Let's go back to the beginning. Four friends and I set out on a nice walk to El Rancho at 27th and O. The air was brisk-- the perfect evening for a stroll and some Mexican delights. When we arrived, our friendly waitress took our drink orders and gave us chips and salsa. One of us, who eats lunch at 10:30 in the morning and shall remain nameless, started inhaling them. Plus there was five of us, so we pretty much killed those chips. So guess what? Extra baskets are a dollar each. Wha?!?!?!?
We ordered our food. They have a nice selection at reasonable prices. I wasn't feeling very adventurous, so I ordered the chicken burrito dinner. My friends ordered the shrimp ceviche, another shrimp dish with tomatoes and peppers, the chicken enchilada with green sauce, and the chicken chimichanga. So guess what? EVERYONE'S dinner was fan-freakin-tastic (especially the shrimp ceviche) EXCEPT mine. The chicken enchilada? Fresh shredded chicken. The chicken chimichanga? Fresh shredded chicken.
My chicken burrito? [Edit: What looked, tasted and smelled like] Canned chicken.
CANNED CHICKEN! WTF?!!? How is it possible that a place that makes ceviche that good serves [Edit: what looked, tasted and smelled like] canned chicken? By the time I figured out why my chicken burrito tasted like tuna and dog food, it was time to go, so I didn't complain. But I should have.
I hope that this experience hasn't put me off El Rancho for good, because they really do have great food and great service, but the thought of that chicken burrito makes me want to throw up a little.
15 comments:
I love good Mexican but I'm still a little gun shy of some of these places.
There's really no reason to be gun shy of El Rancho... just don't order the chicken burrito.
I have mixed experiences.
I got chicken tacos and it was 75% raw onion. :(
Other time was some sort of deep fried roll like the crisp meat at amigos. It was awesome with the sauce.
They have these things called flautas or something. Like a pita bread they make stuffed with beans and cheese. They are amazing.
What? That is indeed disturbing and unheard of. I have been there before with people who have ordered chicken burritos and it was not canned chicken (or if it was the people who ordered it had such poor palates that they couldn't tell, which I don't think is the case).
I am a fan of El Rancho and I think there food is very good. The family who runs it is very nice and also quite active in the community.
It is definitely something that would have been worth a mention to the staff. I hope this experience doesn't turn you off for good, but if it does it is understandable.
Speaking of El Rancho, I want to take this opportunity to thank their owners (Preciado family) and its entire staff, for their ongoing contribution and service to the Lincoln community. Last week alone, they were co-sponsors of a very successful fundraiser in support of a community activist who is battling Leukemia. Without their generous support the event would not have been the success that it was. ….God bless all of you!!….Sincerely…Angel
P.S. Since the blogger is such an expert in canned foods, I really recommend her to start visiting other places, such as ROMEO’S, CARLOS O’ KELLY’S, APPLEBEE’S,CHILI’S,….etc. These places are really considered the KINGS in “Canned exquisites”….. I really love EL Rancho’s food and service. They are the best!!
In response to Sarah’s blog: This is the manager of El Rancho Restaurant; I want to apologize if you didn’t like our chicken burrito that day.
On the other hand, I am very offended by your comments (Sarah: “serves canned chicken, “had a flavor reminiscent of tuna and dog food”.) I want to set the record straight that we do not use canned chicken here at El Rancho Restaurant. I also want to mention that our menus are very clear that our first basket of chips & salsa are courtesy of the house and any additional baskets, at your own will, are $1.00 each.
When you don’t speak up to us about your experience there’s no way of us knowing and nothing we can do to make things better, which is what we are always trying to do. Instead you posted your experience on the internet for anyone to see when you it would’ve been a lot simpler to just address your issue right away with us. I’m very offended by the way you handled your experience, discrediting us and our restaurant. To me that shows lack of character, judgment, courtesy and discernment on your part. We are always trying to do things better and improve on our part, but we cannot fully do that without the feedback from our customers, which is greatly appreciated.
You know where to find me and I’d be happy to speak with you myself about your experience. And to all of you, if you have any ideas on how we can make your experience here at El Rancho Restaurant a more pleasant one please do not hesitate to speak up and tell us, or if you have any concerns please let us know. Thank-you from all of us at El Rancho Restaurant for your continued support. We look forward to serving you soon!
This isn't the Journal-Star. If a place serves me canned chicken, I'm going to tell people I got canned chicken. I'm not sure why I got canned chicken, since the other two people who ordered chicken dishes got fresh, but I, and everyone else at my table, could see and taste the difference.
I agree that I should have addressed this with the staff at the time, but that would not have changed my review. If you go back and read it, you'll see that the majority of it is positive.
It's great that you are doing so many things for the community, especially since I am a leukemia survivor myself, but community service doesn't change the fact that I was served canned chicken.
This blog is for reviewing restaurants, not judging the contents of a person's character.
So the manager thinks the problem is Sarah's "lack of character, judgment, courtesy and discernment"?
I accept that he probably doesn't actually use canned meat, but he should accept that Sarah accurately described a problem with her food. Why was one patron's dish so inferior to the others served at the same time? His comment was not actually very helpful to his cause.
Angel suggested that Sarah go to a restaurant chain instead. That's a good point - chains offer consistency.
I've been to El Rancho maybe six times and would distil my experiences to the word "inconsistent". A couple were above average, most were ordinary and one was awful.
If you haven't been there I suggest you try it, despite the manager's heavy handed response.
In the end, inconsistency is probably better than predictable mediocrity.
I have to say, I eat at El rancho at least once a week and have tried the majority of their dishes. One of my favorite lunch items is the chicken burrito because of the quality of meat that they use. I undestand that everyone is entitled to their comments, but when you start making your opinion a fact, than thats when it becomes offensive. (opinion= I think they might use canned chicken) (fact= They use canned chicken). I consider my-self to have pretty goog jugement when it comes to canned food and I have to say that these guys at El Rancho do not use canned chicken and if they did, canned chicken do not taste like dog food ot tuna, my 3yr old son knows that....
On the other hand, I travel to Mexico every winter to visit family and friends and some of the food I eat in Mexico is very similar to the food at El Rancho. I guess they mean truth in their their advertising when they say "Authentic Mexican Restaurant" If you can't handle authentic good food, than there's always taco bell.
you should get papusas next time. not many places sell them, and they make theirs by hand to order. I could eat those every day for the rest of my life.
They have a green chicken salad that is quite good too, and unlike anything I have seen on other menus here in town. I think El Rancho is one of the best Mexican places in Lincoln. I would go there more often but its out of the way for me and normally I prefer places more casual where you don't have to tip.
papusas, that is what they were called, Thanks Mo Feezy.
Seriously those things fricking rock.
I look forward to visiting this place againb soon. I do have a couple other Mex places to visit before and I do not eat out to often.
Authentic Mexican Food? Interesting, because the owners are NOT mexican nor are any of the cooks. They are from Guatemala. The Pupusas are great I do agree, but they are a Salvadorean dish.
Why not call it "International Cuisine" or "Authentic Central American Food/Cuisine" or even "Authentic Latin American Cuisine" all the food there is "their version" of authentic dishes, but everyone has their own version. So, I'll get off my soap box, I just find it funny that people hate when Americans generalize about ethnicity and call all brown people "Mexican" (Not everyone does this ok) But, people get offended when you assume they are Mexican, however its ok to "borrow" the Mexican name for a business.. interesting, no?
Ok, maybe its just me.
P.S. Oh, if you want AUTHENTIC Mexican Food, try SUPER TACO 56th & Holdrege. It's to freaking DIE for!
My name is Alex Preciado and I am the owner of El Rancho Mexican Restaurant. I want to thank all of you for your comments as they are all positive in some way or another.
Sarah, I'm sorry about your experience with our burrito. We at El Rancho try our best to make your eating experience as pleasant as possible and I know that sometimes we will not be able to please everybody as it is humanly impossible. We do not use any canned meat products at el Rancho.
As for the last comment by anonymous, No.., I'm not from Guatemala.... you need to get your story correct. I was born in Southcentral Los Angeles California, I went to school in California and graduated from college in california.
My dad is from Ciudad Idalgo, Tapachula Mexico. My mom is from Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Our menu at El Rancho was created by a professional chef from Merida, Mexico. and our cooks are trained cooks in Mexican Cuisine. The only dish we have that is not mexican, is pupusas but they are great aren't they????? Exactly....
Thank you all for your business and don't forget that we also deliver (402)476-2800
and the owner for the win.
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