Oakland Culinary Experience Series: Mi Ranchito

If you are in Oakland and have a craving for Mexican food, you are in luck. In less than a half mile radius in the quaint Pittsburgh neighborhood, there are about a half dozen options for Mexican cuisine. To stand out in such a market, it takes something special. Something extra. Something so tastefully delighting that your every being desires its scrumptious morsels of fine dining. Something that we found at local restaurant: Mi Ranchito.

Google Translate tells us that Mi Ranchito means “My Hut.” The ambiance, however, travels far beyond what the name implies. Upon entering the restaurant we were taken aback by the minimalist design of the entryway, forcing a loving cramped sensation of a telephone booth closing in on you from all sides. After traversing the pinhole entrance, we were surprised by how close the bar was to the adjacent wall, creating a feeling as if you were leaving the United States and being uncomfortably transported across the border. Further into the restaurant you have a choice between two dimly lit dining rooms; both of which are spacious and reminiscent of a Mexican pool hall fully equipped with a slick layer of liquid runoff on the ground from spilled beverages, making every step delightfully treacherous. How exciting! We elected to sit in the outdoor area, which apparently used to be a parking lot, but has now been cleverly renovated with a sturdy wooden fence and Christmas lights. We tested the sturdiness of the fence through past personal experience; it passed. 

We did not order the food, but if we did, we’re sure it would have been amazing as evidenced by the powerful scent of classic Mexican spices spewing from the men’s and women’s restrooms. Some of the highlights of the menu included a section entitled “Favoritos de Mexico”, which we are told means “Favorites of Mexico.” The menu was reasonably priced, but instead we elected to go home and eat undercooked chicken so that we could spend more money on drinks later.

Returning to Mi Ranchito later in the night, we were surprised to see a line forming out front. It seems others in Oakland share our love for top Mexican cuisine.  After waiting and having our ID’s scrupulously checked, we entered the restaurant to find that the tables had been removed, making the building more closely resemble a hip, urban club. The main dining room became a dance floor where students were tastefully engaging in traditional Mexican dances such as salsa and the tango. Where we had almost eaten a meal earlier was now full of people engaging one another in intellectual conversation and making lifelong friends.

Journeying back inside, we decided to have a drink. It took us awhile to get through to the one bar in the restaurant, but once we did, we were delighted at how prompt the service was and how inexpensive the beverages were. After having a few mixed drinks and meeting some great new friends, it was almost time to leave the bar. It seemed like we had only just begun our night. Within a half an hour before closing, we noticed many deep and meaningful relationships blossoming both on the dance floor and in the outdoor area. If you’re like us and didn’t find one of these lovely relationships, the taco stand out back is always there for you ensuring you will always go home satisfied while waking up in a frantic rush the next morning for a full body cleanse in the bathroom.

Overall, Mi Ranchito was a wonderful experience that we would recommend for a romantic sit-down dinner or for a single ladies night out in Oakland. Between the food, drinks, dancing, and conversation, it is the place to be on a Friday night. Who knows, you may even find true love there…

Photo Credit: Ward McMasters