El Ranchero Restaurant Charlottesville Menu

Welcome to El Ranchero Restaurant Charlottesville, a delightful destination for authentic Mexican cuisine tucked away in Charlottesville. Located at 1145 5th St SW, this hidden gem offers a menu that tantalizes the palate with a variety of traditional dishes.

Highlights include the Enchiladas, available in several mouthwatering variations like the Enchiladas Verdes and Clasicas, each served with rice and beans. The Mexican Specials, such as Gorditas and Huaraches, showcase homemade tortillas combined with rich flavors and signature sauces, making every bite a comforting experience.

Customers rave about the Steak Ranchero and the flavorful Molcajete, noting the quality of ingredients and expert preparation. With affordable prices and generous portions, El Ranchero stands out in Charlottesville’s dining scene. Come for the food, stay for the warm atmosphere and friendly service—you won’t regret it!

Appetizer

• Quesadilla Queso

  US$4.99

• Chori Papas

  US$7.95

• Guacamole Dip

  US$6.25

• Bean Dip

  US$7.95

• 8 Chicken Wings

  US$10.99

• Chorizo Dip

  US$9.95

• 5 Mozzarella Sticks

  US$9.95

• Ceviche

  US$16.99

• Cheese Dip

  US$5.25

Especiales De La Casa / Home Specials

• Carnitas

  Tender pork, cooked to perfection. Served with rice, beans, guacamole salad & tortillas.

  US$16.99

• Molcajete

  Grilled chicken breast, steak, shrimp, chorizo & carnitas / pork, with Mexican cheese, cactus & chile toreado. Served with rice & beans.

  US$27.99

• Mole Poblano

  Chicken breast covered with homemade mole poblano. Served with rice, beans & tortillas.

  US$13.99

• Dinner Combinations

  Your choice 2 items & 2 sides.

  US$13.50

• Chilaquiles

  Tortilla strips cooked in a special green or red sauce with chicken & cheese. Served with rice & cream-salad. Add eggs for an additional charge.

  US$11.99

• Chimichangas

  Your choice of shredded chicken or beef, fried or soft. Served with cheese dip on top, small salad, rice & beans.

  US$14.50

• Fajita Chimichanga

  Grilled chicken or steak your choose of fried or soft cooked with mixed vegetables. Served with cheese dip on top, small salad, rice & beans.

  US$17.99

• Parrillada Latina

  Grilled chicken breast, steak, shrimp & chorizo with onion & cheese dip on top. Served with double portion of rice, beans, salad & tortillas.

  US$34.99

• El Ranchero Special

  Grilled steak, chicken breast, chorizo, shrimp, cactus, spring onions, Mexican cheese & chile toreado. Served with black beans & tortillas.

  US$25.99

• Flautas

  Corn or flour tortillas with chicken roll & deep-fried to perfection, topped with green sauce & cheese. Served with rice & salad.

  US$13.99

Nachos

• Ground Beef & Cheese Nachos

  US$8.99

• Nachos Supremos

  Topped with chicken, beef, beans, sour cream, lettuce, and tomatoes.

  US$13.99

• Cheese Nachos

  US$6.99

• Nachos Fajitas

  Chicken or steak cooked with bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, and ranchero sauce. Comes with cheese dip.

  US$16.25

• Blans & Cheese Nachos

  US$7.99

• Nachos Texanos

  Chicken, steak, and shrimp cooked with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and ranchero sauce. Covered with cheese dip.

  US$19.99

• Shredded Chicken & Cheese Nachos

  US$8.99

Tacos

• Tacos Dorados

  Flour deep fried taquitos with chicken or beef. Served with rice, cream, and salad.

  US$12.50

• La Taquiza

  12 Tacos. Con todos ingredients. 1 with all the toppings, 2 al pastor, 2 lengua-tongue, 2 carnitas, 2 birria, 2 pollo-chicken, 2 carne-steak.

  US$47.99

• Tacos Estilo DF (Al Pastor)

  Tender pork and Mexican chorizo.

  US$16.99

• Tacos Carnitas

  Tender pork.

  US$15.99

• Diablo Tacos

  Two flour tortilla with grilled chicken, jalapeno, onions, and lettuce. Served with rice and beans.

  US$15.99

• Chicken Tacos

  US$15.99

• Birria Tacos

  US$16.99

• Tacos De Lendua

  Beef tongue.

  US$17.99

• Steak Taco

  US$16.99

Burritos

• El Tigre Burrito

  A flour tortilla filled with rice, black beans, chicken, steak, and shrimp. Cheese dip and green sauce on top.

  US$17.99

• Chiop Burrito

  A flour tortilla with grilled chicken, creamy chipotle sauce, rice, and black beans, topped with cheese sauce garnished with chipotle sauce.

  US$15.25

• Burrito Fajita

  Chiken or steak. A flour tortilla cooked with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes with cheese dip. sour cream on top. Served with guaca salad.

  US$16.99

• Burrito California

  Chicken or steak, a flour toritlla filled with rice and beans. Served with a delicious cheese dip on top. Lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream.

  US$15.25

• Burrito Loco

  Shredded chicken or ground beef, guacamole, pickle jalapenos, rice, black beans, and pico de gallo, cheese dip on top and sour cream.

  US$15.99

Vegetarianos

• Vegetarian Chimichanga

  Two vegetarian chimichanga of your choice of fried or sof with mix vegetables. Served with rice, beans, small salad and cheese dip on top.

  US$15.25

• Los Flacos

  Two burritos filled with cooked potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos with cheese dip on top. Served with rice and small salad.

  US$15.25

• Plato Chile Autentico

  Vegetarian. Two cheese chile relleno with red sauce on top. Served with rice & beans.

  US$15.25

• Vegetarian #1 (Four Items)

  Create your own vegetagle dish with four items: one chile relleno, one enchilada (cheese, bean or spinach) one small burrito (bean or cheese), one cheese quesadilla, served with rice and beans.

  US$15.25

• Veggie Fajitas

  A combination of mix vegetables, served with rice, beans, and small salad.

  US$15.25

Fajitas

• Del Mar

  Tiilapia and shrimp.

  US$24.99

• Pollo / Chicken

  US$17.99

• Carnitas

  US$19.99

• Fajitas / Texanas

  Chicken, steak, and shrimp.

  US$21.99

• Carne / Steak

  US$18.99

• Camaron / Shrimp

  US$19.99

Seafood / Marsicos

• Camarones A La Diabla

  Shrimp cooked with diablo hot sauce and onions. Served with rice and cream salad.

  US$18.99

• Mojarra Frita

  Fried fish. Served with rice and small salad (avocado & tomatoes).

  US$19.99

• Coctel De Camarones

  Cold shrimp cooked mix prepared with special sauce, pico de gallo, avocado. Served with salted cracker.

  US$18.99

• Camarones A La Crema

  Shrimp cooked with cream sauce. Served with rice and guac salad.

  US$18.99

• Camarones Con Vegetables

  Shrimp cooked with mix vegetables bell peppers, yellow squash, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions. Served with bed rice with cheese dip on top and tortillas.

  US$19.50

• Fish Tacos

  Two tilapia fish tacos with pico de gallo, lettuce, and shredded cheese. Served with rice and beans.

  US$15.99

• Camarones Al Ajillio

  Shrimp cooked with ajillio sauce. Served with rice, and crema salad.

  US$15.99

• Tilapia With Shrimp

  Grilled tilapia fish. Served with rice and vegetables. (Yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli.)

  US$20.99

• Tilapia Only

  US$16.99

Enchiladas

• Enchiladas Verdes

  Two chicken enchiladas with green sauce on top. Served with rice & beans.

  US$12.99

• Enchiladas Clasicas

  Four enchiladas: one shredded chicken, one ground beef, one cheese & one beans, with mole Ranchero sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream on top.

  US$15.95

• Enchiladas Poblanas

  Three shredded chicken enchiladas with mole Poblano. Served with rice and crema salad.

  US$14.99

• Enchiladas Rancheritas

  Three shredded chicken enchiladas with mole Ranchero sauce. Served with rice and guaca salad.

  US$14.99

• Enchiladas Michocanas

  Three pork enchiladas with green sauce. Served with rice and guaca salad.

  US$15.99

Pollo / Chicken

• Rubias

  Chicken breast sliced with shrimp and bacon. Cooked with bell peppers and onions. Served on a bed of rice with cheese dip and tortillas.

  US$17.99

• Choripollo

  Chicken breast cooked with Mexican sausage & cheese on on top. Served with rice, beans, and tortillas.

  US$16.99

• El Mexicano

  Chicken broast cooked with jalapeno, onions & tomatoes. Served with rice, beans, and tortillas.

  US$16.99

• Pollo Jalisco

  Chicken breast with cheese dip & pico de gallo on top. Served with rice & bean.

  US$16.99

• Arroz Con Pollo

  Chicken breast cut into slices. Served on a bed of rice with cheese dip on top.

  US$14.99

• Pollo Caribeno

  Chicken breast cooked with Mexican sausage & cheese dip on top with pineapple. Served with rice & beans.

  US$17.50

• El Cholito

  Grilled chicken, steak & shrimp with onlons. Served on a bed of rice with cheese dip & tortilas.

  US$18.99

• Pollo Empanizado

  Breaded chicken breast. Served with rice, black beans, small salad, and tortillas.

  US$17.99

Huevos / Eggs

• Huevos Con Chorizo

  Eggs with Mexican sausage.

  US$11.99

• Huevos A La Mexicana

  Cooked with onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos mixed together.

  US$11.99

• Huevos Rancheros

  Eggs cooked in ranchero sauce.

  US$11.99

Extras / Sides Orders

• Pico De Gallo

  US$2.50

• Sour Cream

  US$2.50

• Refried Beans

  US$3.99

• Mexican Rice

  US$3.99

• French Fries

  US$3.99

• Shredded Mexican Cheese

  US$2.50

Salads

• Grilled Taco Salad

  A crispy flour tortilla with your choice of with chicken or steak. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream.

  US$13.99

• Fajita Taco Salad

  A crispy flour tortilla with your choice of chicken or steak. Cooked with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, and sour cream.

  US$14.25

• La Chula Salad

  Grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and onions.

  US$10.99

• Shrimp

  US$16.25

• La Flaquita Salad

  Chicken breast, salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and onions.

  US$10.99

• Taco Salad

  A crispy flour tortilla with your choice of shredded chicken or ground beef. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream, and shredded cheese.

  US$10.99

Á La Carte

• Soft Taco

  US$4.50

• Hard Taco

  US$2.75

• Burrito

  US$4.99

• Enchilada

  US$2.70

• Chicken Quesadilla

  US$5.50

• Chile Relleno

  US$5.75

Mexican Specials

• Gorditas

  Three homemade tortillas cooked to perfection with beans, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. Green or red sauce.

  US$14.25

• Huaraches

  One homemade tortilla cooked to perfrction. Served with bacon, beans, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. Green or red sauce.

  US$12.99

• Sope

  Two homemade tortilla cooked to perfection with beans, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. Green or red sauce.

  US$13.99

Quesadillas

• La Gorda Quesadilla

  A flour tortilla with grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp, cooked with bell peppers onions, and tomatoes. Served with rice and salad.

  US$17.99

• Fajita Quesadilla

  A flour tortilla with grilled chicken or steak. Cooked with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Served with rice and salad.

  US$15.99

• Quesadilla Pastor

  A flour tortilla with pork and mexican chorizo. Served with rice and guca salad.

  US$15.99

• Quesadilla Carnitas

  A flour tortilla with pork and chorizo. Served with rice, lettuce, and pico de gallo.

  US$14.99

• Quesabirria

  Shredded beef, homemade sacue. Served with rice and cream salad.

  US$15.99

• Grilled Quesadilla

  Chicken or steak. A flour tortilla with cheese, served with rice and guaca salad.

  US$13.25

Carnes / Steaks

• Steak Ranchero

  12 oz. T-bone steak cooked with Ranchero sauce. Served with rice, beans, and tortillas.

  US$19.99

• Carnita Asada

  Rib-eye steak cooked to perfection. Served with rice, beans, salad, and tortillas.

  US$21.25

• Tuto T-Bone

  12 oz. T-bone steak, served with mix vegetables, yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and Mexican rice.

  US$19.99

• Steak Mexicano

  12 oz. T- bone steak cooked with onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos. Served with rice, beans, and tortillas.

  US$19.99

• Chori-Steak

  Rib-eye steak with Mexican sausage and cheese dip on top. Served with rice, beans, and tortillas.

  US$19.99

• Steak & Shrimp

  Rib-eye steak and six shrimp. Served with rice, beans, and salad.

  US$22.99

Caldos / Soup

• Caldo De Res

  Beef soup seasoning with vegetables.

  US$19.99

• Caldo De Menudo

  Beef tripe soup with Mexican seasoning.

  US$18.99

• Caldo De Pollo

  Chicken broth soup with vegetables.

  US$14.99

• Caldo De Camarones

  Mexican shrimp soup, seasoning with vegetables and spices.

  US$17.99

Lunch

• Lunch Special #5

  Chicken enchilada, chicken burrito, cheese dip on topped. Served with rice.

  US$10.99

• Lunch Special #4

  Chicken quesadilla, cheese dip on topped. Served with rice and beans.

  US$10.99

• Lunch Special #1

  Chile relleno, beans, hard taco, and guaca salad.

  US$10.99

• Lunch Taco Salad

  A crispy flour tortilla shredded chicken or ground beef, rice, beans. Topped with lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream and tomatoes.

  US$9.99

• ACP Lunch

  Chicken breast cut into slices served with rice and cheese dip.

  US$11.99

• Lunch Burrito California

  Chicken or steak burrito. Served with rice and beans, topped with delicious cheese dip.

  US$11.99

• Lunch Chimichanga

  Soft or fried. Chicken or beef. Served with rice, beans, cheese dip on topped with salad.

  US$10.95

• Lunch Special #2

  Burrito, beans, and rice.

  US$10.99

• Lunch Carnitas

  Tender pork cooked to perfection served with rice, beans, salad, and tortillas.

  US$11.25

• Lunch Burrito Chipo

  A tortilla filled with chicken grilled, grilled onions, and delicious chipotle sauce. Served with rice and beans. Topped with cheese dip.

  US$11.99

• Speedy Gonzales

  Enchilada with red sauce, rice or beans, and hard taco.

  US$8.99

• Rancherito Bowl

  Grilled chicken or steak, Mesican chorizo, rice, black beans, cheese sauce and pico de gallo.

  US$10.99

• Lunch Fajita Texana

  Chicken, steak, and shrimp cooked with onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Served with rice, beans, and tortillas.

  US$14.99

• Lunch Special #3

  Burrito, rice or beans, and taco.

  US$10.99

• Lunch Fajitas

  Chicken or steak cooked with onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Served with rice, beans, and tortilas.

  US$12.25