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(Image: Another Believer)
(Image: CHS)
Carved out of the ruins of Tricon Global Restaurants, Rancho Bravo turned an old Kentucky Fried Chicken into more than a decade of affordable Mexican food and good times in the heart of Capitol Hill. But Rancho’s run has ended.
Owner Freddy Rivas confirms he has closed the Capitol Hill Rancho Bravo and handed over the space to a new Mexican joint called Teto’s Cantina. The new ownership hasn’t returned our calls and has been busy keeping the restaurant operating without skipping too many beats as it transitions the joint out of the Rancho Bravo family.
Rivas tells CHS that Rancho Bravo had faced challenges after nearly 15 years of business on E Pine and was in a month to month lease recently that was no longer penciling out with a menu of $5 tacos at the level of quality he wanted to maintain.
Adios, my tacos (Image: Rancho Bravo)
The Wallingford Rancho Bravo continues — for now.
Rancho Bravo was born on E Pine in 2009 and has grown in space dotted with quirky echoes of its fast food past. In 2015, the restaurant even kicked the old KFC drive-thru back into motion. There was also some failed attempts along the way including the short-lived burger spinoff Freddy Juniors. Another Rivas concept that never happened was the stuff of Capitol Hill cheap(er) eats legend — the restaurateur backed off plans for a Buddha’s Kitchen restaurant in the old E Pike Ballet space.
Rancho Bravo also found itself with an odd window onto history in 2020 as the CHOP protest sprung up around the restaurant with the patio serving as the camp’s medic headquarters. 19-year-old Horace Lorenzo Anderson, Jr. was treated there before succumbing to his injuries in a shooting that was part of the unraveling of the protest zone.
As with most corners that don’t yet have a mixed-use building rising above, redevelopment looms over the Rancho Bravo property. Prolific Capitol Hill property owner Ron Amundson continues to hold the near $9 million parcel. Around a decade ago, early work on a possible mixed-use project on the site started but never went anywhere.
While a 100 or so new homes might be part of the property’s future, one of the last remaining surface parking lots in Pike/Pine and Teto’s Cantina are calling the corner home now.
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Used to be great with huge Burrito’s and tasty fresh food but all went downhill years ago. Bye Bye
Damn. Not gonna say these were the best burritos in town, but damn if they weren’t exactly what I wanted now and then, and the price was right. I’ll miss you, RB!
Bring back the colonel!
Gross, no
This makes me sad. My family and I have many happy memories at this dumpy but authentic joint. I have a favorite memory from this place:
Sunday afternoons, lunch at Rancho Bravo was a tradition. My kids would always get a large horchata drink to share with their meal. Sitting at our table, right away, my kid knocks over the drink, which spills on the table and onto the floor. Kid begins to cry. We make our way up to the counter to tell them what happened and ask if they would graciously give us another drink. I was dreading this task, and I fully expected they would refuse and I would have to grovel-or explain children to them. When we got to the counter, they had a new large horchata waiting for us. We didn’t even have to ask. I am tearing up as I write this…these folks were so lovely and gracious, and modeled kindness for my kids to see, and feel. For some context, Donald Trump was president at the time, and was putting undocumented children in detention. We are so lucky to have Mexico as a neighbor, (Canada too). Some further context: walking on Cap Hill with young children, you get looks from passersby like they can’t understand what possibly led you to this life choice. Mexicans, by contrast, love children; I have traveled in Mexico with young children, and you get special treatment. Rancho Bravo was my little slice of Mexican culture and family values on Cap Hill. Adios, Viejo amigo
We went to the Wallingford location on Sunday and it had signs saying it was under new ownership as Tito’s Cantina. The food was tasty. They said there would be some new menu options coming, but some would remain.
I can’t count how many times I ate here. Before Big Mario’s, Rancho Bravo and Hot Mama’s were the only two late night spots open if you had the munchies after the bars closed. Their pozole was underrated and the staff were always so patient and kind. RIP
Rancho Bravo parking lot often turned into drug gang parking late at night, which might have something to do with them needing now to close. Another fall-out from BLM that never got fixed. Maybe Joy Hollingsworth can help come up with something, she’s a lot more literate on this subject than Sawant ever was or wanted to be.
Why do you care so much? People doing drugs in their own home is no big deal.
Guys have been dealing drugs in that parking lot since 1990s. I bought weed there in 1999.
I love that you managed to make this Sawant’s problem. Congrats! You did it!
Maybe the new owners will actually clean the dining area. I ate there recently at 11AM and it was as disgusting as eating there at 2AM.