Newcomers to Sioux Falls have opened a Mexican restaurant in the former Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant space in southwest Sioux Falls.
Jamie Delgado and his wife, Evelia Chavez, are the owners of Mi Ranchito No. 1 at 5309 W. 41st St., said Mary Chavez, Evelia’s sister who lives in Washington state but is here to help with the opening.
While they’ve been serving food for less than a week, “we have many compliments from all the people that’s been here eating,” Chavez said. “They love their food. They love the service, which was one of our goals. … We want them to come here, enjoy our food but also enjoy the place and the people.”
Delgado and his wife were partners with his sister in Mi Ranchito Mexican Restaurant in Pierre, Chavez said. When they learned Guadalajara was for sale, they jumped at the opportunity to own their own restaurant, she said.
Delgado’s family is from the Mexican state of Jalisco, while his wife’s family is from the neighboring state of Nayarit.
Delgado is the main chef with more than 25 years of experience, Chavez said, and most of the food features the flavors of Jalisco, but “in Nayarit, we love seafood, so we have actually one page (of the 10-page menu) that it’s pretty much seafood.”
Diners entering the restaurant can watch as an employee makes tortillas just outside the kitchen.
“One of the things that makes us different than the restaurants around here in the area is that we make every day fresh handmade tortillas. … Plus, our food, it’s authentic Mexican food,” Chavez said. “Everything is actually handmade from scratch and fresh every day.”
Specialties include dishes such as birria, molcajete, street tacos, tortas, sopes and carne asada.
The menu includes enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, steak and chicken dishes, salads, soups, appetizers, desserts and 25 combo dishes.
There are five varieties of salsa, and Chavez describes the table version that comes with complimentary chips as chunky with fresh tomato and onion…