Rancho Cantina

Quickly has become one of our favorites!! Kevin, behind the bar (and everywhere), was attentive, caring, and funny with everyone ... and still managed to spend personal time with us. I had a group of 8 at Rancho last week, and had the same positive experience (from all 8 of us). Keep killin' it, Rancho ... see you next week!

I had the most amazing experience here tonight and it was all thanks to Avry. I've never felt so accommodated and so genuinely cared for in any restaurant experience I've ever had. I really mean that. We came in after my mother's doctoral graduation and were treated with the utmost delicacy and care. Avry congratulated and hugged my mother before he even knew what was going on. The food was fantastic. The chips and salsa were a highlight as well as the grilled shrimp. Avry handled every single need we had- even the ones we didn't voice. I will 1000% be back and only on the days Avry works. Don't get me wrong the rest of the staff were perfectly wonderful, but Avry truly went above and beyond. I hope they know what a treasure they have and treat him accordingly.

we had the absolute best time here for lunch. Javier waited on us and was a gem. Everything was perfect about our experience. I’d highly suggest this restaurant to anyone looking for authentic Mexican food & drinks.

Even though it is a bit pricey for my taste, the host was absolutely awesome. We came on a Friday during the middle of rush hour and he was extremely kind courteous and willing to seat us outside. Their nachos are bomb, and their happy hour menu is a great way to spend the evening over drinks with friends.

Always very friendly service at Cantina, and typically less busy than other places closer to center Lafayette. When it is nice out the outdoor seating is very comfortable.

First visit to this little neighborhood gem. Food was very fresh tasting and homemade. Smaller portions but for Mexican food that's okay it's always so filling. Hubby loved the margherita and we enjoyed outside seating on the patio. Very good fish tacos!

My wife and I shared an order of chicken and steak fajitas that was absolutely awesome. Great atmosphere and great personal service from Avery and had a very pleasant visit with owner Eric. This is one of those fantastic, best kept secret restaurants we were lucky to find in downtown Lafayette. Thanks Eric and Avery, we'll be back soon. Cheers! -Bill & Elizabeth

First time trying this restaurant. Ordered take out, arrived and we were delightfully greeted. Our order was ready as the place even smelled delicious....a woodsy, chipotle season smell...mouth watering. We ordered the family meal and extra chile rellanos. Everything was so delicious@!@@!!! I highly recommend this place. The family meal had carne asada, shrimp (grilled perfectly) and moist chicken....grilled onions with cilantro for the fajitas. All the food traveled well.....sometimes to-go don't taste the same at home, but this did. Can't wait to go back! I think next time, we will enjoy the patio and try the bar!! thanks so much, Amy

Definitely worth it. If you want great service and quality flavor it’s the bomb. It’s not cheap hole in the wall kinda Mexican food so be sure to bring a few extra bucks- esp if you want drinks! But if you want a quality night out to be served everything is awesome.

They went over and above to accommodate my elderly parents when Seating us without a reservation. Very kind of them. Would definitely return if we are in town again.

One of the best mexican restaurants I've been to so far. Legendary staff members make you feel more than welcomed, and flavors and food which take you on a journey. I got the chef's special Rockfish tacos, and they were an experience I'll never forget, definitely a place to come back to.

We love this restaurant so much! We are from out of town and we eat here every time we visit. The service is always great and the food is amazing. I can't wait to come back.

EVERY single item is so yummy, fresh, handmade. No cans. They harvest their own beans! Love the owners. Love the staff. Avery the GM is fabulous. Incredible margaritas. Go go go now!

Great service, delicious food especially Mary’s chicken, chili relleno and the beautifully seasoned corn on the cob. Flourless chocolate cake and churros were luscious!

We loved Rancho Cantina. The outdoor dining area is so nice and the food was all delicious. Our server, Justin, was also super attentive but not "in your face" attentive, just courteous and there when you needed him. Food was hot and served in a timely fashion. The owner, Nico, is super nice and friendly too!

Rancho Cantina serves the best Chicken Tortilla Soup! Made with broth not cream based. Fresh shredded chicken, avocado and home made tortilla streps. So tasty especially when it is cold outside.

Wonderful spot. We had a large group reservation and even though more people showed up than expected, the restaurant worked with us and were so helpful and accommodating. The restaurant is not huge, but even with such a big group, everyone got served timely and the food quality was superb. They have an open kitchen with an amazing grill - the brick chicken was really flavorful and tender. I usually do not order chicken when going out but this one was exceptional. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their orders also. Drinks were also well prepared. Note this is not a cheap taqueria, it's more a cloth napkin kind of place. That said, when the bill came I felt it was very reasonable for how many people we had (25+) and the quality of the food. I would go back!

We can’t say enough good things about this gem of a restaurant! The quality of both food and service are incredibly consistent, a warm welcome ALWAYS awaits! All of the staff are super friendly and engaged. No request is too much trouble. We recently visited in a party of 8 with lots of different requirements - all handled calmly and with grace. To the food… it is so good. It was our first stop after returning from a week in Mexico!! Our favorites/ must haves are the guacamole, the corn, nachos, fajitas, fish tacos and, my personal favorite, the taco soup. Great cocktails too. Always looking forward to our next visit.

A Local Treasure – Rancho Cantina Delivers Every Time Rancho Cantina is a true gem in Lafayette. Every time I visit, I am reminded why this place has such a loyal following—it’s not just the incredible food and drinks (though those are top-notch), it’s the people who make Rancho so special. Nico, the owner, is the heartbeat of this place. He has the biggest heart and it shows in everything—from the warmth of the atmosphere to the care in every dish. You can feel his passion for great food and incredible service the moment you walk in the door. The team—Ali, Avery, and Westley—are simply awesome. They’re attentive, genuine, and bring so much positive energy to the table. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, they make you feel like part of the Rancho family. And let’s talk about the food: the chicken and steak fajitas are absolutely incredible—sizzling, flavorful, and perfectly cooked every time. Pair them with one of Rancho’s fresh margaritas and you’ve got a meal you’ll be thinking about long after you leave. If you’re looking for a spot that combines heart, flavor, and community—Rancho Cantina is it. Five stars all the way!

I had an amazing dining experience at Rancho Cantina! The food was absolutely delicious—packed with authentic Mexican flavors. I ordered the enchiladas, and they were the best I've ever had—fresh ingredients, perfectly seasoned, and a generous portion. The guacamole was also fantastic, freshly made and served with warm, crispy chips. The atmosphere was vibrant, with beautiful décor and lively music, which added to the overall experience. The staff was super friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. Whether you're looking for a casual lunch or a fun night out with friends, this is definitely the place to go. I can’t wait to come back and try more from the menu! Highly recommend!"

Delicious food, very fresh with lots of flavor!! We had Westley as our server and he was absolutely wonderful and very knowledgeable when we had questions about allergies. Great gluten and dairy options and easy modification options that didn’t impact seasoning/flavor. :)

We returned to Rancho last night for our second dinner. I had the Fajitas with chicken, shrimp and beef, lots of veggies and rice, beans and corn tortillas. Lots of food and it was tasty, except the rice. The vegetarian (made Vegan) Burrito with red sauce was very tasty as well! Delicious Pozole Verde and Vegan Tacos!

Being use to Sf and Peninsula restaurants., I have had a hard time after 10 yrs living in Lafayette finding a good place to eat. Rancho Catina was a nice find. Flavorful, pleasant out door seating. Reasonable prices for Lunch. I will be back.

Delicious!!! Had the carne asada plate and it was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning. Nice outdoor patio as well. Would have given 5 stars but considering the bartender spent more time texting than asking if I needed anything else males me hesitant to add that 5th star. Well...that and the couple next to me arguing about what stage they are in their relationship. 😂 Regardless good place to check out if you are in the mood for Mexican.

Food: Shrimp Tacos were great. They serve two different salsas with chips. Cocktails were well balanced!🫰🏼(Their fajitas smelled and looked amazing too!) 👀 Service: bartender was the sweetest and they’re pretty quick with the orders. Parking: Street meter parking or nearby lots available. Ambience: Don’t expect to be wowed. Lol. Basic layout, decor, and lighting is bright. They do have outdoor patio seating which if the weather permits, sit outside. 😜

Nice spot for Mexican food in downtown Lafayette. I have been twice and both times the food and service have been good. The menu is a bit different from some other Mexican restaurants, as instead of lengthy lists of every kind of "traditional" Mexican dishes and all the various combinations of those dishes, they talk about "Californio Spirited Cuisine" and while they have some traditional Mexican dishes, they also have things like Brussel Sprouts and Adobe Brick Chicken which I don't think of as "traditional" Mexican fare, but I am not an expert so I could be wrong. It is not cheap, but portions are good sized. So if you want to be able to mix and match old school Mexican dishes from a large menu, this may not be what you are looking for, but if you are interested in tasty and somewhat unusual offerings with good service, I would recommend it for a nice change of pace.

We met family here for drinks and appetizers. Lots of outdoor seating and parking in the back. Nice selection of cocktails, beer, and wine.

This place has great service. The server sang a happy Birthday ballad to our friend that was truly remarkable. Fantastic churros and drinks. Food I actually wouldn't recommend. Very bland. Overcooked soggy vegetables, beans and rice. Lacks flavor. Definitely not authentic. Does look pretty plated. Others got grilled meats and said that was good. Portions are kind of small especially for the price. I probably wouldn't recommend for a plant based even tho they do have several options just because it seems like their tasty signature items are grilled meats. Drinks and desserts and service are a win though.

Great atmosphere, attentive servers, clean, great outdoor seating. Tasty salsa with the chips, though chips weren’t salted. I had the chile relleno - a pretty plate of food, good beans. The batter on my relleno was clearly kept in an open container in the fridge with other open containers; ‘refrigerator’ taste is not palatable. I shared my concerns with our server after our meal (I was not looking for a free meal) and he said he would address it with the kitchen; I hope they do. My meal was otherwise good, though a little under seasoned, but worth what I paid. We dined late afternoon, this is probably a great spot to have drinks with friends around the fire; the restaurant has blankets/sarapes at each table, nice touch. I would be willing to try this place again if I was in the area, but would most likely not order the chile relleno.

Very very slow. Waited over one hour for food. Wood fired salmon was overcooked. Just come for the margaritas.

OK overpriced Mexican in Lafayette. Good tap beer. The food is pretty good but there isn't a lot of it on the plate for the price of admission. I've never been to a place that gives you only 2 fish tacos in an order($15). At least you can bulk up on the chips and salsa... better yet, go for drinks, have some chips, and eat somewhere else. Dinner for 2 adults and 1 child with a beer and a margarita was $100... ouch.

The wood fire chicken was really good. Thought the 3 tacos plus side of beans and rice was over priced.. it was around $28. The cup of guacamole was $14. They had great outdoor seating. I think I would check out some other restaurants down the street before returning.

I had high expectations for the place; however once I have tasted my food, I became disappointed. I got the carne asa and shrimp fajita. The food was bland. The salsa was okay. No salt and pepper or any hot sauce available. Also, the food was so less for how much it costs and they charged extra for rice and beans without telling us. I am actually surprised at how much people rated this place for 4 stars even 5 stars, but the truth is I could’ve gone to a cheaper hole in the wall/mom and pop Mexican food place somewhere for better tasting food. The only reason why I rated it more than a 1 is because the server was attentive.

Extremely bland and tasteless meal. The meats were cooked properly but zero taste. I asked for hot sauce and got a quizzical look and an offer to purchase habanero sauce for an additional $3. Disappointing and will not return.

The barbacoa was bland and dry. Chicken enchiladas were meh at best. Not coming back.

Over priced, not Mexican food. Disappointed with the food, big time. No spice to anything. Kids dinner was pathetic. Small portions all around ($8 for 1 avocado worth of mediocre guacamole?). Drinks were interesting but weak. Won’t be back. It got a low score with our “family” rating system of food, drinks, service, ambiance and value.

This place recently changed ownership (Spring 2024). The atmosphere and servers are the same (Avery is The Best). Unfortunately, the kitchen staff and recipes are new. - I had a steak burrito bowl that was 50% bell peppers and onions, 30% rice and beans, 10% guacamole and 5% meat. If I wanted bell peppers and onions, I'd order fajitas. A steak burrito bowl should have plenty of meat! - My husband had a carnitas burrito. He said the meat had all the flavor of sawdust. The service and atmosphere are still great, but the food was awful. We used to go there 2-3 times a month, but now we're going to go somewhere else.

The wait staff saved the experience. They are absolutely amazing. The food itself was abysmal. Lacked overall flavor and spice. Maybe I just went on an off night.

A disappointing experience overall. The food was under-seasoned and forgettable, the chips were undercooked and hard, and charging $6 extra for rice and beans felt unnecessary at this price point. Service was rushed and impersonal, and the atmosphere was unremarkable.

We have loved this restaurant for years! Tonight we were basically told we overstayed our time after 75 minutes for 3. The waiter came to us two times saying they needed one of the two tables we were using. It was a $170 dinner for 3, with our $30 tip, totally $200. Up to 80-90 minutes is an appropriate amount of time to have a leisurely meal! Terrible, especially after being good customers for so long. This lwas so disappointing we will probably never go to Rancho Cantina again.