El Ranchito Del Agave

Below average food but the service was very friendly. Our chips were stale (but guac was fresh and delicious), margaritas were watered down (I drank 2 and had not the slightest of a buzz), enchiladas were a little dry.

The food is disgusting!!! The rice and beans were cold and had no flavor (I could have made it better) the two tacos absolutely nasty. The shell was so hard to bite into and chew and the chicken was old and hard. Overall the food was NOT fresh and it was DISGUSTING. and I asked for sour cream the guy did not bring it and when I called the guy was rude and said you was not charged but I did ask him for it when I ordered the food. I will NEVER order from again!

I had today’s lunch special of the bistec encebollado (steak and onions). I always enjoy the very friendly and easy-​going spirits of the staff, even for a brief take-​out like I do, the staff’s friendliness is a big part of why I’ve returned here for 5+ years. Also of notice is the fun interior whose bar and restaurant setup screams party time. Frequent visitors and observant patrons will notice the party equipment such as the sound system, dj booth, lighting equipment overhead and lighting controls around the eating area. The quick order is a delight as it comes in a very sturdy box as my photo shows, not your generic styro container. It carefully, sturdily, and thoughtfully separates the 3 items: rice, beans, and main entrée. This thoughtfulness keeps all the different tastes from mixing. Careful thought also in the take-​out attachment of 4 fajitas (corn flour rolls) with 2 separate containers for the 2 salsa types, green (cooler, more color and herbs) and red (the hotter, greater emphasis on spice). The yellow rice is delicious, steamed well with a hint of seasoning. The beans are very well done, too, with no salt so that the bean itself can speak. Now the entrée is the best part, with the generous heap of onions which are seasoned and cooked well so they’ve no after-​taste and tomato chunks which are spice-​infused, awesome touch. The bistec (steak) itself is delicious with the garlic bits atop soaking in its own sauces, it’s all a great lunch for just $ 8.95!

Totally serviceable and don’t judge a book by its cover. Bare bones aesthetics but solid menu and reasonable happy hour prices! The guacamole is authentic and the enchiladas were great with very fresh ingredients seasoned well and prepared perfectly.

This place rocks!!! A group of 6 of us came here on a Saturday around 4 pm, and there was only one other table finishing up in there. It was happy hour and the margaritas were all $ 5!!! And I believe Long Islands and Mojitos were on happy hour as well. The margaritas were the bomb and really big too. They had a lot of flavors, which was really cool. I started with a frozen coconut one with salt– SO good. Flavorful, had liquor in it, cheap, big, awesome. I moved on to a blue agave one next– also awesome. Everyone was pumped about getting cheap, delicious margaritas in NY.
Our server/​bartender was great too. She changed the music for us, and catered to our silly requests. And she made some bomb drinks. Really great gal.
Chips and salsa were scrum. The salsa was super spicy in my opinion but did not lack flavor. One complimentary basket per table. My only complaint about this place is having to pay for another basket. I really feel every Mexican/​Latin restaurant should have complimentary baskets of chips and salsa. Oh well, we bought another and got over it. We don’t care too much.
Both my friends and I got the veggie tostadas. The meal came with 3 loaded with veggies, beans, cheese, sour cream, and big sides of rice. I’m not sure if my pals ordered the rice or it came with. Either way, scrum. The tostadas were delicious and came on lightly fried corn tortillas. I have silly dietary restrictions and the server succeeded with my requests. My other pals got a shrimp burrito and a combination plate. Everyone was very satisfied and full by the time we were done.
Excellent food, drinks, service, and atmosphere! Would definitely recommend coming here if you’re in the area and need some inexpensive, yummy mexican food and drink!

I haven’t frequented very many authentic Mexican restaurants in the past, so my impressions are not firmly grounded in extensive experience or knowledgeable expertise. However, based on the great service and quality cuisine, I left El Ranchito Del Agave a content and satisfied guest.
I visited this particular restaurant with a group of five on a Saturday afternoon. As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted with a smile and were promptly seated, being the only patrons at that time.
Not knowing the meal was accompanied by complimentary chips and salsa dip, we ordered the nacho platter as a starter, and we were glad we did. The platter was dressed with two types of cheese, jalapeño peppers, beans, salsa and carne asada. The cheese was nicely melted atop the chips and the jalapenos added a nice kick. The beef was also tender and provided a meaty touch to the appetizer.
When we received the menu, we were impressed with the vast selection of dishes and sides available. After perusing the menu, I choose the three-​taco meal. I requested two of the tacos with chorizo (Mexican sausage) and the other with carnitas (pork).
Because this was my first time, I thought their tacos would be a reliable barometer of the restaurant’s quality. The food arrived in approximately ten minutes, and was delivered hot and fresh.
The tacos were served with your usual accouterments: raw onions, cilantro, and guacamole sauce. Additional green and red salsas were also provided at the table for extra flavor.
I thoroughly enjoyed the chorizo tacos. The sausage was filled with authentic Mexican flavor and the tacos were loaded with generous portions. The reason I would not qualify this restaurant as a five star is due to the pork tacos. The carnitas was ultimately too dry for my taste and liking.
Nonetheless, the service was great throughout our experience. The waitress serving us was cheery and attentive. However, I cannot speak for the service when the restaurant is busy.
I also was able to sample my friend’s entrée, which was called baked chicken with «pipian» sauce. As I was told, this was an authentic Mexican dish. The dish featured two tender pieces of chicken dressed in this green sauce that I had never tasted before. The sauce was thick and filled with hearty flavor.
The dish was accompanied by a platter of rice and beans. The black beans had a nice texture, was hearty and well-​prepared. The Mexican rice was tender, nicely seasoned, and one of the better rice platters I have sampled in Mexican restaurants.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at El Ranchito Del Agave. I would definitely return to sample their other dishes. For next time, I have my eyes set on the chicken enchilada platter, served with rice and beans. I only hope my next experience will meet the expectations set by the first.

My husband and I were in the mood for Mexican food one night and decide to try El Ranchito Del Agave since we always pass by it on our way to boxing class.
At first sight, El Ranchito Del Agave looks like a hole in the wall, but looks can be quite deceiving. We didn’t realize that there was more to this place… like a back dining area and bar and they played music and had two TV screens as well.
Our waitress was very friendly and the service was good. We started off with their chips and salsa and for our meals, I ordered their beef flautas which came with rice and beans and my hubby had their rice and bean burrito which was huge!!! Can I just say we were quite impressed with their food!!! We both enjoyed it very much… so much that I brought my leftovers home!
The place itself doesn’t look appealing from the sidewalk, but trust me, you won’t be disappointed. My husband and I took a chance eating here and I’m glad we did!!! The people were very friendly and the food was awesome!!!

Don’t let the aged red white green awning out front scare you off. Nor the «B» in the window. This traditional, authentic mexican restaurant is on point. Mojito and Margarita were well made and effective. Guac was fresh, chunky and flavorful. Black Bean Soup, chicken tacos and chile relleno all excellent. Enjoyed the hospitality amongst many mexican couples and families enjoying an evening out (a real sign of authenticity). True, traditional no-​frills atmosphere overshadows the excellent meal. The appearance should not cloud your judgement. Yum.

This place is a death trap. Lost 3 hours of our life trying to eat here.
Took 1 hour to get menus and drinks, another hour to place our order, yet another to get our food — which I ordered enchiladas and was delivered a burrito unapologetically. I couldn’t bear to send it back, lest we wait another hour, but I couldn’t even finish half of it, the meat was so nasty.
The final hour was spent getting our checks, which had several overcharges on it. The waitress and bartender were clearly in cahoots on the situation, and both argued that we had been served everything on the bill. We eventually just paid cash on the table for what we did get, no tip, and split.
Would only go back with a hidden camera to expose their fraudulent behavior.

I love Mexican food and many places in the city are mediocre, but this place is a diamond in the rough! It should be full every night. The enchilada suizas are simply amazing and the vegetarian one is full of vegetables! Where else does a traditional Mexican restaurant fill anything with vegetables without being asked?! Also don’t forget a side of their delicious guacamole and $ 5 happy hour margarita! Simply wonderful!

After seeing all the three star ratings, I wanted to give these folks a five-​star as they certainly under-​promise and OVER-​DELIVER!
The ambience is super-​casual with good music and lots of room to move around…
The service was attentive and pleasant… They accommodated my Aunt’s want for plain guacamole, which was amazing by the way.
The food was excellent! Every single thing we ordered was terrific! The portions are huge, without the huge prices. I enjoyed the chips and fresh salsa along with red (meat) and green (chicken) tamales along with a side of yummy black beans and rice. Aunt and Uncles meals were fantastic as well and they are picky Mexican connoisseurs!
All in all, a great experience and a definite re-​do shortly!

I’m in continual disbelief that there isn’t good Mexican food in midtown west, and I keep trying different three star rated places expecting to get a different result. And you know what Einstein said.
So I ventured into Ranchito del Agave. It has an incredibly odd layout. You enter a small room (most NYC restaurants would cram six two tops in here). There’s an unattended host stand and a door with a window into the kitchen. You hear a few voices from the back, and wonder vaguely if you’re heading into someone’s apartment for a party. Then you walk down a dark hallway, and the space is absolutely enormous, peppered with a few bodies and a few splashes of color from decorations. The well-​stocked bar provides most of the light in the room. Definitely the sort of cavernous place where you could wander in for a good margarita and lose track of time.
I asked the waiter if the sopa Azteca is good, and she starred at me blankly and said, «it’s popular.» Not exactly an answer, but it was chilly and rainy, so I ordered it. They have a decent lunch special for less than ten bucks. I also ordered beef enchiladas.
The soup was a runny tomato base, not chicken stock. It had a hunk of chicken and a few pieces of zucchini. Skip it. The enchiladas were actually steak, which was grilled well, and the green sauce was surprisingly picante. They weren’t bad, but they did seem to be missing something to pull it together, like cheese or sauteed onions. This was served with a green lettuce (not iceberg) and tomato salad, undressed.
All in all, it did the job but wasn’t excellent. Worth trying again though.

Solid food! In my experience the kind of hole in wall places have great eats. I had the nachos, pork tacos and rice and beans. All good stuff. Go there for the food not the décor.

We came here for an early dinner on a Saturday evening in January and it was satisfactory. When we walked into the restaurant, the hostess stand was empty, and there was one waiter on the phone (probably taking a Seamless order). After standing around the (HUGE) empty restaurant awkwardly for a few minutes, we helped ourselves to one of the 2 dozen empty tables.
SERVICE: The service was OK. The waiter, bless his heart, apparently was called in at the last minute to cover because the two usual Saturday night waiters called in sick. He was completely overwhelmed and slow, but it was endearing and we could overlook the terrible service.
DRINKS: The margarita and mojito menu is extensive and amazing! Definitely go for one of their crazy concoctions like a coconut margarita — mm’mm!
FOOD: I’ll admit that I’m very biased about Mexican food in New York City. The food here at El Ranchito del Agave was OKAY, but not too spectacular. The guacamole could definitely use more lime and cilantro, and, although the tortilla chips were good, they definitely were not homemade. Seriously, though, for $ 9, I could have used about 3 times as much guacamole.
Both my husband and I got the combination platters (3 different items) so we could each try multiple things. The tacos were the best, and I definitely recommend the chicken taco. The beef flautas were alright, but they use a pretty fatty piece of rib steak rather than high quality shredded beef. The enchiladas are pretty good, and you get to choose from several different sauces (traditional red and green, but also some specialty sauces like one that has chocolate and pumpkin).
Overall, this is not a bad place for fairly inexpensive Mexican food. It’s more authentic than a lot of the «Mexican places» in Manhattan, but still not that fantastic.

I come for lunch, the food is good.
Their salsa needs improvement as looks like watery chopped tomatoes with jalapeños and onions.
Always ask for the chips NOT to be salted as the guy in the back really pours it on.
Burritos and enchiladas are good.
Staff is friendly, décor could use updating.

We chose this restaurant because of the reviews it received. Upon walking in we were greeted by cheesy décor and a empty hostess stand. Our first impression was let’s run. We fought through our initial gut reaction. To be pleasantly surprised by the attentiveness of the waiter. The food was was prepared fresh with a nice plate presentation. The food was yummy… so bottom line get past you initial reaction and enjoy some good Mexican delights.

Haters gonna hate. This place is awesome.
#1 It’s in the depressing vortex that is east side 9^th Avenue between 30^th-​42^nd Street so it gets props for just being a decent restaurant given the locale.
#2 It’s middle-​America suburb-​spacious.
#3 It’s also middle-​America suburb-​cheap.
I’ve been here twice– each time the restaurant has been empty with enough room to fit in a dance floor between the 2 rows of tables. The decoration and general aesthetics skew on cheap, but that’s how I want my Mexican joints to look. How many authentic places have the slick branding and reclaimed wood of an Otto’s Tacos or Tres Carnes?
The food is good. Many of my friends are Texan and Mexican-​American and we all enjoyed it. Most recently I went with my California-​raised boyfriend who is also a Mexican food snob and we both thought it was good. Although, I wouldn’t say it’s mind-​blowingly great. Also I had a very watery horchata which prevents me from going for 5 stars.
The prices are very fair. They have a great $ 30 dinner special for two people: one appetizer, two entrees and two alcoholic drinks! Can’t beat that! Although chips and salsa count as an appetizer because unlike the suburbs, those still ain’t free.

I was here today for lunch after I saw they had a lunch special even though I have passed by here numerous times.
Upon entering you’re not sure where to go because you see a wall with no signage. I chose to go the only direction I could and that was when I saw the open area. I was greeted by a friendly waitress. I was taken to a table after I let it be known I was here for lunch. I was given a menu. I was asked if I wanted something to drink after a few minutes. I ordered a margarita since I noticed they did have a full bar.
The margarita had a good bit of lime but enough tequila to let you know you were drinking alcohol.
I ordered 2 bistec a la Mexicana tacos (2 steak tacos). I also ordered the sopa Azteca (spicy chicken soup) as my appetizer or accompaniment. They both came out at the same time which was about ten minutes.
The tacos were made with oft corn tortillas that surrounded spicy flavorful steak topped with cilantro and white onions. There were radish and lime wedges on the side of the tacos.
The soup contained carrots celery, potato, and big chunks of white meat chicken in a spicy red broth.
The service was friendly and professional.

Seems like this place is a love it or hate it type of place. I could totally understand why — came here for a friend’s birthday party, and when I stepped inside I thought I had taken a wrong turn and had arrived at the back of a loading dock of a low-​end supermarket. Did a quick 180, went back outside to make sure I was at the right place, and indeed I was at the awesome El Ranchito Del Agave =).
The inside of this restaurant looks like an abandoned warehouse. Ceilings were high up the wazoo. Tables and chairs looked like they were picked up from some discount garage sale. But that’s the beauty of this joint. Place just seemed very homely — it was so tacky and run down that we were excited to see what the food would be like.
I was not disappointed. We got chips and guac to start — tasted very homemade and fresh. Chips tasted like they were shipped straight from Honduras, and the guac tasted like the avocados were picked straight from Mexico. If you were expecting the guac from the 7-​Eleven next door, you’re in for quite an adventure. For the main entrée, I got the grilled pork dish, which had A LOT OF MEAT. In fact, you can tell from my picture it was pretty much all meat! Also had some intense flavoring! I also tried one of my friend’s veggie burrito dish, too, and that was quite good!
Anyway, this was an awesome place to celebrate a buddy’s birthday. You know for birthdays you always go to those fancy restaurants, and everyone ends up paying $ 70 each for the bill because people get expensive dishes and wine and you have to pay for both the birthday boy and his girlfriend? Well, you’re in for a treat because not only is this place relatively cheap, but I remember buying a
gift card where we got a $ 200 for like $ 40 or something.

Every time I am in NYC I came to eat here at least once, since the first time I came I really liked it. The staff is always very friendly and atentative plus I usually go there late at night so there are not a whole lot of people.
I really enjoy Mexican cuisine and variety of foods, here you get both. I got the sampler plater the last time which comes with 2 of 6 items. I get a different type of meat with every selection just to keep it interesting.
I always enjoy myself while here and the food is always great! I expect to be back many more times.