BY MIKE PUCKETT

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Located in the Barber Tract neighborhood of La Jolla, Verdes el Ranchero has been a local favorite since 1945.

The restaurant and bar are very cozy and quaint and you will instantly feel the family environment. Don’t be surprised if, after just a few visits, the staff starts calling you by your first name. The bartenders are friendly and entertaining. Verdes el Ranchero is the type of place where, if you eat at the bar, you’ll get a great conversation along with your meal. So, don’t be shy about going there on your own!

The margaritas are tasty and quite potent. However, I prefer getting a Mexican beer on draft as I think they go perfectly with the Mexican dishes.

I have three favorites that I urge you to try. First, as a meal or as an appetizer, is the famous “El Ranchero Special Cheese Crisp”. This delicious dish consists of a crisp flour tortilla covered with refried beans and cheese, then baked to perfection and topped with fresh avocado slices, sour cream and salsa fresca. Though it comes with a choice of different meats, my favorite is the carnitas.

If you are craving tacos, the crispy Carnitas Tacos are a tasty go to. But, what keeps driving me back to Verdes el Ranchero again and again are the delectable Cheese Enchiladas. I can’t go on enough about them! They are hands down, bar none, the best I’ve had in San Diego! If anyone knows of a better cheese enchilada in the area, please send me the name of the restaurant so I can give them a try, too!

Verdes el Ranchero is well worth the drive into La Jolla if you live elsewhere in the city.  Just make sure you get in early on a Friday or Saturday night as you’re likely to find a full house.

PHOTOGRAPHY: MIKE PUCKETT