Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante is a counter-service restaurant in Disneyland’s Frontierland. The restaurant serves Mexican fare with a surprisingly large variety. This review will include photos of the restaurant, as well as our thoughts on Rancho del Zocalo’s atmosphere, food, and value.

The restaurant’s facade is Spanish architecture with archways and colorful decorations. There are a few colorful signs and bits of artwork that adorn the entrance to the restaurant as well as greenery around the outside. While the rest of Frontierland is purposefully brown, Rancho del Zocalo adds some vibrant colors to the area.

The interior of the restaurant was decorated with star lanterns and colorful tile. I like the festive decor throughout. Some of the seating is under cover, albeit an open air restaurant. There is shade throughout most of Rancho del Zocalo and ceiling fans where there are roofs. It’s a relaxing place to sit and have a meal, albeit not quite as charming as French Market or Plaza Inn.

Now, for the food. Here’s a look at the menu. A quick disclaimer, I’m a fairly tough judge when it comes to Mexican food.  I absolutely love it and grew up in a place where authentic Mexican food was pretty easy to find. I don’t think I’m a Mexican food snob, as I still stop by Taco Bell once in a blue moon, but I do have fairly high standards. With all that being said, I enjoy the food at Rancho del Zocalo quite a bit. My favorite option is the Carne Asada and Red Chile Enchilada Platter.

As you can see, the portion here is very large. This platter is currently $15.99 and is a good value, relative to most counter-service restaurants. The enchiladas were pretty good. They were Red Chile Enchiladas and the sauce on top of them was a typical enchilada sauce, which isn’t a bad thing but nothing special. The Carne Asada was my favorite part of the dish. Cooked to medium and sprinkled with cheese, the meat was tender and juicy.  The beans and tortillas with the dish were a nice addition. While this may not have been extremely authentic Mexican food, it tasted good and was really enjoyable. It’s also large enough to share, if you want to save a little bit of money.

Melissa had the Taco Salad and enjoyed it. She opted for chicken but there’s also a beef option, as well as a Caesar Salad. The salads come in around $13. I don’t think they have the value that the platter does but they are good sized portions and it’s nice to be able to get a good salad inside of the parks.

Most counter-service restaurants in Disneyland serve their food on real plates and with actual silverware (not the plastic stuff). It’s a really nice touch and always adds to the intimate feeling that Disneyland has. Rancho del Zocalo is no exception here.

Overall, I really like Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante. Being in Southern California, there are obviously much better Mexican food options miles away. But the restaurant has an ambitious menu, serves quality food at decent prices, and has a nice atmosphere. While it’s not quite my favorite counter-service restaurant at Disneyland Resort, it’s firmly in the park’s top 3. If you have a couple days inside of Disneyland, this is a great option.

Restaurant Rating – 8.5/10

Have you tried Rancho del Zocalo? What are your thoughts on the restaurant? Let us know in the comments! Planning a trip to Disneyland? Check out our planning guide to help you out along the way. If you enjoy what you’re reading here on Wandering in Disney please subscribe to the blog and like our Facebook page. You can find both of those on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!