Rancho Viejo, Cherokee, NC - October 17, 2013



There's not much to be said about Rancho Viejo that hasn't already been said about the other Tex Mex restaurants we blogged earlier. This one is located in Cherokee, and one of  many that have come and gone over the years. Mexican restaurants don't seem to last long in Cherokee, for some reason.

Guayabitos actually started in Cherokee. They were located in the old El Camino restaurant on Soco. Then they closed and moved to Bryson. Rancho Viejo is located in the Food Lion shopping center near the Casino Crossing. At the intersection of 441 and Casino Road. 

They seem to do a brisk business so maybe they will stay. They do have a large roomy interior with plenty of seating consisting of both booths and tables. If you have a large party, there will still be room. The decor is minimal, and not crowded, cluttered like Guayabitos. The booths are roomy with high backs so privacy is afforded.
They also serve lunch and dinner, with no change in the menus, except the price. 

Pollo Fundido 

The menu consists of everything similar and no variances from the other Mexican restaurants in the area (Sazone excepted). The signs that all tout stating "Authentic" is not really true. The food on the menus is all Tex Mex and obviously altered to the demands of the American palate. I personally find them bland,  boring and really nothing to get excited about. But, then you all know my favorite Mexican - Sazone- and it is authentic, fresh, and cooked to order. 

Cowboy Fajitas 

Fajitas sides, beans, rice, lettuce/tomato/guac/sour cream

Pork Verde 

The food at these Tex Mex clones is not really awful, but its just plain and the same ole, same old. It's almost as if they all order their food from the same place  and cook it with the same recipes. It is filling, but that is all that can really be said about it. The beans are OK, the rice is OK, but if you choose to not eat it.. I can truthfully say... you won't miss it.

On another note.. only three of us were in attendance tonite. So, the meal was short. We did run into folks we knew, so we stopped to say "Howdy."