Tortilla Jo vs Rancho del Zocalo

[flyymackenziie]

Hi everyone! I'm new here, but I've been to DL several times. I'm planning to go in September with my hubby, and DS4 and DD2. We love mexican food, but I've never been to Tortilla Jo or Rancho del Zocalo. Which is better? My hubby loves a great salsa, but I'll eat just about anything.

 

[eduk8r26]

IMO they are two very different restaurants. Tortilla Jo's food is prepared when you order it--or seems to be. The food comes with chips (very good ones!) and salsa. There is quite a variety, and it tends to be somewhat more expensive. While I like Rancho del Zocalo, I would not take it over Tortilla Jo if I had a choice. It's fine if I'm staying in the park and wanted Mexican food. You don't get much of a variety, and no chips and salsa.

 

[furb & dez]

Neither are really Mexican food, though Zocalo comes close.

 

[AngelStitch]

My pick is Rancho del Zocalo. The atmosphere is nice for a quick service restaurant and the food is great. I like to sit and relax while we eat in the side room with the fountain.

 

[tlovesdis]

I like them both, but would pick Tortilla Joe's as my favorite. The menu is much bigger and there are so many things to choose from as compared to the very limited menu at Rancho. Plus they have a full bar!!! Their chips and salsa are so good! We jokingly say there must be crack in the chips cause we can't stop eating them!!

 

[Dobie]

It's been a while since the Dobies visited Tortilla Jo's, but I remember that it had tasty food, margaritas, and a lot of choices. Our rice at Zocolo tasted burnt last week and the meat was way way way too spicy.

 

[mousterpiece]

I'd go with Tortilla Jo's. The atmosphere at Rancho del Zocalo is, indeed, pretty great and it feels secluded even in the outside seating area. But the food isn't as impressive there, IMO. If only Tortilla Jo's had the same seating!

 

[jenpace]

Those are two of my favorite restaurants at the DLR, I especially love the atmosphere at Rancho Zocalo...they have hanging blown glass lanterns that are beautiful at night. However, if both restaurants were side by side I'd probably choose Tortilla Jo's 9 out of 10 times because the food is better.

If you end up at TJ's, their tortilla soup is great

 

[flyymackenziie]

Those are two of my favorite restaurants at the DLR, I especially love the atmosphere at Rancho Zocalo...they have hanging blown glass lanterns that are beautiful at night. However, if both restaurants were side by side I'd probably choose Tortilla Jo's 9 out of 10 times because the food is better.

If you end up at TJ's, their tortilla soup is great

Oooh! Thank you! Hubby loves tortilla soup. I think we're gonna go with TJ's... All the times we've been to DL, we've never taken advantage of our ability to park hop or --god forbid-- go back to the hotel to rest! I think I'll try to relax a bit more on this trip.

 

[geekypeach]

Different joints, altogether. Zocalo is more like a cafeteria. Still very good food, but not a restaurant, IMO. It has the plus of being in park, but if I had to choose, it would be TJ's. I loved everything about TJ's and absolutely cannot wait to go back.

Let them talk you into the "better" maragrita. You won't be disappointed!

 

[medievaldave]

go offsite for mexican food.....both places r nasty

 

[Mama Who]

If you really love Mexican food, here's another vote for skipping both. There are some excellent taquerias in the immediate area and you will be disappointed by either TJ or RdZ if you're true lovers. The food isn't *bad* at either, but it's certainly not Mexican. RdZ is more like Taco Bell as far as quality and style goes. TJ I would equate to Chevy's or El Torito or Baja Fresh.

 

[jenpace]

If you really love Mexican food, here's another vote for skipping both. There are some excellent taquerias in the immediate area and you will be disappointed by either TJ or RdZ if you're true lovers. The food isn't *bad* at either, but it's certainly not Mexican. RdZ is more like Taco Bell as far as quality and style goes. TJ I would equate to Chevy's or El Torito or Baja Fresh.

I disagree. While neither one is going to be true, 100% authentic Mexican cuisine, they're both pretty good (TJ's being better). I'm not seeing the Taco Bell comparison at all...

 

[oumagic]

My family really likes Tortilla Jo's, they have a good kids menu. I like authentic Mexican food but a good Tex-Mex place can also taste great. They have some good tacos and margaritas at Tortilla Jo's.

 

[FlameGirl]

I disagree. While neither one is going to be true, 100% authentic Mexican cuisine, they're both pretty good (TJ's being better). I'm not seeing the Taco Bell comparison at all...

Agreed.

 

[rune_74]

The one beside big thunder mountain was complete garbage, the only restaurant we didn't eat all the food we got from on our last trip.

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

Another vote for Tortilla Jo's from our family. My oldest DD is the pickiest of our group and even she can find something there. We had to get her a corndog while the rest of us ate at Rancho. Our veggies and meat eaters alike love Tortilla Jo's. We think they put a little "something extra" (I believe others have said crack, we agree!!) into those chips and salsa! And as others have said, the margaritas are pretty darn tasty (and come in pretty glasses).

While we'll definately eat at RdZ again (conveniently within the park), we would most definately chose Tortilla Jo's. It's actually our favorite restaurant in Downtown Disney.

 

[Mouse13]

go offsite for mexican food.....both places r nasty

We love Mexican food but have never eaten at TJs or RdZ but we found a great authentic Mexican place just south of Ruth Chris' Steakhouse last week. It's called Mi Casa Mexicana and their food was incredible. Their tortas and guacamole were absolutely over the top!

 

[tdashgirl]

I vote for TJ's since I think their food is tastier and they serve margaritas/beer It's also a nice break from the parks that still feels "Disney".

 

[CMHusband]

they both are bad