You expect certain things from a Mexican restaurant.
You expect a basket of chips with salsa and maybe some south-of-the-border music. You expect enchiladas, tacos, chimichangas — the usual Mexican menu — with sides of beans and rice.
Mi Ranchito Mexibachi Grill has all that, but the place has extras that make it a notable recent addition to the valley's many Mexican restaurants. There's an interesting dining space and a selection of unusual dishes to spice up the regulation menu. Plus, there's the emotional investment in service and the dining experience that comes with the best family-owned restaurants.
Mi Ranchito is a little off the beaten path, but not far, and its huge building isn't hard to spot. It's got a rustic but sophisticated vibe, with lofty ceilings and intimate dining areas that carve the cavernous space into cozy proportions. There are also bright colors and fun wall hangings.
We started with the shrimp cocktail and the queso fundido. The cocktail arrived in an enormous stemmed glass with crackers and limes. It's a cool, mouth-tingling mix of meaty jumbo shrimp, avocado and tomato chunks and shredded herbs in a smooth and spicy cocktail sauce. It reminded me a little of gazpacho, and we had plenty to take home for lunch the next day.
But we — mostly the kids — scarfed up all of our queso fundido, creamy white cheese melted and browned in a skillet, and served with a packet of soft warmed tortillas. Mi Ranchito has a thorough kids' menu, with several Mexican offerings, plus such kiddie faves as chicken nuggets and pepperoni pizza.
For dinner, my husband had the beef chimichanga, a generous portion of shredded beef rolled into a fried tortilla. It arrived in time-honored fashion, surrounded by rice, beans, salsa, avocados, cheese and sour cream. The chimi was packed with meat, juicy and slightly sweet.
I was too intrigued by Mi Ranchito's Molcajete to pass it up. Turns out this "most authentic Mexican meal," as described on the menu, easily could feed two people. I got a bowling ball-size stone bowl filled with grilled shrimp, carne asada and chicken-breast strips, along with grilled bell peppers, onions, jalapeos and tomatoes.
It looks delightful. The jalapeos are whole and grill-blackened, and the onions are the small Mexican kind with green tops, also grilled whole. There's even a garnish of hopales, Mexican cactus, and a cup of complex green molcajete sauce. You can throw any combination into one of the accompanying tortillas, along with some of the rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream and lettuce also served alongside.
I especially liked the chicken and shrimp, but it's obvious Mi Ranchito pays attention to its meat. Everything is nicely cooked, with savory browned outsides and moist insides, and similar care was taken with the veggies. The beans and rice are the standard refried- and tomato-sauced kind, but are fresh and moist.
For dessert, we ordered chocolate-filled churros for the kids. They come covered in cinnamon and sugar with a scoop of ice cream on the side. I had the Tres Leches cake and enjoyed Mi Ranchito's interpretation, an individual cream-soaked cake turned upside-down, its caramelized bottom resting in creamy milk and whipped cream.
As we wrapped up our meal, we heard a manager apologizing to a family for something that had gone wrong with their meal. He was professional and sincere and didn't leave their table until he'd set things right. The family assured him they were regulars at Mi Ranchito and would definitely be back.
There's so much to choose from at Mi Ranchito that one visit doesn't seem nearly enough. Next time, I want to try the mole poblano, or maybe a veggie plate, and the coconut-caramel flan and sopapillas sound great, too.
Appetizers $2.99-$11.99, salads $3.99-$13.99, soup $6.99-$10.99, nachos $6.99-$14.99, combination plates $5.99-$11.99, entres $8.99-$29.99, lunch specials $3.99-$7.99, kids' meals $2.99-$4.99, desserts $2.99-$4.25.
Mi Ranchito Mexibachi Grill
Rating: ***
Where: 1133 W. South Jordan Parkway (10400 South), South Jordan
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Payment: Checks, credit cards
Reservations: Accepted for lunch and dinner
Phone: 302-5670
Web:mexibachi.com
Stacey Kratz is a free-lance writer who reviews restaurants for the Deseret Morning News. E-mail: skratz@desnews.com