**** Ranas has closed
My good Buddy Ed from Yuma has been mentioning Ranas.com in Spring Valley for several years. Having been assured that the food at Ranas are worthy of several "delici-yoso dances", and finally having some time off over this past Christmas weekend, the Missus and I made the drive to Spring Valley to find Ranas.com. We got off the 94 Freeway at Kenwood, took a left, and drove into the parking lot of a nearby strip mall. We didn't see a sign for Ranas, but the address looked correct.
We still weren't quite sure that we'd arrived at the right place, until we saw the sign in the parking lot…so this must be the place, right?
We entered the very colorful dining area, and were immediately greeted by a very friendly Young Man who told us that we could have a seat anywhere.
The Young Man, actually, I should say Gentleman, since he was so gracious, named Jose(I'm hoping I remembered his name correctly), asked us if we'd been to Ranas before, to which we answered in the negative. At this point, he smiled and asked us if we'd like to try some samples of the specials of the day….are you kidding!!! Within a minute, four little paper cups arrived:
Man, this was really good stuff! Jose took the time to explain each dish, and though I'd come here to try the Pollo en salsa de Cacahuate, the Peanut Butter Chicken that Ed always mentions, I suddenly changed course……
As we were famished we started with the Huarache Azteca($5.50), a "sandal"(Huarache) sized thick tortilla, topped with beans, potato, and nopal:
We were pretty unimpressed with this popular antojito(appetizer), the whole thing was a soggy mess, there was too much beans, and the flavor of the potato was completely obscured. It was a far cry from the versions we had at the two El Comals.
But have no fear…..our entrees were on the way! We shared all the entrees, trading plates when one of us exclaimed "switch"! So what did we get?
The Chicken in Green Pumpkin Seed Mole(Pollo en Mole Verde de Pepita – $6.99):
Talk about good! This rich, but not heavy Mole, had a nice, complex flavor, with hints of nuttiness and a slight spicy-smokey finish. Moping up the sauce with the corn tortillas provided is a must. The chicken was surprisingly moist, but this was about the mole. The rice was okay, and the beans bland. But man that mole!!!!
The Pork in Tomatillo Sauce (Puerco en Tomatillo Salsa – $6.99):
Chunks of tender pork in a tangy, slightly spicy, tomatillo sauce. Wow, we obviously went two for two on entrees. This sauce/stew was studded with potatoes and nopal, and was quite refreshing in it's own way….really good stuff!
We finished almost all of our tortillas mopping up the sauces. One thing we noticed about the corn tortillas provided, they arrived warm and tender but got very hard as they cooled…all the more reason to scarf everything up ASAP.
The Missus desired something sweet to finish up the meal, so She ordered the Kahlua Plantanos:
Not bad.
So…one good turn deserves another, right? So there we were three days later…at guess where? Yep, and Jose greeted us with a smile, and a warm, "welcome back".
And of course those wonderful samples……..of today's specials:
So this time, we ordered the Entomatado Pork (Pork in a spicy tomato sauce – $6.99):
Another winner, a nice, medium spicy, pork dish full of flavor. The pork was spoon tender, without being falling apart soft. Today, the beans had much more flavor as well. The Missus loved this.
The Cochinita Pibil($6.99) the classic slow roasted Yucatan Pork Dish:
This version was more stew-like and creamy than versions of this dish I've had before. Again rich, without being heavy is the signature here, and a nice slightly sweet finish to boot! Talk about finish, that's what we did to our corn tortillas. This was my favorite on this visit.
Instead of an appetizer or dessert, I finally ordered the Peanut Butter Chicken (Pollo en salsa de Cacahuate – $6.99), which Ed from Yuma always mentions:
Moist chunks of chicken in a sauce with a mild peanut flavor, think mildly spiced watery peanut butter. After having the two pork dishes, this tasted on the bland side. Not my cup of tea.
During our visit, Jose, who, it turns out is the Owner's son(it's a real Mom and Pop restaurant), explained that these were the dishes that he grew up eating. Which explains why the dishes were so good, like all good home cooking, the "specials" at Ranas had that unique ingredient, a combination of love, care, and pride, which makes everything taste so much better. The service we had at Ranas reflects that as well. As you can tell…we'll be back! Take some time away from the tacos and enchiladas, and check out those specials.
Ranas.com
9683 Campo Rd Ste A
Spring Valley, CA 91977
(619) 589-1792
Thanks for the recommendation Ed! We finally made it…and it was well worth it…..
Thanks for the review, Kirk. I had been thinking about this place since reading Ed’s reviews myself. Now we will have to make it out there; I love home-style central Mexican food.
yummmmmmmmmmmmmmy.
where can i find stuff like that in san diego!
Oh my gosh! They are so cute for providing their gravies and sauces in little paper cups to sample! I would definitely go there just because of how thoughtful they are to bring out those samples. SO cute!
nothing like gravy over everything…makes it so YUMMMMY!
Hi Kirk,
Since it’s called ranas, I was wondering if it’s just a themed decor or if they had any frog on the menu.
Anyone got a recipe for salt & pepper chicken wings? Seems like the ones from Golden Chopstix and Royal Mandarin should be easy to make at home. Traveling down to National City is kinda far just for chicken wings.
Ooooo, those dishes look soooo good. May be worth a trip to Spring Valley. Gotta try the Chonchita Pibil. I’ve made it myself after watching Once Upon A Time in Mexico (the director shows you how to make it in the special features section on the DVD), so I gotta try the real thing.
These dishes look delicious. Somehow they look kinda like Indian food to me?!
Hi JosephE – Happy New Year! The food was quite good, and we thought the service was excellent as well.
Hi Clayfu – I don’t think Spring Valley is that far away. It was less than 20 miles.
Hi PE – We we’re drawn in by the samples as well. You can really tell how proud they are of the food served at Ranas.
Hi Billy – you got that right!
Hi Trent – Didn’t see any frog on the menu…..
Hi ShannonZ – You know, I haven’t tried making those wings…and it’s probably a good thing! Maybe someone has a recipe they can share?
Hi Denver – This version was a bit different from the two preparations I’ve had before.
Hi Eileen – That’s a great observation….you’re right, it does kinda look like Indian Food a bit doesn’t it?
My kind of restaurant. I really wanna try that green pumpkin mole.
– Chubbypanda
Hey Kirk!
You have no idea how envious I am, reading this from Hawaii…no real homestyle mexican here! 🙂
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!
To quote Austin Powers “Mo-lay, mo-lay, mo-lay!”
Hi CP – It is a nice place – good food, nice people!
Hi Kathy – Yes, I think I’d miss Mexican food if I moved back home.
Hi Elmo – LOL! Ole!
thx for the link =P.
really? its only 20 miles away… nice! my horrible sense of geography has me thinking its in Arizona haha.
I’m glad you enjoyed. I should point out that I really didn’t discover the place. My friends Dave and Michelle from Jamul found it and dragged me there kicking and screaming – after all I get plenty of Mexican food in Yuma. But wow! All sorts of things at Ranas that I’d never tasted before.
Perhaps there is some distant connection between India and Mexico. I have read some experts on Islamic cuisine who speculate that certain features of Mexican food derive from India and the Middle East because Southern Spain was an enclave of Islam up until the time of Columbus and Islam acted as a conduit for food preps and ideas to flow from East to West. OK maybe.
Hi Clayu – Just wanted to make sure it;s within reach…..so I’m expecting a post from you soon!
Hi Ed – Yes, I know that, but you are the one who kept “encouraging” us to go there…thus the mention. As for the Indian – Mexican link…who knows…after all there’s the Trompo and Al Pastor!
Hi, my gf and I went to ranas.com today. I had the cochinita pibil – it was tasty although a little too salty in my opinion. My mexican gf had the sopes and said that they were very tasty. I confirmed that they were well-prepared; crispy with proportionate amounts of carnitas, beans, lettuce, sour cream and onions on top. We shared a flan with kahlua sauce; it was dense and creamy flan whereas I’m used to the more jellowy kind, but it was good.
At the end of our meal, Oscar (the owner) and another waiter were huddled around a table and I overheard them reading something out loud that sounded very familiar. They had printed out the review from this site and were reading it! I came over to talk to them and they were lamenting the not-so-positive review on their huaraches. I told them my opinion of the meal and they were very receptive and seemed very eager to please – really nice and attentive service.
BTW, if you’re looking for good “central mexico” type food in another location, check out Super Cocina in around the University and Freeway 15 area (don’t know if this has already been reviewed). On a recent month-long trip to central Mexico, I had pozole about a dozen times in an effort to find the best but did not have any that was even close to the stuff they make at Super Cocina (I know, not a very inspriring name, is it?)
Hi Denny – I don’t think they should be lamenting….as a whole the food at Ranas is quite good, and the service is great. It seems that they strive to please each and every customer which is a enviable trait. Also, I’m not a food/restaurant reviewer/writer, but a food blogger, I basically just share my meals with everyone. I don’t think you’ll ever catch me calling myself a food reviewer. I’ve been to Super Cocina a few times, but not recently, perhaps it’s time again soon. Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment.
Hi! I was just browsing through the blogs, and saw you were from San Diego as well. As I scrolled down, I saw those plates, and recognized them immediatly! This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego, thanks for reminding me I need to go back!
Hi Cedar – They really make some great tasting food at Ranas.
my husband and i used to live right across the street from ranas and we used to eat there ALL the time. we no longer live in california and that is the ONE place that we miss more than anything. they deserve to have a huge chain of restuarants, except that then it wouldn’t be as good as it is… either way, if you live in san diego and you enjoy mexican food of ANY kind (try the cactus!!!) then you absolutely HAVE to go there. i can’t stress that enough.
Hi teresa – I agree, such nice people and good food.
mmm,, easily the best mexican i’ve ever had….
any other great mexican you can recomend?
Hi Taegello – Most of the Chowhounds like Super Cocina
3627 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92104
And you may want to try Chilango’s in Hillcrest as well. I’ve never had a bad meal there.
Chilango’s Mexico City Grill
142 University Ave Ste E
San Diego, CA 92103
http://www.chilangosgrill.com/