Matt's El Rancho

Matt's El Rancho is a classic Austin spot, and after visiting, I can see why it's so popular! The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, with a great mix of locals and tourists enjoying Tex-Mex comfort food. It's a big place, but it still has a cozy, festive vibe.The food was really good--classic, no-frills Tex-Mex done right. The Bob Armstrong Dip definitely lived up to the hype, and the enchiladas were solid. Portions are generous, and everything tasted fresh. The margaritas were strong and well-balanced, making them a perfect pairing for the meal.The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the wait time. Even on a weeknight, the wait was longer than expected. That said, it's a popular spot, so I get it.Overall, Matt's El Rancho is a must-visit for Tex-Mex in Austin. It's a great place to bring out-of-town guests or enjoy a fun night with friends. Just be prepared for a wait, and you'll have a great time!

When it comes to Mexican food and costumer service I'm an expert, I worked at Las margaritas Mexican restaurant in Gainesville,Fl for 12 years. I tried everything on the nenu, I was a server, a bartender, and hostess when I was 8 months pregnant (I couldn't serve tables anymore), I was also friends with all the cooks so when I messed up orders they would help me out lol With that said I would love to give Matt's El Rancho 5 stars, wow!!! How delicious and authentic Mexican food. I normally eat there but today I got a to go order of steak fajitas, I was so pleased to open up my food and see how careful they had pack everything. Thank you so much for taking the time to pack the sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese and pico de gallo individually. The fresh home made tortillas were so good! The steak cook to perfection with onions and peppers, best flavors and the rice and beans, omg, the rice and beans get their own 5 stars lol!!! I had to order extra sides of rice and beans because they are the best of the best!!! I know I shouldn't say this but I could order 3 sides of rice lol The place has a great atmosphere and the servers are great!! This is the best Mexican restaurant! (The queso, chips and salsa are amazing too) I will bring my kids there on our next family dinner!!! maybe they will share the rice recipe with me ‍

People either love Matt's El Rancho or they hate it. I'm with the latter half. I've been to Matt's El Rancho a few times and I really tried hard to give it a chance. It's one of those "Austin favorites" that you want to like, but like dating, you just can't force it. Every time I've been, the food and service are pretty mediocre. I've had the Matt's Special, which comes with two enchiladas, a taco, and the fixings (rice, queso, and beans). The flavors were pretty mid and lacked authenticity.The highlight here is definitely Matt's Knockout Martini ($20), which comes with its own shaker and two servings-- an amazing deal especially in this economy!NOTE: Not dog friendly!

Don't waste your time trying to figure out where to go in this town in trying to avoid "a wait" that you think you have at Matt's El Rancho. I don't care how busy it looks or appears from the outside (or inside!) just stay here and add your name to the list. We had out of town friends come in during a wild UT game weekend and although Austin had many of the opposing team guests and visitors in town who decided to come to Matt's on the day we did - it didn't matter! We had a wonderful experience and were seated very quickly despite how swollen the waiting area seemed to be. There is plenty of seating here and the building, from outside, is deceiving to the eye. So don't leave or go anywhere else because you will regret it. Food and service is always 100% here. We are consistently checked on as we dine here and the staff really care about you having a positive experience. Pricing here is super decent for the portion of food you get. Margs here are a staple in Austin so yes get more than one or one of the top shelf margs. It rounds out your experience and tasty Tex-Mex meal.There is always plenty of parking so be patient and drive around if you don't notice anything right up in the front. All of their parking lots, even their overflow, is all paved and easy to walk from car to the front door.

Prepare to wait a while for a table. Once you're seated, though, the service is very quick with getting your order and food. Matt's has a cute ambience, especially if you are seated outside. It's a lot less loud once you're seated and away from that front entrance! The food itself is okay. I ordered the Tacos Al Carbon and Tortilla Soup. Both were good but definitely not anything to write home about. This is THE place to go to simply for the quintessential South Austin vibe, especially if you've got out-of-town friends visiting. But the food doesn't separate itself from other similar Tex Mex restaurants.

This restaurant is spacious with plenty of parking, so finding a spot is never an issue. Inside, there's ample seating, so you're unlikely to face a long wait. If you enjoy dining al fresco, their outdoor patio is a great option--spacious and inviting.The food was good, and I highly recommend trying the queso--hands down, my favorite item on the menu. The staff was friendly, and our waiter was especially attentive, making sure we always had fresh chips and salsa.Overall, this is a good spot to check out. Definitely add it to your must-visit list!

This is a big busy place. The outdoor patio is the best on a nice day buy the inside of the restaurant is spacious. This time a group of us at inside in the front room off to the left. That was a first for me we came early so the wait was short to get a table. They wanted to sit inside. Our service was slow but our waitress was busy and she made up for the delays as best as she could. It's a perfect brunch spot but also for other times like this one. Chips and salsa was available to nibble on and water. They have a full bar moderate price. I missed getting pics of everyone's food before they dug in but it all looked tasty. The fajitas came out sizzling and the portions are a good size. Matt's is one of the few places that have been in Austin for years and they are doing it right still. It's a great place for groups, families or a date. Bring your friends and stay awhile.

I typically go here for their knockout margaritas so I had yet to get enough to review. I'm not a huge fan of their quesadillas (essentially just their queso in between a double layered tortilla) but I got the traditional tacos this time and they were great. Crispy on the outside but delicious flavor on the inside. Obviously their knockout is a great way to get a night started, but I find that their other drinks are a little overpriced for not the best drinks. I got a skinny margarita and there was a pile of salt in the bottom of the cup and very little agave. I've had other experiences with good drinks so I'm willing to give them a pass. All in all- go here to pregame but don't expect the best food. It's a fun environment and definitely an Austin staple (with a wait to match) and they definitely know how to run a restaurant.

This place is huge! We sat at outside under their patio cover so I didn't feel completely outside. We were served chips and salsa right away. It was off to a good start until we were ready order. We had to go find our server chatting it up at the bar area. She took our order and at the end when we were done again couldn't be found. Finally she came by we asked for boxes and the check. For some reason she had an attitude. Iliana- having an attitude with the customer is not good business. I was generous to give you 20% tip on the food. Regarding the food- it was good the flautas were over fried but had good brisket inside. Beans and rice were good. The queso hardened quickly.

Fun vibe but the food is mid at best!Ambiance & Service: Charming interior with a lively bar. Waited 25 minutes on a Sunday night. The host staff was a bit disorganized, but our server was friendly and attentive. Food arrived piping hot and fast!Food & Drink:The Cactus Pryor: way too sour, not enough sweetness--would skip.Guacamole: fresh with a nice lime kick, salsa was spicy and flavorful.Spinach Poblanitas Enchiladas: decent but nothing special. Filling was good, and the sides were well seasoned.TL;DR: Great vibe, friendly service, but the food doesn't quite live up to it.