Comments on: Dining: Mi Rancho

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:37:12 +0000

Hey, Springvale Roader! I almost forgot Tian Jin Palace and their excellent String Beans Sezchuan (did I spell either correctly? Am being a lazy slob instead of checking) They are green and a bit crunchy. I have visted some — not all — of the establishments you mention, and found them lacking in greens or the food was a bit mushy or had too much oil.
About Piratz Tavern, that hanging man figure on the roof is really upsetting. I am amazed it is still there, considering all the incidents involving nooses in the metro area and elsewhere. I will not darken their door as long as this grisly “art” remains in place.

By: Springvale Roader

Springvale Roader — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:58:40 +0000

LuvMyHood, there are plenty of vegetarian options in Silver Spring. These are the ones I like most:

Lebanese Taverna. Mandalay. Adega (my favorite). Asian Bistro (has a great vegetarian menu section). Bombay Gaylord. Ghar-E-Kabab. McGintys Pub (you can get a veggie burger and fries). Olazzo. Piratz Tavern (so-so food, but a fun joint). Roger Miller (great African food, when they have it, but sometimes it takes several years for your food to arrive). Lotus Cafe. Taste of Morocco. Z-Pizza. Sergio’s. Jackie’s Restaurant and Mrs. K’s, for those times you want to splurge. Chipolte. Baja Fresh.

As for Ethiopian, I prefer Addis Ababa to Abol. You should give the injera bread a second chance, but if you want a fork just ask for one. Who cares what other people think, so long as you enjoy your food.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:47:35 +0000

Yup, Mi Rancho is cheese heaven & has friendly service. A vegetarian can be happy there (assuming there are no hidden meat ingredients). However, a vegetarian who is really in touch with his/her inner bunny rabbit and wants to crunch a wide swath through green stuff — where to go? Eggspectations has a nice, big dinner salad. Any other places around here serve bunny food? Have not checked out the Ethiopian places yet, because that bread is just too much. Can one eat Ethiopian food with a fork instead, or would one look like a dork?

By: The Dad Report

The Dad Report — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:01:59 +0000

Love Mi Rancho, been going there for over 15 years. Turned many a friend onto it, they drive from Rockville, Falls Church, Waldorf and Annapolis to eat there. Used to gorge on the Plato Grande, these days I can be seen eating the Chicken Enchilada ala Homer Simpson. Love the rice and beans too.

I always get a Negro Modela (or two) to wash down the five bowls of chips and salsa b4 the meal gets there. If you like fish you can not miss with the whole grilled Red Snapper. As well, the Lobster and fajita special is always right on. Wife digs the margaritas.

By: JessicaAPISS

JessicaAPISS — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:46:52 +0000

Mi Rancho is a great place to go with kids. Between 5-7pm the place is crawling with them, and the servers go out of their way to make the little Panchito/as feel welcome. They also don’t mind if you leave a huge mess of rice and beans in your wake. This Cali girl loves the chimichanga – a rarity on the East Coast. When I’m being more health conscious, the salads are actually awesome.

I like the standard margarita rocks. Tart and tangy, I believe they make their own simple sugar and lime mixer base, avoiding the gatoradey, corn sugary aftertaste that bottled mixer can bring. And the bartenders are not stingy with the tequila. Perfecto.

There is also real tequila in the frozen rita machine – some places actually will use cheap white wine. Que horor! I like the perfect consistency of the icy concoctions. Not too slushy, not too crunchy. They go down very easily, and again. are more tart and strong than sweet.

(Jen – Descriptive enough? :)

By: Terry in Silver Spring

Terry in Silver Spring — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:35:17 +0000

Mi Rancho reminds me of the Tex-Mex family restaurants I used to go to when I lived in Texas. Sure, the decor is a bit cheesy, but the food is good, hot, and tasty. There’s a light lunch plate that I like, I’m blanking on the name right now, but it’s a bowl of their chicken soup and a soft taco. OMG, awesome.

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:13:20 +0000

I expect a full beverage report, Jimmy!

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:49:36 +0000

Damn you, Penguin, tonight I’m going for my second visit this week to Mi Rancho!

Funny how I visit Tastee all the time but have never discovered this. I was especially pleased with the tortilla chips. Crispy and fresh, unlike the stale ones I receive at Don Pablo’s or Austin Grill.

By: Thayer Ave. too

Thayer Ave. too — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:22:35 +0000

Far be it from me to quibble with the cheese-centric review– I’m all about the cheese, especially at Mi Rancho– but I gotta mention that seafood dishes at Mi Rancho are often surprisingly good. When they have the seafood soup available, don’t miss it, even if you have to split a large bowl with a friend.

On the cheese front– I’ve been known to make a meal out of the queso fundido, a thick, melty kind of fondue with chunks of chorizo and bell peppers, which you spoon onto the warm flaky soft tortillas. (Every time we go, my husband tries to convince me that he NEEDS a tortilla machine like the one cranking out these house-made goodies.)

By: chaz

chaz — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:58:27 +0000

Agreed on all counts–above average tex mex, intoxicating smell, intoxicating drinks, relatively reasonable prices.

However, if any of you are the folks who routinely park on yellow curbs and in front of no parking signs on Ramsey/Fidler while enjoying your Mi Rancho or Cubano’s meal, I hate you. There’s a parking garage 50 yards away.