Rancho Viejo

I keep my expectations measured for Mexican food in Spokane, but Rancho Viejo does a solid job and the staff is friendly. I'm a fan of the tamale and enchilada combo.

Rancho Viejo has been a family-run Valley fixture on Sprague since 1992, serving traditional Mexican with a full bar and catering on the side. The combos are the heart of the menu — build-your-own with enchiladas, tamales, and the rest — and the steak fajitas, tender and served sizzling with a pile of grilled vegetables, are a reliable order.

It won't reinvent the category, and it isn't trying to — this is honest, consistent, family-friendly Mexican with warm service. For a no-fuss dinner on the Valley end of Sprague, it earns its regulars.