El Ranchero Express offers variety, quality, good prices
Over the past few years, I’ve taken the elder Grub Sprout along on several restaurant outings, many of which took place in his neck of the Knoxville woods. Some of you may recall that in a mere one-block stretch of Cedar Lane (near Merchant Drive), there are a whopping four Mexican-food eateries packed into a tiny real-estate footprint. So far, The Sprout and I have checked out three of them. On this last go-around, we knocked out number four — El Ranchero Express.
It occupies what I’m pretty sure was an A&W drive-in at one point and later, a barbecue joint that The Grub Spouse and I visited years ago. As El Ranchero, the emphasis is obviously now on Mexican cuisine, but the pull-in slots for cars are still there for carhop-style service. However, customers must order at the walk-up window of the main building. That’s also where we saw the restaurant’s food lineup displayed on signage as well as hand-out menus.
The Sprout and I took a few minutes to look over all our options, which included multiple varieties each of quesadillas, chimichangas, fajitas, nachos, seafood entrees, burritos and enchiladas as well as vegetarian versions of burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas and fajitas. House specialties include carne azada, carnitas, chile Colorado and a molcajete bowl featuring grilled chicken, steak, shrimp and chorizo.
Also look for tacos or tortas prepared in different styles, including azada, pastor, lengua, buche, carnitas, chorizo, tripa, chicken and adobada. Guests may even create customized meal combos, choosing multiple items from among tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chiles rellenos, tamales and quesadillas. These are made with a choice of steak or chicken. (The lunch menu also offers five combo options as well as a limited menu of items sized and priced for a quick midday meal.)
I decided to try the enchiladas supremas ($12.99), one each of chicken, beef, cheese and bean. They’re served with salsa, lettuce and sour cream on top and rice and beans on the side. I also decided to get one of El Ranchero’s many a la carte items, a tamal, for $3.99.
Menu items at El Ranchero Express on Cedar Lane in North Knoxville include multiple varieties each of quesadillas, chimichangas, fajitas, nachos, seafood entrees, burritos and enchiladas as well as vegetarian versions of burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas and fajitas.
Others include a quesadilla, taco and chile relleno.
The Sprout ordered the burritos rancheros, two burritos prepared with either chicken or steak. He went with chicken for $10.99. This item is prepared with meat, lettuce and cheese inside the tortilla and sauce on top, and it’s also served with beans and rice.
The young dude who took our order