then we were pressured to experience the endeavor. So, we hung around and had a few drinks while waiting. Luckily the drinks kicked in before we were seated, so the wait became more tolerable. The atmosphere was fun and lively, and the drinks were ok. It was super loud and packed. We sat down for a table of 9 after about 1.5hrs. The wait staff did a great job of accommodating our party and all of our various orders. I was disappointed that there was not a Mole sauce option at all. My chicken enchilada meal was just ok - very run of the mill. I tried a bite from several other plates, and it was the same. The brisket nachos were the best thing that I tried. The guacamole and queso were just passable. However, the salsa was great especially considering it was one of the more spicy salsas that I have had when served to the general public...risky. The Knock-Out drink was tasty and necessary to enjoy the experience. Basically, it was too loud, too crowded, and the food was just ok and not worth the time or expense. I don't think that the restaurant did anything wrong, but it was not worth the price of admission. I am willing to try it again, but not after a UT win, and not on a weekend night.

+4

The food is ok. The location is perfect. The drinks were great. The Mezcal Margherita was VERY likeable! I think the food is more for American customers. I don't feel Latinos would be as impressed.

I almost walked out after the service I experienced at the host stand. The woman there didn’t make any effort of being friendly or hospitable and instead just stared at me as if I was bothering her by patiently waiting to be greeted. After I asked if there was a wait, I was told it’d be 25 minutes. No big deal, but I was so turned off by the rudeness of the hostess that I debated leaving. Luckily I stuck around, and once I was sat at my table the whole night turned around. Our server was incredible! I believe it was Chris (he’d been working there for 6 years) and I’ll say he was the best server we’ve had in months, huge props to him! The food and atmosphere were great as well and I’ll certainly be back for that! Bob Armstrong dip and enchiladas for the win. Just a note to the management that I almost left due to the host stand. Fix that and keep the incredible servers like Chris and cooks, expeditors and food runners, and you’re good to go!

Matt’s is as popular as ever, if not more so, but I feel the food quality is gone down quite a lot. It was always more than adequate but I’d grade “just meh” now. I had the grilled veg chile relleno, which oddly enough only had traces of chile on the plate, and a house frozen margarita. The margarita was the weakest one I’ve ever had and indistinguishable from water with ice.

Matt’s El Rancho has always been a staple of Austin - though I never know why. It’s always packed (to be fair there are tons of tables and parking), and the atmosphere is loud. I and my friend both ordered different enchiladas and sadly, they were so flavorless and bland. Same with the beans and rice. Even the chips were bland. I have a friend who swears by the beef quesadilla and queso, so maybe that’s maybe what you want to get. Mediocre at best.

Read the reviews and from what was said assumed this place would be the spot for some great fajitas. Not what was expected. Ordered the queso with meat which was good. Then ordered the steak and chicken fajitas. The chicken was smothered in onions and bell peppers . That was all the flavor the chicken had it was under seasoned badly. The steak was seasoned but not tasty at all. The charro beans had no flavor and the refried beans were just as bland. Rice was ok.. tortillas were good. I'm from Houston and I'm Mexican/American and this is not for people that know what good Mexican food taste like.. prices are high as well for the food .... sorry Matt's we will not be returning....

Will not seat you until everyone arrives. Tables are too close to each other. Very difficult for someone with a walker. No Happy Hour even though their Google website advertises one. Lukewarm water served in small glasses with no ice!! Why?? Had to request ice which was brought in another glass. You are eating hot sauce and chips and reach for your lukewarm water to cool down your mouth?? Took several minutes to get straws. We had a large party and separate checks were not available. The food was warm, not hot. Atmosphere was very loud. It was difficult to hear and talk across the table. Very pricey. We were celebrating a birthday and they didn't even offer a free dessert for the birthday girl! Not even a $1 sherbert. Now that is cheap abd not customer appreciation! In small print at the bottom of menu, it says to limit your table time to two hours. Our group will NOT be returning.

The appetizers were very solid, the Spicy Bob started off great. Quail was also very well spiced and fall off the bone. But then that’s where it all took a turn. Please, whatever you do, DO NOT get the brisket tacos. Was the worst soggy unseasoned brisket of my life, truly ruined my dining experience. The quesadillas were a much better move and I wish I had invented a Time Machine and gotten them instead.

I've been a big fan of Matt's since moving to Texas in 2021. However, the quality of the food has decreased significantly. You'll never get anything prepared the same way twice and it never tastes the same. I've also been very unimpressed with the service my last few visits. I understand it's a busy place and they need to flip tables. It's even written on their menu that they "request you limit your dining experience to two hours". But on my last few visits, I'm not 20 minutes into my meal before they're asking about boxes and bringing the check. They don't even ask if you want anything else before they present you with the check. Overall, it's become a terribly overpriced place with horrible customer service.

I had such high hopes for this place, and I was completely let down. The salsa was too spicy and liquidy. The chips were either way too hard or just stale. The nachos were not even nachos since they had zero flavor, and it looked like a toddler made it. The tacos were extremely bland, and the only flavor I got was from the taco shells. All in all, the food was basic, bland, and underwhelming. Also, the waitress was never around. She only checked up on us once, and that was for a refill when they brought over the food. We had to flag her down for the cheque, and that was after waiting 10+ minutes just awkwardly sitting around since we ate everything. Once she came and gave it to us, she just left even after I had my card already out. It took another 15 minutes for her to actually come back and take it. At this point, I was just planning on leaving the cash on the table and just leaving. I don't think I will ever come back to this place again, even if a friend says that they will pay for my dinner.

Victoria Kogan

Great food but not customer-centric. My sister and I were looking forward to a long overdue catch-up over dinner. We chose Matt's El Rancho as it seemed like a good middle ground, with me coming from North Austin and her from the south. Unfortunately, our experience was far from ideal. From the moment I arrived, things felt off. I walked in first, but my sister, who was on the property, had to finish a work call. Despite explaining this, the hostess wouldn't seat me until our "entire party" was present. This policy felt rigid and unwelcoming, especially since I was ready to order drinks and queso. In fact, I even tried to get a drink at the bar, but it was so crowded I couldn't get close enough to catch a bartender's attention. This put a damper on the start of our meal and honestly made me feel like an inconvenience. Once we were finally seated, the issues continued. We were informed that separate checks weren't an option, which felt inflexible. We also had to ask for water, which is something I feel should be standard, especially with spicy salsa. Otherwise our server was nice. The atmosphere was also a huge drawback for us. The dining room was so loud and crowded that we really struggled to hear each other. We hadn't seen each other in a long time and had a lot to catch up on, so this was incredibly disappointing. On a positive note, the food was delicious. My blackened salmon was tasty, though at $27, I felt the portion was quite small for the price. The quality of the food was the only saving grace of our visit. Overall, the entire experience felt less about customer satisfaction and more about strict policies. It gave me the impression that they were doing me a favor by letting me dine there. While the food was good, the lack of customer-centric service and the unfriendly atmosphere means I won't be returning. There are plenty of other options in Austin with a more welcoming and accommodating environment.

I literally have no idea why this place is so popular. I ordered a quesadilla with chicken added so it came out around $18. It was so blah. Very bland. It was lukewarm and too hard around the edges when I got it. Couldnt eat the edges. Not a lot of filling in it. Coukd have went to Chillis for a much better and cheaper one. My boyfriend was missing stuff he ordered and waited for them to bring it. It took long time and his food was cold (wanted what was missing to go with what he had) by the time he got it. That place is a joke. One of the worst ones Ive been to in a long time.

I grew up going here with my family and was so excited to go with my daughter for a girls lunch. Once we arrived we were greeted and escorted to our table, but once we were seated our waiter was beyond rude. From the moment he walked to our table he had such an awful attitude. We greeted him with kindness and told him thank you after everything he did for us each time with no responses back. Then he completely gets our orders wrong and acts as if it’s my fault. I asked him if I could get flour tortilla’s on the side with our enchilada plate and he then makes the order for enchiladas made with flour tortillas. Once it arrived to our table I kindly explain the order is wrong and he tells me well I thought that’s what you meant. No apology whatsoever. My sweet daughter just said it’s fine I will take it as it is. I also tried to eat it but couldn’t, because of the sogginess of the flour tortilla covered in sauce. So I then ask kindly if he could please just have my order remade and he does. After waiting an additional ten minutes to get my correct order out, my daughter and I are given just enough time to eat half of our plate before he comes back out to hand us our check. It upsets me so much because just before we had gotten to the restaurant I reminisced about all the wonderful memories I had made there with my family throughout the years and was telling my daughter about how I couldn’t wait for here and I to have a nice lunch there as well. All for our experience to be tainted by such an unpleasant person. I just feel as if you do not like dealing with customers, you should probably not work in a setting with them.

Worst experience of my life. They do not take reservations and when we showed up they said it was a 45 minute wait. All good. However, after 1.5 hours they had not called us and they said the online system did not sync with the system in the restaurant. They literally had no idea when we would be seated. We had to leave without ever being seated. I do not get the hype. SKIP IT. You will never get the time back you wasted for nothing!

I’ve been coming to Matt’s my entire life (born and raised in Austin), so it really hurts to leave this review. Last weekend, my family and I came in after my grandfather’s funeral. We had a larger group and were seated by the hosts at three tables next to each other. After we’d been sitting there for quite some time and enjoying our drinks, the manager Charlie came over with an extremely rude attitude and demanded to know if we were seated or if we sat ourselves. Multiple people calmly explained that the hosts had seated us, but he wouldn’t listen. He insisted we “just walked in and sat ourselves” and told us we needed to go back to the front and wait for another table. If there was a mix-up, I understand those things happen, but the way he handled it was completely unacceptable. He blamed us, argued with my dad, and even cut off others in our group saying, “I’m not talking to you.” We were there trying to have a peaceful meal as a family after a funeral, and instead we were treated like we were doing something wrong. We ended up leaving. This is not the Matt’s I’ve known for decades.

For all the rave reviews I heard about this place, our experience began and ended with an unhospitable attitude. I came in last night with coworkers after work and was advised we couldn't be seated until our entire party was there. I've been to countless vendor sponsored dinners over the years, reserving more seats than people actually seated, never having been turned away or made to wait. We were a party of four, possibly six, as two others were engaged in other activities who said they'd swing by when free. I attempted to explain this to the hostess and was met with an indifferent attitude that offered no leeway or understanding. Sit four now or wait indefinitely. Not wanting to wait 30 minutes for possible no-shows, we decided on a party of 4 and was sat at a table that absolutely wouldn't accommodate any more seats. We text our coworkers not to even bother coming. Our dinner was uneventful. The table chips were massive, crispy and fresh. The salsa was spicy and the queso was pretty decent. Staff was attentive, refilling our waters and chip basket, and clearing away plates. I ordered the Asadero tacos which were filled with tender beef tenderloin and absolutely delicious. My coworker ordered the carne asada and his plate was massive. They don't skimp on the portion sizes - no one finished their dinner. My Cactus Pryor on the rocks left much to be desired. I only tasted tequila, no prickly pear and same with the frozen Cactus Pryor. The Mexican Martini saved the day and we shared it amongst the table. It really is tasty and a great value for how much you get. We requested to go boxes for our meals and paid the tab while we finished our drinks. My coworker stepped away, ordered another drink at the bar and brought it to the table. Our waitress promptly came over and chastised us about her possibly getting in trouble for over serving. I'm completely baffled at this point, wondering where the overage was in 1 beer and 2 shots in a 2 and a half hour period of time to a grown man who showed no signs of being intoxicated. Mind you, he hadn't even drank the second shot before getting scolded. We left immediately after. In all my dining experience, I've never felt so poorly valued as a customer. I wish I had ordered take out or delivery in order to enjoy their food and remained ignorant to how little they care for their patrons. Unfortunately, I can't knowingly support them and their rude mentality.

Had a terrible experience at Matt's El Rancho mainly because of the manager, "Charlie." Austin is rich with restaurants that are welcoming and not rude to their customers, don't risk getting yourself into a situation like us. We came as a family, 8 people including visitors from outside the country. We waited one hour for a table, which is fine for a busy place. When they called us, someone in our group was in the restroom with a toddler. The rest of us went to the front. The server said they couldn't seat us because the party wasn't complete, even though the person was just steps away. We asked for a manager, hoping for understanding after waiting so long. Manager "Charlie" came over and was incredibly rude and hostile right away. He acted very bothered and wouldn't make eye contact. He just kept repeating "We do not seat incomplete party" while not even looking at us, when he finally graced us with some of his attention he kept saying the same word over and over, like we were trying to cheat the system. Charlie was completely inflexible and had a bad attitude. It felt humiliating, he raised his voice and kept repeating the same words... He refused to listen or understand the situation. There is no explanation for such inflexibility and such hostility! After wasting an hour waiting and then getting treated so poorly by the manager, we were so upset we just left. Had to find somewhere else to eat last minute. Fortunately Austin is rich with authentic restaurants that have excellent hospitality. This was the worst restaurant experience I've had in my 2 years in Austin. The manager Charlie's rudeness made a simple issue into a really bad one. Will not go back to Matt's El Rancho. If you go, beware of the service, especially the management. There are better places for Austin Mexican food.